Abstract: A pontic having a prefabricated notch, channel or slot to physically engage and ensure a secure mechanical lock with the dental appliance. The invention also pertains to a method of fabricating a dental appliance and a kit for facilitating the same. The invention has particular application to thermoformed, removable appliances.

Abstract: A pontic (10) having a prefabricated notch, channel or slot (11) to physically engage and ensure a secure mechanical lock with the dental appliance (30). The invention also pertains to a method of fabricating a dental appliance (30) and a kit for facilitating the same. The invention has particular application to thermoformed, removable appliances.

Abstract: A gasket for vacuum thermoforming machines, which gasket is designed to be positioned on the perforated base plate of the thermoforming machine to cover selected ones of the vacuum openings in the base plate. An opening is provided in the center of the gasket for concentrating the vacuum in this area and increasing the vacuum applied to a heated plastic sheet or plate positioned above a dental impression cast located on the base plate in the gasket vacuum opening. The vacuum applied by the vacuum thermoforming machine is thus concentrated within the confines of the vacuum opening of the gasket to more efficiently mold the soft plastic plate over the dental impression cast and form a plastic retainer for straightening teeth.

Abstract: A thermoformed plastic dental retainer and method of selectively straightening crooked or maloccluded teeth and retaining the straightened teeth using the retainer. The dental retainer is constructed by first forming an impression of a patient's upper or lower dentition and constructing a cast from the impression. The retainer is vacuum thermoformed over the cast using a sheet, plate or disc of thermoformable plastic and a vacuum or pressure thermoforming machine. A protrusion or divot is formed in the retainer on the labial or lingual side of each tooth which is to be repositioned lingually or labially, respectively, and a gap, opening or window is formed in the retainer on the opposite side of the divot to accommodate unhindered tooth repositioning movement. As the retainer is worn on the patient's dentition over a period of days or weeks, the projecting divots apply pressure to the respective teeth and push the teeth into the gap or window of the retainer to a straightened position.

Abstract: A control system for processing products in conveyorized ovens. The system monitors and controls the oven temperature and monitors the velocity with which products are moved through the oven. At intervals, the system samples the oven temperature and determines the degree of product processing that has occurred in the sample interval. The system then adjusts the conveyor velocity as a function of the degree of product processing. The system can adjust the effective length of the sample interval as a function of the sensitivity of the product to changes in oven temperature and the difference between the oven set temperature and the actual oven temperature. The system integrates the effective time intervals to determine the total effective time that the product has been processed in the oven. The system is particularly suited to the cooking of food products such as pizzas.

Abstract: A dental instrument shield for shielding medical or dental instruments, as well as industrial tools and equipment, which, due to position and configuration, may accidentally pierce or contact tissue and cause injury. In a preferred embodiment the dental instrument shield includes a curved, transparent, protective guard adjustably supported on parallel support rods mounted on an instrument support bar which is attached to a console or other supporting surface. An instrument tray may be mounted in adjustable relationship on the curved guard and the guard is designed to extend over the various handpieces containing dental instruments, to prevent accidental contact with the dental instruments. The various handpieces are typically removably supported in handpiece receptacles of various design for convenient access.

Abstract: A dental space and periodontal cavity measuring instrument for insertion in interdental or interproximal spaces between teeth and in periodontal cavities in both the upper and lower dental arches to determine the width of such spaces and the depth of the cavities, respectively, for appropriate treatment. The dental space and periodontal cavity measuring instrument is characterized by a centrally located handle provided with a pair of oppositely-extending single tips or multiple, elongated, graduated cylinders which terminate in graduated ends, for insertion in the interdental spaces and periodontal cavities. The calibrated cylinders and graduated ends may be extended in a straight line from the handle, or one or more cylinders in one or both of the calibrated and graduated tips may be angulated and the diameter of each cylinder may be indicated on the handle for size-identification purposes. The ends of the cylinder or stem tips may also be "waffled" with striations for ligature tucking purposes.

Abstract: A dental space measuring instrument for insertion in interdental or interproximal spaces between teeth in both the upper and lower dental arches to determine the width of such spaces for orthodontic treatment. The dental space measuring instrument is characterized by a centrally located handle provided with outwardly extending, graduated cylinders which define elongated, calibrated tips for insertion in the interdental spaces. The calibrated tips may be extended in a straight line from the handle or one or more cylinders in one or both of the calibrated tips may be angulated, and the diameter of each cylinder is indicated on the handle for size-identification purposes.

