Abstract:
New chewing-actuated teeth cleaning techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, a CleanChew™ is provided, which may comprise bite-actuated tooth- and gum-brushing protrusions and other features, tooth-guiding channels and variable openings with spacers, which openings and spacers may enable the variable bite-actuated release and application of a dentifrice for bite-actuated scrubbing. In further aspects, internal springs and the tension of surrounding material drive bite actuation of protrusions. In other aspects, movable bite-actuated and/or motor-actuated members conform an elastomeric/flexible outer layer with additional sub-features and aid in teeth and oral cleaning 
     In other aspects, intermediate antechambers, and/or interstitial fluid, gel or other medium, aide in enabling re-sealing an inner chamber following penetration of the CleanChew. This aspect may also be applied to a variety of related arts, including but not limited to pneumatic tires, to aid in remediating gas or fluid leaks from piercing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the fields of animal tooth-cleaning devices and dentifrices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Although the modern toothbrush did not spread throughout Europe until the 1600s, teeth- and gum-cleaning implements have been in use for many centuries, and date to before recorded history. Typically, in the modern era, a toothbrush includes a handle connected to a set of round-ended, flexible bristles, and is used with toothpaste or other dentifrice and water to clean teeth and gums. In the United States, toothpastes usually include a soap for cleaning and a fluoride compound, for its anti-cavity and pro-mineralization properties to protect teeth from decay. Toothpaste is usually not ingested, and may be poisonous to ingest, although “natural ingredient,” such as enzymatic and other toothpaste alternatives have been developed that may be safer for animals to ingest. Although the safety and efficacy of many specific dentifrices may be debated, the overall health and hygiene benefits of brushing teeth with a toothbrush and a dentifrice is widely accepted and is part of the ordinary routine of a vast majority of people in the most developed countries. 
         [0003]    Non-human animals are known to resist having their teeth cleaned by toothbrush because they do not understand its benefits and dislike the sensation. Thus, chewable teeth- and gum-cleaning implements, such as rawhide strips, have been provided to animal pets for many years, to assist in cleaning their teeth. Nevertheless, veterinarians typically view such implements as supplementary if anything, and recommend that mammalian pet owners, especially dogs and cats, brush their pet&#39;s teeth with a toothbrush as well, to assist in maintaining oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay. Neglected pet teeth, with no regular manual brushing, and even with some traditional chewing implements, can be very expensive to remediate. Veterinarians may charge $700 or more for cleaning neglected pet teeth, and the pet teeth may still not be restored after such procedures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    New chewing-actuated teeth cleaning techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, an implement known as a CleanChew™ is provided, which may comprise tooth and gum brushing protrusion and/or bite-guided channel opening pairings or sets, which channel pairings or sets may include features, projections and/or spacers and one-way valves to permit the biting-actuated release of dentifrice from an inner chamber. In further aspects of the invention, internal springs and the tension of surrounding material aid in creating bite actuation. In still other aspects of the invention, movable bite-actuated and/or motor-actuated members conform an elastomeric or flexible outer layer with additional sub-features that aid in teeth and oral cavity cleaning. 
         [0005]    In other aspects of the invention, an interstitial fluid, gel or other medium, which may or may not be present in a separate interstitial layer defined by a lining, and which may or may not include a dentifrice and may or may not change its viscosity, hardness and other properties upon contact with air, aids in enabling re-sealing an inner chamber following penetration of the CleanChew. Outside of that interstitial layer, an additional interstitial layer containing a gas, fluid or other agent that hardens or congeals with or causes to harden or congeal, the interstitial fluid, gel or other medium within the interstitial layer, may be included and, preferably, is comprised of chambers, locks or angled channels that maintain coverage, pressure and/or mixing between the fluids, gels or other media of the two interstitial layers at the point of perforation of a mutual wall, despite a perforation of other walls of the layers. This aspect may also be applied to a variety of other related arts, including but not limited to pneumatic and other tires, to aid in remediating fluid leaks from piercing or other deformation of a pneumatic tire structure. For example, in the instance of a tire, a chamber above each possible point of perforation may have a gradual drain in its wall at a point just above the possible point of perforation, allowing the slow dousing of the perforation with the combined-hardening component in the outer interstitial layer. The fluid, gel or other medium in the outer interstitial layer may also have a signal dye to indicate that the tire has been compromised, while maintaining pressure due to the resulting seal from hardening or congealing by mixing of the two layers of fluid, gel or other medium. 
