Patent Application
20190269486
The present invention relates to a teeth-cleaning system comprising a holder for dental floss, which includes two mutually spaced brackets and a dental floss held between the two brackets, and comprising an, in particular U-shaped or annular, main body to be slid onto a finger, which includes a recess situated in the longitudinal direction of the main body for accommodating a fingertip.
Moreover, the invention relates to a main body for a teeth-cleaning system, in particular, according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed, in particular, to be U-shaped or annular in order to be slid onto a finger, and which comprises a recess situated in the longitudinal direction of the main body for accommodating a fingertip.
Moreover, the invention relates to a holder for dental floss for a teeth-cleaning system, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two mutually spaced brackets and dental floss held between the two brackets.
Devices for holding dental floss are sufficiently known from the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,510 A describes an open ring comprising two brackets, between which dental floss is clamped. Devices of this type have proven to be impractical to handle, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,379 A describes a teeth-cleaning system which is guided with the aid of two fingers. This system takes up a lot of space in the oral cavity and, therefore, is difficult to handle. The two fingers also make it very difficult to keep the dental floss taut during insertion into the interdental space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,745 A is the closest prior art. The aforementioned document discloses a teeth-cleaning system comprising a holder for dental floss, which includes two mutually spaced brackets and dental floss held between the two brackets. A main body is intended to be slid onto a finger and comprises a recess situated in the longitudinal direction of the main body for accommodating a fingertip. The main body is designed in the shape of a thimble. A second thimble or at least a part of a second thimble is provided for controlling the teeth-cleaning system in the mouth. The control can therefore take place using only one finger, however, and is therefore inaccurate and nevertheless takes up a lot of space in the oral cavity.
The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of providing a system for cleaning interdental spaces, the application of which has been simplified.
The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims and the drawings.
The invention relates to a teeth-cleaning system comprising a holder for dental floss. The teeth-cleaning system comprises two mutually spaced brackets and dental floss held between the two brackets. The dental floss is designed to be introduced into the interdental space, and so the interdental space can be cleaned. Moreover, the teeth-cleaning system comprises a main body to be slid onto a finger. The main body comprises a recess in the longitudinal direction for accommodating a fingertip and is preferably designed to be U-shaped or annula The longitudinal direction of the main body preferably extents from a first recess opening up to a second recess opening, through which the finger can be guided into the recess. The recess can also comprise only one recess opening, and so the main body is essentially thimble-shaped.
The brackets of the holder extend essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the main body, and so the brackets and the main body are preferably situated at an angle with respect to one another. A grip surface is situated on each of the two sides of the main body, which is provided for controlling the movement of the dental floss in the mouth with the aid of the fingers adjacent to the main body. The grip surfaces preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the main body.
In this way, the finger can be inserted into the oral cavity essentially in parallel to the masticatory surface relief and pressed downward in order to insert the dental floss into the interdental space. The grip surfaces enable the teeth-cleaning system to be moved and controlled in the oral cavity, and so the dental floss removes contaminants from the interdental space in a targeted manner. Preferably, the brackets extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body.
A further second grip surface for controlling the movement of the dental floss in the mouth, with the aid of the thumb, is advantageously provided on the side of the main body opposite to the brackets. In addition to the lateral guidance with the aid of the two first grip surfaces, pressure can be applied onto the teeth-cleaning system by the index finger with the aid of this further grip surface. Closely adjacent teeth usually make it difficult to insert the dental floss into the interdental space. The controlled guidance of the teeth-cleaning system with the aid of the grip surfaces facilitates the introduction of the dental floss, since the pressure and the movement can take place in a targeted manner.
Yet another advantage is achieved when at least one of the grip surfaces forms a surface which is, in particular, wing-like and projects over the main body. Therefore, a preferably large grip surface for the finger is provided, without proportioning the teeth-cleaning system to be too large overall to be able to be comfortably positioned in the oral cavity.
It is advantageous when at least one of the grip surfaces includes a non-slip, in particular, curved, perforated, and/or ribbed surface. The feel of the grip surfaces improves the handling of the teeth-cleaning system, since a good hold is ensured even when the surface is possibly wet.
