A self-locking orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body having a first surface and an arch-wire slot disposed on the first surface, a sliding cover matched with the bracket body and comprising a second surface towards the first surface, and a deformable locking element configured for locking the sliding cover on the bracket body. A positioning groove is disposed on the second surface. The first surface includes a guiding surface, and the second surface is slidably engaged with the guiding surface. A sinking groove is disposed on the guiding surface, and a bottom surface of the sinking groove is further provided with a locking groove. A lower part of the locking element is fixed in the locking groove, and an upper part of the locking element extends into the positioning groove, such that the sliding cover is slidably locked on the bracket body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from China Patent Application Nos. 201811542697.X, filed on Dec. 17, 2018, and 201822119052.7, filed on Dec. 17, 2018, in the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of dental medical devices, in particular, to a self-locking orthodontic bracket for orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND

A self-locking orthodontic bracket is an orthodontic device made of a metal or ceramic material that is fixed to a surface of the tooth by a special adhesive during orthodontic treatment of teeth. The self-locking orthodontic bracket can accommodate and further fix an orthodontic steel wire, and a force can be accurately transmitted to the teeth to be corrected, so as to achieve the purpose of orthodontic treatment. Compared with the traditional orthodontic technology, friction can be greatly reduced between the orthodontic steel wire and the self-locking orthodontic bracket, so that the tooth can move faster, thereby effectively shortening the entire treatment time.

In prior art, many orthodontic brackets are installed in a manner that a sliding cover is firstly installed in one side of a bracket, and a locking device is fixed from a reverse side of the bracket. The Chinese patent (Issued No. CN101815478B) disclosed an orthodontic bracket for mounting an arch-wire to the tooth, which adopts a pin as a fixing mechanism to fix the sliding cover on a bracket body. The installation and disassembly of the orthodontic bracket in use were complicated, and the fixing mechanism needs to install separately. The installation speed is slow, which brings great inconvenience to patients in the clinical application of orthodontics. Therefore, it is necessary to develop.

SUMMARY

In order to provide a self-locking orthodontic bracket which is convenient and easy to install, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a self-locking orthodontic bracket including a bracket body having a first surface, an arch-wire slot is disposed on the first surface; a sliding cover matched with the bracket body and comprising a second surface towards the first surface of the bracket body; and a locking element configured for locking the sliding cover on the bracket body and able to deform. A positioning groove is disposed on the second surface of the sliding cover. The first surface of the bracket body includes a guiding surface, and a second surface of the sliding cover is slidably engaged with the guiding surface. A sinking groove is disposed on the guiding surface, and a bottom surface of the sinking groove is further provided with a locking groove. A lower part of the locking element is fixed in the locking groove, and an upper part of the locking element extends into the positioning groove, such that the sliding cover is slidably locked on the bracket body.

The positioning groove can include a first region and a second region opposite to each other. When the sliding cover is slidably locked to the bracket body along a sliding direction, a first side wall of the first region touches the locking element at first, and a gap is formed on the first side wall of the first region and configured for guiding the upper part of the locking element into the positioning groove.

A bottom of the gap parallel to the second surface of the sliding cover can be defined as a third surface, and a distance in a vertical direction between the third surface and a top edge of the sinking groove can be greater than a size of the locking element along the sliding direction of the sliding cover.

A distance in a vertical direction between the third surface and the guiding surface can be less than a height of a part of the locking element extending into the positioning groove.

A distance in a vertical direction between the third surface and the guiding surface can be less than a size of the locking element along the sliding direction of the sliding cover.

A middle part of a sidewall of the positioning groove can extrude and form a limiting protrusion, and the first region and the second region can be on two sides of the limiting protrusion.

A direction perpendicular to the sliding direction in the second surface can be defined as a second direction, and a size of the limiting protrusion extruding in the second direction can be less than a maximum elastic deformation of the locking element in the second direction.

A locking element can include a plurality of elastic rods parallel to each other.

Lower parts of the plurality of elastic rods can be independent with each other.

The size of the locking element along the sliding direction of the sliding cover can be a diameter of each of the plurality of elastic rods.

