Patent ID: 7367800

Claim:
A clip for releasably retaining an archwire in an archwire slot of an orthodontic appliance, the clip comprising: a first section; a second section opposed to the first section, the first section and the second section extending in generally parallel directions and being spaced apart from each other to present a region for receiving an archwire; a third section having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of extension of the first section and the second section; a first corner portion interconnecting the first section and the third section; and a second corner portion interconnecting the second section and the third section, wherein the first corner portion extends in a direction away from the first section a certain distance, wherein the second corner portion extends in a direction away from the second section a distance that is greater than the certain distance, wherein the first section includes an inner edge that is next to the third section and extends along a first reference plane and the second section includes an inner edge that is next to the third section and extends along a second reference plane, wherein the first plane and second plane are generally parallel to each other when the clip is relaxed, wherein the third section in the region between the first section and the second section has a configuration that is generally symmetrical about a median plane, wherein the median plane is parallel to and equidistant from the first and second planes when the clip is relaxed and wherein the third section includes a buccolabial edge and a lingual edge that extend in generally parallel directions.