Abstract:
A one-piece thermoplastic oral hygiene implement includes a central grip having an interproximal brush projecting from one end. The brush includes an axial calamus having a planar fishbone array of graduated length bristles. Extending from the opposite end of the grip is a pick comprising a tapered wedge. Lateral flanks of the wedge include an array of spaced discrete transverse ribs. The interproximal brush and the pick are selectively employed to remove plaque, incipient calculus, food debris and the like from proximal surfaces and interproximal areas as well as for cleansing periodontal pockets and for gingival stimulation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to oral hygiene and more particularly to an implement for prophylaxis of interproximal surfaces and for gingival stimulation.  
         [0003]     2. Antecedents of the Invention  
         [0004]     While routine brushing has constituted a principal factor in oral hygiene regimens, brushing has been effective only with respect to tooth surfaces accessible to the bristles, i.e. lingual, labial, buccal, occlusal and incisal surfaces.  
         [0005]     Dental floss and toothpicks have been relied upon for cleansing interproximal areas. Dental floss was often difficult to use, especially when attempting to cleanse or clear interproximal surfaces of tightly abutting teeth. One was required to grip and tension a span of floss and force the tensioned floss toward the dentogingival junction. When the taught floss passed beyond the abutting proximal surfaces, there was a tendency for the floss to snap and impact against the gingivae, causing lacerations, trauma and irritation.  
         [0006]     Further, when one attempted to remove the floss by pulling toward the occlusal plane, the danger of unseating a tooth restoration, such as a crown, was presented.  
         [0007]     Wooden toothpicks posed different disadvantages. The shape of wooden toothpicks were generally dictated by manufacturing considerations, rather than function. The absorbent nature of wood posed problems with respect to contamination and wood presented the potential danger of splintering.  
         [0008]     Molded plastic toothpicks, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Des. 382,368, offered the advantage of a wedge projection for clearing interproximal spaces combined with a unitary interproximal brush. There was a need, however, for more effective removal of food debris, plaque, materia alba, insipient calculus and the like from interproximal areas while reducing potential injury to gingivae.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A molded thermoplastic oral hygiene implement includes a central grip having an interproximal brush at one end and a tapered wedge at its other end.  
         [0010]     The interproximal brush includes an axial calamus having a planar array of graduated length bristles. The graduated length bristles are suitable for cleaning interproximal spaces and periodontal pockets as well as for stimulating gingival surfaces while minimizing trauma.  
         [0011]     The tapered wedge includes a transversely curved spine and opposed lateral flanks, with each flank having an array of spaced transverse trihedral ribs. The sharp edges of the ribs are effective for the removal of materia alba, pellicle, plaque, insipient calculus, food debris and the like from proximal and interproximal surfaces when the implement is manipulated within an interproximal space with a reciprocal axial motion. The curved spine reduces potential for gingival trauma.  
         [0012]     The grip is generally cylindrical in shape with, however, a pair of side panels lying in planes parallel to a common axial plane of the bristles and the tapered wedge. The side panels serve as gripping faces and assist a user in orienting both the interproximal brush and the tapered wedge.  
         [0013]     From the foregoing compendium, it will be appreciated that it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is not subject to the disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention aforementioned.  
         [0014]     A feature of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is well suited for oral hygiene applications.  
         [0015]     A consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is simple to use.  
         [0016]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is relatively low in cost.  
         [0017]     A further feature of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is well suited for efficient mass production fabrication.  
         [0018]     Another consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is effective for gingival stimulation.  
         [0019]     To provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which reduces the potential for soft tissue injury is a further aspect of the present invention.  
         [0020]     Another feature of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which facilitates the removal of food particles from interproximal areas.  
         [0021]     To provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is effective for the removal of plaque and incipient calculus is a still further consideration of the present invention.  
         [0022]     Yet a further aspect of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described having an interproximal brush with a planar fishbone array of graduated length bristles.  
         [0023]     Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described having a grip which facilitates the effective positioning of both a tapered wedge and an interproximal brush.  
         [0024]     A still further consideration of the present invention is to provide an oral hygiene implement of the general character described which is well suited for the removal of materia alba.  
         [0025]     Other aspects, features and considerations in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.  
         [0026]     With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in the various combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps by which the aforesaid aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features, and considerations are attained, all with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention,  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an oral hygiene implement constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention and illustrating a central grip having an interproximal brush extending from one end and a tapered wedge extending from its other end,  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the oral hygiene implement showing an array of transverse trihedral ribs extending along a flank of the wedge,  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged scale end view illustrating the tapered wedge and transverse trihedral ribs extending from opposed flanks of the wedge,  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged scale side view of the interproximal brush end of the implement and illustrating an axial calamus and a planar array of integral bristles,  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged scale partial view of a portion of the tapered wedge shown in  FIG. 1  and better illustrating the transverse trihedral ribs, and  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged scale sectional fragmentary perspective view through the tapered wedge, with the section being taken substantially along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0034]     Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like numerals have been employed to denote like components throughout, the reference numeral  10  denotes generally an oral hygiene implement constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The oral hygiene implement includes a central generally barrel shaped grip  12 . Projecting axially from one end of the grip  12  is an interproximal brush  14 , while a tapered wedge  16  extends axially from the opposite end of the grip  12 . In accordance with the invention, the oral hygiene implement  10  is fabricated of one piece molded thermoplastic construction.  
