Abstract:
A dental cleaning system for promoting oral hygiene by aiding in the cleaning of teeth and gums. The dental cleaning assembly includes a brush assembly and a cap unit assembly. The dental cleaning assembly includes a dental pick, minor and hanging hook. The cap unit assembly covers the brush assembly in a stored condition. The brush assembly may dispense toothpaste to the bristles of the toothbrush by an orifice in the brush head. The cap unit assembly is structured to have a flat end such that the dental cleaning assembly may rest on the end without tipping. Additionally, the cap unit assembly is structured to act as a rinse cup of the user-brusher.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of personal hygiene dental products and more specifically relates to a dental cleaning system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A toothbrush is used as an instrument to promote oral hygiene by cleaning the teeth and gums and the hard to reach areas of the mouth. Generally, a toothbrush comprises a plastic body with a set of nylon bristles. Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes and forms. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction with a toothbrush to increase the effectiveness of tooth brushing. 
         [0006]    Mouthwash, mouth rinse, or oral rinse, is a liquid which is held in the mouth passively or swished around the mouth, and may be gargled to clean the mouth. Usually mouthwashes are an antiseptic solution intended to pre-clean the mouth before brushing to reduce the microbial load and debris in the mouth. Mouthwash can be introduced into the mouth with the aid of a rinse cup. In some cases mouthwashes might be used for other reasons such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory or anti-fungal action. Mouthwashes can reduce bad breath and leave the mouth with a more desirable taste. One limitation with traditional teeth cleaning is that there is often a need for these multiple components (toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, rinse cup). When an individual is traveling, oral care typically requires the packing of a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and a rinse cup which can be burdensome. In certain instances, an external tube of toothpaste can also create a mess for the traveler if it leaks. A suitable solution is desirable for the above mentioned limitations. 
         [0007]    Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in Foreign and U.S. Pat. And Pub. No. CN 2,334,237, U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,492, FR 2,721,485, U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,993, CN 201,365,647, WO 1,997,006,712, CN 202,476,830, CA 2,497,712, CN 102,370,321, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,641, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,009,CN 201,055,436, U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,487, U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,028, DE 102,011,014,405, and CN 201,127,396. This art is representative of dental hygiene systems. However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0008]    Preferably, a dental cleaning system should provide relative ease for cleaning of the user&#39;s teeth with minimum equipment and components and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. A dental cleaning system could be used in the home or while traveling, camping, at school, or on a business trip. A dental cleaning system should eliminate the need to carry a full-sized toothbrush and separate tube of toothpaste. A dental cleaning system may also provide the user with peace of mind that his or her breath were fresh and teeth were clean. Additionally, a dental cleaning system may reduce the chances of forgetting to pack oral hygiene products, and would take less space in a suitcase or overnight travel bag, and would eliminate the mess that travelers may often find when opening their luggage to discover that the cap of the toothpaste has been removed. 
         [0009]    Preferably, a dental cleaning system would incorporate a practical rinse cap and protector for the head of the toothbrush. Further, a dental cleaning system should reduce the mess associated with traditional toothpaste use by applying toothpaste to every bristle of the brush head and provide a more hygienic alternative to traditional toothpaste use as members of the same household may not desire to share a single tube of toothpaste and share germs between different toothbrushes. A preferable dental cleaning system would also include a pick at the end of the handle to pick debris from teeth and also include a shatter-resistant mirror affixed to the cap to view the cleanliness of teeth. Thus, a need exists for a reliable dental cleaning system to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known personal hygiene product art, the present invention provides a novel dental cleaning system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an apparatus and method for quickly and effectively cleaning teeth of the user while reducing the amount of equipment and supplies required in doing so. 
         [0011]    A dental cleaning system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, the dental cleaning system comprising a dental cleaning assembly. The dental cleaning assembly, in preferred embodiments, comprises a brush assembly and a cap unit assembly. Alternate embodiments may comprise other shapes and surfaces when assembled and unassembled. 
         [0012]    Referring now more specifically to the brush assembly of the dental cleaning assembly; the brush assembly comprises and is defined by a brush head, a brush tail, a hollow tubular body, a plurality of bristles, a dental pick, and a hanging ring. In some embodiments, a lanyard may be affixed to the hanging ring. In a preferred embodiment, the dental cleaning assembly may be disposable. The dental pick may comprise a teardrop shape to facilitate removal of debris from between the teeth of a user-brusher and the dental pick may be constructed of a flexible material (e.g., silicone, rubber, synthetic material, etc.) to facilitate cleaning teeth of said user-brusher. 
