Apparatus and method for denture cleaning and storage

• US 6,341,688 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandra P. Graham
• Original Assignee: Sandra P. Graham
• Inventors: Graham, Sandra P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/687,919
• Time in Patent Office: 472 Days
• Field of Search: 206/63.5, 206/205, 206/207, 134/34, 134/42, 134/93, 134/137, 134/182, 134/184, 134/201, 383/63, 383/65, 383/100, 383/120, 433/216
• US Class Current: 206/63.5
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/20 Containers for storing artificial teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0082 Rib-and-groove connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0086 closed by or under vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/036 Cleaning devices for dental prostheses removed from the oral cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid

Abstract

Storage and cleaning apparatus for dentures comprising a plastic bag, the plastic bag including two ends, a top end and a bottom, and two side edges, a first side edge and a second side edge, and the plastic bag also including a triage of reusable seals, the triage being located near the top end and including an upper seal, a middle seal, and a lower seal, each of the seals including a male portion and a female portion, each of the seals extending parallel to each other and located approximately 1 centimeter to ½ inch from each other. In addition, the apparatus includes a cleaning agent assembly, the assembly being located on the inside of the plastic bag. The apparatus also includes a release valve incorporated into a side edge of the plastic bag, and includes pleating located on the lower half of each side edge of the plastic bag.

Claims

1. A denture storage and cleaning apparatus comprising:

a bag having a first open end, a first side edge, a second side edge and an inner surface, said bag dimensioned for receiving at least one denture to be cleaned;

means for sealing said open end of said bag;

a cleaning agent receptacle carried within said bag; and

a cleaning agent received within said cleaning agent receptacle, wherein introduction of a liquid into said bag and introduction of said liquid to said cleaning agent initiates an independently functioning, self-contained cleansing procedure of said at least one denture.

2. The denture storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for sealing said open end of said bag is at least one reusable seal, said at least one reusable seal positioned proximate to said first open end wherein each said seal includes a male portion and a female portion, said male portion and said female portion extending approximately from said first side edge of said bag to said second side edge of said bag.

3. The denture storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one reusable seal comprises a plurality of reusable seals having a first upper seal, a second middle seal and a third lower seal, said first upper seal positioned proximate to said first end of said bag, said third lower seal positioned proximate to said first seal and said middle second seal positioned therebetween.

4. The denture storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning agent is an effervescent tablet.

5. The denture storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning agent receptacle comprises perforations, said perforations dimensioned to permit passage of said cleaning agent therethrough.

6. The denture storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning agent receptacle is carried on said inner surface of said bag.

7. A disposable denture storage and cleaning device comprising:

a plastic bag having at least one reusable sealing means, a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge and an inner surface;

a cleaning agent;

a cleaning agent container having a substantially flat outer surface wherein perforations in said outer surface define a user-activated means for disbursing said cleaning agent into said bag, wherein said cleaning agent container further comprises a semi-rigid plastic ring, and wherein said perforations define a substantially circular shaped user-activated aperture within said plastic ring; and

a means for releasing gas from said bag, said means carried by said plastic bag, extending therethrough.

8. The disposable denture storage and cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said reusable sealing means is a plurality of tongue-and-groove seals.

9. The disposable denture storage and cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said cleaning agent is an effervescent tablet.

10. The disposable denture storage and cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said cleaning agent container is carried on said inner surface of said bag.

11. The disposable denture storage and cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said means for releasing gas from said bag is a release valve comprising a hollow air valve tube having a hingedly attached air valve tip.

12. The disposable denture storage and cleaning device of claim 7, wherein said second end of said bag is pleated and wherein said pleats are formed to allow expansion of said bag.

13. The method of storing and cleaning dentures comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a disposable denture storage and cleaning device with a resealable plastic bag, a cleaning agent, said cleaning agent held within a receptacle within said bag, said receptacle having perforations defining a user-activated means for disbursing said cleaning agent into said bag and said receptacle having a semi-rigid plastic ring, where in said perforations define a substantially circular shaped user-activated aperture within said plastic ring, and a release valve;

b) placing at least a partial set of dentures into said bag;

c) filling said bag with liquid;

d) sealing said bag;

e) pressing said perforations on said cleaning agent receptacle thereby disbursing said cleaning agent into said bag wherein said cleaning agent mixes with said liquid and cleans the denture; and

f) emptying liquid from said bag and removing clean denture.

14. A storage and cleaning apparatus for dentures comprising a plastic bag, said bag including two ends, a top end and a bottom end, and two side edges, a first side edge and a second side edge, and said bag also including:

a triage of reusable seals, said triage being located near said top end and including an upper seal, a middle seal, and a lower seal, each of said seals including a male portion and a female portion, each of said seals starting at said first side edge of said plastic bag and running to said second side edge of said plastic bag, and each of said seals running parallel to each other and located approximate 1 meter to ½

inch from each other,

a cleaning agent assembly, said assembly being attached to the inside of said plastic bag and including a cleaning agent packet, a cleaning agent located within said packet, a perforated plastic ring located on said cleaning agent packet, an attached piece of plastic, said piece of plastic being square, approximately 1 inch by 1 inch, and said piece of plastic affixing said cleaning agent packet to the inside of said plastic bag,

a release valve, said valve being fixedly connected to a side edge of said plastic bag and including an air valve tube, said tube being hollow, an air valve tip, and a connector designed to attach said air valve tube to said air valve tip, and

pleating, said pleating being located on the first side edge and second side edge of said plastic bag, said pleating beginning on each side edge approximately half way between said top end and said bottom end of said plastic bag.