Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/6030219
Timestamp: 2019-09-15 18:51:23
Document Index: 513972785

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 82', 'arts 80', 'art 82', 'arts 82', 'arts 82', 'art 82', 'arts 82']

US Patent for Dental attachment assembly Patent (Patent # 6,030,219 issued February 29, 2000) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Including Mating Connectors On Denture And Abutment ToothUS Patent for Dental attachment assembly Patent (Patent # 6,030,219)
Oct 13, 1998 - Zest Anchors, Inc.
The skirt 42 has a lower end 56 which projects below the lower end of head 28, and an inner surface 60 which is tapered, preferably at an angle of around 10.degree., and is also concave, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. The dimensions of the skirt and the head are such that the lower end 56 of the skirt will contact locating surface 30 before the lower end of the head contacts the female element, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The outer surface 62 of skirt 42 is convex or rounded, for snap-fit, swiveling engagement in a cavity 64 of corresponding shape in the cap 18, as best indicated in FIG. 4. This provides a swiveling, rotational movement or hinging action at the cap, where the attachment is secured to the denture or appliance, reducing wear, in a similar manner to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,570 referred to above. The pivoting of the nylon or resilient male in the metal denture cap 18 allows minor corrections for non-parallel abutments, as well as providing a longer lasting, resilient connection.
The upper part 82 of the abutment has a tapered lower surface portion 90 which has a precision machined taper known as a Morse taper which precisely matches the taper of socket 86, so that when portion 90 is forced into socket 86, the parts 80 and 82 will be permanently locked together. Upper part 82 has an angled upper portion 92 which has an axis at a predetermined angle to the lower portion 90. Upper parts 82 may be provided in a variety of different angles for accommodating different angular offsets in the implant. Preferably, upper parts 82 with angles of 10.degree. and 20.degree. are provided.
An upwardly facing socket 94 is provided in the angled upper portion 92 of the part 82 for releasable snap engagement with the head 28 of the male element of FIGS. 1 to 4. The shape and dimensions of the socket 94 are identical to that of socket 26 of the previous embodiments, and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. However, unlike the previous embodiment, socket 94 has a central axis 95 which is at a predetermined angle .theta. to the attachment axis or direction 96, as indicated in FIG. 6. As noted above, parts 82 are preferably provided with angles of 10.degree. and 20.degree..
FIG. 8 illustrates a modified root anchor or female element 114 which is similar to that of FIG. 7 but which is provided with an angle offset to accommodate divergent tooth roots. Female element 114 has a head portion 102 identical to that of the previous embodiment, and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. A stem 116 projects downwardly at an angle to the axis of head portion 102. Female elements 114 may be provided with stems at various angles to accommodate different root divergence angles, and female elements 114 are preferably provided at angles of 10.degree. and 20.degree..
In each of the previous embodiments, the female element or abutment has an upper locator surface which is tapered. The taper angle is preferably of the order of 10.degree.. The inner surface of the skirt on the male member has a similar taper, but is concave such that the opposing surfaces are spaced apart when the male is fully engaged.
15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, including a plurality of abutment members for selective engagement with a tooth root or implant, including a first abutment member having a shaft aligned with said head portion, a second, angled abutment member having a shaft at an angle of 10.degree. to said head portion, and a third, angled abutment member having a shaft at an angle of 20.degree. to said head portion.
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Inventors: Paul T. Zuest (Escondido, CA), Scott Mullaly (San Marcos, CA)
Assistant Examiner: Patrick A. Hilsmier
Application Number: 9/170,585
Current U.S. Class: Including Mating Connectors On Denture And Abutment Tooth (433/181); Holding Or Positioning Denture In Mouth (433/172)