Patent ID: 9693836
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: A61C

Claim:
1. An orthodontic bracket, comprising: a bracket body configured to be mounted onto a tooth, the bracket body including an archwire slot having a base surface and opposed slot surfaces projecting perpendicularly from the base surface and being adapted to receive an archwire therein, the bracket body further including a support surface intersecting one of the opposed slot surfaces, a pair of opposing projections extending outwardly from the support surface, the support surface and opposing projections defining a guiding track having a first portion and a second portion having a width between opposing projections greater than a width between opposing projections of the first portion, the first portion being spaced apart from the archwire slot by the second portion; and a resilient ligating member coupled to the bracket body and movable relative thereto in the guiding track between an opened position in which the archwire is received into the archwire slot, and a closed position in which the resilient ligating member overlies the archwire slot, wherein the resilient ligating member is capable of flexing between an expanded position and a contracted position, the resilient ligating member being in the expanded position when in the second portion of the guiding track and being in the contracted position when in the first portion of the guiding track, wherein moving the resilient ligating member toward the opened position applies a force to the resilient ligating member causing the resilient ligating member to deform to the contracted position so as to fit within the first portion of the guiding track.