U.S. patent application number 17/573689 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-05 for dental coupling member, mouthpiece, and orthodontic tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Takashima Sangyo Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Daigo HAMA, Hideyuki NAGAI, Junji OOWA, You SATO, Yasufumi TSUCHIYA, Kohei YAZAKI, Takashi YUKITA.
Application Number | 20220133441 17/573689 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006079170 |
Filed Date | 2022-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220133441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YUKITA; Takashi ; et
al. |
May 5, 2022 |
DENTAL COUPLING MEMBER, MOUTHPIECE, AND ORTHODONTIC TOOL
Abstract
A dental coupling member related comprises: a first elongated
body including, in a first-orientation end region, a first coupling
part to be coupled with a first attaching part of a first dental
appliance and including, formed in a second-orientation end region,
a screwing part; an outer tube including, in a second-orientation
end region, a second coupling part to be coupled with a second
attaching part of a second dental appliance, and being open at an
end on a first-orientation end region side; a third elongated body
including a screwed part formed in a first-orientation end region
and is inserted into the outer tube in a second-orientation end
region of the outer tube, the screwed part being for screwing with
the screwing part; and a protrusion projecting from an inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube and facing an end surface of
the third elongated body on the second-orientation end region
side.
Inventors: |
YUKITA; Takashi; (Chiba-shi,
JP) ; NAGAI; Hideyuki; (Iwakuni-shi, JP) ;
TSUCHIYA; Yasufumi; (Funabashi-shi, JP) ; HAMA;
Daigo; (Chino-shi, JP) ; YAZAKI; Kohei;
(Suwa-shi, JP) ; SATO; You; (Suwa-shi, JP)
; OOWA; Junji; (Okaya-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Takashima Sangyo Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo
Nagano |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006079170 |
Appl. No.: |
17/573689 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16342649 |
Apr 17, 2019 |
11253341 |
|
|
PCT/JP2017/036906 |
Oct 12, 2017 |
|
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17573689 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
433/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 7/10 20130101; A61C
7/08 20130101; A61C 7/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61C 7/36 20060101
A61C007/36; A61C 7/08 20060101 A61C007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2016 |
JP |
2016-203869 |
Nov 8, 2016 |
JP |
2016-218139 |
Nov 25, 2016 |
JP |
2016-228731 |
Nov 25, 2016 |
JP |
2016-228732 |
Claims
1. A dental coupling member, comprising: a first elongated body
including, in a first-orientation end region of the first elongated
body, a first coupling part to be coupled with a first attaching
part of a first dental appliance and including, formed in a
second-orientation end region of the first elongated body, a
screwing part ; an outer tube including, in a second-orientation
end region of the outer tube, a second coupling part to be coupled
with a second attaching part of a second dental appliance, and
being open at an end on a first-orientation end region side; a
third elongated body which includes a screwed part formed in a
first-orientation end region of the third elongated body and is
inserted into the outer tube in a second-orientation end region of
the outer tube, the screwed part being for screwing with the
screwing part; and a protrusion projecting from an inner peripheral
surface of the outer tube and facing an end surface of the third
elongated body on the second-orientation end region side.
2. The dental coupling member according to claim 1, wherein: the
outer tube comprises a decreased diameter part having a smaller
diameter than that of the other portion of the outer tube; the
third elongated body comprises an increased diameter part having a
larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the other portion
of the third elongated body; and wherein a movement of the inner
tube to the second-orientation end region side is limited by the
increased diameter part of the inner tube hitting the protrusion,
and a movement of the inner tube to the first-orientation end
region side is limited by the increased diameter part of the inner
tube hitting the decreased diameter part.
3. The dental coupling member according to claim 1, wherein: the
protrusion projects from the second coupling part; a through hole
is formed in the outer tube; and the second coupling part is to be
coupled with a second attaching part on the outer periphery side of
outer tube, and the second coupling part is located penetrating the
through hole such that the protrusion projects from the inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube.
4. A mouthpiece, comprising: the dental coupling member according
to claim 1; a mandibular piece as the first dental appliance; and a
maxillary piece as the second dental appliance.
5. An orthodontic appliance, comprising: the dental coupling member
according to claim 1; a lower-teeth attachment as the first dental
appliance to be attached to lower teeth for orthodontically
correcting a row of teeth; and an upper-teeth attachment as the
second dental appliance to be attached to upper teeth for
orthodontically correcting a row of teeth.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/342,649, filed on Apr. 17, 2019, which is National
Stage Application of International Application No.
PCT/JP2017/036906, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, the disclosure of which,
including the specification, drawings and abstract, is incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety. International Application
No. PCT/JP2017/036906 is entitled to and claims the benefit of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-203869, filed on Oct. 17,
2016, Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-218139, filed on Nov. 8,
2016, Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-228731, filed on Nov.
25, 2016, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-228732, filed on
Nov. 25, 2016, the disclosures of which, including the
specifications, drawings and abstracts, are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The techniques of the present application relate to dental
coupling members, mouthpieces, and orthodontic appliances.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Dental mouthpieces have been used for treatment of sleep
apnea syndrome, temporomandibular disorder and the like. For
correcting a row of teeth, orthodontic appliances are used. As an
example of such a mouthpiece, a dental appliance including a
mandibular arch expander and a maxillary arch expander coupled to
each other via a pair of adjustable connectors or Herbst appliances
is disclosed in Patent Literature (hereinafter, abbreviated as PTL)
1, for instance.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL 1 [0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2002-512073
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, the mandibular and
maxillary arch expanders are coupled to one another by two nested
Herbst assemblies. The two assemblies each include a rear pipe, a
front pipe, and a rod piercing through the two pipes. A thread
formed externally on the rear end of a hollow body of the rear pipe
engages with a thread formed on the inner side of a front end of
the hollow body of the front pipe, thus coupling the front pipe and
the rear pipe by the threads.
[0007] For a structure that screws two screws (a screwing part and
a screwed part) together to couple the members (a rod and a
cylinder) bearing these screws with each other, such as described
in PTL 1, it is desirable to maintain the relative positions of the
members by restraining the screws from becoming loose. For a dental
mouthpiece or orthodontic appliance in particular, it is desirable
to maintain the relative positions of two dental appliances
attached on the row of teeth of the upper jaw and the lower
jaw.
[0008] In view of this fact, an object of the present invention
according to a first aspect is to provide dental coupling members,
mouthpieces and orthodontic appliances that restrain loosening
between a screwing part and a screwed part.
[0009] Also, for a structure in which an insert is inserted into a
tubular pipe (an outer tube), such as described in PTL 1, it is
desirable to appropriately limit the range of insertion of the
insert so that the insert is not excessively inserted relative to
the outer tube. However, shaping of the outer tube is difficult
with, for example, a structure that has portions with two distinct
inner diameters formed inside the outer tube and uses the portion
where the inner diameter changes as a wall to be contacted by the
insert.
[0010] In view of this fact, an object of the present invention
according to a second aspect is to provide dental coupling members,
mouthpieces, and orthodontic appliances that can limit an excessive
insertion of the insert into the outer tube with a simple
structure.
Solution to Problem
[0011] A dental coupling member according to a first aspect of the
present invention includes: a first elongated body including, in a
first-orientation end region of the first elongated body, a first
coupling part to be coupled with a first attaching part of a first
dental appliance and including, formed in a second-orientation end
region of the first elongated body, a screwing part; an outer tube
including, in a second-orientation end region of the outer tube, a
second coupling part to be coupled with a second attaching part of
a second dental appliance, and being open at an end on a
first-orientation end region side; a third elongated body which
includes a screwed part formed in a first-orientation end region of
the third elongated body and is inserted into the outer tube in a
second-orientation end region of the outer tube, the screwed part
being for screwing with the screwing part; and a protrusion
projecting from an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube and
facing an end surface of the third elongated body on the
second-orientation end region side.
[0012] A mouthpiece of the present invention includes: any of the
dental coupling members; a mandibular piece as the first dental
appliance; and a maxillary piece as the second dental
appliance.
[0013] An orthodontic appliance of the present invention includes:
any of the dental coupling members described above; a lower-teeth
attachment as the first dental appliance to be attached to lower
teeth for orthodontically correcting a row of teeth; and an
upper-teeth attachment as the second dental appliance to be
attached to upper teeth for orthodontically correcting a row of
teeth.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014] In the first aspect, the present invention can restrain
loosening between a screwing part and a screwed part.
[0015] In the second aspect, the present invention can limit an
excessive insertion of the insert into the outer tube with a simple
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a mouthpiece according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2A is a side view showing the state of the mouthpiece
when the mouth is closed;
[0018] FIG. 2B is a side view showing the state of the mouthpiece
when the mouth is open;
[0019] FIG. 2C is a side view showing the state of the mouthpiece
when a dental coupling member is to be removed;
[0020] FIG. 3A is a plan view showing an exemplary dental coupling
member according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in
FIG. 3A;
[0022] FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective view showing a
second-orientation end region of a rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 1;
[0023] FIG. 4B is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 1;
[0024] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 2;
[0025] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 3;
[0026] FIG. 7A is an enlarged perspective view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 4;
[0027] FIG. 7B is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 4;
[0028] FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 5;
[0029] FIG. 8B is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 5;
[0030] FIG. 8C is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of another rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 5;
[0031] FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 6;
[0032] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 7;
[0033] FIG. 11A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the
second-orientation end region of an inner tube of the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 8;
[0034] FIG. 11B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the
second-orientation end region of another inner tube of the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 8;
[0035] FIG. 12A is an enlarged perspective view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 9;
[0036] FIG. 12B is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 9;
[0037] FIG. 12C is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of another rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 9;
[0038] FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of another rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 10;
[0039] FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view showing the
second-orientation end region of the rod of the dental coupling
member according to Embodiment 11;
[0040] FIG. 15A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the
second-orientation end region of an inner tube of the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 12;
[0041] FIG. 15B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the
second-orientation end region of another inner tube of the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 12;
[0042] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 13;
[0043] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 14;
[0044] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 15;
[0045] FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the dental coupling member
according to Embodiment 16;
[0046] FIG. 20A is a plan view showing the dental coupling member
according to Embodiment 17;
[0047] FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 17;
[0048] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 in
FIG. 20A and showing the dental coupling member for a mouthpiece
according to Embodiment 17;
[0049] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 18; and
[0050] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the dental
coupling member according to Embodiment 19.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0051] In the following description, a "first-orientation end
region (a first-orientation axial end)" of an outer tube, an inner
tube, or a rod, or an associated member (a male screw part, for
example) is intended to indicate an end region and surroundings
thereof in the same direction for all of these members. That is to
say, the "first-orientation end region" means, for all of these
members, either an axial end and surroundings thereof on the side
of a mandibular dental appliance (a first dental appliance) when a
dental coupling member is attached to a mouthpiece or orthodontic
appliance, or an axial end and surroundings thereof on the side of
a maxillary dental appliance (a second dental appliance) when the
dental coupling member is attached to the mouthpiece or orthodontic
appliance. A "second-orientation end region" means an end region
and surroundings thereof on the opposite side to the
"first-orientation end region" for all of these members. That is,
the end region on the opposite side of the axial end and the
surroundings thereof on the side of the maxillary dental appliance
means the axial end and the surroundings thereof on the side of the
mandibular dental appliance; and the end region on the opposite
side of the axial end and the surroundings thereof on the side of
the mandibular dental appliance means the axial end and the
surroundings thereof on the side of the maxillary dental
appliance.
[0052] Similarly, the "first-orientation end region side" of an
outer tube, an inner tube, or a rod, or an associated member (a
male screw part, for example) indicates the same direction on the
side where the first-orientation end region is formed for all these
members. That is, the "first-orientation end region side" means,
with respect to all of these members, either the direction toward
the side of the mandibular dental appliance (the first dental
appliance) when the dental coupling member is attached to the
mouthpiece or orthodontic appliance, or the direction toward the
side of the maxillary dental appliance (the second dental
appliance) when the dental coupling member is attached to the
mouthpiece or orthodontic appliance. The "second-orientation end
region side" means the direction toward the opposite side of the
"first-orientation end region side" for all of these members.
[0053] In the following description, a male screw part (screwing
part) or a female screw part (screwed part) being "rotationally
symmetric" means that a projection of the same as seen in the
direction of the axial center of the rod or the axial center of the
inner tube is rotationally symmetric about the axial center.
[0054] In the following description, the "outer diameter" and
"inner diameter" of a male screw part (screwing part) or a female
screw part (screwed part) mean the distance between the vertices of
opposing threads.
1. Basic Configuration
1-1. Mouthpiece
[0055] Mouthpiece 10 is a dental mouthpiece used for mitigation or
prevention of snore, teeth grinding, apnea during sleep or the
like. In an example, this mouthpiece 10 includes maxillary dental
appliance (a second dental appliance) 12 to be worn on the upper
jaw teeth and mandibular dental appliance (a first dental
appliance) 14 to be worn on the lower jaw teeth as shown in FIG.
1.
[0056] Maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 may be made of, but not limited to, acrylic resin, for
example. For example, maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular
dental appliance 14 may be made of a single hard material having a
flexural modulus of 2,000 MPa or more and 3,000 MPa or less or
combination of a soft material with 10 MPa or more and 300 MPa or
lower and a hard material with 1,000 MPa or more and 3,000 MPa or
less.
[0057] Maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 may also be made of relatively soft material having a
tensile strength of 150 N or more and less than 2,000 N,
particularly 150 N or more and 500 N or less. In that case,
maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 of
mouthpiece 10 would have high conformity to the teeth when they are
worn.
[0058] The tensile strength refers to the strength at which a
mouthpiece (3-mm thick) fabricated with a Nissin standard model
tears in a tensile testing conducted in the molar direction
(backward on the row of teeth) with a hole 1.5 mm in diameter bored
at the sixth tooth in the maxillary dental appliance or mandibular
dental appliance of the mouthpiece.
[0059] Materials with a tensile strength of 150 N or more and less
than 2,000 N include, for example, olefin-based resins,
polyester-based resin, urethane-based resin, polyamide-based resin,
and acrylic rubber resin, where the olefin-based resin is
preferable inter alia.
