WO1997022307A1 - Tongue cleaner - Google Patents

Tongue cleaner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997022307A1
WO1997022307A1 PCT/US1996/010759 US9610759W WO9722307A1 WO 1997022307 A1 WO1997022307 A1 WO 1997022307A1 US 9610759 W US9610759 W US 9610759W WO 9722307 A1 WO9722307 A1 WO 9722307A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tongue
shank portion
shank
edge portion
article
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/010759
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dasan Potti
Jon L. Richter
Gordon Neufeld
Original Assignee
Dasan Potti
Richter Jon L
Gordon Neufeld
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dasan Potti, Richter Jon L, Gordon Neufeld filed Critical Dasan Potti
Priority to AU63386/96A priority Critical patent/AU6338696A/en
Priority to EP96922553A priority patent/EP0869746A4/en
Priority to JP9522755A priority patent/JPH11510086A/en
Priority to BR9612071-1A priority patent/BR9612071A/en
Publication of WO1997022307A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997022307A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/24—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose; Tongue scrapers
    • A61B17/244—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose; Tongue scrapers for cleaning of the tongue
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to tongue cleaners, i.e., articles which are used to scrape the upper surface of a person's tongue.
  • tongue cleaners are found in U.S. patents D221,036 and D338,084, which issued to Dasan Potti, one of the applicants of the present application.
  • a portion flares outwardly to support, at an end of the tongue cleaner, a tongue scraping edge. The edge is moved over the tongue's upper surface from rear to front perhaps 2 to 3 times firmly scraping the upper surface.
  • Such a tongue cleaning exercise is performed, after brushing teeth, to cause the taste buds to "wake up" and halitosis to diminish.
  • tongue cleaning by use of such a device may minimize tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis) .
  • a tongue cleaning device cleans the tongue gently and smoothly.
  • the anterior portion of the tongue may be easily reached by the tongue cleaners in the above patents, the posterior part of the tongue extends or slopes downwardly so that it is not as easy for a tongue cleaner to reach this posterior portion. Thus, it may uncomfortably require the person to tilt the shank up to the roof of the mouth, which many persons may choose to ignore to do.
  • a tongue cleaner portion which supports the edge portion for scraping the tongue is skewed relative to the shank to slope downwardly, following the downward slope of the posterior portion of the tongue, for effective engagement of the edge with the posterior portion of the tongue without the user having to uncomfortably tilt the shank toward the roof of the mouth.
  • Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaner which embodies the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof.
  • Fig. 3 is a side view thereof, illustrated scraping the posterior part of a person's tongue, the opposite side being identical thereto.
  • Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.
  • Fig. 5 is another end view thereof.
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating use thereof in cleaning the tongue.
  • the tongue cleaner 10 includes an elongate shank portion 16 for holding in the user's hand 18 for tongue cleaning, as hereinafter discussed.
  • a portion 20 extends from one end of shank 16 and flares outwardly therefrom to support at an end of the tongue cleaner an edge portion 22.
  • the sides of the support portion 20 extend outwardly from the sides of the shank so that the width, illustrated at 48, of the support portion 20 (for reaching of the tongue) is greater than the width of the shank (for easily holding in the hand 18) .
  • the edge portion 22 which is shaped like a fender, is concave as viewed from the shank 16 and provides an arcuate edge 24 which contacts or engages the tongue 12 for scraping thereof, the edge being arcuate in order that the posterior portion of the tongue may be more easily reached without unnecessarily increasing the tongue cleaner width.
  • a pair of oblong holes, illustrated at 26, are provided through the support portion 20 and extend parallel to the sides thereof respectively in order to provide increased flexibility.
  • the posterior portion, illustrated at 28, of the tongue upper surface generally extends downwardly from the anterior portion thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that it is uncomfortable to reach with a straight tongue cleaner such as shown in the aforesaid patents.
  • the support portion 20 is skewed relative to the shank portion 16 to slope downwardly for effecting engagement of the edge 24 with the posterior part 28 of the tongue upper surface.
  • the support portion 20 lies in a plane, illustrated at 30, which forms an angle, illustrated at 34, with a plane, illustrated at 32, in which the shank portion 16 lies, and the edge 24 faces away from plane 32.
  • support portion 20 extends at the angle 34 relative to the shank portion 16.
  • the angle 34 is desirably selected so that the support portion 20 may follow the decline in the posterior part 28 of the upper tongue surface.
  • this angle 34 is between about 20 and 40 degrees. More preferably, this angle 34 is about 27 degrees.
  • the edge portion 22 is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion, illustrated at 38.
  • the central portion 38 has a depth, illustrated at 40, which is greater than depths, illustrated at 42, thereof toward the sides of the support portion 20.
  • a suitable tongue cleaner 10 has a length, illustrated at 44, of perhaps about 5 inches so that the edge 24 reaches the posterior of the tongue, a shank portion length, illustrated at 46, of perhaps about 3 1/2 inches, and a thickness generally of perhaps about 1/16 inch.
  • the edge portion 22 extends over a distance, illustrated at 48, cross-wise to the shank portion 16 of perhaps about 1 1/2 inches. Distances 40 and 42 are perhaps about 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch respectively. Angle 34 is perhaps about 27 degrees.
  • the thickness of edge 24 may perhaps be about 1/64 inch.
  • the width, illustrated at 50, of shank portion 16 may perhaps be about 3/8 inch.
  • the distance, illustrated at 52 may perhaps be about 1/2 inch.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Abstract