         [0035]     With attention now directed to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , it will be noted that the interproximal brush  14  includes an axial calamus  18  and a planar, substantially symmetrical array  20  of flexible bristles. The array  20  of bristles lies substantially in a single plane  22 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the array  20  is of a substantially fishbone or rhombus profile and includes leading and trailing bristles  24  having the shortest length, intermediate bristles  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  of progressively longer lengths and central bristles  34  of maximum length.  
         [0036]     The calamus  18  has a length in the order of 10-15 mm. to facilitate complete extension through posterior interproximal spaces. Further, the trailing bristles  24  are spaced from the end of the grip  12  a distance of approximately 4 mm. to 5 mm. As such, substantially all of the bristles can traverse through a posterior interproximal space and engage lingual tooth surfaces.  
         [0037]     The diameter of the calamus is in the order of 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm and preferably tapers from a grip end or base diameter of approximately 0.7 mm. to a tip diameter of approximately 0.5 mm, thus assuring passage through interproximal spaces.  
         [0038]     The bristles  24  through  34  are soft and flexible and preferably have a thickness or diameter in the order of 0.2 mm and may taper from a diameter of 0.2 mm at the calamus  18  to 0.1 mm at their distal ends.  
         [0039]     By way of example, each leading and trailing bristle  24  projects from the calamus  18  a distance of approximately 0.7 mm while the central bristles  34  project from the calamus  18  a distance of approximately 1.7 mm.  
         [0040]     At the opposite end of the grip  12 , the tapered wedge  16  is configured with a profile similar to that of a knife and projects from the end of the grip approximately 2 cm.  
         [0041]     The wedge  16  includes a straight spine  38  having a curved peripheral surface, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The curved surface reduces the tendency for gingival laceration, irritation, trauma, etc. The tapered wedge  16  includes a pair of sloped lateral flanks  40 ,  42 , which intersect along a defined edge  44 . The edge  44  slopes to a pointed tip  46 , which constitutes the juncture of the edge  44  and the transversely curved spine  38 .  
         [0042]     As will be noted from an examination of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the maximum transverse width of the spine  38  extends slightly beyond the corresponding distance between the flanks  40 ,  42 . Sloped shoulders  46 ,  48  extend outwardly from the bases of the flanks to the curved spine  38 .  
         [0043]     Pursuant to the invention, an array of transverse trihedral ribs  50  project from each of the flanks  40 ,  42 . Each rib  50  is configured with a pair of tapered side walls  52 ,  54  which intersect along a scraping edge  56 . The side panels  52 ,  54  of the trihedral ribs  50  extend from the flanks  40 ,  42  at points spaced from the edge  44 . The trihedral ribs terminate at a base which is formed at a juncture with the shoulders  46 ,  48 . The scraping edges  56  project laterally slightly beyond the width of the spine  38  at the base of the trihedral ribs.  
         [0044]     Spacing between the trihedral ribs  50  is in the order of 0.8 mm which is preferably greater than the maximum width of the trihedral ribs  50 , to provide ample area for the lodgment of scraped material such as, plaque, materia alba, pellicle, food debris and insipient calculus for removal from the oral cavity with the implement  10 .  
         [0045]     With attention now directed to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , it should be noted that the grip  12  is generally cylindrical, except for a pair of parallel indented planar side panels  58 ,  60 . The side panels  58 ,  60  lie in planes parallel to the axial plane  22 . Accordingly, one may hold the implement  10  with the side panels  58 ,  60  grasped between a thumb and forefinger and will know the orientation of the bristle array  20  and the tapered wedge  16  for insertion into an interproximal space without having to examine the implement or requiring a mirror.  
         [0046]     It should also be noted that the tapered fishbone or rhomboid profile of the bristle array  20  assures that the shortest leading and trailing bristles  24  are the first to engage the interproximal space, followed by progressively larger bristles when insertion into the interproximal space as well as when withdrawing therefrom. Thus, the effort required for insertion and withdrawal is minimized while at the same time, the prospect of gingival injury is reduced.  
         [0047]     At the tapered wedge  16 , the reciprocal axial motion within an interproximal space results in successive spaced scraping edges  56  of the trihedral ribs  50  contacting and scraping opposed proximal surfaces defining the interproximal space and removing from such surfaces plaque, materia alba, food debris, etc. The scraped matter accumulates in the spaces between adjacent trihedral ribs.  
         [0048]     While any of a number of thermoplastics may be utilized for injection molding the one-piece oral hygiene implement  10 , it has been found that polyoxymethylene (POM) copolymer such as Tepcon M450 available from Polyplastics Taiwan Co., Ltd. is well suited for implementation in the present invention and assures adequate flexibility while maintaining the fine definitions of the interproximal bristles.  
         [0049]     Thus it will be seen that there is provided an oral hygiene implement which achieves the various aspects, features and considerations of the present invention and is well suited to meet the conditions of practical usage.  
         [0050]     Since various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention and since various changes might be made in the exemplary embodiment set forth herein without departing from the spirit of the invention, is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.