WO1996016610A1

WO1996016610A1 - Cleaning utensil for dental hygiene

Info

Publication number: WO1996016610A1
Application number: PCT/CH1995/000279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sylvain-Victor Nahum
Original assignee: Nahum Sylvain Victor
Priority date: 1994-11-28
Filing date: 1995-11-28
Publication date: 1996-06-06
Also published as: AU3921095A

Abstract

A utensil including a thin rubber or latex fingerstall (7) with an outer cleaning surface (10) impregnated with a gel or toothpaste (14). The fingerstall (7) is rolled up so that it has a collar (8) adjacent to the main body, and the utensil is sealed in an air-tight aseptic packaging.

Description

Cleaning utensil for dental hygiene

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cleaning utensil for dental hygiene.

PRIOR ART The use that is usually made of a toothbrush, day after day, is absolutely not satisfactory from the point of view of dental hygiene. The toothbrush used daily, which is left to dry after placing it either in a glass or on a bathroom shelf, represents a moist environment often containing small particles of food and therefore a significant amount of germs of all kinds. In the case where the toothbrush is contained in a toilet bag to be used for example during a trip, the hygiene is here even worse, it being understood that the brush remains much longer wet inside 1 ' the kit. On the other hand, in the case of daily use, the toothbrush is a bulky utensil given the length of its handle. It requires accessories, in particular a tube of toothpaste or gel, or a box containing a powder or a dental salt. There are commercially available small accessories consisting of a package generally made of plastic, this packaging containing a brush, toothpaste and possibly a thin cup. This packaging, as mentioned above, is relatively bulky and the operation which consists in using it, for example to brush your teeth in the toilets of a restaurant or outside, is not very easy. Finally, the criterion of dental hygiene remains unresolved with the use of the accessory mentioned above.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to present a cleaning utensil for dental hygiene of small size, packed in a sealed manner and consequently biologically clean, the utensil being intended to be used only once and to be thrown away after use.

The dental hygiene utensil according to the invention comprising a cleaning surface supported by a gripping member is characterized in that the gripping member is a flexible and thin finger guard carrying at its end the surface of cleaning or massage, the finger guard being rolled from its open end so as to form a collar and enclosed in a sealed and aseptic package.

The finger guard is preferably made of rubber or a synthetic material such as latex and the cleaning surface of the utensil is impregnated with a product for cleaning, treating and disinfecting teeth and the mouth. .

A pocket can be provided containing a product for cleaning, treating and disinfecting teeth and mouth, the pocket being disposed between the finger guard and the cleaning surface and orifices being provided in the cleaning surface to allow the product to flow under finger pressure.

The end of the finger guard carrying the cleaning surface can be introduced into a cup containing the product for cleaning, treating and disinfecting teeth and the mouth, the cup having at its open end an external circular groove , on which is placed the collar formed by the finger guard rolled on itself. The external cleaning surface of the support can be produced from a weaving formed from rough elements or from a rough synthetic foam or also from an injection of a surface of synthetic material or rubber having roughness or spikes.

The external cleaning surface of the support can be provided with bristles, semi-rigid loops, a combination of lamellae, bristles or flexible points, hemispheres or suction cups. The sealed packaging can be produced from a sheet of preformed synthetic material having a bottom and an annular bulge intended to receive the rolled finger guard, the whole being closed by a heat-sealed cover. The cleaning surface may be in the form of a patch extending over part of the end of the finger guard or, as a variant, extending over the entire end of the finger guard.

Finally, the finger guard may have a length intended to receive a finger over a distance ranging from a phalanx to the entire length of the finger. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The attached drawing shows schematically and by way of examples embodiments and variants of the cleaning utensil for dental hygiene, object of one invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the utensil, Figure 2 is a section along line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a variant of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a top view of a plastic packaging of a second embodiment of the utensil in the form of a rolled finger guard, Figure 5 is a section along line VV of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a view of the utensil shown in FIG. 4, this being unwound on the end of a finger, FIG. 7 is a view of a variant of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the end of a finger being ready to be introduced into the utensil, FIG. 8 is a view of the variant of FIG. 7, the finger having been introduced into the utensil, FIG. 9 is a view of a third mode of execution of the utensil in the form of a rolled finger protector placed inside a packaging made of preformed plastic, FIG. 10 is a section along line XX of the packaging of FIG. 9, Figure 11 shows a hand on one index finger of which the finger guard of the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 was unrolled with its end provided with a cleaning patch, Figure 12 is a view of a patch net¬ toyage located at the end of the finger guard of the embodiments of FIGS. 9 to 11, the patch having a multitude of bristles lining its surface, FIG. 13 represents a variant of the patch of FIG. 12, the surface of the patch being furnished with small suction cups, FIG. 14 is a variant of the patch of FIG. 12, its surface being furnished with strips and hairs, and FIG. 15 is a variant of the patch of FIG. 12, its surface being furnished with hemispheres intended mainly to perform a massage action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The first embodiment of the cleaning tool for dental hygiene shown in FIG. 1 comprises a support 1, the front part 2 of which is provided with bristles 3, the front part 2 extending under the end of a finger 4 of a user, so as to leave free the upper part of the end of said finger. In its rear part, the support 1 extends upwards to form a circular ring 5, in which the finger is introduced and retained. The hairs 3 of the utensil are impregnated with a product 6 for cleaning, treating and disinfecting the teeth and the mouth.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, as in the embodiments which will follow with regard to the figures. gures 2 to 8, product 6 for cleaning, treating and disinfecting the teeth and mouth can be in the form of a gel or a toothpaste comprising, for example sodium phosphate, fluorine , for example in the form of sodium fluoride, a copolymer as well as anti-scale materials or any disinfectant or care component. The product for cleaning, treating and disinfecting teeth and the mouth can also be in the form of a sea salt or a dental powder comprising sodium fluoride, myrtle tincture, tartaric acid, sodium carbonate, magnesium, calcium salts and / or possibly an efferves¬ cent agent. These dental powders, as well as pastes and gels, are perfectly known to those skilled in the art and can all be advantageously used as a product for impregnating bristles 3 or for the impregnation surface of 1 ' utensil.

A finger protector made of rubber or of a synthetic material, such as latex, is introduced into the support 1, as shown in 7, the open end of the finger protector being rolled up on itself, so to form a collar 8 intended to come to bear against the rear of the element 1. The operation of the embodiment of the fi¬ gure 1 which has just been described is very simple. The user introduces his finger represented at 4 into the opening delimited by the collar 8 of the finger guard 7 and enters the ring 5 until the end of his finger comes to rest on the front part 2 of the support 1. The bristles 3 being impregnated with a gel or dental powder 6, the utensil can be used without problem. The finger guard 7, which will have been made integral with the support 1 either by gluing, or by a vulcanization process at hot, may, after the introduction of the end of the user's finger, take place along finger 4 and thus protect said finger from contact with the inside of his mouth. When the teeth are washed, the user can then pull the rear part of the finger protector forward and separate the finger protector 7 and the support 1 from his finger. After use, the utensil will be discarded and as will have been discarded beforehand the etan¬ che packaging not shown enclosing the utensil of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the section of FIG. 2, there is in section the front part 2 of the support 1, the rear part of said support being produced so as to form the ring 5 intended to hold the end of the user's finger, the finger protector 7 being made integral with the ring 5. The front part 2 of the support has bristles 3 and, as a variant, orifices 4 provided between the bristles 3 in the front part 2 of the support. The utensil shown in the section of the fi¬ gure 2 alternatively has a pocket 9 containing a gel or a toothpaste which will be propelled outside the utensil along the bristles 3 of the brush by means of diary of the orifices 4 when the finger will exert a pressure on the said po¬ che when it is introduced into the support 2. The bristles 3 of the brush will thus be impregnated when the user's finger is introduced into the support 1 .

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the bristles 3 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 as well as in the variant of the section of FIG. 2, which show the external cleaning surface, can be replaced. by other means, for example by an external cleaning surface formed from a weaving comprising rough elements. The hairs can also be replaced by a surface in the form of a rough synthetic foam. They can also be replaced by a surface of flexible synthetic material formed from an injection of synthetic material or of rubber material having asperities or flexible tips. Finally, the bristles can be replaced by a surface in the form of a small thickness of a synthetic foam having a certain roughness. In the variant of FIG. 3, the support 1 is in the form of a flexible cap open at its upper part and inside which the end of a user's finger can be positioned. The external surface 10 of the open cap 1 can have and be covered either with bristles 3, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, or by weaving, a thin layer of synthetic material having the form of foam, or an injection based on synthetic material or rubber having roughness or flexible tips. A finger guard 7 is made integral with the interior of the support 1 by gluing or by heat welding and its open end will be rolled according to the collar 8 as shown in the variant of FIG. 3, the whole being enclosed in sealed plastic packaging, not shown. The rough surface 10 will be like the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 impregnated with a product for the cleaning, treatment and disinfection of the teeth and the mouth of the user. .

The finger guard 7 is shown on an optional basis and if the user is not afraid of getting his finger dirty, the utensil shown in the variant of FIG. 3 may simply consist in the support 1 previously imprinted. embarrassed. In this case, the inner surface of the support 1 will be provided with a layer of adhesive and covered with a protective plastic sheet, not shown, as are the plasters. The plastic sheet, not shown, will have the advantage of protecting the interior of the surface of the support 1, all the more so since the cleaning surface 10 is impregnated. The user can thus simply open the packaging (not shown), remove the protective sheet (not shown) and stick the support 1 at the tip of his finger. After using the utensil of the variant of FIG. 3, he can tear off the support 1 with his finger, in the same way as one tears off a plaster and throw it away.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the tool represented in the variant of FIG. 3 can be in the form of a closed cap on its upper part, the cleaning surface 10 going around capu¬ chon. The user can then simply insert his finger into the cap and use the utensil impregnated with a cleaning product thus described.

The second embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 comprises a support 1 in the form of a finger guard whose open end has been rolled to form a collar 8, the whole being in a flattened form and thus being able to be enclosed in a sealed packaging made of synthetic material 11 formed from welded sheets or strips. The packaging will present on its periphery a notch 12 making it possible to tear it easily. In the section of FIG. 5, the finger protector forming the support 1 has a central part 13 representing a hollow 13 supporting the cleaning surface or the bristles 10 and in which the cleaning product 14, which can come in the form of a gel or toothpaste or a salt or powder is contained. The support 1 thus formed has on its periphery the annular collar 8 and the whole is enclosed in the plastic packaging 11.

During use, the packaging 11 is torn and opened and the user introduces his finger into the support or finger guard 1. He then unrolls the collar 8 as shown in FIG. 6 and the utensil is then ready to use. As represented in FIG. 6, the cleaning surface which is previously impregnated with the aid of the product 14 as described above and appearing under the reference number 10 in FIG. 6, can consist either of bristles, or of a surface rough formed by a weaving, a synthetic foam or an injection having roughness and / or spikes. The support 1 can thus be introduced into the mouth while being completely protected. After use, it will be discarded as in the previous embodiments. Alternatively, the cleaning surface 10 may extend around the entire periphery of the end of the finger guard.

