Oral Applicator

Abstract

Apparatus for the oral application of medicinal compositions, fluorine compounds, dentifrice and the like includes a handle to which a spongy block of porous material is removably, but tenaciously, secured by a plurality of small, hooklike members carried by said handle and interengageable with and into reticulations on a surface of said block. The applicator is particularly useful in applying fluorides in viscous gellike form to the teeth.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On a broad surface at the distal end of a handle member is provided a plurality of small, outstanding hooklike members either integrally formed or separately formed as part of a patch that is secured to the handle in a suitable manner. A spongy block of cellular, porous material capable of absorbing and otherwise receiving medicinal compositions, fluorine compounds, dentifrice and the like is provided for attachment to the handle by being engaged by said hooklike members primarily by pressing the block and handle together. Immersing and pressing the block as carried by the handle onto or into a body of the composition to be applied results in the same in part entering into pores of said body whereby it may be transferred and applied to dental or other surfaces in an oral cavity. The block is tenaciously held to said handle during normal use but may be easily peeled therefrom when disposal following use is intended.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an oral applicatOr;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the distal end of the applicator as assembled;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate form of the oral applicator;

FIG. 4 shows an alternate form of applicator block; and

FIG. 5 shows alternate block attaching means for an applicator.

DESCRIPTION

Elongate handle member 10 has a proximate end 12 adapted to be manually grasped and a distal end 14 to receive and carry applicator block 16.

Block 16 is preferably spongy and formed of cellular porous material such as flexible plastic foam, sponge rubber and the like. It is desirable and preferred to employ polyurethane foam material cut and shaped to form a right rectangular block. At least one surface 18 of block 16, i.e. that to be juxtaposed to the broad surface 20 of distal end 14 of the handle 10, is reticulated and netlike or weblike.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of small, hooklike members 22 is provided. Members 22 outstand in the form of a pile generally extending over an area substantially coextensive with the area of reticulated surface 18.

When block 16 and distal end 14 are pressed together, hook-like members 22 interengage with reticulations on surface 18 to tenaciously secure the block and handle together. This interengagement is easily obtained by direct pressure due in part to the hooklike members entering into cavities on the reticulated surface 18 and snagging themselves in the material forming the walls thereof.

A preferred means providing the plurality of hooks 22 is derived from a well-known two-part system marketed under the trademark "Velcro". In this system one part comprises a woven or molded flexible panel having a pile surface formed of cut loops and the other part has a pile surface of uncut loops. When pressed together, the two parts join. Employed herein is a patch 26 of cut-loop pile, the latter providing a plurality of hooklike members. Patch 26 is secured adhesively or by other bonding means to distal end 14. Such hooklike members 22 readily interengage in a tenacious manner in the reticulations of block 16 as described and the assembly is such that the parts may not separate under forces normally encountered in oral therapeutic applications. However, when an application is concluded, and it is intended to disassemble the applicator, the block 16 may be easily removed by being peeled from the handle.

Referring to FIG. 2, block 16 will be seen mounted on handle 10. The mounting means comprise a plurality of small, hooklike members 22 outstanding on the surface of a woven backing patch 28 secured to the distal end 14 of handle 10. Patch 28 may desirably be secured to the handle by adhesive means interposed between the back of the patch and a broad face 20 of handle 10.

In FIG. 3 handle 10 has the proximate end 12 and the distal end 14 connected by an offsetting or angled portion 15 therebetween. With this arrangement not only may a person reach over the edge down and into a container to engage and assemble the applicator, but also it will be found that there is increased springiness to the handle occasionally desirable during oral applications. As seen in FIG. 3, the hook members are randomly arranged.

In FIG. 4 the alternate form of pad or block 36 has surface 38 for engagement by the hook-like means 22 and its opposite working surface toothed to facilitate penetration into interproximal spaces between a person's teeth.

A distal portion 42 of handle 10 is shown in FIG. 5 as having hooks integrally mounted therein. In such case a cellular block, either 16 or 38, when pressed thereto will be tenaciously gripped during use and may easily be peeled therefrom for disposal.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. An oral applicator, comprising:

an elongate handle member having a proximate end adapted to be manually grasped and a distal end introducible into the mouth;

a right rectangular spongy block of reticulated polyurethane foam material having at least one exposed reticulated surface;

said distal end of the handle member having a broad flat surface provided with a pile patch, substantially coextensive with said reticulated surface, comprising a multitude of small, flexible hook members outstanding thereon, said hook members being randomly arranged in said patch and interengageable with reticulations in said block at said surface when said block and said reticulated surface are pressed together;

the interengagement of said hook members with said spongy block surface being such that when said spongy body is mounted on said handle to form an assembled applicator, said members will tenaciously grip said block in such manner as to withstand sheer forces normally encountered in oral therapeutic applications, but also in such manner that said block may be easily peeled from said handle by a lifting force initially applied at the end of said block.