US20080251097A1

US20080251097A1 - Dental pen

Info

Publication number: US20080251097A1
Application number: US12/101,459
Authority: US
Inventors: Ana Arreguin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2008-04-11
Publication date: 2008-10-16

Abstract

A device comprising a body, a head and a tail, a material squeezed out from the body exiting the body and feeding a housing of the head, one wall of the housing being provided with apertures, allowing the material squeezed out from the body to further reach a toothbrush mounted on this wall of the housing. The tail acts as a dental floss dispenser.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority on U.S. provisional application Ser. No. U.S. 60/911,623, filed on Apr. 13, 2007. All documents above are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental hygiene. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a dental pen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematical representation of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the appended drawings, a device according to an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a body 12, a head 16 and a tail 14.
It may further comprise a cover 18, fitting over the head 16.
The body 12 is made in a resilient material forming a pouch, more or less rigid to be able to be pressed so as to squeeze out a content, such as tooth paste, therefrom.
The head 16 is mounted at a first extremity of the body 12, either removable or fixidly mounted to the body 12, and connected to an oulet 20 of the body 12. A material squeezed out from the body 12 thus exits the body 12 through this outlet 20 and is guided to a housing 22 of the head 16. At least parts of the wall 28 of the housing 22 is provided with apertures 24, allowing the material squeezed out from the body 12 through the outlet 20 to further reach bristles 26 mounted on this wall 28 of the housing 22.
The tail 14 is mounted at the opposite extremity of the body 12 for convenience for example, and may be detachable therefrom, either by unscrewing (see for example threaded junction part 30 of body 12 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1) or disengagement from a press fit engagement as known in the art.
The tail 14 may play a number of roles. It may house dental floss 32, which is then accessible either by separating the tail 14 from the body 12, or by pulling an end thereof through a hole 40 provided on one wall of the tail 14 for example.
Moreover, the tail 14 may give access to the interior of the body 12, for refilling purpose thereof for example.
It may be contemplated providing a housing for dental floss on the upper wall 34 of the body 12, or on the lower wall 36 thereof, for example, provided it does not interfere with the grip of the hand over the body 12.
When a housing for dental floss case, is provided on the upper wall 34 of the body 12 for example, the upper wall 34 of the body 12 may be made to be harder than the bottom wall 36 thereof, so that the user's hand grips the body 12 by the upper wall 34 and the user's fingers press on the softer bottom wall 36 for example, thereby squeezing the tooth paste out.
In absence of a tail 14, the extremity of the body 12 opposite the head 24 may be permanently closed, the refilling of tooth paste being done through an aperture of the body 12 provided on the opposite extremity through the duct 20 when the head 16 is removed for example. Alternatively, the extremity of the body 12 opposite the head 24 may be closed and opened by means of a cover, so as to allow refilling of the toothpaste.
The present invention therefore provides a compact device for dental hygiene, which may be shaped as conveniently and discreetly as a pen for example. The device is all-inclusive, since it may combine a tooth brush feature and dental floss feature, and includes the tooth paste. Moreover, it is portable, re-usable since both the tail and the body maybe refilled, with dental floss and tooth paste respectively for example.
In case of a removable head 16, different people, each person mounting his/her personal head 16, may use the same body.
The material of the body 12 may be selected so that a target pressure is required to squeeze the content thereout, for example, so that children may use the device efficiently while, at the same time, not fooling around with excess of toothpaste.
Of course the body, as well as the head and possibly the tail, may be sized so as to selectively provide comfort (correct size of the brush in the mouth, good grip of the hand on the body) to children and adults.
The materials of the device may be selected so as to be biodegradable.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of specific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An elongated device, comprising:

a body adapted to contain toothpaste; and

a head mounted at a first extremity of said body, said head supporting bristles;

wherein said head comprises a housing in communication with said body and with said bristles, and said body is made in a resilient material; pressing the body allowing squeezing out an amount of the toothpaste contained in the body to the head and guiding toothpaste to said bristles.

2. The device of claim 1, said head being removably mounted at the first extremity of the body, the body being adapted to be refilled with toothpaste once the head is removed.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a wall of the housing supporting said bristles is provided with at least one passage for the toothpaste in the housing to reach the bristle.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tail mounted at a second extremity of said body opposite said first extremity of said body, wherein said tail houses dental floss.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tail removably mounted at a second extremity of said body opposite said first extremity of said body, in communication with the interior of said body, said body being refillable with toothpaste from said tail.

6. The device of claim 1, said body comprising an upper wall and a lower wall, said device further comprising a housing for dental floss on at least one of: i) said the upper wall upper wall of the body and ii) said lower wall of said body.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said body comprises an inlet for toothpaste for refilling purpose.