# US 2016/0354187 A1 · Dental implement and method of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354187 A1 - Document ID: US20160354187A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/170,077 - Filed: 2016-06-01 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-03 - Assignees: Zee Zee Corporation - Applicants: Zee Zee Corporation - Inventors: Zenovia Zmiyiwsky; Vera Zmiyiwsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354187A1 ## CPC - A61C 15/02: Toothpicks - A46B 5/0008: {Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle not intended for simultaneous use} - A46B 5/0095: {Removable or interchangeable brush heads} - B08B 1/12: Brushes - A46B 2200/108: Inter-dental toothbrush, i.e. for cleaning interdental spaces specifically - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract A dental implement for cleaning interproximal spaces and a method of use. The implement includes a sleeve with first and second ends and a bore defined therebetween. A stack of cartridges is insertable into the bore. Each cartridge includes a cleaning tip such as an interproximal brush. A cap may be engaged with the sleeve to protect the tip and keep it hygienic. The cartridges are progressively advanced along the bore to present their cleaning tip for use. A locking member secures the uppermost cartridge in place. Once used, a cartridge is removed from the sleeve and may be discarded or inserted into an opening to the bore in the sleeve's second end. The tip may be snapped off prior to insertion. The cartridge stack is drawn along the bore as the uppermost cartridge is removed or insertion of the spent cartridge will advance the cartridge stack along the bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental implement comprising: a sleeve having a wall with a first end and a second end; said sleeve defining a bore that extends between the first and second ends; and a first cartridge provided with a first cleaning tip; wherein the first cartridge is received within the bore and is movable therealong; said first cartridge being selectively positioned within the bore such that the first cleaning tip extends outwardly beyond the first end of the sleeve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cap that is selectively engageable with the first end of the sleeve to cover the first cleaning tip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the first cartridge is a single use cartridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the first cartridge is disposable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the first cleaning tip is a bristled brush. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the first cartridge includes a first locking member that selectively locks the first cartridge in a fixed position within the sleeve's bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dental implement as defined in claim 6, wherein the wall of the sleeve defines an aperture therein and the first locking member on the first cartridge selectively extends through the aperture to lock the first cartridge in the fixed position within the bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The dental implement as defined in claim 6, wherein the first locking member comprises an arm provided on the first cartridge and the arm is movable between a first position and a second position; and when the arm is in the first position the first cartridge is movable along the sleeve's bore; and when the arm is in the second position the first cartridge is retained in the fixed position within the sleeve's bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dental implement as defined in claim 1, further comprising one or more additional cartridges that are retained within the bore and said one or more additional cartridges each include an additional cleaning tip; and wherein the one or more cartridges are movable within the bore when the first cartridge has been removed from the bore and one of the one or more additional cartridges is positionable within the bore so that the additional cleaning tip on the one of the one or more additional cartridges extends outwardly beyond the first end of the sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dental implement as defined in claim 9, wherein the first cartridge and the one or more additional cartridges are stackable one on top of the other to form a cartridge stack that is received within the bore of the sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dental implement as defined in claim 10, wherein the first cleaning tip and the additional cleaning tips of the one or more additional cartridges are all identical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The dental implement as defined in claim 10, wherein the first cleaning tip and the additional cleaning tips of the one or more additional cartridges are different from each other. ### Claim 13 A method of cleaning an interproximal space in a person's mouth; said method including: providing a dental implement comprising a sleeve having a wall with a first end, a second end, and a bore defined between the first and second ends; and a first cartridge movable along the sleeve's bore of the sleeve; wherein the first cartridge includes a first cleaning tip; selectively moving the first cartridge along the bore to a position proximate the first end of the sleeve; extending the first cleaning tip on the first cartridge outwardly beyond the first end of the sleeve; and using the first cleaning tip in a person's mouth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of using the first cleaning tip comprises: inserting the first cleaning tip into the interproximal space in the person's mouth; and moving the first cleaning tip back-and-forth, up-and-down; and from side-to-side between the teeth bounding the interproximal space. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising: engaging a locking member; and locking the first cartridge proximate the first end of the sleeve utilizing the locking member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising: inserting a cartridge stack into an opening in the second end of the sleeve; where the cartridge stack includes a plurality of cartridges arranged one on top of the other; wherein each of the plurality of cartridges includes a cleaning tip; and wherein the first cartridge comprises an uppermost cartridge in the cartridge stack; and moving the cartridge stack through the bore of the sleeve when the first cartridge is moved in the bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising; inserting the removed first cartridge through the opening in the second end of the bore; engaging the inserted first cartridge with the cartridge stack so that the inserted first cartridge becomes a lowermost cartridge in the cartridge stack. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising: breaking the first cleaning tip off the removed first cartridge prior to inserting the first cartridge into the opening in the second end of the bore. ### Claim 19 A teeth cleaning assembly comprising: a plurality of cartridges, each cartridge having a base with a first end and a second end; a cleaning tip extending outwardly from the first end and a bore defined in the base, where the bore is accessible through an opening in the second end of the base; wherein the plurality of cartridges are stacked one on top of the other such that the cleaning tip of a first one of the cartridges is received within the cavity of an adjacent second one of the cartridges; and wherein adjacent cartridges in the stack of cartridges are interlockingly engaged with each other; and wherein an uppermost one of the stack of cartridges is detachable from the stack after use of the cleaning tip thereon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The teeth cleaning assembly as defined in claim 19, further comprising a sleeve defining a bore therein; and wherein the stack of cartridges is receivable within the sleeve's bore and is selectively movable therealong.