초록 ▼

A connector for orthodontic headgear includes a casing for a helical compression spring one end of which engages the head of a rod extending through the spring and through a sleeve which engages the other end of the spring. The sleeve is supported in an aperture in the end of the casing and is adjus

A connector for orthodontic headgear includes a casing for a helical compression spring one end of which engages the head of a rod extending through the spring and through a sleeve which engages the other end of the spring. The sleeve is supported in an aperture in the end of the casing and is adjustable axially relative to the casing for adjusting the spring force. The connection is disconnectible by providing a metal clip securable to a headcap having legs engageable in grooves in the casing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means

1. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, abutment means engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means having spaced projections on the abutment means which form grooves between adjacent projections, said grooves constituting socket means, and projection means engageable in said socket means. 2. The connector defined in claim 1, in which the spaced projections are flanges of square cross section. 3. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, abutment means engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means having socket means including a tooth rack and projection means engageable with said socket means. 4. The connector defined in claim 3, in which the projection means includes a pawl engageable with the tooth rack for forming a ratchet. 5. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, abutment means engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means having socket means including a buttress tooth rack and projection means engageable with said socket means. 6. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, abutment means engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means having socket means including a vee tooth rack and projection means engageable with said socket means. 7. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, an elongated casing, a generally cylindrical abutment member engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means having arcuate spaced flanges on said generally cylindrical member forming grooves between said flanges forming socket means and projection means engageable with said socket means. 8. The connector defined in claim 7, in which the flanges are circumferentially interrupted by a chordal flat section. 9. The connector defined in claim 7, in which the flanges are of helical thread shape. 10. The connector defined in claim 9, in which the threads are of square thread type. 11. The connector defined in claim 9, in which the threads are of vee thread type. 12. The connector defined in claim 9, and latch means engageable between the helical thread portions and the casing for deterring movement of the helical thread portions relative to the casing. 13. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, a generally cylindrical abutment member engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the generally cylindrical abutment member having external threads, nut means engaged with said threads for moving said generally cylindrical abutment member axially relative to the casing by rotation of said nut means relative to the generally cylindrical abutment member, and means restraining movement of said nut means axially of the generally cylindrical abutment member relative to the casing. 14. The connector defined in claim 13 and means restraining rotation of the generally cylindrical abutment member relative to the casing. 15. A force-producing connector for orthodontic headgear including force-reaction means engageable with the head or neck of a wearer, force-applying means for applying force to the wearer's jaw, a helical compression spring, means for applying force produced by the spring to the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, a casing, abutment means engageable by the spring and carried by the casing and interengageable means for holding the abutment means relative to the casing in different positions axially of the spring to alter the effective spring length and consequently the force produced by the spring on the force-reaction means and the force-applying means, the improvement comprising the interengageable means including a slot in the casing and a pin carried by the abutment means and engaged in said slot. 16. The connector defined in claim 15, in which the casing slot is elongated lengthwise of the spring and the casing has a plurality of notches spaced lengthwise of the casing slot and opening into the casing slot for receiving the pin carried by the abutment means.