[0060] An olefin-based resin is a polymer made by
homopolymerization of olefin or a copolymer of olefin and another
monomer. Olefin with a carbon number of 2 to 6 containing ethylene,
propylene, butene, methylpentene, and hexene is preferred. The
other monomer may be vinyl acetate, for example.
[0061] Preferably, the olefin-based resin is polyethylene (PE),
polyethylene-based resin, polypropylene (PP), polypropylene-based
resin, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), for example, and
more preferably, is polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-based resin,
polypropylene (PP), or polypropylene-based resin.
[0062] Polyester-based resin is a polycondensate of polyvalent
carboxylic acid (dicarboxylic acid) and polyalcohol (diol), for
example, polyethyleneterephthalate (PET).
[0063] Urethane-based resin is a polycondensate of a compound
having an isocyanate group and a compound having a hydroxy group,
for example, is thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
[0064] Polyamide-based resin is a polymer formed by binding of many
monomers by amide bond, for example, nylon, para-amide, and
meta-amide. Acrylic rubber resin consists mainly of acrylic rubber,
for example, is a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate and butyl
acrylate.
[0065] Material with a tensile strength of 150 N or more and less
than 2,000 N may be a commercially available material, such as
F327, a polypropylene resin manufactured by Prime Polymer Co.,
Ltd.
[0066] Maxillary dental appliance 12 is provided with upper
attaching part (a second attaching part) 16 on outer wall surface
12A so as to project from outer wall surface 12A at the back on
each of the right and left sides (the sixth or seventh tooth in
FIG. 1), when seen from the center of the row of teeth. Upper
attaching part 16 is made of metal.
[0067] Likewise, mandibular dental appliance 14 is provided with
lower attaching part (a first attaching part) 18 on outer wall
surface 14A so as to project from outer wall surface 14A at the
back on each of the right and left sides (the third or fourth tooth
in FIG. 1), when seen from the center of the row of teeth. Lower
attaching part 18 is made of metal.
[0068] Upper attaching part 16 has columnar shaft 20 with one end
fixed to outer wall surface 12A of maxillary dental appliance 12,
and a flange 22 provided at the other end (a tip) of shaft 20.
Flange 22 is of a corner-rounded rectangular shape with a major
axis and a minor axis. As shown in FIG. 2A, the angle of the major
axis of flange 22 relative to opposing surface 12B of maxillary
dental appliance 12 which faces mandibular dental appliance 14 is
about 90 degrees.
[0069] Similarly, lower attaching part 18 has columnar shaft 24
with one end fixed on outer wall surface 14A of mandibular dental
appliance 14, and flange 26 of a corner-rounded rectangular shape
provided at the tip of shaft 24. As shown in FIG. 2A, the angle of
the major axis of flange 26 relative to opposing surface 14B of
mandibular dental appliance 14 which faces maxillary dental
appliance 12 is about 90 degrees. The angle of the major axis of
flange 22 relative to opposing surface 12B and the angle of the
major axis of flange 26 relative to opposing surface 14B may both
be any angle outside the range of 10 to 60 degrees.
[0070] Right upper attaching part 16 and right lower attaching part
18 have dental coupling member 28 made of metal attached thereon,
while left upper attaching part 16 and left lower attaching part 18
have another dental coupling member 28 made of metal attached
thereon. Dental coupling member 28 is rotatable about the axis of
upper attaching part 16 when coupled to upper attaching part 16 and
is also rotatable about the axis of lower attaching part 18 when
coupled to lower attaching part 18. Dental coupling member 28
couples maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 with each other in an openable and closable manner and
positions them so that mandibular dental appliance 14 does not move
backward on the row of teeth relative to maxillary dental appliance
12.
[0071] In mouthpiece 10, when seen from the center of the row of
teeth, upper attaching part 16 is situated on the back side with
respect to lower attaching part 18 (on the back teeth side). That
is, mouthpiece 10 is of Push type: it pushes mandibular dental
appliance 14 (the lower jaw) frontward by means of dental coupling
member 28 when mouthpiece 10 is worn.
1-2. Dental Coupling Member
[0072] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an exemplary dental coupling member 28
for attachment to mouthpiece 10. Dental coupling member 28 has
cylinder 29, which is an elongated body. As shown in FIGS. 3A and
3B, cylinder 29 has tubular outer tube 30 being open at the end on
first-orientation end region 30P side and at the end on
second-orientation end region 30Q side, and tubular inner tube 32
slidably inserted in outer tube 30. Dental coupling member 28
further has rod 34, which is an elongated body to be inserted into
inner tube 32 (cylinder 29).
[0073] Long hole 30A is formed in the outer peripheral surface of
outer tube 30 between first-orientation end region 30P and
second-orientation end region 30Q along the axial direction. At a
position offset from the axial center of second-orientation end
region 30Q of outer tube 30, upper eyelet 30B of a corner-rounded
rectangular shape to be engaged with flange 22 of upper attaching
part 16 in FIG. 1 is formed. Upper eyelet 30B is of a similar shape
to flange 22 (a corner-rounded rectangular shape with a longer
diameter and a shorter diameter) and is located such that the
direction of the longer diameter is the same as the longitudinal
direction of dental coupling member 28 (the axial direction of
outer tube 30).
[0074] Upper eyelet 30B is formed with a size slightly larger than
flange 22. Specifically, a length L1 of the longer diameter of
upper eyelet 30B is greater than a length R1 of the major axis of
flange 22 shown in FIG. 2B.
[0075] Meanwhile, a length L2 of the shorter diameter of upper
eyelet 30B is greater than a length R2 of the minor axis of flange
22 shown in FIG. 2B and is shorter than the length R1 of the major
axis of flange 22. This allows upper eyelet 30B to be attached to
and detached from flange 22 only at a position where the direction
of its longer diameter is aligned with the direction of the major
axis of flange 22.
[0076] Housed part 32A, which is a protrusion, is formed so as to
project on the outer peripheral surface of second-orientation end
region 32Q of inner tube 32. Housed part 32A has a diameter smaller
than the width of long hole 30A of outer tube 30, and is slidably
inserted into and housed in long hole 30A such that housed part 32A
also slides in long hole 30A upon sliding of inner tube 32 in outer
tube 30. On the inner peripheral surface of first-orientation end
region 32P of inner tube 32, female screw part 32B is formed. On
the outer peripheral surface of inner tube 32 near
first-orientation end region 32P, opening 32C is formed.
[0077] In second-orientation end region 34Q of rod 34, male screw
part 34A to be screwed with female screw part 32B of inner tube 32
is formed. Non-threaded part 36 is provided as a part of male screw
part 34A along the axial direction, with scale 36A formed on
non-threaded part 36.
[0078] In first-orientation end region 34P of rod 34, lower eyelet
34B of a corner-rounded rectangular shape to be engaged with flange
26 of lower attaching part 18 in FIG. 1 is formed on an axial
center RA of rod 34. Lower eyelet 34B is of a similar shape to
flange 26 (a corner-rounded rectangular shape with a longer
diameter and a shorter diameter), with the direction of its longer
diameter being the same as the longitudinal direction of dental
coupling member 28 (the axial direction of rod 34).
[0079] As with upper eyelet 30B, lower eyelet 34B is formed with a
size slightly larger than flange 26. Specifically, the length L1 of
the longer diameter of lower eyelet 34B is longer than the length
R1 of the major axis of flange 26 shown in FIG. 2B.
[0080] Meanwhile, the length L2 of the shorter diameter of lower
eyelet 34B is greater than the length R2 of the minor axis of
flange 26 shown in FIG. 2B and is shorter than the length R1 of the
major axis of flange 26. This allows lower eyelet 34B to be
attached to and detached from flange 26 only at a position where
the direction of its longer diameter is aligned with the direction
of the major axis of flange 26.
[0081] The length of dental coupling member 28 is steplessly
adjusted by rotating rod 34 about the axis to adjust the amount of
screwing of male screw part 34A into female screw part 32B of inner
tube 32. Dental coupling member 28 also follows the motion of
maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 by
the sliding of inner tube 32 in outer tube 30.
[0082] In doing so, the sliding of inner tube 32 in both axial
directions is limited by abutment of housed part 32A of inner tube
32 against the opposite ends (the right and left ends in FIG. 3A)
of long hole 30A on outer tube 30. The distance (center-to-center
distance) between upper attaching part 16 and lower attaching part
18 is typically adjusted between about 18 mm and 50 mm with dental
coupling member 28.
1-3. Operation and Effect
[0083] As shown in FIG. 1, exemplary mouthpiece 10 is attached to a
row of teeth by upper eyelet 30B catching on shaft 20 and lower
eyelet 34B catching on shaft 24 such that maxillary dental
appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 are coupled to each
other by dental coupling member 28.
[0084] Here, by adjusting the amount of screwing of male screw part
34A into female screw part 32B in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the position of
mandibular dental appliance 14 is adjusted so that mandibular
dental appliance 14 does not lie on the back side on the row of
teeth with respect to maxillary dental appliance 12. Mouthpiece 10
allows scale 36A formed on non-threaded part 36 of rod 34 to be
viewed from opening 32C of inner tube 32. Thus, when male screw
part 34A of rod 34 is screwed with female screw part 32B of inner
tube 32, the amount of screwing of male screw part 34A can be
checked by viewing scale 36A formed on non-threaded part 36 of rod
34 from opening 32C of inner tube 32.
[0085] In addition, when the mouth is closed, mouthpiece 10 limits
the backward movement of mandibular dental appliance 14 on the row
of teeth (to the right side in FIG. 3A) by the abutment of housed
part 32A of inner tube 32 against the upper end (the right end in
FIG. 3A) of long hole 30A in outer tube 30, as shown in FIG.
2A.
[0086] In mouthpiece 10, when the mouth is closed, an attachment
angle M of dental coupling member 28, namely the angle of the
longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B relative to opposing surface
12B of maxillary dental appliance 12 and the angle of the longer
diameter of lower eyelet 34B relative to opposing surface 14B of
mandibular dental appliance 14, is about 10 degrees.
[0087] Since the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26 relative
to opposing surface 12B or opposing surface 14B is about 90
degrees, the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26 does not
coincide with the angle of the longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B
and lower eyelet 34B, respectively.
[0088] As a result, when the mouth is closed, passage of upper
eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B through flange 22, 26 is
substantially impossible. That is, it is substantially impossible
to remove dental coupling member 28 from upper attaching part 16
and from lower attaching part 18, so that the coupled state between
maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 is
maintained.
[0089] Similarly, in mouthpiece 10, when the mouth is open, an
attachment angle N of dental coupling member 28, namely the angle
of the longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B relative to opposing
surface 12B of maxillary dental appliance 12 and the angle of the
longer diameter of lower eyelet 34B relative to opposing surface
14B of mandibular dental appliance 14, is about 40 to 60 degrees,
as shown in FIG. 2B.
[0090] Since the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26 relative
to opposing surface 12B or opposing surface 14B is about 90
degrees, the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26 does not
coincide with the angle of the longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B
and lower eyelet 34B, respectively.
[0091] As a result, passage of upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet
34B through flange 22, 26 is also substantially impossible when the
mouth is open. That is, it is substantially impossible to remove
dental coupling member 28 from upper attaching part 16 and from
lower attaching part 18, so that the coupled state between
maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 is
maintained.
[0092] When the mouth is open, dental coupling member 28 follows
the motion of maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 by the sliding of inner tube 32 in outer tube 30. In
doing so, housed part 32A of inner tube 32 moves downward from the
upper end of long hole 30A of outer tube 30 (to the left side in
FIG. 3B) to abut against the lower end of long hole 30A (the left
end in FIG. 3B).
[0093] To attach or detach dental coupling member 28 to/from
maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14
(upper attaching part 16 and lower attaching part 18), mouthpiece
10 is first removed from the row of teeth. Then, as shown in FIG.
2C, maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance
14 are separated from each other substantially in the horizontal
direction so that the attachment angle of dental coupling member 28
becomes about 90 degrees.
[0094] Then, the angle of the longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B
relative to opposing surface 12B of maxillary dental appliance 12
as well as the angle of the longer diameter of lower eyelet 34B
relative to opposing surface 14B of mandibular dental appliance 14
also become about 90 degrees.
[0095] That is, the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26
coincides with the angle of the longer diameter of upper eyelet 30B
and lower eyelet 34B, respectively, allowing upper eyelet 30B and
lower eyelet 34B to pass through flange 22, 26. Thus, dental
coupling member 28 can be removed from upper attaching part 16 and
lower attaching part 18.
[0096] Mouthpiece 10 allows the amount of screwing of male screw
part 34A into female screw part 32B to be adjusted by rotation of
rod 34 about the axis. Here, when lower eyelet 34B is engaged with
flange 26, it is substantially impossible for rod 34 to rotate
about the axis. This can prevent rod 34 from rotating to cause an
unnecessary change in the length of dental coupling member 28 when
mouthpiece 10 is worn on the row of teeth.
[0097] Mouthpiece 10 also limits the sliding of inner tube 32 in
both axial directions by making housed part 32A of inner tube 32
provided in outer tube 30 abut against the opposite ends of long
hole 30A formed between the opposite axial ends of outer tube
30.
[0098] This can make dental coupling member 28 and mouthpiece 10
compact in size compared to a configuration providing a member like
a nut outside of outer tube 30 or a configuration that makes inner
tube 32 and/or rod 34 abut against an outer end of outer tube
30.
[0099] Housed part 32A of inner tube 32 moves within long hole 30A
of outer tube 30 in the axial direction. This can restrain inner
tube 32 from rotating about the axis relative to outer tube 30 when
it slides in outer tube 30.
[0100] Mouthpiece 10 also has flanges 22, 26 of a corner-rounded
rectangular shape at upper attaching part 16 and lower attaching
part 18, with upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B of dental
coupling member 28 being of a corner-rounded rectangular shape
slightly larger than flange 22, 26 (a similar shape).
[0101] Further, the angle of the major axis of flange 22, 26
relative to opposing surface 12B, 14B of maxillary dental appliance
12 or mandibular dental appliance 14 is about 90 degrees, which
falls outside the attachment angle of dental coupling member
28.
[0102] Thus, when mouthpiece 10 is worn on the row of teeth, upper
eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B are restrained to an extent that
makes attachment and detachment to/from flange 22, 26 substantially
impossible, allowing the coupled state between maxillary dental
appliance 12 and mandibular dental appliance 14 to be
maintained.
