Author: claimsbot

1. A method of generating a patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model, the method comprising:
obtaining a three-dimensional dental model of a patient;
generating a three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model, wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a three-dimensional continuous curve;
obtaining a two-dimensional intra-oral photograph of the patient;
generating a two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph, wherein the two-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a two-dimensional continuous curve; and
generating the patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model by delineating the three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model and the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph,
wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is generated by projecting the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph onto the three-dimensional dental model using anatomical landmarks if the three-dimensional dental model is deficient of volumetric data to represent the three-dimensional gingival margin.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the three-dimensional dental model comprises:
obtaining volumetric data of a dentition of the patient; and
generating the three-dimensional dental model based on the volumetric data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volumetric data that represent the three-dimensional gingival margin is obtained from CT scanning.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional dental model is segmented into a plurality of sections with reference to one or more reference lines.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs; and
segmenting the three-dimensional dental model into a plurality of sections is based on the plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs obtained.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs are obtained based on a predetermined plurality of sections for the three-dimensional dental model.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the color-textured three-dimensional dental model further comprises:
indexing data for each of the two-dimensional intra-oral photographs to a corresponding section of the three-dimensional dental model; and
projecting data for each of the two-dimensional intra-oral photographs onto the corresponding section of the three-dimensional model.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sections comprises an upper anterior section, an upper right posterior section, an upper left posterior section, a lower anterior section, a lower right posterior section and a lower left posterior section.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sections comprises one or more gingival sections and one or more tooth sections.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sections comprises one or more buccal side sections.
11. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sections comprises one or more occlusal side sections.
12. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sections comprises one or more lingual side sections.
13. A system for generating a patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein a series of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
obtain a three-dimensional dental model of a patient,
generate a three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model, wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a three-dimensional continuous curve;
obtain a two-dimensional intra-oral photograph of the patient,
generate a two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph, wherein the two-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a two-dimensional continuous curve; and
generate the patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model by delineating the three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model and the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph,
wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is generated by projecting the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph onto the three-dimensional dental model using anatomical landmarks if the three-dimensional dental model is deficient of volumetric data to represent the three-dimensional gingival margin.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory having stored therein a series of further instructions which cause the processor to:
obtain volumetric data of a dentition of the patient; and
generate the three-dimensional dental model based on the volumetric data.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the volumetric data that represent the three-dimensional gingival margin is obtained from CT scanning.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional dental model is segmented into a plurality of sections with reference to one or more reference lines.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the memory having stored therein a series of further instructions which cause the processor to:
obtain a plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs; and
segment the three-dimensional dental model into a plurality of sections is based on the plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs obtained.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs are obtained based on a predetermined plurality of sections for the three-dimensional dental model.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory having stored therein a series of further instructions which cause the processor to:
index data for each of the two-dimensional intra-oral photographs to a corresponding section of the three-dimensional dental model; and
project data for each of the two-dimensional intra-oral photographs onto the corresponding section of the three-dimensional model.
20. A machine-readable non-transitory medium having stored thereon a series of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model by:
obtaining a three-dimensional dental model of a patient;
generating a three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model, wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a three-dimensional continuous curve;
obtaining a two-dimensional intra-oral photograph of the patient;
anatomical
generating a two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph, wherein the two-dimensional gingival margin is represented by a two-dimensional continuous curve; and
generating the patient-specific color-textured three-dimensional dental model by delineating the three-dimensional gingival margin of the three-dimensional dental model and the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph,
wherein the three-dimensional gingival margin is generated by projecting the two-dimensional gingival margin of the two-dimensional intra-oral photograph onto the three-dimensional dental model using anatomical landmarks if the three-dimensional dental model is deficient of volumetric data to represent the three-dimensional gingival margin.
21. The machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20, wherein obtaining the three-dimensional dental model comprises:
obtaining volumetric data of a dentition of the patient; and
generating the three-dimensional dental model based on the volumetric data.
22. The machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20, wherein the volumetric data that represent the three-dimensional gingival margin is obtained from CT scanning.
23. The machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20, wherein the three-dimensional dental model is segmented into a plurality of sections with reference to one or more reference lines.
24. The machine-readable non-transitory medium of claim 20, wherein generating the color-textured three-dimensional dental model further comprises:
obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs;
indexing the plurality of two-dimensional intra-oral photographs to a corresponding section of the three-dimensional dental model; and
projecting the two-dimensional intra-oral photographs onto the corresponding section of the three-dimensional model.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for driving an articulating probe, the apparatus comprising:
at least one elongate probe constructed and arranged to articulate in at least one predetermined degree of motion and to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state;
a force transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to apply a force to the at least one elongate probe, said force selected from the group consisting of:
a force that causes the at least one elongate probe to articulate in the at least one predetermined degree of motion; and
a force that causes the at least one elongate probe to transition from the flexible state to the rigid state; and

