Gum massager

A device for massaging gums having a handle portion arranged for manually manipulating the device in order to impart a swivel-like movement to a gum massaging element that is mounted on the handle portion and configured for insertion between adjacent teeth of a user of the device. A universal joint coupling structure interconnects the handle and the massaging element to allow a free changing of the angular relationship therebetween to provide the swivel-like movement of the gum massaging element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to dental appliances, and more 
particularly to apparatus for massaging areas of a user's gums located 
between the user's teeth. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The desirability of massaging ones gums has long been known. U.S. Pat. No. 
1,086,936, issued Feb. 10, 1914, to M. Pounder, et al, discloses a dental 
massage implement having a generally conoidal massaging head rotatably 
mounted on one end of a manipulating handle. This known massaging head is 
generally formed from a resilient material such as a soft rubber, and 
advantageously is provided with longitudinally extending ribs arranged for 
producing a desired vibratory effect. A basic disadvantage with this prior 
device is that a conoidal configuration does not properly fit the outer 
surfaces of gums being massaged. 
Another known gum massager device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,091,511, 
issued on Aug. 31, 1937, to B. London. This known device employs a pair of 
massager tips fabricated from rubber and disposed at respective free ends 
of similar spring arms projecting from a common handle. The massager tips 
each are in the configuration of a conventional door knob, and the like, 
and once again do not readily conform to the surface of gums being 
massaged. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,533,528, issued Apr. 14, 1925, to J. A. Weaver, and U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,074,735, issued Mar. 23, 1937, to J. Puttcamp, disclose devices 
intended to be used for massaging ones back and ones face, respectively. 
The latter is of a conoidal configuration as discussed above, while the 
former employs a symmetrical, grooved roller, the hyperboloid 
configuration of this roller, while more suitable for gum massaging than 
the aforementioned conoidal configuration, still is not optimumly suited 
for gum massaging applications. 
In addition to massaging the outer and inner surfaces of ones gums, it is 
desirable to massage the areas of gums disposed between ones teeth and the 
above described prior art structures do not make provisions for such 
massaging. Although it is known to provide flexible toothpicks, as set 
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 516,409, issued on Mar. 13, 1894, to C. C. 
Southwell, such appliances are suitble only for their intended use, that 
of cleaning between adjacent teeth, and do not provide the requisite 
vibratory, or swivel-like, action desired for gum massaging operations. 
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 710,498 issued Oct. 7, 1902, to D. McClain, 
discloses a toothpick having a rigid point set at a right angle to the 
shank thereof, which arrangement is also capable only of cleaning between 
adjacent teeth and not massaging the associated gum area. The same can be 
said for the toothpick disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,654,230, issued Dec. 
27, 1927, to H. Zimmerman, and to the rigid hook forming the rear end of a 
handle of a toothbrush as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,784,986, issued 
Dec. 16, 1930 to S. Eisenberg. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,664, issued June 3, 1980 to M. O. Baccialon, discloses 
a tooth and gum massaging implement having a pair of rigid massaging 
elements of different configurations extending from opposed ends of a 
longitudinally extending handle portion. Once again, however, the 
massaging elements are rigidly attached to the associated handle, making 
it impossible to obtain a desired vibratory swivel-like, action against 
gums being massaged. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,147, issued Oct. 23, 1976 to C. M. Ricketts, et al, 
discloses a dental implement for removing stains from teeth in which a 
pick and hole are rigidly disposed on one end of a longitudinally 
extending handle, at the other longitudinal end of which is provided a 
disc. As with the devices described above, this appliance is intended only 
for cleaning teeth, and is not capable of achieving a vibratory 
swivel-like action desired for massaging gums. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved gum 
massaging device capable of providing vibratory swivel-like motion when 
massaging gum areas located between adjacent teeth. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
gum massaging device of the above described character which is capable of 
massaging gum areas between adjacent teeth in all parts of a user's mouth. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved gum massaging device of the above described type which is 
inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use, and is beneficial for promoting 
healthy gums of a user. 
These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by 
providing a gum massaging device comprising a handle arranged for 
manipulating the apparatus and having attached thereto a substantially 
rigid massaging element for insertion between the teeth of a user of the 
device. The massaging element is articulated to the handle by a universal 
coupling joint which permits a free swivel-like motion of the massaging 
element relative to the handle part. 