A tongue cleaner (10) has an elongate shank portion (16) for holding thereof, and a portion (20) extending from one end thereof for supporting a tongue scraping edge (22). The support portion (20) is skewed relative to the shank portion (16) to slope downwardly for effecting engagement of the edge (22) with a posterior part of the upper surface of the tongue (12), so that the posterior part may be comfortably scraped.

Description

TONGUE CLEANER
The present invention relates generally to tongue cleaners, i.e., articles which are used to scrape the upper surface of a person's tongue.
Examples of tongue cleaners are found in U.S. patents D221,036 and D338,084, which issued to Dasan Potti, one of the applicants of the present application. At one end of the shank, a portion flares outwardly to support, at an end of the tongue cleaner, a tongue scraping edge. The edge is moved over the tongue's upper surface from rear to front perhaps 2 to 3 times firmly scraping the upper surface. Such a tongue cleaning exercise is performed, after brushing teeth, to cause the taste buds to "wake up" and halitosis to diminish. By removing growing bacteria and decaying food particles that cause plaque, tongue cleaning by use of such a device may minimize tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis) . Unlike a toothbrush, such a tongue cleaning device cleans the tongue gently and smoothly.
It is considered desirable to scrape the entire upper surface of the tongue. While the anterior portion of the tongue may be easily reached by the tongue cleaners in the above patents, the posterior part of the tongue extends or slopes downwardly so that it is not as easy for a tongue cleaner to reach this posterior portion. Thus, it may uncomfortably require the person to tilt the shank up to the roof of the mouth, which many persons may choose to ignore to do.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a tongue cleaner which allows the entire tongue including the posterior portion to be more easily cleaned. In order that a person may be able to easily reach the posterior portion of the tongue for cleaning thereof, in accordance with the present invention, a tongue cleaner portion which supports the edge portion for scraping the tongue is skewed relative to the shank to slope downwardly, following the downward slope of the posterior portion of the tongue, for effective engagement of the edge with the posterior portion of the tongue without the user having to uncomfortably tilt the shank toward the roof of the mouth.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tongue cleaner which embodies the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a side view thereof, illustrated scraping the posterior part of a person's tongue, the opposite side being identical thereto.
Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.
Fig. 5 is another end view thereof.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating use thereof in cleaning the tongue.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a single-piece thin article, composed of molted plastic or other suitable material, for cleaning the tongue 12 of a person 14. The tongue cleaner 10 includes an elongate shank portion 16 for holding in the user's hand 18 for tongue cleaning, as hereinafter discussed. A portion 20 extends from one end of shank 16 and flares outwardly therefrom to support at an end of the tongue cleaner an edge portion 22. Thus, the sides of the support portion 20 extend outwardly from the sides of the shank so that the width, illustrated at 48, of the support portion 20 (for reaching of the tongue) is greater than the width of the shank (for easily holding in the hand 18) .
The edge portion 22, which is shaped like a fender, is concave as viewed from the shank 16 and provides an arcuate edge 24 which contacts or engages the tongue 12 for scraping thereof, the edge being arcuate in order that the posterior portion of the tongue may be more easily reached without unnecessarily increasing the tongue cleaner width. A pair of oblong holes, illustrated at 26, are provided through the support portion 20 and extend parallel to the sides thereof respectively in order to provide increased flexibility.
The posterior portion, illustrated at 28, of the tongue upper surface generally extends downwardly from the anterior portion thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that it is uncomfortable to reach with a straight tongue cleaner such as shown in the aforesaid patents. In order to comfortably reach the posterior portion 28 of the tongue, in accordance with the present invention, the support portion 20 is skewed relative to the shank portion 16 to slope downwardly for effecting engagement of the edge 24 with the posterior part 28 of the tongue upper surface. Stated another way, the support portion 20 lies in a plane, illustrated at 30, which forms an angle, illustrated at 34, with a plane, illustrated at 32, in which the shank portion 16 lies, and the edge 24 faces away from plane 32. Thus, support portion 20 extends at the angle 34 relative to the shank portion 16.
The angle 34 is desirably selected so that the support portion 20 may follow the decline in the posterior part 28 of the upper tongue surface. Preferably, this angle 34 is between about 20 and 40 degrees. More preferably, this angle 34 is about 27 degrees.
In order to effectively reach into a depression, illustrated at 36, which runs rearwardly centrally of the tongue 12, the edge portion 22 is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion, illustrated at 38. Thus, the central portion 38 has a depth, illustrated at 40, which is greater than depths, illustrated at 42, thereof toward the sides of the support portion 20.
The following dimensions of a suitable tongue cleaner are provided for exemplary purposes only and not for purposes of limitation. An example of a suitable tongue cleaner 10 has a length, illustrated at 44, of perhaps about 5 inches so that the edge 24 reaches the posterior of the tongue, a shank portion length, illustrated at 46, of perhaps about 3 1/2 inches, and a thickness generally of perhaps about 1/16 inch. The edge portion 22 extends over a distance, illustrated at 48, cross-wise to the shank portion 16 of perhaps about 1 1/2 inches. Distances 40 and 42 are perhaps about 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch respectively. Angle 34 is perhaps about 27 degrees. The thickness of edge 24 may perhaps be about 1/64 inch. The width, illustrated at 50, of shank portion 16 may perhaps be about 3/8 inch. The distance, illustrated at 52, may perhaps be about 1/2 inch. Although the invention has been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A tongue cleaner comprising an article adapted for scraping a tongue in a mouth including means defining an elongate edge portion for engaging the tongue for scraping thereof, a supporting portion, lying in a first plane, for said edge portion, and an elongate shank portion, lying in a second plane which forms an angle with said first plane.
2. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said angle is between about 20 and 40 degrees.
3. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said angle is about 27 degrees.
4. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to said shank portion and is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
5. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to said shank portion and is concave as viewed from said shank portion.
6. A tongue cleaner according to claim 5 wherein said edge portion is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
7. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the tongue cleaner is sized to reach over the upper surface of a person's tongue including having a length of about 5 inches, a shank portion length of about 3 1/2 inches, and the edge portion extending over a distance cross-wise to said shank portion of about 1 1/2 inches.
8. A tongue cleaner comprising an article adapted for cleaning a person's tongue including means defining an elongate edge portion for engaging the tongue for scraping thereof, an elongate shank portion, and a portion for supporting said edge portion which support portion is skewed relative to said shank portion to slope downwardly for effecting engagement of said edge portion with a posterior part of the upper surface of the tongue.
9. A tongue cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said support portion slopes at an angle of between about 20 and 40 degrees relative to said shank portion.
10. A tongue cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said support portion slopes at an angle of about 27 degrees relative to said shank portion.
11. A tongue cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to said shank portion and is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
12. A tongue cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to said shank portion and is concave as viewed from said shank portion.
13. A tongue cleaner according to claim 12 wherein said edge portion is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
14. A tongue cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said article is sized to have a length of about 5 inches, a shank portion length of about 3 1/2 inches, and the edge portion extending over a distance cross¬ wise relative to said shank portion of about 1 1/2 inches.
15. A method for cleaning a person's tongue comprising holding an article having an elongate edge portion, an elongate shank portion, and a support portion for the edge portion which support portion extends from one end of and is skewed relative to the shank portion, orienting the article while holding the article by the shank portion so that the support portion slopes downwardly from the shank portion, and moving the article over the upper surface of the tongue including a posterior part thereof to effect scraping engagement of the edge portion with the upper surface of the tongue including a posterior part thereof.
16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising selecting the article to have a shape such that the support portion slopes at an angle of between about 20 and 40 degrees relative to the shank portion.
17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising selecting the article to have a shape such that the support portion slopes at an angle of about 27 degrees relative to the shank portion.
18. A method according to claim 15 further comprising selecting the article to have a shape such that the edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to the shank portion and is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
19. A method according to claim 15 further comprising selecting the article to have a shape such that the edge portion extends generally cross-wise relative to the shank portion and is concave as viewed from the shank portion.
20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising selecting the article to have a shape such that the edge portion is contoured over its length to have a relatively deep central portion.
PCT/US1996/010759 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Tongue cleaner WO1997022307A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU63386/96A AU6338696A (en) 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Tongue cleaner
EP96922553A EP0869746A4 (en) 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Tongue cleaner
JP9522755A JPH11510086A (en) 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Tongue cleaner
BR9612071-1A BR9612071A (en) 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Language cleaner and process for cleaning a person's language.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29/048,081 1995-12-19
US29/048,081 USD384153S (en) 1995-12-19 1995-12-19 Tongue cleaner

