Rotating clip orthodontic bracket

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire fully or partially within the bracket archwire slot. The orthodontic bracket has a body containing a slot to receive an orthodontic archwire, wings for tying ligature wires, a base that is attachable to an orthodontic band or directly to a tooth surface and a central recess in the front surface of the body that contains the rotating clip device. The rotating clip device is rotated to enclose an orthodontic archwire within the slot.

Description

26. The attached opposing columns 22 have an outer circular periphery sized to fit the circular walls 16 of the circular recess 15. The circular periphery contains a circular groove 27. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the circular recess 15 disclosing the recess wall 16 with h a circular ring 26 which seats into the circular groove 27 of the rotating clip 20. The circular ring 26 circular groove 27 relationship allows the rotating clip 20 to be retained in the circular recess 15 and be free to rotate. FIG. 5 discloses the invention in its preferred embodiment. The rotating clip 20 is inserted in the cylindrical recess 15 of the bracket body 2 wherein the circular base 21 is seated against the circular floor 17. The c-shaped extensions 24 extend left 5 and right 6 on the surface of the front 4 of the bracket body 2. The open opposing sides 23 align with the horizontal archwire slot 7 allowing an archwire to o travel continuously from the left end 8 of the archwire slot 7 to the right end 9 of the archwire slot 7. FIG. 6 discloses the rotating clip 20 as it sits within the bracket body 2. A circular groove 27 is shown horizontally on the outer surface of the attached opposing column 22. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the rotating clip 20 in the open position wherein the c-shaped extensions 24 do not enclose the archwire slot 7. In this open position an archwire may be placed and removed from the archwire slot 7. In FIG. 7 the rotating clip 20 is rotated counterclockwise wherein the c-shaped extension 24 encloses the archwire slot 7 which would contain an archwire within the archwire slot 7. This is called the closed position. FIG. 8 discloses the details of the rotating clip 20 as it rests within the bracket body 2. The open opposing sides 23 between the opposing columns 22 allow an archwire 30 to go between the left end 8 and right end 9 of the archwire slot 7.

FIG. 9 discloses the rotating clip orthodontic bracket 1 with the rotating clip 20 in an open position and an archwire 30 in the archwire slot 7. FIGS. 10A are cross sections of FIG. 9 through points A . . . A. The c-shaped extension 24 rests upon the bracket body 2 and has a free end 25 with a beveled leading edge 28 underside 26 wherein the beveled leading edge 28 facilitates the c-shaped extension 24 sliding over the archwire 30 as shown in FIG. 10B. FIG. 10C is a cross-section of the c-shaped extension 24 with a bottom side 14 that is flat 31. In FIG. 10B, the flat 31 bottom side 14 holds the archwire 30 passively in the archwire slot 7. FIG. 11A discloses the cross-section of FIG. 9 wherein the bottom 14 of the c-shaped extension 24 has an active bump 33 that holds the archwire 30 actively in the archwire slot 7 as shown in FIG. 11B. In FIG. 12A, the c-shaped extension 24 bottom 14 has a retentive bump 33 and a dimple 34 in the bracket body 2. The rotating clip 20 is held in a closed position when the retentive bump 33 is seated in the dimple, FIG. 12B. FIG. 13 discloses underside bumps 19, 35 that fit into a recess channel 41 on the bracket front 4. The recess channel 41 guides the round bumps 35 during the rotation of the rotating clip 20. FIG. 14 is a cross-section through B-B of FIG. 13. A round bump 35 on the bottom surface of the c-shaped extension 24 fits into the cutout channel 41 of the bracket body 41 2 and a cutout channel 40 for receiving the free end of the c-shaped extension 24 contains a dimple 34 for receiving the dimple 34 bump 35 on the bottom side of the c-shaped extension 24. FIG. 15 discloses a tab 42 on each c-shaped extension 24 extending towards the archwire slot 7. The tab 42 bottom may be smooth or may contain a bump 35. FIG. 16 shows the same rotating clip orthodontic bracket 1, as in FIG. 15, wherein the C-shaped extension 24 is in a first closed position. The first closed position is where the underside retentive bump 35 shown in FIG. 14 is seated in the dimple 34 closest to the archwire slot 7 as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 discloses the tabs 42 not covering the archwire slot 7. When the c-shaped extension 24 is rotated further counterclockwise into the second dimple, FIG. 15, 34, the tabs 42 enclose the archwire slot 7. FIG. 17A shows a cross-section of FIG. 16 through C-C wherein two dimples, No. 1 dimple 43 and No. 2 dimple 44, are in the cutout channel 40 in the first position. FIG. 17B discloses the second position wherein the round bump 35 is in the No. 2 dimple 44 which places a dimple over the archwire 30 which holds the archwire 30 actively. FIGS. 18A and 18B show FIG. 16 through D-D. FIG. 18A discloses the tab 42 with the smooth underside 26 of the tab 42 above the archwire 30, holding the archwire 30 passively. FIG. 18B shows the tab 42 further advanced over the archwire wherein the underside 26 of the tab 42 has a bump 32 that actively holds the archwire 30. FIGS. 19 and 20 disclose an index pin 45.