In the variant of FIGS. 7 and 8, the finger guard appearing on the support 1 is introduced into a cup 15 containing the product 14 for cleaning, treating and disinfecting the teeth and the mouth. The free end of the support 1 is rolled so as to form the collar 8 which will come to bear in a groove 16 provided on the outer periphery of the shovel 15. The cup 15 with its groove in combination with the support or protector finger 1 has the advantage of keeping the cleaning, treatment and disinfection product of the teeth and mouth locked up 14. The support or finger guard 1 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8, as well as the cups 15 of the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 can be made in different sizes, a size or model for men, a size or model for women and a size or model for children. The inner end of the finger guard of the ladies' model will be advantageously reinforced to avoid deterioration due to the nails. The children's model, as well as the ladies' model, can advantageously be impregnated with different chosen perfumes.

As shown in FIG. 7, the user will then introduce his finger into the cup 15, which will cause the collar 8 to come out of its groove 16 and to drive the product 14 along the cleaning surface 10 of the support 1 and to impregnate it. The user will unroll the collar 8 so as to completely cover his finger and remove the cup 15. The utensil can then be used.

After washing their teeth, the user will reintroduce his finger in the cup 15 and roll the finger protector until the collar thus formed comes back into the groove 16. He will then throw everything .

The dental utensil shown in Figures 9 to 15 includes a finger guard 17 made as in the previous embodiments of rubber or synthetic material. The finger guard 17 previously rolled so as to form a collar 18 has, as shown in the section of FIG. 10, a central part provided with bristles 19 or with a cleaning surface similar to that of these previous embodiments.

The previously rolled finger guard is placed in a plastic container 20 formed of niere to present a circular central part 21 surrounded by an annular groove 22 intended to receive the rolled collar 18 of the finger guard 17. The container 20 can be made from a sheet of plastic material of the type used to make any packaging for pharmaceutical, drugstore or food products, such as trays used to contain cream or butter. Such packaging is produced from sheets preformed hot and having a large number of locations intended to receive drugs or products, these sheets being closed by hot welding of a closing sheet 23 intended to enclose the pro¬ duits. The thermoformed sheets containing the products will then be cut out, so that each packaged product is in the form shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The central parts 21 of a preformed plastic packaging sheet receive a dose 24 of product for cleaning, treating or disinfecting the teeth and the mouth and the finger guards provided with their central treatment surface 19 are arranged in their locations, so that the collars 18 are placed in the annular groove 22. The closure sheet 23 is put in place and welded by the preformed sheet 20 by thermal means. Each tray element 20 can then be separated by cutting or prepared to be able to be subsequently detached by means of a dotted cutting.

The annular groove 22 will advantageously be made so as to be able to retain the rolled finger guard when it is put in place before the fitting of the cover 23. For this it will suffice to provide between the central part 21 of the tray and the groove 22 a thin circular edge on which will be retained the collar 18 placed under a slight tension.

When the user pushes his finger in the center of the tray 20 after removing the cover 23, the tray will be slightly deformed by the fact that the central part 21 is slightly convex. Thus, the action of the user's finger will impregnate the cleaning surface 19 with product and will deform the tray, which will cause the collar 18 to come out of the annular groove 22, the so-called collar 18 closing on the finger. of the user, who will unroll it along his finger.

Figure 11 shows a variant of the embodiment of the finger guard of Figures 4 to 10 unwound on the index finger of a hand of a user. The finger guard 7, 17 is provided at its end with a patch 10, 19 of small thickness, glued or hot applied to the end of the finger protector 7, 17.

Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 show variants of flexible and thin patches. The patches in Figures 12 to 15 are oval in shape and are particularly intended for different uses. The patch of FIG. 12 has bristles or semi-rigid loops 25 which cover its entire upper part. The patch of Figure 13 is covered at its upper part with small suction cups 26 which will be used for cleaning as well as massage teeth and gen¬ cives. The patch of Figure 14 is covered at its upper part with strips 27 arranged in a cross and bristles 28 placed in places not covered by the strips 27. The patch of Figure 15 has a succession of half-spheres 29 which will be particularly useful for massaging the gums.

