Oral hygiene system

• US 4,811,445 A
• Filed: 01/25/1988
• Issued: 03/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel P. Lagieski, Todd B. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Daniel P. Lagieski, Todd B. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd B., Lagieski, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US07/147,370
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 15/104.94, 15/167.1, 15/176, 15/145, 15/184, 403/360, 403/361, 403/334, 206/209.1, 206/362.2, 206/362.3, 206/362.4, 132/84 R
• US Class Current: 15/104.94
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0003 containing only one dose of substance, e.g. single-use toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes

Abstract

An oral hygiene system including an aseptic container enclosing a disposable dental hygiene head having a socket for receiving a detachable handle having a male extension for penetrating the aseptic container to engage the socket of the head. The socket and male extension forming a fit which prevents rotation between the handle and head.

Claims

1. An oral hygiene system comprising a disposable head, an aseptic container for storing the head and a handle for penetrating said container and engaging said head,

a. Said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove,

b. Said aseptic container enclosing said head and with the head positioned within said container with said applicator near a first end of said container and the socket positioned near a receiving end, said container having a scored cover over said receiving end for aseptically sealing said head in said container, and

c. Said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user, and an operating end having a pointed male extension for penetrating said scored cover and engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said socket is in the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is in the general shape of a cone with the pointed end of the cone engaging said scored cover to penetrate the cover and for engaging the cone-shaped socket to lock said handle to said head.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles for cleaning teeth.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 in which said brush has dentifrice on the surface of the bristles.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said scored cover is scored by at least two intersecting score lines which intersect at a point generally adjacent the location of said socket.

6. An oral hygiene device comprising a handle and a disposable head into which the handle may be inserted to form a functional device,

a. said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove,

b. said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user and an operating end having a pointed male extension for engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said socket is the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is the general shape of a cone to engage said socket in a friction fit.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles and in which said brush has a dentifrice applied to said brush.

9. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said socket has walls with serrations along the length of the wall and said male extension has at least one fin extending along at least a portion of the length of said extension for engaging said serrations to prevent rotational movement between said handle and said head.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said fin is located between a point on said pointed male extension and said annular projection.

11. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which said socket has walls with serrations along the length of the wall and said male extension has multiple fins extending along a least portion of the length of said extension for engaging said serration to prevent rotational movement between said handle and said head.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said socket is the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is the general shape of a cone and in which said fins are equally spaced about the surface of the pointed male extension.

13. A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles for cleaning teeth.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13 in which said brush has a dentifrice applied to said brush.

15. A device in accordance with claim 13 in which said dentifrice is applied along the bristles of said brush.