Abstract:
A dental cleaning device includes a handle portion and a cover portion. The handle portion provides a dental cleaning tool, such as a dental pick or a dental scaler, and an illumination source, such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The illumination source directs light toward the end of the dental cleaning tool so that the light is always pointed exactly where it is needed during a dental cleaning procedure. The cover portion may include a mirror which further aids a user in viewing the dental cavity while using the dental cleaning tool. The cover portion is configured to attach to the handle portion to enclose the dental cleaning tool when the dental cleaning tool is not in use.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of dental cleaning devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a dental cleaning apparatus which in one embodiment includes a mirror, a cleaning device and an illumination source configured to illuminate portions of the cleaning device during use at the site of interest. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Situations often arise wherein a person needs to remove food particles, tarter and general debris from teeth using a dental cleaning device, but there is no mirror or adequate lighting available to aid in seeing the area needing attention. In such situations, the person must either make do with no light or mirror, or the person must seek out a restroom or other facility where a light and mirror may be available. 
         [0003]    What is needed, therefore, is a device which facilitates inspection of the mouth by providing illumination, and which can be used to remove food particles, tarter and general debris from the teeth and to clean the teeth. Such a device having an integrated mirror is also needed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The above and other needs are met by a dental cleaning apparatus comprising a handle portion and a cover portion. The handle portion includes a handle portion housing, a dental cleaning tool and an illumination source. The dental cleaning tool may be a pick or a scaler or other such cleaning tools. The illumination source preferably comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The cover portion is configured to attach to the handle portion to enclose the dental cleaning tool when the dental cleaning tool is not in use. The cover portion includes a cover portion housing, a cavity for receiving the dental cleaning tool and a mirror attached to the cover portion housing. The dental cleaning tool has a proximal portion attached to the handle portion housing and a distal portion extending outward from the handle portion housing. The illumination source, which is disposed in the handle portion housing, generates light which is directed to the distal portion of the dental cleaning tool and to the site of interest. 
         [0005]    In preferred embodiments, an electrical switch is provided in the handle portion which is operable by a user to selectively activate and deactivate the illumination source. The handle portion houses a controller that is electrically coupled to the illumination source. In a preferred embodiment, the controller automatically deactivates the illumination source after a predetermined period of time to conserve battery power. 
         [0006]    The handle portion housing and the cover portion housing are preferably formed of injection-molded thermoplastic materials. The cover portion preferably includes a channel through the housing that allows light emanating from the illumination source to pass through the cover portion when the cover portion is attached to the handle portion. In this manner, the device may be used as a flashlight when it is not being used as a dental cleaning device. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of a dental cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a dental cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A-3F  are top, side and bottom views of a dental cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit used in a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    As depicted in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a dental inspection and cleaning apparatus  10  comprising a handle portion  12  and a removable cover portion  14 . The handle portion  12  includes a housing  16 , a dental cleaning tool  18 , and an illumination source  20  for directing light toward a distal end  18   b  of the dental cleaning tool  18 . A switch  30  and an associated electrical circuit  26  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) enable a user to selectively activate the illumination source  20 . The dental cleaning tool  18  may be any of a variety of dental tools, such as but not limited to scalers, picks and the like, which are configured for precise interaction with the teeth of a user. The cover portion  14  includes a built-in mirror  24  that may be used in conjunction with the illumination source  20  to view the inside of the dental cavity of the user. 