[0103] In contrast, when mouthpiece 10 is not worn on the row of
teeth, upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B can be easily attached
and detached to/from flange 22, 26. That is, just by changing the
attachment angle relative to mouthpiece 10, dental coupling member
28 can be switched between a state facilitating
attachment/detachment and a state restraining
attachment/detachment.
[0104] Thus, maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 can be easily decoupled for maintenance or
replacement, compared to a configuration with upper eyelet 30B and
lower eyelet 34B being bonded, screwed or the like with flange 22,
26.
[0105] Additionally, since upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B
have a corner-rounded rectangular shape, space is formed between
shaft 20 of upper attaching part 16 and upper eyelet 30B and
between shaft 24 of lower attaching part 18 and lower eyelet 34B
when mouthpiece 10 is worn on the row of teeth. Sliding of shaft
20, 24 in this space enables dental coupling member 28 to follow
the motion of maxillary dental appliance 12 and mandibular dental
appliance 14 to an increased degree.
2. Embodiments
[0106] In the following, Embodiments 1 through 19 as variations of
the dental coupling member are described. Embodiments 1 through 12
are examples of dental coupling members for restraining the
loosening between the screwing part and the screwed part according
to the first aspect of the present invention; Embodiments 13
through 16 are embodiments that can be applied to any of
Embodiments 1 through 12 in combination as further variations of
these embodiments; and Embodiments 17 through 19 are examples of
dental coupling members for limiting an excessive insertion of the
insert into the outer tube with a simple structure according to the
second aspect of the present invention. In the description of the
embodiments that follow, descriptions on features that overlap ones
from previous embodiments and the associated operation or effect
are omitted, and reference may be made as appropriate to the
description of previous embodiments in which such features were
described.
[0107] In Embodiments 1 through 12 according to the first aspect of
the present invention, either one or both of male screw part 34A
and female screw part 32B is provided with a different-torque part
that involves a different torque for screwing with the other of
male screw part 34A and female screw part 32B so as to form a
portion with larger frictional force, thus restraining the
loosening of male screw part 34A relative to female screw part 32B
even after torque has been released.
2-1. Embodiment 1
[0108] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 1 has rod
134 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, gap part
136 is formed in rod 134 on second-orientation end region 134Q
side. Gap part 136 partially segments second-orientation end region
134Q of male screw part 134A in the direction orthogonal to the
axial center RA (in the direction from the viewer's side into the
page in FIG. 4B). In Embodiment 1, gap part 136 is a substantially
cuboid slit that passes through the axial center RA of rod 134. In
other words, gap part 136 is a slit extending from the axial center
RA of rod 134 toward the outer periphery so as to segment male
screw part 134A (into two). Consequently, in rod 134,
second-orientation end region 134Q of male screw part 134A is
segmented by gap part 136 into two parts that are substantially
symmetric in the vertical direction in FIG. 4B. The two segment
parts are substantially rotationally symmetric (substantially
two-fold symmetric) by an angle of 180 degrees about the axial
center RA. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the length L1 (depth)
of gap part 136 is such a length that reaches an intermediate
position on male screw part 134A in the direction of axial center
RA.
[0109] In this vertically segmented portion of male screw part
134A, increased diameter part 134E with an outer diameter increased
by gap part 136 is formed. An outer diameter D1 of increased
diameter part 134E (the vertical dimension in FIG. 4B) gradually
increases toward second-orientation end region 134Q side. As
opposed to this, of male screw part 134A, the portion where gap
part 136 is not formed is constant diameter part 134F having a
constant outer diameter D2. That is, male screw part 134A includes
constant diameter part 134F having the constant outer diameter D2
and increased diameter part 134E having the outer diameter D1
greater than that of constant diameter part 134F. Increased
diameter part 134E is an example of "large diameter part", constant
diameter part 134F is an example of "small diameter part", and
increased diameter part 134E and constant diameter part 134F are
examples of "different-torque part" and of "different-diameter
part".
[0110] Increased diameter part 134E can be formed, for example, by
forming gap part 136 during the manufacture of rod 134 and then
slightly spreading the vertically segmented portions away from each
other. Due to the formation of gap part 136, increased diameter
part 134E is elastically deformable in the direction toward the
axial center RA of rod 134 (in the direction of arrow E1).
[0111] The outer diameter D1 at the tip of increased diameter part
134E is sized to be screwed with female screw part 32B of inner
tube 32 with increased diameter part 134E elastically deformed in
such a manner. In contrast, constant diameter part 134F has the
outer diameter D2 smaller than that of increased diameter part 134E
as mentioned above but is sized to be screwed with female screw
part 32B of inner tube 32.
[0112] When male screw part 134A is screwed with female screw part
32B, male screw part 134A makes stronger contact with female screw
part 32B and generates larger frictional force against female screw
part 32B during rotation in increased diameter part 134E than in
constant diameter part 134F. That is, large torque is required for
rotation during screwing with female screw part 32B compared to a
male screw part of a structure without increased diameter part
134E.
[0113] Inner tube 32 has a constant inner diameter in female screw
part 32B. In other words, there is no portion where the inner
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of inner tube 32 changes.
Thus, inner tube 32 is of a shape that facilitates the formation of
female screw part 32B.
[0114] With rod 134 of Embodiment 1, male screw part 134A includes
increased diameter part 134E and constant diameter part 134F. Due
to the formation of increased diameter part 134E, large torque is
required when male screw part 134A is threaded into and rotated in
female screw part 32B, compared with a rod having a male screw part
with no formation of increased diameter part 134E. Accordingly,
male screw part 134A is restrained from becoming loose relative to
female screw part 32B even after the amount of screwing of male
screw part 134A is adjusted, that is, after torque on rod 134 has
been released. This restrains a shift in the relative position
between rod 134 and inner tube 32. In turn, the position of
mandibular dental appliance 14 relative to maxillary dental
appliance 12 can be reliably maintained at the adjusted position as
well.
[0115] In other words, increased diameter part 134E or the larger
diameter portion tends to make strong contact with female screw
part 32B of cylinder 29 and causes large frictional force compared
to constant diameter part 134F or the smaller diameter portion, so
that loosening of male screw part 134A relative to female screw
part 32B can be restrained. In addition, since male screw part 134A
is screwed with female screw part 32B also at constant diameter
part 134F, force that acts in the state of being screwed with
female screw part 32B is distributed throughout male screw part
134A, which can further restrain the loosening of male screw part
134A relative to female screw part 32B.
[0116] Further, increased diameter part 134E can elastically deform
inward in the radial direction of rod 134 such that gap part 136
becomes smaller. That is, as increased diameter part 134E is
screwed with female screw part 32B while undergoing elastic
deformation, load can be made to act from increased diameter part
134E to female screw part 32B while restraining the abrasion of
increased diameter part 134E.
[0117] In addition, due to a slit shape, gap part 136 is easy to
form.
2-2. Embodiment 2
[0118] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 2 has rod
234 shown in FIG. 5. This rod 234 has gap part 236 formed in
second-orientation end region 234Q of male screw part 234A. When
seen in the axial direction of rod 234 (in the direction of arrow
A1), gap part 236 is formed in three parts toward the outer
periphery side radially about the axial center RA of rod 234. In
other words, gap part 236 is a slit extending toward the outer
periphery from the axial center RA of rod 234 so as to segment male
screw part 234A (into three). That is, a portion of male screw part
234A is segmented into three parts in the axial direction about the
axial center RA. The three segment parts are substantially
rotationally symmetric (substantially three-fold symmetric) by an
angle of 120 degrees about the axial center RA.
[0119] Also in Embodiment 2, male screw part 234A includes
increased diameter part 234E and constant diameter part 234F.
Meanwhile, inner tube 32 also has a constant inner diameter in
female screw part 32B in Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2,
accordingly, large torque is required when male screw part 234A is
threaded into and rotated in female screw part 32B, compared to a
rod having a male screw part with no formation of increased
diameter part 234E. After the amount of screwing of male screw part
234A is adjusted, male screw part 234A is restrained from becoming
loose relative to female screw part 32B. Increased diameter part
234E is an example of "large diameter part", constant diameter part
234F is an example of "small diameter part", and increased diameter
part 234E and constant diameter part 234F are examples of
"different-torque part" and of "different-diameter part".
[0120] In Embodiment 2, three segment parts are formed in
second-orientation end region 234Q of male screw part 234A of rod
234, providing more segment parts than in Embodiment 1, in which
two segment parts are formed. Such an increase in the number of
segment parts results in a smaller size of each segment part, which
makes it easier to bend the segment parts radially outward and thus
facilitates the formation of increased diameter part 234E. On the
other hand, a structure with a small number of segment parts
facilitates processing or shaping of the rod because less gap parts
are required. The number of segment regions in Embodiment 2 may be
any number greater than two, such as four (substantially four-fold
symmetric) or six (substantially six-fold symmetric). In other
words, gap part 236 may be a slit of any form that segments
second-orientation end region 234Q of male screw part 234A of rod
234 into substantially rotationally symmetric shapes of
substantially three-fold or higher rotational symmetry.
2-3. Embodiment 3
[0121] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 3 has rod
334 shown in FIG. 6. This rod 334 has gap part 336 formed in
second-orientation end region 334Q. Gap part 336 is a slit which is
formed at a position offset from the axial center RA of rod 334,
avoiding the axial center RA. Thus, increased diameter part 334E is
segmented into shapes that are not rotationally symmetric,
including a relatively small segment (small segment 334G) and a
relatively large segment (large segment 334H), as seen from
second-orientation end region 334Q side (in the direction of arrow
A1). In other words, gap part 336 is a slit that segments male
screw part 334A into a portion including the axial center RA of rod
334 and a portion not including the axial center RA of rod 334
(into two). Small segment 334G is easier to deform radially outward
(in the direction opposite to arrow E1) than large segment 334H.
Accordingly, increased diameter part 334E of rod 334 is virtually
formed by the radially outward spreading of small segment 334G.
However, large segment 334H may also assume a shape spreading
outward radially.
[0122] Also in Embodiment 3, male screw part 334A includes
increased diameter part 334E and constant diameter part 334F.
Meanwhile, inner tube 32 has a constant inner diameter in female
screw part 32B also in Embodiment 3. Accordingly, large torque is
required when male screw part 334A is threaded into and rotated in
female screw part 32B, compared to a rod having a male screw part
with no formation of increased diameter part 334E. After the amount
of screwing of male screw part 334A is adjusted, male screw part
334A is restrained from becoming loose relative to female screw
part 32B. Increased diameter part 334E is an example of "large
diameter part", constant diameter part 334F is an example of "small
diameter part", and increased diameter part 334E and constant
diameter part 334F are examples of "different-torque part" and of
"different-diameter part".
[0123] In Embodiment 3, small segment 334G and large segment 334H
are formed, with small segment 334G being easier to deform radially
outward than large segment 334H. That is, elastic adjustment of the
outer diameter D1 (not shown in FIG. 6, see FIG. 4B) at increased
diameter part 334E of rod 334 is facilitated compared to a
structure having segments 34D of a substantially rotationally
symmetric shape, such as in Embodiment 1, and it is also possible
to adjust frictional force when screwing increased diameter part
334E with female screw part 32B. Although second-orientation end
region 334Q of male screw part 334A of rod 334 is segmented into
two segment regions in FIG. 6, it may be segmented into three or
more segment regions different in shape or size.
2-4. Embodiment 4
[0124] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 4 has rod
434 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. This rod 434 has gap part 436 formed
in second-orientation end region 434Q. Gap part 436 is a slit
formed in a shape that has a width changing in the depth direction
(the direction from the second-orientation end region side of male
screw part 434 toward the first-orientation end region side) and is
substantially rotationally symmetric at a position passing through
the axial center RA of rod 434 and about the axial center RA.
[0125] Since in Embodiment 4 the large width portion of gap part
436 is formed over a greater length, increased diameter part 434E
of rod 434, namely the portion with outer diameter D1, covers a
certain range in the axial direction. In other words, in Embodiment
4, the range with outer diameter D1 is long in the axial direction
of rod 434 compared to Embodiment 1.
[0126] Also in Embodiment 4, male screw part 434A includes
increased diameter part 434E and constant diameter part 434F.
Meanwhile, inner tube 32 also has a constant inner diameter in
female screw part 32B in Embodiment 4. Accordingly, large torque is
required when male screw part 434A is threaded into and rotated in
female screw part 32B, compared to a rod having a male screw part
with no formation of increased diameter part 434E. After the amount
of screwing of male screw part 434A is adjusted, male screw part
434A is restrained from becoming loose relative to female screw
part 32B.
[0127] In Embodiment 4, the range having the constant outer
diameter D1 as the increased diameter part of rod 434 is long in
the axial direction of rod 434. Thus, compared to Embodiments 1
through 3, large frictional force can be generated by allowing the
increased diameter part to make contact with female screw part 32B
over a wide range. Although second-orientation end region 434Q of
male screw part 434A of rod 434 is segmented into two segment
regions in FIGS. 7A and 7B, it may be segmented into three or more
segment regions.
2-5. Embodiment 5
[0128] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 5 has rod
534 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, rod 534
has increased diameter part 534E of a truncated cone shape formed
in a portion of male screw part 534A, in particular in a portion
with a predetermined length L1 in second-orientation end region
534Q of male screw part 534A. Of male screw part 534A, the portion
on first-orientation end region 34P (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) side (the
right-hand portion in FIG. 8B) is a portion with no formation of
increased diameter part 534E and is constant diameter part 534F
with an outer diameter D2 smaller than that of increased diameter
part 534E.
[0129] The outer diameter D2 of constant diameter part 534F is
constant in the axial direction of rod 534. In contrast, the outer
diameter D1 of increased diameter part 534E increases from the
portion continuous with constant diameter part 534F toward
second-orientation end region 534Q side. The outer diameter D1 of
increased diameter part 534E is then at its maximum at the end on
second-orientation end region 534Q side. Although outer diameter D1
linearly increases toward second-orientation end region 534Q side
in the example shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the shape of increased
diameter part 534E is not limited to such a shape with outer
diameter D1 increasing linearly. However, a shape with outer
diameter D1 increasing linearly does not cause a steep change in
the outer diameter D1 of increased diameter part 534E; thus
breakage of increased diameter part 534E due to local stress on
increased diameter part 534E that occurs during screwing can be
restrained.
