Packaged dental article

• US 5,429,229 A
• Filed: 04/11/1994
• Issued: 07/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Brusby, Lawrence G., Jacobs, Dwight W., Georgakis, Evangelos G., Hoevel, Kenneth E., Chester, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US08/226,294
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 206/63.5, 206/363-370, 206/438, 206/461, 206/462, 206/463, 206/562, 206/563, 206/564, 433/9
• US Class Current: 206/63.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/002 having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/311 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/02 Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags A61C5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2202/00 Packaging for dental appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor

Abstract

A packaged dental article includes a dental appliance that is precoated with an adhesive. The adhesive is in contact with a flexible film having a low adhesion surface. The film is secured to a container at a location spaced from the appliance so that the film tends to peel away from the adhesive when the appliance is removed from the container in order to inhibit separation of the adhesive from the appliance. The container has a sidewall with a recess that engages a carrier to hold the container, and the carrier is flexible to permit the container to be inserted into or released from the carrier when desired.

Claims

1. A dental packaging assembly comprising:

a carrier having edge structure defining a plurality of openings;

a plurality of containers each received in a respective one of said openings, each container having a top flange extending beyond the respective opening, a bottom defining a well and a sidewall extending between said top flange and said bottom;

a dental appliance received in each of said wells; and

a plurality of covers for initially closing said well of each respective container, each cover extending beyond the respective opening and releasably connected directly to said flange of the respective container,

said sidewall of each container including a recess in contact with said edge structure for retaining said container in said opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including means for releasably retaining said container in said opening.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said means comprises a flexible structure that includes said edge structure.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said recess extends in a direction toward said well and is spaced from said flange.

5. The assembly of claim 1, and including a repositionable adhesive connected to said flange for selectively opening or closing said cover.

6. The assembly of claim 1, including an adhesive on each appliance, and a flexible film connected to each container, wherein said film includes a low adhesion surface in contact with said adhesive.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said film has a first section and a second section spaced from said first section, said second section being connected to said container and said first section being in contact with said adhesive.