Orthodontic bracket

1. An orthodontic bracket comprising:

a base member defining an archwire slot, and having an anterior and posterior facing surface and a bore is formed in the base member and extends from the anterior facing surface in the direction of the posterior facing surface;

a ligating slide borne by the base member and moveable between a first, open position which allows access to the archwire slot, and a second, closed position which restricts access to the archwire slot, and wherein the ligating slide has an anterior and a posterior facing surface, and wherein a channel is formed in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the channel has a first and second end, and wherein a seat is defined at the first and second ends; and

an elongated flexible member borne by the base member and which has a proximal end which is received in the bore, and a distal end which is received in the channel which is formed in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the seat defined by the first and second ends of the channel are each dimensioned to matingly receive the distal end of the flexible member which extends anteriorly outwardly relative to the anterior facing surface of the base member, and wherein the flexible member is not substantially deformed when received in the respective seats, and wherein the distal end of the elongated flexible member is resiliently deformable along a path of travel when the ligating slide moves between the first and second positions and out of the respective seats and along the channel defined in the posterior facing surface of the ligating slide, and wherein the flexible member cooperates with the channel to releasably secure the ligating slide in the first and second positions.

2. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the bore formed in the base member has a first end which is adjacent to the posterior facing surface of the base member, and a second end which is adjacent to the anterior facing surface of the base member, and wherein the diametral dimension of the second end of the bore is greater than the first end of the bore.

3. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the path of travel is generally parallel to the anterior facing surface of the base member.

4. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the flexible member is not longitudinally deformable.

5. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the base member has a lowermost portion which defines a channel that extends from the archwire slot to the lowermost portion, and wherein the ligating slide is slideably received in the channel defined by the lowermost portion of the base member.

6. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the ligating slide is resiliently deformable and has a superior end which is rounded or beveled, at least in part.

7. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the ligating slide has opposite peripheral edges, and wherein the base member shields, at least in part, the opposite peripheral edges.

8. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the base member further defines a transverse passageway which extends through the base member, and which is disposed in spaced relation relative to the archwire slot.

9. An orthodontic bracket comprising:

a base member defining an archwire slot, and which has an anterior and a posterior facing surface, and wherein the base member defines a bore which extends between the anterior and posterior facing surfaces thereof;

an elongated flexible member borne by the base member and which extends anteriorly outwardly relative to the base member, and which has a proximal end which is received in the bore and is located near the posterior facing surface of the base member, and a distal end which is moveable along a path of travel, and which flexes in a generally radial direction; and

a ligating slide moveably borne by the base member between a first position where the ligating slide is clear of the archwire slot, and a second position where the ligating slide restricts access to the archwire slot, and wherein the distal end of the elongated flexible member cooperates with the ligating slide and moves along the path of travel as the ligating slide moves between the first and second positions, and wherein the ligating slide has an anterior and a posterior facing surface, and wherein a channel is formed in the posterior facing surface and which receives the distal end of the flexible member, and wherein the channel has a first and second end, and wherein first and second seats are individually formed on the respective first and second ends, and wherein an intermediate portion extends therebetween the first and second seats, and wherein the distal end of the flexible member is located in the first seat when the ligating slide is located in the first position where the ligating slide is clear of the archwire slot, and is further located in the second seat when the ligating slide is located in the second position, and which restricts access to the archwire slot, and wherein the flexible member travels along the intermediate portion of the channel, and simultaneously moves along the path of travel when the ligating slide moves from the first position to the second position.

10. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein the base member further defines a transverse passageway which is disposed in spaced relation relative to the archwire slot.

11. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein the bore which receives the flexible member has an increasing diametral dimension when measured in a direction which extends from the posterior facing surface of the base member, to the anterior facing surface thereof.

12. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the flexible member when located in the first or second seat releasably secures the ligating slide in the first or second positions.

13. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 12 , and wherein the first and second seats are located in substantially perpendicular relation relative to the intermediate portion of the channel.

14. An orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein the ligating slide is resiliently deformable when located in the second position so as to facilitate passive self-ligation.