Abstract
A self-ligating bracket for orthodontics includes a resilient clamp, wherein a first clamp leg is inserted in a slit and can be moved therein between a closed and open position to prevent an unintended loss of the clamp. The first clamp leg has at least one oblong recess, into which protrudes a projection that proceeds from the lingually or labially situated surface of the slit. The recess is bordered on its end facing away from the clamp bend by a stop, which hits the projection in the open position of the clamp and limits a further movement of the clamp. The surface situated opposite the projection forms an escape space inside of the slit, into which the first clamp leg escapes with the stop under a resilient deformation when the stop slides over the projection during insertion of the clamp.
Claims
1. A self-ligating bracket for orthodontics, comprising: a socket; an occlusal wall that extends from the socket; a gingival wall that extends from the socket; a groove, which separates the occlusal wall and the gingival wall from each other, and extends continuously in the mesial to distal direction; a fastening side facing away from the groove for adhesively bonding the bracket to a lingual or vestibular surface of a tooth; a slit, which extends in the gingival to occlusal direction, and is bordered by a lingually situated surface and by a labially situated surface; and a resilient clamp, which has a first clamp leg and a second clamp leg that are connected with each other by an occlusally or gingivally arranged clamp bend; wherein the first clamp leg is inserted in the slit between the lingually situated surface and the labially situated surface, and can be moved therein in a gingival-occlusal direction between a closed position and an open position of the clamp; wherein the first clamp leg is set up in such a way as to prevent an unintended loss of the clamp; wherein the first clamp leg has at least one oblong recess, into which protrudes a projection that extends from the lingually or labially situated surface of the slit; wherein the recess is bordered on its end facing away from the clamp bend by a stop, which abuts the projection in the open position of the clamp and limits a further movement of the clamp; and wherein the surface situated opposite the projection forms an escape space inside of the slit, into which the first clamp leg escapes with the stop under a resilient deformation when the stop slides over the projection during insertion of the clamp into the slit.
2. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the slit lying opposite the projection contains at least one flat guiding surface for the first clamp leg.
3. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the surface that borders the slit, and from which the projection proceeds, contains a flat guiding surface for the first clamp leg.
4. The bracket according to claim 3, wherein the side of the projection facing the clamp bend runs inclined to the guiding surface.
5. The bracket according to claim 4, wherein the side of the projection facing the clamp bend runs inclined to the guiding surface at an angle of 15° to 25°.
6. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp leg extends in a plane, and is bent around a line running along this plane when it yields to the projection under a resilient deformation during insertion of the clamp into the slit.
7. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp leg has a central recess.
8. The bracket according to claim 7, wherein the central recess is an oblong hole.
9. The bracket according to claim 7, wherein the escape space is formed by a channel in the surface of the slit situated opposite the projection, wherein the channel extends from gingival to occlusal.
10. The bracket according to claim 9, wherein the channel extends from gingival to occlusal over the entire length of the slit.
11. The bracket according to claim 7, wherein the channel is arranged between two flat guiding surfaces for the first clamp leg.
12. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp leg has a recess on its mesial edge and a recess on its distal edge, wherein a projection extending from the lingually or labially situated surface of the slit protrudes into each of the recesses, wherein each recess is bordered by a stop at its end facing away from the clamp bend, and wherein the surface of the slit lying opposite the projection forms a respective escape space for each of the stops, into which the first clamp leg with the respective stop escapes under a resilient deformation when the stops slide over the projections during insertion of the chamber into the slit.
13. The bracket according to claim 12, wherein each escape space is formed by a channel in the surface of the slit lying opposite the projections, wherein each of the channels extends from gingival to occlusal.
14. The bracket according to claim 13, wherein each of the channels extends from gingival to occlusal over the entire length of the slit.
15. The bracket according to claim 14, wherein the flat guiding surface for the first clamp leg is arranged between the two channels.
16. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the slit extends continuously through the socket.
17. The bracket according to claim 16, wherein the surface bordering the slit lies on the side of the first clamp leg facing away from the groove, and protrudes over the free end of the first clamp leg in each position of the clamp, and in which a positioning aid for a tool is provided at and/or before the free end of the first clamp leg, with which the clamp can be moved from the closed position into the open position by pressing against the free end of its first clamp leg.
