US3231976A

US3231976A - Orthodontist's tool to dispense and apply wire teeth separators

Info

Publication number: US3231976A
Application number: US207521A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wallshein Melvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-07-05
Filing date: 1962-07-05
Publication date: 1966-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-01

Description

M. WALLSHEIN Feb. 1, 1966 ORTHODONTIST'S TOOL TO DISPENSE AND APPLY WIRE TEETH SEPARATORS Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR,

N E H s L L A W m V L E M ATORNEY.

United States Patent a .f 3,231,976 t. ORTHODONTISTS TOOL `T0...DISPENSE AND n APPLY `WIRE TEETHSEPARATQRS n, Melvin Wallshein, 8645 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed July 5, 1962, Sei'.` No. 207,521 3 Claims. (Cl. 32-66) The present invention relates to an orthodontists tool to apply a separator between teeth in a patients mouth.

These Iseparators are made of wire and are set to straddle the contact area of two adjacent teeth which need some separation; Being of springy material, they are in stressed condition when mounted as a U-form. The arms of the U-forrn, in working towards each other, decrease or entirely undo thecontaot area and thus eitect separation of the teeth between which the separator creeps into. One form of teeth vseparator this tool `is suited for, is shown in my Patent No; 3,052,029 dated September 4, 1962.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved orthodontists tool including an operating member which at each stroke will dispense `a separator, hold in proper position and insert `it between the two teeth needing separation, allowing` manual manipulation by moving said tool so that the ejected separator gets properly placed.

Since the separator being applied, heed be expanded as it is being mounted, it is another object of this invention to provide that the separator shall be held by the tool during such expansion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved orthodontists tool of the character described, having thementioned attributes, and which is simple in construction, reasonably cheap to manufacture, easy to use and efficient in carry-ing out the purposes for which it isdesigned. p

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds;

For one practice of this invention, the tool comprises a hand stapler minus its anvil; such being usually called a tacker. I load this with a 1multiplicity of separators associated as a slug of separable staples therein,fto be ejected one at a time through achute of special construetion to straddle the contact area between teeth which need separation and not only `holds the separator being applied so thatnit can be manipulated into proper place by tool movement, but continues to hold the separator while it is causedto expand and is coming into its required position between the teeth.

Different size separators may be dispensed by a single tool, by having each slug in a tubular carrier; the external dimensions of such carrier in all instances being identical and its interior being such that the slug therein is slidably fitted therein. The spring-loaded slug pusher common in such stapling or tacker devices will then travel in said carrier, to advance the slug after return of the plunger to normal rest position.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specication, similar characters of reference indicate corI responding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of an orthodontists tool embodying the teachings of this invention. It is here deemed held in hand and is shown ready to apply a separator between two teeth in a mouth.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slug of separators which t in said tool in like manner as a slug of staples do in a stapler or tacker.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the wire separators of the type shown in my said patent application.

FIG. 4 is a left end view of the tool in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-8 are fragmentary perspective views showing different forms of chute construction for this tool at its i hits the teeth,`it is expanded and thus stressed.

Mice

discharge region. These views are inverted with respect to FIG.` 1 and are drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the tool, showing a separator which has been severed vfrom the slug and shifted by the plunger into the discharge chute and about ready to be ejected into position between two teeth. In this View, only one of said teeth is shown so as not to hide the discharge end of the chute from view. The chute is that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is like FIG. 9, showing the separator fully ejected from the tool and in place between teeth. Such separator being expanded, is therefore in stressed con-V dition. y

FIG. 11 is a `view like FIG. 9, showing the tool manipulated so that the separator is set in such position as the orthodontist may desire.

FIG. 12 is a perspective View of another form of teeth separator, a multiplicity of which are associated as a slug.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary face view of a plunger suitable for the separators of the type shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS; 14 and 15 are fragmentary perspective views of separators of diierent sizes, each in a carrier of identical exterior dimensions.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a preferred embodiment of the tool herein which is of a size to be` conveniently held in hand and which can be entered into a patients mouth as shown in FIG. l; Said tool comprisesV a tacker indicated generally by the numeral 16 which holds a slug 17 of separable teeth separators 18. Upon bringing its operating member 19 ytowards its frame part 20 which contains a slug feeding device not shown but well known, the resulting movement of its plunger 21 will sever the end `separator 18' of the slug and eject it out of an opening 22 at the end of a chute 23 which I have provided. Various other chute forms suitable for -known tacker devices, are shown designated generally by the

numerals

24, 25, 25 respectively. The thickness of each chute is made so, that the separator 18 being ejected, shall pass throughfrictionally engaged with the wide wallsV of the chute. The chutes side end portions are tines indicated by the numerals 22', 22 offering passages to guide the separator being discharged.A In use, the discharge end of the chute is set as awsaddle straddling the contact area of two

adjacent teeth

26, 27 as shown in the FIGS. 9-11. The tacker, is operated and thus a separator l18' is mounted between said teeth to straddle said area. When the separator 1S Initial Contact, or a bit before initial vContact of the separator withthe teeth, is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows the separator fully ejected and mounted between the teeth to the extent their surface contours will permit; such separator being in expanded and stressed condition. Its tendency to return to unstressed normal condition, will cause the

teeth

26, 27 to become separated a distance equal at most to the thickness of the wire stock of which the separator is made.

