U.S. patent application number 13/421251 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-19 for infant oral hygiene device.
The applicant listed for this patent is ERIC SAFIEH. Invention is credited to ERIC SAFIEH.
Application Number | 20130239348 13/421251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49034472 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130239348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAFIEH; ERIC |
September 19, 2013 |
INFANT ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE
Abstract
An infant oral hygiene device comprising a sleeve releasably
securable over the finger of a user. The sleeve is generally
cylindrical and has first and second ends. The first end receives
the finger of the user. The sleeve has one or more openings in its
second end. The one or more openings expose a portion of a fabric
received over the finger of the user and between the user's finger
and the sleeve thereby permitting the fabric to be drawn across the
teeth and gums of an infant.
Inventors: |
SAFIEH; ERIC; (TORONTO,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAFIEH; ERIC |
TORONTO |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
49034472 |
Appl. No.: |
13/421251 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 ;
15/210.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/005 20130101;
A46B 5/04 20130101; A46B 2200/1026 20130101; A46B 2200/1066
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 ;
15/210.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04; A47L 13/16 20060101 A47L013/16 |
Claims
1. An infant oral hygiene device comprising a sleeve releasably
securable over the finger of a user, said sleeve being generally
cylindrical and having first and second ends, said first end
receiving the finger of the user, said sleeve having one or more
openings in said second end, said one or more openings exposing a
portion of a fabric received over the finger of the user and
between the user's finger and said sleeve thereby permitting the
fabric to be drawn across the teeth and gums of an infant.
2. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said sleeve is constructed from a pliable material.
3. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 2 wherein
said sleeve is formed from silicone or rubber.
4. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 2 having an
open second end, said open second end exposing the tip of the
user's finger having the fabric received thereover.
5. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 1 including a
plurality of nibs on its exterior surface.
6. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 1 having a
plurality of bristles on its exterior surface.
7. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 5 having a
plurality of bristles on its exterior surface.
8. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said second end of said sleeve is enclosed, said one or more
openings in said second end comprising one or more window openings
to expose the fabric.
9. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the
fabric is gauze.
10. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the diameter of said sleeve decreases from said first end to said
second end.
11. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 10 including
an enlarged ring member on said first end, said ring member
facilitating the insertion and removal of said sleeve over the
user's finger
12. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 11 including
a plurality of nibs on its exterior surface.
13. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 11 having a
plurality of bristles on its exterior surface.
14. The infant oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 12 having a
plurality of bristles on its exterior surface.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to oral hygiene devices, and in
particular to an oral hygiene and gum stimulating device that may
be used on the teeth and gums of infants and small children.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The benefits of proper oral hygiene upon the health of an
individual's teeth and gums is well known and documented. Over
recent years it has been shown that good oral hygiene on the part
of infants, babies and small children can be advantageous from the
perspective of preventing tooth decay and maintaining healthy gums.
The development of good oral hygiene practices and techniques for
young children also tends to develop oral hygiene habits that are
carried with the child throughout his or her lifetime.
[0003] Prior to the emergence of teeth in an infant, gently
rubbing, brushing or scrubbing the infant's gums will serve as a
means to help dislodge bacteria and help to maintain the health of
the gums. Gently rubbing a child's gums will also provide a
soothing effect to gums that may become inflamed when a child is
teething. When the teeth eventually emerge from the gums into the
oral cavity, the enamel surfaces of the teeth will benefit from
brushing through the removal of plaque and other debris that may
eventually lead to inflamed gums and/or tooth decay.
[0004] Traditionally, the teeth and gums of infants and very young
children (typically under the age of 1) are cleaned through gently
wiping with gauze or a washcloth. When the child is very young
wiping the child's gums with gauze or a washcloth can be a
difficult task. As the child gets older, and particularly when
teeth begin to erupt, children typically become non-cooperative,
making the task of cleaning their teeth and gums difficult, if not
in some cases next to impossible. An older infant may refuse to
open his or her mouth to allow a parent or caregiver access to the
teeth and gums, particularly when the child is teething and the
gums are sore and inflamed. Some children also exhibit a tendency
to bite the finger of a parent or caregiver who is attempting to
clean the child's gums.
[0005] In an attempt to address the issue of how to effectively
clean the teeth and gums of an infant or small child, others have
developed a variety of different infant toothbrushes, such as those
described under U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,334,231; 5,571,140 and 4,621,387.
While such devices are effective to varying degrees, they are in
most instances designed for older children and not smaller
infants.
SUMMARY
[0006] The invention therefore provides an improved infant oral
hygiene device that addresses some of the limitations of the prior
art.