18. The bracket according to claim 17, wherein a channel extending from gingival to occlusal is provided in the socket as the positioning aid, which ends at a stop that is covered by an end of the first clamp leg when the clamp is in its closed position.
19. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the second clamp leg has a hole.
20. The bracket according to claim 1, which is molded in one piece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] Additional details and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of several illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the attached figures:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bracket according to the invention with a clamp in the open position;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a view of the bracket in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface III-III in FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface IV-IV in FIG. 3;
[0035] FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface V-V in FIG. 3;
[0036] FIG. 6 shows the bracket of FIG. 1 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is in the closed position;
[0037] FIG. 7 shows the bracket according to FIG. 6 in a view corresponding to FIG. 3;
[0038] FIG. 8 shows the bracket of FIG. 3 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp has not yet been inserted;
[0039] FIG. 9 shows the bracket according to FIG. 8 in a view corresponding to FIG. 2;
[0040] FIG. 10 shows the bracket according to FIG. 8 in a view corresponding to FIG. 4;
[0041] FIG. 11 shows the bracket of FIG. 3 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is partially inserted;
[0042] FIG. 12 shows the bracket according to FIG. 11 in a view corresponding to FIG. 2;
[0043] FIG. 13 shows the bracket according to FIG. 11 in a view corresponding to FIG. 4;
[0044] FIG. 14 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XIV-XIV in FIG. 11;
[0045] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bracket according to the invention with a clamp in the open position;
[0046] FIG. 16 is a view of the bracket in the direction of arrow XVI in FIG. 15;
[0047] FIG. 17 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XVII-XVII in FIG. 16;
[0048] FIG. 18 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17;
[0049] FIG. 19 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XIX-XIX in FIG. 17;
[0050] FIG. 20 shows the bracket of FIG. 15 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is in the closed position;
[0051] FIG. 21 shows the bracket according to FIG. 20 in a view corresponding to FIG. 17,
[0052] FIG. 22 shows the bracket of FIG. 17 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp has not yet been inserted,
[0053] FIG. 23 shows the bracket according to FIG. 22 in a view corresponding to FIG. 16,
[0054] FIG. 24 shows the bracket according to FIG. 22 in a view corresponding to FIG. 18,
[0055] FIG. 25 shows the bracket on FIG. 17 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is partially inserted,
[0056] FIG. 26 shows the bracket according to FIG. 25 in a view corresponding to FIG. 16;
[0057] FIG. 27 shows the bracket according to FIG. 25 in a view corresponding to FIG. 18;
[0058] FIG. 28 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 25;
[0059] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the bracket according to the invention with a clamp in the open position;
[0060] FIG. 30 is a view of the bracket in the direction of arrow XXX in FIG. 29;
[0061] FIG. 31 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 30;
[0062] FIG. 32 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 31;
[0063] FIG. 33 is an oblique view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XXXIII-XXXIII in FIG. 31;
[0064] FIG. 34 shows the bracket of FIG. 29 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is in the closed position;
[0065] FIG. 35 shows the bracket according to FIG. 34 in a view corresponding to FIG. 31;
[0066] FIG. 36 shows the bracket of FIG. 31 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp has not yet been inserted;
[0067] FIG. 37 shows the bracket according to FIG. 36 in a view corresponding to FIG. 30;
[0068] FIG. 38 shows the bracket according to FIG. 36 in a view corresponding to FIG. 32;
[0069] FIG. 39 shows the bracket of FIG. 31 in a view corresponding to the latter, wherein the clamp is partially inserted;
[0070] FIG. 40 shows the bracket according to FIG. 39 in a view corresponding to FIG. 30;
[0071] FIG. 41 shows the bracket according to FIG. 39 in a view corresponding to FIG. 32; and
[0072] FIG. 42 is a view of the bracket cut along the cut surface XLII-XLII on FIG. 39.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0073] FIGS. 1 to 42 show three embodiments of a bracket 1 according to the invention. The bracket 1 according to the invention has a curved fastening side 2, whose curvature is approximated to the vestibular side of a tooth (not shown). Projections 3 arranged in rows are present on the fastening side 2. An adhesive can be applied to the fastening side, so as to adhesively bond the bracket 1 to the vestibular side of a tooth. The fastening side 2 thus comprises the lingual side of the bracket 1. In a bracket to be adhesively bonded to the lingual side of a tooth, the indications “lingual” and “labial” must be switched accordingly. The bracket 1 has a socket 4, from which a gingival wall 5 and an occlusal wall proceed. The two walls 5 and 6 run parallel to each other, and are separated by a groove 7 that runs continuously along a straight line from distal to mesial, and is labially open. Two ligature wings 8 protruding in a gingival direction are provided on the gingival wall 5. Two ligature wings 9 protruding in an occlusal direction are provided on the occlusal wall 6. As a consequence, the orientation provided for the bracket on a tooth is as follows on FIG. 3 with respect to the directions: bottom lingual, top labial, right occlusal, left gingival and distal-mesial perpendicular to the drawing plane.