[0130] To form increased diameter part 534E, at a preceding stage
in which male screw part 534A is formed during the manufacture of
rod 534, for example, the length L1 portion on second-orientation
end region 534Q side is formed such that the outer diameter
increases toward the end on second-orientation end region 534Q
side. Then, by forming male screw part 534A in a predetermined
range including the length L1 portion, male screw part 534A
including increased diameter part 534E can be formed on rod
534.
[0131] Constant diameter part 534F and increased diameter part 534E
are of circular shapes that are substantially rotationally
symmetric relative to the axis RA and centered at the axis RA. The
outer diameter D2 of constant diameter part 534F is sized to be
screwed with female screw part 32B. Further, the outer diameter D1
of increased diameter part 534E is sized to be screwed with female
screw part 32B even in the portion with the largest outer diameter.
The radial clearance between male screw part 534A and female screw
part 32B is constant between constant diameter part 534F and female
screw part 32B but gradually becomes narrower between increased
diameter part 534E and female screw part 32B toward
second-orientation end region 534Q side. When male screw part 534A
and female screw part 32B are in contact with each other, this
clearance is zero. In reality, however, a slight clearance forms
between the flank of male screw part 534A and the flank of female
screw part 32B, and the clearance between large diameter part 534E
and female screw part 32B is narrower than the clearance between
constant diameter part 534F and female screw part 32B. Increased
diameter part 534E creates portions with different radial
clearances between the male screw part and the female screw part in
male screw part 32A. Increased diameter part 534E and constant
diameter part 534F are examples of "different-torque part" and of
"different-diameter part".
[0132] When male screw part 534A is screwed with female screw part
32B, male screw part 534A makes stronger contact with female screw
part 32B and generates larger frictional force against female screw
part 32B during rotation in increased diameter part 534E than in
constant diameter part 534F. That is, large torque is required for
rotation during screwing with female screw part 32B compared to a
male screw part of a structure without increased diameter part
534E.
[0133] Inner tube 32 has a constant inner diameter in female screw
part 32B. In other words, there is no portion where the inner
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of inner tube 32 changes.
Thus, inner tube 32 is of a shape that facilitates the formation of
female screw part 32B.
[0134] Rod 534 according to the variation shown in FIG. 8C may be
used in Embodiment 5. With rod 534 as the variation, the outer
diameter D1 of male screw part 534A gradually increases toward the
end on second-orientation end region 534Q side substantially over
the entire range in which male screw part 534A is formed. In other
words, screwing large-diameter part 534E, an example of the
different-diameter part, is formed substantially throughout male
screw part 534A.
[0135] In such a structure with outer diameter D1 changing
substantially throughout male screw part 534A, the clearance
between male screw part 534A and female screw part 32B (an example
of the screwed part) continuously changes substantially throughout
male screw part 534A. This structure also produces a structure that
gives at least two distinct lengths of radial clearance between the
screwing part and the screwed part.
2-6. Embodiment 6
[0136] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 6 has rod
634 shown in FIG. 9. This rod 634 has increased diameter part 634E
of a cylindrical shape, formed in second-orientation end region
634Q of male screw part 634A. This increased diameter part 634E is
of a shape that has a constant outer diameter D1 over the range of
a certain length L1 from the end on second-orientation end region
634Q side. Increased diameter part 634E and constant diameter part
634F are examples of "different-torque part" and of
"different-diameter part".
[0137] Also in Embodiment 6, male screw part 634A includes
increased diameter part 634E and constant diameter part 634F. In
Embodiment 6, accordingly, large torque is required when male screw
part 634A is threaded into and rotated in female screw part 32B,
compared to a rod having a male screw part with no formation of
increased diameter part 634E. After the amount of screwing of male
screw part 634A is adjusted, male screw part 634A is restrained
from becoming loose relative to female screw part 32B.
[0138] In Embodiment 6, increased diameter part 634E has the
constant outer diameter D1 and spans a certain length L1 in the
axial direction. Since the portion that makes strong contact with
female screw part 32B spreads in the axial direction in male screw
part 634A, namely the screwing part, a portion that generates large
frictional force when screwing male screw part 634A and female
screw part 32B together can be secured to be wide, stabilizing the
torque required for rotation when male screw part 634A is screwed
with female screw part 32B.
2-7. Embodiment 7
[0139] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 7 has rod
734 shown in FIG. 10. This rod 734 has increased diameter part 734E
of a barrel shape formed in second-orientation end region 734Q of
male screw part 734A. Increased diameter part 734E is formed in the
range of a certain length L1 from the end on the second-orientation
end region 734Q side. In Embodiment 7, increased diameter part 734E
is shaped such that outer diameter D1 is at its maximum at the
center of this range of length L1 and outer diameter D1 decreases
as it goes away from the center. Increased diameter part 734E and
constant diameter part 734F are examples of "different-torque part"
and of "different-diameter part".
[0140] In Embodiment 7, male screw part 734A includes increased
diameter part 734E and constant diameter part 734F. In Embodiment
7, accordingly, large torque is required when male screw part 734A
is threaded into and rotated in female screw part 32B, compared to
a rod having a male screw part with no formation of increased
diameter part 734E. After the amount of screwing of male screw part
734A is adjusted, male screw part 734A is restrained from becoming
loose relative to female screw part 32B.
[0141] In Embodiment 7, increased diameter part 734E is shaped such
that it tapers from the center of increased diameter part 734E in
the axial direction toward the end on second-orientation end region
734Q side. Accordingly, male screw part 734A is easy to screw with
female screw part 32B in an early stage of screwing male screw part
734A with female screw part 32B.
2-8. Embodiment 8
[0142] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 8 has
inner tube 832 shown in FIG. 11A. This inner tube 832 has
inner-diameter reduced part 832E formed in female screw part 832B
such that female screw part 832B is a different-diameter part. In
the example shown in FIG. 11A, female screw part 832B has
inner-diameter reduced part 832E with an inner diameter D3 that
decreases from the center in the axial direction toward the end on
first-orientation end region 832P side. In contrast, female screw
part 832B has a constant inner diameter D4 in the portion where
inner-diameter reduced part 832E is not formed. The male screw part
in Embodiment 8 has a constant outer diameter in the axial
direction of the rod.
[0143] In Embodiment 8, such a portion with decreasing inner
diameter D3 within female screw part 832B is inner-diameter reduced
part 832E. The clearance between female screw part 832B and the
male screw part of the rod is constant in the portion where
inner-diameter reduced part 832E is not formed, but it gradually
becomes narrower toward the end on first-orientation end region
832P side of inner tube 832 in the portion where inner-diameter
reduced part 832E is formed.
[0144] Accordingly, also in Embodiment 8, large torque is required
when male screw part 34A is threaded into and rotated in female
screw part 832B, compared to an inner tube having a female screw
part with no formation of the different-diameter part. Thus, after
the amount of screwing of the male screw part is adjusted, the male
screw part is restrained from becoming loose relative to female
screw part 832B. Although inner-diameter reduced part 832E is
formed as a part of female screw part 832B in FIG. 11A, the entire
portion of female screw part 832B may be inner-diameter reduced
part 832E. Additionally, although in FIG. 11A female screw part
832B is shaped such that its inner diameter decreases from the
center in the axial direction toward the end on first-orientation
end region 832P side, it may have a barrel shape with inner
diameter D3 being at its maximum in the center of the range of
length L1 and decreasing as it goes away from the center.
[0145] Inner tube 842 according to a second variation shown in FIG.
11B may be used in Embodiment 8. With inner tube 842 as the second
variation, inner-diameter reduced part 842E is of a shape having a
constant inner diameter D3 over the range of a certain length L1
from the end on first-orientation end region 842P side. In the
second variation, inner-diameter reduced part 842E spans a certain
length L1 in the axial direction. Since the portion that makes
strong contact with the male screw part spreads in the axial
direction in female screw part 842B, the torque required for
rotation when the male screw part is screwed with female screw part
842B is stabilized.
2-9. Embodiment 9
[0146] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 9 has rod
934 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, rod
934 has screwing small-pitch part 934G formed in the portion where
male screw part 934A is formed, in particular a portion with a
predetermined length L1 in second-orientation end region 934Q. Of
male screw part 934A, a portion on first-orientation end region 34P
(see FIGS. 3A and 3B) side (the right-hand portion in FIG. 12B) is
a portion with no formation of screwing small-pitch part 934G and
is screwing large-pitch part 934H having pitch P2 greater than the
pitch of screwing small-pitch part 934G.
[0147] The pitch P2 of screwing large-pitch part 934H is constant
in the axial direction of rod 934 and is equal to the pitch of
female screw part 32B. In contrast, the pitch P1 of screwing
small-pitch part 934G decreases from the portion continuous with
screwing large-pitch part 934H toward the end on second-orientation
end region 934Q side. The pitch P1 of screwing small-pitch part
934G is then at its minimum at the end on second-orientation end
region 934Q side. Although pitch P1 linearly decreases toward the
end on second-orientation end region 934Q side in the example shown
in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the shape of screwing small-pitch part 934G
is not limited to such a shape with pitch P1 decreasing linearly.
However, a shape with pitch P1 decreasing linearly does not cause a
steep change in the pitch P1 of screwing small-pitch part 934G;
thus breakage of screwing small-pitch part 934G due to local stress
on screwing small-pitch part 934G that occurs during screwing can
be restrained.
[0148] To form screwing small-pitch part 934G, a male screw with
pitch P1 is formed in a predetermined range including the length L1
portion, for example, at a stage of forming male screw part 934A
during the manufacture of rod 934. Then, by forming a male screw
with pitch P2 in the range of male screw part 934A excluding the
predetermined range, male screw part 934A including screwing
small-pitch part 934G can be formed on rod 934.
[0149] Screwing large-pitch part 934H and screwing small-pitch part
934G are substantially symmetric in the circumferential direction,
that is, are circular shapes centered at axis RA when seen in the
direction of axis RA (in the direction of arrow A1). The pitch P2
of screwing large-pitch part 934H is sized to be screwed with
female screw part 32B. Further, the pitch P1 of screwing
small-pitch part 934G is sized to be screwed with female screw part
32B even in the portion with the smallest pitch. The pitch
difference between male screw part 934A and female screw part 32B
is constant between screwing large-pitch part 934H and female screw
part 32B (is virtually zero, for example), but gradually increases
between screwing small-pitch part 934G and female screw part 32B
toward the end on second-orientation end region 934Q side. Screwing
large-pitch part 934H and screwing small-pitch part 934G are
examples of "different-torque part" and of "different-pitch
part".
[0150] When male screw part 934A is screwed with female screw part
32B, male screw part 934A makes stronger contact with female screw
part 32B and generates larger frictional force against female screw
part 32B during rotation in screwing small-pitch part 934G than in
screwing large-pitch part 934H. That is, large torque is required
for rotation during screwing with female screw part 32B compared to
a male screw part of a structure without screwing small-pitch part
934G.
[0151] Inner tube 32 has a constant inner diameter in female screw
part 32B. In other words, there is no portion where the inner
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of inner tube 32 changes.
Thus, inner tube 32 is of a shape that facilitates the formation of
female screw part 32B.
[0152] Rod 934 according to the variation shown in FIG. 12C may be
used in Embodiment 9. In rod 934 as the variation, the pitch P1 of
male screw part 934A gradually degreases toward the end on
second-orientation end region 934Q side substantially in the entire
range in which male screw part 934A is formed. In other words,
screwing small-pitch part 934G, an example of the different-pitch
part, is formed substantially throughout male screw part 934A.
[0153] With such a structure with pitch P1 changing substantially
throughout male screw part 934A, the pitch difference between male
screw part 934A and female screw part 32B (an example of the
screwed part) continuously changes substantially throughout male
screw part 934A. This structure also produces a structure that
gives at least two distinct pitch differences between the screwing
part and the screwed part.
2-10. Embodiment 10
[0154] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 10 has
rod 1034 shown in FIG. 13. This rod 1034 has screwing small-pitch
part 1034G formed in second-orientation end region 1034Q of male
screw part 1034A. This screwing small-pitch part 1034G is of a
shape having a constant pitch P1 over the range of a certain length
L1 from the end on second-orientation end region 1034Q side.
[0155] In Embodiment 10, male screw part 1034A includes screwing
small-pitch part 1034G and screwing large-pitch part 1034H. In
Embodiment 10, accordingly, large torque is required when male
screw part 1034A is threaded into and rotated in female screw part
32B, compared to a rod having a male screw part with no formation
of screwing small-pitch part 1034G. After the amount of screwing of
male screw part 1034A is adjusted, male screw part 1034A is
restrained from becoming loose relative to female screw part
32B.
[0156] In Embodiment 10, screwing small-pitch part 1034G has a
constant pitch P1 and spans a certain length L1 in the axial
direction. Since the portion that makes strong contact with female
screw part spreads in the axial direction in male screw part 1034A,
namely the screwing part, the torque required for rotation when
male screw part 1034A is screwed with female screw part is
stabilized.
2-11. Embodiment 11
[0157] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 11 has
rod 1134 shown in FIG. 14. This rod 1134 has screwing small-pitch
part 1134G formed in second-orientation end region 1134Q of male
screw part 1134A. Screwing small-pitch part 1134G is formed in the
range of a certain length L1 from the end on second-orientation end
region 1134Q side. In Embodiment 11, rod 1134 is shaped such that
pitch P1 is at its minimum at the center of this range of length L1
and pitch P1 increases as it goes away from the center.
[0158] Also in Embodiment 11, male screw part 1134A includes
screwing small-pitch part 1134G and screwing large-pitch part
1134H. In Embodiment 11, accordingly, large torque is required when
male screw part 1134A is threaded into and rotated in female screw
part 32B, compared to a rod having a male screw part with no
formation of screwing small-pitch part 1134G. After the amount of
screwing of male screw part 1134A is adjusted, male screw part
1134A is restrained from becoming loose relative to female screw
part 32B.
[0159] In Embodiment 11, rod 1134 is shaped such that the pitch
increases from the center of screwing small-pitch part 1134G in the
axial direction toward the end on the second-orientation end region
1134Q side. In other words, at the end on the second-orientation
end region 1134Q side, the pitch of male screw part 1134A is close
to the pitch of female screw part. Accordingly, male screw part
1134A is easy to screw with female screw part 32B in an early stage
of screwing male screw part 1134A with female screw part 32B.
