Patent ID: 7186114

Claim:
A self-ligating lingual orthodontic bracket, comprising: a base comprising a base surface adapted for coupling to a lingual surface of a tooth in a person's arch; a first flange extending generally horizontally from the base in a generally lingual direction; a second flange extending generally vertically from the first flange in a direction generally toward the person's occlusal plane a third flange extending generally horizontally from the second flange in a generally labial direction, the third flange separated from the first flange generally vertically toward the person's occlusal plane to define a generally transverse wire slot that is exposed from a generally labial direction and adapted to receive an orthodontic wire inserted into the wire slot from the generally labial direction; a clip slot formed generally vertically through the second flange; and a flexible retaining clip adapted to secure the orthodontic wire within the wire slot in a self-ligating manner, the retaining clip: comprising a first portion positioned generally vertically and adapted to move generally vertically within the clip slot toward or away from the occlusal plane, a second portion extending generally horizontally from the first portion in a generally labial direction about at least a central portion of the third flange, and a third portion extending generally vertically from the second portion in a direction generally away from the occlusal plane about at least the central portion of the third flange; adapted to apply a resilient force to an object positioned between the first and third portions; adapted to be urged generally vertically toward the occlusal plane from a closed position to an open position to expose the wire slot to receive the orthodontic wire, the third portion being biased against at least the central portion of the third flange when the retaining clip is in the open position due to the applied resilient force; and adapted to be urged generally vertically away from the occlusal plane from the open position to the closed position to secure the orthodontic wire within the wire slot, the third portion being biased against the orthodontic wire when the retaining clip is in the closed position and the orthodontic wire is secured within the wire slot due to the applied resilient force.