US2873749A

US2873749A - Tooth cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US2873749A
Application number: US569037A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gjerde Borgtor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-03-17
Filing date: 1956-03-02
Publication date: 1959-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-17

Description

Feb. 17, 1959 B. GJERDE 2,873,749

TOOTHVELEANING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1956 7 I v 10 e INVENTOR.

BORE TOR GJERDE.

ATTO YLY ESS v 2,873,749 TOOTH CLEANING DEVICE Borgtor Gjerde, Minde, near Bergen, Norway Application March 2, 1956, Serial No. 569,037 Claims priority, application Norway March 17, 1955 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-91) This invention relates to a device for cleaning the spaces between the teeth for extracting food particles, food tissue and the like from between the teeth and more particularly to a highly efiicient and sanitary instrument or holder adapted to hold a flexible band or thread whereby the latter may be inserted between the teeth.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder having means whereby a closed loop of a flexible band or thread may be quickly secured there-v on to provide means for cleaning the teeth and which thread may be quickly removed if broken and unclean and replaced.

A special object of the invention is to provide a holder for a thread equipped with means whereby the tension applied to the thread may be easily adjusted to compensate for varying lengths of loops and for the elongation of such loop during use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efiicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts, and wherein two preferred embodiments are shown:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of tooth cleaning device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an axial sectional view on an enlarged scale of a part of the handle with associated parts.

Figure 3 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, illustrating adjustment of the tension applied to the thread.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing part of the handle and an associated holding member in a modified embodiment.

The tooth cleaning device of Figures 1 and 2 has a handle 1, slightly curved longitudinally to ensure a better grip, and bent in the opposite direction at 2 and having a forked end with two prongs 3 and 4. At its outer end each prong has a notch 5 for receiving a tooth cleaning thread 6. This thread forms a closed loop extending from the prong ends to a holding member 7 behind an upwardly directed lug 8 integral with the holding member. The holding member 7 encloses the handle and is arranged to be slidable' longitudinally. In the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3, the holding member closely encloses the handle laterally whereas a certain play allowed in the vertical direction. The top part of the holding member 7 carries a tooth 9 facing downwardly towards the upper side of the handle. This tooth co-operates with a rack of notches 10 arranged on the upper side of the handle. The tooth 9 is adapted to be received in a notch 10 whereby the holding member is maintained in a proper position to ensure correct tightening of the loop 6 (Figure 2). It is "ice obvious that by shifting the engagement so that the tooth 9 is received in another notch of the rack, the loop may be tightened or loosened according to the requirements.

It is preferred to arrange the lug 8 and the tooth 9 on a protruding part 11 of the holding member 7, and to manufacture the holding member from a material having a certain elasticity, so that the tooth 9 may be lifted from engagement in a notch for instance by engaging a finger nail under the protrusion 11 and lifting slightly (Figure 3).

However, it is also possible as shown in Figure 4, to allow the holding member 7 to have a certain play in the lateral direction of the handle, and to form the lateral dimensions of the notch rack '10 smaller than the total width of the handle whereby the tooth 9 may be moved in a lateral direction out of engagement with a corresponding notch and thereupon moved into engagement with another notch 10.

In the present and preferred embodiments, the fork legs are shown as extending in the same direction as the handle so as to form a continuation thereof. It is to be understood that this is only a preferred arrangement insuring easy manipulation, and that the prongs may extend in a lateral direction from the main direction of the handle.

In the embodiments of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the thread is shown as forming a closed loop by tying its ends together to form a knot 12. However, it is also possible to arrange securing means on the holding member 7 in order to secure the ends of a thread to this member and to avoid the necessity for tying the ends of the thread together. However, the latter arrangement is less preferable, because it is difficult to form such parts with smooth corners and without protruding parts, which are objectionable to the delicate skin of the human mouth.

It may be convenient to prefabricate threads or bands for use in the present device in loop form ready for use, for instance by welding together pieces of monofilament threads or cutting annular rings from an extruded tube. It is preferred to manufacture such threads or bands from physically strong polyamide threads.

Further it is preferred to manufacture the entire device from a suitable plastic material in a press moulding process. The notches 10 of the rack are preferably arranged with their engaging walls substantially vertical, whereby the stretch from the thread loop ensures a firm engagement between said wall and the forwardly extending tooth 9 of the holding member 7.

What I claim is:

A tooth cleaning device for use with a cleaning thread forming a closed loop, said device comprising a handle, a pair of fork arms integral with said handle and located at one end thereof to form a fork extending substantially in the direction of said handle and constituting a continuation thereof, each of said fork arms having a terminal end having formed therein a recess extending transversely to the direction of the fork arm for receiving the closed loop of the cleaning thread, whereby a portion of the closed loop constituting the active cleaning portion extends between the recesses of the two fork arms transversely to the longitudinal direction of said handle, said handle having formed therein notches which are integral with the handle and which extend in a row in the longitudinal direction of said handle, a sleeve enclosing said handle and slidable thereon, and a resilient protruding member integral with said sleeve and comprising an outwardly directed lug for receiving said closed loop in a. stretched condition, said loop extending between said recesses and behind said lug, said resilient protruding member further comprising an inwardly directed tooth facing said row of notches to engage one of the notches thereof, said tooth being adapted to be disengaged from the notch by manually raising said resilient protruding member, and to be shifted into engagement with another notch by the resiliency of said protruding member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sonn July 28, 1914 Goulet Oct. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 29, 1928