2-12. Embodiment 12
[0160] The dental coupling member according to Embodiment 12 has
inner tube 1232 shown in FIG. 15A. This inner tube 1232 has a
different-pitch part formed in female screw part 1232B. In the
example shown in FIG. 15A, pitch-reduced part 1232G is formed in
the range of a certain length L1 from the end on first-orientation
end region 1232P side, with pitch P3 decreasing from the center of
female screw part 1232B in the axial direction toward the end on
first-orientation end region 1232P side. In contrast, female screw
part 1232B has a constant pitch P4 in the portion where
pitch-reduced part 1232G is not formed. The male screw part in
Embodiment 12 has a constant pitch in the axial direction of the
rod.
[0161] In Embodiment 12, such a portion of female screw part 1232B
where pitch P3 decreases is pitch-reduced part 1232G. The pitch
difference between female screw part 1232B and the male screw part
of the rod is constant in the portion where pitch-reduced part
1232G is not formed, but it gradually increases toward the end on
first-orientation end region 1232P side of inner tube 1232 in the
portion where pitch-reduced part 1232G is formed.
[0162] Accordingly, also in Embodiment 12, large torque is required
when male screw part 34A is threaded into and rotated in female
screw part 1232B, compared to an inner tube having a female screw
part with no formation of the pitch-reduced part. Thus, after the
amount of screwing of the male screw part is adjusted, the male
screw part is restrained from becoming loose relative to female
screw part 1232B. In FIG. 15A, female screw part 1232B is shaped
such that the pitch decreases from the center in the axial
direction toward the end on first-orientation end region 1232P
side. However, it may have a shape with the pitch increasing from
the center in the axial direction toward the end on
first-orientation end region 1232P side, or a barrel shape with the
pitch being at its maximum in the center of the range of length L1
and the inner diameter decreasing as it goes away from the
center.
[0163] Inner tube 1242 according to a second variation shown in
FIG. 15B may be used in Embodiment 12. Inner tube 1242 in the
second variation is shaped such that pitch-reduced part 1232G has a
constant pitch P3 over the range of a certain length L1 from the
end on first-orientation end region 1242P side. In the second
variation, pitch-reduced part 1232G spans a certain length L1 in
the axial direction. Since the portion that makes strong contact
with the male screw part spreads in the axial direction in female
screw part 1242B, the torque required for rotation when the male
screw part is screwed with female screw part 42B is stabilized.
2-13. Embodiment 13
[0164] Next, using FIG. 16, dental coupling member 1338 for a
mouthpiece according to Embodiment 13 of the present invention is
described.
[0165] Dental coupling member 1338 according to Embodiment 13 has
tubular outer tube 40 being open both at the end on
first-orientation end region 40P side and at the end on
second-orientation end region 40Q side in the axial direction,
tubular inner tube 42 slidably provided in outer tube 40, and rod
44 to be engaged with inner tube 42.
[0166] Outer tube 40 has a pair of slits 40A formed at positions
opposing each other along the axial direction of outer tube 40,
between the end on first-orientation end region 40P side and the
end on second-orientation end region 40Q side. In the vicinity of
second-orientation end region 42Q of inner tube 42, columnar pin 46
has been attached so as to penetrate inner tube 42 in the radial
direction. Slit 40A is an example of "limiting part".
[0167] The longer diameter of pin 46 is sized to be slightly
smaller than the width of slit 40A in outer tube 40. The opposite
ends of pin 46 in the longer diameter direction project from the
outer peripheral surface of inner tube 42, and are slidably
inserted in the pair of slits 40A, respectively.
[0168] Dental coupling member 1338 is adjustable in length by
sliding of inner tube 42 in outer tube 40. In doing so, the sliding
of inner tube 42 in both axial directions is limited by abutment of
pin 46 attached on inner tube 42 against the opposite ends of slits
40A in outer tube 40 (the right and left ends in FIG. 16).
[0169] Embodiment 13 limits the sliding of inner tube 42 in outer
tube 40 in both axial directions by making pin 46 attached on inner
tube 42 abut against the opposite ends of slits 40A formed in outer
tube 40. This can make dental coupling member 1338 compact in size
compared to a configuration providing an inner tube like a nut
outside of outer tube 40 or a configuration that makes inner tube
42 and/or rod 44 abut against an outer end of outer tube 40.
[0170] Additionally, since the opposite ends of pin 46 are inserted
in pair of slits 40A formed in outer peripheral surface of outer
tube 40, respectively, inner tube 42 can be further restrained from
rotating about the axis relative to outer tube 40 when inner tube
42 slides in outer tube 40.
[0171] Also in Embodiment 13, male screw part 44A includes an
increased diameter part and a constant diameter part (see FIGS. 4A,
4B, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 10, 11A, and 11B) or a screwing
small-pitch part and a screwing large-pitch part (FIGS. 12A, 12B,
13, and 14). Thus, large torque is required when male screw part
44A is threaded into and rotated in the female screw part, and male
screw part 44A is restrained from becoming loose relative to the
female screw part.
2-14. Embodiment 14
[0172] Next, using FIG. 17, dental coupling member 1438 for a
mouthpiece according to Embodiment 14 of the present invention is
described.
[0173] Dental coupling member 1438 has tubular outer tube 50 being
open both at the end on first-orientation end region 50P side and
at the end on second-orientation end region side, tubular inner
tube 52 slidably provided in outer tube 50, and rod 54 to be
engaged with inner tube 52.
[0174] Within outer tube 50, a pair of stoppers 56A, 56B are
provided between the end on first-orientation end region 50P side
and the end on second-orientation end region side. Stopper 56A, 56B
are of a cylindrical shape with a hollow part and are fixed on the
inner peripheral surface of outer tube 50. Stoppers 56A and 56B are
examples of "limiting part".
[0175] The length of inner tube 52 in the axial direction is
shorter than the length between stoppers 56A and 56B, namely the
length from the lower end of stopper 56A on the upper end side (the
side of the left end in FIG. 17) to the upper end of stopper 56B on
the lower end side (the side of the right end in FIG. 17), with
inner tube 52 inserted between stoppers 56A and 56B in outer tube
50.
[0176] Second-orientation end region 52P of inner tube 52 is
abutting part 52B to abut against the lower end of stopper 56A,
while first-orientation end region 52P of inner tube 52 is abutting
part 52C to abut against the upper end of stopper 56B.
[0177] On rod 54, lower eyelet 54B in the first-orientation end
region is exposed from outer tube 50, with male screw part 54A in
the second-orientation end region being inserted in outer tube 50
through the hollow part of stopper 56B and screwed with female
screw part 52A of inner tube 52.
[0178] Dental coupling member 1438 is adjustable in length by
sliding of inner tube 52 between stoppers 56A and 56B in outer tube
50. In doing so, the sliding of inner tube 52 in both axial
directions is limited by abutment of abutting parts 52B, 52C of
inner tube 52 against stoppers 56A, 56B, respectively.
[0179] Embodiment 14 limits the sliding of inner tube 52 within
outer tube 50 in both axial directions by means of stopper 56A, 56B
provided in outer tube 50 between the end on first-orientation end
region 50P side and the end on second-orientation end region side.
This can make dental coupling member 1438 compact in size compared
to a configuration providing an inner tube or stoppers outside of
outer tube 50.
[0180] Also in Embodiment 14, male screw part 54A includes an
increased diameter part and a constant diameter part (see FIGS. 4A,
4B, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 10, 11A, and 11B), or a screwing
small-pitch part and a screwing large-pitch part (FIGS. 12A, 12B,
13, and 14). Thus, large torque is required when male screw part
54A is threaded into and rotated in the female screw part, and male
screw part 54A is restrained from becoming loose relative to the
female screw part.
2-15. Embodiment 15
[0181] Next, using FIG. 18, dental coupling member 1538 for a
mouthpiece according to Embodiment 15 of the present invention is
described.
[0182] Dental coupling member 1538 has tubular outer tube 60 being
open at the end on first-orientation end region 60P side and at the
end on second-orientation end region 60Q side, tubular inner tube
62 slidably provided in outer tube 60, and rod 64 to be engaged
with inner tube 62.
[0183] Within outer tube 60, decreased diameter parts 66A, 66B with
a smaller inner diameter than the inner diameter of the other
portion of outer tube 60 are formed between the end on
first-orientation end region 60P side and the end on
second-orientation end region 60Q side. Decreased diameter part 66A
in second-orientation end region 60Q of outer tube 60 is formed by
increasing the thickness of outer tube 60, whereas decreased
diameter part 66B in first-orientation end region 60P of outer tube
60 is formed by crimping the lower end of outer tube 60. Decreased
diameter parts 66A and 66B are examples of "limiting part".
[0184] In second-orientation end region 62Q of inner tube 62,
increased diameter part 68 with a larger outer diameter than the
outer diameter of the other portion of inner tube 62 is integrally
formed, and increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 can slide
between decreased diameter parts 66A and 66B of outer tube 60.
[0185] Insertion groove 68A is formed in the center of the end
surface of increased diameter part 68 in second-orientation end
region 62Q of inner tube 62. Insertion groove 68A is hexagonal,
allowing insertion of a tool such as a hexagonal wrench.
[0186] On Rod 64, male screw part 64A formed in second-orientation
end region 64Q has been screwed with female screw part 62A formed
on the inner peripheral surface of inner tube 62.
[0187] Dental coupling member 1538 is adjustable in length by
sliding of inner tube 62 in outer tube 60. In doing so, the sliding
of inner tube 62 in both axial directions is limited by abutment of
increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 against decreased
diameter part 66A or decreased diameter part 66B of outer tube
60.
[0188] To adjust the position of rod 64 relative to inner tube 62,
a hexagonal wrench is inserted into insertion groove 68A of
increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 from the open end of
outer tube 60 on second-orientation end region 60Q side. Then, the
hexagonal wrench is rotated about the axis to rotate inner tube 62
about the axis, thereby adjusting the amount of screwing of male
screw part 64A of rod 64 into female screw part 62A of inner tube
62.
[0189] Embodiment 15 limits the sliding of inner tube 62 within
outer tube 60 in both axial directions by means of decreased
diameter parts 66A, 66B formed in outer tube 60 between the end on
first-orientation end region 60P side and the end on
second-orientation end region 60Q side.
[0190] This can make dental coupling member 1538 compact in size
compared to a configuration providing a member like a nut outside
of outer tube 60 or a configuration that brings inner tube 62
and/or rod 64 into contact with an outer end of outer tube 60.
[0191] Embodiment 15 also allows the axial position of rod 64
relative to inner tube 62 to be adjusted by rotating inner tube 62
about the axis center RA, without rotation of rod 64 about the
axis. Thus, the length of dental coupling member 1538 can be easily
adjusted with lower eyelet 64B of rod 64 remaining engaged with
flange 26 in FIG. 1.
[0192] Also in Embodiment 15, male screw part 64A includes an
increased diameter part and a constant diameter part (see FIGS. 4A,
4B, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 10, 11A, and 11B), or a screwing
small-pitch part and a screwing large-pitch part (FIGS. 12A, 12B,
13, and 14). Thus, large torque is required when male screw part
64A is threaded into and rotated in female screw part, and male
screw part 64A is restrained from becoming loose relative to the
female screw part.
2-16. Embodiment 16
[0193] Next, using FIG. 19, dental coupling member 1628 for a
mouthpiece according to Embodiment 16 of the present invention is
described.
[0194] Dental coupling member 1628 has rod 34 and cylinder 1630.
Cylinder 1630 is formed in a cylindrical shape, being open at the
end on first-orientation end region 1630P side and at the end on
second-orientation end region 1630Q side. On the inner peripheral
surface of cylinder 1630, female screw part 32B (not shown in FIG.
19; see FIG. 3B) is formed, as with inner tube 32 in Embodiment
1.
[0195] Also in Embodiment 16, male screw part 34A includes
increased diameter part 34E and constant diameter part 34F (FIGS.
4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 10, 11A, and 11B), or screwing
small-pitch part 34G and screwing large-pitch part 34H (FIGS. 12A,
12B, 13, and 14). Thus, large torque is required when male screw
part 34A is threaded into and rotated in female screw part 32B, and
male screw part 34A is restrained from becoming loose relative to
female screw part 32B.
2-17. Embodiment 17
[0196] As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, dental coupling member 1738
according to Embodiment 17 has outer tube 30 which is a tubular
elongated body open at the end on first-orientation end region 30P
side and at the end on second-orientation end region 30Q side,
inner tube 32 which is a tubular elongated body slidably inserted
in outer tube 30, and rod 34 which is an elongated body to be
inserted into inner tube 32. Inner tube 32 is an example of
"insert".
[0197] Protrusion 70 projects from the inner peripheral surface of
outer tube 30. In Embodiment 17, lug 30C projects at the
longitudinal center of upper eyelet 30B. As shown in FIG. 21,
protrusion 70 is provided at a circumferential part of the inner
peripheral surface of outer tube 30.
[0198] Through hole 30R into which this lug 30C is inserted is
formed in outer tube 30. Upper eyelet 30B is fixed to outer tube 30
by welding, bonding, crimping or the like. Here, upper eyelet 30B
is attached to upper attaching part 16 on the outer periphery side
of outer tube 30 and is located penetrating through hole 30R such
that lug 30C will be protrusion 70 facing the end surface of inner
tube 32 on second-orientation end region 32Q side on the inner
peripheral surface of outer tube 30. A height H1 of lug 30C is
greater than the thickness of outer tube 30. Thus, when fixed, the
tip of protrusion 70 projects from the inner peripheral surface of
outer tube 30.
[0199] Here, the height H1 of protrusion 70 is a height that is not
excessively great so that the tip of lug 30C lies off the axial
center RA of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30,
avoiding the axial center RA, as shown in FIG. 21.
[0200] The position of protrusion 70 in the axial direction is such
a position that limits the movement of inner tube 32 within a
predetermined range when it moves in outer tube 30 to
second-orientation end region 30Q side by the contact of the end
surface of inner tube 32 on second-orientation end region 32Q side
with protrusion 70.