Abstract: A dental brace bracket bonding and debracketing tool which includes a heating device such as a soldering iron, having a heating element tip on one end and an elongated retainer extending from the heating device adjacent the heating element tip and biased outwardly from the tip, the heating element tip and the retainer designed to engage a central slot and flange arms, respectively, of a dental brace bracket in order to bond and debracket the bracket to and from a tooth, respectively. A method of debracketing dental brace brackets from teeth which includes engaging a bracket at at least two points with the heating element tip of a soldering iron or other heating device and a cooperating retainer extending outwardly from the heating device adjacent the heating element tip; applying heat to the bracket in order to alter the bonding material which secures the bracket to the teeth; and removing the bracket from the teeth.

Abstract: A head positioning device for establishing a selected spacial attitude of the head for portraits, cephalometric x-rays and conventional x-rays in orthodontic procedures, which device includes eyeglasses having a lens frame and a pair of temple arms extending rearwardly of the lens frame in conventional fashion, and a pair of level tubes pivotally attached to mounts extending downwardly from the temple arms. The level tubes can be pivotally adjusted with respect to the eyeglasses to facilitate a desired constant head position when a patient is wearing the eyeglasses in order to insure duplicate full face, profile and/or x-ray pictures of the mouth and head which are necessary to insure proper diagnosis, treatment and care. In a preferred embodiment of the invention all components of the head positioning device are shaped from a clear material, and most preferably, from a polycarbonate composition.

Abstract: An adiabatic pressure swing absorption process is disclosed for the removal of essentially all oxygen contained in an inert gas stream in minor amounts. The oxygen is absorbed and desorbed adiabatically from a dioxygen sorbent. Optionally, an inert purge gas can be utilized to improve the desorption of oxygen from the dioxygen sorbent. The process utilizes at least two switching beds of the dioxygen sorbent in which one bed is in an absorbing mode while the other bed is in a desorbing mode.

Abstract: An adiabatic-isothermal swing absorption process is disclosed for the removal of essentially all oxygen contained in an inert gas stream. The oxygen is absorbed from an inert gas stream adiabatically on to a dioxygen absorbent and then desorbed from the absorbent isothermally by the use of external heat. The process method utilizes at least two switching beds of the dioxygen absorbent in which one bed is in an absorbing mode while the other bed is in a desorbing mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved adiabatic process for separating hydrogen from mixed gas streams using hydridable materials as the absorbing medium. The improvement comprises utilizing a composite comprising a thermal ballast in admixture with the hydride material to absorb the heat of reaction and to aid in desorption. By virtue of the intimate contact of the ballast with the hydridable material rapid cycle times plus good bed utilization are achieved.

Abstract: An air dispersing head for an air heater which includes a generally cylindrically-shaped cap having an inset or recess on one side and fitted with a nozzle base and nozzle in the recess, with the nozzle communicating with the interior of the cap. The nozzle is fitted with a hose of selected length and the cap is further provided with a primary air duct and a plurality of secondary air ducts in a curved rear face oppositely disposed from the nozzle. Air is forced through the bottom of the air heater by an internally located fan, and is heated by coils, channelled through the air dispersing head and ejected from the hose. Unheated, ambient air enters the air dispersing head through the primary and secondary air ducts and mixes with the heated air to control the temperature of the air ejected from the end of the hose.

Abstract: A switch having a pair of operating levers located within a housing in side-by-side relationship and in which the pair of operating levers are supported for conjoint and independent movement about a common pivot axis for selectively opening and closing contact members which establish a plurality of lighting circuits.

Abstract: A thumbwheel actuated variable resistor device has a housing comprising a substrate carrying a resistor pattern and a cover with electrical terminals embedded therein and a thumbwheel in the space between the substrate and cover. The thumbwheel carries a pair of conductors which extend from opposite sides thereof to selectively engage portions of the resistor circuit and the terminals so that the resistance between the terminals depend on the thumbwheel position.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp control system wherein a two-position solenoid operated ratcheting switch conducts current from the storage battery to the headlamps. The position of the switch controls the energization of the headlamps and momentary energization of the solenoid changes the position of the switch. The driver may manually energize the solenoid to control the headlamps and the switch is automatically shifted to a position to deenergize the headlamps when the vehicle ignition key is shifted to an "off" position. Automatic turn-on and delayed turn-off functions are also provided.

Abstract: A push-pull rotary switch for controlling a plurality of lighting circuits on a motor vehicle that includes a longitudinally movable rod adapted to control at least one switch means during its longitudinal movement and an additional switch means when the rod is rotated.

Abstract: An anti-foam silicone composition comprising a diorganopolysiloxane polymer having a viscosity varying from 100 to 100,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C. and from 1 to 15% by weight of the diorganopolysiloxane of a silicone resin composed of monofunctional units and tetrafunctional units.