# US 7,607,188 B2 · Integrated apparatus for teeth cleaning > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,188 B2 - Document ID: US7607188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/021,583 - Filed: 2004-12-24 - Published: 2005-06-30 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-24 - Inventors: Tara Chand Singhal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607188B2 ## CPC - A46B 9/005: {where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper} - A46B 11/0003: {containing only one dose of substance, e.g. single-use toothbrushes} - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract This invention embodies six different teeth cleaning aspects in one teeth cleaning apparatus. These aspects are: (i) use of an abrasive surface supported by a pad that is rubbed for cleaning exposed and easily reachable part of the teeth, (ii) use of bristles for reaching spaces between teeth and gum lines and between two teeth, (iii) use of a sponge under the abrasive surface that delivers plaque cleaning and anti-bacterial agent to the teeth surface, (iv) use of a woven cloth like surface with the ability to absorb and remove the food/acid film from the teeth, (v) ability to clean teeth with little or no use of water, (vi) use of a one time throw away cleaning head for better hygiene. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A teeth cleaning apparatus comprising: a. a substantially flat resilient pad, with a plurality of flat surfaces and a sharp edge surrounding the flat surfaces, the flat surfaces sized to cover a plurality of teeth surfaces and a handle that is integrally attached with the pad; b. an abrasive cleaning surface, that is attached to the plurality of the flat surfaces of the pad; c. bristles that are positioned only at the sharp edge of the pad are integrally attached to the pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: a compressible material having absorbing property, impregnated with a microbial cleaning agent, is attached to the abrasive surface, enabling, when the pad is pressed against a plurality of teeth, the abrasive surface to shape to the curvature of a tooth and the cleaning agent to be released into the abrasive surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the abrasive cleaning surface is made of a woven fiber to remove food residue when the abrasive surface is rubbed against teeth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the abrasive cleaning surface made of a material in which ridges and valleys are formed, where they act to remove food residue when the surface is rubbed against teeth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the bristles along the sharp edge of the pad are of size and shape to allow them to reach inside naturally occurring pocket between teeth and gum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the sharp edge is sized to reach space between two teeth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: a part of the bristles that are positioned on the sharp edge of the pad are of size and shape to allow the bristles to reach space between two teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the pad shaped in one of a form of (i) a substantially oblong shape where a length side is greater than a width side to cover a plurality of teeth surface, or (ii) the pad shaped in a substantially circular shape to cover one or more teeth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: the pad has a handle attachment means, for attaching the handle, the handle attachment means pivotally attaching the handle to the pad. ### Claim 10 A teeth cleaning apparatus comprising: a. a substantially flat resilient pad, with a plurality of flat surfaces and a sharp edge surrounding the flat surfaces, the flat surface sized to cover a plurality of teeth surfaces and a handle that is integrally attached with the pad; b. an abrasive cleaning surface that is attached to the plurality of the flat surfaces of the pad; c. a compressible material having absorbing property, impregnated with a microbial cleaning agent, is attached to the abrasive surface, enabling, when the pad is pressed against a plurality of teeth, the abrasive surface to shape to the curvature of a tooth and the cleaning agent to be released into the abrasive surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising: bristles that are positioned only at the sharp edge of the pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising: the bristles along the sharp edge of the pad are of size and shape to allow them to reach inside naturally occurring pocket between teeth and gum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising: a part of the bristles that are positioned on the sharp edge are of size and shape to allow the bristles to reach space between teeth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising: the abrasive cleaning surface has ridges and valleys on the surface, wherein the ridges and valleys together act to remove food residue and place the residue in the valleys when the abrasive surface is rubbed against teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising: the pad shaped in one of a form of (i) a substantially oblong shape where a length side is greater than a width side to cover a plurality of teeth surface, or (ii) the pad shaped in a substantially circular shape to cover one or more teeth. ### Claim 16 A hygienic, onetime use, teeth cleaning apparatus comprising: a. a substantially flat resilient pad, with a plurality of flat surfaces and a sharp conical edge surrounding the flat surfaces, and a handle means that is integrally attached with the pad; b. an abrasive cleaning surface that is attached to the plurality of the flat surfaces of the pad; c. a compressible material having absorbing property, impregnated with microbial and plaque-cleaning agents placed under the abrasive surface; d. bristles that are integrally attached to the pad, are positioned only at the sharp edge of the pad, and protrude through the abrasive surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The teeth cleaning apparatus as in claim 16, comprising: the bristles along the sharp edge of the pad are of size and shape to allow them to reach inside naturally occurring pocket between teeth and gum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The one time use, teeth cleaning apparatus as in claim 16, comprising: the abrasive cleaning surface made of a material in which ridges and valleys are formed, where they act to remove residue when the surface is rubbed against teeth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The teeth cleaning apparatus as in claim 16, comprising: the apparatus is sealed in a hygienic onetime use throwaway package. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The teeth cleaning apparatus as in claim 16, comprising: the handle means is half size in length that enables only fingers of a hand to hold the apparatus.