Teeth cleaning implement

• US 4,271,854 A
• Filed: 04/05/1979
• Issued: 06/09/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sigurd W. Bengtsson
• Original Assignee: Sigurd W. Bengtsson
• Inventors: Bengtsson, Sigurd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeill, Gregory E.
• Application Number:
  US06/027,500
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 132/89, 132/93
• US Class Current: 132/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/00 Devices for cleaning between the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks

Abstract

An implement suited for cleaning also interproximal faces at the molars is made of pliable material, and includes a middle portion and two tapering end portions issuing therefrom. The middle portion is formed with a cross section to make it substantially rigid in use, and the end portions are bent in the same direction with respect to the middle portion.

The end portions have a triangular cross section adjacent to the middle portion and taper towards the distal ends, where the end portions are very slim compared with the cross section adjacent to the middle portion. At least the side face of the each end portion turned inwards at the bend is roughened.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement, made of synthetic material, comprising:

(a) a rigid middle 4-sided gripping portion; and

(b) a pair of solid combined picking and scraping end portions extending integrally from opposite ends of said gripping portion, each of said end portions having an isosceles triangular cross-section, the sides of which being somewhat longer than the base of the triangle, the three sides of the triangular cross-section being straight, said end portions having a gradual curvature and taper from said gripping portion to their distal ends, the curvatures being in the same direction, and one of the lateral sides of each said end portions having a roughened surface, whereby the curved portions may be selectively inserted into the interproximal interstices in the upper and in the lower jaw at both sides of the mouth with the flat base of the curved portion disposed against the gum, and in each instance with the implement extending forwardly out of the mouth.

2. An implement according to claim 1, the curvature of each end portion being such that its distal end has an offset (A) from the remote side face of said middle portion which is about one-fifth to one-fourth of the total length of the implement.

3. An implement according to claim 1, the side face of both said end portions corresponding to the base of the triangle being smooth and lying in a plane common with one of the flat sides of said middle portion.

4. An implement according to claim 1, the side having the roughened surface lying on the concave side of said curvature.

5. An implement according to claim 1, the outermost one-fifth of each said end portion having the base of its triangular shape quite short as compared to the length of the base near said middle portion.