The present invention is in the field of oral care, and more specifically oral physiotherapy. The invention concerns a tongue-cleaning device comprising a plurality of flexible projections having unique configurations. The device is designed to remove from the tongue bacterial microorganisms, extraneous cellular debris, and the like, implicated in plaque formation on dental surfaces.
According to the American Dental Association, a major source of bad breath in healthy people is microbial deposits on the tongue, where a bacterial coating harbors organisms and debris that contribute to bad breath. Tissue in the mouth, and especially the tongue, is a “haven” for the growth of microorganisms. The dorsum of the tongue comprises papillae. The anterior two-thirds of the dorsum are covered with short fungiform papillae while the posterior third is covered with fungiform papillae interspersed with 2-3 mm long filiform papillae. The dorsum of the tongue is one of the main foci of microorganisms in the oral cavity; many bacterial species resident on the tongue colonize and accumulate in plaque, and these bacteria are normally integral to dental calculus.
The papillary nature of the tongue surface creates a unique ecological site that provides an extremely large surface area, favoring the accumulation of oral bacteria. Because the tongue is a site of dense bacterial populations and because plaque forms relatively fast after its removal, the tongue can be a source of dental plaque. Bacteria, food particles and the breakdown products of foods are trapped in the crevices between the papillae, particularly on the posterior portion of the tongue's dorsum. This material is the source of most oral bacteria and odor.
The tongue, besides harboring large populations of microorganisms, also continuously sheds cells of the surface layer of epithelium. The availability of oral debris from these sources could contribute to plaque formation on dental surfaces. In addition, streptococcus salivarius and related species can be found on the dorsum of the tongue. Anaerobic flora and bacteria residing on the tongue and other soft tissues in the mouth play an important role in the development of chronic bad breath commonly called halitosis. In general, the bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). Buildup of those sulfur compounds on the tongue's surface can lead to bad breath or oral malodor.
Known tongue scrapers have generally not been too effective. Further, many of these scrapers cannot easily be used to cleanse other tissue within the mouth. Notwithstanding the benefits to be gained by cleaning the tissue in the mouth, many users avoid the use of such cleansers due to a lack of comfort and/or ease of use. The present description seeks to overcome at least some of these limitations and to provide new features heretofore not available.
The present disclosure is directed to a tongue cleaner comprising a base and a plurality of projections outwardly extending from the base. The base can be rigid or flexible. The base has a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment, the first direction is a machine direction (MD) and the second direction is a cross-machine direction (CD). One skilled in the art will readily understand that the MD and CD can be mutually reversed. Further, the terms “MD” and “CD” may be used herein interchangeably with terms “first direction” and “second direction.”
The plurality of projections extends, preferably in a predetermined pattern, from the base in a third direction. The third direction can be generally normal to the base. At least one of the projections has a first end attached to the base, a second free end opposite to the first end, and a height extending between the first and second ends.
The individual projection comprises an elongated stem and a head, which is preferably made integral with the stem. The head is disposed at a distance from the base. The stem has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the third direction.
The head comprises at least a first cantilevered portion and a second cantilevered portion, both outwardly extending from the stem. The first and second cantilevered portions can be mutually opposite. The cantilevered portions outwardly extend from the stem in directions that can be substantially perpendicular to the third direction or inclined relative to the third direction. The cantilevered portions can extend from the stem at an angle or angles relative to the base.
Each of the cantilevered portions has a bottom surface generally facing the base and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface. In one embodiment, the bottom surface and the top surface terminate by abutting one another to form, in combination with one another, an edge disposed at a distance from the stem.
In one aspect, the disclosure is directed to a tongue cleaner comprising a base having a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a plurality of projections outwardly extending from the base in a third direction, wherein at least one of the projections has a first end attached to the base, a second free end opposite to the first end, and a height extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the at least one of the projections comprises an elongated stem and a head integral with the stem and disposed at a distance from the base, the stem having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the third direction, wherein the head comprises at least two mutually opposite cantilevered portions outwardly extending from the stem, each of the cantilevered portions having a bottom surface generally facing the base and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, wherein a substantial portion of the bottom surface is inclined away from the stem.