a base structure attached to at least a portion of the force transfer mechanism and the at least one elongate probe; the base structure comprising one or more stabilizing elements constructed and arranged to resist undesired movement of the at least one elongate probe caused by force from the force transfer mechanism.
2-295. (canceled)

1. An apparatus for applying coating to products comprising:
a vibratory frame assembly configured to provide a vibratory motion, the vibratory frame assembly including a motor vibration assembly,
a belt assembly configured to convey a product along a product travel path,
a product coating portion configured to apply a coating to the product on the belt assembly, the product coating portion including a pan assembly,
spring assemblies situated between the vibratory frame assembly and the pan assembly, wherein the spring assemblies transmit the vibratory motion to the pan assembly;
a recycle conveyor configured to collect coating from the belt assembly and return the coating to the product coating portion, wherein the recycle conveyor includes a belt traveling along a closed path orbiting the belt assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a recycle conveyor for recycling coating, wherein the recycle conveyor includes a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, with the lower length of at least one channel receiving coating from one end of the apparatus, and the upper length releasing coating at another end of the apparatus adjacent to the product coating portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a waterfall ramp:
a. situated to receive coating released at an upper length of the recycle conveyor, and
b. having one or more planar surfaces with a waterfall width extending above the product travel path of the belt assembly,
wherein the waterfall ramp, when vibrated, conveys coating received from the upper length of the recycle conveyor to the product travel path, with the coating falling from the waterfall width in substantially equal amounts across the waterfall width.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a waterfall ramp fixed to the pan assembly between the recycle conveyor and the belt assembly, the waterfall ramp having one or more planar surfaces thereon, wherein vibratory motion transmitted to the pan assembly is further transmitted to the waterfall ramp, such that coating received on the planar surfaces from the recycle conveyor is vibrated across the planar surfaces to the belt assembly.
5. The apparatus of claim 1:
a. wherein the belt has flights thereon,
b. further including a channel extending about the belt and flights, and
c. wherein compartments are defined between walls of the channel and adjacent flights, whereby the compartments travel about the closed path with the belt.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the channel includes
a. a lower length below the belt assembly, and
b. an upper length above the belt assembly, the upper length having a channel opening therein, whereby coating carried within the compartments falls from the channel opening.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the channel includes
a. a lower length below the belt assembly,
b. an upper length above the belt assembly, and
c. opposing ascending and descending lengths extending between the upper and lower lengths, wherein the ascending and descending lengths are each at least as long as either of the upper and lower lengths.
8. An apparatus for applying coating to products comprising:
a belt assembly capable of receiving coating and food products and applying the coating to the products,
a pan assembly capable of receiving coating and products and applying the coating to the products, and
a vibration generating portion for providing a vibratory motion to the pan assembly,
wherein the apparatus further includes a recycle conveyor for collecting coating that does not adhere to the product and supplying the coating for application to at least one of a bottom and top portion of a product; and
wherein the recycle conveyor includes a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, with the lower length of the channel receiving coating from a discharge end of the pan assembly, and the upper length of the channel releasing coating adjacent an inlet end of the pan assembly.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the recycle conveyor comprises a base recycle conveyor wherein the upper length of the channel releases coating adjacent an inlet end of the pan assembly at a location upstream from where the pan assembly receives products.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the recycle conveyor comprises a waterfall recycle conveyor wherein the upper length of the channel releases coating adjacent an inlet end of the pan assembly at a location downstream from where the pan assembly receives products.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vibration generating portion comprises a vibratory frame assembly that includes a motor vibration assembly in communication with the pan assembly by springs that are capable of moving the pan assembly in a vibratory motion, and a support frame isolated from the vibratory motion.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the support frame includes a swing frame portion that supports the wire conveyor belt assembly, such that the wire conveyor belt assembly is movable from a non-production position to a production position, wherein the production position allows product to be transported on the wire conveyor belt assembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pan assembly includes at least one of a coating application portion, a sifting portion, and an aligning portion.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the coating application portion further comprises one or more steps that utilize the vibratory motion to guide the coating and the product up and over each step, while simultaneously allowing the product to be vibrated against the coating on the step surface.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sifting portion succeeds the coating application portion and where the product continues to vibrate across one or more steps.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more steps include slots formed therein, and where excess coating flows through the slots, the coating that passes through the slots is collected and guided into at least one of a hopper and the recycle conveyor.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the aligning portion further comprises a corrugated surface situated at an incline having tray channels formed by the corrugations that are substantially parallel with the length of the pan assembly, the tray channels being situated to bias the product such that it can be elongated and aligned from the vibrations.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising an additional sifting portion that includes another aligning portion having holes situated there-through to allow agglomerations of coating and fragmented product to pass through, thereby allowing them to be removed from the steps.
19. A coating recycle assembly comprising a recycle conveyor that includes:
a. a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and
b. a belt:
(1) traveling about a closed path:
i. wherein the entirety of the closed path extends along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes,
ii. with the closed path of the belt bounding an open area therein, whereby a product conveyor may rest within the open area, and

