US1157413A - Tooth-cleaner. - Google Patents

Description

B. NESPER.

TOOTH CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILE!) mmo. l9l5.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

. JOHN BERTRAM NESPER, OF NARBERTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOOTH-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 1a, 1915.

Application filed January 20, 1915. Serial No. 3,289.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, JOHN BERTRAM Nns- PER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Narberth, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tooth cleaners, the object of the invention being to provide a finger-receiving casing of absorbent material such as pile fabric, especially adapted for use in connection with a liquid, paste, or powder, to thoroughly clean and polish the teeth.

A further object is to provide a tooth cleaner of the-character stated having a flange or rib extending around the end of the casing and along one side, said flange or rib adapted to clean between the teeth and remove particles of food which might accumulate in out of the way places.

A further object is to provide a tooth cleaner of the character stated in which a thread is attached, and is adapted for binding the casing on the firmer and also for cleaning between the teeth.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which is adapted for use in the mouth, either as atooth cleaner, or as a means for bathing the gums or cleaning the roof or other parts of the mouth, and which is absolutely sanitary and may be rendered antiseptic in any approved manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully herelnaiter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved tooth cleaner in operative position on the forefinger of the hand. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the device removed, and Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section ,on the line 3-3 of-Fig. 2.

1 represents the casing of my improved tooth cleaner. This casing is made of a size and shape to receive and fit the fore-finger of the hand. It is to be understood. of course, that the casing will be larger than an ordinary fore-finger,so that it will receive the finger of any average hand.

The outer end of the casing is closed, and a bead or flange 2 is provided around the end of the casing and along one side. This bead or flange is preferablv made in the formation of the casing, that is to say, the casing is cut into the proper shape, and when the cut edges are secured together to form the casing, it is sewed in such a manner that a relatively heavy bead or flange is formed. This bead or flange is strengthened by any number of threads which may be sewed in any approved manner to give the necessary rigidity to the bead or flange, and at the end of the flange, adjacent the end of the casing, a thread 3 is attached. This thread 3 may constitute a portion of the thread used in forming the bead or flange, and is of any desired lengthi The thread performs the double function of binding the casing on the finger, and also for cleaning between the teeth.

In Fig 1, I illustrate the manner of winding the thread around the casing with sufficient pressure to hold the casing against longitudinal movement during its manipulation in the mouth.

The free end of the thread may be held by means of the thumb 4 of the hand 5 as shown in Fig. 1, so that it cannot work loose. When the thread is to be used ;for cleaning between the teeth, its free end will be held by the other hand, and worked backwardly and forwardly to dislodge any particles near the gums.

The casing 1 is composed, preferably, of absorbent pile fabric which may be woven or knitted, and which is capable ofabsorbing and holding a quantity of liquid so that it can be rubbed on the teeth or gums. The.

device will hold the liquid, so that when pressed against the teeth, it willforce the liquid between the teeth. This is also true when paste is used, and when the casing is moistened, it will hold powder and can be then used with equal efficiency as with liquid or paste.

The surface of the casing will impart to the teeth the necessary polish. The bead or flange 2 will thoroughly clean and polish between the teeth, and in the recesses of the teeth and gums, and the thread 3 will thoroughly clean out or dislodge particles be-.

tween the teeth in addition to its function of holding the casing on the finger.

My improved tooth cleaner can be manufactured and sold at an extremely low price, and can be sterilized or otherwise treated 'to. render the same thoroughly antiseptic.

While its principal object is for use as a tooth cleaner, it is also capable of a wide range of usefulness, especially in connection with the care of the gums or membranes of the mouth. Such a cleaner is especially adapted for use in hotels and public places where the cleaners may be dis ensed in sanitary packages and used but or a single operation, and then discarded, thus supplying to the public, tooth cleaners which are perfectly sanitary and which supply an emergency need. i

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing tion, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterafrom my lnventions as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A tooth cleaner, composed of a single piece of pilefabric having a bead across one end and along one side formed at the seam of the casing and providing a rough surface, and a tooth cleaning cord projecting from the end of the bead and. constituting a part of the bead forming means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BERTRAM NESPER.

Witnesses:

L. P. MOY'ER, S. W. Fosrnm

Images