GB2122482A

GB2122482A - Device for cleaning teeth and massaging gums

Info

Publication number: GB2122482A
Application number: GB08311988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Avraham Fishman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-22
Filing date: 1983-05-03
Publication date: 1984-01-18
Also published as: SE8302877D0; GB8311988D0; SE8302877L; NL8301504A; DE3219301C2; JPS5954A; CA1209761A; DE3219301A1; GB2122482B

Abstract

The toothbrush used up to now for such purposes has certain disadvantages and, furthermore, caused by its nature and size it is not always on hand when dental hygiene necessitates it. The device as defined in the invention is characterized by a small sheet 10 provided with a multitude of bristles 11 or bristlelike projections which is suitably dimensioned and is provided on its front side with a dentifrice 51 and on its back side with an adhesive 12 which makes possible the attaching on a finger tip, and a peel-off cover 13. A piece of dental floss may be included. It creates a kind of "disposable toothbrush" which is hygienic and always ready to use and can always be on hand due to the small dimensions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tooth cleaning device The invention relates to a device for cleaning teeth and massaging gums. Well-known devices ofthis kind are toothbrushes in different shapes and sizes with differently arranged bristles.

Toothbrushes have the disadvantage, among other things, that becauseofmultiple usetheyare unhygienic and can cause infections under certain circumstances. According to the findings of dentology generally known today, the following rules especially have to be observed in oral hygiene.

A. Teeth must be brushed after every meal.

However, if one eats out, this is only rarely possible because normally a toothbrush and toothpaste are not taken along.

B. Teeth aresupposedto be brushed from all sides and the toothbrush is supposed to be able to penetrate into all corners ofthe mouth. This necessitates a special and not quite simple handling ofthetoothbrush and is only conditionally possible.

C. Forthe preservation of the teeth, gum massage is just as important as the brushing ofthe teeth. This, too, is only conditionally possible with a conventional toothbrush because it cannot reach into all corners of the mouth.

It is the object of the invention to develop a device which fullytakes into account all requirement mentioned above and eliminates the mentioned deficiencies. A solution is offered especially to the first and most important of all problems by having available everywhere and always tooth care agents ready to use.

The invention solves this problem by a device which is characterized by a rubber-elastic small sheet provided with a plurality of bristles or bristle-like projections which is suitably dimensioned, is impregnated with a dentifrice and provided with adhesive which makes possiblethefastening on a holder especially on the tip (first joint) of a finger. On a preferred type, the means forfastening includes an adhesive layer which is attached on the back side of the sheet and is covered with a peelable foil. Production is especially simple if the bristlelike projections form an integral part ofthe small sheet.

Such a device forms a kind ofdisposabletoothcteaning device which is always available. Anything necessaryfororal hygeineforseveral days has room in the "vest pocket". The device is hygienically wrapped. The finger, on which the device is placed, permits good access to all corners ofthe mouth, and the teeth cannot only be brushed butthe gums can also be massaged thoroughly. The handling is "child's play" so that also small children can work with it and can be induced to cleantheirteeth each time.

The invention is described in conjuction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 includes top and side elevational views of the device first without a release of peel-offfoil and second, with such foil; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right hand where the device is glued on the tip of the indexfinger; FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a device provided with a dentifrice and covered with a wrapping or enclosure; FIG. 4 includes a top plan view and a side elevational viewofa pluralityofthe devices in enclosures or wrapping; and FIGS. 5 and 6 arefragmentarytop plan views showing alternative wrapping variations.

The device illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of a small oval sheet 10 of rubber-elastic material which is provided on its upper side with a plurality of bristlelike projections 11 ofthe same material and which has an adhesive layer 12 below. In the right half of FIG. 1 ,the device is attached on a rectangular portion 13 of a smooth foil or other release sheet by means of its adhesive layer. For the use ofthe device, the foil can be peeled off the adhesive layer and the device can than be glued onto the finger tip of the index finger of the right hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is then readyto be used. The device can naturally be attached also on the fingertip of anotherfinger or also on a finger of the left hand.With this finger one can then reach into the mouth, clean the teeth with the glued-on device and/or massage the gums.

