Appeal 2007-4070
Application 10/625,531
form an annular bridge (14) which provides a resilient support for the
dental arch (10) (Harima at col. 1, l. 60 through col. 2, l. 2; Figure 1).
Figure 1 is show below:
{Figure 1 of Harima is said to show a retainer in a front perspective view.}
[10] According to Harima,
for the purpose of preventing sinking of the wire
retainer with respect to the dental arch (10), the
terminal ends of said first stainless steel wire (11),
second stainless steel wire (12) and third stainless
steel wire (13) are curved along the surfaces of the
molar (40), premolar (30) and canine (20),
respectively, to form rests (15). In this
embodiment, the third stainless steel wire (13) is
disposed between canine (20) and premolar (30) or
between premolar (20) [sic, 30] and molar (40) but
in order to maintain the fitting and retention
function of the wire retainer at a predetermined
level, the position of said third stainless steel wire
(13) is selected so that said rest (15) may exhibit
the anti-sinking effect with respect to at least one
premolar (30) or molar (40) externally of said
annular bridge (14) (Harima at col. 2, l. 59 through
col. 3, l. 5).
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