(2) having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion,

whereby coating may be received at the lower length from the product conveyor and released at the upper length to the product conveyor.
20. The coating recycle assembly of claim 19, wherein the conveyor channel defines a closed path including, in succession, the lower length, the ascending portion, the upper length, and the descending portion, wherein each of the lower length, the ascending portion, the upper length, and the descending portion includes a wall opposite the belt and closely adjacent the flights, wherein the flights extend between the belt and the wall, whereby a series of compartments are defined, each compartment being bounded by the belt, the wall, and a pair of adjacent flights.
21. The coating recycle assembly of claim 20, wherein the ascending and descending portions have at least the same length as the upper and lower lengths.
22. The coating recycle assembly of claim 19 further including:
a. a product conveyor configured to transport products along a travel path; and
b. a waterfall ramp situated between the recycle conveyor and the product conveyor, the waterfall ramp having one or more planar surfaces thereon, wherein the waterfall ramp is configured to vibrate coating received on the planar surfaces from the recycle conveyor:
(1) across the planar surfaces in a first direction, and
(2) across a width of the waterfall ramp, the width being oriented perpendicular to the first direction,
to the product conveyor.
23. The coating recycle assembly of claim 19 further including:
a. a product conveyor configured to transport products along a travel path, the product conveyor having a product conveyor width; and
b. a waterfall ramp:
(1) situated to receive coating released at the upper length of the recycle conveyor, and
(2) having one or more planar surfaces with a waterfall width extending above the product conveyor width of the product conveyor,
wherein the waterfall ramp is configured to vibrate, and thereby convey coating received from the upper length of the recycle conveyor to the product conveyor, with the coating falling from the waterfall width in substantially equal amounts across the waterfall width.
24. The coating recycle assembly of claim 19 wherein the flights are situated outside the open area of the belt.
25. A coating recycle assembly comprising:
a. a recycle conveyor that includes:
(1) a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and
(2) a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, whereby coating may be received at the lower length and released at the upper length,
wherein the conveyor channel and belt extend along a closed path, the entirety of the closed path being situated along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes;

b. a product conveyor situated:
(1) above the lower length and below the upper length, and
(2) laterally between the ascending and descending portions,
the product conveyor being configured to convey product between an inlet end and a discharge end,

wherein:
i. the recycle conveyor receives coating directly from the product conveyor at the lower length of the conveyor channel, the received coating being released from the product conveyor at a location closer to the discharge end than to the inlet end; and
ii. the recycle conveyor releases coating directly to the product conveyor at the upper length of the conveyor channel, the released coating being received by the product conveyor at a location closer to the inlet end than to the discharge end.
26. A coating recycle assembly comprising:
a. a recycle conveyor including:
(1) a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and
(2) a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, whereby coating may be received at the lower length and released at the upper length,