An inclined surface can be disposed on the bottom of the gap.

The self-locking orthodontic bracket of the present disclosure can have the positioning groove on the second surface of the sliding cover. The bracket body can be provided with the sinking groove. The locking groove can be formed in the sinking groove for installing the locking element. After the locking element is installed to the bracket body, the sliding cover can be directly pushed into the bracket body. The entire self-locking orthodontic bracket can be completed to assemble, and the slide cover can be prevented from falling off after being pushed in, which can simplify a process of the installation and increase speed of the installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments, in order to better understand the objective, the technical solution and the advantage of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed” to another element, it may be directly attached to the other element or a further element may be presented between them. When an element is considered to be “connected” to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through a further element (e.g., indirectly connected). The terms as used herein “vertical”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right”, and the like, are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be the only orientation.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as a skilled person in the art would understand. The terminology used in the description of the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 12, a self-locking orthodontic bracket100is provided. Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the self-locking orthodontic bracket100can include a bracket body1, a sliding cover2and a locking element3. The bracket body1can include a first surface1a. An arch-wire slot11can be disposed on the first surface1aand configured for accommodating an arch wire. The arch-wire slot11has an opening. The first surface1aof the bracket body11can include a guiding surface12. A sinking groove13is disposed on the guiding surface12, and a bottom surface of the sinking groove13is further provided with a locking groove14configured for mounting the locking element3. The sliding cover2can be matched with the bracket body1and have a second surface2atowards the first surface1aof the bracket body1. A positioning groove21is disposed on the second surface2aof the sliding cover2. A lower part of the locking element3is fixed in the locking groove14, and an upper part of the locking element3extends into the positioning groove21, such that the sliding cover2is locked on the bracket body1.

The second surface2aof the sliding cover2can be slidably engaged with the guiding surface12. Referring toFIG. 10, in a process of mounting the sliding cover2to the bracket body1, a part of the sliding cover2abuts against the locking element3. When further pushing the sliding cover2, the upper part of the locking element3will bend and deform, and until entering into the positioning groove21, the locking element3will return to an original shape by its own elasticity. That is, the upper part of the locking element3is disposed in the positioning groove21to prevent the sliding cover2from separating from the bracket body1.

The sinking groove13can cause the upper part of the locking element3to deform and elongate. The upper part of the locking element3has a small bending angle at the same swinging amplitude. That is, the upper part of the locking element3is required to bend with a small angle along a sliding direction of the sliding cover2, such that the sliding cover2will passed over the locking element3to complete mounting on the bracket body1.

If the sinking groove13is not provided, the locking element3needs to be deformed at a large bending angle in the sliding direction of the sliding cover2. A larger external force is required for pushing and installing the sliding cover, which is inconvenient to use, and excessive external force may also cause the locking element to break.

The locking element3can be the same as the prior art, or further improved. Referring toFIG. 3, the locking element3can include two first elastic rods31arranged side by side. The first elastic rods31can be cylindrical. The diameter of the first elastic rod31can be defined as ΦC. The two first elastic rods31have the same diameter. A lower part of the first elastic rod31can be fixed in the locking groove14. The shape of the locking groove14can be matched with the first elastic rod31.

An upper part of the first elastic rod31extends through the sinking groove13and upward into the positioning groove21of the sliding cover2, so that the sliding cover2can be locked on the bracket body1. The two first elastic rods31are arranged in parallel and with the same height. The upper parts of the two first elastic rods31out of the locking groove14can be able to move relatively close together and return back. Through this deformation process, the sliding cover2can be switched and restricted at different positions.

The lower part of the two first elastic rods31can be independent with each other to avoid mutual interference or traction, and also facilitate flexible installation and standardization of components, and improve versatility.

The bottom of the locking element3can be fixed in the locking groove by means of bonding, welding, interference fit, and so on. The locking element3can be fixed in the locking groove14according to the shape and structure of the locking element3to achieve an overall stability and better fixing of the locking element3.

In an embodiment, referring toFIG. 4, the locking element3can include two second elastic rods322and a connecting portion321fixed between the two second elastic rods322. The connecting portion321can be welded to the two second elastic rods322. The connecting portion321and the bottom of the two second elastic rods322can be mounted in the locking groove14as shown inFIG. 6.