The massaging element preferably includes a tapered body constructed from a 
soft yet rigid material selected for preventing damage to a user's gums. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle part and 
the massaging part are formed as separate pieces which are interconnected 
by cooperating elements formed on the handle and on the massaging element 
with those cooperating elements interacting to provide the universal 
coupling joint. 
In a second embodiment, the handle part and the massaging part are formed 
as separate pieces as in the preferred embodiment and are interconnected 
by a separate flexible member which provides the universal coupling joint. 
In both embodiments of the present invention, the handle is of rigid 
material and includes a straight portion with an offset end portion, and 
the body of the massaging element is of generally conical configuration 
and arranged mounted on the offset portion so as to extend substantially 
normally therefrom. The handle may include a pair of such offset end 
portions extending in spaced relation from the straight portion so as to 
form a symmetrical arrangement with each of the offset portions being 
provided with a respective massaging element, each like the one massaging 
element and extending codirectionally of each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a gum 
massaging device, in accordance with the present invention, for 
massagingly stimulating the gum areas 6 between the teeth 8 of a user, 
with the preferred embodiment of the device being indicated in its 
entirity by the reference numeral 10. The device 10 includes a handle 
means 12 having at least one, and preferably the illustrated two, 
massaging means 14 and 16 articulated thereto by means of cooperating 
elements of a universal joint coupling structure 18. The handle means 12 
is adapted for manual manipulation of a user so as to impart a vibratory 
swivel-like, or wiggling, massaging motion to one of the massaging means 
14 or 16 when inserted between the user's teeth proximate the gum line. 
The handle means 12 includes an elongated straight portion 20 and at least 
one, and preferably the illustrated pair, of angularly extending, or 
offset end portions 22 and 24 which terminate the opposed ends of the 
straight portion. The handle means 12 is molded or otherwise formed of a 
suitable rigid material such as that from which toothbrush handles are 
commonly made. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the massaging 
means 14 and 16 are arranged so as to extend codirectionally and 
substantially normally from their respective offset end portions 22 and 24 
and the angularly extending attitudes of the offset portions 22 and 24 are 
selected at different angles to facilitate gum massaging in all areas of a 
user's mouth. 
The two illustrated massaging means 14 and 16, their associated and 
respective cooperating elements of a universal joint-type coupling 
structures 18, and their respective offset end portions 22 and 24 of the 
handle means 12 are identical. Therefore, since FIG. 3 illustrates the 
specific offset portion 22, massaging means 14 and a single one of the 
cooperating elements of a universal joint-type coupling structure 18, only 
those parts will be referred to in the folliwing discussion, with it being 
understood that the following discussion also relates to the other 
non-specifically discussed parts. 
The massaging means 14 includes a generally tapered body portion 26, 
preferably conical, which is molded or otherwise formed of a soft yet 
fairly rigid material, such as a natural or synthetic rubber, and which 
may be similar to materials commonly used for making the massaging tips 
which are provided on the handle ends of some brands of toothbrushes. When 
formed of this soft yet fairly rigid material, the conical massaging body 
26 will be fairly rigid at the base thereof, but will tend to become 
somewhat flexible toward its apex. Alternatively, the massaging body 
portion 26 may be formed of a relatively hard and rigid material with 
there being a multiplicity of materials suitable for this purpose under 
the general classification of synthetic resins. For reasons which will 
hereinafter be described, when formed of this latter type of material, it 
is preferred that the material be thermoplastic. 
The conical body portion 26 of the massaging means 14 has one of the 
cooperating elements of the universal joint coupling structure 18 formed 
therein in the form of a socket means. The socket means is in the form of 
an especially configured blind bore which extends from the base 28 of the 
body portion 26 toward the apex and includes an inwardly converging throat 
portion 30 and an enlarged cavity portion 32. The throat portion 30 is in 
the general form of a truncated cone having the larger diameter opening 34 
thereof on the base 28 of the body portion 26 of the massaging means 14 
and having the reduced diameter opening 36 in communication with the 
enlarged cavity portion 32 of the blind bore. 
The second one of the cooperating elements of the universal joint coupling 
structure 18 is in the form of a pedestal means 38 which is molded or 
otherwise formed on the offset end portion 22 of the handle means 12. The 
pedestal means 38 includes a shank portion 40 which extends 
perpendicularly from the offset end portion 22 and has an enlarged head 42 
on its extending end. The shank portion 40 is of circular cross section 
and has a diameter which is sleightly smaller than the reduced diameter 
opening 36 of the hereinbefore described blind bore provided in the 
massaging means 14. 