In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a tongue cleaner comprising a base having a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a plurality of projections outwardly extending from the base in a third direction, wherein at least one of the projections has a first end attached to the base, a second free end opposite to the first end, and a height extending between the first and second ends, wherein the at least one of the projections comprises an elongated stem and a head integral with the stem and disposed at a distance from the base, the stem having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the third direction, wherein the head comprises at least two mutually opposite cantilevered portions outwardly extending from the stem, each of the cantilevered portions having a bottom surface generally facing the base and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, wherein a substantial portion of the bottom surface is inclined towards the stem.
In still another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a tongue cleaner comprising a base having a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a plurality of projections outwardly extending from the base in a third direction, wherein at least some of the projections have a first end attached to the base, a second free end opposite to the first end, and a height extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the at least some of the projections comprise an elongated stem and a head integral with the stem and disposed at a distance from the base, the stem having a longitudinal axis, wherein the head comprises at least one cantilevered portion outwardly extending from the stem, the at least one cantilevered portion having a bottom surface generally facing the base and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of projections comprises at least first projections and second projections, wherein a substantial portion of the bottom surface of the individual first projections is inclined away from the stem, and wherein a substantial portion of the bottom surface of the individual second projections is inclined towards the stem.
In one embodiment, the first projections and the second projections in combination form a pattern having a combined density of from about 60 projections per cm2 to about 400 projections per cm2 of the base. The combined density can be from about 75 projections per cm2 to about 350 projections per cm2 of the base.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a tongue cleaner comprising a base having a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plurality of projections outwardly extending from the base in a third direction, wherein at least one of the projections has a first end attached to the base, a second free end opposite to the first end, and a height extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the at least one of the projections comprises an elongated stem and a head integral with the stem and disposed at a distance from the base, the stem having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the third direction, wherein the head comprises at least a first cantilevered portion outwardly extending from the stem and a second cantilevered portion outwardly extending from the stem, wherein the first cantilevered portion has a first bottom surface generally facing the base and a first top surface opposite to the first bottom surface, wherein the second cantilevered portion has a second bottom surface generally facing the base and a second top surface opposite to the first bottom surface, and wherein a substantial portion of the first bottom surface is inclined towards the stem while a substantial portion of the second bottom surface is inclined away from the stem.
In some embodiments of the tongue cleaner, at least one of the bottom surface and the top surface of the cantilevered portion can be at least partially curved. Such an entirely or partially curved bottom or top surface can have a shape selected from the group consisting of a convex shape, a concave shape, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the bottom surface or the top surface may comprise a portion or portions having a convex shape and a portion or portions having a concave shape, in combination.
The height of the individual projection can be from about 0.2 mm to about 0.55 mm. In one embodiment, the height of the individual projection can be from about 0.39 mm to about 0.47 mm. The first width of the head of the individual projection can be from about 0.2 mm to about 0.24 mm. The second width of the head of the individual projection can be from about 0.25 mm to about 0.6 mm. In one particular embodiment, the second width of the head is from about 0.34 mm to about 0.4 mm. The thickness of the head of the individual projection can be from about 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm. In one particular embodiment, the thickness of the head is from about 0.03 mm to about 0.07 mm. The individual cantilevered portion may have a length of from about 0.07 mm to about 0.13 mm as measured from a top surface of the top section of the stem, wherein the top section's top portion is closest to the end of the cantilevered portion.
In plan view, the head of the tongue cleaner may comprise any suitable form or shape, e.g., a shape selected from a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, an elliptical shape, a polygon shape, a parallelogram shape, and any combination thereof.
The plurality of projections can be spaced from one another to form on the base a pattern having a first pitch extending parallel to the first direction and a second pitch extending parallel to the second direction. In one embodiment, this pattern comprises a staggered or alternating arrangement. The first pitch and the second pitch can be equal or otherwise. In one embodiment, the first pitch is greater than the second pitch. In one embodiment, the first direction is parallel to the machine direction (MD) and the second direction is parallel to the cross-machine direction (CD). In one particular embodiment, the first pitch is at least 50% greater than the second pitch, wherein the first pitch extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first pitch extends. The first pitch can be from about 0.4 mm to about 1.4 mm, more specifically from about 0.8 mm to about 1.3 mm, and even more specifically from about 0.9 mm to about 1.2 mm. The second pitch can be from about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm, and more specifically from about 0.48 mm to about 0.62 mm.