[0201] In Embodiment 17, the sliding of inner tube 32 to
second-orientation end region 30Q side of outer tube 30 is limited
within a predetermined range by the hitting of the end surface of
inner tube 32 on second-orientation end region 32Q side against
protrusion 70, as described later. Specifically, when the mouth is
closed, the end surface of inner tube 32 on second-orientation end
region 32Q side hits protrusion 70 at the position indicated by the
two-dot chain line in FIG. 20B, thus limiting the sliding of inner
tube 32 to the side of second-orientation end region 30Q of outer
tube 30 to limit the backward movement of mandibular dental
appliance 14 on the row of teeth (to the right side in FIG. 20A).
Likewise, the sliding of inner tube 32 to the first-orientation end
region side is limited within a predetermined range by the hitting
of housed part 32A against the end of long hole 30A in outer tube
30 on first-orientation end region 30P side. The distance
(center-to-center distance) between upper attaching part 16 and
lower attaching part 18 is adjusted between about 18 mm and 50 mm
with dental coupling member 1738.
[0202] In doing so, housed part 32A of inner tube 32 moves downward
from the upper end of long hole 30A of outer tube 30 (to the left
in FIG. 20B), where it may or may not abut against the lower end of
long hole 30A (the left end in FIG. 20B).
[0203] Embodiment 17 also limits the movement of inner tube 32 to
second-orientation end region 30Q side of outer tube 30 in a
predetermined range by the hitting of the end surface of inner tube
32 on second-orientation end region 32Q side against protrusion 70
projecting from the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30.
[0204] Thus, the structure of outer tube 30 is simple as there is
no need to form the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30 such
that the inner diameter changes in two or more steps so as to form
a wall and the like to be contacted by inner tube 32. Since no
portion where the inner diameter changes is formed on the inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube, the structure of outer tube
30 is simple. Outer tube 30 is then easy to shape and the
manufacturing cost of outer tube 30 can be reduced.
[0205] As shown in FIG. 21, protrusion 70 is formed in a
circumferential part of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube
30. Since protrusion 70 is not formed on the entire circumference,
the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30
is constant and the structures of outer tube 30 and protrusion 70
are simple. In particular, since upper eyelet 30B is provided in a
circumferential part of outer tube 30, a structure with protrusion
70 can be produced by forming lug 30C on this upper eyelet 30B.
[0206] Protrusion 70 has a height H1 that does not reach the axial
center RA inside outer tube 30. Thus, protrusion 70 will not hinder
when a tool or the like is inserted from the second-orientation end
region 30Q side of outer tube 30, facilitating the insertion of the
tool or the like.
[0207] Housed part 32A of inner tube 32 is housed such that it can
move only in the axial direction within long hole 30A of outer tube
30. Thus, when inner tube 32 slides in outer tube 30, inner tube 32
can be restrained from rotating about the axis relative to outer
tube 30.
2-18. Embodiment 18
[0208] As shown in FIG. 22, dental coupling member 1838 according
to Embodiment 18 has tubular outer tube 60 open at the end on
first-orientation end region 60P side and at the end on
second-orientation end region 60Q side, tubular inner tube 62
slidably provided in outer tube 60, and rod 64 to be engaged with
inner tube 62.
[0209] In first-orientation end region 60P of outer tube 60,
decreased diameter part 66B having a smaller diameter than that of
the other portion of outer tube 60 is formed. This decreased
diameter part 66B is formed by crimping first-orientation end
region 60P of outer tube 60, for example. While such a decreased
diameter part 66B is formed in the first-orientation end region of
outer tube 60, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface
of outer tube 60 is constant. Decreased diameter part 66B is an
example of "limiting part".
[0210] In second-orientation end region 62Q of inner tube 62,
increased diameter part 68 with a larger outer diameter than the
outer diameter of the other portion of inner tube 62 is integrally
formed. Increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 faces
protrusion 70 of outer tube 60 on second-orientation end region 60Q
side, and its end surface on first-orientation end region 60P side
faces decreased diameter part 66B. Increased diameter part 68
accordingly can slide within the range between protrusion 70 and
decreased diameter part 66B. Here, it may be any portion of inner
tube 62 that faces decreased diameter part 66B; it does not have to
be increased diameter part 68, that is, a portion with an increased
outer diameter.
[0211] Insertion groove 68A is formed in the center of the end
surface of increased diameter part 68 in second-orientation end
region 62Q of inner tube 62. Insertion groove 68A is hexagonal,
allowing insertion of a tool such as a hexagonal wrench.
[0212] On Rod 64, male screw part 64A formed in the
second-orientation end region has been screwed with female screw
part 62A formed on the inner peripheral surface of inner tube 62.
Abutting part 62E is provided on the end surface of rod 64 on the
second-orientation end region side. Abutting part 62E faces the end
surface of increased diameter part 68 on the first-orientation end
region side.
[0213] Dental coupling member 1838 is adjustable in length by
sliding of inner tube 62 in outer tube 60. In doing so, the
movement of inner tube 62 to the second-orientation end region side
is limited within a certain range by increased diameter part 68 of
inner tube 62 hitting protrusion 70. Likewise, the movement of
inner tube 62 to the first-orientation end region side is limited
by increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 hitting decreased
diameter part 66B.
[0214] To adjust the position of rod 64 relative to inner tube 62,
a tool such as a hexagonal wrench is inserted into insertion groove
68A in increased diameter part 68 of inner tube 62 from the open
end of outer tube 60 on second-orientation end region 60Q side. The
hexagonal wrench is then rotated about the axis to cause inner tube
62 to rotate about the axis, thereby adjusting the amount of
screwing of male screw part 64A of rod 64 into female screw part
62A of inner tube 62. Since protrusion 70 avoids the axial center
RA of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 60 and lies off
the axial center RA, the shaft of a hexagonal wrench and the like
can be easily inserted.
[0215] Embodiment 18 limits the movement of inner tube 62 to the
second-orientation end region side by means of protrusion 70 on the
inner peripheral surface of outer tube 60.
[0216] Thus, the structure is simple because there is no need to
form a part where the inner diameter changes (such as a wall) on
the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 60 and thus the inner
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 60 is
constant. Outer tube 60 is easy to shape, which can contribute to
reduction in the manufacturing cost of outer tube 60.
[0217] Additionally, Embodiment 18 allows the axial position of rod
64 relative to inner tube 62 to be adjusted by rotating inner tube
62 about the axis, without rotation of rod 34 about the axis. Thus,
the length of dental coupling member 1838 can be easily adjusted
with lower eyelet 64B of rod 64 remaining engaged with flange 26 in
FIG. 1.
2-19. Embodiment 19
[0218] As shown in FIG. 23, in dental coupling member 1938
according to Embodiment 19, upper eyelet 30B does not have lug 30C
(see FIG. 20B), and upper eyelet 30B and protrusion 70 are separate
components. Protrusion 70 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface
of outer tube 60 by welding, bonding and the like.
[0219] Because upper eyelet 30B and protrusion 70 in Embodiment 19
are separate components as described above, it provides high degree
of freedom in the position where protrusion 70 is provided.
Additionally, as outer tube 60 has no through hole 30R (see FIG.
20B) formed therein, the shaping of outer tube 60 is even
easier.
[0220] As opposed to Embodiment 19 as described above, a structure
with protrusion 70 provided on upper eyelet 30B (Embodiment 17 or
18, for example) does not incur an increase in the number of parts
because upper eyelet 30B and protrusion 70 are an integral piece.
Moreover, by inserting lug 30C (see FIGS. 20B and 21) into through
hole 30R, a structure with protrusion 70 projecting from the inner
peripheral surface of outer tube 30 can be easily produced.
Formation can be done by fixing upper eyelet 30B to outer tube 30,
60 and at the same time reliably positioning protrusion 70 relative
to outer tube 30, 60.
[0221] In Embodiments 17 through 19, protrusion 70 is provided in a
circumferential part of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube
30, 60. As protrusion 70 is not provided on the entire
circumference of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30, 60,
the structure of protrusion 70 can be simplified. Of course, it is
not intended to exclude a structure with protrusion 70 provided on
the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of outer
tube 30, 60.
3. Other Variations
[0222] The present invention is not limited to what is described
above but various other embodiments are possible within the scope
of the idea of the present invention.
[0223] For example, as described above, mouthpiece 10, when not
worn on the row of teeth, permits attachment and detachment of
upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B to/from flanges 22, 26 of
upper attaching part 16 and lower attaching part 18.
[0224] However, upper eyelet 30B and lower eyelet 34B may be
attached to flanges 22, 26 in an undetachable manner such as by
bonding or screwing. Further, the shapes of flange 22, 26, upper
eyelet 30B, and lower eyelet 34B are not limited to corner-rounded
rectangular shapes but may be any shape such as a perfect
circle.
[0225] While upper eyelet 30B was described above as being formed
at a position offset from the axial center of outer tube 30, it may
be formed on the axial center of outer tube 30. Further, a
configuration is also possible that allows the amount of screwing
of male screw part 34A to be checked by viewing the position of the
upper end of male screw part 34A from opening 32C of inner tube 32,
instead of forming scale 36A on rod 34.
[0226] In Embodiment 15, decreased diameter part 66A is formed by
increasing the thickness of outer tube 60 and decreased diameter
part 66B is formed by crimping the lower end of outer tube 60.
However, the methods of forming decreased diameter parts 66A, 66B
are not limited to the above embodiment; decreased diameter parts
66A, 66B may be formed in the same method. Also, while increased
diameter part 68 was described as being formed integrally with
inner tube 62, increased diameter part 68 as a separate member may
be joined with second-orientation end region 62Q of inner tube
62.
[0227] In Embodiments 17 through 19, the structure of protrusion 70
can be simplified because protrusion 70 is provided in a
circumferential part of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube
30, 60 and protrusion 70 is not provided on the entire
circumference of the inner peripheral surface of outer tube 30, 60.
However, it is not intended to exclude a structure with protrusion
70 provided on the entire circumference of the inner peripheral
surface of outer tube 30, 60.
[0228] In Embodiments 18 and 19, decreased diameter part 66B is
formed by crimping the lower end of outer tube 60. However, the
method of forming decreased diameter part 66B is not limited to the
above embodiment. Additionally, while increased diameter part 68
was described as being formed integrally with inner tube 62,
increased diameter part 68 as a separate member may be joined with
second-orientation end region 62Q of inner tube 62.
[0229] Further, in Embodiments 1 through 15 and 17 through 19, rod
34, 44, 54, 64 with male screw part 34A, 44A, 54A, 64A formed
thereon serves as the first elongated body having a screwing part,
and inner tube 32, 42, 52, 62 and outer tube 30, 40, 50, 60 serve
as the second elongated body having a screwed part, with female
screw part 32B, 42A, 52A, 62A formed on inner tube 32, 42, 52, 62.
However, a structure is also possible where rod 34, 44, 54, 64 with
a female screw part formed thereon serves as the second elongated
body having a screwed part, and inner tube 32, 42, 52, 62 and outer
tube 30, 40, 50, 60 serve as the first elongated body having a
screwing part, with male screw part formed on inner tube 32, 42,
52, 62. In such a case, rod 34, 44, 54, 64 may be a tubular member
instead of a solid columnar member, and inner tube 32, 42, 52, 62
may be a solid columnar member instead of a tubular member.
[0230] Similarly, in Embodiment 16, rod 34 with male screw part 34A
formed thereon serves as the first elongated body having a screwing
part, and cylinder 1630 with female screw part 32B formed thereon
serves as the second elongated body having a screwed part. However,
a structure is also possible where rod 34 with a female screw part
formed thereon serves as the second elongated body having a screwed
part and cylinder 1630 with a male screw part formed thereon serves
as the first elongated body having a screwing part. In such a case,
rod 34 may be a tubular member instead of a solid columnar member,
and cylinder 1630 may be a solid columnar member instead of a
tubular member.
[0231] Further, in Embodiments 17 through 19, rod 34, 64 with male
screw part 34A, 64A formed thereon serves as the first elongated
body having a screwing part, and inner tube 32, 62 with female
screw part 32B, 62A formed thereon serves as a third elongated body
having a screwed part. However, a structure is also possible where
rod 34, 64 with a female screw part formed thereon serves as the
third elongated body having a screwed part, and inner tube 32, 62
and outer tube 30, 60 serve as the first elongated body having a
screwing part, with a male screw part formed on inner tube 32, 62.
In such a case, inner tube 32, 62 as an insert does not have to be
a tubular member but may be a solid columnar member.
[0232] Although rod 34, 44, 54, 64 is a solid columnar member in
Embodiments 1 through 19 (see FIGS. 3B, 16, 17, 18, 20B, 22, and
23), rod 34, 44, 54, 64 may be a hollow cylinder. Making rod 34,
44, 54, 64 a hollow cylinder can reduce the weight of the dental
coupling member.
[0233] In Embodiments 1 through 4, the male screw part should have
at least two distinct outer diameters; for example, it may be of a
structure with three or more distinct outer diameters. A male screw
part with three or more distinct outer diameters also generates
large frictional resistance during rotation because a portion with
a larger outer diameter makes strong contact with the female screw
part when the male screw part is screwed with the female screw
part. A male screw part (screwing part) structured with multiple
large diameter parts and a small diameter part is also
possible.
[0234] In Embodiments 1 through 8, there should be at least two
distinct clearances between the screwing part (the male screw part
is an example of the same) and the screwed part (the female screw
part is an example of the same) with formation of
different-diameter part(s) on either one or both of the screwing
part and the screwed part. For example, a structure is also
possible where the screwing part has a changing outer diameter and
the screwed part has a changing inner diameter, so that they have
at least two distinct clearances between them.
[0235] In Embodiments 9 through 12, there should be at least two
distinct pitch differences between the screwing part (the male
screw part is an example of the same) and the screwed part (the
female screw part is an example of the same) with formation of
different-pitch part(s) on either one or both of the screwing part
and the screwed part. For example, a structure is also possible
where both the screwing part and the screwed part may change
pitches, so that they have at least two distinct pitch differences
between them.
[0236] In Embodiments 17 through 19, either one or both of the male
screw part and the female is provided with a different-torque part
that involves a different torque for screwing with the other of the
male screw part and the female screw part so as to form a part with
larger frictional force, thus restraining the loosening of the male
screw part relative to the female screw part even after torque has
been released, like in Embodiments 1 through 12.
