IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC PLATES OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, of Laconia, in the State of
New Hampshire, United States of North America, Dentist, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC PLATES OF ARTIFICIAL
TEETH."
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated the 1st February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st February 1867.
I, NEHEMIAH TAYLOR FOLSOM, of Laconia, in the State of New Hampshire,
United States of, North America, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC PLATES OF ARTI-
FICIAL TEETH," to be as follows:-
The said improvements consist in the employment of a ridge or number of
ridges raised above the surface of the plates, generally near the edges thereof,
the said ridges bearing against the gums or inner surface of the mouth, and
serving as a narrow packing surface to exclude the air from within the ridges
with great certainty and efficiency. These packing ridges obviate the main
difficulty in wearing artificial teeth, which difficulty arises from the usual
imperfection in the means heretofore employed to keep the air excluded from
behind the plates or bases of the teeth, so as to retain the atmospheric
pressure whereby the teeth are held in place. By thus prescuting a narrow
surface raised a little from the general surface of the plates a sure contact for

page_text: the whole length of the said ridges is easily obtained, and the latter can very
readily be fitted to the gums or surface of the mouth. The extent of the
ridges or projections need only be sufficient to fit the gums or surface of the
mouth and to allow so much cutting or scraping away as may be necessary to
fit them to the irregularities of the surfaces with which they come in contact.
The said ridges may be formed in any desired position on the plates, and at
any distance from their edges, and need not encircle the whole plate; nor is
it absolutely necessary that the ridge or ridges should be continuous, or should
entirely enclose a space. Although I prefer to use only one ridge on each plate
any number of the said ridges may be employed, and the same may be used
either with or without an atmospheric chamber.
The said Invention is applicable to dental plates of vulcanized india-rubber,
gold, or any other material. The ridges may be applied to the plates both of
the upper and under teeth. The said ridges are ordinarily moulded and cast
with the plate, and afterwards fitted to the gums and surfaces of the mouth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NEHEMIAH
TAYLOR FOLSOM, of Laconia, in the State of New Hampshire, United States
of North America, Dentist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, Her special licence that I, the said Nehemiah
Taylor Folsom, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERIC PLATES OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-.
My Invention consists in the employment of a ridge raised above the
surface of the plate, generally near the edges thereof, the said ridge bearing
against the gums or inner surface of the mouth, and serving as a narrow
packing surface to exclude the air from within the ridge with great certainty
and efficiency. This packing ridge obviates the main difficulty in wearing
artificial teeth, which arises from the usual imperfection of the means
heretofore employed to keep the air excluded from behind the plates or
bases of the teeth, for retaining the atmospheric pressure by which the
teeth are held in place. By thus presenting a narrow surface raised a little
from the general surface of the plates a sure contact the whole length
of the ridge is easily obtained, and the ridge can very readily be fitted
to the gums or surface of the mouth, a result scarcely obtainable with the
ordinary plates, and never fully practicable except with great labor and care.
The extent of the ridge projection is in general quite small, requiring only to
be sufficient to surely receive the contact of the gums or surface of the mouth
along its entire length, and to allow as much cutting or scraping away as may
be necessary to fit it to the irregularities of the surfaces with which it comes
in contact, hence it may vary in different places.
I do not confine the Invention to any particular position on each plate, or
any particular distance from its edges; nor do I limit it to the whole plate, or
any part thereof, nor is it absolutely necessary, though desirable, that the ridge
should be continuous or entirely inclose a space; and although I contemplate
the use of only one ridge on cach plate I do not confine myself to the use of
any particular number, whether one or more; the ridge also may be used
either with or without an atmospheric chamber; it is applicable to dental
plates of vulcanized india-rubber, of gold,.. or of any other material. The
ridge is applicable to the plates both of the upper and under teeth; it is
ordinarily moulded and cast with the plate, and afterward fitted to the guns
and surfaces of the mouth.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a top view, and Fig. 2 a
view in perspective of the upper dental plate of a set of artificial teeth

page_text: provided with my improvement. A, indicates the plate of the form required
and a is the packing ridge, situated ordinarily near the edges of the plate,
and nearly parallel therewith. Fig. 3 represents a cross section of one edge
of the plate, and of the ridge indicating the extent of projection usually given
to the ridge.
In fitting the plate to the mouth there are found depressions and protu-
berances, hard places and soft, with greater or less thickness of skin or other
soft tissue over the bones and cartilages of the mouth. To adapt the plate to
these irregularities of surface with my packing ridge all that is necessary is
to pare away the ridge more or less as the surface may require, and this is
readily and easily accomplished. Once fitted, since this ridge is sure to bear
all along its edge against the surface of and becomes indented in the skin, the
atmosphere is everywhere excluded permanently without fail.
What I claim as my Invention is a packing ridge a applied in any manner
to the atmospheric plates of artificial teeth, whether as a single ridge or more;
whether entirely or partially encircling the plates or inclosing a space;
whether close to or further from the edges thereof in any form or direction,
and of any material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nehemiah Taylor Folsom, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our
Lord 1867.
NEHEMIAH TAYLOR FOLSOM. (L.S.)