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US 4,585,416 AGranted
Device for cleaning teeth and massaging gums
OwnerRichard G. DeNiro, Thomas M. Raines +2inventors
InventorsRichard G. DeNiro, Thomas M. Raines, Donald B. Raines, Joseph B. Raines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is disclosed for simultaneously cleaning teeth, cheeks, lips and the tongue and massaging gums. The device is placed between the teeth and operates in response to chewing action. It can optionally be used with a dentifrice.
Claims16
A device for simultaneously cleaning teeth and massaging gums, comprising:
- a spool-shaped member formed as a single piece of resilient, non-toxic material, said member comprising:
- a central body portion including a central void, said central body portion having a substantially circular outer circumference to facilitate rolling said central body portion between the teeth from tooth to tooth;
- and
- first and second substantially circular dish-shaped flange portions extending radially outward from opposite ends of said central body portion, said first flange portion having a concave surface facing said central body portion to generally conform to the labial surfaces of a user's teeth, said second flange portion having a convex surface facing said central body portion to generally conform to the lingual surfaces of a user's teeth;
- said central void of said body portion facilitating collapse of said central body portion which induces a closure of said flanges against the teeth and gums of a user so that said inner surfaces of said flanges contact the surfaces of the teeth and gums to thereby clean the surfaces of the teeth and gums by rubbing on said surfaces.
2 more elements
A method of cleaning teeth and massaging gums, comprising the steps of:
- placing a resilient spool-shaped member at a location between the upper and lower teeth of a user, said spool-shaped member having a central body portion having a substantially circular outer circumference surrounding a central void and having attached substantially circular dish-shaped first and second flange portions said first and second substantially circular dish-shaped flange portions extending radially outward from opposite ends of said central body portion, said first flange portion having a concave surface facing said central body portion to generally conform to the labial surfaces of a user's teeth, said second flange portion having a convex surface facing said central body portion to generally conform to the lingual surfaces of a user's teeth;
- positioning the teeth on opposite sides of said central body portion between said first and second flange portions;
- chewing on said central body portion to intermittently collapse said central body portion, thereby moving said concave inner surface of said first flange portion and said convex inner surface of said second flange portion to engage the labial and lingual surfaces, respectively, of said teeth and gums, to thereby clean said labial and lingual surfaces by rubbing said surfaces of said flange portions on said teeth and gums;
- moving said central body portion to a new location in the user's mouth by rolling said central body portion between the user's teeth without manual intervention;
- and
- repeating said chewing and moving steps at each of the locations in the user's mouth to be cleaned.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.