The separator 18 in passing from its position shown in FIG. 9 where it is about to be ejected by the plunger 21, to its mounted position shown in FIG. 10, needs to be allowed to expand and various contour formations of the

adjacent teeth

26, 27 require that the tool 15 be i shifted a slight turn and perhaps given an arcuate oscilproper. If desired, both side ends of the chute may be open as in FIG. 8, or the chute may have its side ends diverge towards its opening 30 as in FIG. 6, in which latter structure, both

side end walls

31, 32 can be used for pushing the separator 18 to help it set into proper position between the teeth.

The particular separator construction 18 is given as a mere example and other forms may be associated as a slug of staples to be ejected by tackers adapted to work with them, such tackers being provided with any .of the chute forms'shown or suitable for equivalent function. For instance a teeth separator may be of the V-form made of rippled springly wire as at 33 (ripplingv not shown), .a multiplicity of which, separably associated as a slug 34 may have its tackers dispenser which is suitable for them, to serve as the tool in accordance with this invention. The tacker in such instance may be provided with a suitable chute as taught herein and with a plunger having a V-notch 35 as shown in FIG. 13.

In tacking devices having a spring-loaded slug pusher, wire separators of different sizes may be used as for instance of the

slugs

36 and 37. For this,'I provide that each slug shall be housed in a tubular carrier as shown at 36 and 37 respectively, which carriers have identical exterior dimensions, but in whose interior, the slug is slidably fitted.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall'be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specilic description and showings herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth separators one at a time and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contact area of two adjacent teeth in a patients mouth which need to be separated,

including a manually-operated means capable of being held in the hand and inserted into themouth, for dispensing one separator at each actuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one end thereof and adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chute having a discharge opening, said means including a plunger which effects movement of the separator being dispensed out of the chutes discharge opening, said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealong to set between the teeth whichare to have a separator ejected between them, said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation, each of said tines having a lengthwise slit therealong, said slits being opposite each other in spaced coplanar relation and aligned with the chute of said dispensing means.

2. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth 4 separators one at a time and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contact Vareavof two adjacent teeth in a patients mouth which need to be separated, including a manually-operated means capable of being held in the hand and inserted into the mouth, for dispensing one separator at each actuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one end thereof and adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chute having a discharge opening, said means including a plunger which effects movement of the separator' being dispensed out of the chutes discharge opening, said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealong to set between the teeth which are to have a separator ejected between them, said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation, each of said tines having a channel lengthwise thereof, said channels being opposite .one another in spaced coplanar relation, facing each other and aligned with said chute of said dispensingy means and diverging from said chute. l

3. An orthodontists tool for dispensing wire teeth separators one at a time and for applying the separator dispensed to straddle the contact area of two adjacentv teeth in a patients mouth which need to Ibe separated, in-cluding a manually-operated means capable of being held in the hand and inserted into the mouth, for dispensing one separator at each actuation thereof and a chute carried on said means at one end thereof and adapted to receive the separator being ejected; said chute having a discharge opening, said means including a plunger which effects movement of the separator being dispensed out of the chutes discharge opening, said chute at discharge end being formed with tines therealong to set between the teeth which are to have a separator ejected between them, said tines being opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation, one of said tines having a channel lengthwise thereof and the other tine having a lengthwise slit therealong; said slitand channel being opposite one another in spaced and coplanar relation, said channel facing said slit, said channel and slit being aligned with said chute of said dispensing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 746,549 12/1903 Modlin let al 1-418 `2,154,747 4/1939 Heyser 1 418 2,577,012 12/1951 Hinckley et al. l-349 2,604,623 7/1952 Ruskin 1-412 2,618,779 12/1952 Byard 1 419 3,006,344 10/1961 Vogelfan'ger 12S-346 X RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD I. HOFFMAN, ROBERT E. MORGAN,

' Examiners.

Claims

1. AN ORTHODONTIST''S TOOL FOR DISPENSING WIRE TEETH SEPARATORS ONE AT A TIME AND FOR APPLYING THE SEPARATOR DISPENSED TO STRADDLE THE CONTACT AREA OF TWO ADJACENT TEETH IN A PATIENT''S MOUTH WHICH NEED TO BE SEPARATED, INCLUDING A MANUALLY-OPERATED MEANS CAPABLE OF BEING HELD IN THE HAND AND INSERTED INTO THE MOUTH, FOR DISPENSING ONE SEPARATOR AT EACH ACTUATION THEREOF AND A CHUTE CARRIED ON SAID MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE SEPARATOR BEING EJECTED; SAID CHUTE HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER WHICH EFFECTS MOVEMENT OF THE SEPARATOR BEING DISPENSED OUT OF THE CHUTE''S DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID CHUTE AT DISCHARGE END BEING FORMED WITH TINES THEREALONG TO SET BETWEEN THE TEETH WHICH ARE TO HAVE A SEPARATOR EJECTED BETWEEN THEM, SAID TINES BEING OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER IN SPACED AND COPLANAR RELATION, EACH OF SAID TINES HAVING A LENGTHWISE SLIT THEREALONG, SAID SLITS BEING OPPOSITE EACH OTHER IN SPACED COPLANAR RELATION AND ALIGNED WITH THE CHUTE OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS.