US2931371A - Toothpick devices - Google Patents

Toothpick devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US2931371A
US2931371A US710779A US71077958A US2931371A US 2931371 A US2931371 A US 2931371A US 710779 A US710779 A US 710779A US 71077958 A US71077958 A US 71077958A US 2931371 A US2931371 A US 2931371A
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Prior art keywords
ribbon
tubular member
toothpick
opening
holder
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US710779A
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Petitta Mario
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Individual
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C15/00Devices for cleaning between the teeth
    • A61C15/02Toothpicks

Definitions

  • the present invention is an improvement in the art relating to toothpicks.
  • the principal object of this invention is to provide a novel implement presenting an extending quill for toothpick use.
  • This quill is formed of the end of a flat ribbon which is of Celluloid, plastic, bristol board or other resil ient paper-thin material; such implement serving as the toothpick handle, the former to bend the tape into a duct-form, as hereafter described and preferably as the holder of a compact supply of the ribbon stock.
  • Another object thereof is to provide a novel toothpick device of the character mentioned, accomplishing automatic duct formation of the end region of the initially fiat ribbon, so that a used toothpick point can be cut oh and a new one made, thus affording a new toothpick for use at approximately every three-quarter inch or so of the ribbon supply.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved toothpick device of the kind set forth, which is simple in construction, easy to use, reasonably cheap to manufacture, relatively small in size and for the purposes it is designed.
  • one form it may assume comprises a holder having a roll of the fiat ribbon and a tubular member through which the ribbon lies and extends therefrom, say for about three quarters of an inch.
  • a tubular member through which the ribbon lies and extends therefrom, say for about three quarters of an inch.
  • Such extending free end of the ribbon which is out of the forward end of the tubular member, is cut with a scissors to be in the form of an unslit pen point.
  • the forward end of said tubular member is round and its rear end is flattened.
  • the opening in the rear end is a narrow elongated slot admitting the ribbon in flat condition.
  • the diameter of the opening in the forward end of said tubular member is approximately between a third and a half of the width of the ribbon.
  • the ribbon through the tubular member will be automatically formed and extend forwardly thereof in duct form.
  • the extending formed part of the ribbon will be a duct which is tubular, a tubeform with a longitudinal opening or a longitudinal channel-form, the free end of which is then cut by the user to quill-form.
  • a removable cap may be provided to shield the exposed quill to maintain it in sanitary condition and the holder for the ribbon supply may be an openable casing.
  • the entire device may be of plastic, metal or other suitable material, but the ribbon must be paper-thin and have some resilient quality.
  • Fig. 1 is a lengthwise view of a toothpick device embodying the teachings of this invention.
  • the ribbon supply holder is here shown in open condition and a removable shielding cap encasing the toothpick quill is here included. Such cap is here shown in section.
  • atenut-- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 minus the shielding cap. The ribbon supply holder is shown closed.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the tubular member. The ribbon is shown dash and dot.
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken at lines 4-4 in Fig. 3.
  • P Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken at lines 5-5 in ig. 3.
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken as is Fig. 5, but of modified form.
  • Fig. 7 shows a lengthwise view of the tubular member with the free end portion of the ribbon therethrough. At the entrance into the rear opening of said member, the ribbon is flat. The forwardly. extending free end of the gibbon which is out of the tubular member, is of ductorm.
  • the numeral 15 designates generally a preferred form of the toothpick device. As shown, it consists of a tubular member 16 positioned on a holder for a supply of ribbon stock. Such holder may be a casing 17 having a hinged cover 18.
  • the ribbon supply is preferably a roll thereof indicated as 19.
  • the free end portion of the ribbon 19 is threaded through said tubular member and extends outwardly' therefrom, say about three-quarters of an inch to an inch, as at A.”
  • the intake opening 20 of this tubular member is communicative with the interior of the casing 17 in the embodiment shown. This intake opening is a narrow slot of a size to admit the ribbon 19 in fiat condition.
  • the rearward portion 21 of the tubular member has its interior so dimensioned that the ribbon remains flat therein.
  • the forward portion may be circular as at 22, or square as at 23, or any other suitable shape to accomplish forming of the ribbon therethrough into duct-form. If circular or square, the distance across the forward opening of the tubular member 16, is less than the width of the ribbon, and preferably from about one-third to one-half thereof, so that the ribbon will be of duct-form along distance B; the intermediate portion of the tubular member 16, having an interior which smoothly merges the interiors of the portions 21 and 22.
  • the tubular member 16 can be formed by flattening one end of a piece of suitable tubular stock.
  • a scissors is employed to trim the extended part 24 along CC so that the quill-form is made, meaning the form of an unslit pen point and thus serve as a toothpick.
  • the pointed free end of the ribbon is pulled out and a new point cut. It is evident that the ribbon supply will afford a multiplicity of toothpicks for successive use.
  • a cap or thirnble 25 may be provided to shield it.
  • This cap is of course removable from its frictional hold on the step 26' of the collar 26 which is carried on the tubular member 16.
  • the tubular member aforesaid, the collar 26 and the ribbon supply holder 17 comprise a unitary structure. The ribbon supply when spent, is then replenished. It is evident that the entire article is quite small and can be easily carried in a ladys hand bag or in a mans vest pocket.
  • the article described can be decoratively embellished and the ribbon stock may be of colored material.
  • a comparatively short tubular member having open ends and a comparatively long, initially fiat ribbon of paper thin material having some resilient quality and having a pointed free end; the end portion of said ribbon. having such pointed end, being positioned through said tubular member and extending outwardly a predetermined dis-- tance from one end opening of said tubular member;
  • the distance across the first end opening of said tubular m m er being less than the width of the ribbon whereby.

