Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-09-18
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289545
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for cleaning of the oral cavity.
With the present invention the aim is to alleviate the problem which many people have with bad breath.
The oral cavity (cavum oris) consists of teeth, cheeks, soft palate, tongue, mouth floor, transition folds and cheek mucous membranes. All these components can collect bacteria-plaque, food residues and dead skin cells. With toothless people, the roof of the mouth/the palate and floor of the mouth including the lower jaw (mandibula) can be sites for this collection of material. Several investigations have shown that thorough cleaning of the tongue and particularly its rear portions will reduce the afore-mentioned frequency of bad breath, will increase the sense of taste and will have the effect of refreshing the oral cavity. Thorough cleaning of the teeth is normal to-day in the population, but large geographical and social variations exist. The western world is to-day little focussed on other than the brushing of teeth and interdental cleaning with tooth floss and tooth picks. The phenomenon of bad breath can stem from the afore-mentioned conditions, but a series of research workers have published investigations where the main problem is the rear portions of the tongue. As regards persons without teeth, collections of dead skin cells, fungi and bacteria will not only occur in the prosthesis itself, but also in cheeks and portions of the palate. It is also known that dead skin cells in the mucous membranes can influence the aroma of the air from exhalation.
A series of instruments are known for the removal of accumulations of odor forming material on the tongue, and reference-shall be made here to GB-patent specifications 2.027.347, 2,234.903, 2.260.905 and 2.265.831. These patent specifications show a U-shaped bow which comprises a scraping edge and two handles which the user grips on, after which he can scrape the tongue with the scraping edge of the bow. However this scraping does not give a sufficient cleaning of the tongue and there is no discussion either of cleaning portions of the oral cavity as is mentioned above. In addition a cleaning instrument is known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,891,864 which comprises a combination of bristles and scraping edge. This instrument is however large and broad and long and it comprises up to six rows of bristles. It will therefore occupy a relatively large space in the oral cavity and there is the danger that the user gets vomiting feelings. The scraping edge which in the patent is shown by the reference number 4, is constituted by a separate metal plate, and it appears to consist of a sharp edge, which in itself can lead to the tongue being cut or injured.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a new instrument for cleaning of the oral cavity, and which remedies the drawbacks which are outlined above for the known cleaning instruments.
Briefly, the invention is directed to a cleaning instrument for an oral cavity comprising a bow-shaped cleaning element having oppositely disposed convex surfaces to define an approximately cigar-shape and a scraping edge along one side thereof. In addition, the cleaning instrument has at least one row of bristles mounted on the cleaning element along a second side opposite the scraping edge side of the cleaning element as well as a handle member which is connected with the cleaning element for manual grasping of the cleaning instrument.
According to the invention the device is used for the cleaning of the tongue, the mucous membranes, and if necessary, the palate portion within the oral cavity It is preferred to use the device together with a cleaning agent, such as a paste, gel or mouthrinse to be placed on the bristles.
REFERENCES:
patent: 36309 (1862-08-01), Schweizer
patent: 697336 (1902-04-01), Hagerty
patent: 1658706 (1928-02-01), Carrott
patent: 4455704 (1984-06-01), Williams
patent: 5048143 (1991-09-01), Carroll
patent: 5067195 (1991-11-01), Sussman
patent: 5175901 (1993-01-01), Rabinowitz
patent: 5511273 (1996-04-01), Carroll
patent: 5709004 (1998-01-01), Paduano
patent: 16979 (1894-09-01), None
patent: 0021620 (1894-11-01), None
patent: 179950 (1923-03-01), None
patent: 0449836 (1936-07-01), None
patent: 773038 (1957-04-01), None
patent: 90/02498 (1990-03-01), None
Carella Byrne Bain Gilfillan Cecchi Stewart & Olstein
Chin Randall E.
Hand, Esq. Francis C.
LandOfFree
Device for cleaning within the oral cavity does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for cleaning within the oral cavity, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for cleaning within the oral cavity will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2534567