Pliers for forming orthodontic wires
First Claim
1. A pliers for forming orthodontic wires comprising:
- a first beak having a wire-forming surface;
an opposing second beak having a complementary wire-forming surface, wherein the wire-forming surfaces of the beaks have interfering portions, so that the beaks would mechanically interfere with each other on opening and closing;
a hinge enabling the beaks to open and close by rotating about an axis, and allowing a range of axial motion between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed; and
at least one spring exerting a biasing force along the axis to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allowing the range of axial motion between the beaks;
wherein the interfering portions are configured such that the beaks would be prevented from opening and closing without the range of axial motion allowed by the at least one spring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pliers for forming orthodontic wires has opposing beaks with complementary wire-forming surfaces that include interfering portions. A hinge mechanism enables the beaks to open and close by rotating about an axis, and also allows a range of axial motion between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed. By preventing such interference, novel over-bending capabilities can be achieved to form useful bending of low spring rate wire. A spring, such as a Belleville washer, exerts a biasing force parallel to the hinge axis to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allows the required range of axial motion between the beaks to prevent interference.
273 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pliers for forming orthodontic wires comprising:
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a first beak having a wire-forming surface; an opposing second beak having a complementary wire-forming surface, wherein the wire-forming surfaces of the beaks have interfering portions, so that the beaks would mechanically interfere with each other on opening and closing; a hinge enabling the beaks to open and close by rotating about an axis, and allowing a range of axial motion between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed; and at least one spring exerting a biasing force along the axis to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allowing the range of axial motion between the beaks;
wherein the interfering portions are configured such that the beaks would be prevented from opening and closing without the range of axial motion allowed by the at least one spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pliers for forming orthodontic wires comprising:
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a first beak having a wire-forming surface; an opposing second beak having a complementary wire-forming surface, wherein the wire-forming surfaces of the beaks have interfering portions, so that the beaks would mechanically interfere with each other on opening and closing; a hinge pin enabling the beaks to open and close by rotating about the axis of the hinge pin, and allowing a range of axial motion along the hinge pin between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed; and at least one Belleville washer on the hinge pin exerting a biasing force along the axis of the hinge pin to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allowing the range of axial motion between the beaks;
wherein the interfering portions are configured such that the beaks would be prevented from opening and closing without the range of axial motion allowed by the at least one Belleville washer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pliers for forming orthodontic wires comprising:
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a first beak having a wire-forming surface; an opposing second beak having a complementary wire-forming surface, wherein the wire-forming surfaces of the beaks have interfering portions, so that the beaks would mechanically interfere with each other on opening and closing; a hinge enabling the beaks to open and close by rotating about an axis, and allowing a range of axial motion between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed; a spring exerting a biasing force along the hinge axis to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allowing the range of axial motion between the beaks;
wherein the interfering portions are configured such that the beaks would be prevented from opening and closing without the range of axial motion allowed by the spring anda contoured camming surface on the first beak; a cam follower on the second beak contacting the camming surface to guide axial motion between the beaks as the beaks are closed and thereby prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification