Patent ID: 7217125
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. An orthodontic appliance comprising: a base; a body extending outwardly from the base; an archwire slot extending across the appliance in a generally mesial-distal direction; a post extending outwardly from the body; and a latch for releasably retaining an archwire in the archwire slot, wherein the latch comprises a clip with a region next to the archwire slot for receiving an archwire, wherein the clip is connected to the post and has arm portions that are movable away from each other to an opened position to admit an archwire into the archwire-receiving region while the clip remains connected to the post and movable toward each other to retain an archwire in the archwire slot, wherein the clip also includes a recess that receives the post, wherein the recess is in communication with the archwire-receiving region, wherein the post includes a side that faces the region, and wherein the clip also includes at least one protrusion extending between the region and the recess and along the side of the post that faces the region when the arm portions are in the opened position.