Cement mixing capsule

• US 5,172,807 A
• Filed: 09/30/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centrix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Centrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Dragan, William B., Discko, John Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/767,623
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 206/63.5, 206/219, 206/221, 206/222, 206/384, 215/DIG. 8, 604/87, 604/200, 222/80, 222/82, 222/91, 222/136, 222/145, 222/327, 222/386, 222/572, 222/574, 433/90
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/64 for multi-component compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/66 Capsules for filling material

Abstract

A dental capsule for mixing a cement powder with an activating liquid having a frangible seal. The frangible seal is placed between a nozzle and the body portion of a capsule preventing unmixed cement from entering the nozzle. The nozzle has a circumferential groove facilitating positioning thereof. A vent formed in the body of the capsule prevents premature rupturing of the frangible seal upon insertion of the plug. A second and third embodiment use a two-part plug for dispensing activating liquid to the cement powder contained within the body of the capsule.

Claims

1. A dental cement mixing capsule comprising:

a tubular body having a first bore, a front end, and a back end;

collar means, attached adjacent to the back end of said body, for securely holding said body;

a nozzle having a second bore therein attached to the front end of said body;

a frangible seal integrally molded between said first bore and said second bore, said frangible seal breaking solely as a result of pressure developed within the first bore;

a plug adapted to initially fit partially within the bore, said plug having an inserting end, sealing surface, and an extending end;

positioning ring means, attached to the extending end of said plug, for preventing said plug from unintentionally advancing into the first bore;

said tubular body having a longitudinally extending vent with an axial length slightly greater than the distance between said positioning ring means and the furthermost portion of the sealing surface; and

handle means, placed on the extending end of said plug, for facilitating removing and replacing said plug.

2. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said frangible seal comprises a flap having a circumferential hinge and at least one notch extending between said circumferential hinge.

3. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said positioning ring means is malleable.

4. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said positioning ring means is frangible.

5. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said nozzle is angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of said body.

6. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said nozzle has a circumferential groove therein.

7. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 1 wherein:

said collar means comprises a front collar, a rear collar, and a channel disposed therebetween.

8. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 6 wherein said first bore is cylindrical.

9. A dental cement mixing capsule comprising:

a tubular body having a first bore, a front end, and a back end;

collar means, attached adjacent to the back end of said body, for securely holding said body;

a nozzle having a second bore therein attached to the front end of said body;

a frangible seal disposed between said first bore and said second bore;

an internally threaded plug having an opening in the front thereof and adapted to be received by said first bore; and

a threaded plug insert mating with said internally threaded plug.

10. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 9 wherein:

said frangible seal comprises a flap having a circumferential hinge and at least one notch extending between said circumferential hinge.

11. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 10 wherein:

said nozzle has a circumferential groove therein.

12. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 11 further comprising:

support fingers placed adjacent the back end of said tubular body and extending longitudinally beyond said threaded plug insert.

13. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 12 wherein:

said tubular body has a vent disposed from the back end thereof.

14. A dental cement mixing capsule comprising:

a tubular body having a first bore, a front end, and a back end;

collar means, attached adjacent to the back end of said body, for securely holding said body;

a nozzle having a second bore therein attached to the front end of said body;

a first frangible seal disposed between said first bore and said second bore;

an internally threaded plug having an open back end and a front end having a cylinder formed therein with an opening;

a threaded plug insert mating with said internally threaded plug;

a piston attached to said threaded plug insert adapted to fit within the cylinder; and

a second frangible seal placed within the opening between the cylinder and the first bore.

15. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 14 further comprising:

a lance positioned on said piston.

16. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 15 wherein:

said nozzle has a circumferential groove therein.

17. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 14 further comprising:

support fingers attached to the back end of said tubular body and extending longitudinally beyond said threaded plug insert.

20. A dental cement mixing capsule as in claim 14 wherein:

the cylinder has a cross sectional area substantially less than the cross sectional area of the first bore, whereby small quantities of liquid can be accurately dispensed.

18. A dental cement mixing capsule comprising:

a tubular body having a first bore, a front end, and an open back end;

a back collar attached adjacent to the open back end of said tubular body;

a front collar attached forward and adjacent to said back collar having a channel disposed between said back collar and said front collar;

an angularly disposed nozzle having a second bore therein attached to the front end of said tubular body and having a circumferential groove formed in the exterior surface thereof near the end of said nozzle attached to the front end of said tubular body;

a frangible seal disposed between said first bore and said second bore and having a circumferential hinge around the exterior thereof and a first notch and a second notch orthogonal to the first notch, said first and second notches extending between the edges of the circumferential hinge and having a depth slightly less than the axial thickness of said frangible seal;

an internally threaded plug having an opening in the front thereof and adapted to be received by said first bore, said internally threaded plug having a sealing surface thereon which contacts the first bore;

a malleable positioning ring formed on the exterior circumference of the back end of said internally threaded plug;

a shoulder mating with said malleable positioning ring formed within said tubular body adjacent the open back end;

a vent groove formed in said tubular body adjacent the open back end on the interior surface of the first bore and extending a longitudinal length slightly greater than the length of the sealing surface on said internally threaded plug;

a threaded plug insert mating with said internally threaded plug having a front portion that complements the interior front portion of said internally threaded plug; and

a pair of support fingers extending from the open back end of said tubular body slightly beyond the end of said threaded plug insert.

19. A dental cement mixing capsule comprising:

a tubular body having a first bore, a front end, and a back end;

collar means, attached adjacent to the back end of said body, for securely holding said body;

a nozzle having a second bore therein attached to the front end of said body;

a frangible seal integrally molded between said first bore and said second bore, said frangible seal breaking solely as a result of pressure developed within the first bore;

an internally threaded plug having an opening in the front thereof and adapted to be received by said first bore, said internally threaded plug having an inserting end, sealing surface, and extending end;

positioning ring means, attached to the extended end of said internally threaded plug, for preventing said internally threaded plug from unintentionally advancing into the first bore;

said tubular body having a longitudinally extending vent with an axial length slightly greater than the distance between said positioning ring means and the furthermost portion of the sealing surface; and

a threaded plug insert mating with said internally threaded plug.