Oral-care device and system

• US 7,877,833 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Gavney, Jr.
• Original Assignee: James A. Gavney, Jr.
• Inventors: Gavney, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/176,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 15/971, 15/29, 15/28, 15/221, 151/17, 151/21, 151/14, 433/80, 433/82, 401/270, 401/272, 401/280
• US Class Current: 15/29
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/063 by means of a supply pipe
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0008 with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0032 with protrusion for polishing teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste

Abstract

An oral-care device with a power cleaning head configured to dispense an oral-care cleaning solution is disclosed. The power cleaning head comprises squeegees and bristles and one or more apertures for dispensing the oral-care solution. Preferably, the squeegee and bristle are configured to rotate, oscillate, vibrate or otherwise move while dispensing the oral-care solution through the one or more apertures.

Claims

1. A device comprising a cleaning head, the cleaning head comprising:

a) a first region with a first squeegee element with at least two elongated solid walls forming a corresponding elongated top wiping edge configured to treat a working surface; and

b) a second region with bristles configured to simultaneously treat the working surface; and

c) means for delivering a solution through one or more apertures on the cleaning head, wherein at least one of the first region and the second region is configured to move with a rotation motion relative to a stationary handle and relative to the other of the at least one of the first region and the second region.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second region further comprises a second squeegee element.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second squeegee element comprises at least two terminus ends that form side wiping edges.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first region further comprises bristles.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first region and second region is further configured to vibrate.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first squeegee element comprises at least two terminus ends that form side wiping squeegee edges.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first squeegee element encircles an inner squeegee region.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motorized handle configured to detachably couple the cleaning head.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first squeegee element is corrugated, rounded, angled or pointed.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising nodules protruding from the cleaning head.

11. A device comprising a motorized cleaning head comprising:

a) a support structure with one or more apertures for dispensing an oral-car liquid;

b) a squeegee member with at least two elongated solid walls forming a corresponding elongated top wiping edge protruding from a first portion of the support member; and

c) bristles protruding from a second portion support member, wherein at least the first portion of the support structure is configured to move relative to a stationary handle coupled thereto and relative to the second portion of the support structure.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least two elongated solid walls are curved.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the support member is configured to vibrate, rotate or oscillate.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the squeegee member further comprises a plurality of fin structures.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the support member comprises bristles and wherein one of the at least two elongated squeegee walls encircles at least a portion of the bristles.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising nodules protruding from at least one of the first portion and second portion of the support member.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the support member is configured to vibrate, rotate or oscillate.

18. A device comprising a cleaning head comprising:

a) a first region with an aperture for dispensing a solution and a continuous squeegee that has solid walls that surround the aperture and form a continuous top wiping edge; and

b) a second region with bristles, wherein the continuous squeegee is configured to a rotate or oscillate relative to the second region.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the second region further comprises a squeegee wiping element.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising one or more nodules.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising a handle for moving at least one of the first region and the second region.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a pump mechanism for delivering an oral-care solution to the cleaning head through the aperture.

23. A device comprising:

a) a cleaning head with one or more squeegees and bristles protruding from a first support surface with one or more apertures, wherein each of the one or more squeegees have at least two elongated solid walls forming a corresponding elongated top wiping edge;

b) a power handle configured to move the first support surface and configured to dispensing pulses of a liquid through the one or more apertures, while the first support surface moves with a rotational motion relative to a stationary handle; and

c) a second support surface comprising one or more squeegees have at least two elongated solid walls forming a corresponding elongated top wiping edge and or bristles.