         [0013]    The brush head comprises and is defined by a front face, a back face, and fore end. Locationally speaking, the plurality of bristles extend outwardly and away from the front face of the brush head. In an embodiment, the plurality of bristles may be all of a same length and, in an alternate embodiment, the plurality of bristles may be of disparate lengths. 
         [0014]    Referring now to the cap unit assembly; the cap unit assembly comprises and is defined by a top surface, an outer circumference, an inner circumference, and includes a mirror in preferred embodiments. The mirror is affixed to the outer circumference of the cap unit assembly and the mirror may additionally be constructed of a shatter-proof material to provide durability and improve safety. In an embodiment, the cap unit assembly is constructed from a transparent material to allow a user-brusher to quickly and easily view the brush assembly. In yet another embodiment, the top surface of the cap unit assembly is structured and arranged such that the dental cleaning system may rest upon the top surface of the cap unit assembly without tipping. The cap unit assembly is shaped such that it may be used as a cup to aid in rinsing the mouth of the user-brusher. 
         [0015]    The dental pick and the hanging ring are attached to the hollow tubular body nearest the brush tail on opposing sides of the hollow tubular body. The hollow tubular body is structured and arranged to accept a volume of toothpaste, where the volume of toothpaste is able to be dispensed for use when needed. In one embodiment, the user-brusher may dispense the toothpaste by twisting the brush tail and, in an alternate embodiment, the toothpaste may be dispensed by the user-brusher pressing the brush tail. In some embodiments, the brush tail may be removable such that the user-brusher is able to remove and replace a cartridge of toothpaste. 
         [0016]    The cap unit assembly is structured and arranged to cover the brush head when the dental cleaning assembly is in a stored condition. The cap unit assembly may be removed such that the dental cleaning assembly is in a ready for use condition. When the dental cleaning assembly is in the ready for use condition, the brush assembly is structured and arranged to apply toothpaste and clean teeth of the user-brusher. 
         [0017]    In preferred embodiments, the inner circumference of the cap unit assembly and the hollow tubular body of the brush assembly are of a similar size and shape such that the cap unit assembly is held upon the hollow tubular body of the brush assembly via friction, when in the stored condition, and is easily removed by the user-brusher to be in the ready for use condition for dispensing the toothpaste. The hollow tubular body may removably contain the toothpaste. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the front face of the brush head may further comprise an orifice for dispensing the toothpaste from the hollow tubular body and the user-brusher is able to press the brush tail of the brush assembly to dispense the toothpaste from the front face of the brush head to aid in teeth cleaning. 
         [0019]    A kit is also described for manufacture, sale and use. The kit includes, at least, the brush assembly, the cap unit assembly, and a set of user instructions. A method of using a dental cleaning system is also described herein for use with the present invention. The method comprising the steps of providing a dental cleaning assembly, removing the cap unit assembly, dispensing the toothpaste, applying the toothpaste to teeth of the user-brusher, and brushing the teeth of the user-brusher. The method of using the dental cleaning system may further include the steps of rinsing the mouth of the user-brusher, and replacing the cap unit assembly. 
         [0020]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a dental cleaning system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a dental cleaning system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view illustrating a dental cleaning system during an ‘in-use’ condition as used by a user-brusher for cleaning teeth according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view illustrating a dental cleaning system during an ‘in-use’ condition as used by a user-brusher for cleaning teeth according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a dental cleaning system in a stored condition comprising a brush assembly and a cap unit assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating components of the dental cleaning system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a section view illustrating the dental cleaning assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the dental cleaning system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       
    
    
       [0028]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to personal hygiene products for oral care and more particularly to a dental cleaning assembly (and system) as used to improve the personal oral hygiene and the cleaning of an individual&#39;s teeth. Generally speaking, a dental cleaning system can be easily carried and used by an individual to clean teeth. Additionally, the dental cleaning system is easily stored and is easily readied for transportation within luggage and has a reduced probability of making a ‘mess’ in luggage. 
