US Patent 6948932 Dental modeling and articulating system

A dental articulating device and method to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays pivotally coupled together by an integral hinge. The hinge includes a pivot axle and a shoulder extending at least partially around the pivot axle and creating two axle portions extending on each side of the shoulder. A pair of fingers are pivotally positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axle and on opposite sides of the shoulder and separated by both the axle and the shoulder.