US20120054973A1

US20120054973A1 - Flossibility

Info

Publication number: US20120054973A1
Application number: US12/875,904
Authority: US
Inventors: Rebecca Mostatab
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-03
Filing date: 2010-09-03
Publication date: 2012-03-08

Abstract

A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user may include a handle portion for the user to hold the gum cleaning tool, and a cleaning portion to cooperate with the handle portion to clean and massage the gum of the user. The cleaning portion may include a radial bristle. The cleaning portion may be curved, and the cleaning portion may be is concavely curved. The handle portion may define a plane and the concavely curved cleaning portion is formed within the plane, and the cleaning portion may be flexible. The cleaning portion may be formed from rubber, and the cleaning portion may be formed from flexible plastic.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tooth cleaning tools and more particularly pertains to a tooth and gum cleaning tool for cleaning teeth and gums.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, oral hygiene not only consists of cleaning the teeth, but also gingival massage to prevent gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. Conventional toothbrushes, no matter whether they are operated manually or electrically, admittedly adequately fulfill the tooth cleaning function, but not the gingival massaging function, particularly if both effects are to be obtained on the same movement path. Thus, for cleaning teeth, particularly for cleaning interdental spaces, the bristle ends are particularly effective but are frequently too aggressive for gingival massage, particularly if they are not perfectly rounded or have already become flattened due to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,611 discloses a tooth and gum cleaning tool for cleaning teeth and gums. The tooth and gum cleaning tool includes an elongate handle portion having first and second ends. A sponge portion is coupled to the first end of the handle portion. The sponge portion has an engaging face and a back face opposite the engaging face. The engaging face has a plurality of uniformly spaced ridges extending from it. Also disclosed is a sterilization device for sterilizing the tooth cleaning tool. The sterilization device comprises a housing that has an open top, a closed bottom, and an interior. A sterilizing pad is disposed in the interior of the housing and is porous and has a sterilizing fluid absorbed therein. A lid portion closes the open top of the housing. The sponge portion of the tooth cleaning tool is positionable on the sterilizing pad to permit absorption of the sterilizing fluid by the sponge portion from the sterilizing pad.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the gum cleaner tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the handle portion of the gum cleaner tool of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cleaning portion 103 of the gum cleaner tool of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For gingival massage, the pressure and movement path must be chosen in such a way that the bristles bend round and give a type of stroking massage with a circumferential surface. The present invention includes a curved and the flexible cleaning portion and 103 in order to provide an effective gingival massage.
The gum cleaner tool 100 may be a dental hygiene product to help stimulate and clean the gum and may provide near maximum cleaning and stimulation of the gingiva (gum). The gum cleaner tool 100 may have an ergonomic handle so that people who may be challenged with their dexterity still can clean the inner proximal parts of their teeth and gum with ease. The gum cleaner tool 100 may include a cleaning portion 103 to clean the gums around the tooth of the user as well as the teeth of the user and a handle portion 101 to allow the user to manipulate the gum cleaner tool 100. The handle portion 101 may include a substantially round cross-section as illustrated in FIG. 2 or may be rectangular or any other appropriate shape. The handle portion 101 may include a central aperture 105 which may be sized in order to correspond and cooperate to a adult finger. Other sizes such as children sizes may be employed with the handle portion 101. The cleaning portion 103 may be connected to the outer peripheral surface of the handle portion 101 and may be attached to the handle portion 101 or may be formed integral with the handle portion 101. The cleaning portion 103 and the handle portion 101 may be formed from extruded plastic, rubber or other flexible material. The cleaner portion 101 may be flexible in order to accommodate and cooperate with different sized teeth of the user.
The cleaning portion 103 may include a portion of the surface 107 which may include bristles 109 which radially extend from the surface 107, and dentifrice products may be placed between the bristles 109. The cleaning portion 103 may be a truncated cone shaped device which may be concavely curved within the plane 113 which may include the handle portion 101. The cleaning portion 103 may be other shapes such as rectangular, circular, triangular or other shapes and may be flexible in order to accommodate different size teeth and different spacing between teeth. The distal end of the cleaning portion 103 may include a rounded end 111 to avoid sharp edges which may damage the gum. The bristles 109 may be flexible in order to provide for stimulation of the gums and cleaning of the gums and teeth. The cleaning portion 103 and the bristles 109 may be formed from rubber, flexible plastic or other appropriate materials.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the handle portion 101, and
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cleaning portion 103. FIG. 3 additionally illustrates the bristles 107.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user, comprising:

a handle portion for the user to hold the gum cleaning tool;

a cleaning portion to cooperate with the handle portion to clean and massage the gum of the user;

wherein the cleaning portion includes a radial bristle.

2) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning portion is curved.

3) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 2, wherein the cleaning portion is concavely curved.

4) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 3, wherein the handle portion defines a plane and the concavely curved cleaning portion is formed within the plane.

5) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning portion is flexible.

6) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning portion is formed from rubber.

7) A gum cleaning tool for cleaning and massaging a gum of a user as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning portion is formed from flexible plastic.