When orthodontic brackets are placed upon teeth they are ideally positioned with the bracket slot a predetermined distance from the incisal edge or occlusal surface of the tooth. In addition, the horizontal direction of the orthodontic bracket is placed at a right angle to the long axis of the tooth. An index pin 45, FIG. 19, is a pin vertically attached to the orthodontic bracket that helps visualize the correct long axis placement of the orthodontic bracket during its placement. FIG. 19 shows the index pin 45 attached to the self-ligating orthodontic assembly 1 in seats 46 between the left 11 and right 12 tie wings 10. FIG. 20 is a cross section through E-E of FIG. 19. In addition, a measuring notch 47 shows the position of the underlying archwire slot 7 that is helpful in the vertical positioning of the orthodontic bracket.

FIGS. 21-23 disclose another preferred embodiment of the invention wherein there is a second pair of c- shaped extensions 24. FIG. 21 shows the self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly 1 in an open position. The first c-shaped extensions 49 have a bump 35 on the under side and the second c-shaped extensions have a flat underside 25a. FIG. 22 shows the rotating clip 20 rotated counterclockwise wherein the underside bumps 35 engage and hold the archwire 30 actively. FIG. 23 shows the rotating clip 20 rotated clockwise wherein the second c-shaped extensions 48 have a flat undersides 25a that engage and hold the archwire 30 passively. FIG. 24 discloses a modification of the bracket wings wherein the upper and lower left wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the left of the bracket and the upper and lower right wings have horizontal notches 50 extending to the center 4 of the bracket body 2 , the notches 50 allow attachment of orthodontic elastomeric power chains 51 to the upper wings 13 only or to the lower wings 14 only. Elastomeric chains 51 are a series of connected islets made from an elastic material. The elastomeric chains 51 are normally used to close spaces between teeth rotate teeth and maintain the lack of spacing between teeth. The elastomeric chains 51 normally circle all four bracket wings 10 and secure the archwire 30 in the archwire slot 7. In the present invention, the elastomeric chain 51 does not enclose the archwire. The elastomeric chain 51 can be changed without disturbing the archwire 30 or, conversely, the archwire 30 can be changed without disturbing the elastomeric chain 51.

The invention may include integral hooks for rubber band wear by the patient. In the alternative, channels may be placed in the invention to receive removable hooks for rubber band and other attachments. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket may be comprised of a variety of materials including metal, plastic and ceramic and decorative forms consisting of a variety of colors, glow-in-the-dark and LED lights which may be activated by the patient tapping their teeth together.

The invention, as described, is not limited to the specific embodiments described as these are preferred embodiments. The invention is claimed in any of its modifications within the proper scope of its claims.