[0237] Additionally, materials to form maxillary dental appliance
12, mandibular dental appliance 14, upper attaching part 16, lower
attaching part 18, and dental coupling member 28 are not limited to
those materials mentioned in the above embodiments. For example,
although upper attaching part 16, lower attaching part 18, and
dental coupling member 28 were described as being made of metal,
they may be made of plastic in terms of applicability to patients
with metal allergy, reduction in weight with the component strength
retained, or relief of discomfort in the mouth.
[0238] While a mouthpiece was referred to above as an example of an
appliance using dental coupling members, an appliance using dental
coupling members may also be an orthodontic appliance, for example.
An orthodontic appliance includes a lower-teeth attachment to be
attached to lower teeth for orthodontically correcting a row of
teeth and an upper-teeth attachment to be attached to upper teeth
for orthodontically correcting a row of teeth. These lower- and
upper-teeth attachments include expanders, wires or the like for
orthodontically correcting a row of teeth. Further, the lower-teeth
attachment has a first attaching part and the upper-teeth
attachment has a second attaching part. Then, by coupling the
dental coupling appliance according to any of the above-described
embodiments with the first attaching part of the lower-teeth
attachment and the second attaching part of the upper-teeth
attachment, the dental coupling appliance is located between the
lower-teeth attachment and the upper-teeth attachment such that the
dental coupling appliance couples the lower-teeth attachment and
the upper-teeth attachment with each other.
[0239] [Exemplary Configurations of Dental Coupling Members,
Mouthpieces, and Dental Appliances]
[0240] According to Embodiments 1 through 16, a dental coupling
member is provided, including:
[0241] a first elongated body having, in a first-orientation end
region, a first coupling part to be coupled with a first attaching
part of a first dental appliance and having a screwing part in a
second-orientation end region; and
[0242] a second elongated body having, in a second-orientation end
region, a second coupling part to be coupled with a second
attaching part of a second dental appliance and having, on an inner
peripheral surface of the first-orientation end region, a screwed
part with which the screwing part is screwed,
[0243] in which the dental coupling member includes, on either one
or both of the screwing part and the screwed part, a
different-torque part that involves a different torque for screwing
with the other of the screwing part and the screwed part.
[0244] This dental coupling member maintains the relative positions
of members by restraining screws from loosening, making it easy to
maintain the relative positions of two dental appliances worn on
the row of teeth on the upper or lower jaw.
[0245] According to Embodiments 1 through 8, in the dental coupling
member set forth above, the different-torque part is a
different-diameter part that gives at least two distinct lengths of
radial clearance between the screwing part and the screwed
part.
[0246] This dental coupling member has a different-diameter part
that gives at least two distinct lengths of radial clearance
between the screwing part and the screwed part. Of the
different-diameter part, in a portion with a narrower clearance,
the screwing part and the screwed part tend to make stronger
contact with each other and frictional force is large compared to a
portion with a wider clearance, so loosening between the screwing
part and the screwed part can be restrained. At the same time, of
the different-diameter part, the screwing part is screwed with the
screwed part also in the portion where the radial clearance between
the screwing part and the screwed part is wide. Thus, the force
that acts in the state of being screwed with the screwed part is
distributed in the screwing part as a whole.
[0247] According to Embodiments 1 through 7, in the dental coupling
member set forth above,
[0248] the different-diameter part is provided in the screwing
part, and
[0249] the screwing part includes:
[0250] a small diameter part to be screwed with the screwed part;
and
[0251] a large diameter part which has a larger outer diameter than
an outer diameter of the small diameter part and is to be screwed
with the screwed part.
[0252] By providing the screwing part with a small diameter part
having a relatively small outer diameter and a large diameter part
having a relatively large outer diameter, this dental coupling
member can produce a screwing part structured with at least two
distinct outer diameters.
[0253] According to Embodiments 1 through 4, in the dental coupling
member set forth above, the large diameter part is formed by the
screwing part being partially segmented by a gap part of the first
elongated body and spread outward.
[0254] With this dental coupling member, the first elongated body
has a gap part and the large diameter part can be elastically
deformed inward in the radial direction of the first elongated body
such that this gap part is decreased. That is, since the large
diameter part is screwed with the screwed part while undergoing
elastic deformation, load can be made to act from the large
diameter part to the screwed part while restraining the abrasion of
the large diameter part.
[0255] According to Embodiment 1, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the gap part is a slit extending from an axial center
of the first elongated body toward an outer periphery so as to
segment the screwing part.
[0256] This dental coupling member is easy to form because the gap
part is a slit.
[0257] According to Embodiment 2, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the gap part is a slit that segments the screwing part
into three or more parts.
[0258] With this dental coupling member, the large diameter part
can be segmented into three or more parts in the circumferential
direction of the first elongated body. A large diameter part with
such segmentation is easy to elastically deform and facilitates the
insertion of a screw.
[0259] According to Embodiment 3, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the gap part is a slit that segments the screwing part
into a portion including the axial center of the first elongated
body and a portion not including the axial center of the first
elongated body.
[0260] Since the large diameter part is segmented into multiple
portions of different shapes, this dental coupling member permits
adjustment of the elasticity of the segmented parts and also
permits adjustment of frictional force when the screwing part is
screwed with the screwed part.
[0261] According to Embodiment 4, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the gap part is a slit having a shape with a width
dimension changing in depth direction.
[0262] This dental coupling member makes frictional force against
the screwed part act evenly in the segmented parts, while enabling
formation of a wider portion with large frictional force against
the screwed part.
[0263] According to Embodiment 6, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the large diameter part has a cylindrical shape with
the outer diameter thereof being constant in the axial direction of
the first elongated body.
[0264] In this dental coupling member, a portion where the screwing
part and the screwed part make strong contact with each other is
present in a certain range in the axial direction of the first
elongated body. Thus, a portion that generates large frictional
force when screwing the screwing part and the screwed part together
can be secured to be wide.
[0265] According to Embodiment 5, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the large diameter part has a truncated cone shape
with the outer diameter thereof increasing toward the
second-orientation end region side of the first elongated body.
[0266] This dental coupling member can restrain the occurrence of
local stress on the screwing large-diameter part because the outer
diameter of the screwing large-diameter part does not steeply
change.
[0267] According to Embodiments 5 and 7, in the dental coupling
member set forth above,
[0268] the different-diameter part is provided in the screwing
part, and
[0269] the screwing part has a truncated cone shape or barrel shape
with the outer diameter thereof changing throughout the first
elongated body in the axial direction.
[0270] This dental coupling member enables construction of portions
with different lengths of radial clearance between the screwing
part and the screwed part over a wide range on the screwing part in
the axial direction.
[0271] According to Embodiments 5 and 6, in the dental coupling
member set forth above, the different-diameter part has a shape
being rotationally symmetric relative to the axial center of the
first elongated body.
[0272] This dental coupling member restrains radially-biased
contact between the screwing part and the screwed part.
[0273] According to Embodiments 1 through 7, in the above recited
dental coupling member, the inner diameter of the screwed part is
constant in the axial direction of the second elongated body.
[0274] This dental coupling member facilitates the formation of the
screwed part.
[0275] According to Embodiments 1 through 7, in the dental coupling
member set forth above, the different-diameter part is located on
the second-orientation end region side of the screwing part.
[0276] This dental coupling member produces a state with large
frictional force from an early stage of screwing the screwing part
with the screwed part and can restrain the loosening between the
screwing part and the screwed part.
[0277] According to Embodiments 1 through 7, a dental coupling
member is provided, including:
[0278] a first elongated body including, in the first-orientation
end region, a first coupling part to be coupled with a first
attaching part of a first dental appliance and having a screwing
part with at least two distinct outer diameters formed in a
second-orientation end region; and
[0279] a second elongated body including, in a second-orientation
end region, a second coupling part to be coupled with a second
attaching part of a second dental appliance and having a screwed
part formed on an inner peripheral surface of the first-orientation
end region, the screwed part being for screwing with the screwing
part.
[0280] This dental coupling member has a different-diameter part
that gives at least two distinct lengths of radial clearance
between the screwing part and the screwed part. Of the
different-diameter part, in a portion with a narrower clearance,
the screwing part and the screwed part tend to make strong contact
with each other and frictional force is large compared to a portion
with a wider clearance, so loosening between the screwing part and
the screwed part can be restrained. At the same time, of the
different-diameter part, the screwing part is screwed with the
screwed part also in the portion with a wider radial clearance
between the screwing part and the screwed part, so that the force
that acts in the state of being screwed with the screwed part is
distributed in the screwing part as a whole.
[0281] According to Embodiments 9 through 12, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the different-torque part is a
different-pitch part that gives at least two distinct pitch
differences in screwing between the screwing part and the screwed
part.
[0282] This dental coupling member can restrain loosening between
the screwing part and the screwed part because in the
different-pitch part, namely a portion with a smaller or larger
pitch, the screwing part and the screwed part tend to make strong
contact with each other and frictional force is large compared to a
portion with the standard pitch of the screwing part and the
screwed part. Additionally, since the screwing part is screwed with
the screwed part also in the portion with the standard pitch of the
screwing part and the screwed part, the force that acts in the
state of being screwed with the screwed part is distributed in the
screwing part as a whole.
[0283] According to Embodiments 9 through 11, in the dental
coupling member set forth above,
[0284] the different-pitch part is the screwing part, and the
screwing part includes:
[0285] a screwing large-pitch part to be screwed with the screwed
part; and
[0286] a screwing small-pitch part which has a smaller pitch than a
pitch of the screwing large-pitch part and is to be screwed with
the screwed part.
[0287] By providing the screwing part with the screwing large-pitch
part having a relatively large pitch and the screwing small-pitch
part having a relatively small pitch, this dental coupling member
can produce a structure with pitch clearance of at least two
distinct lengths between the screwing part and the screwed
part.
[0288] According to Embodiments 9 through 11, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the screwing part has the screwing
small-pitch part in the second-orientation end region.
[0289] This dental coupling member produces a state with large
frictional force from an early stage of screwing the screwing part
with the screwed part and can restrain the loosening between the
screwing part and the screwed part.
[0290] According to Embodiment 10, in the dental coupling member
set forth above, the pitch of the screwing small-pitch part is
constant in the axial direction of the first elongated body.
[0291] In this dental coupling member, a portion where the screwing
part and the screwed part make strong contact with each other is
present in a certain range in the axial direction of the first
elongated body. Thus, a portion that generates large frictional
force when screwing the screwing part and the screwed part together
can be secured to be wide.
[0292] According to Embodiment 9, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the pitch of the screwing small-pitch part decreases
toward the second-orientation end region side of the first
elongated body.
[0293] This dental coupling member can restrain the occurrence of
local stress on the screwing small-pitch part because the pitch of
the screwing small-pitch part does not steeply change.
[0294] According to Embodiment 9, in the dental coupling member set
forth above, the different-pitch part is the screwing part, and the
pitch of the screwing part changes throughout the first elongated
body in the axial direction.
[0295] This dental coupling member enables construction of portions
different in the pitch length of the screwing part and the screwed
part over a wide range on the screwing part in the axial
direction.
[0296] According to Embodiments 9 through 12, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the different-pitch part has a
shape being rotationally symmetric relative to the axial center of
the first elongated body.
[0297] This dental coupling member restrains radially-biased
contact between the screwing part and the screwed part in the
different-pitch part.
[0298] According to Embodiments 9 through 11, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the pitch of the screwed part is
constant in the axial direction of the second elongated body.
[0299] This dental coupling member facilitates the formation of the
screwed part.
[0300] According to Embodiments 1 through 15, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the second elongated body
includes:
[0301] an outer tube having the second coupling part in the
second-orientation end region, and being open at the end on the
first-orientation end region side; and
[0302] an inner tube which has the screwed part on the inner
peripheral surface of the first-orientation end region and is
inserted into the outer tube in the second-orientation end
region.
[0303] With the sliding of the inner tube in the outer tube, this
dental coupling member allows the dental coupling member to follow
the motion of the first dental appliance and the second dental
appliance.
[0304] According to Embodiments 13 through 15, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the outer tube has a limiting part
for limiting sliding of the inner tube in the axial direction.
[0305] This dental coupling member limits the sliding of the inner
tube in both axial directions by means of the limiting part formed
between the opposite axial ends of the outer tube. Moreover, since
the inner tube is inserted in the outer tube, the dental coupling
member can be made compact in size compared to a configuration
providing a member like a nut outside the outer tube.
[0306] According to Embodiments 1 through 7, in the dental coupling
member set forth above,
[0307] the inner tube has a protrusion on the outer peripheral
surface of the second-orientation end region, and
[0308] the outer tube has a long hole as the limiting part which is
located on the outer peripheral surface along the axial direction
and abuts against the protrusion at its ends to limit the sliding
of the inner tube in the axial direction.
[0309] This dental coupling member limits the sliding of the inner
tube by the abutment of the protrusion formed on the outer
peripheral surface of the inner tube against the opposite ends of
the long hole formed in the outer peripheral surface of the outer
tube. In doing so, the protrusion of the inner tube moves in the
long hole of the outer tube, so that the dental coupling member can
follow the motion of the first dental appliance and the second
dental appliance while restraining the inner tube from rotating
about the axis relative to the outer tube.
[0310] According to Embodiment 13, in the dental coupling member
set forth above, the inner tube has a pair of protrusions facing
the outer peripheral surface, and
[0311] the outer tube has a pair of long holes as the limiting part
that are located at opposing positions on the outer peripheral
surface and respectively abut against the pair of protrusions at
their ends to limit the sliding of the inner tube in the axial
direction.
[0312] In this dental coupling member, slits into which the
protrusions on the inner tube are inserted are formed at opposing
positions, respectively, in the outer peripheral surface of the
outer tube. Thus, the inner tube can be further restrained from
rotating about the axis relative to the outer tube.
[0313] According to Embodiment 14, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0314] the outer tube includes a pair of stoppers as the limiting
part, the stoppers being provided within the outer tube at a
spacing from each other in an axial direction, and
[0315] the pair of stoppers abut against the inner tube to limit
the sliding of the inner tube in the axial direction.