         [0013]    In this regard, it is noted that the illumination source  20  is advantageously configured to direct light at the point of interaction of the distal end  18   b  of the dental tool  18  with the teeth or tooth of a user to enhance visibility of the working portion of the dental tool  18  at the site of interest. Thus, a user with the aid of the mirror  24  may achieve improved visibility of the locations to be cleaned or otherwise interacted with by the dental tool  18 . For example, when attempting to dislodge a popcorn kernel, a user may have difficulty locating the edge of the kernel with a pick by feel alone or without illumination. Thus, by utilizing the device of the disclosure, a user may, with the aid of the mirror  24 , more easily illuminate and view the distal end  18   b  of the dental tool  18  and more easily determine when the distal end  18   b  is adjacent the edge of the kernel. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the cover portion  14  may be engaged with the handle portion  12  in a snap-fit configuration ( FIG. 1A ) or separated from the handle portion  12  ( FIG. 1B ). The cover portion  14  comprises a housing  22  which forms a cavity  15  that receives the dental tool  18  when the cover portion  14  engages the handle portion  12 . This feature protects the dental tool  18  from damage when not in use, and prevents accidental injury to the user or others. When the cover portion  14  is disengaged from the handle portion  12 , a user may hold the cover housing  22  in one hand and position the mirror  24  for viewing the inside of the dental cavity. At the same time, the user may hold the housing  16  of the handle portion  12  in the other hand to manipulate the dental tool  18  to dislodge food particles. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , a preferred embodiment of the housing  22  includes a molded-in channel  42  which aligns with the illumination source  20  when the cover portion  14  is engaged with the handle portion  12 . This channel  42  allows the light emanating from the illumination source  20  to pass through the housing  22 . In this manner, even when the cover portion  14  engages the handle portion  12  to cover the dental tool  18 , light from the illumination source  20  may pass through the channel  42  so that the device  10  may be used as a flashlight. The mirror  24  is preferably retained in the housing  22  by over-molding. However, it will be appreciated that the mirror  24  may also be retained using an adhesive or other means. As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  3 A and  3 E, the cover portion  14  preferably includes an aperture  28  in the housing  22  through which a lanyard or keychain may be attached. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the housing  16  of the handle portion  12  includes an upper housing  16   a  and a lower housing  16   b , each of formed of molded plastic and configured to have crush pins and corresponding cylinders for snap-fit construction. The exterior surfaces of the housing  16  preferably includes over-molded portions made of an elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) resins, for aesthetics and to enhance gripping by a user. A variety of plastics of the type used to make thin-wall handles may be used to make the upper and lower housings  16   a  and  16   b , including flexible polyolefin plastics and the like. 
         [0017]    Sandwiched between the housings  16   a  and  16   b  is the electrical circuit  26 , which preferably comprises a printed circuit board  32 , one or more batteries  40  and associated wiring leading from the board  32  to the illumination source  20 . 
         [0018]    When the upper and lower housings  16   a  and  16   b  are snapped together to form the handle portion  12 , opposing molded channels  34  and  36  in the upper and lower housings come together to form a large aperture and a small aperture. The illumination source  20  is disposed within the large aperture and the shank  18   a  of the dental tool  18  is retained within the small aperture. 
         [0019]    The dental tool  18  is preferably of configured as a so-called explorer pick for dislodging food and other debris from between teeth and around the gums. In an alternative embodiment, the dental tool  18  is a scaler for removing tartar and plaque. The tool  18  preferably includes a circumferential groove  38  in the shank  18   a  which is configured mate with a protrusion on the inside of the channels  36  to frictionally capture the shank  18   a  of the tool  18  between the upper and lower housings  16   a  and  16   b . In this regard, the groove  38  and/or the adjacent edges of the shank  18   a  and the channel  36  may have cooperating topographies to substantially lock the tool  18  in position and resist rotation during use. An adhesive or the like may also be used to retain the dental tool  18  within the housing  16 . The tool  18  is preferably of stainless steel construction, but may be of other construction, such as molded plastic. 
         [0020]    The illumination source  20  is preferably a light emitting diode (LED) configured and fixedly positioned, as by use of adhesive or a friction fit, within the larger aperture between the upper and lower housings  16   a  and  16   b  of the handle portion  12 . By operation of the switch  30 , the illumination source  20  selectively provides light directed to a tip portion  18   b  of the dental tool  18 . A preferred LED has a luminous intensity of about 1 candela. As explained in more detail below, a user may operate the switch  30  by pressing a predetermined location on the handle  12 , it being understood that the plastic utilized to make the handle  12  is sufficiently flexible to permit the switch  30  to be operated by pressing on a portion of the handle  12  immediately adjacent the switch  30 . Alternatively, the switch may extend outside the surface of the handle  12 . However, it is preferred that the handle  12  comprise a substantially sealed structure so as to be unaffected as by rinsing with water and the like. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a schematic of a preferred embodiment of an electrical circuit  60  for controlling activation of the illumination source  20 . The circuit  60  includes a microprocessor controller  62 , such as a “programmable system on a chip” (PSOC) having model number CY8C21123-24SXI manufactured by Cypress. The controller  62  enables use of a momentary dome switch device for the switch  30 , such as part number F12340 manufactured by Snaptron. Not only does the controller  62  selectively activate the illumination source  20 , but it may also automatically shut it off after a predetermined time to conserve battery power. In the preferred embodiment, the illumination source  20  is configured for illumination purposes and is preferably a white (visible) light LED, such as part number 67-1690-ND manufactured by Lumex, which is received in connection port  66 . The circuit  60  may include a programming port  64  for programming the controller  62 . Positive and negative battery terminals  70  and  72  are provided for connection of the one or more batteries  40  ( FIG. 2 ). In a preferred embodiment of the circuit  60 , the resistor R 1  has a value of 50 KΩ, and the resistor R 2  has a value of 50 Ω. 
         [0022]    The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.