The stem can have any suitable body. In one embodiment, the stem has a body comprising a top section adjacent to the head, a bottom section opposite to the top section, and a midsection between the top and bottom sections. One of the top section, the midsection, and the bottom section can have a tapering portion that is narrower than the midsection in its widest part. In one particular embodiment of the stem, the stem's midsection is wider, in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the third direction, than the projection's head. In another embodiment, the head is wider than the bottom section of the stem as measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the third direction. In still another embodiment, the bottom section of the stem is wider than the head as measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the third direction.
The disclosure is also directed to an oral-care implement comprising the tongue cleaner as described herein, wherein the oral-care implement is selected from the group consisting of a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush.
A tongue cleaner of the disclosure can be utilized in any suitable oral-care implement or device, such as, e.g., a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush—or may be structured as an independent, self-contained implement. In an exemplary embodiment of
The tongue cleaner 10 comprises a base 20 and a plurality of projections 30 outwardly extending from the base 20,
The base 20 has a first direction 21 and a second direction 22 perpendicular to the first direction 21. In one embodiment, the first direction 21 is a machine direction (MD) and the second direction 22 is a cross-machine direction (CD). One skilled in the art will appreciate that the MD and CD directions can be conventionally reversed. The plurality of projections 30 extends, preferably in a predetermined pattern, from the base 20 in a third direction 23 different from the first direction 21 and the second direction 22.
In some embodiments, the third direction 23 can be substantially perpendicular to the first direction 21 and the second direction 22—and hence substantially orthogonal to the base 20,
As is shown in
The head 50 has a first width W1, a second width W2, and a thickness T,
In some embodiments, the first width W1, the second width W2, or both the first and second widths W1, W2 may extend substantially perpendicular to the third direction 23. In some embodiments, the first width W1, the second width W2, or both the first and second widths W1, W2 may extend substantially parallel to the base 20. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the first and second widths W1, W2 can be measured in mutually perpendicular MD and CD directions if the head 50 as a whole is oriented substantially parallel to the base 20,
In the exemplary embodiment of
The thickness T can be substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first thickness W1 or the second thickness W2. In some embodiments, the thickness T may extend substantially parallel to the third direction 23. The thickness T of the head 50 can be measured as an overall thickness extending between the “highest” and “lowest” surfaces of the head 50, along the third direction 23 or the longitudinal axis L,
The head 50 includes at least two cantilevered portions 60 outwardly extending from the stem 30,
The at least two cantilevered portions 60 can, but do not have to, be mutually opposite. The at least two cantilevered portions 60 can extend at an angle relative to one another. In further embodiments, an individual cantilevered portion 60 and/or at least two cantilevered portions 60 can extend at an acute or obtuse angle relative to the stem 40 or its longitudinal axis L. In still other embodiments, the individual cantilevered portion 60 and/or at least two cantilevered portions 60 can extend at an acute or obtuse angle relative to the base 20—or, alternatively, to extend substantially parallel to the base 20. All of these embodiments are in the scope of this disclosure.
The individual cantilevered portion 60 has a bottom surface 61 facing the base 20 and a top surface 62 opposite to the bottom surface 61. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 61 and the top surface 62 can meet one another at an acute angle—to form, in combination with one another, an edge 63 disposed at a distance from the stem 40,
In some embodiments, the tongue cleaner 10 comprises a plurality of projections 30 in which a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portions 60 can be inclined toward the stem 40,
As used herein, “substantial portion” of the bottom surface 61 refers to a contiguous portion thereof that can be greater than 30%, greater than 40%, greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, and greater than 80% of the entire bottom surface 61, as measured in a relevant cross-section of the projection 60. In other words, the “substantial portion” of the bottom surface 61 can be defined in a cross-sectional view thereof, taken either in the plane of the first direction 21 or in the plane of the second direction 22—or in a relevant direction perpendicular to the third direction 23 or the longitudinal axis L.
