TOOTH STRIP COVER FORMING AN INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING FOR TOOTH STRIPS

COUVERCLE DE BAGUETTE DENTAIRE SOUS FORME D'EMBALLAGE INDIVIDUEL POUR BAGUETTE DENTAIRE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a form of packaging for artificial teeth (1), said
packaging comprising a tooth strip (3) provided with a tooth receiving part on
which artificial teeth are arranged. According to the invention, a cover (5)
is arranged on the tooth strip, forming a cavity therewith for receiving the
teeth.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un emballage pour dents artificielles (1), cette emballage comprenant une baguette dentaire (3), dotée d'un logement pour dents, dans lequel sont placées des dents artificielles. L'invention est caractérisée en ce que sur cette baguette dentaire est monté un couvercle (5) qui, avec ladite baguette, entoure une cavité destinée à recevoir les dents.

Claims

3
1. Packaging for artificial teeth (1), comprising a tooth strip (3) having a
tooth holder (2)
on which artificial teeth (1) are arranged, a cover (4) being provided on the
tooth
strip (3) which together with the tooth strip (3) forms a cavity for holding
the teeth (1),
wherein the closed cover (4) contacts at least one tooth (1) respectively at
at least
one point, this point being situated perpendicular to the tooth holder (2).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cavity is
dimensioned so that
detachment of the teeth (1) from the tooth strip (3) is not possible when the
cover is
closed.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (4) has
at least one
projection on its interior which contacts at least one tooth (1).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the projections are
designed as
one or more steps (5).
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the
cover (1)
[sic: (4)] is produced from a transparent material.

Description

CA 02559916 2006-09-14
1
Patent Application
Heraeus Kulzer GmbH
Tooth Strip Cover Forming an Individual Packaging for Tooth Strips
The invention relates to packaging for artificial teeth, comprising a tooth
strip having a tooth
holder on which artificial teeth are arranged.
Artificial teeth for dental prostheses are offered in complete sets for
assembling the indi-
vidually produced prostheses. Usually the artificial teeth are detachably
placed on strips.
This arrangement of strip and teeth is referred to below as a tooth strip.
Such tooth strips
are generally supplied by the manufacturer loose, for example in drawers
approximately the
size of a shoebox. Wholesalers are forced to maintain space-consuming cabinets
in which
these drawers are housed. Shipment to individual dental laboratories
continually requires
individual teeth to be detached from the strips, resulting in laborious
searching and classifi-
cation, or losses.
The object of the invention is to improve the known tooth strips.
It has been found that the referenced problems may be solved in a simple
manner by pro-
viding a cover on the tooth strip, which together with the tooth strip forms a
cavity for hold-
ing the teeth. Thus, each tooth strip is separately provided with a detachable
cover, which
together with the tooth strip forms a closable package. Detachments during
shipping do not
result in losses, the produced cartons may be stacked as desired and protected
from dust,
and it is easier for inventory control personnel to identify the number of
units to be reor-
dered.
The device preferably is characterized in that the cavity is dimensioned so
that detachment
of the teeth from the tooth strip is not possible when the cover is closed.

CA 02559916 2006-09-14
2
Furthermore, it is advantageous for the closed cover to contact at least one
tooth respec-
tively at at least one point, this point preferably being situated
perpendicular to the tooth
holder. It is also practical for the cover to have at least one projection on
its interior which
contacts at least one tooth. In particular, the projections may be designed as
one or more
steps.
It is recommended to produce the cover from a transparent material so that the
user can
identify from the outside which tooth color has been selected.
The invention is explained in one exemplary embodiment.
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention.
The teeth 1 are adhered, in a row, to a tooth holder 2 made of wax. The tooth
holder is pro-
vided in a recess in the tooth strip 3. It is practical for the cover 4 to fit
tightly enough that
the arrangement of the teeth 1 is retained, even if they become loose. For
this purpose, the
shape of the cover 4 is adapted to the topography of the tooth strip 3 loaded
with teeth 1. It
can be seen from the figure that a graduated or stairstep shape with straight
and oblique
steps 5 is produced, which conforms to the contours of the loaded tooth strip
3. This struc-
ture causes the cover 4 to fit so tightly that the particular tooth 1 retains
its configuration
relative to the other teeth 1 when loosening occurs. For better visibility,
the cover 4 in the
figure projects to the right, beyond the edge of the tooth strip.

Representative Drawing