Patent ID: 7104791

Claim:
An orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising: a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one mesial distal extending side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slat and its removal therefrom; a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and an at least substantially rigid shutter member made from or as a solid body and mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an orthodontic arch wire in the slot; wherein the shutter member comprises a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member and a slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; wherein the shutter member pivot portion comprises a pivot portion part embracing the pivot member the pivot portion part having a mesial distal extending bore therein through which the pivot member extends whereby the pivot portion part has a wall of at least approximately annular transverse cross section around the pivot member; the wall having therein a mesial distal extending radial slot from its interior to its exterior so that the wall is discontinuous around the pivot member and has en elongated movable segment thereof able to move radially toward and away from the pivot member by flexing thereof; wherein latch means having latch means members that are cooperatively engaged with one another and operative between the pivot member and the pivot portion when the shutter member is in slot closed position to retain the shutter member in that position comprise a mesially distally extending recess in one of the pivot member and the pivot portion, and a mesially distally extending projection from the other of the pivot member and the pivot portion, the latch means member in or on the pivot portion being respectively in or on the elongated movable segment disposed immediately adjacent to the radial slot.