Dentistry – Method or material for testing – treating – restoring – or... – Cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-07-03
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...
Cleaning
C015S110000, C015S167200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254390
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to oral hygiene appliances and more particularly to an appliance for simultaneously cleaning and/or burnishing multiple tooth surfaces.
2. Antecedents of the Invention
Personal oral hygiene has been a challenge throughout the ages and into the new millennium. Various toothbrush structures have been suggested for simplifying tooth brushing procedures by simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces. Typical examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,153 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 315,450 both issued to Applicant herein.
Employment of Applicant's prior toothbrushes provided multiple cleansing surfaces for simultaneous contact with labial, lingual and occlusal tooth surfaces. As a result, the brushing procedure was greatly simplified and reduced to longitudinal reciprocal motion. As such, it was particularly well-suited for use by children and young adults.
Unfortunately, the head configuration of prior multiple surface toothbrushes mandated a relatively large lateral extension at the toothbrush head. The lateral dimensions of the toothbrush head constituted a drawback, especially in conjunction with young children.
The beneficial advantages of utilizing a thermoplastic elastomer material for oral hygiene surfaces in contact with teeth have been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,264 to MICHAELS, which illustrated a toothbrush head having a plurality of projections of different geometric configuration. While the MICHAELS device may have been effective in cleansing and/or burnishing tooth surfaces, the overall geometric size and toothbrush head configuration appeared to be generally the same as a conventional toothbrush.
A need exists, therefore, especially in connection with promoting oral hygiene in young children, to simplify tooth brushing procedures while effectively cleansing and polishing tooth surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An oral burnisher includes an elongate handle having a head at one end. The head is configured as a trough of “U” shaped transverse cross section. The head includes a pair of opposed side panels and an inner back panel. Each side panel includes an inwardly facing array of thermoplastic elastomer projections while the inner back panel includes a similar array of thermoplastic elastomer projections. The outer face of the back panel is also provided with an array of thermoplastic elastomer projections for tooth cleansing and/or burnishing.
In use, the burnisher head is placed over the user's teeth such that the projections of one side panel engage labial tooth surfaces, the projections of the opposite side panel engage lingual tooth surfaces and the projections extending from the inner back panel engage occlusal tooth surfaces.
The handle is grasped and the burnisher is moved in a reciprocal motion with the projections engaging the tooth surfaces in rubbing contact to cleanse and burnish the tooth surfaces.
Front tooth surfaces may be optionally burnished utilizing the array of thermoplastic elastomer projection which extend from the outer face of the back panel.
The thermoplastic elastomer projections may be molded over the surface of the head, which may be formed in one piece with the handle of a more rigid plastic, such as polypropylene.
From the foregoing compendium, it will be appreciated that it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is not subject to the disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention aforementioned.
A feature of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is easy to use.
It is a consideration of the present invention to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described having multiple engagement surfaces for simultaneous contact with multiple tooth surfaces.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is relatively low in cost.
Another consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is well adapted to economical mass production fabrication.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is well suited for usage by both adults and children.
Yet another consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is capable of simultaneously burnishing multiple tooth surfaces with a thermoplastic elastomer.
To provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which induces children to practice oral hygiene is a still further feature of the present invention.
A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described having a head dimensioned for comfortable usage.
Yet another consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral burnisher of the general character described which is equally suited for use with our without a dentifrice preparation.
Other aspects, features and considerations of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.
With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in certain combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps by which the said aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features and considerations are hereinafter attained, or with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 110936 (1938-08-01), Wiseman
patent: D. 273153 (1984-03-01), Wagner
patent: D. 315450 (1991-03-01), Wagner
patent: 774253 (1904-11-01), Keefe
patent: 1687079 (1928-10-01), Barker
patent: 1833555 (1931-11-01), Bell
patent: 1840484 (1932-01-01), Brown
patent: 2771624 (1956-11-01), Ripper
patent: 3660902 (1972-05-01), Axelsson
patent: 5032082 (1991-07-01), Herrera
patent: 5040260 (1991-08-01), Michaels
patent: 5284168 (1994-02-01), Klinkhammer
patent: 5930860 (1999-08-01), Shipp
Bumgarner Melba
Natter & Natter
Wilson John J.
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