[0007] Accordingly, in one of its aspects the invention provides an
infant oral hygiene device comprising a sleeve releasably securable
over the finger of a user, said sleeve being generally cylindrical
and having first and second ends, said first end receiving the
finger of the user, said sleeve having one or more openings in said
second end, said one or more openings exposing a portion of a
fabric received over the finger of the user and between the user's
finger and said sleeve thereby permitting the fabric to be drawn
across the teeth and gums of an infant
[0008] Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from
the following description taken together with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to
show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will
now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which
show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of one of the
preferred embodiments of the infant oral hygiene device of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a view of the infant oral hygiene device shown in
FIG. 1 without having gauze or other fabric inserted therein.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a view of the infant oral hygiene device shown in
FIG. 1 received over a piece of gauze or fabric and the finger of a
user.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a lower side perspective view of a second
embodiment of the infant oral hygiene device of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of a third embodiment of
the infant oral hygiene device of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
the infant oral hygiene device of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present invention may be embodied in a number of
different forms. The specification and drawings that follow
describe and disclose some of the specific forms of the
invention.
[0017] In the attached Figures there is depicted an infant oral
hygiene device constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments
of the invention and noted generally by reference numeral 1. Device
1 is comprised of a sleeve 2 that is releasably receivable over the
finger of a user. Sleeve 2 is generally in the form of a hollow
tubular sleeve having a first end 3 and a second end 4. The sleeve
is sized and dimensioned to fit relatively snugly about the finger
of an average sized adult, with the adult's finger being inserted
into first end 3. The diameter of the sleeve may be consistent
along its length or, alternatively, in one of the embodiments of
the invention the diameter may decrease slightly when moving from
first end 3 to second end 4. Sleeve 2 may also include an enlarged
ring member five 5 about first end 3 that allows the sleeve to be
grasped and pulled onto the user's finger, and then subsequently
grasped and removed from the finger. It will be appreciated that
other physical structures aside from ring 5 may equally be utilized
to assist in placing the sleeve over a finger and then later
removing it.
[0018] As shown in the attached drawings, sleeve 2 preferably
includes one or more openings 6 in or about the second end 4. In
the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 opening 6 comprises
a completely open end 4 of sleeve 2. Alternately, and for example
as shown in FIG. 6, opening 6 may be comprised of a window portion
7 within second end 4, with the remainder of second end 4 being
enclosed. It will be understood that further variations of the
size, nature, placement and number of openings could equally be
utilized. For example, a series of windows 7 could be placed about
the circumference of second end 4, or the size and shape of the
window or windows could be altered.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, in operation of the
invention a fabric 8 is placed over the finger of a user, after
which sleeve 2 is slid over the fabric and the finger. The
relatively tight fit between the user's finger and sleeve 2 will
cause the sleeve to stay in place on the finger and will retain
fabric 8 in a taught configuration. At least a portion of fabric 8
is exposed through opening (or openings) 6. In this manner the
fabric exposed through opening 6 can be used to wipe or massage the
teeth and/or gums of an infant when the user's finger, having
sleeve 2 and fabric 8 inserted there over, is inserted into the
infant's mouth and slowly drawn across the teeth and gums. The fit
of sleeve 2 over the user's finger ensures that the fabric exposed
though openings 6 remains taught. Maintaining the fabric in a
taught configuration allows the fabric to efficiently clean and
massage the teeth and gums, and also helps to present a consistent
surface that is less prone to catching upon partially erupted teeth
or irritating inflamed gums.
[0020] It will be appreciated that sleeve 2 could be formed from a
wide variety of different materials. Although the sleeve could be
rigid or semi-rigid in nature, it is expected that in most
instances the sleeve will be formed from a pliable material, such
as rubber, silicone or a similar product. If formed from a rubber
or silicone type material the sleeve will also have a degree of
flexible resiliency which will enable it to be stretched as it is
slid over the finger of a user. In that manner the sleeve may be
held more securely about the finger of the user and will be less
likely to slide off. The pliable nature of the material from which
sleeve 2 may be formed will also tend to be more soothing to the
gums of an infant, and will provide a degree of protection to the
finger of a user should the infant bite down upon the user's
finger.
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in one embodiment of the
invention sleeve 2 may be fitted with a plurality of small bristles
9 and/or nibs 10 located on its outer surface at or generally
adjacent to second end 4. Bristles 9 or nibs 10 provide the user
with a slightly more aggressive means to brush the gums of the
infant should there be a significant emersion of teeth that may
lend themselves to cleaning more readily through the use of
bristles 9 or nibs 10. It will be appreciated that either bristles
or nibs could be positioned on the outer surface of sleeve 2, or
that in some instances both bristles and nibs could be utilized. It
will also be appreciated that the specific location of the bristles
and/or nibs on the sleeve could vary.
[0022] In the enclosed drawings fabric 8 is shown as comprised of a
sheet of gauze. It should, however, be understood that a wide
variety of different fabrics or fabric-like materials could equally
be used while remaining within the broad scope of the invention. It
will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art and
having a thorough knowledge of the invention that although the
invention has been described for use as an infant oral hygiene
device, it could equally be used by older individuals, particularly
those having dentures or having teeth that have been extracted.
[0023] It is to be understood that what has been described are the
preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above,
but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a whole.
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