b. a product conveyor configured to transport products along a travel path from an inlet end to a discharge end, with the product conveyor receiving coating from the upper length of the recycle conveyor at or near the inlet end, and releasing coating to the lower length of the recycle conveyor at or near the discharge end,
wherein the conveyor channel extends along a closed path orbiting the product conveyor, the closed path being oriented along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein:
a. the lower length is situated below the product conveyor, and
b. the upper length is situated above the product conveyor, the upper length having a channel opening therein, whereby coating traveling within the conveyor channel falls from the channel opening.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A switching device of a type that has a casing with an upwardly opening casing cavity, a switching mechanism lying in said casing, an operating member that is moveable to operate said switching mechanism, a light lying above at least part of said operating member and having a pair of light terminals, and at least two energizing conductors mounted on said casing for carrying electricity to said light, wherein:
said energizing conductors each has a top part that lies above a part of said operating member and that engages one of said light terminals, each energizing conductor having a leg that extends downwardly to the bottom of said casing, and each energizing conductor having a lug that lies at the bottom of its leg and that forms a terminal.
2. The switching device described in claim 1 wherein:
said operating member has an operator base and a pair of laterally spaced protuberances projecting upward from laterally opposite sides of said base and leaving an operator cavity between said protuberances;
said energizing conductors are each formed of a piece of sheet metal, the top part of each of said energizing conductors having side portions lying at longitudinally opposite sides of said operating member and said top parts having tongues projecting towards each other into said operator cavity, said side portions each extending laterally to a top of one of said legs.
3. The switching device described in claim 2 wherein said light has at least three terminals and said energizing conductors comprises at least three sheet metal energizing conductors, and wherein:
first and second of said energizing conductors have longitudinal side parts that lie on the same longitudinal side of said operating member and have first and second tongues that are laterally spaced and that each projects into said base cavity portion, said first and second energizing member top parts of said first and second energizing members extend laterally away from each other and each is joined by a right angle bend to one of said legs, each leg having a lower end joined to one of said lugs that extends under said base.
4. The switching device described in claim 1 wherein:
said operating member has an operating base and a pair of laterally spaced protuberances projecting upward from laterally opposite sides of said operating base and leaving a middle base portion between said protuberances;
said top parts of said energizing conductors are each formed of a piece of sheet metal, each energizing conductor has a pair of legs including said leg, and the top part of each energizing conductor extends to laterally opposite sides of said casing and forms a right angle bend that joins to an upper end of one of said legs.
5. The switching device described in claim 4 including:
a frame of insulative material that is molded around at least a portion of the top part of each of said energizing conductors but not around the tongue thereof.
6. A switching device of a type that has a casing with an upwardly opening casing cavity, a switching mechanism lying in said casing, an operating apparatus that is depressable to operate said switching mechanism, a light having at least first and second light terminals, and at least first and second energizing conductors for carrying electricity to said light, wherein:
said operating apparatus has a depressable button and an operating member that is depressed by said button and that operates said switching mechanism when said button is depressed, and said operating apparatus forms an empty region under said button and above at least part of said operating member;
said first and second energizing conductors are each formed of sheet metal, are each fixed to said casing, and each has a top part with a tongue that projects into said empty region;
said light lies in said empty region and said light terminals are each joined to a different one of said tongues.
7. The switching device described in claim 6 wherein:
each of said energizing conductors has a leg that extends downward from the top part of the energizing conductor, and has a lug at the bottom of each leg that forms a terminal lying at the level of the bottom of said casing.
8. The switching device described in claim 7 wherein:
said first and second energizing conductors have laterally opposite side portion that lie beyond opposite sides of said operating apparatus and that each connects one of said tongues to one of said legs.
9. The switching device described in claim 6 wherein:
each of said energizing conductor top parts lies against a top of said casing and lies against said operating member when the operating member is not depressed, and each of said energizing conductors is fixed to said casing.
10. The switching device described in claim 9 wherein:
each of said legs lies outside the casing and each lug extends under the casing, to thereby fix the energizing conductor to the casing.
11. The switch device described in claim 6 wherein:
said sheet metal energizing conductors closely surround portions of said operating apparatus to guide said operating apparatus in down and up movement.