GB2341100A

GB2341100A - Bite-powered tooth cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2341100A
Application number: GB9819327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Livingston Pomeroy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-07
Filing date: 1998-09-07
Publication date: 2000-03-08
Also published as: GB9819327D0

Abstract

The tooth cleaner comprises a compressible rubber ball (A), reservoir (B) for water and tube (E). In use, tube (E) is placed in source of water, the user repeatedly bites on ball (A) which forces water up the tube (E), through valves (D) and (C) and into reservoir (B). Using the tongue, the user then directs tube (E) towards a tooth and releases the water by pulling the trigger.

Description

2341100 BITS-POWERED' TOOTH CLEANER This invention relates to a mechanical

device to clean the teeth and space between the teeth with jets of liquid -- water or other -- compressed by the user c:hewing on aErpherical pump made of rubber or'plastic., as described in the accompanying text and drawings. of course, the use of jets of pressurized water to clean teeth is not new. Dentists and oral hygiests have used it for years, and now there are even portable pumps; machines driven by batteries or mains electricity. The principal claim that I hope proves original ig the sourc.e of power, which allows my device to be compact, free of operating cost and avoids the use of electric:ity in or near the mouth -- the very thought of which is dreadful! As mentioned above, the power to operate this jet cleaner is a little spherical rubber pump A in the accompanying drawinggs, of which Figure One does not show the valves but only the trigger of the inner workings. B is the rigid handle'which being hollow C> - is the reservoir for the compressed jet fluid. The tube E is a-little like an elephants trunk, as will be seen in the explanation of cutaway drawing Figure Two. 'WhereasthePig One shows tube 5 drawing water 'up into pump A, in Fig Two, the cutaway drawing is meant to show the device after the trigger has been. C> pulled releasing both valves C and D and the tongue has directed the jet E to the desired target. At this point, it might be asked whether just chewing on a little rubber ball can prcduce the degree of energy required for a really powerful jet? I can't answer that until I have actually built a prototype and tried, but I have read that the jaw produces between three hundred and five hundred pounds per square inch at every bite, so five or six bites should be enough for a pretty powerful little jet! 'So the pumping action.is the following.. When the teeth bite down on the ball A, the air is driven through valve C into reservoir A When the bite is released, pump A resumes it's shape, sucking valve C closed and drawing water up through tube E, past valve D into pump A where it remains momentarily until -the next bite re- peats the cycle adding water to the air in reservoir B. 2.

Now we will see how I propose to aim the jet tube E to draw water up from the mouth, or to point the jet (also tube E) to whichever tooth is currently being cleaned. So how is this little jet actually aimed? Without pin-point accuracy, my device- is little more than a rather complicated water pistol. For this, the user will depend on his tongue, one of the most useful organs of our body. Without going into a panegyric on this in- C> valuable organ, I would like to take this opportunity to say that if we paid more heed to the wisdom of our tongues, we would have loager and more pleasant lives. Enough of that. All C= will say now is that my tongue knows the inside of my "uth better than. anyone I know, and that includes my dentist, who is much more painful gnd expensive and not half as dexterous. So in order to help the tongue flip this little tube E, now downto suck up a quantity of fresh water and laterup and over to a particularly gummy tooth, r have fitted the base of the tube with a small ball-and-socket joint. So when the pressure -'s right, and you are about to pull the triceper before it blows every tooth out of your mouth, your tongue will point just where it should, you pull the trigger and "zap!" If- it is still there, that particular tooth is as clean as it is ever going to be.

C> Oh yes, P. This is just a rub1)er W7hat else is there to say? di,lp!7ragm to prevent the pressurized liquid frorn leaking out.

3.

1. A snall, bite-powered jet tooth cleaner using the user's own chewing action to conpress water or riouthwash as the power source to clean the te,th, gums and space betwe.:-:,n the teeth.

2. A ptmp made of a hollow cylirider or sphere of rubber or plastic fitted with directional valves when. chewed on sucks In water and drives it out to a reservoir where it is licld under pressure until released as a clec.ii-4nc' jet.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A small, bite powered jet tooth cleaner using the user's own

chewing action to compress water or mouthwash as the power source to clean the teeth, gums and space between the teeth.
2. A pump made of hollow cylinder or sphere of rubber of plastic fitted with directional valves when chewed on sucks in water and drives it out to a reservoir where it is held under pressure until released as a cleaning jet.
3. A small bite powered tooth cleaner, as described above,with a combined intake and exhaust tube to carry the water or mouthwash to the teeth to be cleaned which will be directed by the tip of the tongue.

1