US 12,472,034 B2
Orthodontic gripping device
Neil Chester, Cambridge (CA)
Assigned to Strite Industries Limited, Cambridge (CA)
Filed by Strite Industries Ltd., Cambridge (CA)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/390,975.
Application 17/695,437 is a division of application No. 15/852,344, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, granted, now 11,304,780, issued on Apr. 19, 2022.
Application 18/390,975 is a continuation of application No. 17/695,437, filed on Mar. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,890,161.
Application 15/852,344 is a continuation of application No. 13/373,968, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, granted, now 9,877,804, issued on Jan. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/457,013, filed on Dec. 8, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2024/0148474 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/02 (2006.01); A61C 7/04 (2006.01); A61C 7/20 (2006.01); A61C 7/22 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 7/02 (2013.01) [A61C 7/04 (2013.01); A61C 7/20 (2013.01); A61C 7/22 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An orthodontic arch wire stop and an arch wire, the arch wire stop comprising:
a body made of a material selected from the group consisting of a superelastic metal alloy, cold worked titanium beta III, and solution heat treated and aged titanium beta III; the body having a base portion, and first and second, spaced apart arm portions connected to each other by way of the base portion; the first arm portion including a first jaw portion having a first inner, arch wire-gripping surface; the second arm portion including a second jaw portion having a second inner, arch wire-gripping surface; the first and second inner gripping surfaces being disposed opposite one another in spaced relation, the space between the first and second inner gripping surfaces defining a station for receiving the arch wire therein, the arch wire receiving station being sized smaller than the arch wire;
the body further including an entranceway defined between the first and second arm portions, the entranceway providing access to the arch wire receiving station;
at least two arcuate undercuts formed in the body in communication with the arch wire receiving station; each undercut being disposed at a location corresponding to one corner of the arch wire when the arch wire is seated within the arch wire receiving station so as to provide a clearance between the corner of the arch wire and the body; and
the first and second arm portions being resiliently deflectable outwardly away from each other when the arch wire is admitted through the entranceway into the arch wire receiving station;
the first and second inner gripping surfaces configured to engage the arch wire and apply opposing gripping forces against the arch wire so as to arrest displacement of the arch wire stop relative to the arch wire in at least a mesial or distal direction, when the arch wire is seated within the arch wire receiving station.