Patent Application
20120085365
The disclosure generally relates to oral care devices. More specifically, the disclosure relates to portable and disposable oral care devices to assist a user in dislodging food that may become lodged between his or her teeth.
During meals, many eaters will get food lodged between their teeth. Based on the type of foods being eaten and/or the spacing between teeth of the eater, getting food lodged between teeth can happen quite frequently. When food becomes lodged between teeth, it can be embarrassing for the eater, especially in certain settings such as in business and formal settings. Additionally and/or alternatively, when food becomes lodged between teeth, it can be uncomfortable to the eater.
Toothpicks have been used for centuries as devices to remove to food that gets lodged between the teeth of the user. Toothpicks have primarily been comprised of generally elongated processed pieces of wood with pointed ends. Toothpicks have also been made of molded plastic. Toothpicks are still generally commonplace as many restaurants include toothpicks at their exits for departing guests.
Dental floss has also been used to clean plaque form between a user's teeth and to remove food lodged between teeth. More recently, disposable devices with a small piece of floss have been used to dislodge food particles in the crevices between teeth. This type of disposable oral care device and toothpicks are convenient to use because they are small and light-weight. However, these oral care devices also have drawbacks. An alternative and/or improved oral care device is therefore desirable.
A first aspect of the disclosure provides an oral care device having a first and second tooth cleaning devices and a mirrored surface disposed between the first and second tooth cleaning devices enabling the user to inspect his teeth in the mirrored surface.
A second aspect of the disclosure provides an oral care device having a body. The body includes a tooth cleaning device disposed at one end and a mirrored surface disposed at the opposite end of the body enabling the user to inspect his teeth in the mirrored surface.
A third aspect of the disclosure provides an oral care device having a body. The body includes tooth cleaning means coupled to the body for enabling a user to inspect his teeth and reflection means for enabling a user to inspect his teeth. The tooth cleaning means can include one of the arrangements disclosed herein for enabling a user to clean his teeth and equivalents thereof as defined by paragraph 6 of Section 112 of the U.S. patent laws. The reflection means can include one of the arrangements disclosed herein for providing a mirrored-type reflection enabling a user to inspect his teeth and equivalents thereof as defined by paragraph 6 of Section 112 of the U.S. patent laws.
It is to be understood that the foregoing descriptions present illustrative arrangements, features, and embodiments, and are not restrictive of the disclosure unless otherwise noted. The accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification, also illustrate illustrative arrangements, features, and embodiments, and are not restrictive of the disclosure. Together, the descriptions and drawings serve to explain principles, arrangements, features, and embodiments of the disclosure.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the illustrative embodiments of
The tooth cleaning device or devices used in the embodiments can be any desirable personal cleaning tool designed to enable the user to clean between his teeth. One illustrative tooth cleaning device is an elongated exposed string or filament (e.g., dental floss) anchored on opposing end as shown in the embodiments of
With respect to the depicted embodiments,
At the other longitudinal end 114 of the oral care device 110, a pick-type tooth cleaning device 160 is provided in the form of a tapered section 164 having an exposed pick end 162. The tapered section 164 may take any suitable configuration including the configurations depicted herein.
In the depicted embodiment of
At one longitudinal end 212 of the oral care device 210, a pick-type tooth cleaning device 260 is provided in the form of a tapered section 264 having an exposed pick end 262. The tapered section 264 may take any suitable configuration including the configurations depicted herein. A pick-type tooth cleaning device 270 is provided on the opposite longitudinal end 214 of the oral care device 210 in the form of a tapered section 274 having an exposed pick end 272.
At one longitudinal end 312 of the oral care device 310, a pick-type tooth cleaning device 360 is provided in the form of a tapered section 364 having an exposed pick end 362. The tapered section 364 may take any suitable configuration including the configurations depicted herein.
A micro-bristle-type tooth cleaning device 380 is provided on the opposite longitudinal end 314 of the oral care device 310. The micro-bristle-type tooth cleaning device 380 includes is a thin elongated rod 382 extending from the body 320. The thin elongated rod 382 is preferably flexible. A plurality of micro-bristles 384 radiate outward from the elongated rod 382. In one embodiment, the micro-bristles 384 are substantially perpendicularly arranged with respect to the elongated rod 382. In one use of the micro-bristle-type tooth cleaning device 380, the user can insert the elongated rod 382 in the space between adjacent teeth and then retract it. The micro-bristles 384 serve to clean the adjacent surfaces of the teeth and will typically eject food particles in the location.