It is advantageous when the holder and the main body are designed as one piece or multi-pieced. The dental floss should be changed regularly, for hygiene reasons. In the case of a multi-pieced design of the teeth-cleaning system, in particular, due to a holder of the dental floss, which is separate from the main body, it is possible to replace the holder together with the dental floss. Alternatively, the holder and the main body can be designed as one piece, wherein the dental floss is preferably detachably connected to the holder, and so the dental floss can be replaced independently of the holder. The teeth-cleaning system is therefore modularly designed in order to implement the replacement of the dental floss as easily as possible. In this case, the dental floss can also be fixedly connected to the teeth-cleaning system, of course, which is then completely discarded after every teeth cleaning.
It is an advantage when the main body comprises a slot. The slot is preferably designed for accommodating at least one part of the holder. Moreover, it is conceivable to tension the slot in such a way that the recess is enlarged or reduced in size in order to be able to adapt the teeth-cleaning system to different finger sizes.
A fastening system advantageously connects the holder and the main body to one another. Due to the fastening system, the holder and the main body can be detachably connected to one another.
It is advantageous when the holder and the main body each comprise a part of the fastening system. The two parts are designed to be complementary to one another in such a way that the dental floss held by the holder is pre-tensioned when the holder and the main body are connected to one another.
Moreover, it is advantageous when the fastening system has a form-locking and/or force-locked connection. Preferably, the fastening system comprises a fastening rail and a fastening carriage, wherein the fastening rail is situated on the holder and the fastening carriage is situated on the main body. The fastening carriage can also be situated on the holder and the fastening rail can also be situated on the main body. Moreover, the fastening system can have a magnetic, threaded, plug-in, adhesive, hook and loop connection, and/or a snap-in connection, and so the holder and the main body can be detachably connected to one another.
It is an advantage when a releasable locking mechanism secures the connection between the holder and the main body. The locking mechanism can be situated, on the one hand, on the holder and, on the other hand, on the main body. When the locking mechanism is secured, it is ensured, in particular, during the application in the oral cavity, that the holder cannot be separated from the main body. In this way, it is ensured that neither the holder nor the main body can be swallowed.
The fastening rail and the fastening carriage advantageously taper conically in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the main body. Due to the conical design of the fastening rail and of the fastening carriage, they can be connected to one another in a guided manner. Moreover, it is possible to establish the tension of the dental floss by way of the selected insertion pressure. The further the fastening carriage is introduced into the fastening rail and, therefore, the smaller the remaining taper portion essentially is, the more tightly the dental floss is tensioned between the brackets. The angled guidance provides an increased pretension.
Moreover, it is advantageous when the fastening rail and/or the fastening carriage comprise/comprises lateral, in particular, U-shaped and/or dovetail-shaped guide surfaces.
It is advantageous when the guide surfaces of the fastening rail and of the fastening carriage are not parallel to one another in the non-assembled state, and so the holder, which is connected to the main body, is spread apart in the assembled state in such a way that the dental floss is tensioned between the brackets.
It is an advantage when a retaining element, in particular, a thread, safeguards the holder and/or the main body against being swallowed.
A stop is advantageously situated on the holder and/or on the main body, in an area between the two brackets, the dental floss, and the main body, and so the depth of the introduction of the dental floss into an interdental space is limited in a vertical direction. The stop is selected in such a way that the dental floss preferably cannot or can only slightly come into contact with the gums, and so bleeding of the gums and injuries are prevented. The height of the stop can vary depending on the group of persons for whom the teeth-cleaning system is intended.
It is advantageous when the stop is formed by the surface of the main body or of the holder opposite the dental floss and the depth of the introduction is determined by the length of the brackets. The length of the brackets is preferably established by the area, which extends from the fastening area of the dental floss up to the stop. When the stop is formed by the surface of the main body opposite the dental floss, the holder and the main body are preferably designed as one part. Alternatively, an inner side of the holder can establish the stop.
