Certain Improvements in Rubber-dam Clamps.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Rubber-dam Clamps.
OLIVER CARPENTER, residing at No. 714 Fourteenth Street, in the city of
Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, one of the United States
of America, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN RUBBER-DAM CLAMPS, and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to operativo dentistry, and particularly to the class of clamps
which are used for holding rubber-dams in place around the tooth.
My invention consists in a novel jointed frame, carrying in its ends the separate and
removable jaws, and a set-screw, by which the jaws are made to clamp tightly on the
tooth, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.
•
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective rubber-dam clamp
which may be applied, by reason of its separate removable jaws, to any of the ten
anterior teeth in each jaw, for the purpose of holding the rubber-dam back from the
labio-cervical cavities in said teeth while filling such cavities, or which may be applied
in other suitable positions.
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my
invention,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my rubber-dam clamp.
Figure 2 is a view showing its application.
The frame A, which is made somewhat of a horseshoe shape, consists of two parts or
sides jointed together at a.
The ends of these sides are bent, and have secured in them the opposing jaws B.
These are separate from the frame, and consist of flat pieces of metal, the free ends
of which are filed, so as to fashion them to the exterior surface of the tooth upon
which they are intended to fit.
The particular shape of the ends of the jaws depends upon the teeth which they
are to fit, and I may, therefore, have a number of jaws previously fashioned to,
approximately, the curvature of the various teeth, and may then file them down to suit
the case, either while in the frame or before being inserted.

page_text: To readily accomplish this fitting of the jaws to the several positions in which they
are used, I provide that their connection with the frame A, shall be a removable one.
so that such jaws may be used as any given case requires.
In this my invention differs essentially from the ordinary curved clamps at present
in use, and which consist of a single piece of spring metal having its ends adapted to
fit but a single tooth, and so highly tempered as to render it an impossibility to file
them down to fit other teeth.
This connection between the jaws and the frame, though it may be of any character
adapting them to be readily removed and replaced by others, I prefer to make in the
following manner:
The ends of the sides of the frame are provided with dovetail grooves b, with
overhanging lips or edges.
The jaws have their ends tapered to fit the grooves, and they are held therein by the
lips of said grooves and the wedging due to their dovetail sent.
A set-screw, C, passes through the frame from side to side, being threaded in one
side, and playing loosely in a slot in the other side, thus providing for the expansion
or contraction of the parts of the frame.
As I have heretofore mentioned, the clamp is intended more particularly for use in
keeping the rubber-dam back from the labio-cervical cavities of the ten anterior teeth
in each jaw while filling such cavities.
On account of the position of these cavities, it is very difficult to keep the edge of
the rubber-dam back. It is usually done, at present, by means of the spring-clamps
to which I have heretofore referred, the use of which, in many cases, is uncertain,
because of their fendency to spring from position, as they do not fit the teeth
perfectly.
The application of my clamp is shown in Figure 2, where the clamp is seen in
position upon the tooth D, and is holding the rubber-dam E back.
By reason of the previous preparation of the ends of the opposing jaws they fit
accurately the tooth, and when the frame is set up by means of the screw C, they bind
firmly and accurately upon said tooth, and the clamp has no tendency whatever to
spring from place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. A rubber-dam clamp, comprising the hinged frame, the removable jaws seated
in its ends, and the set-screw by which the frame is expanded and contracted,
substantially as described.
2. A rubber-lam clamp, comprising the hinged frame, the jaws seated in its ends,
said jaws having their free ends fashioned to the surface of the tooth to which they
are fitted, and connected with the frame in such a manner as to be readily removed
for the substitution of others, and the set-screw for expanding and contracting the
frame, substantially as described.
3. A rubber-dam clamp, comprising the hinged frame having the dovetailed grooves
in its ends, the jaws fitted to and held in said grooves, whereby they are readily
removable, said jaws having their free ends fashioned to the surface of the tooth to
which they are fitted, and the set-screw by which the frame is expanded and
contracted, substantially as herein described,