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US 12,096,843 B2Granted
Multiuse tooth cleaning devices and processes for using same
AssigneeFunkkOFF!
InventorJoelle S. Flynn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tooth cleaning devices for portable, discrete use to improve dental hygiene as well as cosmetic appearance of teeth and processes for using same. The devices enable discrete cleaning of teeth after drinking dark-colored beverages or after eating food in social settings when conventional teeth cleaning devices are unavailable or inconvenient. In particular, these devices are designed for multiple uses, so that the same device may be used for teeth cleaning on multiple occasions.
Claims18
A tooth cleaning device, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
- a shoulder assembly attached to the housing at the first end and comprising a plurality of bristles attached to a distal surface thereof, the shoulder assembly further comprising an intermediate groove;
- and
- a plunger assembly comprising a rotatable dial at the second end of the housing coupled to a grooved shaft, and a laterally extending plunger having an outer surface engaged with an inner wall of the housing and a central opening engaged with the grooved shaft,
- wherein the housing defines a housing cavity between the shoulder assembly and the plunger, the housing cavity containing an oral care composition therein, and wherein rotation of the dial causes the shaft to rotate and the plunger to move in the distal direction thereby decreasing housing cavity volume and pushing the oral care composition out of the housing cavity through an opening in the shoulder assembly and onto the bristles, and
- wherein the housing includes a prong disposed on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the prong is configured to engage with the intermediate groove of the shoulder assembly.
3 more elements
A process for using a tooth cleaning device, comprising:
- (a) providing a tooth cleaning device, the device comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
- a shoulder assembly attached to the housing at the first end and comprising a plurality of bristles attached to a distal surface thereof, the shoulder assembly further comprising an intermediate groove;
- and
- a plunger assembly comprising a rotatable dial at the second end of the housing coupled to a grooved shaft, and a laterally extending plunger having an outer surface engaged with an inner wall of the housing and a central opening engaged with the grooved shaft,
- wherein the housing defines a cavity between the shoulder assembly and the plunger, the cavity containing an oral care composition therein, and
- wherein the housing includes a prong disposed on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the prong is configured to engage with the intermediate groove of the shoulder assembly;
- (b) gripping the housing;
- (c) rotating the dial so as to rotate the shaft causing the plunger to move in the distal direction thereby decreasing the cavity volume and pushing the oral care composition out of the cavity through the opening and onto the bristles;
- and
- (d) activating the oral care composition with the user's saliva and brushing the user's teeth with the bristles.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.