# US 5,704,388 A · Tubular toothpick having a feathered tip

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- Number: US 5,704,388 A
- Document ID: US5704388A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/721,803
- Filed: 1996-09-27
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-09-27
- Inventors: Roger Freeman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704388A

## CPC

- A61C 15/02: Toothpicks
- 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)

## Abstract

A tubular toothpick (10) that can be used to remove food particles from between a user's teeth, gums and periodontal pockets without damaging the soft tissue of the user's gums is disclosed. The toothpick (10) is formed from synthetic resin materials and includes an elongated tubular body (12) presenting a longitudinal axis and a pair of axially opposed ends (14,16). One of the ends (14) includes an oblique leading surface (18) defining a cleaning edge. A plurality of slits (22) are formed in the cleaning edge that define therebetween a plurality of spaced-apart and independently movable finger portions (23). The independently moveable finger portions (23) feather and soften the cleaning edge of the toothpick for permitting the toothpick to be inserted between a user's teeth and gums without damaging the soft tissue of the user's gums.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A toothpick comprising:
an elongated tubular body presenting a longitudinal axis and a pair of axially opposed ends,
one of said ends including a tapered oblique leading surface defining a tooth and gum cleaning edge,
said cleaning edge of said oblique leading surface including a plurality of spaced-apart slits formed therein defining therebetween a plurality of independently moveable finger portions for feathering said cleaning edge,
wherein some of said slits and said finger portions extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and some of said slits and finger portions extend at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The toothpick as set forth in claim 1, said tubular body presenting an outside diameter of approximately 1/16-1/4" and a wall thickness of approximately 0.004-0.010".

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The toothpick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular body is formed of synthetic resin materials.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The toothpick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slits are approximately 1/16"-1/4" in length.

### Claim 5

A toothpick comprising:
an elongated tubular body formed of synthetic resin materials and presenting a longitudinal axis and a pair of axially opposed ends,
one of said ends including a tapered oblique leading surface defining a tooth and gum cleaning edge,
the other of said ends also including a tapered oblique leading surface defining a gripping surface,
said cleaning edge of said oblique leading surface including a plurality of spaced-apart slits formed therein defining therebetween a plurality of independently moveable finger portions for feathering said cleaning edge,
wherein some of said slits and said finger portions extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and some of said slits and finger portions extend at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The toothpick as set forth in claim 5, said tubular body presenting an outside diameter of approximately 1/16-1/4" and a wall thickness of approximately 0.004-0.010".

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The toothpick as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slits are approximately 1/16"-1/4" in length.