Claims

1. A rotating clip orthodontic bracket comprising:

an orthodontic bracket comprising a body, the body having a back, a front with a center, left and right sides, a top and a bottom, the body front contains an archwire slot extending horizontally left side to right side shaped to receive an orthodontic archwire with right and left ends, left and right tie wings at the top and bottom body for tie wires or elastomeric ties for securing an archwire within the archwire slot;

a cylindrical recess with walls in the center of the body front of the orthodontic bracket wherein the cylindrical recess is open on the body front and extends towards the body back wherein the cylindrical recess ends with a circular floor; and

a rotating clip within the cylindrical recess for securing orthodontic archwires comprised of a circular base, two attached opposing columns separated by open opposing sides which allow the passage of an archwire through the archwire slot, each column supporting a c-shaped extension with a free end and an underside facing the bracket front wherein the circular base is fitted to the wall adjacent to the circular floor, the opposing columns are fitted to the cylindrical recess walls and the c-shaped extensions extend on the bracket front in opposing directions, the clip is fitted in the cylindrical recess and when the clip is rotated in a clockwise rotation position the bracket slot is open allowing the insertion and removal of an archwire and when the clip is rotated in a counterclockwise position the c-shaped extensions retain the archwire within the archwire slot at the right and left ends of the archwire slot.

2. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 further comprising top and bottom index pin notches in the center of the front of the bracket between the left and right tie wings wherein an index pin with a measuring notch is placed to guide the placement of the orthodontic bracket on a tooth.

3. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped extensions free end undersides each contain a bump projecting downwards towards the front of the body of the orthodontic bracket, the front of the body contains dimples shaped to receive the respective bumps, the dimples are placed to receive the respective dimples and lock the c-shaped extension in archwire slot closed position when the rotating clip is rotated counterclockwise and lock the c-shaped extension in the archwire slot open position when the rotating clip is rotated clockwise.

4. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket clip of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped extensions free ends each have a surface facing the front of the body of the orthodontic bracket, this surface is beveled towards the c-shaped extension free end which facilitates sliding the c-shaped extension free end over an orthodontic archwire that has been placed in the archwire slot.

5. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped extensions have flat undersides which enclose the archwire passively in the archwire slot when the rotating clip is rotated counterclockwise.

6. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped extensions have round bumps extruding from their undersides near their free ends which press down and hold the archwire actively in the archwire slot when the rotating clip is rotated counterclockwise.

7. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the bracket body face has cutouts adjacent to the archwire slot shaped to receive the free ends of the c-shaped extensions which have underside bumps in their free ends and middles and a channel on the bracket body face under each c-shaped extension to guide the middle underside bumps during the rotation of the rotating clip.

8. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein there are four c-shaped extensions, two opposing extensions with flat undersides which enclose the archwire passively when the rotating clip is rotated counterclockwise and two c-shaped extensions with underside bumps which enclose the archwire actively in the archwire slot when the rotating clip is turned clockwise.

9. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped extensions each have a middle which contain an extension tab which projects towards the archwire slot, the extension tab encloses the archwire when the rotating clip is in the closed position thus increasing the closure of the archwire in the archwire slot.

10. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom left and right wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the left of the bracket and the upper and lower right wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the right of the bracket, the notches allow attachment of orthodontic elastomeric power chains to the upper wings only or to the lower wings only which prevents the elastomeric chains from contacting and binding the archwire and allows the archwire to be placed or removed without removing the elastomeric chain.

11. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein there are upper and lower index pin notches positioned between adjacent tie wings to receive an index pin with a horizontal measuring notch for positioning the orthodontic bracket upon a tooth.

12. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical wall has a circular ring and the attached columns of the rotating clip has a circular groove, wherein when the circular ring is seated in the circular groove the rotating clip is allowed to rotate without being unseated from the cylindrical recess.

13. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 1 which is comprised of a variety of materials including metal, plastic or ceramic and decorative forms comprising a variety of colors, glow-in-the-dark and LED lights which may be activated by the patient tapping their teeth together.

14. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket comprising:

an orthodontic bracket comprising a body, the body having a back, a front with a center, left and right sides, a top and a bottom, the body front contains an archwire slot extending horizontally left side to right side shaped to receive an orthodontic archwire with right and left ends, left and right tie wings at the top and bottom body for tie wires or elastomeric ties for securing an archwire within the archwire slot;

a cylindrical recess with walls in the center of the body front of the orthodontic bracket wherein the cylindrical recess is open on the bracket body front and extends towards the bracket body back wherein the cylindrical recess ends with a circular floor; and

a rotating clip within the cylindrical recess for securing orthodontic archwires comprised of a circular base, two attached opposing columns separated by open opposing sides which allow the passage of an archwire through the archwire slot, the columns supporting first and second opposing sets of c-shaped extensions, the first set with a c-shaped extension adjacent to the top left tie wing, wherein the first opposing c-shaped extension end undersides each have a bump and the second opposing c-shaped extension end undersides are each flat, the circular base is fitted to the cylindrical recess wall adjacent to the circular floor, the opposing columns are fitted to the cylindrical recess walls and the c-shaped extensions extend on the bracket front in opposing directions, the clip is fitted in the cylindrical recess and when the rotating clip is in a center position the bracket slot is open allowing the insertion and removal of an archwire in the archwire slot, when the rotating clip is rotated in a counterclockwise position the bumps, on the underside of the c-shaped extensions, push on the archwire to retain the archwire actively within the archwire slot at the right and left ends of the archwire slot, when the rotating clip is rotated clockwise the flat undersurface of the c-shaped extensions push on the archwire holding hold the archwire passively in the archwire slot.

15. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 further comprising top and bottom index pin notches positioned between adjacent tie wings in the center of the front of the bracket body wherein an index pin with a measuring notch is placed to guide the placement of the orthodontic bracket on a tooth.

16. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket clip of claim 14 wherein the c-shaped extensions free ends each have a surface facing the front of the body of the orthodontic bracket, this surface is beveled towards the free ends which facilitates sliding the c-shaped end over an orthodontic archwire that has been placed in the archwire slot.

17. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 wherein the bracket face has cutouts adjacent to the archwire slot shaped to receive c-shaped extension ends with underside bumps and a channel on the bracket face with adjacent underside bumps on the c-shaped extensions wherein the cutouts guide the underside bumps during the rotation of the rotating clip.

18. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 wherein the c-shaped extensions have a middle which contain an extension tab which projects towards the archwire slot, the extension tab encloses the archwire when the rotating clip is in the closed position thus increasing the closure of the archwire in the archwire slot.

19. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 wherein the top left and right wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the left of the bracket and the lower right and left wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the of the bracket, the notches allow attachment of orthodontic elastomeric power chains to the upper wings only or to the lower wings only.

20. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 wherein there are upper and lower index pin notches to receive an index pin with a horizontal measuring notch for positioning the orthodontic bracket upon a tooth.

21. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 wherein the cylindrical wall has a circular ring and the attached columns of the rotating clip has a circular groove, when circular ring is seated in the circular groove the rotating clip is allowed to rotate without being unseated from the cylindrical recess.

22. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14 which is comprised of a variety of materials selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic and ceramic and decorative forms comprising a variety of colors, glow-in-the-dark and LED lights which may be activated by the patient tapping their teeth together.

23. A method of straightening teeth using the rotating clip orthodontic bracket of claim 14, comprising:

attaching a rotating orthodontic bracket to a tooth;

rotating the orthodontic bracket rotating clip to an archwire slot open position;

placing an orthodontic archwire into the archwire slot;

enclosing the archwire by rotating the rotating clip until the archwire is enclosed within the archwire slot;

opening the orthodontic archwire slot by rotating the rotating clip into an archwire slot is open; and

removing the orthodontic archwire.