In other embodiments, the tongue cleaner 10 comprises a plurality of projections 30 in which a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portions 60 can be inclined away from the stem 40,
Since the head 50, and hence its cantilevered portions 60, can extend in mutually perpendicular directions, an included angle existing in one direction (i.e., the first direction 21) between the stem's axis L and a substantial portion of the cantilevered portion's bottom surface 61 can be different from an included angle existing in the other direction (i.e., the second direction 22, which is perpendicular to the first direction 21) between the stem's axis L and a substantial portion of the cantilevered portion's bottom surface 61. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of
In still other embodiments, the tongue cleaner 10 may comprise a plurality of first projections 30a and a plurality of second projections 30b, wherein in the plurality of first projections 30a a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portions 60 can be inclined away from the stem 40, while in the plurality of second projections 30b a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portions 60 can be inclined towards the stem 40,
In further embodiments, the tongue cleaner 10 can comprise a plurality of projections 30 having a first cantilevered portion 60a and a second cantilevered portion 60b, wherein a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61a of the first cantilevered portion 60a can be inclined towards the stem 40, while a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61b of the second cantilevered portion 60b can be inclined away from the stem 40,
Other embodiments of the tongue cleaner 10 are also contemplated, in which the plurality of projections 30 may comprise any combination of the several embodiments described herein above. Although it is practically impossible to describe all of such embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily understand that any suitable arrangement of the embodiments described herein, variously combined, can be had in the tongue cleaner 10 of the disclosure—and all of them are included in the scope of this disclosure.
In some embodiments of the tongue cleaner 10, the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portion 60 can be at least partially curved. Such a curved or partially curved bottom surface 61 can have a shape selected from the group consisting of a convex shape (
The included average angle formed between the longitudinal axis L of the stem 40 and a substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 can be computed using any conventional method for calculating an average parameter. For example, an average angle can be computed as an arithmetic average of a plurality of angles taken at equal intervals in the relevant cross-section (e.g., MD or CD) of the substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 of the cantilevered portion 60. If, e.g., the substantial portion of the bottom surface 61 includes a curved part or segment, then tangents taken at equal intervals on the curved segment can be used to compute the average angle.
Relevant dimensions of several exemplary embodiments of the individual projections 30 are shown in
The first width W1 (
The thickness T of the head 50 of the individual projection 30 can be from about 0.02 mm to about 0.1 mm. In one particular embodiment, the thickness T of the head 50 is from about 0.03 mm to about 0.07 mm, and more specifically about 0.5 mm. The thickness T of the head 50 can be measured perpendicular to the major extension of the head 50. Thus, if the head 50 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L (as is shown, e.g., in
The individual cantilevered portion 60 has a length S extending in at least one of the first direction 21 and the second direction 22 and can be measured, in a relevant cross-section, from an uppermost or top surface of the stem's top section to the farthest free end of the cantilevered portion. The uppermost or top surface of the top section of the stem 10 is a portion of the stem's outer surface that is immediately adjacent to the bottom surface of the head 50, as viewed in a relevant cross-section. The length S can be from about 0.03 mm to about 0.2 mm, and more specifically from about 0.07 mm to about 0.13 mm.
In plan view, the head 50 of the tongue cleaner 10, including its cantilevered portions 60, may comprise any suitable shape, e.g., a shape selected from a circular shape, a semi-circular shape, an elliptical shape, a polygon shape, a parallelogram shape, and any combination thereof. Several exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of such shapes are illustrated in
The plurality of projections 30 can be spaced from one another on the base 20 at a first pitch P1 extending parallel to the first direction 21 and a second pitch P2 extending parallel to the second direction 22. The pattern in which the projections 30 are spaced from one another on the base 20 may comprise an aligned arrangement (
The first pitch P1 and the second pitch P2 can be substantially equal to one another. Alternatively, the first pitch P1 can be greater or smaller than the second pitch P2. In one embodiment, the first pitch P1 is greater than the second pitch P2. This embodiment may be particularly beneficial if the first direction 21 is parallel to the machine direction (MD) and the second direction 22 is parallel to the cross-machine direction (MD). In one particular embodiment, the first pitch P1 can be at least 50% greater than the second pitch P2. The first pitch P1 can be from about 0.8 mm to about 1.4 mm, and more specifically from about 0.9 mm to about 1.2 mm. The second pitch P2 can be from about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm, and more specifically from about 0.48 mm to about 0.62 mm.