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997022307A1 true WO1997022307A1 (en) 1997-06-26

Family

ID=21952639

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/010759 WO1997022307A1 (en) 1995-12-19 1996-06-19 Tongue cleaner

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) USD384153S (en)
EP (1) EP0869746A4 (en)
JP (1) JPH11510086A (en)
CN (1) CN1110288C (en)
AU (1) AU6338696A (en)
BR (1) BR9612071A (en)
WO (1) WO1997022307A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999008610A1 (en) * 1997-08-20 1999-02-25 Clifford A. Yudelman And Gillian C. Yudelman, Co-Trustees U.T.D. Oral hygiene device having plaque collection and quantification capabilities
FR2772591A1 (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-25 Goff Pierre J Le Tongue scraper

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD408534S (en) * 1998-08-18 1999-04-20 U.S. Dentek Corporation Tongue scraper
US8070763B1 (en) 2001-10-30 2011-12-06 Gundlapalli Ramarao V Disposable oral hygiene instrument and methods and packages for same
US20060052805A1 (en) * 2004-09-07 2006-03-09 Cwik James L Tongue scraper and brush
USD771813S1 (en) 2015-01-31 2016-11-15 Robert J. Ripich Tongue cleaning vacuum attachment
USD874155S1 (en) 2018-01-17 2020-02-04 Bao Tea, Inc. Combination toothbrush and tongue scraper
USD925042S1 (en) * 2019-03-12 2021-07-13 3M Innovative Properties Company Dental composite shade guide

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US788909A (en) * 1904-09-24 1905-05-02 James W Ivory Dental scraper.
US1691786A (en) * 1927-10-25 1928-11-13 Roth Robert Truman Dental instrument
US3985147A (en) * 1975-03-13 1976-10-12 Ricketts Craig M Dental implement for removing stains from teeth
FR2487189A1 (en) * 1980-07-23 1982-01-29 Opatowsky Alain Domestic dental hygiene instrument - has tartar removal blade at end of curved or angled handle
US5032082A (en) * 1989-12-20 1991-07-16 Herrera William R Device for removing adhesive from the palate
US5261817A (en) * 1992-09-14 1993-11-16 Nack Robert L Denture adhesive removing device
US5407358A (en) * 1993-08-23 1995-04-18 Gruber; Jack Vestibule cleaner

