Patent ID: 8414292

Claim:
A self ligating orthodontic bracket system comprising: a bracket comprising: an archwire slot defined therein, the archwire slot configured to receive an archwire therein, a slide channel defining a slide path and configured to slidably receive a planar ligating member therein, wherein an upwardly facing surface defines a lower boundary of the slide channel; and at least one wedge locking ramp disposed on the upwardly facing surface and along the slide path, wherein a surface of the at least one wedge locking ramp is continuous with an upwardly extending wall of the archwire slot; a planar ligating member slidable along the slide path, the slide path extends transverse relative to the archwire slot and through the slide channel; wherein the at least one wedge locking ramp is configured to deflect the planar ligating member vertically upward and away from the upwardly facing surface and over the at least one wedge locking ramp when the ligating member travels along the slide path from an unlocked position to a locked position.