The holder and/or the main body advantageously comprise/comprises a fastening element for fastening dental floss. The fastening element can be designed in the shape of a cone, for example, and can be equipped with a clamping slot, and so the ends of the dental floss can be wound around the fastening element several times and fixed in the clamping slot. It is also conceivable that the clamping slot is formed in the brackets themselves, and so the dental floss is clamped directly into the brackets.
In order to designate a certain size and/or dental floss, it is advantageous when the holder and/or the main body include/includes a coding, in particular, a color coding. Teeth-cleaning systems intended for children can include motifs, for example, whereby the teeth-cleaning system may become more attractive for children. It is also conceivable to select different colors of the main body and/or the holder depending on the finger size for which the teeth-cleaning system is designed.
The invention also relates to a main body for a teeth-cleaning system. The teeth-cleaning system is preferably designed according to the preceding description or the following description. The main body is designed, in particular, to be U-shaped or annular in order to be slid onto a finger and comprises a recess situated in the longitudinal direction of the main body for accommodating a fingertip. The recess preferably extends from a first recess opening to a second recess opening. It is also conceivable that the recess comprises only one recess opening, and so the main body is essentially thimble-shaped. The longitudinal direction basically extends through the center of the recess or in parallel to its axis of symmetry.
A grip surface is situated at least on each of the two sides of the main body, which is provided for controlling the movement of dental floss in the mouth with the aid of the fingers adjacent to the main body. The grip surface preferably extends in the longitudinal direction. As a result, it is possible to control the main body and, therefore, the entire teeth-cleaning system essentially in three dimensions. The movement control takes place in a tactile manner. Preferably, the two grip surfaces are operated by the thumb and the middle finger, and so the index finger stabilizes and the pressing, thrusting, and twisting movements can be enhanced. When the main body and the teeth-cleaning system are introduced into the oral cavity, the grip surfaces are preferably oriented on the main body in the direction of the mouth. The grip surfaces therefore preferably project over the main body in the longitudinal direction.
In this case, it is an advantage when a third grip surface is provided between the two lateral first grip surfaces for controlling the movement of the dental floss in the mouth with the aid of the thumb. The index finger preferably engages on the third grip surface in order to apply pressure onto the main body, and so the dental floss of the teeth-cleaning system can be introduced into the interdental space and guided.
It is also advantageous when at least the two lateral grip surfaces form a surface which is, in particular, wing-like and/or projects over the main body. As a result, the fingers can ergonomically grip the main body.
Advantageously, a first part of a form-locking and/or force-locked fastening system for accommodating a holder for dental floss is formed on the main body for connecting the main body to a holder for dental floss. The part of the fastening system is preferably a fastening rail or a fastening carriage, a portion of a magnetic, threaded, plug-in, adhesive, hook and loop connection, and/or a part of a snap-in connection.
It is advantageous when the recess is designed to be conical and/or flattened, and so the cleaning system can be held on the finger in a rotatably fixed manner. Preferably, the first recess opening is larger than the second recess opening, and so an inner surface of the recess conically tapers. In order to be able to hold the main body on the finger in a rotatably fixed manner, the inner surface of the recess can be formed from several surface segments situated at an angle with respect to one another.
It is advantageous when the main body includes a slot, in particular, for accommodating the holder and/or for adaptation to different finger sizes. The slot preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body. It is conceivable that the main body comprises multiple slots and, therefore, is flexibly designed in order to be adaptable to different finger sizes.
The main body is advantageously U-shaped or is designed, on its periphery, as a closed ring or an open ring and/or as a thimble.
The invention also relates to a holder for dental floss for a teeth-cleaning system. The teeth-cleaning system is preferably designed according to the preceding description or the following description. The holder comprises two mutually spaced brackets and dental floss held between the two brackets.
The holder comprises a second part of a form-locking and/or force-locked fastening system for connecting the holder to a main body of the teeth-cleaning system. The second part is preferably a fastening carriage or a fastening rail and/or a part of a magnetic, threaded, plug-in, adhesive, hook and loop connection, or snap-in connection.
Due to the holder, it is permitted to remove the dental floss from the teeth-cleaning system without the need to replace the entire teeth-cleaning system.