24. A method of orthodontic treatment with an archwire comprising:

attaching an orthodontic bracket including a bracket body and a rotatable clip to a tooth, the bracket body defining an archwire slot;

inserting an archwire into the archwire slot;

rotating the rotatable clip to a first closed position in which the rotatable clip passively ligates the archwire; and

rotating the rotatable clip to a second closed position in which the rotatable clip actively ligates the archwire,

wherein rotating the rotatable clip includes rotating the rotatable clip about an axis of rotation that lies within the archwire slot.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the rotatable clip includes a clip body and an extension that extends laterally outward from the clip body and that has a protrusion on an underside thereof, and wherein rotating the rotatable clip to the second closed position causes the protrusion to contact the archwire.

26. A method of orthodontic treatment with an archwire comprising:

attaching an orthodontic bracket including a bracket body and a rotatable clip to a tooth, the bracket body defining an archwire slot and the rotatable clip including a first extension and a second extension;

inserting an archwire into the archwire slot when the rotatable clip is in an opened position in which the first extension and second extension are spaced apart by the archwire slot;

rotating the rotatable clip to a first closed position in which the rotatable clip encloses the archwire in the archwire slot so as to passively ligate the archwire; and

rotating the rotatable clip in the same direction to a second closed position in which the rotatable clip encloses the archwire in the archwire slot so as to actively ligate the archwire.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the rotatable clip includes an extension that extends laterally outward from a clip body and wherein rotating the rotatable clip to the first closed position and the second closed position positions the extension over the archwire slot to enclose the archwire therein.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the extension has a protrusion on an underside thereof and rotating the rotatable clip to the second closed position positions the protrusion in contact with the archwire.

29. A method of orthodontic treatment with an archwire comprising:

attaching an orthodontic bracket including a bracket body and a rotatable clip to a tooth, the bracket body defining an archwire slot and the rotatable clip including a first extension and a second extension that each extend laterally outward from a clip body;

inserting an archwire into the archwire slot;

rotating the rotatable clip about an axis of rotation that is generally perpendicular to the archwire slot to a first closed position in which the first extension and the second extension enclose the archwire in the archwire slot so as to passively ligate the archwire; and

rotating the rotatable clip to a second closed position in which the first extension and the second extension enclose the archwire in the archwire slot so as to actively ligate the archwire.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first extension and the second extension each have a protrusion on an underside thereof and wherein rotating the rotatable clip to the second closed position rotates the protrusion on each of the first extension and the second extension into contact with the archwire.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein rotating the rotatable clip to the first closed position includes rotating the rotatable clip in one of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions and rotating the rotatable clip to the second closed position includes rotating the rotatable clip in the other of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions.

32. A method of orthodontic treatment with an archwire comprising:

attaching an orthodontic bracket including a bracket body and a rotatable clip to a tooth, the bracket body defining an archwire slot and the rotatable clip including a first extension and a second extension that each extend laterally outward from a clip body;

inserting an archwire into the archwire slot;

rotating the rotatable clip to a first closed position in which the first extension and the second extension enclose the archwire in the archwire slot so as to passively ligate the archwire; and

rotating the rotatable clip to a second closed position in which the first extension and the second extension enclose the archwire in the archwire slot so as to actively ligate the archwire,

wherein rotating the rotatable clip to the first closed position includes rotating the rotatable clip in one of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions and rotating the rotatable clip to the second closed position includes rotating the rotatable clip in the other of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions.

33. A method of orthodontic treatment with an archwire comprising:

attaching an orthodontic bracket including a bracket body and a rotatable clip to a tooth, the bracket body defining an archwire slot and the rotatable clip including a first extension and a second extension that each extend laterally outward from a clip body;

inserting an archwire into the archwire slot;

rotating the rotatable clip to a closed position in which a bottom surface of each of the first extension and the second extension closes off the archwire slot.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein during rotating to the closed position, each of the first extension and the second extension contact the bracket body on opposing sides of the archwire slot.