A top surface of the connecting portion321is not higher than a top edge of the sinking groove13, so that only two second elastic rods322protrude from the locking groove141, and both the two second elastic rods322are cylindrical, arranged parallel to each other and at the same height.

In another embodiment, referring toFIG. 5, the locking element3includes a base331and two third elastic rods332, which are integrally formed. A gap between the two elastic third elastic rods332can be formed by cutting.

Referring toFIG. 9, after passing over the arch-wire slot11, the sliding cover2can cover and a part of the sliding cover2will touch the other edge of the arch-wire slot11. In order to prevent being loosened, in one embodiment, a limiting groove15can be disposed on the bracket body1and especially on the other edge of the arch-wire slot11(as shown inFIG. 9). In a state where the sliding cover2closes the main arch-wire slot11, the sliding cover2extends along the guiding surface12, covers the arch-wire slot11and inserts into the limiting groove15. An edge portion of the sliding cover2can be received and restrained by the limiting groove15.

In order to smoothly guide a movement of the sliding cover2, in one embodiment, the guiding surface12of the bracket body1can be provided with a slide way16on both sides thereof (as shown inFIG. 1). Correspondingly, both sides of the sliding cover2have sliders28matched with the slide ways16(as shown inFIG. 2). As the sliding cover2slides, the sliding cover28can move back and forth along the slide ways16. The slide ways16on both sides of the bracket body1and the sliders28on both sides of the sliding cover2make the sliding cover2closely fit with the guiding surface12of the bracket body1during the sliding process. The sliding cover2can be installed more smoothly, so as to avoid derailing the sliding cover2under a larger external force.

In an embodiment, a cover opening17configured for driving the sliding cover2to exit from the limiting groove15is provided on the bracket body1and located between a side wall of the limiting groove15and the sliding cover2. When the sliding cover2is kept in a state of closing the arch-wire slot11, the edge portion of the sliding cover2is inserted into the limiting groove15, and the sliding cover2abuts against the side wall of the limiting groove15. A tool can be conveniently inserted into the cover opening17, and sufficient force can be provided to push the sliding cover2to overcome a limiting protrusion23, thereby releasing the locking of the first elastic rod31, so as to open the sliding cover2.

In one embodiment, the sliding cover2is provided with a positioning groove21on the second surface2athat is slidably matched with the first surface1aof the bracket body. Referring toFIG. 7, the positioning groove21can include a first region26and a second region27opposite to each other. Referring toFIG. 2, when the sliding cover2is slidably locked to the bracket body1along a sliding direction, a first side wall25of the first region26will touch the locking element3at first, and a gap22is formed on the first side wall25of the first region26and configured for guiding the upper part of the locking element3into the positioning groove21.

Referring toFIG. 10, a bottom of the gap parallel to the second surface of the sliding cover is defined as a third surface.

A distance in a vertical direction between the third surface and the guiding surface12is defined as A. A distance in a vertical direction between a top edge of the sinking groove13and the guiding surface12is defined as B. A size of the locking element along the sliding direction of the sliding cover (i.e., the diameter or thickness of the first elastic rod31) is defined as ΦC.

The sliding cover2is pushed along the guiding surface12, firstly blocked by the first elastic rod31, and the edge portion of the sliding cover2will apply a force on the first elastic rod31to drive the first elastic rod31to bend in the sliding direction of the sliding cover2. A distance in a vertical direction between the third surface and the top edge of the sinking groove13defined as A plus B is larger than ΦC. The proper space will allow the first elastic rod31to have sufficient space to bend, allowing the sliding cover2to be installed to the bracket body1.

If the distance in the vertical direction between the third surface and the top edge of the sinking groove13defined as A plus B is less than ΦC, it is possible that the sliding cover2will be blocked by the first elastic rod31, that is, even if the first elastic rod31is bent with 90 degrees, there is no sufficient space to accommodate the first elastic rod31, and the sliding cover2cannot pass over the first elastic rod31or be installed to the bracket body1.

Referring toFIG. 11, when the sliding cover2is retracted to an extreme position, the first elastic rod31contacts the first side wall25of the positioning groove21, and a height of the first elastic rod31extending into the positioning groove21is defined as D. The sliding cover2is in an open position of the entire self-locking orthodontic bracket. The distance A between the third surface and the guiding surface12is smaller than the height D, and the distance A is smaller than the size ΦC of the locking element3in the sliding direction of the sliding cover, so when the sliding cover2is retracted to the extreme position, the first side wall25of the sliding cover2will be blocked by the first elastic rod31, and the third surface and the guiding surface12respectively form shearing forces on opposite sides of the locking element3, which will drive the locking element3to bend. If the distance A between the third surface and the guiding surface12is greater than the size ΦC of the locking element3in the sliding direction, the locking element3will bend and the sliding cover2will slide out and cannot be blocked. Therefore, the distance A should be smaller than the size ΦC of the locking element3in the sliding direction of the sliding cover.

The positioning groove21can be coupled to the first elastic rod31by the shape of its side wall. Referring toFIG. 7, in an embodiment, a middle part of a sidewall of the positioning groove21extrudes and forms a limiting protrusion23. The first region26and the second region27are on two sides of the limiting protrusion23. As shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9, the first limiting area26and the second limiting area27respectively correspond to the positions of the first elastic rod31when the sliding cover2opens and closes the arch-wire slot11.

During the movement of the sliding cover2from the open state of the arch-wire slot11to the closed state of the arch-wire slot11, the first elastic rod31will be elastically deformed by the pressing of the limiting protrusion23along a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding cover2. The direction perpendicular to the sliding direction in the second surface is defined as a second direction. Due to a size of the limiting protrusion23extruding in the second direction is less than a maximum elastic deformation of the locking element3in the second direction, the first elastic rod31can flexibly bend and pass over the limiting protrusion23to enter the second region27. The first elastic rod31can recover from the elastic deformation after entering the second region27. Due to the limiting protrusion23, the first elastic rod31cannot return along an original moving path, except for being applied by an external force, thereby realizing the sliding cover2in the closed position.

Furthermore, referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, a maximum width w1of the positioning groove in the second direction is less than a width w2of the locking element in the second direction. Therefore, if the locking element3is disposed in the positioning groove21, the locking element3slightly deforms and locks the sliding cover2on the bracket body1.

In an embodiment, referring toFIG. 2, the sliding cover2is provided with an inclined surface24on the bottom of the gap22. The inclined surface24can be configured for making the first elastic rod31bend easier when the sliding cover2is installed on the bracket body1. The inclined surface24will facilitate the locking element3to enter the positioning groove21.

In an installing of the self-locking orthodontic bracket100of the present disclosure, the first surface1aof the bracket body1faces upward, and the first elastic rod31can be inserted into the locking groove14, and the second surface2aof the sliding cover2faces the first surface1aof the bracket body1. The sliding cover2is placed on the guiding surface12of the bracket body1. The sliders28on both sides of the sliding cover2are inserted into the guiding ways16, while ensuring the upper part of the first elastic rod31extends into the first region26of the positioning groove21. Then the sliding cover2is pushed to move along the guiding ways16, and pass over the arch-wire slot11and insert into the limiting groove1. At this time, due to the pushing of the sliding cover2, the first elastic rod31overcomes the elastic force itself and passes over the limiting protrusion23to reach the second region27.

When the self-locking orthodontic bracket100needs to be released, an external force is used to push the sliding cover2to exit along the guide surface12. During the movement of the sliding cover2, the first elastic rod31will deform along the second direction because of the limiting protrusion23. The first elastic rod31will return to the first region26, and the sliding cover2is in the released position as the arch-wire slot11is opened. In the process of releasing, an external force is required to make the locking element3elastically deform in the second direction, thereby ensuring reliability of the locked state. If there is insufficient external force, the locking element3does not deform.

The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any combination. For the sake of brevity of description, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described. However, as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of these technical features, all should be considered as within the scope of this disclosure.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several embodiments of the present disclosure, and the description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. It should be noted that a number of variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be determined by the appended claims.