U.S. patent application number 10/913411 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for universal dental tool.
Invention is credited to William T. Wilkinson.
Application Number | 20060027246 10/913411 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35756229 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027246 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilkinson; William T. |
February 9, 2006 |
Universal dental tool
Abstract
This invention discloses an oral care cleaning system with a
handle with an adapter at one end with a means to accept different
oral hygiene instruments. The instruments are configured such that
they attach to the adapter contained in the handle. The handle
contains a means to vibrate, oscillate, pulsate, slowly rotate or
more rapidly rotate/spin the adapter. The adapter is driven by a
motor. The device has a selection of oral hygiene instruments that
connect to the adapter. Each instrument is preferably dedicated to
a single use but can have multiple uses. These instruments include
but are no limited to, a toothbrush, flosser, gum massager, tooth
pick, whitener/polisher, mirror, tongue scraper, sonic cleaner,
fixed toothbrush, pick wand, and water discharge nozzle connected
to a water source. These instruments can be either manually
operated or motorized, and they can be permanent or single service
use.
Inventors: |
Wilkinson; William T.;
(Salem, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles S. Knothe, Esquire
3516-14 Silverside Road
Wilmington
DE
19810
US
|
Family ID: |
35756229 |
Appl. No.: |
10/913411 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 44/18 20130101;
A61C 17/225 20130101; A61C 17/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/309 |
International
Class: |
A45D 44/18 20060101
A45D044/18 |
Claims
1. A handle with an adapter at one end with a means to accept a
plurality of oral hygiene instruments; A plurality of oral hygiene
instruments each dedicated to a single function that are configured
for attachment to the adapter contained in the handle.
2. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a means to
vibrate the adapter.
3. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a means to
slowly rotate or more rapidly rotate/spin the adapter.
4. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a means to
oscillate the adapter.
5. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a mean to
pulsate the adapter.
6. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains one or more
pressure switches to actuate the various motions of the
adapter.
7. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains one or more
slide switches to actuate the various motions of the adapter.
8. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to make the adapter
move is a battery and an electric motor.
9. The device as in claim 1 wherein the batteries are
rechargeable.
10. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a power
receptacle to charge the batteries.
11. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle contains a one or
more electrical contacts to charge the batteries.
12. The device as in claim 1 wherein the batteries are
non-rechargeable batteries.
13. The device as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of oral hygiene
instruments and the handle are stored in a compact watertight
storage case that has a dedicated location for each oral hygiene
instrument and the handle.
14. The device as in claim 1 wherein the storage case has a
dedicated location for the means to charge the batteries and a
place to store the power cord for the means to charge the
batteries.
15. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument
can perform one or more dental hygiene functions.
16. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
either a fixed or rotating toothbrush.
17. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
either a manual or motorized flosser.
18. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
either a manual or motorized gum massager.
19. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
either a manual or motorized toothpick.
20. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
either a manual of motorized whitener/polisher.
21. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a dental mirror.
22. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a manual or motorized tongue scraper.
23. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a sonic cleaner.
24. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a water discharge nozzle connected to a water source.
25. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instruments
are single service/disposal or permanent.
26. The devise as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a fixed toothbrush
27. The device as in claim 1 wherein the oral hygiene instrument is
a pick wand.
28. The device as in claim 1 wherein the instrument and the adapter
are interconnected by a means of connection.
29. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to connect the
adapter to the oral hygiene instrument is a twist lock
mechanism.
30. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to connect the
adapter to the oral hygiene instrument is a pressure fit.
31. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to connect the
adapter to the oral hygiene instrument is a pin in the adapter and
a hole in the corresponding location in the oral hygiene
instrument.
32. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to connect the
adapter to the oral hygiene instrument is a pin in the oral hygiene
instrument and a hole in the corresponding location in the
adapter.
33. The device as in claim 1 wherein the means to connect the
adapter to the oral hygiene instrument is a screw and thread.
34. The device as in claim 1 wherein the handle has a storage
compartment in the end opposite from the adapter for the storage of
dental supplies.
35. The device as in claim 1 wherein the compact storage case
contains storage locations for dental supplies.
36. The device as in claim 1 wherein the compact storage case is
made from a non-breakable material with a base and top with a means
of connection between the base and top and a means of
locking/closure between the base and top.
37. The device as in claim 1 wherein the compact storage case can
additionally function as a travel, organizing and storage case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an oral care system. More
particularly it relates to a system, which has a single handle and
power source and multiple dedicated instruments that interconnect
to handle. Each instrument is dedicated to one functional use. The
current market place has many powered dental instruments but each
instrument has its own power source. Thus, if the individual has a
power tooth-brush and a power-flosser, the individual has two power
handles. The individual has to purchase, store and maintain two
power handles. This costs extra money and requires extra storage
and resultant clutter.
[0002] Therefore there is a need for an oral care system that has a
single power source and multiple instruments. Because of the
compactness and simplicity of this system, each individual can have
their own system.
