Disposable tooth bleaching tray

Details Disposable tooth bleaching tray Disposable tooth bleaching tray

2000-10-16

2001-08-28

Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)

Dentistry

Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...

C433S037000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280196

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an improved tooth bleaching tray, and, more particularly, to a disposable tooth bleaching tray having means for retaining the bleaching composition in a trough-like member and for reducing the possibility of such bleaching composition contacting a person's gums.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, it has become fashionable to periodically bleach one's teeth in order to accentuate their whiteness. There are various known bleaching compositions that are used for this purpose. In general, the prior art has contemplated the U-shaped trough-like member to hold the bleaching composition in contact with the person's teeth while being bleached.
However, in some cases, the bleaching composition will run out of the rear of the trough-like member, or be displaced upwardly so as to contact a person's gums. In general, it would desirable to retain the bleaching composition in the trough so as to contact a person's teeth, and to prevent such composition from unduly contacting the person's gums.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention broadly provides an improved tooth bleaching tray (
20
).
The improved tray broadly includes a U-shaped trough-like member (
21
) having a central arcuate portion (
22
) and having an extension portion (
23
,
24
) continuing from either end thereof and terminating in a distal end (
25
,
26
). The tray has an outer wall (
28
) adapted to face toward the outer surface of a person's teeth, an inner wall (
29
) adapted to face toward the inner surface of such person's teeth, and a bottom surface (
30
) joining the lower margins of the inner and outer walls. A thin flexible wall (
31
,
32
) is located at each extension portion distal end andjoining the margins of said inner and outer walls and said bottom. Each flexible portion being adapted to conform to the shape of such person's rearwardmost molar without deformation of said trough-like member and functions as a dam to prevent the bleaching composition from flowing out of the trough-like member through the distal ends.
In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface is generally arcuate between the inner and outer walls in the vicinity of arcuate portion
22
, but is generally flat or planar toward the distal ends ofthe extensions. The inner and outer walls are preferably inclined in the vicinity of the arcuate portion to conform to the normal inclination of a person's teeth. This angle of inclination may be about 9°.
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of ribs are provided on the inner surface to reduce the possibility of the bleaching composition contacting the person's gums.
Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide an improved tooth bleaching tray.
Another object is to provide an improved disposable tooth bleaching tray having flexible end walls that are adapted to retain bleaching composition in the trough-like member.
Another object is to provide an improved tooth bleaching tray having a plurality of ribs to minimize the possibility of the bleaching composition contacting a person's gums.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the foregoing and ongoing written specification, the drawings, and the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4138814 (1979-02-01), Weltzman
patent: 5460527 (1995-10-01), Kittelsen
patent: 6017217 (2000-01-01), Wittrock
patent: 6132208 (2000-10-01), Mathieu

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