U.S. patent application number 10/283161 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for multifunctional disposable oral hygiene appliance.
Invention is credited to Tyndal, Loriel.
Application Number | 20040084058 10/283161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32174627 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040084058 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tyndal, Loriel |
May 6, 2004 |
Multifunctional disposable oral hygiene appliance
Abstract
An oral hygiene device having an integrally formed, elongate
member with opposed first and second ends. The member including
first and second handle portions defined near the first and second
ends of the member, respectively, a scraping portion defined
between the first and second handle portions and having a generally
arc-shaped cross-section defining a longitudinally extending,
concave channel along the member between the first and second
handle portions, a spoon defined at the first end and inclined
relative to a longitudinal axis of the member, and a generally
rectangular blunt fine edge defined at the second end.
Inventors: |
Tyndal, Loriel; (Fort
Washington, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
32174627 |
Appl. No.: |
10/283161 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/244
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/301 |
International
Class: |
A45D 042/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An oral hygiene device comprising: an integrally formed,
single-body elongate member having opposed first and second ends,
said member including: first and second handle portions defined
near said first and second ends of said member, respectively; a
scraping portion defined between said first and second handle
portions and having a generally arc-shaped cross-section defining a
longitudinally extending, concave channel along said member between
said first and second handle portions; a spoon defined at said
first end and inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of said
member, said spoon having first and second surfaces, wherein one of
said surfaces is concave and another one of said surfaces is
convex; and a generally rectangular blunt fine edge defined at said
second end.
2. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein the
scraping portion includes at least one working surface defined
along a perimeter edge of the concave channel for scraping a tongue
when dragged thereacross.
3. The oral hygiene device according to claim 2 wherein said
scraping portion includes two working surfaces defined along
opposite perimeter edges of said concave channel such that one of
said working surfaces is sharper than another of said working
surfaces.
4. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said spoon
is covered with a brushing element impregnated with dental hygiene
powders.
5. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said fine
edge is covered with a brushing element impregnated with dental
hygiene powders.
6. The oral hygiene device according to claims 4 or 5 wherein said
brushing element is selected from a group consisting of bound
cotton, synthetic fibers and masses of foams.
7. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein an
absorbent material is mounted along said concave channel.
8. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said member
comprises a flexible resilient material such that said member
assumes a straight shape but which can be bent to enable scraping
of a tongue.
9. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said handle
portions include grasping elements.
10. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said fine
edge includes first and second surfaces wherein one of said
surfaces is concave and another one of said surfaces is convex.
11. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein said fine
edge is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said
member.
12. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1 wherein material
used to fabricate said member is selected from the group consisting
of bamboo, wood, polyethylene and nylon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to oral hygiene devices, and
more particularly to a disposable, single body universal oral care
product having multiple functions for promoting oral health.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] It is well known that undesirable materials such as plaque,
tartar, bacteria, food debris and other microorganisms live or
accumulate in the mouth, in particular on the teeth and the tongue.
For this reason, most people use some type of method to maintain
proper oral health.
[0005] Brushing teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste is an
effective method used to remove plaque from the surfaces of teeth.
Nonetheless, conventional brushes do not always sufficiently reach
the gaps between teeth where plaque often builds. In order to
overcome the shortcomings of toothbrushes, flossing is recommended,
in combination with toothbrushes, to remove plaque accumulating
between the teeth.
[0006] It has been discovered that halitosis or bad breath is often
the result of a buildup of plaque, tartar, food debris, bacteria
and other materials on the tongue. Brushing and flossing teeth are
not successful in removing all of the plaque, tartar and bacteria
from the entire mouth cavity since they are limited to cleaning
teeth. Accordingly, the tongue is often overlooked as an area to
clean in the mouth. Although a toothbrush could be used to clean
the tongue, the toothbrush is not well-suited for the removal of
plaque on the tongue since the bristles of the toothbrush are often
too soft and flexible to remove the buildup of plaque on the
tongue. Generally, in order to effectively clean the tongue, a
tongue scraper having a working edge is recommended.
[0007] Many individuals use gum, breath mints, and other products
to freshen their mouth, and thus their breath. These products are
often a convenient, short term way to address the odor of the
aforementioned build-up of undesirable materials in the mouth.
These products, however, only temporarily cover up the problem of
bad breath, and the accumulation of the aforementioned materials
still persists even when these short term products are used.
[0008] When away from home, especially in conjunction with and
subsequent to meals eaten away from home, most individuals fail to
clean their mouth. Brushing one's teeth in public is not socially
acceptable. Furthermore, it is often difficult to obtain sufficient
privacy and an appropriate water source to brush one's teeth when
dining away from home. Flossing is also difficult to perform when
away from home and is also not socially acceptable in public.
Furthermore, it is also undesirable to carry numerous utensils on
one's body such a tongue scraper, a toothbrush, toothpaste and
dental floss when away from home.
[0009] Gum, breath mints, and other products, although socially
acceptable, are often used to control only the effects of bad
breath after meals. Toothpicks are also socially acceptable and can
be used as a dental cleaning device. Toothpicks are helpful in
removing large pieces of food from the gaps of one's teeth, however
they are inadequate in plaque removal of both the teeth and tongue,
and further fail to control bad breath.
[0010] Many efforts have been made to provide an oral hygiene
device providing means to remove plaque, tartar, bacteria and
microorganisms from teeth and the tongue. Some efforts include U.S.
Pat. No. 5,980,541 which describes a device for scraping or
cleaning a tongue in combination with a toothbrush. This device,
however, is not disposable and requires cleaning after each use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,864 relates to a disposable tongue scraper
having a handle, an abrasive, texture surface, an absorbent
material and a flavored medicament. Nonetheless, this invention
does not include elements to clean the teeth and furthermore, due
to its inherent shape and abrasive texture, it may provide for
discomfort during usage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,661 describes a tooth
scraping implement having a scoop end with a rounded rectangular
shape. The handle serves as a holder for a supply of dental floss,
yet there is no mention of the handle being used as a tongue
scraper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The underlying objective of the present invention is to
provide an improvement over known types of oral hygiene devices and
introduce a multi-function oral hygiene device that can be used to
remove plaque and tartar from surfaces of teeth and can further be
used to scrape a tongue to remove materials encrusted thereon. The
device is produced to be easily disposable after use, therefore
eliminating cumbersome cleaning and transportation of such device.
The device further includes the advantage of not requiring bathroom
use and can be easily implemented away from home, before or after
meals. Furthermore, the device is compact and it can be used
publicly without making much noise or causing an unsightly
appearance.
[0012] The objective of the present invention is inventively
achieved by providing an integrally formed, elongate member having
opposed first and second ends, and first and second handle portions
defined near the first and second ends thereof, a scraping portion
defined between the first and second handle portions and having a
generally arc-shaped cross-section defining a longitudinally
extending, concave channel along the member between the first and
second handle portions, a spoon defined at the first end and
inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the member, and a
generally rectangular blunt or spade defined at the second end.
[0013] The spoon defined at the first end is covered with bound
cotton coated with powder tooth paste to remove plaque and stains
easily and comfortably without the aid of a brush. The spade
defined at the second end is shaped in a very thin curvature and is
configured to penetrate gently between teeth cavities to dislodge
and remove adherent material so as to be operable as a flossing
device. The longitudinally extending concave channel is bendable
and includes at least one working surface defined along an edge
thereof for scraping a tongue when dragged thereacross so as to be
operable as a tongue scraper. Accordingly, from the aforesaid
features of the present invention, a multi-purpose oral hygiene
device is achieved which provides brushing, flossing and tongue
scraping capabilities.
[0014] Materials selected to be used to manufacture the oral
hygiene device of the present invention are inexpensive enough to
make this device entirely disposable, such as bamboo or from a
polymer. Such inexpensive materials permit economical mass
production. Furthermore, the size of the device is of a general
nature which easily permits being transported in one's pocket or
purse and resembles that of a writing instrument when not in
use.
