초록 ▼

A dental articulating device and method to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays pivotally coupled together by an integral hinge. The hinge includes a pivot axle and a shoulder extending at least partially around the pivot

A dental articulating device and method to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays pivotally coupled together by an integral hinge. The hinge includes a pivot axle and a shoulder extending at least partially around the pivot axle and creating two axle portions extending on each side of the shoulder. A pair of fingers are pivotally positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axle and on opposite sides of the shoulder and separated by both the axle and the shoulder.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dental articulating device configured to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis, the device comprising:a) a pair of trays, pivotally coupled together, the trays pivoting with respect to one another between: i) a closed configuration, in which

1. A dental articulating device configured to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis, the device comprising:a) a pair of trays, pivotally coupled together, the trays pivoting with respect to one another between: i) a closed configuration, in which the trays are opposingly spaced-apart from one another; and ii) an open configuration, in which the trays are pivoted away from one another; and b) a pair of lower arms integrally formed with and extending from a lower tray; c) a pair of lower arms integrally formed with and extending from an upper tray: d) a pair of hinges, each disposed between a different one of the upper and the lower arms; e) the pair of hinges each being integrally formed with the arms and each including: i) a pivot axle, associated with one of the arms; ii) a shoulder, extending at least partially around the pivot axle and creating two axle portions extending on each side of the shoulder; and iii) a pair of opposing fingers, associated with another of the arms, with one of the pair of fingers contacting and extending at least partially about a first side of the axle while leaving a second side of the axle exposed, and with another of the pair of fingers contacting and extending about the second side of the axle while leaving the first side of the axle exposed; and f) wherein the pivot axles of the pair of hinges are collinear. 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fingers slidably bears against the axle and the shoulder.3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the axle is coupled to the tray by the shoulder.4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fingers is curved and includes a curvature oriented orthogonal to the pivot axle.5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the hinge further includes:a curved channel, circumscribing a portion of the pivot axle, and movably receiving one of the fingers therein. 6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the dental trays further includes:a) an array of registration pin holes, formed in the dental tray, each configured to receive a registration pin; and b) a thin membrane, extending across the registration pin holes and closing off the registration pin holes, the thin membrane being piercable by a registration pin when inserted into the hole. 7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the dental trays further includes:registration struts having a hexagonal cross section. 8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the dental trays further includes:a trough formed by a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall having a wavy profile with a plurality of arcuate indentations. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of fingers extends no more than halfway around a circumference of the axle.10. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of fingers are disposed on opposite sides of the shoulder.11. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of fingers extend in opposite directions around a circumference of the axle.12. The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of fingers are offset one from another along a length of the axle.13. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower arms extend outwardly from the trays to a width greater than a width of the trays.14. A dental articulating device configured to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis, the device comprising:a) a pair of trays, pivotally coupled together, the trays pivoting with respect to one another between: i) a closed configuration, in which the trays are opposingly spaced-apart from one another; and ii) an open configuration, in which the trays are pivoted away from one another; b) each tray having a pair of arms, each arm extending rearwardly and outwardly with respect to the trays c) the pair of arms of each tray collectively defining an access opening therebetween, to allow an operator to access from a rear of the device objects disposed in or on the trays; and d) a pair of hinges, disposed between the pair of arms, each hinge including: i) a pivot axle collinear with respect to a pivot axle of the other hinge; ii) a shoulder, extending at least partially around the pivot axle and creating two axle portions extending on each side of the shoulder; and iii) a pair of fingers, associated with another of the trays, with two fingers pivotally positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axle and on opposite sides of the shoulder and separated by both the axle and the shoulder so that one of the pair of fingers is disposed on each side of the shoulder. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the pair of upper arms includes a pivot axle and another of the pair of upper arms includes a pair of opposing fingers, to provide an offset configuration to the pair of upper arms.16. A dental articulating device configured to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis, the device comprising:a) a pair of trays, pivotally coupled together, the trays pivoting with respect to one another between: i) a closed configuration, in which the trays are opposingly spaced-apart from one another; and ii) an open configuration, in which the trays are pivoted away from one another; b) each tray having a pair of arms, each arm extending rearwardly and outwardly with respect to the trays c) the pair of arms of each tray collectively defining an access opening therebetween, to allow an operator to access objects disposed in or on the trays; and d) a pair of hinges, disposed between the pair of arms, each hinge including: i) a pivot axle collinear with respect to a pivot axle of the other hinge; ii) a shoulder, extending at least partially around the pivot axle and creating two axle portions extending on each side of the shoulder; and iii) a pair of fingers, associated with another of the trays, with one of the pair of fingers contacting and extending at least partially about a first side of the axle while leaving a second side of the axle exposed, and with another of the pair of fingers contacting and extending about the second side of the axle while leaving the first side of the axle exposed.