AU768968B2 - Dental prosthesis cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

ii P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2 0*

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): LEANNE MICHELLE CONNOLLY LEANNE MICHELLE CONNOLLY

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7, Reserve Bank Building 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) DENTAL PROSTHESIS CLEANING DEVICE Australian Patent Application No. PQ2512 filed 27 August 1999.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: DENTAL PROSTHESIS CLEANING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a dental prosthesis cleaning device and in particular but not limited to a dental prosthesis cleaning device adapted for use by a person with a physical disability or impaired co-ordination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The applicant has observed the need for a device which enables effective cleaning of dental prosthesis and the like where the device is designed with an oo emphasis on ease of use particularly by physically disabled or co-ordination 10 impaired persons.

Various devices are known for cleaning dental prosthesis. However as a whole these devices have been found unsatisfactory in terms of either ease of use or effective cleaning of the hard-to-reach surfaces of the prosthesis.

~Conventional cleaning means for dental prosthesis include overnight dental solutions, a non-slip cloth placed in the bottom of a sink and a nail brush with :suction caps. The inherent problem encountered with each is their inability to properly clean the dental prosthesis, especially the intricate ridges and grooves of the denture base and teeth.

More recently dental prosthesis cleaning has relied on devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Patents 5,383,244, 5,564,148, 5,758,384, and 5,881,421.

However, in use of any of these prior art devices, it is necessary that both the device and dental prosthesis be held by hand to facilitate cleaning. This impedes use by the above-mentioned persons.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is therefore to provide a dental prosthesis cleaning device which alleviates or at least reduces to a certain degree one or more of the prior art disadvantages.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a dental prosthesis cleaning device comprising:a body member having a base portion and an upper portion; said base portion having a periphery, a bottom side and an upper side; 10 said upper portion comprising vertical walls extending upwardly from the base periphery and having a recessed section in each of two spaced opposed walls thereof; said bottom side having securing means for removably fixing to a surface, said upper side having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom; and said bristles terminating in a brushing surface adapted to clean surfaces of a dental prosthesis.

Preferably, the bristles are arranged into rows, wherein bristles of an individual row are of uniform height.

In a preferred embodiment the rows are arranged in clusters of one or more rows. The clusters may have different average bristle heights such that the cleaning surface formed thereby comprises a number of definable cleaning zones. The cleaning zones may include:a first cleaning zone of generally flat formation; a second cleaning zone arranged so that said clusters thereat alternate in height; and a third cleaning zone having an outwardly convex formation.

Preferably, the second cleaning zone is aligned with the recessed sections of the dental prosthesis cleaning device to facilitate greater lateral movement of the constituent bristles during cleaning. More preferably the second cleaning zone is interposed between said first and third cleaning zones which may be suitably located on opposed side edges of the body member.

In use, the dental prosthesis cleaning device is preferably secured to a 10 surface, wherein the dental prosthesis may be held against the cleaning device, and with minimal movement of, and pressure applied to such, the dental prosthesis is **cleaned. It is desirable that such cleaning would require use of only one hand.

The securing means is preferably in the form of any of the following, including suction caps, non-slip material such as a rubber mat, a water resistant sticker, or any other means such that the device can be removably secured to a surface, whether flat or curved, including that of a sink, shower recess, bath or bench top.

In a preferred form, the securing means comprises a number of suction caps which are attached to the base by screws. Alternatively, glue can be employed in place of the screws, or, the suction caps may be moulded with the base as a single unit. It is understood that the suction caps may be constructed of any suitable material for example moulded rubber or plastic.

The bristles of the cleaning device are preferably fixed in the base, said means of fixing may be by means of gluing said bristles into the holes of the base, compaction of the bristles into the base holes, or moulding the bristles and base as a single unit. The bristles can be manufactured of any suitable material such as resilient rubber or moulded plastic. Similarly it is understood that the bristle texture, strength, size or hardness or a combination thereof can be varied as required.

In preference the cleaning device base is larger than the dental prosthesis.

Desirably the base is constructed with rounded edges. The base may be constructed of resilient rubber, moulded plastic, metal, wood or any other suitable 10 material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS **In order that the present invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which ~illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dental prosthesis cleaning device .according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the dental prosthesis cleaning device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the dental prosthesis cleaning device shown in Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the various cleaning zones of the dental prosthesis cleaning device shown in Figures 1 to 3, in combination with their corresponding target cleaning surface(s) of the dental prosthesis.