The device can also be provided with a dentifrice placed on and/or between the bristlelike projections, as it is illustrated in FIG. 3. There, the device indicated in its entirety by 50 corresponds to that shown in FIG.

1. Between the bristlelike projections there is placed the dentifrice 51 indicated by dots which becomes effective when itis in contactwith water or saliva.

Instead of gluing the devices individually on a foil piece as in FIG. 1, several small sheets (such as those designated 10 in FIG. 1) can be glued ontothe tape-shaped or rectangularfoil as it is indicated in FIGS. 4,5 and 6. Here they are additionally covered hygienically by a second foil 41. The two foils are connected with each other along the seam lines so thattheyform individual portions separating each device from the other. Perforations or specified tear-off places are placed between the individual compartments. This permits each time the tearing off of an individual, hygienically wrapped cleaning device spaced laterally from the others on the base sheet or foil.

Finally, anothervariation is illustrated in FIG. 6. The individual devices 60 are hygienicallywarpped in a manner similarto the wrapping according to FIGS. 4 and 5 but a piece of dental floss is here included in the wrapping each time. One end ofthe piece of dental floss 61 can be connected advantageously with the cleaning device. Such tapes can be stored, for instance, in vending machines which each time (possibly after money is put in) dispense such disposable tooth cleaning device. The placing of such vending machines in rest rooms could be considered.

As a variation the thread can also be arranged in such a way that is serves simultaneously to tear open and/orto separate the individual package.