Description

April 5, 1960 M. PETITTA 2,931,371
TOO'IHPICK nzvxczs Filed Jan. 23, 1958 INYENTOR, Ave/4 fiif/i/J,
nited States The present invention is an improvement in the art relating to toothpicks.
The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel implement presenting an extending quill for toothpick use. This quill is formed of the end of a flat ribbon which is of Celluloid, plastic, bristol board or other resil ient paper-thin material; such implement serving as the toothpick handle, the former to bend the tape into a duct-form, as hereafter described and preferably as the holder of a compact supply of the ribbon stock.
Another object thereof is to provide a novel toothpick device of the character mentioned, accomplishing automatic duct formation of the end region of the initially fiat ribbon, so that a used toothpick point can be cut oh and a new one made, thus affording a new toothpick for use at approximately every three-quarter inch or so of the ribbon supply.
A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved toothpick device of the kind set forth, which is simple in construction, easy to use, reasonably cheap to manufacture, relatively small in size and eficient for the purposes it is designed.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.
For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume comprises a holder having a roll of the fiat ribbon and a tubular member through which the ribbon lies and extends therefrom, say for about three quarters of an inch. Such extending free end of the ribbon which is out of the forward end of the tubular member, is cut with a scissors to be in the form of an unslit pen point. The forward end of said tubular member is round and its rear end is flattened. The opening in the rear end is a narrow elongated slot admitting the ribbon in flat condition. The diameter of the opening in the forward end of said tubular member is approximately between a third and a half of the width of the ribbon. The ribbon through the tubular member will be automatically formed and extend forwardly thereof in duct form. Depending upon the size of the forward opening, the extending formed part of the ribbon will be a duct which is tubular, a tubeform with a longitudinal opening or a longitudinal channel-form, the free end of which is then cut by the user to quill-form. If desired, a removable cap may be provided to shield the exposed quill to maintain it in sanitary condition and the holder for the ribbon supply may be an openable casing. The entire device may be of plastic, metal or other suitable material, but the ribbon must be paper-thin and have some resilient quality.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
Fig. 1 is a lengthwise view of a toothpick device embodying the teachings of this invention. The ribbon supply holder is here shown in open condition and a removable shielding cap encasing the toothpick quill is here included. Such cap is here shown in section.
atenut-- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 minus the shielding cap. The ribbon supply holder is shown closed.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the tubular member. The ribbon is shown dash and dot.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken at lines 4-4 in Fig. 3. t
P Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken at lines 5-5 in ig. 3.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken as is Fig. 5, but of modified form.
Fig. 7 shows a lengthwise view of the tubular member with the free end portion of the ribbon therethrough. At the entrance into the rear opening of said member, the ribbon is flat. The forwardly. extending free end of the gibbon which is out of the tubular member, is of ductorm.
In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a preferred form of the toothpick device. As shown, it consists of a tubular member 16 positioned on a holder for a supply of ribbon stock. Such holder may be a casing 17 having a hinged cover 18. The ribbon supply is preferably a roll thereof indicated as 19. The free end portion of the ribbon 19 is threaded through said tubular member and extends outwardly' therefrom, say about three-quarters of an inch to an inch, as at A." The intake opening 20 of this tubular member is communicative with the interior of the casing 17 in the embodiment shown. This intake opening is a narrow slot of a size to admit the ribbon 19 in fiat condition. In fact, the rearward portion 21 of the tubular member has its interior so dimensioned that the ribbon remains flat therein. The forward portion may be circular as at 22, or square as at 23, or any other suitable shape to accomplish forming of the ribbon therethrough into duct-form. If circular or square, the distance across the forward opening of the tubular member 16, is less than the width of the ribbon, and preferably from about one-third to one-half thereof, so that the ribbon will be of duct-form along distance B; the intermediate portion of the tubular member 16, having an interior which smoothly merges the interiors of the portions 21 and 22. The tubular member 16 can be formed by flattening one end of a piece of suitable tubular stock.
For use, a scissors is employed to trim the extended part 24 along CC so that the quill-form is made, meaning the form of an unslit pen point and thus serve as a toothpick. After once used, the pointed free end of the ribbon is pulled out and a new point cut. It is evident that the ribbon supply will afford a multiplicity of toothpicks for successive use.
To keep the fresh point clean until used, a cap or thirnble 25 may be provided to shield it. This cap is of course removable from its frictional hold on the step 26' of the collar 26 which is carried on the tubular member 16. The tubular member aforesaid, the collar 26 and the ribbon supply holder 17 comprise a unitary structure. The ribbon supply when spent, is then replenished. It is evident that the entire article is quite small and can be easily carried in a ladys hand bag or in a mans vest pocket.
The article described can be decoratively embellished and the ribbon stock may be of colored material.
This invention is capable of various forms and applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being bad to the following claim rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.
I claim:
In a toothpick device of the character described, a comparatively short tubular member having open ends and a comparatively long, initially fiat ribbon of paper thin material having some resilient quality and having a pointed free end; the end portion of said ribbon. having such pointed end, being positioned through said tubular member and extending outwardly a predetermined dis-- tance from one end opening of said tubular member; the
' second end opening of said tubular member being of a size and shape admitting said ribbonin fiat condition;
the distance across the first end opening of said tubular m m er being less than the width of the ribbon whereby.
the longitudinal edges of the ribbon are brought towards one another whereupon said outwardly extending end part of the ribbon is formed into a lengthwise quill adapted for use as a toothpick; the interior space of said tubular member comprising three successive regions; the
interior space region ending with the first end opening of thettubular member, having the cross-section of said first end opening; the interior space region ending with the second end opening of the tubular member, having the cross-section of said second end opening; the interior surface of the portion of the wall of the tubular member which determines the intermediate space region within said tubular member, merging smoothly with the interior surfaces of the portions of the wall of said tubular member, which determine the other interior space regions.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,742 "Arnold July 21, 1914 1,210,205 Richardson Dec. 26, 1916 2,200,933 Nystrom et a1 May 14, 1940 2,226,442 Rumsey Dec. 24, 1940
US710779A 1958-01-23 1958-01-23 Toothpick devices Expired - Lifetime US2931371A (en)

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Cited By (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4040433A (en) * 1976-02-06 1977-08-09 Edison Robert G Toothpick and container assembly
US4133339A (en) * 1975-07-11 1979-01-09 Floss Aid Corporation Needle with deformable eye
US4800905A (en) * 1986-08-21 1989-01-31 Stuart Dennis D Semi-rigid toothpick with protective case handle
US5094255A (en) * 1989-02-08 1992-03-10 Ringle Larry L Acrylic dental floss and method for manufacture
US5311889A (en) * 1991-06-10 1994-05-17 Csm Patents, Inc. Dental floss & pre-threaded leader
USD382367S (en) * 1996-04-19 1997-08-12 Enviro Pac International L.L.C. Combined toothpick and dental floss holder
US5787908A (en) * 1993-01-07 1998-08-04 Robinson; Dane Q. Dental flossing apparatus
US5855216A (en) * 1997-10-09 1999-01-05 Robinson; Dane Q. Dental flossing device
US6422867B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-07-23 Water Pik, Inc. Interproximal flosser handle
US6447293B1 (en) 1999-08-13 2002-09-10 Water Pik, Inc. Drive mechanism for interproximal flossing device
USD463627S1 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-09-24 Water Pik, Inc. Single rail flosser tip cartridge
US6488036B1 (en) 1999-11-02 2002-12-03 Shlomo Francis Dental floss dispenser and method
US6609910B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2003-08-26 Water Pik, Inc. Tip for dental flossing device
USD484311S1 (en) 2001-01-12 2003-12-30 Water Pik, Inc. Disposable toothbrush
USD487349S1 (en) 2002-02-01 2004-03-09 Water Pik, Inc. Dental device
US6821119B2 (en) 2001-07-12 2004-11-23 Water Pik, Inc. Dual motor oral hygiene device
US6920659B2 (en) 2001-01-12 2005-07-26 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush
US6955539B2 (en) 2001-07-12 2005-10-18 Water Pik, Inc. Characterization of motion of dual motor oral hygiene device
US7198487B2 (en) 2002-12-31 2007-04-03 Water Pik, Inc. Whitening tip for dental flossing device
US8943634B2 (en) 2011-05-02 2015-02-03 Water Pik, Inc. Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system
US9468511B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2016-10-18 Water Pik, Inc. Electronic toothbrush with vibration dampening
US9987109B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2018-06-05 Water Pik, Inc. Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser
USD844997S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2019-04-09 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle
USD845636S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2019-04-16 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle
US10449023B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2019-10-22 Water Pik, Inc. Oral cleansing device with energy conservation
US10561480B2 (en) 2016-05-09 2020-02-18 Water Pik, Inc. Load sensing for oral devices
US10610008B2 (en) 2016-12-15 2020-04-07 Water Pik, Inc. Brushing device with illumination features

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1104742A (en) * 1914-01-31 1914-07-21 Nashua Card Gummed & Coated Paper Company Machine for making paper-tube sections.
US1210205A (en) * 1916-06-28 1916-12-26 Chauncey E Richardson Dental-floss carrier.
US2200933A (en) * 1937-09-01 1940-05-14 Western Electric Co Strand handling apparatus
US2226442A (en) * 1938-02-02 1940-12-24 Jr Herbert Rumsey Apparatus and method for dispensing meat products

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1104742A (en) * 1914-01-31 1914-07-21 Nashua Card Gummed & Coated Paper Company Machine for making paper-tube sections.
US1210205A (en) * 1916-06-28 1916-12-26 Chauncey E Richardson Dental-floss carrier.
US2200933A (en) * 1937-09-01 1940-05-14 Western Electric Co Strand handling apparatus
US2226442A (en) * 1938-02-02 1940-12-24 Jr Herbert Rumsey Apparatus and method for dispensing meat products

Cited By (40)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4133339A (en) * 1975-07-11 1979-01-09 Floss Aid Corporation Needle with deformable eye
US4040433A (en) * 1976-02-06 1977-08-09 Edison Robert G Toothpick and container assembly
US4800905A (en) * 1986-08-21 1989-01-31 Stuart Dennis D Semi-rigid toothpick with protective case handle
US5094255A (en) * 1989-02-08 1992-03-10 Ringle Larry L Acrylic dental floss and method for manufacture
US5311889A (en) * 1991-06-10 1994-05-17 Csm Patents, Inc. Dental floss & pre-threaded leader
US5787908A (en) * 1993-01-07 1998-08-04 Robinson; Dane Q. Dental flossing apparatus
US5944033A (en) * 1993-01-07 1999-08-31 Robinson; Dane Q. Dental flossing device and method therefor
USD382367S (en) * 1996-04-19 1997-08-12 Enviro Pac International L.L.C. Combined toothpick and dental floss holder
US5855216A (en) * 1997-10-09 1999-01-05 Robinson; Dane Q. Dental flossing device
US6447293B1 (en) 1999-08-13 2002-09-10 Water Pik, Inc. Drive mechanism for interproximal flossing device
US6488036B1 (en) 1999-11-02 2002-12-03 Shlomo Francis Dental floss dispenser and method
US6609910B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2003-08-26 Water Pik, Inc. Tip for dental flossing device
US6422867B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-07-23 Water Pik, Inc. Interproximal flosser handle
USD463627S1 (en) 1999-12-21 2002-09-24 Water Pik, Inc. Single rail flosser tip cartridge
USD484311S1 (en) 2001-01-12 2003-12-30 Water Pik, Inc. Disposable toothbrush
US6920659B2 (en) 2001-01-12 2005-07-26 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush
US6821119B2 (en) 2001-07-12 2004-11-23 Water Pik, Inc. Dual motor oral hygiene device
US6955539B2 (en) 2001-07-12 2005-10-18 Water Pik, Inc. Characterization of motion of dual motor oral hygiene device
USD487349S1 (en) 2002-02-01 2004-03-09 Water Pik, Inc. Dental device
US7198487B2 (en) 2002-12-31 2007-04-03 Water Pik, Inc. Whitening tip for dental flossing device
US8943634B2 (en) 2011-05-02 2015-02-03 Water Pik, Inc. Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system
US9144477B2 (en) 2011-05-02 2015-09-29 Water Pik, Inc. Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system
US11399925B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2022-08-02 Water Pik, Inc. Wirelessly controlled oral irrigator
US9987109B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2018-06-05 Water Pik, Inc. Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser
US11744690B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2023-09-05 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush tip
US9468511B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2016-10-18 Water Pik, Inc. Electronic toothbrush with vibration dampening
USD878765S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2020-03-24 Water Pik, Inc. Brush head for oral cleansing device
USD959840S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2022-08-09 Water Pik, Inc. Brush head for oral cleansing device
US10828137B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2020-11-10 Water Pik, Inc. Brush tip with motion transfer and securing engagement structures
US11351018B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2022-06-07 Water Pik, Inc. Oral cleansing device with removable base
US10918469B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2021-02-16 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush with fluid directing drive assembly
US10449023B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2019-10-22 Water Pik, Inc. Oral cleansing device with energy conservation
US11284980B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2022-03-29 Water Pik, Inc. Oral cleansing device with rotatable fluid connector
US10561480B2 (en) 2016-05-09 2020-02-18 Water Pik, Inc. Load sensing for oral devices
USD845636S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2019-04-16 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle
US11013315B2 (en) 2016-12-15 2021-05-25 Water Pik, Inc. Light diffuser for oral cleansing devices
USD906688S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2021-01-05 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle
USD881584S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2020-04-21 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle
US10610008B2 (en) 2016-12-15 2020-04-07 Water Pik, Inc. Brushing device with illumination features
USD844997S1 (en) 2016-12-15 2019-04-09 Water Pik, Inc. Toothbrush handle

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