Patents by Inventor Neil R. Hall

Neil R. Hall has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Dental color mixture indicator device
    Patent number: 5498157
    Abstract: A dental color mixture indicator device is described.In an embodiment, the dental color mixture indicator device (420) comprises four component indicator devices (400-403) each retained by a common base (410). Each component indicator device (400-403) has an array of color samples (Y1-2,C1-3,R1-2) mounted to individual blades (430,440-442,450-452,460-462), with each group of blades able to be plucked from the base (410) for the purposes of a comparison with a tooth. Each color sample (Y1-2,C1-3,R1-2) corresponds with an artificial tooth material, and, on the basis of the comparison, a mixture of the respective tooth materials allows correct color matching of a restorative tooth.The arrayed color samples (Y1-2,C1-3,R1-2), coincide with a corresponding location on a color co-ordinate system. The central colors (201) of each component indicator device (400-403) are offset from other ones of central colors with respect to the color co-ordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Neil R. Hall
  • Dental restorative adhesive having improved fracture toughness
    Patent number: 5266609
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved, castable, synthetic resin material, suitable for use in dental and medical restorations, as a replacement for dental enamel and hydroxyapatite bone material. This material is also useful for electrical insulation. More specifically, the invention provides a filled reinforced resin matrix comprising a castable resin; from 5 to 50% vol of fibers of 50 .mu.m or less diameter; from 10 to 35% vol of a first particulate filler having a particle size range of 0.1 to 50 .mu.m; and from 5 to 25% vol of a second particulate filler having an ultimate particle size range of 10 to 100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventors: Neil R. Hall, Christopher P. Doube
  • Color mixture indicator device
    Patent number: 4657399
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a set of dental color indicator devices and a method of selecting dental colors. Each indicator device has a number of color samples arranged in a regular array. Each of the samples corresponds to the color at a corresponding location in an identical array formed on one of a plurality of transverse parallel cuts through an elongate substantially elipsoid body which represents the possible range of dental colors when graphically represented on a color co-ordinate system, such as the CIELAB psycometric color system or the Munsell visual color system. The selected color is either the color of one of the samples or a mixture of the color of two adjacent samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventor: Neil R. Hall