Advantageously, the fastening system is situated longitudinally or transversely with respect to the orientation of the dental floss.
According to the invention, the dental floss is tensioned between the two brackets when the holder is fastened to the main body.
It is advantageous when a stop is situated in an area formed between the two brackets, the dental floss, and an underside of the fastening carriage, and so an introduction of the dental floss into an interdental space is limited in a vertical direction.
Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. Wherein:
The recess 4 comprises a conically shaped inner surface 5 and, therefore, a first recess opening 6 is smaller than a second recess opening 7 offset along the longitudinal direction 3. Therefore, the recess 4 is designed to be essentially complementary to the finger. It would be conceivable that the recess 4 comprises only the first recess opening 6 and is designed in the shape of a thimble. The two recess openings 6, 7 can also have the same size, and so the recess is cylindrically shaped.
Recesses 4 having different sizes are made available for different finger shapes. Moreover, the inner surface 5 is designed to be polygonal, and so the main body 1 and, therefore, the teeth-cleaning system 2 according to
The main body 1 has several, preferably four, sides. A first grip surface 9 is situated on each of two opposite sides. The two first grip surfaces 9 are provided for controlling the movement of the main body or of the teeth-cleaning system (cf.
A second grip surface 10 is provided between the two first grip surfaces 9. The second grip surface 10 is utilized as a further control surface for the thumb. One or several grip surfaces can include a non-slip surface in order to improve the feel during the handling. The grip surfaces 9, 10 can be curved, perforated, and/or ribbed.
The main body 1 comprises at least one slot 11 on its side opposite the second grip surface 10. The slot 11 is designed for connecting the main body 1 to a holder 12 of the teeth-cleaning system 1. The slot 11 and the holder 12 are designed to be complementary to one another in such a way that the holder 12 can be at least partially accommodated by the slot.
The main body 1 comprises a first part 13 of a fastening system 14 (cf.
The holder 12 comprises a second part 20 of the fastening system 14, and so the holder 12 can be connected to the main body 1 (cf.
Between the two brackets 19 and the dental floss 18, a stop 26 is situated on an inner side 25 of the holder 12, and so the introduction of the dental floss 18 into the interdental space is limited. Holders 12 can be provided with different stops 26 or no stops 26 in order to ensure a gentle handling without injuring the individual gum.
The surface of the fastening carriage 15 (
The guide surfaces 16, 23 of the main body 1 and of the holder 12, respectively, are not parallel to one another in the non-assembled state, as is represented in
According to
The fastening system 14 of the teeth-cleaning system 2 is additionally secured with the aid of a locking mechanism 27 which is merely schematically indicated in
Moreover, a retaining element 28 is installed on the teeth-cleaning system 2, which safeguards the holder 12 and/or the main body 1 against being swallowed. The retaining element 28 is designed as a thread which can be fastened on the hand and is fastened to the holder 12 and/or the main body 1.
The inner surface 5 of the main body is designed to be conical and polygonal, and so the entire teeth-cleaning system 2 is held on the finger in a rotatably fixed manner when the teeth-cleaning system 2 is utilized, in particular, in the oral cavity. Preferably, different sizes and geometries of the teeth-cleaning system 1 are made available for different finger shapes. Thus, smaller teeth-cleaning systems 1 are also suitable for small fingers, wherein, in particular, the recess 4 of the main body 1 is reduced in size.
As is also described according to
One of the taper angles 29, 30 can be equal to zero in this case, and so the guide surface is essentially straight.
In addition to the adjusting mechanism 31,
In
Moreover, an alternative embodiment of the adjusting mechanism is formed in the recess 4, which is a ring insert 33 according to
The ring insert 33 is separately formed and can be placed into the recess in order to reduce the size of the recess. In this way, the teeth-cleaning system 2 is easily adapted to different finger shapes and sizes.
The present invention is not limited to the represented and described exemplary embodiments. Modifications within the scope of the claims are also possible, as is any combination of the features, even if they are represented and described in different exemplary embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2018 104 695.2 | Mar 2018 | DE | national |
