Improvements in Apparatus. for Regulating Teeth.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 6th July, 1888
Improvements in Apparatus. for Regulating Teeth.
I, JOHN JOSEPH RAVENSCROFT PATRICK, residing at Belleville, in the County of
Dane and State of Wisconsin, one of the United 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:
The Invention relates to means for regulating teeth, and it consists in the con-
struction and novel combination of parts as hereinafter set forth.
The object of the Invention is to provide means which are at once simple, cleanly
and easily applied, for regulating or bringing to proper position, teeth which have
grown in an irregular manner.
Referring to the Drawings.
Figure 1, shows the Invention as applied to the teeth.
Figure 2, is an isometric view of the apparatus for regulating teeth, and
Figure 3, is a like view of the spacing wedge.
Slides, B, having apertures conforming to the sectional shaper of the spring, are
slipped thereon, and are designed to be adjusted to proper position thereon, by sliding
them, their position being fixed or secured after adjustinent, by means hereinafter
described. These slides carry the devices which engage the teeth.
C, indicates the adjustable loop bands or clamps, which are secured to the molar or
rear teeth and whereby fixed bearings are obtained for the action of the spring whose
elasticity gives it, when so secured, the power of continuous pressure, which is so
essential in rectifying the position of the tooth.
The loop band, C, consists of two branches, d, d, provided with end lugs, e, which
are perforated for the passage of the tangent clamp screw, y. One of the lugs, e. has
its perforation threaded to engage the screw, the bearing slide, B, of this loop band,
is formed with a lug, h, having a threaded perforation to engage the adjusting
screw, k, which extends parallel to the leg of the arched spring, its neck having its
bearing in a lug, l, of a second slide, B, which is secured in position after adjustment,
by the double wedge device, m. This double wedge is made thin or ribbon like, in its
middle portion and increases in thickness toward its ends. It is passed through the
slide, B, before the latter is slipped in the bow spring, after which it cannot escape,

page_text: and is easily operated to secure the slide against movement in either direction,
according to requirement, the double wedge being pushed in the direction opposite to
that of the tension desired to be established. On the parallel screw, h, is fixed a
collar, a, next the lug, 1, so that when the bearing slide having said lug, 1, is secured
by its wedge, and the loop bands or clamps, C, are fixed on the molars chosen for
points of purchase, the tension of the bow springs may be increased or lessened
according to requirement, from time to time by turning the parallel screws, k.
These loop clamps are made small enough, so that when adjusted to the rear teeth
they can be drawn tight around the same by means of their clamp screws.
Some of the slides, B, are made without lugs and are adjustable in proper position
for action on the teeth, and when so adjusted are fixed by means of the double
wedges herein before described. Such slides are provided with pressure arms,
as at, V.
For the purpose of grasping a canine tooth, a slide, B, is provided with a bifurcated
or branched arm, L, the branches of which gradually spread outward from the body
of the slide and curve inward at their ends, as indicated and slides, B, having
hooks, IL, may be employed to engage the ends of teeth to draw them outward, or
turn them, and other slides are re-enforced on their faces as at, N, to form bearings
for the front of a tooth to press it backward. These slides are designed to be fixed
after adjustment, by means of double wedges as hereinbefore described.
When, however, the teeth project in a general way the arched bow itself, should be
brought to bear on them, as it will exert its pressure in such a manner that there will
be more uniformity in the result attained, and the teeth will be established on a
satisfactory line of curvature.
It will be observed that the tension of this dental bow spring not lost during the
adjusting operation.
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. A dental arched spring for regulating teeth, provided with an adjusting screw
extending lengthwise of the leg of the spring, engaging a bearing attached to the
bow, and a threaded lug in the loop band, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a dental bow spring and an adjustable clamp having a
threaded perforation, an adjustable slide bearing, and an adjusting screw extending
parallel to the leg of the bow spring, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with a dental bow spring, of the open loop, C, secured by the
clamp screw, g, and adjusted by the screw, k, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with a dental bow spring, of a branched loop clamp, having a
clamp screw, a bearing slide having a double wedge fastening, and a regulating
screw, substantially as specified.
5. The combination with a dental bow spring and its slides, bearing attachments
and regulating devices, of the double wedge fastenings, each consisting of a thin or
ribbon form, increasing in thickness from the middle portion, toward the ends,
substantially as specified.
1-1
1000