Year: 1896

page_text: I, KELLY RAGLAND BRAGG, of Shelbina, in the State of Missouri, one of the
United States of America, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a combined articulator and vulcanizing flask and to a
process of forming artificial dentures therewith.
The apparatus is formed with an upper and a lower portion hinged together at
one side. The upper portion is preferably made of sheet metal and is provided
with an adjusting slot at that portion near to the hinge. The other end or front
portion has a plate which retains a ball and socket joint in position and is provided
wita a fly nut.
The lower portion of the apparatus consists of two side plates hinged to the
upper part at their rear ends and having the front portion formed to receive a
removable lining or model cup and having an edge of increased thickness around
the edge of the lining or model cup. The said lining or model cup has means
for attaching it to the articulator when separated from the base or bottom.
The apparatus is provided with a contral ring surmounting the base or bottoni
portion, whose thickness is reduced to leave a space within it above the thick edgo
of the base or bottom portion of the flask. A cap plate is also provided for the
flask.
The model cup is connected to the articulator by meaus of a pin having con-
nection at its respective ends at single points with the articulator and model cup,
one of sala connections being a bull and socket joint.
The process of making artificial dentures is as follows: -I take un impression
of the mouth in the impression cup, then form from said impression cup a model
in a model cup constructed for attachment to the articulator. I then set up tho
teeth in a suitable manner with the aid of the articulator and insert it in the base
or bottom portion of a flask, and I apply the middle ring and fill the same with
plaster, after which the material for forming the base of the denture is supplied
and the flask is closed. While closing the flask I add to or take from the material
forming the base of the denture by removing the base or bottom of the flask, while
leaving intact the model cup and the model contained therein.
1000
CD
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: I KELLY RAGLAND BRAGG, of Shelbina, Shelby County, in the State of Missouri.
one of the United States of America, Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare tho
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:-
One of my improvements consists in making the articulator with a ball-bearing
pin, to which the receptacle for the model is directly attached, all the lateral and
angular adjustments being obtained by this ball-bearing in connection with tho
extension-joint, which connects the upper jaw of the articulator with the hinged
portion of the same.
A further feature consists in forming the lower jaw with two fixed pins or studs
at the back and a single set-screw at the front, by means of which the portion of
the lower flask may be fixed in place by the adjustment of a single screw.
A further feature consists in making the base of each flask with a removable
model-cup of comparatively light construction and adapting these cups to be
attached to the jaws of the articulator and to be afterward detached and readily
dropped into their appropriate flasks and fit accurately therein. This feature
embodies special advantages, namely, first, the increased facilty and convenience
with which the articulator may be handled in setting the teeth, owing to its
greatly-reduced weight and size and its simplified construction, which latter feature
adapts it to be more readily grasped and opened and closed while held in one
haud. Second, when they are dropped in the flasks in which they fit the thickness
of the latter parts leaves a thick edge surrounding the edge of the model-cup, which
additional edge has heretofore been necessarily provided by filling in with plaster
around the model in order to provide the necessary enlarged space within the
central ring for reception of the plaster which surrounds the teeth, and also to
give overflow room between the plaster in said central ring and said enlarged
edge for the surplus material used to form the base of the denture, which flows
out around the edge of the model-cup. It further offers superior advantage for
trimming off said surplus material when the flask is inverted and the base of the
flask is removed. Third, an advantage arises from the use of the removable
model-cup from the fact that when the base of the flask is removed the thin model-
cup containing model remains undisturbed and the surplus material is readily
trimmed from around the edge of said cup, if a surplus of such material has been
used, or it is very easy to add material in the spaces where insufficient amount of
material occurs. This adding to or taking from the material without disturbing
the model is impossible without disturbing the model in flasks as heretofora
constructed.
Figure I is a view in perspective of my improved articulator.
Figure II illustrates a vertical longitudinal section taken through the articulator
in the position shown in Figure I.
Figure III illustrates a detail vertical section taken through one corner of tho
lower model-cup and through one side of the lower jaw.
Figure IV is a detail top view illustrating a modified form of connection between
the upper jaw and the upper model-cup, the ball-head pin being removed.
Figure Villustrates a section taken on line V V, Figure IV, with the hall-head
pin inserted.
Figure VI illustrates a section taken on line VI VI, Figure V.
Figure VII is an end or side view of the exterior of one of the vulcanizing-

