Patent Application
20060065283
1. Field of the Invention
Preferred aspects of the present invention relate to a collapsible toothpick. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful for cleaning interdental cavities while preventing damage to the soft tissue of the user's gums.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toothpicks are commonly used to remove food particles and other foreign matter from between a user's teeth and gums. They are typically inserted between a user's teeth and then twisted and wiggled back and forth in order to dislodge such foreign matter.
Unfortunately, most toothpicks are made of relatively rigid plastic materials, and insertion between a user's teeth is often fairly difficult. As a result, users often find themselves attempting to force conventional toothpicks between their teeth, and often cause damage to the soft tissue of their gums when the toothpicks break through an obstruction.
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a toothpick that can remove foreign matter from between a user's teeth, but prevent damage to the soft tissue of the user's gums.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a toothpick is provided, which comprises a longitudinally compressible tip comprising a spirally wound ribbon. In some embodiments, the toothpick may further comprise an elongate body configured adjacent a proximal end of the tip. The spirally wound ribbon of the toothpick may comprise nylon or other suitable materials.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a toothpick may comprise an elongate body, and a compressible tip configured at one end of the elongate body, said compressible tip comprising a tapered, overlapping spiral of nylon ribbon, wherein the distal end of said compressible tip is configured for insertion between a user's teeth.
The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and nonobvious method and toothpick of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings include the following Figures, with like numerals indicating like parts.
In the illustrated embodiment, the toothpick 10 comprises an elongate body 12 and a compressible tip 14. In other embodiments, the toothpick 10 may not include an elongate body 12 and may simply comprise a longer compressible tip 14. The elongate body 12 of the preferred embodiment is preferably formed from synthetic resin materials in a manner well known to those of skill in the art. The elongate body 12 may be formed of the same or different materials as the compressible tip 14 and may be manufactured integrally or separately. In one embodiment, the elongate body 12 may narrow towards its proximal end 16, thereby providing another surface that can penetrate between a user's teeth.
The overall length of the toothpick 10 is preferably between about one and six inches, and more preferably between about two and three inches. As is well known to those of skill in the art, the toothpick 10 may be formed from many different materials and may have any desired size.
The compressible tip 14 is preferably formed of a single strip of material configured in an overlapping spiral that tapers towards its distal end 18. This distal end 18 defines the surface that may be inserted between a user's teeth and gums to remove food particles therefrom, and therefore has a relative small cross-section. In one embodiment, the material forming the compressible tip 14 is nylon ribbon. However, other materials may also be used, including carbon fiber, resins, composites, polymers, and other materials well known to those of skill in the art. Of course, in other embodiments, the compressible tip 14 may be made of other materials that offer differential resistance to forces along different axes, as is well known to those of skill in the art.
The typical movement of the toothpick 10 may be defined by two principal axes. As illustrated in
Since the compressible tip 14 may be formed of a single, overlapping strip of material, it is relatively rigid along the lateral axis A. As the toothpick 14 is moved up and down along this axis, the compressible tip 14 does not deflect very much and acts similarly to a conventional toothpick.
However, when the toothpick 10 is moved in a longitudinal direction, as when it is pushed towards a user's gum, the compressible tip 14 may be compressed, such that much of the force towards the gum may be dissipated. This action of the toothpick 10 is illustrated in
In
In use, therefore, if the toothpick 10 is pushed too hard against the user's gum tissue, the compressible tip 14 compresses and prevents damage to the gum tissue. Once the toothpick 10 is correctly oriented between a user's teeth, the user may move the toothpick 10 along a lateral axis in order to dislodge foreign matter, and the compressible tip 14 will not greatly compress, if at all. Thus, the toothpick 10 preferably prevents damage to a user's gums by compressing along one axis, while maintaining rigidity along a second axis.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments of the invention including variations in dimensions, configuration and materials will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein. In addition, all features discussed in connection with any one embodiment herein can be readily adapted for use in other embodiments herein. The use of different terms or reference numerals for similar features in different embodiments does not imply differences other than those which may be expressly set forth. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to be described solely by reference to the appended claims, and not limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein.