         [0030]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1A-4 , various views of dental cleaning system  100  comprising dental cleaning assembly  102 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , showing dental cleaning system  100  during ‘in-use’ condition  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , dental cleaning system  100  may comprise dental cleaning assembly  102 , with dental cleaning assembly  102  comprising brush assembly  104  and cap unit assembly  124 . Brush assembly  104  may comprise front face  108 , back face  110 , fore end  112 , brush tail  114 , hollow tubular body  116 , plurality of bristles  118 , dental pick  120 , and hanging ring  122 . Plurality of bristles  118  extend outwardly from front face  108  of brush head  106 . In an embodiment, plurality of bristles  118  may be all of a same/similar length, and in an alternate embodiment, plurality of bristles  118  may be of disparate lengths. As such, brush assembly  104  is defined by brush head  106 , brush tail  114 , hollow tubular body  116 , plurality of bristles  118 , dental pick  120 , and hanging ring  122 . 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, dental pick  120  and hanging ring  122  are attached to hollow tubular body  116  nearest brush tail  114  on opposing sides of hollow tubular body  116 . Dental pick  120  may comprise a teardrop shape to facilitate removal of debris from between teeth of user-brusher  140 . Dental pick  120  may be constructed of a flexible material to facilitate cleaning teeth of said user-brusher. Brush assembly  104  may further comprise lanyard  142  affixed to hanging ring  122 . Hollow tubular body  116  is structured and arranged to accept volume of toothpaste  134  able to be dispensed for use. In one embodiment, user-brusher  140  may dispense toothpaste  134  by twisting brush tail  114 . In an alternate embodiment, user-brusher  140  may dispense toothpaste  134  by pressing brush tail  114 . 
         [0033]    Cap unit assembly  124  may comprise top surface  126 , outer circumference  128 , inner circumference  130 , and minor  132 . Minor  132  may be constructed of a shatter-proof (shatter-resistant) material (e.g., plastic, polycarbonate, etc.) to provide durability and improve safety. Cap unit assembly  124  is defined by top surface  126 , outer circumference  128 , inner circumference  130 , and includes minor  132 . Mirror  132  is affixed to outer circumference  128  of cap unit assembly  124  in preferred embodiments. Cap unit assembly  124  is structured and arranged to cover brush head  106  in stored condition  152 . 
         [0034]    Top surface  126  of cap unit assembly  124  is structured and arranged such that dental cleaning system  100 , when in stored condition  152 , may rest upon top surface  126  of cap unit assembly  124  without tipping. Cap unit assembly  124  may be removed such that dental cleaning assembly  102  is in ready for use condition  154  and brush assembly  104 , when ready for use condition  154  is structured and arranged to apply toothpaste and clean teeth of user-brusher  140 . Cap unit assembly  124  may be constructed from a transparent material to allow user-brusher  140  to use cap unit assembly as a rinse cup to aid in cleaning teeth of user-brusher  140  and view plurality of bristles  118  when dental cleaning assembly  102  is in stored condition  152 . 
         [0035]    Inner circumference  128  of cap unit assembly  124  and hollow tubular body  116  of brush assembly are of a similar size such that cap unit assembly  124  is held upon hollow tubular body  116  of brush assembly  104  via friction when in stored condition  142  and is easily removed by user-brusher  140  to be in ready for use condition  154  for dispensing toothpaste. Hollow tubular body  116  removably contains toothpaste  134 , and may be additionally arranged to accept a cartridge of toothpaste. In certain embodiments, front face  108  of brush head  106  may comprise an orifice for dispensing toothpaste  134  from hollow tubular body  116  and brush assembly  104  may be configured such that user-brusher is able to press or twist brush tail  114  of brush assembly  104  to dispense toothpaste  134  from front face  108  of brush head  106  to aid in teeth cleaning. 
         [0036]    Referring now specifically to  FIG. 2 , showing dental cleaning system  100 . Dental cleaning system  100  may be sold as kit comprising the following parts: at least one brush assembly, at least one cap unit assembly, and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Dental cleaning system  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  showing flowchart  550  illustrating method of use  500  for dental cleaning system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1A-4 . 
         [0038]    As shown, method of use  500  may comprise the steps of: step one  501 , providing a dental cleaning assembly  102  comprising at least a brush assembly  104  and cap unit assembly  124 ; step two  502 , removing cap unit assembly  124 ; step three  503 , dispensing a volume of toothpaste  134  from brush assembly  104 ; step four  504 , applying toothpaste  134  to clean teeth of user-brusher  140 ; step five  505 , brushing teeth of user-brusher  140 ; step six  506 , rinsing toothpaste  134  from teeth of user-brusher  140 ; step seven  507 , replacing cap unit assembly  124 . 
         [0039]    It should be noted that steps  506  and  507  are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . 
         [0040]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0041]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.