Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8052420 | Apparatus and method for adjusting orthodontic wire A handheld apparatus for adjusting orthodontic wire includes first and second handle portions and a jaw portion. The first handle portion pivotably couples to the second handle portion such that the first and second handle portions are capable of pivoting with respe... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7967602 | Pliers for forming orthodontic wires 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... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7722353 | Orthodontic interproximal locking pliers This invention pertains to pliers for increasing the interproximal retention of thermoplastic appliances by denting the appliances in the interproximal areas between the teeth, especially denting the thermoplastic material at the interproximal gingival area. ... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7670140 | Orthodontic hand instrument for detaching brackets from teeth A hand instrument for detaching orthodontic brackets from a patient's teeth has first jaw, a second jaw and a blade that extends between the first jaw and the second jaw. The blade is received in a channel of a bracket during a debonding procedure, and serves to rel... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7621742 | Orthodontic hand tool system A system of tools for use in an orthodontic setting made up of a series of individual tools. Each tool comprises a pair of flat, generally elongated arms placed in an adjacent lengthwise relationship and connected at each first ends in a manner so as to force the re... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7581949 | Debonding pliers An instrument for debonding an orthodontic bracket from a tooth surface includes first and second plier portions coupled for relative pivotal movement. A lever arm pivotally movable relative to the first and second plier portions has a tooth engaging member on a fir... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7549860 | Hand instrument for detaching orthodontic brackets from teeth A hand instrument for debonding an adhesively bonded orthodontic bracket from a patient's tooth includes two jaws, each of which includes a contact pad for engaging opposite sides of the bracket. When the jaws are moved together, at least a majority of the area of e... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7361172 | Ultrasonic device and method for tissue coagulation An ultrasonic surgical device for the coagulation of animal tissue having an ultrasonic applicator and a movable jaw with a jaw surface adjacent the distal portion of the ultrasonic applicator for movement toward the applicator to a closed position at a predefined c... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7318725 | Dental pliers Dental pliers with two pliers parts, each respectively comprising one jaw of a pliers mouth and one lever arm of a pliers grip, the pliers parts pivotably connected with each other via a linkage. The linkage includes a cylindrical journal (26) on the first pl... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7258047 | Orthodontic pliers and methods of using the same The present invention relates to a pliers that includes first and second arms that are pivotally interconnected utilizing an appropriate mechanical fastener. A spring is generally disposed about the mechanical fastener to bias the pliers toward an open condition. Fu... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7257897 | Trimmer for cutting a coiled strand A cutting device for trimming a coiled strand, such as an arterial, urinary or other intraluminal stent made from metal or plastic wire, has a pair of articulating arms connected at a pivot joint. One of the arms has a holding jaw for holding the coiled strand. A se... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7240528 | Method and device for shaping an orthodontic archwire An apparatus for bending orthodontic wires has means for guiding and holding a wire. In order to prevent forces resulting from compressive or stretching strain during the bending process, one of these means does not apply any longitudinal forces onto the wire by des... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7228770 | Pliers Pliers for installing a bushing within a drive selector linkage assembly of an automobile. The pliers include a first arm having a first handle portion and a holder portion. The holder portion is configured to independently hold a bushing to be installed within a dr... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7201574 | Method for measuring orthodontic arch wires A method for measuring arch wires. A guide wire is provided, having at one end an exposed length of wire and a stop. The exposed length of wire may be inserted into a buccal tube, up to the stop. At least a portion of the guide wire may then be inserted into bracket... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7182595 | Distal end cutter A flush cutter of wires located on a patient's teeth has at least one pivotably carried cutting edge. An outer surface of the edge can be positioned adjacent to a surface from which the wire protrudes. An elastic insert or clamp, for griping cut wire ends, is carrie... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7179083 | Orthodontic apparatus An apparatus is provided for applying orthodontic brackets to teeth. The apparatus includes a bracket container having a bracket housing defined therein and a bracket placer positioned relative to the bracket housing to receive a bracket from the bracket container. ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7128571 | Orthodontic tool A band seating tool is disclosed. The tool comprises a pair of curved claws for applying force to opposed sides of an orthodontic band. At least one of the claws may be translationally and/or pivotally moveable, such that the separation distance between the claws ca... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7090490 | Attachable orthodontic hook system The invention involves an attachable orthodontic hook system for the attachment of an orthodontic hook to a vacuum formed orthodontic appliance, the hook designed for the reception of orthodontic elastics used to correct the patient's bite. ... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7076980 | Robot and method for bending orthodontic archwires and other medical devices A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or ta... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7032266 | Plier-like implement A plier-like tool of appropriate design allows expeditious manipulation of articles in confined areas. For example, the tool is particularly useful in removing fish hooks; the hook is cut and grasped for removal in such limited spatial environment. The tool includes... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7021932 | Tooth extraction device A tooth extraction device is provided that uses a clamp assembly to clamp a tooth to be extracted, and a handle for positioning the clamp assembly within a patient's mouth. A cable and an actuator for moving the cable are provided for moving the clamp assembly. The ... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6984126 | Orthodontic crimping pliers Pliers adapted to lock wires within thermoformed dental appliances following the partial enclosure of wires during the thermoforming process. ... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6910890 | Dental plier design with offsetting jaw and pad elements for assisting in removing upper and lower teeth utilizing the dental plier design A dental pliers appliance and associated method for removing teeth from a patient's gum line and bone. First and second pivotally connected handles are provided, each including a user grasping portion. The first handle terminates in an arcuately extending jaw exhibi... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6848902 | Dental tool for installing orthodontic brackets A dental tool for installation of orthodontic brackets is provided which has an adjustable gripping mechanism for gripping the orthodontic bracket and a centering mechanism for centering the bracket on the tooth. The tool is adjustable to fit a wide variety of ortho... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6814574 | Dental pliers for forming and removing bumps on appliances Pliers for forming and removing bumps for the dental appliance without heating are disclosed. The eraser pliers for erasing a bump on an appliance include a first elongated member having a first jaw portion at one end and a handle portion at the other end, the jaw p... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6786719 | Orthodontic bracket holder An apparatus that includes a handle; a pair of opposed gripping members, each member comprising a gripping surface, each gripping surface comprising a forward edge; and a gripping member position and orientation indicator (GMPOI) positioned between the handle and th... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6474988 | Hand instrument for debonding orthodontic brackets A hand instrument for debonding orthodontic brackets has a shield that extends around the bracket during a debonding procedure. In certain embodiments, the shield is connected to a vacuum source for carrying away any loose fragments or sections. In anothe... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6447291 | Orthodontic jig for attaching orthodontic brackets An orthodontic jig for attaching orthodontic brackets on the teeth is disclosed. The orthodontic jig comprises a housing, a bracket support extending out of the front side of the housing through the back side of the housing, tweezers for gripping the tie ... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6382965 | Orthodontic debonding tools and methods Debonding tools and methods especially useful for removing ceramic brackets adhesively bonded to the teeth of a patient. In general, the tool and methods involve applying a tensile force to one side of the bracket while avoiding point loading which may ca... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6347938 | Orthodontic cutters An orthodontic cutter, which comprises a cutter part 1 including a pair of handles 11, one of the handles being shorter than the other, which cross at a pivot axis and a pair of jaws 13 which have cutting edges; a tucker part 2 including a short stick-typ... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6293791 | Z-bend orthodontic instrument and method An orthodontic instrument includes a pair of complementary mating die movable together and apart for forming a Z-shaped bend in an orthodontic arch wire. A Z-shaped bend in an orthodontic arch wire is utilized in conjunction with an orthodontic appliance ... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6293790 | Heated orthodontic pliers Orthodontic pliers comprised of two asymmetrical components that are subapically and pivotally joined in a first main embodiment. Each of these elongate pieces is irregular in shape, unequal in length and the jaws are asymmetrical jaws relative to each ot... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6280184 | Method and apparatus for removing bonded dental appliances An orthodontic onlay having a mesial and distal sections is debonded from multiple teeth by positioning a plier-type debonding apparatus having a first and a second lever arms pivotally connected for rotation relative to each other and having respectively... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6000941 | Separable orthodontic pliers A separable pliers having a pair of arms separably hinged together. They may be separated only when the handles are far enough apart. A lip on one handle, and a hook on a bias spring integral with the other handle engage one another to restrain the handle... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5810582 | Orthodontic bracket holding and placement apparatus Apparatus for holding and installing a plurality of orthodontic brackets on a patient's teeth includes an opaque housing having a plurality of spaced slots each adapted to receive a pliers, or tweezers, of the "reverse locking" type, where each pliers eng... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5588832 | Method of fabricating metal instruments from raw material and orthodontic pliers made thereby Corrosion resistant instruments such as those used in medicine and dentistry are efficiently made from raw materials that are difficult to machine. Round bar stock is rolled or otherwise deformed to have flat sides and rounded edges. The parts of the inst... | 12/31/1996 |
| 5542843 | Rotatably driven autoclavable ligation instrument An autoclavable ligation instrument for use in dental or medical applications which includes a ligature gripping tool having a pair of jaws with handle members connected thereto, and a drive mechanism for causing rotational movement of the gripping tool f... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5538421 | Dental instrument A dental instrument is provided comprising a first member having a first handle opposite a first jaw and a second member having a second handle and a second jaw. The first jaw is longer than the second jaw, and both jaws have inner surfaces. The first mem... | 07/23/1996 |
| 5395236 | Orthodontic pliers The pliers in overall structure resemble conventional orthodontic pliers, but have specialized jaw members adapted to effectuate necessary gingivally directed bends in the distal ends of the arch wire. With reference to an imaginary plane along which the ... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5366372 | Method and apparatus for debonding ceramic orthodontic brackets An orthodontic bracket having mesial and distal sections is debonded from a tooth by pivoting the sections toward each other in respective arcs about a central reference axis extending in an occlusal-gingival direction. The mesial and distal sections are ... | 11/22/1994 |
