Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire fully or partially within the bracket archwire slot. The orthodontic bracket has a body containing a slot to receive an orthodontic archwire, wings for tying ligature wires, a base that is attachable to an orthodontic band or directly to a tooth surface and a central recess in the front surface of the body that contains the rotating clip device. The rotating clip device is rotated to enclose an orthodontic archwire within the slot.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire within the bracket archwire slot. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Orthodontic brackets attached to teeth transmit forces, such as produced by an archwire, to move the teeth. Brackets usually contain an archwire slot for reception of the archwire. Orthodontic brackets today are typically bonded to a tooth or welded to an orthodontic band that is cemented to the tooth. 
     Brackets commonly use tie wings that project upwardly and downwardly in pairs at the top and bottom of the installed bracket, respectively. These wings permit the archwire to be held within the archwire slot of the bracket by means of a twisted wire (ligature) or an elastomeric o-ring. Currently there are varieties of brackets that are self-ligating. These self-ligating brackets have taken several forms. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,614 to Wildman, issued Mar. 10, 1992, discloses a sliding closure that engages the front of the archwire. The closure is recessed from the front or anterior surfaces of the disclosed bracket. These sliding closures are also found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,528 to Russell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,964 to Russell et al. and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,474 to Johnson. Sliding closures require the archwire also to be recessed within the archwire slot before the closure can be moved over the archwire making it very difficult for the user to visually confirm that the archwire is properly seated within the archwire slot. A conventional bracket has a visual front surface adjacent to the archwire slot making it easy to see if the archwire is seated in the archwire slot. This is not true in the recessed sliding closures. The actual archwire slot surface is beneath the sliding closure. Damon solved this problem in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,275,557 (Jan. 4, 1994), 5,429,500 (Jul. 4, 1995) and 5,466,151 (Nov. 14, 1995). 
     An achievement of these patents is a ligating slide within a bracket that maintains the normal features of protruding tie wings or lugs and a closure in the form of a ligating slide that can complete a continuous tube surrounding the archwire when the closure is in a closed position. This can be achieved in a Siamese or twin bracket configuration without covering or interfering with projecting extensions on the bracket. 
     Pletcher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,435, discloses a locking slide member that is flat and guided by upright slots formed along both sides of the bracket and spanning the archwire slot thereby obscuring visual access to the critical corners of the archwire slots at the side edges of the bracket. Without this visual access being clear, one installing an archwire within a bracket cannot be certain as to proper seating of an archwire within the archwire slot before the slide cover is moved to a closed position. No tie wings or lugs are included in the illustrated bracket forms. 
     There is a modern esthetic requirement that the brackets be small. A drawback of many self-ligating brackets the locking covers increase the size of the bracket. 
     Damon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,118, discloses a sliding cover which gives visual access to the archwire slot, but have achieved the enclosure of the sliding cover by thickening the bracket in the gingival area 
     A sliding spring cover, a hinged locking cover, a rotary sliding cover, a ball type rotatable cover etc. have been disclosed in different U.S. Patents. “Activa” produced by A Company, “Speed” and “Edgelock” produced by Ormco Corporation, and others are typical examples of ligature-less brackets that are commercially available. 
     Of all these different locking means a sliding closure has been considered desirable because it can be easily manipulated and it reduces the time required for opening and closing of the arch wire slot during periodic adjustments of the arch wire and provides more precise control of the archwire. There are other means that are more complex and difficult and expensive to manufacture. Springs used as locking means are not strong enough to hold the arch wire into the slot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket. The locking orthodontic bracket is comprised of an orthodontic bracket that contains a rotating clip device for locking an orthodontic arch wire within the arch wire slot of the orthodontic bracket. The orthodontic bracket is comprised of a body containing a slot to receive an arch wire, wings for tying ligature wires, a base that is attachable to an orthodontic band or directly to a tooth surface and a central recess on the front surface of the body that extends inwardly towards the base of the bracket. The invention is a rotating clip for locking the orthodontic arch wire within the arch wire slot. Rotation of the clip in one direction leaves the archwire slot open for the insertion or removal of an archwire and rotation in the opposite direction locks the archwire in the archwire slot. 
     The rotating clip is comprised of a hollow cylindrical body with wings extending from the body. The cylindrical body has a circular base and two opposing vertical walls separated by opposing open sides. The opposing open sides allow for the passage of an archwire through the archwire slot and reduce friction during rotation of the rotating clip. The circular body is fitted and mechanically retained within the recess within the orthodontic bracket. The bracket recess is shaped and sized to receive the hollow circular body. The circular body and bracket recess may contain retentive devises such as circular grooves with matching ridges that also allow rotation of the rotating clip within the bracket recess. The wings extend laterally from the vertical cylindrical body over the surface of the orthodontic bracket. The tubular body is rotatable within the recess of the orthodontic bracket. The rotation moves the wings in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion. The bracket clip insertion hole can be slightly skewed from a perfect circle to allow friction grip when the clip is fully open or fully closed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tips of the wings enclose an orthodontic arch wire within the arch wire slot of the orthodontic bracket when the rotating clip is rotated counterclockwise. A clockwise rotation of the rotating clip opens the arch wire slot for placement or removal of the orthodontic arch wire. The strength transmitted to the wing tip is partially derived from the circular shape of the attached cylindrical body and the intimate fitting of the cylindrical body within the circular recess. The resulting strength is increased allowing the wings to be thinner which is advantageous for patient comfort. The underside of the wing, in one embodiment, has a bump that actively holds the archwire in the slot, as opposed to passively holding the archwire when the underside of the wing is flat. In another embodiment the rotating clip has two sets of wings wherein one pair actively engage the archwire when the rotating clip is rotated in one direction and passively holds the archwire when the rotating clip is rotated in the opposite direction. In another preferred embodiment, the locking clip wing is shaped to enclose most of the arch wire in the archwire slot. In another preferred embodiment, the underside of the locking clip wing contains a bevel to push the arch wire into the arch wire slot. In a further embodiment, the underside of the wing contains bumps for active clip design. 
     The bracket wall that retains the rotating clip remains open to self cleanse, reducing calculus build up and stuck moving parts. Tooth brush bristles can access the walls of bracket body. The bracket body design remains the same for both active and passive and active passive designs. The design allows the clinician to go from passive to active to conventional and back at any point in treatment. Height gauges may be used conventionally. The rotating clip does not interfere with anatomical structures, such as gums and other teeth, when in the open position. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket may be comprised of metal, plastic or ceramic or combinations thereof. Equivalent materials may be used. MIM technology can be used for the bracket body wherein retention for the clip is built within and there is a potential to use a breakaway design in MIM for one piece bracket body assembly. The door design will allow only the mesial or distal aspect of wing to be engaged on severely rotated teeth as the wing door can close around one wing while leaving the wire exiting the center of the bracket. The wire can be engaged from both the gingival and the occlusal in door design 
     There is an ability to cut out the facial aspect of the bracket leaves latitude to maintain slot integrity while increasing bulk of metal in body and arms , but allowing slot cover part of clip to be thin for springiness (passive/active). It can be designed with reciprocal open and closed doors. There are many designs in the clip. The designs may be passive or active with the same bracket body which can be a stand-alone twin without the rotating clip. The wings may be altered for the use of non-binding power chains for closing spaces or rotating teeth. Horizontal slots can be added lateral surfaces of the wings. Vertical and horizontal channels may be placed for accessories such as hooks and rotators. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view the body of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the body of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rotating clip of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective cutaway view of the body recess of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective internal view of the rotating clip resting within a cutout view of the body of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with the rotating clip in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective internal view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with the rotating clip in a closed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with an archwire; 
         FIG. 10A  is a fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with beveled ends of the rotating clip arms; 
         FIG. 10B  is a fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with beveled ends of the rotating clip arms; 
         FIG. 10C  is a fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with beveled ends of the rotating clip arms; 
         FIG. 11A  is fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with active bumps underside the clip arm end; 
         FIG. 11B  is a fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with active bumps underside the clip arm end; 
         FIG. 12A  is fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with retentive bumps underside the clip arm end; 
