Toothpick

• US 4,577,649 A
• Filed: 05/01/1980
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marat Shimenkov
• Original Assignee: Marat Shimenkov
• Inventors: Shimenkov, Marat
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US06/145,690
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 132/89, 132/90, 132/93
• US Class Current: 132/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks

Abstract

A toothpick has two side faces which are inclined relative to one another so as to form an acute angle therebetween and a sharp upper edge, and a third face which connects the side faces with one another and forms two sharp lower edges. The toothpick may be elastic in transverse direction. It may be solid, hollow or composed of two connected strips.

Claims

1. A toothpick, comprising

an elongated trihedral hollow body having two side walls forming two straight faces extending in direction of elongation and inclined relative to one another so as to form an acute angle therebetween, said body also having a third wall which connects said first-mentioned side walls with one another and defines a third face which is concave so as to form two lower edges which are substantially sharp, said body being elastic in direction transverse to the direction of elongation so as to be compressed during insertion of the toothpick between teeth whereby said straight side faces act upon the teeth, and said third wall being upwardly convex so as to elastically urge said side walls in the transverse direction away from one another and thereby against the teeth.

2. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein said strips are elastically displaceable in a direction which is transverse to the direction of elongation and to said side faces.

4. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein said trihedral body has an upper end, and a lower end wherein said end face and said lower edges are formed, said side faces together forming an upper edge at said upper end, which is substantially sharp.

5. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein said side faces of said body are textured.

6. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a handle which is connected with said body and also extends in the direction of elongation.

7. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein said side faces of said body are provided with nap.

8. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein said body portion is crescent-shaped.

9. A toothpick as defined in claim 8, and further comprising a substantially straight handle connected with said crescent-shaped body.

10. A toothpick as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said strips has a thickness decreasing from the second end portion to the first end portion of the same strip.

3. A toothpick, comprising

an elongated body having two side faces extending in direction of elongation and inclined relative to one another so as to form an acute angle therebetween, said body also having a third face which connects said first-mentioned side faces with one another, said third face being concave so as to form two lower edges which are substantially sharp, said body being formed by two strips each forming a respective one of said side faces and a respective one of said lower edges, each of said strips having a first end section forming the respective lower edge and a second end section connected with the second end section of the other strip, said body formed by said two strips being elastic in direction transverse to the direction of elongation.