In an exemplary embodiment of
In some embodiments, the projections 30 can be spaced on the base 20 to form pluralities of clusters, or units. A single unit can comprise any number of projections, i.e., one, two, three, four, five, and more individual projections 30. In
The first projections 30a form a first density and the second projections 30b form a second density on the base 20. The first density and the second density can be equal or, alternatively, can differ from one another. At least one of the first density and the second density can be from about 60 projections per cm2 to about 400 projections per cm2 of the base, and more specifically from about 75 projections per cm2 to about 350 projections per cm2 of the base.
Moreover, in embodiments in which the projections 30 form plurality of units, or clusters, densities of individual clusters comprising the same type of projections can differ from one another. Thus, e.g., a hypothetical tongue cleaner (not shown) may comprise two clusters formed by the first projections 30b and three clusters formed by the second projections 30b, wherein the densities of the two first-projection clusters differ from one another and the densities of at least two of the three second-projection clusters differ from one another.
In an exemplary embodiment of
The stem 40 can have any suitable body. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in
In the exemplary embodiment of
In some embodiments of the tongue cleaner 10, the head 50 can be wider than the bottom section 44 of the stem 40,
The head 50 can have any suitable top surface 51. The head's top surface 51 can be, e.g., substantially flat,
Also, in the exemplary embodiment of
Moreover, embodiments are contemplated in which some of the projections 30 are inclined (uniformly, regularly, in series, or otherwise) relative to the base 20 while others are not; as well as embodiments in which the projections 30 differ from one another with respect to their heights H, first and second widths W1, W2 of the head 50, orientation, shape, and size of the cantilevered portions 60, and other relevant parameters described herein.
The tongue cleaner 10 of the disclosure can be made from any suitable polymeric material, such as, e.g., thermoplastic resins comprising polyolefins (polypropylene and polyethylene) polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, nylons, polyester, such as, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate and the like, and copolymers and blends thereof. The polymeric resin can comprise a polypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer, or blends thereof. The tongue cleaner 10 can be manufactured by any suitable method known in the art, e.g., by extruding a strip of thermoplastic resin from an extruder through a die. Optionally, the strip of thermoplastic resin can be stretched prior to cutting to desired shape of the tongue cleaner 10, to provide the resin with a beneficial molecular orientation. One of such processes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,401, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing processes that can be utilized for making the tongue cleaner, as well as materials and equipment suitable therefor.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the scope of the claims is not limited to the specific embodiments described and shown herein, and that the terminology used herein for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only is not intended to be limiting to the embodiments shown. Moreover, although various aspects of the invention have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the invention.
The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “about,” “approximately,” and the like, as may be used herein, represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms also represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. For example, as used herein, the terms “substantially perpendicular,” “substantially parallel,” and the like indicate general—as opposed to strict—orientation of an element being described. In other words, an element that is substantially parallel (or perpendicular) to a certain direction or surface does not need to be strictly parallel (or perpendicular) to that direction or surface. All that is required is that the element extends substantially in a direction that is approximately parallel (or perpendicular) to the referenced direction or surface.
Also, the term “direction” is used herein to describe a relative orientation (e.g., as within the Cartesian coordinate system)—rather than a vector. Thus, phrases such as “an element extending in a first direction,” “an element extending substantially parallel to the first direction,” and the like, mean that the element being described is substantially parallel to the first direction, wherein some degree of deviation from the first direction is acceptable.
Further, the dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, values disclosed as “0.2 mm” or “30 degrees” are intended to mean, respectively, “about 0.2 mm” or “about 30 degrees.” Also, as used in the specification, including the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and the phrase “at least one” includes one or several. Further, any of the “open” terms including words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including” means that other elements, steps, ingredients, et cetera, that do not adversely affect the relevant end result, can be added. Each of these terms encompasses, but is not limited by, the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”
The disclosure of every document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent application or patent, and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein—or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests, or discloses any such invention. Lastly, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same or similar term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to or contextually implied by that term in this document shall govern.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62317001 | Apr 2016 | US |