Ear cleaning device with an integral bulbous end

• US 7,658,745 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Products
• Original Assignee: Richard C. Olson
• Inventors: Olson, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLATT, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/960,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 606/162, 606/161, D24/133, D24/147, D24/146, 604 1- 3
• US Class Current: 606/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/006 Ear cleaners, e.g. curettes cotton tips A61F13/38; cleaning by suction A61M1/71, by irrigation A61M3/02

Abstract

A disposable ear cleaning device having a one-piece, plastic body with an integral scoop at one end having a bowl portion having a smooth lower surface on the bowl. Openings may be formed in the bottom of the bowl for scraping wax and debris from the ear. The preferred openings are parallel slots. The preferred bowl has rounded, upper edges at the rim for scraping ear wax with the front, distal end at a lower height than a rear end of the bowl which is joined to a handle. The preferred handle may be fluted for gripping and turning the bowl when scraping ear wax. A flexible neck may join the bowl to the handle. A bulbous end of plastic or of cotton may be provided at the end of the device opposite the bowl. The referred cleaning device weighs less than one gram and is inexpensive.

Claims

1. A disposable ear cleaning device comprising:

a one piece integral body;

a central handle portion of the body to be gripped by the user;

an integral scooper for removing ear wax at one end of the body;

an integral bulbous end at an opposite end of the body; and

the integral bulbous end comprises a central shaft portion having a largest diameter section at a proximal end of the integral bulbous end and a smallest diameter section at a distal end of the integral bulbous end, and a plurality of spaced annular ribs extending radially from the central shaft portion at least at the largest and smallest diameter sections to an outer annular edge extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the annular ribs varying in radial diameter along the shaft.

2. An ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of spaced ribs includes a middle section with the largest radial diameter ribs positioned within the middle section.

3. An ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the ribs gradually decrease in radial diameter as their distance from the middle section increases.

4. A disposable ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 3 wherein at least two of the plurality of ribs decrease in radial diameter.

5. An ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the spaced ribs are aligned along the central shaft portion such that the plurality of spaced annular ribs form a bulbous shape similar to a cotton swab.

6. A disposable ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 1 comprising:

a body made of a mixture of about sixty percent (60%) low

density polyethylene and forty percent (40%) high density polyethylene.

7. A disposable ear device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a vent is defined by grooves formed in adjacent ribs of the plurality of spaced annular ribs which extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the integral bulbous end.

8. A disposable ear cleaning device comprising:

a one piece body;

a handle of the body to be grasp by the user;

an integral scoop for removing ear wax at one end of the body;

an integral bulbous end at an opposite end of the body wherein the integral bulbous end comprises a series of ribs which extend radially from the body; and

a vent defined by grooves formed in adjacent ribs which extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the integral bulbous end.

9. An ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the body has a reduced cross-section intermediate the handle and the bulbous end portion to provide a flexible connection therebetween.

10. An ear cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the body varies in diameter along at least a portion of the integral bulbous end.