Completely Hollow Clamps and Metal Fittings for Artificial Sets of Teeth, Obturators, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
CUMPLEIE
Completely Hollow Clamps and Metal Fittings for Artificial Sets of
Teeth, Obturators, and the like.
I CARL FERDINAND FRIEDRICH SCHRÖDER, of 19 Unter den Linden, Berlin,
in the German Empire, Practitioner of Dental Surgery 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 :-
Artificial teeth, as supplied at the present time, are generally provided with one
or more pins or clamps for their attachment, and in making such pins or clamps
platinum is most commonly used, though, possibly, in some cases or in certain
focalities less costly metal might be employed. The usual method of securing
these metal fittings consists in laboriously inserting them into small platinum tubes,
and securing them therein by solder, as such tubes alone are capable of withstanding
the intense heat required for burning the (porcelain) mass or paste of which
artificial teeth are made. The clamps or pins themselves, however, have hitherto
always consisted of solid wire, whether of platinum or commoner metal; with the
result that, in the case of platinum wire, they cause considerable expense owing to
their weight, and also to the large quantity of them that is required, while in the
case of cheaper and coarser metal, the process of their manufacture is extremely
tedious and complicated. In either case the employment of wire offers no
appreciable advantage to the practitioner, who, subsequently has to fix the teeth,
fitted with such attachments, to metal or india rubber bases or supports.
This invention relates to a method of manufacture of artificial sets of teeth, in
which the precious metal-platinum-which alone is really suitable for making entire,
serviceable tooth clamps, is retained, but which, nevertheless, enables no less than
half the cost of the manufacture to be saved, whilst at the same time reducing by
half the weight of the platinum fittings, and offering, besides, very material
advantages and much convenience to the dentists who have to finish the artificial
teeth so as to make them ready for use.
Clamps or fittings made in accordance with this invention are also far stronger
than those hitherto made; and finally the sets of teeth provided with them are
lighter, in proportion to the difference of weight existing between the improved
hollow clamps and the old solid ones, which circumstance renders the use of such
teeth much more easy and pleasant to the patient, while increasing also the sucking
power of the tooth plates.
The principle of the invention, then, is simply this: to make attachment-pins,
or clamps, for artificial sets of teeth, hollow throughout their length, from top to
bottom, instead of making them solid as hitherto. It will be seen that such hollow
attachment pieces may be very easily manufactured on a large scale for the market.
A further object of the invention is to make the pins or clamps, not singly, as they
have heretofore been constructed, but in pairs, as "twin-clamps," in which each
individual piece is integral with the other, both having hollow ends, whereby they
are jointly and firmly secured in the material of which the tooth consists; it being
only necessary, for this purpose, to press them into the material or mass, while it is
yet soft, i.e. before it is burned or baked, and hardened; the insertion being made
horizontally in the case of teeth with wide surfaces, and vertically, in the case of
narrow teeth.
The hollow clamps or attachment pins, which are thus made wholly of precious
metal (platinum) scarcely possess half the weight of the usual solid fittings; and

page_text: being, as they are, constructed in pairs, they cannot come out of the tooth. But
even if inserted into enamel singly, they will keep in position much longer and
more reliably than those which have been hitherto employed (which, as is well
known, were apt to break off in a short time), the reason being, that enamel enters
one of their hollow attachment-ends. Then, as the process of manufacture of the
teeth is carried on further, india rubber is forced into the other hollow end of each
clamp, whence, as will be readily understood, the firmness of the attachment is
very considerably enhanced; in addition to which the ends may be rubbed down,
so as to form retaining hooks.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a prospective view of the crown of a tooth in readiness for use;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section thereof on line a, Figure 1, and
Fig. 3 is a view of one of the twin clamps mentioned above.
In "metal sets "
the teeth may be firmly secured in position without solder, by
the simple insertion of the pins and the rubbing down of their hollow ends;
whereby the cracking or breaking of the artificial teeth, so frequently occasioned
by the soldering process up to now, is entirely avoided. In the case of repairs,
whether of metal fittings, or of plastic supports, such as india rubber, etc., the
attachment is completed by the simple insertion of the pins; the mastic employed
entering the hollow open ends, under pressure, so as permanently to remain therein.
It will therefore be seen that the re-vulcanizing of the mended parts is dispensed
with.
Where an artificial tooth is to be secured by inserting one pin into the root of a
natural tooth a hollow clamp, such as herein described and shown, will also prove
to be a far more reliable means of attachment than a solid one would do, as the
filling material or mastic ("the plug") is forced in at the same time through the
top, and through side apertures made with a file, so that it is precluded from
exercising upward pressure on the nerve-end, as it frequently does in connection
with the solid clamps now used; thereby, in many cases, causing pain and
suppuration.
The invention may, moreover, be applied to the manufacture of a very great
variety of metal fittings for the mouth, such as are employed for strengthening the
caoutchouc plates or supports, or for similar purposes, in connection with artificial
teeth.
Up to the present time, such metal fittings, whether of precious or other metal
(provided that they are more intended actually to strengthen, and not merely to
adorn or decorate the set), have been constructed of solid wire. But, as stated
above, this invention enables hollow wire fittings to be utilized in imparting
additional strength to plate-supports as well, full advantage being taken of their
strength, while (as they are hollow) about two thirds of the weight and cost of the
old attachments are saved.
The main object, here, is therefore to provide a tube, hollow throughout, as a
substitute for solid wire; while the ends thereof may be widened or extended
ontwardly to facilitate the admission of the plastic mass, whereby still greater
firmness is ensured than could be depended upon in employing solid wire.
an
"
The invention may, moreover, be applied to metal fittings or supporting frames for
the gums or palate, and be extended so as to assume the form of what is known as
obturator." In that case, the purpose of the invention would be to provide
hollow spaces of any required extent, and of maximum strength by employing thin
metal sheets. The "forms" to be bent or stampted into shape may accomodate
themselves exactly to the artificial attachments to which they are to be applied,
and it is sufficient to cover them over with a layer of plastic material such as india
rubber or the like, as thin as paper, to complete satisfactorily an operation at those
parts of the mouth, in properly attending to which considerable difficulty has
hitherto been experienced.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
―
1. Platinum pins, hollow throughout, for the manufacture of artificial sets of
teeth, employed either singly or jointly (as "twin clamps ") for the purpose of
being inserted into, and thereby retaining, artificial teeth upon metal plates,
without any solder.
of
2. Metal fittings, hollow throughout, in every desirable shape, for the purpose
strengthening, and reducing the weight of, artificial sets of teeth and "obturators."
Dated this 16th dow of November 1802
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON, Fels. Chartered Inst. Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
For the Applicant.