The present invention generally relates to a spring clip for withdrawable artificial teeth and a removable artificial tooth assembled with the spring clip.
Generally speaking, when a tooth is severely decayed or is cracked by an external force, to maintain the masticatory capability and aesthetics, a dental brace is attached to natural teeth that have subjected to treatment. A drawback of such a treatment is that debris of food and corrosion may get accumulated in the gingival sulcus between the gums and the brace. Such debris cannot be completely removed with the general daily cleaning operation and may lead to rotting of the debris and corrosion inside the gingival sulcus. Bacteria or toxicants may be generated to attack the surrounding tissues of tooth roots, gums, and periodontal bone and the patient may need a more intense treatment in the future.
A removable artificial tooth that was developed in Germany comprises internal and external crowns. The internal crown is mounted to a natural tooth and the external crown is attached to the internal crown. In the way, the external crown can be removed for cleaning and at the same time, the food debris accumulated between the internal crown and the gums can be cleaned off to thereby avoid the issue of periodontitis. Such a removable artificial tooth is fixed by the frictional force induced between the surfaces of internal and external crowns and thus allows of direct removal of the external crown for cleaning. When the external crown is worn out or unexpectedly damaged, the external crown can be repaired independently. However, it is disadvantageous that the mounting stability of the external crown is poor. Since the internal and external crowns are fixed through the frictional force therebetween, in case the frictional force is small, the external crown is susceptible to easy detachment due to being stuck to sticky foodstuffs in chewing the foodstuff. On the other hand, in case the frictional force between the internal and external crowns is excessively large, the external crown may get stuck and cannot be removed.
In order to overcome the issue of coupling between internal and external crowns, the present invention provides a spring clip mountable to a withdrawable artificial tooth and a removable artificial tooth that is coupled through the spring clip. The spring clip of the present invention allows a user to easily mount and remove an artificial tooth (the external crown) and particularly, an effect of positioning assistance can be realized when the external crown is set to a predetermined position so as to improve the easiness of use.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a spring clip mountable to a withdrawable artificial tooth for clamping a projection block formed on an internal crown. The spring clip comprises a first spring arm and a second spring arm. The first spring arm has an end forming a first fixed end and an opposite end forming a first movable end, wherein the first fixed end is fixed inside an external crown. The second spring arm has an end forming a second fixed end and an opposite end forming a second movable end, wherein the second fixed end is fixed inside the external crown. The first movable end and the second movable end are spaced from each other by a distance that is less than width of the projection block, whereby when the external crown is pressed down to fit over the internal crown, the first movable end and the second movable end are expanded outward by the projection block to allow the projection block to get into the space between the first spring arm and the second spring arm.
A further advantage of the present invention is that arrangement of first and second necks allow the relative position of the projection block and the spring clip to be more stable.
Further, another advantage of the present invention is to form the first and second movable ends by inward curving so as to allow the relative movement thereof relative to the projection block to be made in a smooth manner.
Further, another advantage of the present invention is to provide a structure that allows relative movements of the first and second movable ends with respect to the projection block in a smooth manner and comprises a curve formed between the first movable end and the first neck and a curve also formed between the second movable end and the second neck, whereby openings of the two curves are set opposing each other to allow the projection block that passes through the first movable end and the second movable end to enter a space formed between the two opposing curves.
Further, it may be further arranged that the first fixed end and the second fixed end are connected to each other.
Further, in an embodiment, the first spring arm is linear and a second neck is formed between the second fixed end and the second movable end. The second neck and the first spring arm are spaced from each other by a distance that is less than size of the projection block to prohibit the projection block from expanding the first and second necks. A curve is formed between the second movable end and the second neck. The curve has an opening that opposes the first spring arm. Further, the second movable end is formed by inward curving the second spring arm. As such, the purpose of the present invention is achieved.
Further, in an embodiment, the first movable end is formed by inward bending the first spring arm twice, each bending being made by an angle less than 90 degree and greater than 0 degree. The second movable end is made opposite to the first movable end and is formed by inward bending the second spring arm twice with each bending being made by an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degree. One of the bends of the first spring arm is made abutting against one of the bends of the second spring arm.
Further, the first spring arm and the second spring arm are made of Ni—Ti based memory metal for increasing the lifespan.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable artificial tooth, which comprises an internal crown and an external crown. The internal crown is adapted to mount to a natural tooth and having a surface forming a projection block. The external crown comprises a spring clip fixed therein to correspond, in position, to the projection block. The spring clip comprises a first spring arm and a second sprig arm. The first spring arm has an end forming a first fixed end and an opposite end forming a first movable end, wherein the first fixed end is fixed inside an external crown. The second spring arm has an end forming a second fixed end and an opposite end forming a second movable end, wherein the second fixed end is fixed inside the external crown. Further, the first movable end and the second movable end are spaced from each other by a distance that is less than width of the projection block, whereby when the external crown is pressed down to fit over the internal crown, the first movable end and the second movable end are expanded outward by the projection block to allow the projection block to get into the space between the first spring arm and the second spring arm. When the external crown is fit in a direction from upper side to lower side to the internal crown, the spring clip is expanded by the projection block and after the projection block completely passes through the opening, the spring clip retains and constrains the position of the projection block.
Further, a further object of the present invention is to provide a removable artificial tooth for working with a projection block formed on a surface of a neighboring tooth, comprising: an external crown, which is adjacent to the neighboring tooth and has an adjacent surface to which a spring clip is provided. The spring clip corresponds in position to the projection block. The spring clip comprises a first spring arm, which has an end forming a first fixed end and an opposite end forming a first movable end, wherein the first fixed end is fixed inside an external crown; and a second spring arm, which has an end forming a second fixed end and an opposite end forming a second movable end, wherein the second fixed end is fixed inside the external crown. The first movable end and the second movable end are spaced from each other by a distance that is less than width of the projection block, whereby when the external crown is placed downward at a predetermined position, the first movable end and the second movable end are expanded outward by the projection block to allow the projection block to get into the space between the first spring arm and the second spring arm
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
To allow those having ordinary skills of the art the quickly understand embodiments of the present invention, explanation will be first made to a spring clip 1 combined to an external crown B of a withdrawable artificial tooth, as well as the operational relationship thereof with an internal crown A. Further, a projection block A1, the external crown B, and the spring clip 1 that are shown in the drawings are arranged according to a predetermined scale that is generally not limitative and can be adjusted as desired.
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The spring clip 1 comprises a first spring arm 11 and a second spring arm 12. The first spring arm 11 has an end forming a first fixed end 111 and an opposite end forming a first movable end 112. The first fixed end 111 is fixed inside the external crown B. The second spring arm 12 has an end forming a second fixed end 121 and an opposite end forming a second movable end 122. The second fixed end 121 is fixed inside the external crown B. Further, the first movable end 112 and the second movable end 122 are spaced from each other by a distance that is slightly less than width of the projection block A1. Further, when the external crown B is pressed down to fit over the internal crown A, the first movable end 112 and the second movable end 122 are expanded outward by the projection block A1 to allow the projection block A1 to get into the space between the first spring arm 11 and the second spring arm 12. After the projection block A1 completely passes through the first movable end 112 and the second movable end 122, the spring clip 1 retains and constrains the position of the projection block A1.
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Further, the first spring arm 11 and the second spring arm 12 can be made of Australia wire or Ni—Ti based memory metal to long maintain restorability of resilience.
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It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
This is a division of the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/598,571, filed Aug. 29, 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13598571 | Aug 2012 | US |
Child | 14595226 | US |