Figure 7 shows the application of the dental prosthesis cleaning device shown in Figures 1 to 3 secured on a number of different bathroom surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a dental prosthesis cleaning device of the present invention. The device is comprised of a generally broad body member 11 having a base portionl 2 and an upper portion 13. The upper portion comprises vertical walls extending upwardly from periphery of the base portion, and having a recessed section 14 in each of two spaced opposed walls thereof. The base portionl2 is formed with a bottom side and an upper side. Said upper side of the base portion 12 has a plurality of bristles 15 extending therefrom. The bristles 15 terminate in a brushing surface adapted to clean surfaces of a dental prosthesis as will be described later. The bottom side has securing means shown herein as suction caps 16 whereby the device 10 can be removably secured to a surface when required to clean a dental prosthesis 21. If 15 desired the device 10 can be left as is or be easily removed from the surface.

As shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the bristles 15 are arranged into rows 17, wherein each of said rows comprises bristles of substantially uniform length.

As shown in Figure 3 the brushing surface comprises a number of definable cleaning zones 18, 19 and 20. The rows 17 in the zone 18 are of uniform height.

The row 17 in the zone 19 are arranged in clusters of alternate heights and the rows 17 in the zone 20 are of incrementally height towards the middle thereof, and thereby forming an arrow head-like cleaning surface.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 which comprise fragmented views of the dental prosthesis cleaning device 10 at the various cleaning zones 18, 19 and These figures show the application of the cleaning surface in each of the zones 18 to 20 to specific surfaces of the dental prosthesis 21.

As shown in Figure 4 the first cleaning zone 18 is of generally flat formation comprising rows 17 of uniform bristle height. The zone 18 is designed to facilitate cleaning of the denture tooth area 22 and gum area 23. The said first cleaning zone 18 is located at a side edge of the body member 11.

As shown in Figure 5 the cleaning zone 19 is formed within an area bounded by the recessed sections 14 of the body member 11. Said clusters of 10 bristles 15 alternate in height to provide a contoured cleaning surface. This zone 19 is adapted to clean the denture underside surface 24 and denture teeth 22. The presence of the recesses 14 in the body member 11 provides a relatively greater lateral movement of the bristles 15 during cleaning. The greater lateral movement facilitates better and easier cleaning action especially for the physically impaired 15 persons.

As shown in Figure 6 the third cleaning zone 20 has an outer convex or arrow head-like formation of bristles 15. The rows 17 of bristles 15 peak towards the centre most rows 17 and decline evenly to the shortest outermost rows. This zone 20 is particularly adapted to clean the top palette surface 25 of the denture.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is shown the application of the dental prosthesis cleaning device 10 on a number of different bathroom surfaces. In use, the dental prosthesis cleaning device 10 may be securely attached to any surface including that of a sink 26, bench 27, or bathtub 28. As the device 10 is securely 8 attached it enables single-handed denture cleaning.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

.o a. *•g **o 00 o

Claims (8)

1. A dental prosthesis cleaning device comprising:- a body member having a base portion and an upper portion; said base portion having a periphery, a bottom side and an upper side; said upper portion comprising vertical walls extending upwardly from the base periphery and having a recessed section in each of two spaced opposed walls thereof; said bottom side having securing means for removably fixing to a surface; o.oo said upper side having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom; and 10 said bristles terminating in a brushing surface adapted to clean surfaces of go a dental prosthesis.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the bristles are arranged into rows and the bristles of each row are of substantially uniform height.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the rows are arranged in clusters containing one or more of said rows and the clusters having different average bristle heights such that the cleaning surface formed thereby comprises a number of definable cleaning zones.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the cleaning zones include:- a first cleaning zone of generally flat formation; a second cleaning zone arranged so that said clusters thereat alternate in height; and a third cleaning zone having an outwardly convex formation.

The device according to claim 4 wherein the second cleaning zone is aligned with the recessed sections to facilitate a relatively greater lateral movement of the constituent bristles during cleaning.

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the second cleaning zone is interposed between said first and third cleaning zones.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means is in the form of any of the followings: suction caps, non-slip material, a water resistant sticker, and the like.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a :**oo number of suction caps which are attached to the base portion. DATED this 26th day of June 2000 LEANNE MICHELLE CONNOLLY By her Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO r