Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Sponge or sponge with holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-03-27
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Sponge or sponge with holder
C015S104920, C015S104930, C015S104940, C015S257010, C132S308000, C132S310000, C206S209000, C206S439000, C422S292000, C422S300000, C601S141000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tooth cleaning tools and more particularly pertains to a new tooth and gum cleaning tool for cleaning teeth and gums.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tooth cleaning tools is known in the prior art. More specifically, tooth cleaning tools heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,425; U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,190; U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,750; U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,820; U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,445; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,041.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tooth and gum cleaning tool. The inventive device includes an elongate handle portion having first and second ends. A sponge portion is coupled to said first end of said handle portion. The sponge portion has an engaging face and a back face opposite the engaging face. The engaging face has a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges extending from it.
In these respects, the tooth and gum cleaning tool according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of cleaning teeth and gums.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tooth cleaning tools now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new tooth and gum cleaning tool construction wherein the same can be utilized for cleaning teeth and gums.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tooth cleaning tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tooth cleaning tools, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongate handle portion having first and second ends. A sponge portion is coupled to said first end of said handle portion. The sponge portion has an engaging face and a back face opposite the engaging face. The engaging face has a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges extending from it.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tooth cleaning tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tooth cleaning tools, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tooth and gum cleaning tool economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool for cleaning teeth and gums.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool which includes an elongate handle portion having first and second ends. A sponge portion is coupled to said first end of said handle portion. The sponge portion has an engaging face and a back face opposite the engaging face. The engaging face has a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges extending from it.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool that is gentler on sensitive gums than traditional bristled brushes.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tooth and gum cleaning tool that is less likely to cause receding gums than traditional bristled brushes.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1194540 (1916-08-01), Quartararo
patent: 1790085 (1931-01-01), Barringer et al.
patent: 1924337 (1933-08-01), Troupa
patent: 2159295 (1939-05-01), Seifert
patent: 2736917 (1956-03-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 2783491 (1957-03-01), Bellam
patent: 2860011 (1958-11-01), Dunn
patent: 3064660 (1962-11-01), Munoz et al.
patent: 3267512 (1966-08-01), Wiley
patent: 3458268 (1969-07-01), Wozab et al.
patent: 3590414 (1971-07-01), Gores
patent: 4083078 (1978-04-01), Shimizu
patent: 4214657 (1980-07-01), Winston
patent: 5133971 (1992-07-01), Copelan et al.
patent: 5749116 (1998-05-01), Wieder et al.
patent: 5960801 (1999-10-01), Vermooten et al.
patent: 594466 (1925-09-01), None
patent: 727252 (1932-06-0
LandOfFree
Tooth and gum cleaning tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tooth and gum cleaning tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tooth and gum cleaning tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463762