The patches of FIGS. 12 to 15 which have just been described can also be produced by molding in one piece with the finger guard 7, 17. The latter will then present at any end a slightly reinforced part containing in its thickness, the elements 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 of FIGS. 12 to 15.

The finger protectors which have just been described can be produced so as to be shorter than those of FIGS. 1 to 10, so as to cover only the end or half of the finger on which they are unwound. Thus, a finger protector covering only the first pha¬ lange or the first and second phalanges of a finger can advantageously be produced. On the other hand, the cleaning or massage surface placed at the end of the finger can also develop around the entire periphery of the end of the finger. In the case of a finger guard of a length covering only the first phalanx of a finger, the cleaning surface can then develop over the entire surface of the finger guard.

The utensils which have just been described with regard to embodiments and variants of FIGS. 1 to 15 offer the advantage of being of very small size and of being in the form of utensils contained in em¬ waterproof and sanitized ballage. They are used only once and discarded after use. They represent great progress in dental hygiene and allow a user to brush his teeth outside his home, whether in town or in the country. The user only needs a little water to be able to carry out dental hygiene at any time. Several packages containing the utensils described above can be placed either in a pocket or in a bag and occupy a very small volume. Finally, in all the embodiments which have just been described, the user can choose a model in which his finger is completely covered and protected. He thus avoids any contact of his finger with the inside of his mouth.

Claims

1. Cleaning utensil for dental hygiene, comprising a cleaning surface supported by a gripping member, characterized in that the gripping member is a flexible and thin finger guard (7,17) carrying at its end the cleaning or massage surface (10,13,19), the finger guard being rolled up from its open end so as to form a collar (8,18) and enclosed in a sealed and aseptic packaging (11,20 and 23).

2. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger guard is made of rubber or of synthetic material such as latex.

3. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning surface (10,13,19) of the utensil is impregnated with a product (6,14,24) for cleaning, treating and disinfecting the teeth and mouth.

4. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that a pocket (9) containing a product (6,14) for cleaning, treatment and disinfection of teeth and mouth is disposed between the finger guard and the cleaning surface (3,10), orifices being provided in the cleaning surface.

5. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning surface (10) is integral with the closed end of the finger guard.

6. Utensil according to claims 1 and 2, charac¬ terized in that the end of the finger guard carrying the cleaning surface (10,13,19) is introduced into a shovel (15) containing a product (14 ) for cleaning, treating and disinfecting the teeth and the mouth, the cup (15) having at its open end an outer circular groove (16), on which the collar (8) formed is placed by the finger guard rolled up on itself.

7. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the external cleaning surface (10) of the support (1) is a weaving formed from rough elements.

8. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the external cleaning surface (10) - of the support (1) is a rough synthetic foam.

9. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the external cleaning surface (10) of the support is produced from an injection of a surface of synthetic material or rubber having roughness or spikes.

10. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the external cleaning surface (10) of the support (1) is provided with bristles.

₁₁ . Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning or treatment surface comprises semi-rigid loops (Fig. 12).

12. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning or treatment surface comprises strips (Fig. 14).

13. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning or treatment surface comprises, in combination with lamellae, bristles or soft points (Fig. 14).

14. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning or treatment surface comprises hemispheres (Fig. 15).

15. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning or treatment surface comprises suction cups (Fig. 13).

16. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealed packaging is produced from a sheet of preformed synthetic material having a bottom (21) and an annular groove (22) intended to receive the rolled finger guard, the whole being closed by a heat-sealed cover.

17. Utensil according to one of claims 7 to 15, ca¬ characterized in that the cleaning surface (10,13,19) is in the form of a patch extending over part of the end of the finger guard .

18. Utensil according to one of claims 7 to 15, ca¬ characterized in that the cleaning surface of the finger guard extends over the entire end of the finger guard.

19. Utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger guard has a length intended to re¬ cover a finger over a distance from a phalanx to the entire length of the finger.