1-10. (canceled)
11. An attachment for a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of fastening points each provided with through-holes configured to receive an alignment device, the fastening points being configured for movement in a pre-mounted position in a latching manner between a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the alignment device in a manner which permits an adjustment of the attachment relative to an attachment point on the vehicle,
wherein the positions are predetermined by an internal contour of the through-holes.
12. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the through-holes are also configured to provide a plurality of positions which positively retain the alignment device, an extension thereof being possible by a resilient deformation of the fastening points due to a predetermined force in a direction of displacement.
13. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the through-holes have a form of a linear or curved elongated opening with a wave-shaped or toothed inner face on one side or both sides.
14. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the through-holes comprise a row of overlapping round bores.
15. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the through-holes include a portion having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the through holes and which permits penetration of a top part of the alignment device.
16. The attachment of claim 15, wherein each of the through-holes is assigned a locking device which counteracts a displacement of the alignment device from a position engaging a respective through-hole in the portion having the enlarged diameter.
17. The attachment of claim 16, wherein the locking device is configured as a resilient tongue which extends on an upper face of a respective fastening point over the portion having the enlarged diameter.
18. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the fastening points are each provided with elongated slots configured to receive a second alignment device fastening means and, in particular, screws or rivets.
19. The attachment of claim 18, wherein:
the alignment device comprises welded bolts, screws or rivets; and
the second alignment device comprises screws or rivets.
20. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the attachment comprises a radiator cover, a radiator grille or a radiator front panel for a motor vehicle.
21. A radiator grille for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a radiator grille body;
an extension arm pivotably fastened to the radiator grille body, the extension arm having a fastening point provided with through-holes configured to receive an alignment device, the fastening point being configured for movement in a pre-mounted position in a latching manner between a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the alignment device in a manner which permits adjustment of the attachment relative to an attachment point on the motor vehicle,
wherein the positions are predetermined by an internal contour of the through-holes.
22. The radiator grill of claim 21, wherein the extension arm is pivotably fastened to an upper edge of the radiator grille body.
23. The radiator grill of claim 21, wherein the extension arm is pivotably fastened to and protrudes from an upper edge of the radiator grille body.
24. The radiator grill of claim 21, wherein the through-holes are also configured to provide a plurality of positions which positively retain the alignment device, an extension thereof being possible by a resilient deformation of the fastening point due to a predetermined force in a direction of displacement.
25. The radiator grill of claim 21, wherein the through-holes have a form of a linear or curved elongated opening with a wave-shaped or toothed inner face on one side or both sides.
26. The radiator grill of claim 25, wherein the through-holes comprise a row of overlapping round bores.
27. The radiator grill of claim 21, wherein the through-holes include a portion having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the through holes and which permits penetration of a top part of the alignment device.
28. The radiator grill of claim 27, wherein each of the through-holes is assigned a locking device which counteracts a displacement of the alignment device from a position engaging a respective through-hole in the portion having the enlarged diameter.
29. The radiator grill of claim 28, wherein the locking device is configured as a resilient tongue which extends on an upper face of a respective fastening point over the portion having the enlarged diameter.
30. A method for mounting an attachment to a vehicle, comprising:
attaching a vehicle trim via one of a plurality of fastening points to a first alignment device of the vehicle in a latched arrangement with limited mobility;
aligning the vehicle trim between a plurality of latched positions; and
fixing the vehicle trim by a second alignment device in a region adjacent to the fastening points.
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 device for reconfiguring a model dental structure which comprises:
a casting of a plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth casting is made of a rigid material;
a casting of a gum, wherein the gum casting is made of a flexible material and is positioned in contact with the teeth casting;
a support casting made of the rigid material, wherein the support casting is positioned in contact with the gum casting, and wherein the gum casting is positioned between the teeth casting and the support casting;
a plurality of elongated posts, with each post having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each post is embedded in a respective tooth of the teeth casting with the second end of the post extending therefrom and into the gum casting; and
an articulating tool respectively engageable with the second end of each of the posts for selectively and independently orienting each post and the tooth therewith, to reconfigure the dental structure, and wherein the support casting contacts each articulating tool to stabilize the plurality of posts on the device.
2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the articulating tool comprises:
a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an axis;
a first component mounted on the distal end of the main shaft for back and forth movement in a first radial direction;
a first means for selectively moving the first component to a predetermined position;
a second component mounted distally on the first component for back and forth movement in a second radial direction, wherein the second radial direction is substantially perpendicular to the first radial direction, and wherein the second end of the post is mounted on the second component for universal rotation thereon;
a second means for selectively moving the second component to a predetermined position; and
a clamping means for fixedly holding the second end of the post on the second component to orient the prosthetic tooth.
3. A device as recited in claim 2 wherein the first moving means is a lead screw.
4. A device as recited in claim 2 wherein the second moving means is a rack and pinion.
5. A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first moving means is the second moving means.
6. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the rigid material is a hard durable urethane.
7. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the flexible material is a polyurethane elastomer.
8. A method for manufacturing a system for orienting prosthetic teeth in a model dental structure which comprises the steps of:
creating an impression of a plurality of teeth in a dental structure of a patient;
positioning a plurality of articulating tools in the impression, wherein each tool includes a post and each post is positioned relative to a respective tooth defined in the impression;
making a teeth casting of the plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth casting is made of a rigid material, and wherein each post is embedded in a respective tooth of the teeth casting;
forming a gum casting, wherein the gum casting is made of a flexible material and is positioned in contact with the teeth casting to surround portions of each articulating tool; and
establishing a support casting made of the rigid material, wherein the support casting is positioned in contact with the gum casting, and wherein the gum casting is positioned between the teeth casting and the support casting, and further wherein the support casting contacts each articulating tool to stabilize the plurality of posts on the device.
9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the rigid material is a hard durable urethane and the flexible material is a polyurethane elastomer.
10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein an articulating tool comprises:
a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an axis;
a first component mounted on the distal end of the main shaft for back and forth movement in a first radial direction;
a second component mounted distally on the first component for back and forth movement in a second radial direction, wherein the second radial direction is substantially perpendicular to the first radial direction;
a post for holding the prosthetic tooth, the post having an end thereof swivel mounted on the second component for universal rotation about a point thereon; and
a means for fixedly holding the post at the point on the second component to orient the prosthetic tooth.
11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
selectively moving the first component to a predetermined position;
selectively moving the second component to a predetermined position; and
clamping the post holding means.
12. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the first moving means is a lead screw.
13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the second moving means is a rack and pinion.