Year: 1889

page_text: 1, RICHMOND SIMMONS HAYES, residing at East Bloomfield, in the County of
Ontario and State of New York, one of the United States of America, Dentist, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of devices known as dental articulators, and has
for its object to provide an instrument upon which a dental operator may fix the casts
or models of plates of artificial teeth in a position corresponding to that of the natural
jaws and having placed them in such position, to be able to perform all of the move
ments by the artificial jaws one upon the other, that can be performed by the natural
jaws to enable the dental operator in the absence of his patient, to perform all of his
work, and so avoid the necessity of the usual tiresome and painful sitting of the
patient for hours in having the teeth of the artificial plates fitted to all of the different
positions of the jaws, and it consists in the construction hereinafter described and
more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Roferring to the drawing;
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of an articulator embodying my improved invention.
Fig. 2, is a perspective detail view of a portion of the same.
Fig. 3, is a detail view of a slightly modified form of attachment of the arm having
the condyles thereon.
Fig. 4, is a detail view of an arm showing a slightly modified form of condyloid
cavities integral therewith and spring attachments for holding the arm and upper
plate holder to the lower holder.
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of a modified form of the attachments of the lower and
upper plate holders.
Fig. 6, is a sectional detail view of the spring holder on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7, is a sectional view of the condyle and condyloid cavity on the line y y of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 8, is a vertical section of the post and tube uniting the impression or plate
holders on the line z z of Fig 1, and
Fig. 9, is a cross sectional view of the tongues and set screw on the line 2. 2. of
Fig. 1.

page_text: Like letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in each figure of the
drawing.
In the construction of my articulator a holding frame A representing the lower jaw,
is formed, having adjustably mounted thereon an upper holding frame B representing
the upper jaw.
These frames are so adjusted as to be held substantially parallel one over the
other.
The lower holding frame is provided on its rear or bandle portion with a vertical
recessed post a having a hole a¹ in its rear side for the point of a set screw.
Upon the post a there is a vertical sleeve that rests down upon its shoulder,
which is provided in its reinforced rear side with a set screw c that takes into the hole
of the post.
On the front side of the upper end of the sleeve C there is a curved arm D integral
with the sleeve, that extends laterally upwards and backwards from each side of the
sleeve, having its extreme rear ends united by a straight-bar E integral therewith,
which extends beyond the ends of the curved arm D on each side to form condyles
that serve the same purpose in operation of my device as those in the human jaw.
The center of the bar E, opposite to the sleeve C, is reinforced forming a groove e
around the bar, within which a spring hook F is placed for the purpose of connecting
the upper with the lower holding frames.
The upper holding frame B is constructed with a rearwardly extending tongue b
having a slot 6' therein beveled downward and outward to its end, as shown in
Fig. 9.
Over the straight-bar E, having the condyles thereon, is another straight-bar G,
corresponding in length with the distance from one condyle to the other in the
average human jaw, which has projecting ends g having holes therein for the
insertion of the ends of any suitable measuring calipers, for aiding in properly
adjusting the casts on the holders after the measurement of the head has been
taken from one condyle to the other, and from the condyles to the symphysis of the
jaw.
At the central point of the bar G there is a lug g¹ extending backwards and
downwards having a hole through its center, for the admission of a long screw
threaded shank which extends up through the lug a sufficient distance to admit of a
coil spring H, or other spring as rubber, being placed thereon.
The shank of the hook is provided at its upper end with a nut I having a socket i
extending downward from its edges, of the same interior diameter as that of the coil
spring, so that when the nut is turned down upon the shank, the upper end of the
spring will be enveloped within the socket and carried with it, while the lower end h
of the spring is securely fastened within the lug g² to prevent its turning upon the
shank during the operation of adjusting the bars one upon the other.
Upon the opposite side of the bar G from the lug g¹ there is a forwardly projecting
tongue J having its edges recessed downward and outward to near its lower side whore
a lateral flange is formed upon which the beveled tongue 6 of the upper holding
frame B is adapted to fit, and to be adjusted back and forth as desired.
The flanged tongue J is provided with a set screw K having a collar & resting
thereon underneath the head of the screw. The tongue b is slightly thicker than the
tongue J, above the flange j, and projects above the same, so that when the collar k is
tightened down upon it, by means of the screw, the tongue is bound between the
flange and the collar and is securely held in any desired position.
Near the ends of the bar G there are ear shaped cavities L formed integral with
and at right angles to the length of the bar, as nearly as possible representing the
shape of the condyloid cavities in the human upper jaw, as shown in Fig. 7.
These cavities are formed by a forwardly and downwardly extending projection
from the front side of the bar G, together with a rearwardly and downwardly
extending projection l' from back side of the bar. The condyloid cavities thus formed
are adapted to receive the condyloid processes d on the end of the bar E, the
end of the front projection forming the cavity extending below the bar E. while