As shown, the conical body portion 26 of the massaging means 14 is mounted 
on the pedestal means 38 so that the enlarged head 42 of the pedestal 
means 38 is disposed loosely within the cavity portion of the blind bore 
and the shank portion 40 is disposed substantially axially in the throat 
portion of the blind bore. In that the enlarged head 40 of the pedestal 
means is loosely contained in the internal cavity 32 of the blind bore and 
the diameter of the shank portion 40 is smaller than the reduced diameter 
opening 36 of the conically configured throat portion 30 of the blind 
bore, the massaging means 14 may be moved in a swivel-like movement on the 
pedestal means 38, as indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 2. 
When the conical body portion 26 is formed of the rigid yet soft material 
suggested first above, it may be installed on the pedestal means by simply 
pushing it axially onto the pedestal. The natural elasticity of this first 
suggested material will permit such an installation procedure. 
However, the second material hereinbefore suggested may not lend itself to 
the above described installation technique. For example, the thermoplastic 
material mentioned above may be selected from the family of thermoplastic 
polyolefinic elastomers which are available in a wide range of hardnesses 
and flexibilities. When the selected range of such material is such that 
its elasticity will not allow a push-on type of installation of the 
massaging means 14 on the pedestal means 38, it may be necessary to use 
heat for material softening during installation. 
To use the gum massage device 10 of the present invention, a user inserts 
the apex of the massage means 14 between his teeth 8 proximate the gum 
line 6, and manually manipulates the handle means 12. When used in this 
manner, the user's teeth form what may be considered a loose fulcrum and 
gum massaging and stimulating benefits are derived from the swivel-like 
movement provided at the base of the massaging means 14 by the cooperating 
elements of the universal joint coupling structure 18 which allows a free 
changing of the angular relationship between the massaging means 14 and 
the handle means 12 when the handle means is manually manipulated. 
Reference is now made to FIG. 4 wherein a modification of the device of the 
present invention is shown, with the device being indicated generally by 
the reference numeral 50. 
The gum massaging device 50 includes a handle means 52 which is essentially 
the same as the hereinbefore described handle means 12 with the exception 
that its offset end portion 53 is formed with a transverse bore 54 having 
a countersink 56, rather than being formed with the integral pedestal 
means 38 of the handle means 12. 
The gum massaging device 50 further includes a massaging means 58 which is 
shown as being of a tear-drop configuration which includes an apex 60 and 
base 62. It is to be understood that the tear-drop configuration of 
massaging means 58 and the generally conical configuration of the 
hereinbefore described massaging means 14 and 16 are interchangeable and 
functional equivalents of each other. Therefore, the massaging means 14, 
16 and 58 may be formed in either of those configurations or in others of 
the same basic shape. 
The massaging means 58, which may be formed of the materials hereinbefore 
suggested, is provided with a blind bore 64 extending from its base 62 
toward its apex 60. The blind bore 64 is of cylindrical configuration and 
terminates at its inner end in a spherical enlargement 66. 
The universal joint coupling structure of this embodiment is in the form of 
a flexible means 68. The flexible means 68 includes a shank portion 70 
having a sphere 72 on one end which is contained in the spherical 
enlargement 66 provided in the massaging means 58 and thereby attaches 
massaging means thereto. The opposite end of the flexible means 68 may be 
attached to the offset end 53 of the handle means 52 in any suitable 
manner such as by forming an annular groove 74 in spaced relationship with 
respect to the end of the shank 70 and thereby provide a knob 76 on that 
end of the shank. The reduced diameter portion of the shank 70 formed by 
the annular groove 74 extends snugly through the transverse bore 54 and 
the knob end 76 of the shank is disposed in the countersink portion 56 of 
the bore. 
The flexible means 68 formed of an elastomeric material such as natural or 
synthetic rubber or any of the hereinbefore discussed synthetic 
elastomers. Therefore, the flexible means 68 provides the gum massaging 
device 50 with swivel-like movements of the same type as described above 
with regard to the device 10. 
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in the 
illustrated embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those 
skilled in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangements, 
proportions, the elements, materials and components used in the practice 
of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for 
specific environment and operation requirements without departing from 
those principles. 
For example, the flexible means 68 described above can be formed in other 
ways such as by embedding a flexible spring-like element (not shown) in a 
soft non-elastomeric material. 
The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such 
modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the 
invention.