[0015] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the
present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing
detailed description, and the novel features will be pointed out in
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an oral hygiene device
according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the oral hygiene device
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the oral
hygiene device, with at least one bent position shown in phantom;
and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first end of the
oral hygiene device wrapped with fibers impregnated with dental
hygiene powders.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an oral hygiene device comprising an
integrally formed, elongate member 10 having first and second
handle portions 8, 12 defined near first and second ends 18, 22.
The member 10 includes a scraping portion defined between the first
and second handle portions 8, 12 and has a generally arc-shaped
cross-section defining a longitudinally extending, concave channel
14 along the member between the first and second handle portions 8,
12. The scraping portion also includes working surfaces 16 defined
by the perimeter edge of the concave channel 14.
[0021] The handle portions include grasping elements 30 that assist
in providing a means for more easily gripping the device. Such
grasping elements 30 may include grooves, differing textures,
recesses or any other type of formation of the member 10 which
would assist a user in obtaining a better grip of the member in
comparison to the member without grasping elements. Furthermore,
the grasping elements 30 may include rubberized or plastic pads, or
the like, which would also assist in obtain a better grip of the
member 10.
[0022] The oral hygiene device is shown in FIG. 1 as including a
spoon 20 defined at the first end 18 of the member 10. In briefly
turning to FIG. 4, the spoon is covered with bound cotton 34 coated
impregnated with a powder tooth paste so as to assist in removing
plaque and stains easily and comfortably without the aid of a
brush. While bound cotton 34 is a useful and available wiping or
abrasive medium, other fibrous or porous yieldable absorbent and
abrasive material can be substituted therewith. Therefore, the
bound cotton 34 should preferably provide some abrasive qualities
in order to function as a replacement for a toothbrush so as to
remove material encrusted on teeth. Furthermore, in order to
replace toothpaste, the powder tooth paste can be activated with
saliva so as to not require the use of water.
[0023] A rectangular blunt fine edge or spade 24 is defined at the
second end 22 of the member 10. The spade 24 is configured to
penetrate gently between teeth cavities to dislodge and remove
adherent material so as to be operable as a flossing device. The
spade 24 can also be configured with a brushing element impregnated
with dental powders similar to the spoon 20 shown in FIG. 4.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the shape of the spoon 20 as having an
inclined neck 38 relative to a longitudinal axis of the member 10.
The spoon 20 includes an inner, concave surface 42 and an outer,
convex surface 36. The spade 24 is also illustrated as having an
inclined neck 26 relative to a longitudinal axis of the member 10.
The spade 24 includes an inner concave, surface 44 and an outer,
convex surface 40. Although not shown, alternatively the spoon 20
or the spade 24 may not be inclined relative to the longitudinal
axis of the member 10.
[0025] An absorbent material 32 is positioned and retained within
the concave channel 14. The absorbent material 32 can be made from
any material or combination of materials which collect and retain
debris, such as sponge, paper, cardboard, cloth, cotton, or any
other relatively soft, absorbent materials. In addition, a
medicament consisting of an antiseptic and/or a flavoring agent may
be applied to the absorbent material.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates the member 10 shown in phantom lines in
one of a plurality of bent positions whereby the member 10 is
uniformly bent across its longitudinal axis. The member is
fabricated from a sufficiently flexible resilient material such
that the member assumes a straight shape but which can be bent to
enable scraping of a tongue. In the embodiment presented herein,
the member 10 is preferably made from bamboo. The Applicant has
found that bamboo possess highly desirable qualities for a
multi-purpose oral hygiene device. In particular, bamboo has a
desirable flexibility and rigidity for the device to operate as a
tongue scraper and as a brushing and flossing instrument.
Furthermore, an oral hygiene device constructed from bamboo has
been found to possess superior cleaning properties. The member 10,
however, if desired, can be made of any other materials that can be
bent slightly without fracturing, such as polypropylene, vinyl,
nylon, rubber, various plasticized materials, cardboard, etc.
[0027] It will of course be appreciated that the invention is not
confined to the particular embodiments described herein, but is
intended to embrace all possible variations which might be made to
it without departing from either the scope or spirit of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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