US3043295A

US3043295A - Tooth cleaning and gum massaging instrumentality

Info

Publication number: US3043295A
Application number: US851302A
Authority: US
Inventors: Abraham W Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-06
Filing date: 1959-11-06
Publication date: 1962-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-10

Description

July 10, 1962 A. w. WARD 3,043,295

TOOTH CLEANING AND cum MASSAGING INSTRUMENTALITY Filed Nov. 6. 1959 INVEN TOR. A.W. W0 rd.

ATTORNEYS.

finiteti rates 3,943 295 TGOTH CLEANING Al lD GEM MASSAGWG ENSTRUMENTALITY atent Filed Nov. 6, N59, Ser. No. 851,302 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-62) This invention relates to a fingercot useful in cleaning teeth and massaging gums.

Various devices have been suggested in the prior art which may be mounted on the finger of the user and employed to clean teeth and massage the soft tissue of the mouth. These, however, have not gained much general acceptance by either the dental profession or the general public. This lack of acceptance has been due primarily to the difficulty encountered in using these prior art devices and the ineffectiveness of these devices for their intended purposes.

' A common characteristic of the prior art finger cots is the non-uniform distribution of pointed protuberances over the surface of the cot which is important in cleaning the teeth and massaging the gingiva. The pointed protuberances by and large have been confined to one side of the prior art finger cots. This has made it necessary to shift the cot from one hand to the other in order to clean or massage certain surfaces of the teeth or to massage certain areas of the gums. It has also been suggested that a finger cot be provided with pointed pro-- tuberances on one side and relatively blunt, as well as rectangularly-shaped, protuberances on the other side of the cot. This construction does not avoid the disadvantage of not being able to reach conveniently certain areas of the mouth with the pointed protuberances which are necessary for proper oral hygiene.

Another disadvantage of the prior art finger cots is the lack of proper resistance of the pointed protuberances to bending action when applied to the teeth or gums. This resistance is necessary to obtain the proper cleaning action and stimulating action of the finger cot. Furthermore, this resistance is necessary in order to eificiently force the points of the protuberances between the necks of adjacent teeth. The lack of resistance of the pointed protuberances of the prior art finger cots is to a large extent due to the fact that they are simply attached to the base without any further support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger cot which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a finger cot which has pointed protuberances uniformly distributed over the whole surface of the finger cot.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a finger cot having pointed protuberances which are supported at their base to give the protuberances the proper resistance to bending.

Other and more detailed objects will be apparent from the following description and drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a finger cot embodied in the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectionof FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the finger cot is shown at 1 and is generally cylindrical in construction having a hollow interior 3. This cot may be made of any suitable elastic material but it is preferred to use rubber in its construction.

Uniformly distributed over base 5 of cot 1 are a series of pointed protuberances 7. These are dimensioned so that the points may fit between the necks of adjacent teeth to dislodge food parts and also to contact the gingiva between the teeth so that it may be stimulated to bring a fresh blood supply to the area. The number of pro- 3,43,2@5 Patented July 10, 1982 tuberances 7 that may be distributed over the base 5 of the cot can be varied considerably. Some of the protuberances should be located on and all around the tip of the cot so that the finger tip can be efiectively employed without requiring awkward manipulations of the finger, hand, and wrist.

Surrounding protuberances 7 at. their base are annular support members 9 which give the proper bending resistance to protuberances 7. Support members 9 are preferably made of rubber and made integral with base 5. If the protuberances 7 were secured directly to the thin base 5 supported at the base as is characteristic of-the prior art devices, the attachment between cot and protuberance would be so flimsy that resistance in bending toward site erasing-like motion. This is not only'more effective.

in'mas'saging the gums but also makes for special efiiciency in forcing the points between the teeth at the necks. This is especially important because although this has been long recognized as desirable, nothing heretofore presented acts as efiiciently. The annular support 9 acts as a circular spring, the rubber fibers at all times tending to maintain the protuberance at a predetermined angle with the base 5. When a force bends the points out of their original upright position, the fibers at the base of the protuberance resist this to a greater degree because they are better supported than if the protuberances Were merely attached directly to their rubber base. This added resistance gives to the entire apparatus a liveness desirable in massage and cleaning. Furthermore, the support of the protuberance is desirable to increase the rigidity of the point without interfering with its flexibility.

As noted above, the protuberances of the present finger cot are uniformly distributed over the surface of the cot. Thus there is no differentiation between front, back or sides. It can be picked up in any position even by a blind person and immediately put into proper use.

A method for efliciently using the device of the present invention is outlined below.

cot is placed between the occlusal surfaces of the jaws in contact with the cheek. The finger and wrist assume a normal unstrained position. The mouth is closed to relax the muscles. If the finger is on the left side of the mouth, the lateral surface will be in contact with the buccal surfaces of the teeth, gingivae and gums. Beginning with the most posterior tooth, make forward and backward horizontal movements on gums and teeth to embrace one or more teeth at a time, gradually moving anteriorly to the median line. Repeat on mandibular teeth with mouth closed as previously. It will be found that lateral surface of the finger orthumb functions without wrist strain.

Step 2.Mouth open, with dorsal or back surface of the cot, cleanse and massage all lingual surfaces of teeth, gingivae and gums including the hard palate membrane. With forward and backward motion, vertical and horizontal combination, cleanse and massage lingual surfaces of the maxillary incisors.

Step 3. Mouth open, place cot in apposition with check, back or dorsal surface of cot touching buccal surfaces of the teeth. Close mouth, brush and massage; with dorsal surface in cuspic region, turn hand until palmar surface of finger conveniently operates on labial surfaces of all anterior teeth.

The finger now placed in the mouth conveniently functions interiorly. The distal side of the cot functions ideally.on the lingual surfaces left side, while the palmar surface functions ideally against the lingual anterior surfaces as well as the same surfaces of the mandible. (1) Mouth. open, place cot, close mouth, left side buccal mesial side functions-all buccal surfaces; labial and buccal. v

(2) Month kept open, distal surface of finger operates Back or surface. Uppers completed, lowers completed, except Vanteriors which are done with palmar surface of cot.

Any finger may be'used in the procedure outlined above.

It has been found, however, that the thumb works best;

7 While the invention has been described with particular reference to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claim What is claimed is: r

tributed on all sides of the outside surface of said cot, each of said pointed protuberances being encircled by a low supporting ring lying adjacent to but slightly spaced from the base of said pointed protuberances at the juncture of said protuberances with said cot, said rings being spaced from'one another, all of said pointed protuberances and rings being separately raised above the surface of the thin cot body so as not to impair the overall flexibility thereof While providing each pointed protuberance with q its individual supporting ring, said pointed protuberances projecting sufficiently beyond the top of the supporting ring as tobe able to enter effectively the spaces between the teeth. a

References Cited in the file of this patent A cot useful in cleaning teeth and massaging gums and provided with a multitude of outwardly extending, yieldable pointed protuberances' substantially uniformly dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland 16, 1929