Replaceable friction element for dental prosthesis
First Claim
1. A replaceable friction element made of an elastic material for emplacement in one of a male part and a female part of a dental prosthesis wherein the female part telescopes over the male part in a first direction, for frictionally holding the parts together;
- the friction element comprising a shank, the shank having an end, a head on the end of the shank, the head having a friction surface outwardly away from the shank, the head having a bottom toward the shank, the bottom being generally taperingly shaped;
the one part having a holding opening in it extending transversely to said first direction, the opening being correspondingly shaped for slidingly receiving the shank in the opening, whereby the friction surface frictionally engages the other part of the dental prosthesis as the male and female parts telescope in said first direction, transversely with respect to said friction element;
the opening widening in the region adjacent the bottom of the head of the friction element, receiving the bottom of the head, whereby the bottom of the head is free to expand into said opening; and
the angle of widening of the opening in the part toward the head being shaped so as to accommodate said head when compressed by engagement with the other part, as a function of the elasticity and coefficient of friction of the head and the shape of the head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A friction element particularly for anchoring one removable telescopable part of a dental prosthesis on another. The one part has an opening through it in which the friction element is disposed. The friction element has a shank in the opening and has a friction head with a friction surface above the part and at one end of the opening. The friction element is of resilient plastic material. The friction head has a tapering, conical or convex bottom side and the opening in the one part is correspondingly shaped. The shank of the friction element has radial tabs which resiliently engage the inside of the opening. The shank may be of a length and the opening may be so shaped that one friction tab is behind the opening and engages the other side of the one part for preventing removal of the friction element. A detent recess in the other part receives the friction head on the telescoping of the parts together.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A replaceable friction element made of an elastic material for emplacement in one of a male part and a female part of a dental prosthesis wherein the female part telescopes over the male part in a first direction, for frictionally holding the parts together;
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the friction element comprising a shank, the shank having an end, a head on the end of the shank, the head having a friction surface outwardly away from the shank, the head having a bottom toward the shank, the bottom being generally taperingly shaped; the one part having a holding opening in it extending transversely to said first direction, the opening being correspondingly shaped for slidingly receiving the shank in the opening, whereby the friction surface frictionally engages the other part of the dental prosthesis as the male and female parts telescope in said first direction, transversely with respect to said friction element; the opening widening in the region adjacent the bottom of the head of the friction element, receiving the bottom of the head, whereby the bottom of the head is free to expand into said opening; and the angle of widening of the opening in the part toward the head being shaped so as to accommodate said head when compressed by engagement with the other part, as a function of the elasticity and coefficient of friction of the head and the shape of the head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification