Patent ID: 8672676

Claim:
An archwire assembly for orthodontic braces, comprising: an archwire; a crimpable sleeve positioned on the archwire and including a body having a closed tubular shape in transverse cross-section and including an interior surface, the crimpable sleeve including a first pair of regions of the interior surface in contacting relationship with the archwire on opposite sides thereof and a second pair of regions of the interior surface spaced from and not in contacting relationship with the archwire on opposite sides thereof, wherein the crimpable sleeve is moveable on the archwire upon application of a first force on the sleeve in a direction generally parallel to the archwire, the first pair of regions being in contact with the archwire during movement of the crimpable sleeve, the first pair of regions completely resisting movement of the crimpable sleeve along the archwire under the weight of the crimpable sleeve when the archwire and crimpable sleeve are oriented such that a longitudinal axis of a length of the archwire surrounded by the crimpable sleeve is in a vertical orientation, and wherein the crimpable sleeve is capable of being completely crimped to secure it in a fixed position on the archwire.