         FIG. 12B  is a fragmentary side view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 9  through A-A with retentive bumps underside the clip arm end. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with cutout channels; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 13  through B-B; 
         FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with extension tabs in an open position; 
         FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with extension tabs in a closed position; 
         FIG. 17A  is cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16  through C-C; 
         FIG. 17B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16  through C-C; 
         FIG. 18A  is cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16  through D-D; 
         FIG. 18B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16  through D-D; 
         FIG. 19  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with an index pin; 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  FIG. 19  through E-E; 
         FIG. 21  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with a second pair of c-shaped extensions, all extensions in the open position; 
         FIG. 22  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with a second pair of c-shaped extensions wherein the rotating clip is turned counterclockwise into a closed position; 
         FIG. 23  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with a second pair of c-shaped extensions wherein the rotating clip is turned clockwise into a closed position; 
         FIG. 24  is top perspective views of a pair of self-ligating orthodontic brackets with notches and attached elastomeric chains; 
         FIG. 25  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with a n attachable clip; and 
         FIG. 26  is a top perspective view of the self-ligating orthodontic bracket with an attachable clip and anti-rotation notches. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is comprised of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly  1 .  FIG. 1  discloses a bracket body  2  with a back  3  and a front surface  4 . The bracket body  2  has a left side  5  and right side  6 . An archwire slot  7  extends from left  8  to right  9  on the front surface  3 . Attached to the bracket body  2  are tie wings  10  positioned left  11  and right  12 . The tie wings  10  extend outwardly from the top  13  and bottom  14 . The front surface  4  of the bracket body  2  contains a cylindrical recess  15  with a circular wall  16  extending from a circular front  17  towards the body  2  back  3  ending in a circular floor. The tie wings  10  fit within front surface  4  recesses  19  in order to make the tie wings  10  flush with the bracket front surface  4 .  FIG. 2  shows the bracket body  2  in cross section.  FIG. 3  discloses a rotating clip  20  which is attached into the cylindrical recess  15  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The rotating clip  20  has a circular base  21  with attached opposing columns  22  extending at right angles to the circular base  21 . Between the opposing columns  22  are open opposing sides  23 . Attached to each opposing column  22  free end is a c-shaped extension  24 . The c-shaped extensions  24  each extend horizontally with a free end  25  and an underside  26 . The attached opposing columns  22  have an outer circular periphery sized to fit the circular walls  16  of the circular recess  15 . The circular periphery contains a circular groove  27 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the circular recess  15  disclosing the recess wall  16  with h a circular ring  26  which seats into the circular groove  27  of the rotating clip  20 . The circular ring  26  circular groove  27  relationship allows the rotating clip  20  to be retained in the circular recess  15  and be free to rotate.  FIG. 5  discloses the invention in its preferred embodiment. The rotating clip  20  is inserted in the cylindrical recess  15  of the bracket body  2  wherein the circular base  21  is seated against the circular floor  17 . The c-shaped extensions  24  extend left  5  and right  6  on the surface of the front  4  of the bracket body  2 . The open opposing sides  23  align with the horizontal archwire slot  7  allowing an archwire to o travel continuously from the left end  8  of the archwire slot  7  to the right end  9  of the archwire slot  7 .  FIG. 6  discloses the rotating clip  20  as it sits within the bracket body  2 . A circular groove  27  is shown horizontally on the outer surface of the attached opposing column  22 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the rotating clip  20  in the open position wherein the c-shaped extensions  24  do not enclose the archwire slot  7 . In this open position an archwire may be placed and removed from the archwire slot  7 . In  FIG. 7  the rotating clip  20  is rotated counterclockwise wherein the c-shaped extension  24  encloses the archwire slot  7  which would contain an archwire within the archwire slot  7 . This is called the closed position.  FIG. 8  discloses the details of the rotating clip  20  as it rests within the bracket body  2 . The open opposing sides  23  between the opposing columns  22  allow an archwire  30  to go between the left end  8  and right end  9  of the archwire slot  7 . 
