Patents by Inventor William E. Wyllie, II
William E. Wyllie, II 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).
-
Patent number: 11076936Abstract: A high-strength, self-ligating appliances with orthodontically desirable dimensions. The appliances incorporate a door slidably engaged to a channel in the body; one that can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of an integral protrusion on the door. Cooperating grooves and rails on the body and the door can guide the door between the open and closed positions, and mitigate against unintentional detachment. Appliances including rails that result in improved labial pull strength are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Laurent Eap, William E. Wyllie, II, David D. Lindeman
-
Publication number: 20210100639Abstract: A high-strength, self-ligating appliances with orthodontically desirable dimensions. The appliances incorporate a door slidably engaged to a channel in the body; one that can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of an integral protrusion on the door. Cooperating grooves and rails on the body and the door can guide the door between the open and closed positions, and mitigate against unintentional detachment. Appliances including rails that result in improved labial pull strength are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Laurent Eap, William E. Wyllie, II, David D. Lindeman
-
Publication number: 20200330188Abstract: A twisting-action, sliding bracket-door opening tool including a ceramic blade for opening self-ligating brackets, particularly ceramic self-ligating brackets with ceramic doors. The ceramic tool blade allows for opening of the ceramic bracket sliding door without significant wear or function loss, as compared to a similar tool made of stainless steel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: William E. Wyllie, II, Kevin G. Nordine, Ming-Lai Lai, Stephen R. Alexander, Kristen F. Keller
-
Patent number: 9943467Abstract: Provided are dental articles, and methods of making articles, having an aesthetic inorganic coating based on zirconia at least partially stabilized with yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, or magnesium oxide. Stabilized zirconia coatings were found to provide a smooth, low friction surface having high abrasion resistance. These coatings are particularly applicable to orthodontic appliances. While virgin stabilized zirconia coatings can often have an undesirable color cast, it was discovered that this color cast can be substantially eliminated by heat treating the coated appliance in an oxygenated environment. The combination of depositing a stabilized zirconia coating and subsequently heat treating to decolorize the coating provides a surprisingly robust, stable, low-friction coating that is also aesthetic.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Geoffrey P. Morris, William E. Wyllie, II, Steven D. Theiss
-
Publication number: 20170100309Abstract: Provided are dental articles, and methods of making articles, having an aesthetic inorganic coating based on zirconia at least partially stabilized with yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, or magnesium oxide. Stabilized zirconia coatings were found to provide a smooth, low friction surface having high abrasion resistance. These coatings are particularly applicable to orthodontic appliances. While virgin stabilized zirconia coatings can often have an undesirable color cast, it was discovered that this color cast can be substantially eliminated by heat treating the coated appliance in an oxygenated environment. The combination of depositing a stabilized zirconia coating and subsequently heat treating to decolorize the coating provides a surprisingly robust, stable, low-friction coating that is also aesthetic.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Geoffrey P. Morris, William E. Wyllie, II, Steven D. Theiss
-
Patent number: 9539182Abstract: Provided are dental articles, and methods of making articles, having an aesthetic inorganic coating based on zirconia at least partially stabilized with yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, or magnesium oxide. Stabilized zirconia coatings were found to provide a smooth, low friction surface having high abrasion resistance. These coatings are particularly applicable to orthodontic appliances. While virgin stabilized zirconia coatings can often have an undesirable color cast, it was discovered that this color cast can be substantially eliminated by heat treating the coated appliance in an oxygenated environment. The combination of depositing a stabilized zirconia coating and subsequently heat treating to decolorize the coating provides a surprisingly robust, stable, low-friction coating that is also aesthetic.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Inventors: Geoffrey P. Morris, William E. Wyllie, II, Steven D. Theiss
-
Publication number: 20130157225Abstract: Provided are dental articles, and methods of making articles, having an aesthetic inorganic coating based on zirconia at least partially stabilized with yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, or magnesium oxide. Stabilized zirconia coatings were found to provide a smooth, low friction surface having high abrasion resistance. These coatings are particularly applicable to orthodontic appliances. While virgin stabilized zirconia coatings can often have an undesirable color cast, it was discovered that this color cast can be substantially eliminated by heat treating the coated appliance in an oxygenated environment. The combination of depositing a stabilized zirconia coating and subsequently heat treating to decolorize the coating provides a surprisingly robust, stable, low-friction coating that is also aesthetic.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Geoffrey P. Morris, William E. Wyllie, II, Steven D. Theiss
-
Patent number: 8267686Abstract: An orthodontic article and method of making the orthodontic article, where the orthodontic article includes a fine-grain ceramic bracket and a metal liner secured in an archwire slot of the bracket with a brazing alloy comprising silver, copper, and at least about 1.5% by weight titanium.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: William E. Wyllie, II, John J. Palmer, Glenys A. Thorstenson, David S. Arney, John S. Kelly
-
Patent number: 7670140Abstract: A hand instrument for detaching orthodontic brackets from a patient's teeth has first jaw, a second jaw and a blade that extends between the first jaw and the second jaw. The blade is received in a channel of a bracket during a debonding procedure, and serves to releasably clamp mesial and distal sections of the bracket to the hand instrument as the sections are detached from the tooth.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Joseph D. Hart, Joyce C. Ho, Glenys A. Thorstenson, William E. Wyllie, II, Philip P. Soo, John J. Palmer
-
Patent number: 7192274Abstract: An orthodontic appliance has a ceramic body and an archwire slot liner that is received in a channel of the body. The archwire slot liner has occlusal, gingival and lingual sections, and the lingual section is thicker than the occlusal or gingival section. The archwire slot liner helps resist fracture of the ceramic when the appliance is in use in the oral cavity, and yet need not adversely affect the aesthetic appearance of the appliance. A notch in the archwire slot liner is aligned with a channel in the body and provides a passageway for receiving a vertical auxiliary device.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Allen J. Stadtmiller, William E. Wyllie, II, Jirina V. Pospisil
-
Patent number: 6648638Abstract: An orthodontic appliance that includes a polycrystalline translucent aluminum oxide ceramic material having an average grain size of no greater than 1.0 micron and a Contrast Ratio value of less than about 0.7.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Darren T. Castro, Richard P. Rusin, William E. Wyllie, II
-
Patent number: 6257882Abstract: A method of brazing a first component of an orthodontic appliance to a second component of the orthodontic appliance, comprising the step of brazing the first component to the second component using a brazing medium comprising a boron-free brazing alloy that includes at least about 50 weight percent nickel. The brazing alloy of the present invention can also comprise chromium, and/or other elements such as silicon, phosphorous, and/or the like. The method provides strong, corrosion resistant joints with a good color match with stainless steel appliance components.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: William E. Wyllie, II
-
Patent number: 6120289Abstract: An attachment device useful during the course of orthodontic treatment couples an interarch appliance to brackets and/or to archwires placed in the oral cavity. The attachment device includes a wire segment that crosses over a labial side of an archwire in order to enable a coupler of the interarch appliance to slide past the archwire as the patient's jaws are opened. The attachment device increases the range of free sliding motion of the interarch appliance and reduces the amount of stress that might be otherwise imposed on the appliance, on the brackets and/or the archwires as the patient's jaws are opened. The attachment device is particularly suitable for use with Class II correction appliances including elongated, resilient force modules that have an inherent bias toward a normally straight orientation.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James D. Cleary, William E. Wyllie, II, Brian W. Lotte