A mirrored-surface 430 is disposed on the body 420 on the longitudinal end 414 opposite the tooth cleaning device 460. The body 420 preferably includes an enlarged region at the opposing longitudinal end 414 to the tooth cleaning device 460. In illustrative embodiments, the mirrored surface 430 is applied to all or at least a majority of the enlarged planar region on at least one side of the body 420. The enlarged region and the mirrored surface 430 may be either substantially planar as depicted in
A mirrored-surface 530 is disposed on the body 520 on the longitudinal end 514 opposite the tooth cleaning device 460. The body 520 preferably includes an enlarged region at the opposing longitudinal end 514 to the tooth cleaning device 550. In illustrative embodiments, the mirrored surface 530 is applied to all or at least a majority of the enlarged planar region on one or both sides of the body 520. The enlarged region and the mirrored surface 530 may be either substantially planar as depicted in
A mirrored-surface 630 is disposed on the body 620 on the longitudinal end 614 opposite the tooth cleaning device 680. The body 620 preferably includes an enlarged region at the opposing longitudinal end 614 to the tooth cleaning device 680. In the depicted embodiment, the enlarged region and the mirrored surface 630 is curved and convex. In lieu of this arrangement, the enlarged region and the mirrored surface may be substantially planar as depicted in
In the illustrative embodiments as described herein, the body 120, 220, 320, 420, 530, 620 may be formed by a plastic and may be molded using a suitable polymer. According to the illustrative embodiments, the length of the oral care device 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 is between 1.5 and 4 inches. However, alternative arrangements with a longer or shorter length are also contemplated.
The region of the body to which the mirrored surface is applied may be enlarged. By that, it is meant that the enlarged region includes a noticeable widening in the body along its length. The enlarged region of the body containing the mirrored surface provide an increased viewing area for the user to inspect his teeth and also aids in the gripping and manipulation of the oral care device by the user.
Additionally, the mirrored-surface 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630 may be made of any suitable material known in the art for creating a reflective surface. For example, a reflective metallic coating on a polymer substrate may be used. Other methods and material may also be utilized to form the mirrored-surface such as polished metal or a silicon-based reflective coating. The mirrored-surface may be formed from a separate element, such a flat piece of sheet material, adhered or otherwise affixed to the body. Alternatively, the mirrored-surface may be formed as a coating or treatment directly to the body. As shown in the illustrative embodiments, the mirrored-surface 130 takes the general shape of the external surface of the body 120 at the location where it is applied. Accordingly, the mirrored surface may be flat where the underlying surface is flat or contoured and taking the form of the underlying surface when the underlying surface is countered.
In use, the oral care device as described herein provides a small and disposable solution to help the user removal of unwanted food from on or in-between the her teeth. Each oral care device includes one or more tooth cleaning devices. The user can use a tooth cleaning device in a manner as known in the art. The oral care devices also include one reflective surface. The user can view her teeth by using the reflecting to view the reflection of her teeth and assist her as she cleans her teeth. This can be particularly useful as in many situations the user may not be near a mirror to view her teeth or access to another mirrored surface may be less convenient. Thus, having the mirrored surface and the tooth cleaning device on the oral care device not only aids in better oral care, it also can assist the user in removing debris that is typically undesirable in social and business situations.
Because the oral care device 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 is small, it can be carried in his or her pocket, purse, wallet, or any other convenient storage locale. The oral care device 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 may also be offered by restaurants to their customers. If desired, the oral care devices may be wrapped and sealed, either individually or in multiple units, to make them more sanitary should a commercial establishment, like a restaurant, desire to offer them.
Additionally, as used herein, the term “between teeth floss-pick” is hereby defined as one of the following: (a) an elongated exposed string or filament anchored on opposing sides, (b) a thin flexible elongated rod with micro-bristles radiating therefrom, and (c) a tapered or thin elongated pick—each configured to be inserted between adjacent teeth to remove particulate matter therein.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. For example, it is specifically contemplated that any of the depicted and described tooth cleaning devices may be used in lieu of a tooth cleaning devices in any of the depicted illustrative embodiments. Similarly, it is specifically contemplated that any of the depicted and described body configurations and mirrored surfaces may be used in lieu of the body configurations and mirrored surfaces in any of the depicted illustrative embodiments. Applicant further reserves the right to supplement the figures to include additional embodiments disclosed in the written specification. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