       FIG. 9  discloses the rotating clip orthodontic bracket  1  with the rotating clip  20  in an open position and an archwire  30  in the archwire slot  7 .  FIGS. 10A  are cross sections of  FIG. 9  through points A . . . A. The c-shaped extension  24  rests upon the bracket body  2  and has a free end  25  with a beveled leading edge  28  underside  26  wherein the beveled leading edge  28  facilitates the c-shaped extension  24  sliding over the archwire  30  as shown in  FIG. 10B .  FIG. 10C  is a cross-section of the c-shaped extension  24  with a bottom side  14  that is flat  31 . In  FIG. 10B , the flat  31  bottom side  14  holds the archwire  30  passively in the archwire slot  7 .  FIG. 11A  discloses the cross-section of  FIG. 9  wherein the bottom  14  of the c-shaped extension  24  has an active bump  33  that holds the archwire  30  actively in the archwire slot  7  as shown in  FIG. 11B . In  FIG. 12A , the c-shaped extension  24  bottom  14  has a retentive bump  33  and a dimple  34  in the bracket body  2 . The rotating clip  20  is held in a closed position when the retentive bump  33  is seated in the dimple,  FIG. 12B .  FIG. 13  discloses underside bumps  19 ,  35  that fit into a recess channel  41  on the bracket front  4 . The recess channel  41  guides the round bumps  35  during the rotation of the rotating clip  20 .  FIG. 14  is a cross-section through B-B of  FIG. 13 . A round bump  35  on the bottom surface of the c-shaped extension  24  fits into the cutout channel  41  of the bracket body  41  and a cutout channel  40  for receiving the free end of the c-shaped extension  24  contains a dimple  34  for receiving the dimple  34  on the bottom side of the c-shaped extension  24 .  FIG. 15  discloses a tab  42  on each c-shaped extension  24  extending towards the archwire slot  7 . The tab  42  bottom may be smooth or may contain a bump  35 .  FIG. 16  shows the same rotating clip orthodontic bracket  1 , as in  FIG. 15 , wherein the C-shaped extension  24  is in a first closed position. The first closed position is where the underside retentive bump  35  shown in  FIG. 14  is seated in the dimple  34  closest to the archwire slot  7  as shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  discloses the tabs  42  not covering the archwire slot  7 . When the c-shaped extension  24  is rotated further counterclockwise into the second dimple,  FIG. 15 ,  34 , the tabs  42  enclose the archwire slot  7 .  FIG. 17A  shows a cross-section of  FIG. 16  through C-C wherein two dimples, No. 1 dimple  43  and No. 2 dimple  44 , are in the cutout channel  40  in the first position.  FIG. 17B  discloses the second position wherein the round bump  35  is in the No. 2 dimple  44  which places a dimple over the archwire  30  which holds the archwire  30  actively.  FIGS. 18A and 18B  show  FIG. 16  through D-D.  FIG. 18A  discloses the tab  42  with the smooth underside  26  of the tab  42  above the archwire  30 , holding the archwire  30  passively.  FIG. 18B  shows the tab  42  further advanced over the archwire wherein the underside  26  of the tab  42  has a bump  32  that actively holds the archwire  30 .  FIGS. 19 and 20  disclose an index pin  45 . 
     When orthodontic brackets are placed upon teeth they are ideally positioned with the bracket slot a predetermined distance from the incisal edge or occlusal surface of the tooth. In addition, the horizontal direction of the orthodontic bracket is placed at a right angle to the long axis of the tooth. An index pin  45 ,  FIG. 19 , is a pin vertically attached to the orthodontic bracket that helps visualize the correct long axis placement of the orthodontic bracket during its placement.  FIG. 19  shows the index pin  45  attached to the self-ligating orthodontic assembly  1  in seats  46  between the left  11  and right  12  tie wings  10 .  FIG. 20  is a cross section through E-E of  FIG. 19 . In addition, a measuring notch  47  shows the position of the underlying archwire slot  7  that is helpful in the vertical positioning of the orthodontic bracket. 
       FIGS. 21-23  disclose another preferred embodiment of the invention wherein there is a second pair of c- shaped extensions  24 .  FIG. 21  shows the self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly  1  in an open position. The first c-shaped extensions  49  have a bump  35  on the under side and the second c-shaped extensions have a flat underside  25   a .  FIG. 22  shows the rotating clip  20  rotated counterclockwise wherein the underside bumps  35  engage and hold the archwire  30  actively.  FIG. 23  shows the rotating clip  20  rotated clockwise wherein the second c-shaped extensions  48  have a flat undersides  25   a  that engage and hold the archwire  30  passively.  FIG. 24  discloses a modification of the bracket wings wherein the upper and lower left wings have horizontal notches extending to the body center from the left of the bracket and the upper and lower right wings have horizontal notches  50  extending to the center  4  of the bracket body  2  , the notches  50  allow attachment of orthodontic elastomeric power chains  51  to the upper wings  13  only or to the lower wings  14  only. Elastomeric chains  51  are a series of connected islets made from an elastic material. The elastomeric chains  51  are normally used to close spaces between teeth rotate teeth and maintain the lack of spacing between teeth. The elastomeric chains  51  normally circle all four bracket wings  10  and secure the archwire  30  in the archwire slot  7 . In the present invention, the elastomeric chain  51  does not enclose the archwire. The elastomeric chain  51  can be changed without disturbing the archwire  30  or, conversely, the archwire  30  can be changed without disturbing the elastomeric chain  51 . 
     The invention may include integral hooks for rubber band wear by the patient. In the alternative, channels may be placed in the invention to receive removable hooks for rubber band and other attachments. The rotating clip orthodontic bracket may be comprised of a variety of materials including metal, plastic and ceramic and decorative forms consisting of a variety of colors, glow-in-the-dark and LED lights which may be activated by the patient tapping their teeth together. 
     The invention, as described, is not limited to the specific embodiments described as these are preferred embodiments. The invention is claimed in any of its modifications within the proper scope of its claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0