[0316] Since this dental coupling member has the inner tube
inserted between the pair of stoppers provided inside the outer
tube, sliding of the inner tube in both axial directions is limited
by the stoppers. As the stoppers are provided inside the outer
tube, the dental coupling member can be made compact in size
compared to a configuration providing stoppers outside the outer
tube.
[0317] According to Embodiment 14, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0318] the inner tube has an increased diameter part;
[0319] the outer tube has a decreased diameter part as the limiting
part, the decreased diameter part having a locally decreased
diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube has;
and
[0320] the decreased diameter part of the outer tube abuts against
the increased diameter part of the inner tube to limit the sliding
of the inner tube in the axial direction.
[0321] This dental coupling member has the decreased diameter part
formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube and the
increased diameter part formed on the inner tube. Thus, the sliding
of the inner tube in both axial directions is limited by the
abutment of the increased diameter part of the inner tube against
the decreased diameter part of the outer tube. Since the increased
diameter part of the inner tube abuts against the decreased
diameter part in the outer tube, the dental coupling member can be
made compact in size compared to a configuration that makes the
increased diameter part of the inner tube abut against the outer
tube outside the outer tube.
[0322] According to Embodiment 15, in the dental coupling member
set forth above, the inner tube is rotated about an axis so as to
adjust an amount of screwing of the screwing part of the first
elongated body relative to the screwed part of the inner tube.
[0323] This dental coupling member allows adjustment to the amount
of screwing of the screwing part of the first elongated body
relative to the screwed part of the inner tube by rotating the
inner tube about the axis, without rotating the first elongated
body about the axis. Thus, the length of the dental coupling member
can be adjusted with the first-orientation axial end of the first
elongated body coupled with the first attaching part.
[0324] According to Embodiment 15, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0325] the outer tube has an opening at an end on the
second-orientation end region side, and
[0326] the inner tube has, in the second-orientation end region, an
insertion groove into which a tool is to be inserted.
[0327] This dental coupling member allows the inner tube to be
rotated about the axis by inserting a tool into the insertion
groove of the inner tube from the first-orientation axial end of
the outer tube and rotating the tool about the axis. This permits
adjustment of the position of the first elongated body relative to
the inner tube without rotating the first elongated body about the
axis. Thus, the length of the dental coupling member can be
adjusted with the first elongated body coupled with the first
attaching part of the first dental appliance.
[0328] According to Embodiments 1 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above,
[0329] the screwing part of the first elongated body is a male
screw part with a scale formed thereon,
[0330] the screwed part of the inner tube is a female screw part,
and
[0331] the inner tube has an opening in an outer peripheral surface
of the first-orientation end region, the opening for checking the
scale on the first elongated body as inserted into the inner
tube.
[0332] This dental coupling member allows the length of the dental
coupling member to be adjusted by adjusting the amount of screwing
of the male screw part of the first elongated body into the female
screw part of the inner tube. As a scale is formed on the first
elongated body and an opening is formed in the outer peripheral
surface at the first-orientation axial end of the inner tube, the
amount of screwing of the male screw part into the female screw
part can be visually checked by viewing the scale from the opening
of the inner tube.
[0333] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, a dental coupling
member is provided, including:
[0334] a first elongated body including, in the first-orientation
end region, a first coupling part to be coupled with a first
attaching part of a first dental appliance and having a screwing
part formed in a second-orientation end region;
[0335] an outer tube including, in a second-orientation end region,
a second coupling part to be coupled with a second attaching part
of a second dental appliance, and being open at an end on the
first-orientation end region side;
[0336] a third elongated body which has a screwed part formed in
the first-orientation end region and is inserted into the outer
tube in a second-orientation end region, the screwed part being for
screwing with the screwing part; and
[0337] a protrusion projecting from an inner peripheral surface of
the outer tube and facing an end surface of the third elongated
body on the second-orientation end region side.
[0338] This dental coupling member allows the length of the dental
coupling member to be adjusted by adjusting the amount of screwing
of the first elongated body into the third elongated body so as to
adjust the relative positions of the first dental appliance and the
second dental appliance. Also, sliding of the third elongated body
in the outer tube enables the dental coupling member to follow the
motion of the first dental appliance and the second dental
appliance. Additionally, as the protrusion faces the
second-orientation axial end of the third elongated body, insertion
of the third elongated body can be limited by the sliding of the
third elongated body in the outer tube and the second-orientation
axial end of the third elongated body making contact with the
protrusion. An excessive insertion of the third elongated body can
be limited by a simple structure having a protrusion formed on the
inner peripheral surface of the outer tube.
[0339] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the inner diameter of the inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube is constant.
[0340] Since this dental coupling member has no portions with
different diameters on the inner peripheral surface of the outer
tube, the structure of the outer tube is simple.
[0341] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the protrusion is located at a
position that projects from a circumferential part on the inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube.
[0342] Since this dental coupling member does not have the
protrusion formed on the entire circumference on the inner
peripheral surface of the outer tube, the structures of the outer
tube and the protrusion are simple.
[0343] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the protrusion is located at a
position offset from the axial center of the inner peripheral
surface of the outer tube.
[0344] Since this dental coupling member has the protrusion located
at a position offset from the axial center of the inner peripheral
surface of the outer tube, the protrusion is compact in size and a
tool and the like can be easily inserted from an open part at the
first-orientation axial end of the outer tube, compared to a
structure with the protrusion reaching the axial center.
[0345] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the protrusion is integral with
the second coupling part.
[0346] Since the protrusion is integral with the second coupling
part, this dental coupling member involves a small number of parts
compared to a structure with the protrusion being separate from the
second coupling part.
[0347] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above,
[0348] the outer tube has a through hole therein, and
[0349] the second coupling part is located penetrating the through
hole, is coupled with the second attaching part on the outer
periphery side of the outer tube, and the protrusion faces the
other surface of the third elongated body on the second-orientation
end region side on the inner peripheral surface of the outer
tube.
[0350] This dental coupling member can produce a structure with the
protrusion projecting on the inner peripheral surface of the outer
periphery by inserting the protrusion of the second coupling part
into the through hole from the outer periphery side of the outer
tube. Since the protrusion is inserted into the through hole, the
protrusion can be reliably positioned relative to the outer
tube.
[0351] According to Embodiment 18, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0352] the outer tube has a limiting part for limiting the sliding
of the inner tube in the axial direction, and
[0353] a part of the third elongated body is located between the
protrusion and the limiting part.
[0354] This dental coupling member limits the movement of the third
elongated body to the first-orientation axial end side within a
predetermined range.
[0355] According to Embodiment 18, in the dental coupling member
set forth above, the limiting part is a decreased diameter part
where the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube has a
decreased diameter.
[0356] This dental coupling member can limit the movement of the
third elongated body to the first-orientation axial end side within
a predetermined range by the contact of the increased diameter part
of the third elongated body with the decreased diameter part of the
outer tube.
[0357] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the third elongated body is an
inner tube having, on the inner peripheral surface, a screwed part
with which the screwing part is screwed.
[0358] This dental coupling member allows the screwing part of the
first elongated body to be screwed with the screwed part on the
inner face of the third elongated body by threading the first
elongated body into the third elongated body.
[0359] According to Embodiments 17 through 19, in the dental
coupling member set forth above, the third elongated body is
rotated about the axis so as to adjust the amount of screwing of
the screwing part of the first elongated body relative to the
screwed part of the third elongated body.
[0360] This dental coupling member allows the length of the dental
coupling member to be adjusted with the first-orientation axial end
of the first elongated body coupled with the first attaching
part.
[0361] According to Embodiment 18, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0362] the outer tube has an opening at an end on the
second-orientation end region side, and
[0363] the third elongated body has, at the end on the
second-orientation end region side, an insertion groove into which
a tool is to be inserted.
[0364] This dental coupling member allows the third elongated body
to be rotated about the axis by inserting a tool into the insertion
groove of the third elongated body from the first-orientation axial
end of the outer tube and rotating the tool about the axis. This
permits adjustment of the position of the first elongated body
relative to the third elongated body without rotating the first
elongated body about the axis. Thus, the length of the dental
coupling member can be adjusted with the first elongated body
coupled with the first attaching part of the first dental
appliance.
[0365] According to Embodiment 17, in the dental coupling member
set forth above,
[0366] the screwing part of the first elongated body is a male
screw part with a scale formed thereon,
[0367] the screwed part of the third elongated body is a female
screw part, and
[0368] the third elongated body has an opening in the outer
peripheral surface in the first-orientation end region.
[0369] This dental coupling member allows the length of the dental
coupling member to be adjusted by adjusting the amount of screwing
of the male screw part of the first elongated body into the female
screw part of the third elongated body. As a scale is formed on the
first elongated body and an opening is formed in the outer
peripheral surface at the first-orientation axial end of the third
elongated body, the amount of screwing of the male screw part into
the female screw part can be visually checked by viewing the scale
from the opening of the third elongated body.
[0370] According to Embodiments 1 through 19, a mouthpiece is
provided, including:
[0371] the dental coupling member according to any one of the
embodiments above;
[0372] a mandibular piece as the first dental appliance; and
[0373] a maxillary piece as the second dental appliance.
[0374] According to Embodiments 1 through 19, an orthodontic
appliance is provided, including
[0375] the dental coupling member according to any one of the
embodiments above;
[0376] a lower-teeth attachment as the first dental appliance to be
attached to lower teeth for orthodontically correcting a row of
teeth; and
[0377] an upper-teeth attachment as the second dental appliance to
be attached to upper teeth for orthodontically correcting a row of
teeth.
[0378] The present application claims priority based on Japanese
Patent Application No. 2016-203869 filed on Oct. 17, 2016, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2016-218139 filed on Nov. 8, 2016, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2016-228731 filed on Nov. 25, 2016, and
Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-228732 filed on Nov. 25, 2016,
and the contents of these applications described in their
respective specifications, claims and accompanying drawings are
incorporated herein.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0379] 10 Mouthpiece [0380] 12 Maxillary dental appliance (second
dental appliance) [0381] 12A Outer wall surface [0382] 14
Mandibular dental appliance (first dental appliance) [0383] 14A
Outer wall surface [0384] 16 Upper attaching part (second attaching
part) [0385] 18 Lower attaching part (first attaching part) [0386]
28 Dental coupling member [0387] 29 Cylinder [0388] 30 Outer tube
[0389] 30B Upper eyelet [0390] 30C Lug [0391] 32 Inner tube [0392]
32B Female screw part [0393] 32C Opening [0394] 34 Rod [0395] 34A
Male screw part [0396] 34B Lower eyelet [0397] 34E Increased
diameter part (large diameter part) [0398] 34F Constant diameter
part (small diameter part) [0399] 34G Screwing small-pitch part
[0400] 34H Screwing large-pitch part [0401] 40 Outer tube [0402] 42
Inner tube [0403] 44 Rod [0404] 48 Dental coupling member [0405] 50
Outer tube [0406] 52 Inner tube [0407] 52A Female screw part [0408]
54 Rod [0409] 54A Male screw part [0410] 54B Lower eyelet [0411]
56A Stopper [0412] 56B Stopper [0413] 58 Dental coupling member
[0414] 60 Outer tube [0415] 62 Inner tube [0416] 62A Female screw
part [0417] 62E Abutting part [0418] 62Q Second-orientation end
region [0419] 64 Rod [0420] 64A Male screw part [0421] 64B Lower
eyelet [0422] 66A, 66B Decreased diameter part [0423] 68 Increased
diameter part [0424] 68A Insertion groove [0425] 70 Protrusion
[0426] 134 Rod [0427] 134A Male screw part [0428] 134E Increased
diameter part [0429] 134F Constant diameter part [0430] 134Q
Second-orientation end region [0431] 136 Gap part [0432] 234 Rod
[0433] 234A Male screw part [0434] 234E Increased diameter part
[0435] 234F Constant diameter part [0436] 234Q Second-orientation
end region [0437] 236 Gap part [0438] 334 Rod [0439] 334A Male
screw part [0440] 334E Increased diameter part [0441] 334F Constant
diameter part [0442] 334G Small segment [0443] 334H Large segment
[0444] 334Q Second-orientation end region [0445] 336 Gap part
[0446] 434 Rod [0447] 434A Male screw part [0448] 434E Increased
diameter part [0449] 434F Constant diameter part [0450] 434Q
Second-orientation end region [0451] 436 Gap part [0452] 534 Rod
[0453] 534A Male screw part [0454] 534E Increased diameter part
[0455] 534F Constant diameter part [0456] 534Q Second-orientation
end region [0457] 634 Rod [0458] 634A Male screw part [0459] 634E
Increased diameter part [0460] 634F Constant diameter part [0461]
634Q Second-orientation end region [0462] 734 Rod [0463] 734A Male
screw part [0464] 734E Increased diameter part [0465] 734F Constant
diameter part [0466] 734Q Second-orientation end region [0467] 832
Inner tube [0468] 832B Female screw part [0469] 832E Inner-diameter
reduced part [0470] 832Q Second-orientation end region [0471] 842
Inner tube [0472] 842B Female screw part [0473] 842E Inner-diameter
reduced part [0474] 842Q Second-orientation end region [0475] 934
Rod [0476] 934A Male screw part [0477] 934G Screwing small-pitch
part [0478] 934H Screwing large-pitch part [0479] 934Q
Second-orientation end region [0480] 1034 Rod [0481] 1034A Male
screw part [0482] 1034G Screwing small-pitch part [0483] 1034H
Screwing large-pitch part [0484] 1034Q Second-orientation end
region [0485] 1134 Rod [0486] 1134A Male screw part [0487] 1134G
Screwing small-pitch part [0488] 1134H Screwing large-pitch part
[0489] 1134Q Second-orientation end region [0490] 1232 Inner tube
[0491] 1232B Female screw part [0492] 1232G Pitch-reduced part
[0493] 1232P First-orientation end region [0494] 1242 Inner tube
[0495] 1242B Female screw part [0496] 1242P First-orientation end
region [0497] 1338 Dental coupling member [0498] 1438 Dental
coupling member [0499] 1538 Dental coupling member [0500] 1628
Dental coupling member [0501] 1630 Cylinder [0502] 1630P
First-orientation end region [0503] 1630Q Second-orientation end
region [0504] 1738 Dental coupling member [0505] 1838 Dental
coupling member [0506] 1938 Dental coupling member
* * * * *