Patent ID: 7704072

Claim:
An orthodontic bracket comprising: a base member defining an archwire slot, and having an anterior and posterior facing surface and a bore is formed in the base member and extends from the anterior facing surface in the direction of the posterior facing surface; a ligating slide borne by the base member and moveable between a first, open position which allows access to the archwire slot, and a second, closed position which restricts access to the archwire slot, and wherein the ligating slide has an anterior and a posterior facing surface, and wherein a channel is formed in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the channel has a first and second end, and wherein a seat is defined at the first and second ends; and an elongated flexible member borne by the base member and which has a proximal end which is received in the bore, and a distal end which is received in the channel which is formed in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the seat defined by the first and second ends of the channel are each dimensioned to matingly receive the distal end of the flexible member which extends anteriorly outwardly relative to the anterior facing surface of the base member, and wherein the flexible member is not substantially deformed when received in the respective seats, and wherein the distal end of the elongated flexible member is resiliently deformable along a path of travel when the ligating slide moves between the first and second positions and out of the respective seats and along the channel defined in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the flexible member cooperates with the channel to releasably secure the ligating slide in the first and second positions.