Improvements in Dentists' Olamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application. 2nd Feb., 1897-4ccepted, 3rd Apr., 1897!
Improvements in Dentists' Olamps.
I, DANIEL MURLLESS, of Taber's Block, High Street, in the City of Holyoke.
County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, one of the Unites States of
America, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to clamps more particularly known as "dentists" " clamps
and more especially designated as "rubber-dam" clamps, and the object of the
invention is to provide a device of this character whereby the rubber dam can be
quickly and easily placed in position and can be used by making only a small
aperture therethrough, and whereby also the device will not tear nor enlarge the
aperture in the rubber dam while it is being placed in position.
In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,
Figure 1 is a view showing one form of this rubber-dam clamp, being secured in
position on a tooth by the usual forceps.
Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, in position on a tooth.
Fig. 3 is a view with the clamp removed and the rubber dam in position on a
tooth.
Fig. 4 is a view of one form of this clamp, showing the same holding the rubber
dam on a tooth to enable the operator to secure it in position by the usual thread.
Fig. 5 is a view at right angles to that shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken in line a—a, Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an under side view of this form of clamp.
Fig. 8 is a top view of another form of clamp, holding a rubber dam in position
on a tooth. Fig. 9 is a side view thereof. Fig. 10 is also a side view thereof at
right angles to the view shown in Fig. 9 ; and
Fig. 11 is a view of a rubber dam, showing the size of aperture necessary in
order to use the same in connection with this particular construction of clamp.
Similar characters designato like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
In practice it bas not only been found extremely disadvantageous to place the
rubber dam around a tooth in the uanal manner, but it has also been found
necessary to make a relatively large aperture or perforation in the rubber in order
to stretch the same around the tooth, so that the rubber dam oftentimes affords no
protection to prevent spittle or other moisture reaching the cavity. In order,
therefore, to overcome theso serious disadvantages, I have provided an improved
clamp whereby the rubber dam can be inserted in position on the clamp before the
samne is placed on a tooth, or the clamp inserted and the dam stretched over the
same and guided thereby into its proper position, and which is a comparatively
easy matter as compared with the insertion of a rubber dam directly around the
tooth in the usual way, and whereby also the necessity of forming a large hole in
the rubber dam is obviated.
In the preferred form thereof herein shown and described this rubber-dam
clamp in one construction thereof comprises two inwardly-curved, substantially
Bemicylindrical or concavo-convex members 10 and 11, having inwardly bont or
curved concavo-convex, lower edges, thereby forming beveled exterior faces 12
and two clamping edges or jaws 13, adapted to engage a tooth. The members 10
and 11 have their upper portions cut away or tapered inwardly and preferably

page_text: connected by a substantially semicircular member or spring 14, which, in the
construction shown, has its outer side faces 15 in alignment with the outer side
faces 16 of the concavo-convex members 10 and 11, whereby the diameter of the
spring member 14 will be the same as the major portion of such curved members 10
and 11, and therefore no impediment is formed to prevent the stretching of the
rubber dam over the clamp.
In this construction of clamp the concavo-couvox clamping edges or jaws 13 are
curved transversely or formed substantially semicircular, whereby the taper from
their outer edges to their centers, as at 17, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.
In the use of this form of clamp a perforation 21, about one-sixteenth of an
inch in diameter, is made in the rubber dam 20, and the same is then stretched
over the spring-connecting member. 14 and forced down over the sides of the
members 10 and 11 until it is in position at the juncture of the sides 10 and
the jaws 13 of such members. The forceps are then inserted intermediate of
the members 10 and 11, and the same spread and placed in position to permit the
jaws 13 to engage the tooth, whereby said members will be parallel and close to
the tooth, and whereupon owing to the inwardly bent and bevel-edged jaws-the
rubber can be easily pushed down and guided into position closely to engage the
tooth, and owing also to the semicircular or transversely-curved under biting-
edges 13 of the jaws--the rubber will contract under such edges (Fig. 4) and
thus be held in position by the clamp for the reception of a thread 22, in order to
secure the rubber dam in position, after which the clamp can be removed. This
form of clamp is preferably used for work requiring a comparatively short time.
It will be understood, however, that instead of placing the dam on the clamp
before the latter is placed on the tooth the clamp may first be placed on the tooth
and the rubber dam then forced over the clamp and around the tooth, the construction
of the clamp permitting the same to act as a guide for this purpose.
When, however, the operator has a comparatively long or tedious operation, and
it is desired to retain the rubber in position continuously by means of a clamp,
I have provided another form thereof, which, in the construction shown in
Fig. 8, 9, and 10, also comprises two inwardly-curved, substantially semi-
cylindrical or concavo-convex members 25 and 26, connected together to flare
outward at their upper edges aud having inwardly bent or curved concavo-convex
lower edges forining two clamping-jaws 27 for engaging the tooth. Each of these
curved members 25 and 26 is shown provided on its outer face with a recess or
groove 30, for the purpose hereinafter specified. These members in the construction
shown are connected at their upper portions by a spring member 31, (herein shown
extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom,) whereby such connecting member 31
will be out of the way of the top of the tooth when the clamp is in position thereon,
so that the tooth can be operated on without removing the clamp.
In the use of this form of clamp a suitable perforation 21, also about one-sixteenth
of an inch in diameter, having been made in the rubber dam, the same is stretched
over the under edges of the clamp until the edge of said perforation rests in the
groove 30 in the outer face of the clamp members; the forceps are then inserted
between the arms of the spring, and the members 25 and 26 spread and placed in
position to grasp the tooth, whereby the rubber dam will be held firmly around the
tooth without the use of a thread, in a manuer that will be obvious without further
description.
In this construction of clamp the spring-connecting member 31 is out of the
way of the cavity of the tooth, nud, owing to the Haring construction of the
members 25 and 26, the clamp, to a cortain extent, is also out of the way of
the upper sides of the tooth, so that the same can be operated on while the clamp
remains in position.
By these improved constructions of clamps it will be soon that the rubber dam
can be slipped on aud from the same quickly and easily, without the necessity of
making a large bole or splitting or tearing the rubber or other material usually
employed as the dam.

page_text: 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. A clamp comprising two substantially semicylindrical members connected
together by a member having its outer faces in alignment with the outer faces of
said semicylindrical members.
2. A clamp comprising two concavo-convex members connected together by a.
spring member, each of said concavo-convex members having an exterior groove
for the reception of a rubber dam.
3. A clamp comprising two curved or substantially semicylindrical members
having their lower edges inwardly bent or curved to form clamping-jaws and also.
having such lower edges transversely-curved and exteriorly-beveled, and a spring
member connecting said curved members and having its outer side faces in,
alignment with the outer side faces of the curved members.
Dated the own any of January A.D. 1897.
DANIEL MURLLESS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.