[0003] Further, this invention allows the replacement of worn/dirty
instruments or the use of single service/disposable instruments
without the replacement of the handle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention is an oral care cleaning system with a handle
with an adapter at one end with a means to accept different oral
hygiene instruments. The instruments are configured such that they
attach to the adapter contained in the handle. The handle can
contain a means to vibrate, oscillate, pulsate, slowly rotate or
more rapidly spin the adapter. The handle can have one or more
pressure switches or slide switches to actuate one or more of the
motions of the adapter. The adapter is driven by a battery-powered
electric motor or a low voltage cord powered electric motor. In the
case of a battery powered motor the batteries can be located in the
handle and can be either single service/disposable or
re-chargeable. The handle can contain a power receptacle or
electrical contacts to charge the rechargeable battery
[0005] The device has a selection of oral hygiene instruments that
connect to the handle. These instruments include but are not
limited to, a toothbrush, flosser, gum massager, tooth pick,
whitener/polisher, mirror, tongue scraper, sonic cleaner, and water
discharge nozzle connected to a water source. These instruments can
be either manually operated or motorized, and they can be
permanent/reusable or single service/disposable use. The oral
hygiene instruments connect to the handle by twist lock, pressure
fit or any other means of interconnection. The handle can have a
storage compartment in the end opposite from the adapter for the
storage of dental supplies.
[0006] The handle and the oral hygiene instruments are stored in a
compact watertight storage case that has a dedicated location for
each oral hygiene instrument and the handle. It may also have a
storage location for the means to charge the batteries and a
location to store the power cord. The compact storage case can also
contain storage locations for dental supplies. The compact storage
case is made from a non-breakable material with a mean of
locking/closure. The compact storage case can additionally function
as a travel, organizing and storage case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is plan view of the motorized handle with the
toothbrush instrument attached.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a view of the storage case with the handles and
all the instruments in dedicated locations within the storage
case.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the storage case with the lip in an
partially open position.
[0010] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of the flosser instrument.
[0011] FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of the massager instrument.
[0012] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views of the whitener instrument.
[0013] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of the polisher instrument.
[0014] FIGS. 12 and 13 are views of the mirror instrument.
[0015] FIGS. 14 and 15 are views of the manual handle.
[0016] FIG. 16 is a view of the storage handle.
[0017] FIGS. 17 and 18 are views of the water discharge nozzle.
[0018] FIG. 18 is a view of the water discharge nozzle hose.
[0019] FIGS. 19 and 21 are the views of the fixed toothbrush.
[0020] FIGS. 22 and 23 are the views of the pick wand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts the motorized handle 1 with the removable
toothbrush instrument affixed to the adapter. The rotating
toothbrush instrument 2 is removable from the adapter and is
connected by a pressure fit connection such that it is firmly
attached. Alternatively, it can be connected to the adapter by a
twist lock connection or by a hole and pin mechanism. The
toothbrush instrument is only one of many instruments later
described that can be attached to the adapter. Preferable the
instruments perform one dedicated function, however an instrument
can perform more than one function. The switches 3 control the
on-off function and the type of motion of the adapter. The adapter
can vibrate, pulsate, slowly rotate, or spin. At 4 within the
handle is housed the power source and the motor. 5 are the
connectors for charging the power source.
[0022] FIG. 2 is the storage case for the handles and the
instruments. Each item has a dedicated location with a depression
shaped to fit each handle and instrument in the storage base 6. A
hinge 9 connects the base 6 and the cover 7. When the cover 7 is
closed onto the base 6 each handle and instrument is securely held
in place. The cover 7 and the base 6 are held together by means of
clapse 8. Further, FIG. 2. shows a selection of handles: motorized
handle 1, storage handle 10, and manual handle 12, and instruments:
pick wand 22, fixed toothbrush 21, flosser instrument 13, massager
instrument 14, mirror instrument 18, polisher instrument 16,
whitener instrument 15, rotating toothbrush 2, water discharge
nozzle 19 and water nozzle discharge hose 20.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the side view of the storage case with the lid
7 partially open from the base 6.
[0024] FIG. 4 is the front view of the flosser instrument 13 and
FIG. 5 is the side view of the flosser instrument. Like all the
instruments this instrument can be attached any of the handles;
motorized as shown in FIG. 2 as item 1, manual as shown in FIG. 2
as item 12, or storage handle as shown in FIG. 2 as item 10. This
instrument like all the instruments can be a permanent instrument
or a limited service or single service item.
[0025] FIG. 6 is the front view of the massager instrument 14 and
FIG. 7 is the side view; FIG. 8 is the front view of the whitener
wand 15 and FIG. 9 is the side view; FIG. 10 is the front view of
the polisher instrument 10 and FIG. 11 is the side view; and FIG.
12 is the front view of the mirror wand 18 and FIG. 13 is the side
view. FIG. 20 is the front view of the fixed toothbrush; and FIG.
21 is the side view. FIG. 23 is the front view of the pick wand and
FIG. 23 is the side view.
[0026] FIG. 14 is the front view of the manual handle 12 and FIG.
15 is the side view. 17 is the adapter that interconnects the
instruments with the handle 12. This is the same configuration for
the handle 1 in FIG. 1 or the storage handle 10 in FIG. 16. This
adapter can be a pressure fit or a twist-lock such that it firmly
affixes the instrument to the handle.
[0027] FIG. 15 is the storage handle 10. The handle has a coverable
opening 22 that allows entry to the storage compartment in the
handle. This compartment can be used for storage or oral care
supplied.
[0028] FIG. 17. is the front view of the water nozzle and FIG. 18
is the side view. The port 23 is connected to the water supply hose
20 as show in FIG. 19. The hose is connected to a water source by
connector 21 in FIG. 19.
* * * * *