page_text: the lower end of the rear projection is on about a central plane with the bar when in
a normal position.
The rear projection of the cavity is of sufficient thickness to receive a set
screw, M which passes through it at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and rests
against the side of the condyloid process, for the purpose of adjusting and holding
the process, for the purpose of adjusting and holding the process forward or back-
ward in the cavity at any desired point, thereby moving the upper holding frame
back and forth over the lower one to make them conform in position to the casts
thereon taken of the mouth, or to the plates made therefrom which are being fitted to
the jaws.
With the upper holding frame B thus yieldingly pivoted to the bar E, by the spring
hook F through the bar G, whose cavities rest down upon the condyles of bar E, the
front part of the upper holder is free to be turned for the articulation of the teeth, or
up, or to one side upon the post a as desired, for the insertion or removal of the plates
or casts.
As it is necessary to bring the holding plates nearer together in some instances than
in others, to make them conform to the thickness of the custs or plates to be finished,
a vertical supporting and adjusting screw m is inserted within the top of the re-enforced
portion of the sleeve (which is adapted to be moved up and down at will, upon the
head of which the tongue J of the bar G is made to rest.
may
The bar E be supported by the arm D extending directly backward and upward
from the top of the sleeve C as shown in Fig. 3. In this form the spring hook F is
placed around the bar E and through an opening in the arm.
If desired the arms D may extend backward and upward from the lower holding
frame A conforming substantially to the rear portion of the human jaw, as shown in
Fig. 5, in which case the condyles & are formed integral therewith and extend outward
at right angles to the arms at their rear portions.
In this construction the bar G is preferably formed with a downwardly and forwardly
extending lip at right angles thereto at each end, having forwardly curved slots or
cavities L therein representing the condyloid cavities which work upon the condyles,
and have coiled springs H secured to the bar and to the inside of the arms below, for
yieldingly holding the parts together.
As the post and sleeve of the lower holder are not necessary in this form, a cross-
bar N is placed between the arms D having an inclined arm n extending backward
and upward from its center carrying a nut for the supporting and adjusting screw m.
The tongue 6 of the upper holder may rest upon the tongue J of the bar, and be
adjusted back and forth in a simple slot under the head of the screw K.
A slightly modified form of the condyloid cavities L shown in Fig. 4, cast integral
with the bar G, may be substituted for those shown in Fig. 5, in which case the
forward projection is curved forward and upward a sufficient distance to prevent, the
condyled from accidently riding over its end when too great pressure is made upon
the upper holder when the casts or plates are removed from the articulator.
From the construction of my device it will be observed that in operation all of the
possible movements of the natural jaws can be performed by the holding plates of
the articulator.
The upper holding plate B is adjusted back and forth over the lower plate A by
means of the set screw K in the tongue J while it is supported upon the adjusting
screw m from beneath the tongue. The two holding frames are placed at any desired
parallel distance apart, or the upper one tilted or rocked over the lower from side to
side, to enable the teeth upon one side of the dental plate to articulate, without bringing
the others in contact, by means of the adjusting screw M working in the condyloid
cavities throwing the condyles forward on the inclined projection in the cavities they
are screwed in, thereby raising or lowering the bar G° tilting it upon the adjusting
screw m either forward or to one side.
This same movement of the holders is accomplished by the modified form shown in
Fig. 5, by holding the device in the hands as the yielding springs admit of the plates
being tilted one upon the other without being fixed in position by a set screw.

page_text: When it is desired to place within or remove the casts or plates from the holder,
the upper holder is raised or thrown back upon its pivotal connections with the bar E,
and may then be turned on the post a and sleeve Cat right angles to the lower holder,
so as to move one of the holders out of the way of the other without, disconnecting any
⚫of its parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
⚫claim. is
1. The combination with a dental articulator having holding frames one above the
other, the upper frame having a bar at its rear end of a length to correspond with the
average distance from one condylo to the other provided with projections on its front
and rear sides at right angles thereto, the front projection being longer than the rear
one, and the two forming ear shaped cavities, of arms connected with the lower
holding frame having outwardly extending processes working in said cavities, the bar
of the upper holder being yieldingly secured to the lower holder and adapted to be
tilted or rocked from side to side upon said processes, as set forth.
2. The combination with holders adjustable one upon the other having straight-bars
extending laterally across their rear ends, of a spring adjustment uniting said bars at
their center, the upper bar having near its ends, front and rear projections forming
ear shaped cavities, and the ends of the lower bar forming condyles working in said
cavities, adapting the upper holder to be tilted or rocked from side to side as
set forth.
3. The combination with holders one of which is adjustably held over and at a
parallel distance above the other with straight bars extending laterally across their
rear ends, of a spring hook secured to the center of the lower bar, having its shank
extending through the upper bar with a spring thereon and a socket nut yieldingly
holding said spring down upon the upper bar, as set forth.
4. The combination with holders one above the other, of a post in the lower holder,
a re-enforced sleeve on said post having curved arms extending outwards and back-
wards, the ends of the arms united by a lateral bar having condyles on its ends, an
adjusting screw in the re-enforced portion of the sleeve, the upper holder having a
bar with cavities near its ends adapted to work over said condyles, and yieldingly
secured to the lower bar at its center, as set forth.
5. The combination with adjustable holders one over the other, having lateral
bars at their rear ends yieldingly secured together at their center, of front and
rear projections near the ends of the upper bar forming an ear shaped cavity, the rear
projections having adjusting screws extending into the cavities, and condyles on the
lower bar working in said cavities, as set forth.
G.. The combination with holders, one above the other, yieldingly secured together
by bars at their rear ends of a tongue extending forward from the upper bar
having its edges recessed downward and outward from the top to a lateral flange
beneath, the tongue, having a set screw therein and collar on the screw, and a
beveled slotted tongue on the upper holder resting on said flange and extending
above its tongue under the collar adapted to be adjusted back and forth and to
be held in place by the said screw, as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1889.