CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE FASTENINGS, FIXINGS, AND ATTACHMENTS USED FOR SUPPORTING OR SECURING ARTIFICIAL TEETH IN THE MOUTH."
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Maurice, of the firm of Gemble and Maurice,
of 316, Regent Street, Dentist, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE FASTENINGS, FIXINGS, AND ATTACHMENTS USED FOR SUPPORTING
OR SECURING ARTIFICIAL TEETH IN THE MOUTH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Maurice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
April 1857.
I, JOSEPHI MAURICE, of the firm of Gemble and Maurice, of 316, Regent
Street, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FASTENINGS, FIXINGS, AND ATTACHMENTS USED
FOR SUPPORTING OR SECURING ARTIFICIAL TEETH IN THE MOUTH," to be as
follows:-
Whereas the contact between the natural teeth and the metal bands and
other fastenings used for fixing artificial teeth in the mouth is frequently pro-
ductive of inconvenience and injury, as also in cases where the wire fastenings
are used in the various positions and forms in which they are employed, and
where an artificial crown is fitted to a natural stump the same inconvenience
or damage to the natural stump or tooth frequently arises.
Now, this Invention consists in applying a covering of vulcanized or
mineralized india-rubber, or other soft and permanently elasticated india-

page_text: rubber material, to such metal fastenings or fixings, and also for the purpose
of protecting the mouth from injury by contact with the side springs or fasten-
ings used for securing cases of artificial teeth in the mouth. I prefer to use
the said material in the form of tubes, and of a color to assimilate as closely
as possible to the natural color of the gums or the teeth; thus, and whilst I
employ one of the materials described for covering the bands, clasps, or wires,
in the manner described for the purpose of preventing the well-known
injurious action of the metal upon the teeth,, it likewise serves to prevent the
unpleasant jar and pain resulting from direct contact, in consequence of the
soft and flexible surface presented, which softness and flexibility in the case of
coverings for clasps enables a secure lodgment to be effected upon the necks
and in the inequalities of the natural teeth, whereby the necessity for con-
tinuing the fastenings round the fronts of the teeth will be frequently obviated;
and when the side springs used in the cases of artificial tecth applied in the
mouth are covered according to this Invention such springs are less liable to
injury, whilst the cheeks are also protected; also in fixing or pivoting artificial
crowns upon natural roots, the pin, stud, or pivot, is similarly covered. I
employ the same material for regulating cases, and the covering for bone
clasps in bone pieces.
The tubing by reason of its clasticity clings to the fastenings, and thereby
remains firm; but as an additional security, bands, claps, wires, or other fasten-
ings may be scored, grooved, or otherwise irregularly shaped or worked, and
gutta percha or other adhesive cement may be interposed between the fasten-
ing and the vulcanized india-rubber covering.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Maurice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPHI
MAURICE, of the firm of Gemble and Maurice, of No. 316, Regent Street,
Dentist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Maurice, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said

page_text: Joseph Maurice, 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 "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE FASTENINGS, FIXINGS, AND ATTACHMENTS USED FOR SUPPORT-
ING OR SECURING ARTIFICIAL TEETH IN THE MOUTH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Maurice, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Joseph Maurice, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing:-
Whereas the contact between the natural teeth and the metal bands and
other fastenings used for fixing artificial teeth in the mouth is frequently pro-
ductive of inconvenience and injury, as also in cases where the wire fastenings
are used in the various positions and forms in which they are employed, and
where an artificial crown is fitted in a natural stump the same inconvenience
or damage to the natural stump or both frequently arises.
Now, this Invention consists in applying a covering of vulcanized or
mineralized or other soft and permanently elasticated india-rubber material,
to such metal fastenings or fixings, and also for the purpose of protecting
the mouth from injury by contact with the side springs or fastenings used
for securing cases of artificial teeth in the mouth. I prefer to use the
said material for covering clasps, springs, wires, and pins or studs in the
form of tubes, and of a color to assimulate as closely as possible to the natural
colors of the gums or the teeth; thus, whilst I employ one of the materials
described for covering the bands, clasps, or wires in the manner described for
the purpose of preventing the well-known injurious action of the metal upon
the teeth, it likewise serves to prevent unpleasant jar and pain resulting from
direct contact, in consequence of the soft and flexible surface presented, which
softness and flexibility in the case of coverings for clasps enables a secure
lodgment to be effected upon the necks, and in the irregularities of the natural
teeth, whereby the necessity for continuing the fastenings round the fronts of
the teeth is obviated.