1. A deviceforthe cleaning and care ofteeth and gums, characterized by a small sheet provided with a multitude of bristles or bristlelike projections which is suitably dimensioned and is provided on its backside with an adhesive that makes possible its detachable fastening on a holder.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tooth cleaning device The invention relates to a device for cleaning teeth and massaging gums. Well-known devices ofthis kind are toothbrushes in different shapes and sizes with differently arranged bristles. Toothbrushes have the disadvantage, among other things, that becauseofmultiple usetheyare unhygienic and can cause infections under certain circumstances. According to the findings of dentology generally known today, the following rules especially have to be observed in oral hygiene. A. Teeth must be brushed after every meal. However, if one eats out, this is only rarely possible because normally a toothbrush and toothpaste are not taken along. B. Teeth aresupposedto be brushed from all sides and the toothbrush is supposed to be able to penetrate into all corners ofthe mouth. This necessitates a special and not quite simple handling ofthetoothbrush and is only conditionally possible. C. Forthe preservation of the teeth, gum massage is just as important as the brushing ofthe teeth. This, too, is only conditionally possible with a conventional toothbrush because it cannot reach into all corners of the mouth. It is the object of the invention to develop a device which fullytakes into account all requirement mentioned above and eliminates the mentioned deficiencies. A solution is offered especially to the first and most important of all problems by having available everywhere and always tooth care agents ready to use. The invention solves this problem by a device which is characterized by a rubber-elastic small sheet provided with a plurality of bristles or bristle-like projections which is suitably dimensioned, is impregnated with a dentifrice and provided with adhesive which makes possiblethefastening on a holder especially on the tip (first joint) of a finger. On a preferred type, the means forfastening includes an adhesive layer which is attached on the back side of the sheet and is covered with a peelable foil. Production is especially simple if the bristlelike projections form an integral part ofthe small sheet. Such a device forms a kind ofdisposabletoothcteaning device which is always available. Anything necessaryfororal hygeineforseveral days has room in the "vest pocket". The device is hygienically wrapped. The finger, on which the device is placed, permits good access to all corners ofthe mouth, and the teeth cannot only be brushed butthe gums can also be massaged thoroughly. The handling is "child's play" so that also small children can work with it and can be induced to cleantheirteeth each time. The invention is described in conjuction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 includes top and side elevational views of the device first without a release of peel-offfoil and second, with such foil; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right hand where the device is glued on the tip of the indexfinger; FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a device provided with a dentifrice and covered with a wrapping or enclosure; FIG. 4 includes a top plan view and a side elevational viewofa pluralityofthe devices in enclosures or wrapping; and FIGS. 5 and 6 arefragmentarytop plan views showing alternative wrapping variations. The device illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of a small oval sheet 10 of rubber-elastic material which is provided on its upper side with a plurality of bristlelike projections 11 ofthe same material and which has an adhesive layer 12 below. In the right half of FIG. 1 ,the device is attached on a rectangular portion 13 of a smooth foil or other release sheet by means of its adhesive layer. For the use ofthe device, the foil can be peeled off the adhesive layer and the device can than be glued onto the finger tip of the index finger of the right hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is then readyto be used. The device can naturally be attached also on the fingertip of anotherfinger or also on a finger of the left hand.With this finger one can then reach into the mouth, clean the teeth with the glued-on device and/or massage the gums. The device can also be provided with a dentifrice placed on and/or between the bristlelike projections, as it is illustrated in FIG. 3. There, the device indicated in its entirety by 50 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1. Between the bristlelike projections there is placed the dentifrice 51 indicated by dots which becomes effective when itis in contactwith water or saliva. Instead of gluing the devices individually on a foil piece as in FIG. 1, several small sheets (such as those designated 10 in FIG. 1) can be glued ontothe tape-shaped or rectangularfoil as it is indicated in FIGS. 4,5 and 6. Here they are additionally covered hygienically by a second foil 41. The two foils are connected with each other along the seam lines so thattheyform individual portions separating each device from the other. Perforations or specified tear-off places are placed between the individual compartments. This permits each time the tearing off of an individual, hygienically wrapped cleaning device spaced laterally from the others on the base sheet or foil. Finally, anothervariation is illustrated in FIG. 6. The individual devices 60 are hygienicallywarpped in a manner similarto the wrapping according to FIGS. 4 and 5 but a piece of dental floss is here included in the wrapping each time. One end ofthe piece of dental floss 61 can be connected advantageously with the cleaning device. Such tapes can be stored, for instance, in vending machines which each time (possibly after money is put in) dispense such disposable tooth cleaning device. The placing of such vending machines in rest rooms could be considered. As a variation the thread can also be arranged in such a way that is serves simultaneously to tear open and/orto separate the individual package. CLAIMS

2. A device as defined in claim 1, characterized by thefactthatthe small sheet consists of a flexible, especially rubber-elastic material.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, characterized by thefactthatthe bristlelike projections are made as an integral component ofthe small sheet.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, characterized by thefactthatthe bristles are inserted into the small sheet.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, characterized by thefactthatthefastening means include an adhesive layerwhich is attached on the backside ofthe sheet and is covered by a peel-off foil.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, characterized by the factthata dentifrice is put on the side with the bristles or bristlelike projections of the small sheet.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the dentifrice is dry and becomes effective only if it gets in contact with water or saliva.

8. A packaging for devices as defined in claim 5, characterised by the fact that a coverfoil is provided overthe peel-offfoil and indivual compartments are formed therein which coverthe devices hygienically and separate them from each other.

9. A packaging as defined in claim 8, characterized by the factthat, between the individual compartments, the carrier and the coverfoil are provided with perforations and specified tear-off places which each time make possible the tearing off of a hygienically wrapped device.

10. A packaging as defined in claim 9, characterized by the fact that in the individual compartments there is enclosed between carrier and coverfoil a piece of dental floss and is arranged in such a way that it serves simultaneously to tear open and/orto separate the individual package.

11. A packaging for devices as defined in claim 1, characterized by the fact that a multitude of like devices is made as a continuous integral system with the connection between the individual devices taking place byway of a lateral widening of the sheet material.

12. Adeviceforthecleaning andcareofteethand gums, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

13. A package substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.