Patent ID: 6012920
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61C,A61F

Abstract:
An articulating connector for an oral appliance, comprisingan upper housing mounted on an upper pin rotatable in a generally horizontal plane to form a lateral hinge, the upper pin being hingedly connected to a first adjusting screw and rotatable within a generally vertical plane to form a vertical hinge, the first adjusting screw having a helical thread progressing in a first direction,a lower housing mounted on a lower pin rotatable in a generally horizontal plane to form a lateral hinge, the lower pin being hingedly connected to a second adjusting screw and rotatable within a generally vertical plane to form a vertical hinge, the second adjusting screw having a helical thread progressing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, anda collar comprising one end with an axial bore having a helical thread progressing in the first direction for engaging the first screw and another end with an axial bore having a helical thread progressing in the second direction for engaging the second screw,whereby when the upper housing is secured to a maxillary tray and the lower housing is secured to a mandibular tray, upon rotation of the collar a distance between the first and second adjusting screws is selectively increased or decreased to selectively reposition the maxillary tray relative to the mandibular tray in an anterior or posterior direction.