Self-Ligating Orthodontic Bracket With Enclosed Labial Securing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing self-ligating orthodontic brackets face challenges such as difficult assembly due to the beam's hidden placement, high manufacturing costs, and susceptibility to impurities, along with the covering door potentially moving out of position under force.

Innovation Solution

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket design with a completely enclosed securing device within the bracket body and covering door, featuring two engagement positions and a compressible rod-shaped mechanism for easy assembly and secure door positioning, reducing manufacturing complexity and impurity ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the beam is inserted into the bracket body in the mesial-distal direction to fix the covering door, then the latch mechanism can secure the closed position, but the assembly becomes tedious and requires trained staff and specific tools due to the hidden placement of the beam

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The securing device is extracted from the hidden interior placement and repositioned to engage with the covering door from the labial side, allowing assembly without requiring tools or trained staff to reach inside the bracket body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of inserting the securing beam from the mesial-distal direction into the bracket body interior, the invention inverts the approach by having the securing device engage the covering door from the labial side, reversing the traditional assembly sequence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the beam is placed inside the bracket body to secure the covering door, then the latch mechanism functions, but impurities can enter the opening and harm the latch mechanism and food leftovers can interlock with the opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatch mechanism functionalityVSAvoidimpurity ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The securing device is extracted from the vulnerable interior position and repositioned to engage the covering door from the labial side, removing it from the path of impurities and food particles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The covering door serves as an intermediary element that the securing device engages from the labial side, creating a sealed interface that prevents impurity ingress while maintaining the latch function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the covering door requires elaborate geometries to surpass the beam, then the closed position can be reached, but manufacturing costs are high due to laborious processing of material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closure capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complex beam structure is extracted and replaced with a simpler securing device that engages the covering door through a straightforward labial approach, eliminating the need for elaborate door geometries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of shaping the covering door to surpass a complex beam, the invention inverts the approach by having a simple securing device engage the door from the labial side, reversing the complexity requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If a high play between the covering door and the bracket body is required to surpass the beam, then the covering door can reach the closed position, but a tight fit is not possible and impurities can reach the interior area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor movement capabilityVSAvoidimpurity access to interior

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The beam that requires high play for operation is extracted and replaced with a securing device that engages the covering door with minimal clearance, enabling both tight fit and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the covering door to travel a large distance to surpass the beam, the invention inverts the mechanism so that the securing device engages the door from the labial side with minimal movement required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12350123B2Self-ligating orthodontic bracket

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 HIRSCH DYNAMICS HLDG AG

AI summary

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a bracket body having a mesial-distal arch wire slot extending in a labial direction of the bracket body, a base with a bonding surface and a channel oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot. There is at least one covering door for occluding the arch wire slot in a closed position and opening the arch wire slot in an open position. The at least one covering door is slidably coupled to the bracket body and is essentially linearly moveable between the closed position and the open position. There is at least one securing device orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot. The at least one securing device is completely arranged within the orthodontic bracket, completely enclosed by the bracket body and the at least one covering door in the closed position, the open position and in all intermediate positions.