The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2002
Applicants:
Ming-lai Lai, Arcadia, CA (US);
Jirina V. Pospisil, Hacienda Heights, CA (US);
Inventors:
Ming-Lai Lai, Arcadia, CA (US);
Jirina V. Pospisil, Hacienda Heights, CA (US);
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61C 3/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket or buccal tube has a latch for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot. The latch releases the archwire from the archwire slot whenever the archwire exerts a force on the appliance that exceeds a certain minimum value. The latch comprises at least one clip having certain features that significantly reduce strain during opening movements of the clip, so that the likelihood of fracture of the clip during use is significantly reduced.