page_text: Figure VIII is a top view of the flask that receives the lower model-cup.
Figures IX and X illustrate, respectively, cross-sections taken on lines IX IX
anu X X, Figure VIII.
Figure XI illustrates a view of the flask inverted and from which the bottom
plate has been removed and showing a model-cup, in this instance the upper one,
in position in the plastic substance in the flask."
Figure XII is a top view of the bottom plate of the flask. Figure XIII is a
side elevation of the parts shown in Figure XI.
Figure XIV is a side or edge view of the bottom plate.
Figure XV illustrates a vertical section taken through the entire flask and the
upper model-cup therein.
In the drawings, 1 designates the lower jaw of the articulator, and 2 the upper
jaw. These jaws are hinged together at 3. The lower jaw carries the spacing-
screw 4, and the upper-jaw is provided with the extension-joint 5 as usual.
6 designates the vulcanizing-flasks which receive the model-cups, which cups
form part of the flask in which the denture is produced. These flasks for the
upper and lower cups are essentially duplicates. Hence I will refer to them by
similar reference-numerals. They are each composed of a recessed bottom plate 7,
a top plate 8, and an intermediate ring 9. The interior of each flask conforms
to the shape of one or other of the lower or upper model-cups, of which 10 is the
lower cup, and 11 is the upper cup. The employment of the cups 10 and 11 in
which to produce the denture instead of producing it in the flask alone,
as has heretofores been customary, cables me to provide cups of much
lighter weight for handling in the articulator and which assists in making the
complete articulator much more wieldy than where the flasks are employed to
receive the models directly. The utility of the flasks and the removable model-cups
with reference to moulding the rubber in the flask will be hereinafter set forth.
The model-cups are connected to the articulator-jaws in the following manuer:-
Cup 10 is arranged to be seated between a lug 12 at the forward end of the
jaw. The lug 12 carries a set-screw 13, and each of the lugs 14 has set into it a
pin 15, (see Figure 1II), the projecting points of which pins extend in a forwardly
direction and against which the cup 10 is pressed by the set-screw 13, and thereby
held to the jaw. Cup 11 has a screw-threaded depression 16 in its outer surface,
in which the threaded end of a pin 17 is inserted, and on the opposite end the
pin 17 is provided with a ball-head 18, that fits in a socket in the jaw 2, and is
held in said socket by means of a clamp-plate 19 and a screw 20 and a thumb-
nut 21. On loosening the thumb-nut 21 the upper cup 11 may be shifted to the
desire. angle.
In Figures IV, Vand V1, I have shown a moxlified form of connection between
the ball-head pin 17 and the model-cup 11. In this form of connection tho
pin 17 is rigidly secured to a plate 22, that is removably fitted in a dovetailed
groove in the cup 11. This plate 22 is provided with a flange 23, that limits its
inward movement, and the plate carries a set-screw 24, by which it is secured from
movement when set in the desired position.
г
Referring now to the utility of the flasks and removable model-cups with
reference to their use in molding the rubber in the flask in forming the plate
for the teeth, by the employment of the sectional flasks 6 and removable cups
am enabled to much more readily prosecute the molding in the process of forming
the rubber plates for the reason that the cups are free to be removed from the
bottom plate of the flask, thereby permitting of the flask 'being inverted and the
bottom plate being removed, as illustrated in Figure XI, when access to the interior
of the cup may be had.
It is a frequent occurrence for an operator in molding the rubber plate to
employ an excess of rubber in the mould, and when this occurs in the ordinary flask
it is necessary to entirely open the flask to remove 'the excess of rubber. This not
infrequently results in the breakage of the model, thereby entailing the pro-
duction of a new model, with the consequent annoyance and loss of time. It also

page_text: frequently happens that a deficient amount of rubber has been employed, and the
Hask must be opened for the purpose of adding an additional quantity of rubber,
with annoying results, as in the instance of the excess. By my invention Í
overcome these difficulties, as I will now set forth.
When the model has been formed and the teeth set in wax in the usual way,
the model-cup is placed in the recessed lower plate of the vulcanizing flask, the
flask containing the usual filling of plastic substance, which is illustrated in
Figure XI, and designated by 25. The wax is then melted out and the rubber
or other denture plate substance is introduced in its place, and the flask again
closed and placed in a press which is inserted into a vulcanizer, as usual. It is ab
this time that it is necessary to ascertain and correct any excess or deficiency of
rubber or equivalent substance in the mold, and to the end of so ascertaining and
correcting the existing errors my flasks and model-cups are especially adapted,
inasmuch as such construction permits of the flask being inverted and the bottom
plate being lifted from the remainder of the flask when the cup is left in the
pesition illustrated in Figures XI and XIII. As will appear on reference t
Figure XIII, the model-cup at this time stands above the central ring of the flask
and thus gives opportunity of access to the interior of the cup.
In the plastic substance 25 I cut a groove 26 and gateways 27, leading from the
interior of the model-cup to said groove, so that should an excess of rubber or
equivalent substance be employed it will when melted, run into the gateways 27
one-half inch beyond margin of model-cup to the groove 26, from which it may be
removed on inventing flask and removing recessed bottom plate 7 without
interfering with the model or model-cup in the least.
Should there be a deficiency of the rubber or equivalent substance on inverting
flask and removing recessed bottom plate 7, an additional quantity may be added
by cutting it into narrow strips and pressing it with a suitable tool into the
model-cup beneath the cup as it stands in the position shown in Figures XI
and XIII.
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. In a dental vulcanizing-flask, a base or bottom portion having a removable
lining or model-cup fitting in it, substantially as and in the manner and for the
purpose herein set forth.
2. In a dental vulcanizing-flask, the base or bottom portion of said flask having a
removable lining or model-cup and formed with an edge of increased thickness
around the edge of the lining or model-cup substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
3. In a dental vulcanizing-flask, a base or bottom portion formed with a
removable lining or model-cup, said lining or model-cup having means for attach-
ing it to the articulator when separated from said base or bottom; substantially
as explained.
4. In a dental vulcanizing-flask, the combination of the base or bottom portion
formed with the removable lining or model-cup and formed with a thick edgo
surrounding the edge of the lining or cup, the central ring surmounting the base
or bottom nortion and of thickness reduced to leave a space within it above tho
thick edge of the base or bottom portion of the flask, and a cap-plate for the flask,
all substantially as herein set forth.
5. In an apparatus for making artificial dentures, the combination of an
articulator, a model-cup, and a pin having connection at its respective ends, at
single points with the articulator, and the model-cup; and one of said connections
being ball-and-socket joint, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The art of forming artificial dentures which consists in taking the impression

page_text: of the mouth in the impression-eup, then forming from said impression, a model
in a model-cup constructed for attachment to the articulator, then setting up tho
teeth in a suitable manner with the aid of the articulator and inserting it in tho
base or bottom portion of a flask, then applying the middle ring and filling same
with plaster, then supplying the material for forming the base of the denture,
and then closing the flask and while closing adding to or taking from the material
forming the base of the denture, by removing the base or bottom of the flask while
leaving intact the model-cup and model contained therein, all substantially as
herein set forth.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.