[0074] The groove 7 is designed to receive an archwire (not shown), which usually has a rectangular cross section and is not part of the bracket. By preloading the archwire, a torque can be exerted on the base 11 of the groove 7 and on the walls 5 and 6. To this end, the clear cross section of the groove 7 is generally rectangular. In the present case, the clear cross section is bordered by the base 11 of the groove 7 as well as by ribs 12 on the gingival wall 5, which serve to diminish the friction of the archwire in the groove 7. The base 11 extends continuously without interruption from mesial to distal, see FIGS. 14, 28 and 42. Provided at the ends of the groove 7 are rounded inclined surfaces 14 on the base 11, rounded inclined surfaces 15 on the gingival wall 5 and rounded inclined surfaces on the occlusal wall 6, which widen the entry of the groove 7, and likewise serve to diminish the friction for the archwire lying in the groove 7. This can be advantageous in particular given severely misaligned teeth, which require an especially irregular progression of the archwire.
[0075] A slit 18 runs underneath the base 11 of the groove 7 parallel to the base 11, and is bordered by a lingually situated surface 19 and a labially situated surface 20, as well as by two narrow side walls 21. The side walls 21 run parallel to each other, and extend between the lingually situated surface 19 and the labially situated surface 20. The slit 18 extends continuously through the socket 4, and is not connected with the groove 7.
[0076] The bracket 1 also comprises a clamp 25 made out of a spring material. It has a first clamp leg 26 that runs in a straight line and a second clamp leg 27 that is shorter than the first clamp leg 26 and runs approximately in a straight line. The first clamp leg 26 is the lingual leg, and the second clamp leg 27 is the labial leg. The two clamp legs 26, 27 are connected by a section that runs in an approximately circular arc, which is referred to as the clamp bend 28. In the case depicted, the clamp bend 28 forms an occlusally arranged section of the clamp 25. The latter is exactly as wide as the first clamp leg 26, which fits into the slit 18 with little play. The second clamp leg 27 widens to approximately the length of the groove 7. It does not run parallel, but rather at an acute angle to the first clamp leg 26, which it approaches from the clamp bend 28. The gingival end of the second clamp leg 27 has a gingivally extending extension 29, which is angled in a labial direction. The extension 29 is narrower than the second clamp leg 27, and narrower than the first clamp leg 26; it fits with little play in a cutout 24 arranged in the gingival wall 5. The clamp 25 is connected with the bracket 1 by introducing the clamp leg 26 from an occlusal direction into the slit 18, see FIGS. 8, 22 and 36, and pushing it forward in a gingival direction until in the closed position of the clamp 25, see FIGS. 7, 21 and 35. For opening purposes, the clamp 25 is pushed back until it is in its open position, see FIGS. 3, 17 and 31. Given a bracket to be adhesively bonded to a tooth in the opposite direction, the clamp bend 28 can form a gingivally situated section of the clamp 25, and the indications “occlusal” and “gingival” are to be switched accordingly.
