GB2130887A

GB2130887A - Dental treatment device

Info

Publication number: GB2130887A
Application number: GB08233599A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Grosse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-25
Filing date: 1982-11-25
Publication date: 1984-06-13

Abstract

A dental treatment device is formed from a high density foamed synthetic plastics material and comprises a handle 1 intended to be held between finger and thumb and a pad 2 connected to the handle 1 by a hinge 3. The pad 2 conforms to the finger tip of the finger partly holding the device and indentations 4 on one side of said pad carry a tooth polishing, antiseptic, or other compound which the user can rub upon the teeth. The device is disposable, after use, and other shapes and constructions thereof are described and illustrated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dental treatment device This invention relates to a dental treatment device whose primary purpose is cosmetic, rather than hygienic, although the device can be given a hygienic function if so desired.

Although disposable toothbrushes already provided with a supply of toothpaste have been known for some time, their relatively high cost and large size has prevented them from becoming popular. Toothpicks and dental floss are also available but they are not capable of performing a tooth-polishing function which many people find desirable at times when they have no access to a conventional toothbrush and-toothpaste.

Accordingly, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a small primarily cosmetic dental treatment device which can be inexpensively mass-produced for disposable use whenever required, a number of such devices being capable of hygienic arrangement in an also disposable holder sized for placing in a pocket, handbag or the like.

According to the invention., there is provided a dental treatment device comprising a handle and a treatment pad, wherein the handle is dimensioned to fit between the thumb and a finger of a user of the device with the treatment pad arranged against the tip of the same finger of the user.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of dental treatment device constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second form of the dental treatment device, and Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating an inter-connected strip comprising a plurality of dental treatment devices constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the dental treatment device which is illustrated in that Figure is formed wholly from a synthetic plastics material which it is preferred should be high density expanded polystyrene foam. The device has a handle 1 which is dimensioned to fit between the thumb and a finger of a user of the device and also comprises a treatment pad 2 which, when the handle 1 is held in the manner just described, can be arranged against the tip of the same finger of the user of the device. The handle 1 is integrally connected to the treatment pad 2 by a hinge 3 in the form of a portion of the whole device which is of very much reduced thickness as compared with the remainder thereof.The device which is illustrated in Figure 1 may have a maximum thickness of substantially 3 millimeters and a maximum end-to-end length of substantially 40 millimeters, the width being substantially 112 millimeters.

It will be realised that the hinge 3 between the handle 1 and the treatment pad 2 of the dental treatment device that is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings enables said pad 2 to deflect away from the general plane of the handle 1 to bear more accurately against the finger tip of a user of the device. A pattern of indentations 4 is formed to roughen that surface of the treatment pad 2 which will, in the use of the device, be the surface thereof that actually effects the treatment and said indentations 4 preferably receive a layer [not visible in the drawings] of a tooth-polishing compound, proprietary toothpaste or the like.

The method of a dental treatment device in accordance with the invention will be immediately apparent. The handle 1 of the device is held between the thumb and finger of a user in the manner discussed with the treatment pad 2 located against the tip of the same finger in a position in which, by virtue of the hinge 3, it is deflected from the plane of the handle 1. The finger tip, effectively carrying the treatment pad 2, can then be used cosmetically to polish the surfaces of the teeth and, when the polishing operation is finished, it is only necessary to rinse out the mouth with water and to throw the device away.

Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates a second embodiment in which, instead of providing the hinge 3, the treatment pad 2 is of significantly reduced thickness, as compared with that of the handle 1, so that said pad 2 is of sufficient flexibiiity to fit against the finger tip of a user whilst matching the shape of that finger tip. An alternative pattern of indentations 4 is exhibited by the embodiment of Figure 2 of the drawings and it will be apparent that many different patterns of the indentations 4 are possible to provide a support for a supply of a tooth-polishing compound or a proprietary toothpaste. If desired, the treatment pad 2 may comprise a number of formations similar to the hinge 3 of Figure 1 so that said pad 2 can bend about those formations to match the shape of the finger tip of the user of the device.

Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates a construction in which a strip of dental treatment devices is produced, the lower ends of their handles 1 [as seen in Figure 3] preferably being tearably connected to a transverse supporting strip [not shown] in such a way that the supporting strip can be retained by, for example, an adhesive in a cardboard, paper board or other holder which will fold protectively around that supporting strip and the strip of treatment devices that are tearably connected to the supporting strip so as to be capable of removal from the holder, one at a time, when required.The foldable holder may comprise a synthetic plastics or other liner arranged to prevent the tooth-polishing compound or proprietary toothpaste carried by the devices from staining the inside of a pocket, handbag or the like in which the flat holder can easily be carried, the size thereof being comparable with that of a conventional book of matches. It is noted that the treatment pads 2 of the devices shown in Figure 3 of the drawings are not illustrated as having any of the indentations 4. They will, in practice, have such indentations 4 but their omission in Figure 3 is to highlight the previously mentioned fact that said indentations 4 may be provided in any desired one of a multitude of different patterns.

It is not essential that the dental treatment devices should be provided in strips as described above with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings and; if preferred, they may be packaged individually in, preferably, transparent or partially transparent synthetic plastics sleeves. In either case, the surrounding hygienic holder or individual packaging sleeve may carry brief instructions as to the use of the dental treatment devices and/or advertisements extoiling premises in which the treatment devices can be obtained and/or advertising other products or services to whose proprietors advertising space on the holders and/or packages may be sold.

In another embodiment, which is not illustrated, the handle 1 may be in the form of a tooth pick of one of the kinds described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of my patent application No.

8227087 dated the 22nd September, 1982.

Under these circumstances, the handle 1 serves the dual purpose of a support for the treatment pad 2 and in its own right, as a tooth pick primarily for use in removing particles of food from between the teeth. Such a dual purpose dental treatment device is, of course, readily disposable after use.

Although very convenient and inexpensive, the use of expanded polystyrene for the dental treatment devices is not essential and other materials, such as polypropylene foam could be used as an alternative as could a handle and fixedly or integrally combined pad made from a woven or non-woven textile material. A textile material pad will readily match the curvature of the finger tip of the user of the device and, provided that a relatively rough textile material is used, that material will already naturally have indentations equivalent to the indentations 4 that have been described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. It is not essential that a tooth-polishing compound or proprietary toothpaste alone should be carried by the treatment pad 2. If desired, that pad 2 may carry a liquid or semi-liquid antiseptic and the ready availability of such a dental treatment device, at any required time through the day, can be a considerable advantage to persons suffering from gum ailments that ideally need treatment after every meal or at least more often than once or twice a day.

It will be appreciated that dental treatment devices in accordance with the invention are small in size, relative to that of a conventional toothbrush, and can be inexpensively massproduced for disposable use whenever required, the nature of the devices being such that they are capable of hygienic arrangement in a disposable holder sized for placing in a pocket, handbag or the like.

Claims

1. A dental treatment device comprising a handle and a treatment pad, wherein the handle is dimensioned to fit between the thumb and a finger of a user of the device with the treatment pad arranged against the tip of the same finger of the user.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device is formed substantially wholly from a synthetic plastics material.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the plastics material is high density expanded polystyrene foam or polypropylene foam.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the handle and the pad are interconnected by at least one hinge.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 4 or in Claim 3 and Claim 4, wherein the or each hinge is afforded by a portion of the device that is formed integrally between the handle and the pad but which is of much reduced thickness as compared therewith.

6. A device as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 3, wherein the pad is of reduced thickness as compared with the handle and has sufficient flexibility to fit against the finger tip of a user whilst substantially matching the shape of that finger tip.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the pad is formed with a pattern of indentations for tooth-polishing purposes at that side thereof which, in use, will be remote from the finger tip of a person holding said handle.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said indentations are provided with a layer of toothpolishing compound, proprietary toothpaste, antiseptic or the like.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim and having its handle tearably connected to a supporting strip in common with a plurality of other substantially identical dental treatment devices.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, and having a maximum thickness of substantially 3 millimetres, a maximum end-to-end length of substantially 30 millimetres and a width of substantially 1 1 millimeters.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the handle thereof is shaped for use as a toothpick as well as for use in supporting said pad.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device is formed substantially wholly from a woven or non-woven textile material.

1 3. A dental treatment device substantially as hereinbefore described with or without reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.