Abstract:
A novelty teeth assembly includes a retainer sized for fitting over at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s dentition and an artificial tooth secured to the retainer and extending outward therefrom. The artificial tooth has an opening therein adapted to receive and mount an ornamental member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to costume or theatrical ware, and more particularly to novelty teeth for costume or theatrical wear.  
           [0002]    Novelty teeth are typically worn over a wearer&#39;s natural dentition for costume or theatrical purposes. One conventional type of novelty teeth comprises a retainer sized to fit over all or portion of the wearer&#39;s teeth and gums and one or more artificial teeth secured to and extending outward from the retainer. The teeth may be shaped, such as to simulate fangs or disfigurements, and the fronts of the retainer and teeth may also be arranged and treated to simulate other features such as gaps, missing teeth, overbite, decayed or stained teeth, gum abscesses and/or artificial crowns.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Among the several objects and features of the present invention is the provision of a novelty teeth assembly having an opening extending through at least one artificial tooth; the provision of such a novelty teeth assembly having an ornamental member supported by at least one artificial tooth of the assembly; and the provision of such a novelty teeth assembly which is easy to use.  
           [0004]    In general, a novelty teeth assembly of the present invention comprises a retainer sized for fitting over at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s dentition and an artificial tooth secured to the retainer and extending outward therefrom. The artificial tooth has an opening therein adapted to receive and mount an ornamental member.  
           [0005]    In another embodiment, the novelty teeth assembly further comprises an ornamental member supported by the artificial tooth in the opening.  
           [0006]    Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective of a novelty teeth assembly of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the novelty teeth assembly of FIG. 1; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a section taken in the plane of line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
       [0010]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    With reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a novelty teeth assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at  21 . The novelty teeth assembly comprises a retainer  23  for seating over the wearer&#39;s natural dentition (e.g., teeth and gums) and an arrangement of artificial teeth  25  secured to and extending outward from the retainer. As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer  23  is generally J-shaped in cross-section. The retainer  23  of the illustrated embodiment is sized for fitting over the front and back of the wearer&#39;s teeth and gums and is configured for fitting over either the top or the bottom dentition of the wearer. The retainer  23  is constructed of conventional dental acrylic comprising acrylic powder and methylmetoacrylate monomer and is preferably pink in color to simulate natural gums. The retainer  23  may be wearer. Holes  27  are disposed in the bottom or back of the retainer  23  for purposes which will become apparent.  
         [0012]    The artificial teeth  25  are also constructed of acrylic and are preferably integrally formed with the retainer  23 , such as by being molded integrally therewith. The teeth  25  may vary in size, number, shape and appearance to simulate a variety of dental conditions, such as gaps, missing teeth, overbite, decayed or stained teeth, gum abscesses and artificial crowns, without departing from the scope of this invention. As an example, the novelty teeth assembly  21  shown in FIG. 1 has artificial stain  35  on the front of the retainer surrounding the artificial teeth  25 . With particular reference to FIG. 3, one artificial tooth  25  has an opening  29  extending generally laterally therethrough from the front to the back of the tooth. The opening  29  of the illustrated embodiment was formed by drilling a hole through the tooth  25  after molding of the retainer  23  and teeth  25 . However, it is understood that the opening  29  may alternatively be formed during molding of the retainer  23  and teeth  25 , such as by forming the mold to have the opening incorporated in the artificial tooth. The inner surface of the opening  29  may be stained (not shown) so as to make the opening more visible and pronounced. The opening  29  may alternatively extend laterally through the tooth  25  from one side to the other, or may extend angularly through the tooth. It is also contemplated that the opening  29  may extend only partially through the tooth  25  without departing from the scope of this invention.  
         [0013]    A decorative ring  31 , broadly defining an ornamental member, extends through the opening  29  of the tooth  25  and is supported by the tooth in the opening to depend from the tooth when the novelty teeth assembly  21  is in use. In the illustrated embodiment, a decorative bead  33  is mounted on the ring  31 . It is contemplated that ornamental members having a configuration other than that of a ring may be used, such as hook-shaped or straight post earring-like members (not shown) that extend through the opening  29  and rest on the artificial tooth  25  and may be secured in the opening by a locking member (not shown) in the same manner as an earring.  
         [0014]    The novelty teeth assembly  21  further comprises a putty mixture (not shown) for customizing the assembly to fit over a particular wearer&#39;s dentition. The putty mixture includes an acrylic polymer putty and catalyst putty such that, when the putties are mixed together, the putty mixture solidifies into a pliable or rubbery but solid mass. The acrylic polymer putty is preferably a polyvinylsiloxone with a base component. To customize the novelty teeth assembly  21 , the putties are thoroughly mixed to form the putty mixture and then the mixture is placed into the retainer  23  so that some of the putty is worked into the holes  27  of the retainer. The retainer  23  is fitted over the wearer&#39;s teeth and gums, with the putty mixture surrounding the wearer&#39;s teeth. The wearer bites down on the assembly  21  or holds the assembly in place until the putty mixture sets and then removes the assembly from the mouth. The putty mixture then further hardens to a pliable, rubber-like consistency and is molded to the impression of the wearer&#39;s dentition. Excess putty mixture may be trimmed from the assembly  21 .  
         [0015]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.  
         [0016]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.  
         [0017]    As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.