[0077] In the first embodiment of the bracket 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, the first clamp leg 26 has an oblong recess 30. The recess 30 is designed as an oblong hole, and centrally arranged in the first clamp leg 26. A projection 31 that proceeds from the labially situated surface 20 of the slit 18 protrudes lingually into the recess 30. The labially situated surface 20 is designed as a flat guiding surface 20a for the first clamp leg 26. The projection 31 is shaped like a latching lug. The (occlusal) side of the projection 31 facing the clamp bend (28) runs inclined at an angle of roughly 20° to the guiding surface 20a. The (gingival) side of the projection 31 facing away from the clamp bend (28) is inclined more strongly toward the guiding surface 20a than the side facing the clamp bend (28). The projection 31 is molded in one piece on the socket 4. The (gingival) end of the recess 30 facing away from the clamp bend (28) is bordered by a stop 33, which is formed by the mesially to distally running web at the free (gingival) end 26a of the first clamp leg 26. The lingually situated surface 19 of the slit 18 contains two flat guiding surfaces 19a and 19b for the first clamp leg 26, between which a channel 35 is arranged. The guiding surfaces 19a, 19b run parallel to the guiding surface 20a. The guiding surfaces 19a, 19b and the channel 35 extend from gingival to occlusal over the entire length of the slit 18. When starting to introduce the clamp 5 into the slit 18, the free end 26a of the first clamp leg 26 sits before the projection 31, see FIGS. 8 to 10. When the stop 33 reaches the projection 31 while continuing to insert the first clamp leg 26 into the slit 18, the first clamp leg 26 is resiliently deformed in the lingual direction with the stop 33, see in particular FIGS. 11 to 14. The channel 35 in the lingually situated surface 19 forms an escape space 36 in the surface 19 lying opposite the projection 31. The first clamp leg 26 with the stop 33 can thus escape into the escape space 36 when the stop 33 slides over the projection 31 while inserting the clamp 25. In the area of the stop 33, the guiding surfaces 19a, 19b and the projection 31 here bend the first clamp leg 26 around a straight line, which runs along the longitudinal direction of the first clamp leg 26 in the gingival-occlusal direction, see in particular FIGS. 12 and 14. Once the stop 33 has been pushed over the projection 31, the first clamp leg 26 springs back into its flat initial shape, see FIGS. 2 to 4. If the first clamp leg 26 is pushed further in the direction of the closed position, the projection 31 does not impede the movement, since the projection 31 finds room in the recess 30. If the first clamp leg 26 has been completely pushed into the slit 18, the clamp 25 is in its closed position, see FIGS. 6 and 7. For moving the clamp 25 from the closed position into the open position, the second clamp leg 27 has a hole 40, which a pin-shaped tool (not shown) can engage. In addition, a positioning aid 41 for a tool (not shown) is provided before the free end 26a of the first clamp leg 26, with which the clamp 25 can be moved from the closed position into the open position by pressing against the free end 26a of its first clamp leg 26. In each position of the clamp 25, in particular in its closed position (see FIG. 7), the surface 19 that borders the slit 18 and is situated on the side of the first clamp leg 26 facing away from the groove 7 protrudes over the free end 26a of the first clamp leg 26. In order to move the clamp 25 out of its closed position (see FIG. 7) into its open position (see FIG. 3), a tool (not shown) is taken to hand, for example a scaler, and applied to the free end 26a of the first clamp leg 26. This position can be palpated without having to see it, because the lingually situated surface 19 extends so far in the gingival direction as to protrude over the free end 26a of the first clamp leg 26. In addition, a channel 41 extending until under the first clamp leg 26 is located in the lingually situated surface 19, proceeding from its gingival end. The channel 41 narrows in the gingival to occlusal direction, and ends at a stop 42. The channel 41 serves as a positioning aid for the tool (not shown), with which the channel 41 can be palpated. Once the recess 41 has been palpated, the tip of the tool is used to move the clamp 25 in the gingival to occlusal direction. The tip of the tool here continues to be guided in the correct direction by the channel 41. The sliding movement ends when the stop 33 hits the projection 31, see FIG. 3. The clamp 25 is then in its open position. In this open position, the second clamp leg 27 has a resting position on the occlusal wall 6, in which it opens up access to the groove 7 from a labial direction.