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE200258C (en) *
FR659404A (en) * 1928-08-22 1929-06-28 Funke Ag Geb Tongue cleaner
US2543999A (en) * 1948-09-03 1951-03-06 Joseph A Voss Tongue cleaner
US3890964A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-06-24 Edwin W Castanedo Tongue cleaning and massage instrument
USD253789S (en) * 1978-02-03 1979-12-25 Gupta Subhash R Tongue cleaner
USD265506S (en) * 1979-05-30 1982-07-20 Finamore Peter G Tongue scraper
USD267508S (en) * 1980-07-21 1983-01-04 Denteco Inc. Tongue cleaner
USD285251S (en) * 1984-11-29 1986-08-19 Audette Clifford J Tongue cleaner
USD338084S (en) * 1991-12-02 1993-08-03 Dasan Potti Combined tongue cleaner and toothpick
US5282814A (en) * 1992-09-08 1994-02-01 Rajesh Srivastava Instrument for cleaning the top of the human tongue with antiseptic strip
USD367707S (en) * 1994-08-08 1996-03-05 Baker Contracting, Inc. Tongue scraper

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US788909A (en) * 1904-09-24 1905-05-02 James W Ivory Dental scraper.
US1691786A (en) * 1927-10-25 1928-11-13 Roth Robert Truman Dental instrument
US3985147A (en) * 1975-03-13 1976-10-12 Ricketts Craig M Dental implement for removing stains from teeth
FR2487189A1 (en) * 1980-07-23 1982-01-29 Opatowsky Alain Domestic dental hygiene instrument - has tartar removal blade at end of curved or angled handle
US5032082A (en) * 1989-12-20 1991-07-16 Herrera William R Device for removing adhesive from the palate
US5261817A (en) * 1992-09-14 1993-11-16 Nack Robert L Denture adhesive removing device
US5407358A (en) * 1993-08-23 1995-04-18 Gruber; Jack Vestibule cleaner

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP0869746A4 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999008610A1 (en) * 1997-08-20 1999-02-25 Clifford A. Yudelman And Gillian C. Yudelman, Co-Trustees U.T.D. Oral hygiene device having plaque collection and quantification capabilities
US5957942A (en) * 1997-08-20 1999-09-28 Clifford A. Yudelman Oral hygiene device having plaque collection and quantification capabilities
FR2772591A1 (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-25 Goff Pierre J Le Tongue scraper
WO2001039674A1 (en) * 1997-12-24 2001-06-07 Le Goff Pierre J Tongue cleaning device in the form of a scraper

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0869746A1 (en) 1998-10-14
USD384153S (en) 1997-09-23
BR9612071A (en) 1999-12-28
JPH11510086A (en) 1999-09-07
EP0869746A4 (en) 2001-03-07
CN1205621A (en) 1999-01-20
CN1110288C (en) 2003-06-04
AU6338696A (en) 1997-07-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6171323B1 (en) Tongue cleaner
US6428554B1 (en) Dual action tongue scraper
US5792159A (en) Tongue cleaner
US5217475A (en) Tongue scrapers
US5735864A (en) Disposable tongue cleaner
US5766193A (en) Tongue cleaner
US5226197A (en) Tongue hygiene device
US5881422A (en) Tongue cleaning device
US6792642B2 (en) Tongue cleaning device
USD358238S (en) Mop
US5282814A (en) Instrument for cleaning the top of the human tongue with antiseptic strip
US20040255416A1 (en) Toothbrush with tongue cleaning member
US20020019645A1 (en) Flocked tongue cleaning device and related method
JP3513634B2 (en) toothbrush
US20030116884A1 (en) Method for making a tongue cleaning device
WO1997022307A1 (en) Tongue cleaner
US5827308A (en) Tongue scraping apparatus
US5564148A (en) Dental prosthesis cleaning instrument
US20180255917A1 (en) Oral care device
EP0764429B1 (en) Flat interdental space cleaner
JP4027986B2 (en) Oral cleaning device
US20020107537A1 (en) Metal breath freshening device
US20050197665A1 (en) Tongue cleaners
US20030005532A1 (en) Foot care device
JPH11113934A (en) Tongue plaque-removing utensil

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 96199129.1

Country of ref document: CN

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LK LR LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA US UZ VN

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): KE LS MW SD SZ UG AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 1997 522755

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1996922553

Country of ref document: EP

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 97522755

Country of ref document: JP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1996922553

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1996922553

Country of ref document: EP