page_text: When the side springs used in cases of artificial teeth applied in the mouth
are covered according to this Invention, such springs are less liable to injury,
whilst the checks are also protected.
In fixing or engrafting artificial crowns upon natural roots, the pin,-stud, or
pivot may be similarly covered; this material may be used also for regulating
cases, and the covering for bone clasps in bone pieces. The tubing by reason
of its elasticity clings to the fastenings, and thereby remains firm; but in
certain cases, where it may be advisable to have the least amount of play,
action, or motion, and as an additional security, the wires may be formed into
irregular shapes, and also gutta percha or other adhesive cement may be
interposed between the metal or bone piece and tho vulcanized india-rubber
tube or covering.
I apply the same system of interposing vulcanized or mineralized india-
rubber between the artificial and the natural palate by applying the material
in the form of prepared sheet or layer, by means of suitable cement or solu-
tion, and the application of heat or pressure upon the surface for the better
securing the adhesion. I prefer to employ wire gauze or net composed of
platina, gold, or other metal wire finely woven, and which being cut of a
suitable form is placed upon and pressed into the upper surface of the plate
or the artificial palate, and to which it may be attached by soldering, or any
other equally secure mode of fastening, or serrations may be formed in the
plate for the better holding of the india-rubber material as the mode of cover-
ing clasps, wires, springs, and such like articles as herein-beforo described.
And I will now proceed to explain the mode of applying my Invention to the
plates, and to artificial palates, and such like surfaces.
I either take thin sheets of vulcanized india-rubber, and by means of
cement or solution of india-rubber filled into the interstices of the serrated or
scored surface of the plate, or of the wire gauze or net, upon which I place in
contact and press into the sheet of prepared or vulcanized india-rubber; or
instead thereof, I take a thin sheet of vulcanized india-rubber to the back of
which has been attached a sheet of unvulcanized or plain india-rubber, and
by heat and pressure bring the prepared metal surfaco in contact therewith,
and thus form perfect union, taking care that the air is properly expressed and
excluded from between the metal plate and the applied material. Instead,
however, of applying the material as above described, I prefer in some cases
to coat or line the prepared surface of the plate, artificial gum piece, palate,
and such like surfaces with prepared india-rubber, either in the form of pasto
or in a sheet pressed into and upon the said surface, and afterwards vulcanize
such prepared india-rubber either by the wet or the dry process, in which

page_text: cases the entire thickness of the material becomes converted into vulcanized
or mineralized and permanently elasticated india-rubber without injury to the
metal, mineral, enamel, or other parts of-the-artificial teeth and their fixings,
or I so prepare the plate or other part operated upon before it has had
attached to it the artificial teeth or gum pieces, or any part liable to
injury.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 exhibits an under side view or plan'
of a set of front teeth, or portion of a complete set of artificial teeth belong-
ing to the upper jaw, a being the gold plate to which the teeth are attached;
b, the gold clasp by which the plate with its set of teeth are attached to a
natural tooth remaining to the right side of the jaw, this clasp or flat band of
metal being made to girth and securely fit round the root of the natural
tooth, and it is this that produces the injurious action or wearing away of the
tooth to which it is attached; c represents a similar clasp or band for the left
side of the jaw, and is shown as covered with the vulcanized india-rubber
tubing. Fig. 2 exhibits a front view of a case of artificial teeth for the upper
and lower jaw with the side springs attached thereto, that on the right side of
the mouth & being shewn uncovered, whilst the spring e on the opposite side
has a tube or covering of vulcanized india-rubber. Fig. 3 is a side view in
perspective of Fig. 2, the two rows of teeth being extended by the springs e
and e. Fig. 4 exhibits two views of side springs, the one & uncovered, and
the other e covered. Fig. 5 exhibits a longitudinal section f, and an end
view 9, of a piece of vulcanized india-rubber tube suitable for covering springs,
or when cut into shorter lengths for covering bands, clasps, and such like
articles. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a gold plate having teeth attached thereto,
exhibiting wire gauze applied thereto, and also the elastic material i
applied thereupon, and which is intended to receive the pressure of the gums;
the piece or portion i of the elastic material is only shewn so far along or
around the plate, the rest being removed. Fig. 7 exhibits a section of Fig. 6
on the line A, B, but the elastic material or yielding surface is shewn as
applied thereto; thus the thicknesses are shewn. a, the plate; h, the wire
gauze, (or where not used it will represent the depth of the scores or grooves
in the surface of the plate,) i being the vulcanized india-rubber.
Having described my Invention and illustrated some of its applications, I
wish it to be understood that I am aware that gutta percha and pure and un-
vulcanized india-rubber have severally been applied to various parts of
artificial masticating apparatus, but my Invention relates to the application
of vulcanized or permanently elasticated india-rubber; I claim the employ-
ment of vulcanized or permanently elasticated india-rubber as herein described,

page_text: whether such vulcanized or permanently elasticated india-rubber be applied
in the form of tubes to clasps, bands, and such like articles, or as strips,
ribbons, or threads wound thereupon for the purpose of covering the same, or
whether it be applied in sheets in the manner herein described or prepared;
but (non-vulcanized) india-rubber be applied to the surfaces of metal plates,
bands, or other parts of artificial masticating apparatus, and afterwards sub-
jected to treatment by the wet or dry processes, for the purpose of vulcanizing
or rendering it permanently elastic, and not liable to alteration or deterioation
by the temperature of the mouth, or the acid or other actions to which mate-
rials so placed are liable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Maurice, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM SMITH, C.E.,
10, Salisbury St., Adelphi.
JOSEPH MAURICE. (L.B.)