[0078] In the second embodiment of the bracket 1 shown in FIGS. 15 to 28, the mesial edge and distal edge of the first clamp leg 26 each have a recess 30a, 30b. A projection 31a proceeding from the labially situated surface 20 protrudes into the recess 30a. A projection 31b proceeding from the labially situated surface 20 protrudes into the recess 30b. An escape space 36 is allocated in the list 18 opposite the projection 31a, designed like a channel 35a, and extends from gingival to occlusal over the entire length of the slit 18. An escape space 36 is provided in the slit 18 opposite the projection 31b. The escape space 36 is formed as a channel 35b that extends from gingival to occlusal over the entire length of the slit 18. The labially situated surface 20 of the slit is designed as a flat guiding surface 20a, from which the two projections 31a, 31b proceed. The lingually situated surface 19 of the slit 18 contains a flat guiding surface 19a for the first clamp leg 26, which is arranged between the two channels 35a and 35b. As in the first embodiment, during the insertion of the first clamp leg 26 into the slit 18, the first clamp leg 26 with the two stops 33a and 33b resiliently escapes into the respective escape space 36a and 36b (see FIGS. 25 to 28) while the stops 33a, 33b slide over the projections 31a and 31b during insertion of the clamp 25 into the slit 18. In the area of the stops 33a, 33b, the projections 31a and 31b and the guiding surfaces 19a here bend the first clamp leg 26 around a straight line, which runs along the longitudinal direction of the first clamp leg 26 in the gingival-occlusal direction, see FIGS. 26 and 28. Here as well, the bend of the first clamp leg 25 again reverses once the stops 33a, 33b have been pushed over the projections 31a and 31b, see FIGS. 16 to 18. When the clamp 25 is moved between the open position (see FIG. 17) and the closed position (see FIG. 21), the projections 31a, 31b protrude into the recesses 30a, 30b, and do not impede the movement. In order to move the clamp 25 from the closed position into the open position, the second clamp leg 27 has a hole 40, into which a pin-shaped tool (not shown) can engage. The functional principle of the second embodiment otherwise corresponds to that of the first embodiment, so that reference is made thereto so as to avoid repetition.
[0079] In the third embodiment of the backet 1 according to the invention shown on FIGS. 29 to 42, the first clamp leg 26 has an oblong recess 30 that is T-shaped in design. A projection 31 proceeding from the labially situated surface 20 lingually protrudes into the latter. The labially situated surface 20 is designed as a flat guiding surface 20a. The lingually situated surface 19 contains a flat guiding surface 19a. A pocket 37 is formed in the lingually situated surface 19 as an escape space 36. The pocket 37 extends over the entire width of the slit 18, see FIG. 33. As in the first exemplary embodiment, during the insertion of the first clamp leg 26 into the slit 18, the first clamp leg 26 with the stop 33 resiliently escapes into the escape space 36 (see FIGS. 39 to 42) while the stop 30 slides over the projection 31 during insertion of the clamp 25 into the slit 18. In the area of the stop 33, the projection 31 here bends the first clamp leg around a straight line, which runs transverse to the longitudinal direction of the first clamp leg 26, i.e., in the mesial-distal direction. As in the first embodiment, the bend of the first clamp leg again reverses once the stop 33 has been pushed over the projection 31, see FIGS. 30 to 32. The functional principle of the third exemplary embodiment otherwise corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment, so that reference is made thereto so as to avoid repetition.
REFERENCE LIST
[0080] 1 Bracket
[0081] 2 Fastening side
[0082] 3 Projections
[0083] 4 Socket
[0084] 5 Gingival wall
[0085] 6 Occlusal wall
[0086] 7 Groove
[0087] 8 Gingival ligature wing
[0088] 9 Occlusal ligature wing
[0089] 10 Base of 7
[0090] 11 Ribs on 5
[0091] 14 Inclined surfaces on 11
[0092] 15 Inclined surfaces on 5
[0093] 18 Slit
[0094] 19 Lingually situated surface
[0095] 19a Guiding surface
[0096] 19b Guiding surface
[0097] 20 Labially situated surface
[0098] 20a Guiding surface
[0099] 21 Side walls
[0100] 24 Cutout
[0101] 25 Clamp
[0102] 26 First clamp leg
[0103] 26a Free end
[0104] 27 Second clamp leg
[0105] 28 Clamp bend
[0106] 29 Extension from 27
[0107] 30 Recess
[0108] 30a Recess
[0109] 30b Recess
[0110] 31 Projection
[0111] 31a Projection
[0112] 31b Projection
[0113] 33 Stop
[0114] 33a Stop
[0115] 33b Stop
[0116] 35 Channel
[0117] 35a Channel
[0118] 35b Channel
[0119] 36 Escape space
[0120] 37 Pocket
[0121] 40 Hole in 27
[0122] 41 Channel (positioning aid)
[0123] 42 Stop
