Patent ID: 7204690
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. An orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising: a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one mesial distal extending side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slot and its removal therefrom; a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and a shutter member mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open, and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an arch wire in the slot; wherein the shutter member comprises; a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member; and a relatively rigid slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; and an attitude controlling spring member constituted by an integral extension of the slot closure portion further from the pivot portion and more flexible than the slot closure portion, the integral extension spring member being of recurved cross section in an occlusal, gingival, labial, lingual plane to have two arms, a first of which is integral with the slot closure portion and the second of which is integral with the first arm; wherein with the shutter member in slot closed position a free end portion of the second arm of the spring member extends into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with the respective slot walls.