An Improved Adjustable Gag or Mouth Opener.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1891—Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable Gag or Mouth Opener.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM WELLER, of No. 20, Argyle Street, King's Cross,
in the Parish of St. Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, Scientific and
Philosophical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide a simple & improved method of
opening the mouth & holding the jaws in position in dental or other similar
operations. For this purpose I provide 2 arms or bars of a convenient size & form,
these are either flattened, padded, or have moveable plates mounted on pivots on
the one end, while on the other arrangements are fitted in order to keep these arms
or bars apart, open or closed at the will of the operator. This is effected in the
following manner; on the outer end of the one arm or bar is fitted a boss in which
a screw pinion is mounted on an axis which is actuated by a key knob, or handle.
In front of this pinion I provide a hole of such size and form as I may deem to be
most suitable through this hole is fitted a rack, which rack is attached to the outer
end of the other arm or bar referred to, & gears into the scroll teeth of the pinion
in arms or bars. The action thus effected by means of the key knob or handle is
similar to that of an American scroll chuck jaw. The rack is attached to the arm
bar or jaw at or near a right angle, hence the two arms or bars move in a parallel
direction. By turning the pinion by means of the key knob or handle, these arms
or bars will open or close at the will of the operator, from the screw like action of
the scroll on rack, they will remain fixed at any position.
Dated this 10th day of May 1890.
FREDERICK WILLIAM WELLER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable Gag or Mouth Opener.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM WELLER, of No. 20, Argyle Street, King's Cross,
in the Parish of St. Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, Scientific and
Philosophical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to provide a simple and improved method of
opening the mouth and holding the jaws in position, in dental or other similar
operations. For this purpose I provide 2 arms or bars of a convenient size and
form, these are either flattened, padded, or have moveable plates mounted on pivots
on the one end while on the other, arrangements are fitted in order to keep these
arms or bars apart; open or closed at the will of the operator. This is effected
in the following manner :-On the outer end of the one arm or bar is fitted a boss
in which a screw pinion is mounted on an axis, which said axis is actuated by a key,
knob, or handle. In front of this pinion I provide a hole of such size and form as
I deem to be most suitable, through this hole is fitted a rack, which rack is
attached to the outer end of the other arm or bar refered to; and gears into the
scroll teeth of the pinion in the arms or bars. The lower bar being fitted with a
spring and hinged to the rack thus causing this bar to follow the movement of the
mouth. The action thus effected by means of the key, knob, or handle is similar
to that of an American scroll chuck jaw. The rack is attached to the arm, bar, or
jaw, at or near a right angle, hence the arms or bars move in a parallel direction.
may

page_text: By turning the pinion by means of the key, knob, or handle these two arms or bars
will open or close at the will of the operator. From the screw like action of the
scroll on rack they will remain fixed at any position as may be necessary.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings; in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 represents the "gag" or "mouth opener” complete (assuming position it
would take in patient's mouth).
Penrosents the rock
By turning the pinion by means of the key, knob, or handle these two arms or bars
will open or close at the will of the operator. From the screw like action of the
scroll on rack they will remain fixed at any position as may be necessary.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings; in which similar letters of reference 5
indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 represents the "gag" or "mouth opener" complete (assuming position it
would take in patient's mouth).
represents the rock
boss attached to top arm in which scroll works.
b
وو
scroll pinion.
C
"
"
key, knob, or handle.
"
99
e
"
f
lower
"
"
29
وو
"
"
spring.
59
upper arm.
"
moveable plates for padding.
"pin.
55
"
m
وو
scroll teeth at end of b.
screw for attaching spring to a.
1
I
The dotted portion represents the position of lower arm and spring when gag is 2
not in use.
Fig. 2 represents side elevation of scroll pinion.
3.
"
"
front
وو
showing teeth.
Both Figs. 2 & 3 for the sake of clearness are shown to a larger scale
than Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is :-
1st. An improved adjustable gag or mouth opener as heretofore described.
2nd. The adaptation of a scroll pinion and rack for that purpose.
3rd. The manner of applying and regulating the action, and adapting the same
to the mouth by adjustable pads &c.
Dated this 5th day of February 1891.
2.
3
K. WI
'XTATATATI
WILLIAM WELLER.