         [0006]    Unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the specific meaning described herein: 
         [0007]    A “CleanChew,” in addition to its ordinary meaning, if any, and special meaning in the art to which it pertains, means each of the following aspects, both alone and in each possible combination, as if separately set forth: an object, preferably comprising an elastomeric or other pliant, flexible or rebounding solid material, that may be chewed and/or bitten by an animal and, due to such chewing and/or biting either or both: (1) releases a fluid, gel, liquid and/or dentifrice from a contained cavity or other feature of the CleanChew in the direction of outer or scrubbing features of the CleanChew or of the teeth or other oral cavity features of the animal; and/or (2) leads to and/or actuates scrubbing or cleaning by protrusions or other features on the outer surface of the object. In addition or alternatively, a CleanChew may comprise a refillable inner chamber(s) variably containing dentifrice and/or any animal-bitable object that may aid in the animal&#39;s oral hygiene. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a partial illustration of some components of a CleanChew and incorporated dentifrice, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an exemplary cleaning-featured opening  200 , in an outer fluid containing layer of a CleanChew, such as the CleanChew shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the same cleaning-featured variable opening as that depicted in  FIG. 2 , and serves to illustrate further exemplary aspects of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an exemplary cleaning-featured variable opening and bite-induced shifting outward projection combination unit—specifically, a pairing—in its resting conformational structure, prior to biting or tooth penetration of a CleanChew comprising the pairing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another view, from the same perspective, of the same exemplary pairing as that illustrated in  FIG. 4 , but in another conformation resulting from biting and tooth penetration of the pairing. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a partial top-view of exemplary bitable surface features of a CleanChew, in accordance with additional aspects of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side-view of part of a CleanChew that includes biting- and/or motor-actuable movable structural members. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side-view illustration of a CleanChew bite-actuated cleaning system  100  for mammalian pets. The entire CleanChew is designed to be safely bitten by a typical mammalian pet, and preferably is small enough that a pet&#39;s jaws may encompass at least its narrowest widths and, as a result, dispense dentifrice and actuate a scrubbing action to aid in cleaning teeth and the oral cavity of the pet generally. A flexibly, compressible and expandable outer containing layer  101  contains a dentifrice or other cleaning liquid, fluid or gel (“fluid”)  103  in a cavity  104 , which is variably dispensable to assist in cleaning the oral cavity of a pet, preferably, a mammalian pet. As will be explained in greater detail below, fluid  103  may be dispensed to the oral cavity of a mammalian pet by biting action, via bite-dispensing, cleaning-featured openings, such as those examples shown as  105 , that are designed to accept variably-sized biting teeth. In addition, projections and/or textures, such as projections  107 , provide natural abrasion, massage, polishing and/or scrubbing, also driven by biting action. A refilling port  109  permits the filling or refilling of cavity  104  from a complementarily-shaped intermediate fluid storage container  111 , which may contain additional or differing fluid  103  and/or  106  such as, as its label is pictured to indicate, toothpaste. Preferably, port  109  is round, cylindrical or conical or otherwise has radial symmetry and comprises a one-way fluid valve, permitting the influx of fluid as shown by fluid motion arrow  113 , but which prevents outward flow of fluid, out of cavity  104  through port  109 , as shown by stricken fluid arrow  115 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a variety of possible exemplary cleaning-featured openings. For example, opening  117  is an exemplary one-way valve opening, with elastomeric variably cavity enclosing features  119 . In a resting state, features  119  converge with one another and prevent the outward flow of fluid from cavity  104 . However, if a tooth, such as a mammalian tooth, enters opening  117  deeply enough, or with sufficient lateral pressure against them or surrounding, attached material, features  119  may be pulled or pushed away from one another, permitting the outward flow of fluid. Preferably, the overall design of cleaning featured openings, such as  117 , alone or in combination with surrounding material shapes and properties, tends to channel teeth and other biting projections that are pressed against CleanChew  100  substantially into the center of the openings. Another preferred form of cleaning-featured opening is shown as opening  121 , and will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    Another preferred form of cleaning-featured opening is shown as  123 , which has a tricuspid one-way valve opening, with three semi-flexible flaps  124  to prevent escape of liquid, fluid or gel  103 , unless and until a member, such as a tooth, pushes them away from one another (open) with the aid of optional tooth-action-facing, complementarily-shaped push members  125 .  123  is shown in enhanced detail by a second rendering in a zoomed in window in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0018]    Another preferred form of cleaning-featured opening is shown as  127 , which comprises a sealing membrane  128  that may be pierced by animal biting and which may be scored to then create flaps that still resist the flow of liquid, fluid or gel  103  out of the CleanChew to some degree, but that then permit  103  to flow onto the teeth and gums of the biting animal. An additional stop-cock or gravity ball valve (such as those used for animal water dispensers, and which close when pointed downward, at the gravitational bottom of the CleanChew, may aid in preventing gravitational draining of the CleanChew. 
         [0019]    Another preferred form of cleaning-featured opening is shown as  129 , with a zoom window to enhance detail, which comprises multiple hinged or flexible attached leaves  131 , each of which, by itself, if driven by outward-flowing liquid, fluid or gel  103 , substantially close opening  129 , but any or all of which may again be forced open by a biting action or tooth. 
         [0020]    Although a limited group of cleaning-featured openings and projections are shown at the top of the CleanChew shown in  FIG. 1 , it should be understood that such cleaning-featured openings, projections and other cleaning textures and aspects disclosed in this application may cover substantially all bite or oral interfacing surfaces of a CleanChew, or select regions better positioned to affect cleaning of an oral cavity or other cavity of an animal. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an exemplary cleaning-featured opening  200 , in an outer fluid containing layer of a CleanChew, such as the CleanChew shown in  FIG. 1 . A mammalian tooth  201  has substantially entered opening  200  due to a biting action of the mammal into and/or against the outer layer of the CleanChew of which it is a part. The outer layer of the CleanChew in which both the cleaning featured opening  200  and the tooth  201  are embedded, is partially shown as  203 . Lining the outer surface of cleaning-featured opening  200  are scrubbing surface features  205 , which preferably comprise and are at least partially surface-covered by scrubbing and fluid-absorbing projections, such as the projections shown as  207 . As the mammal bites, and tooth  201  enters opening  200 , projections  207  drag and/or rub against tooth  201 , aided by surface tension of the outer surfaces of opening  200 , and thereby scrub the surface of tooth  201 . Features  205  and/or projections  207  preferably do not cover the entire outer surface of opening  200 , and therefore abut surface gaps between them such as that shown as  209 . As a result, when a tooth has penetrated opening  200 , features  205  and projections  207  further serve as towers which vault the outer surface of opening  200  between them, and temporarily (as long as the tooth remains embedded in opening  200 ) permit the outward flow of fluid through the resulting volumetric gap, as shown, for example, by fluid motion arrow  211 . 
         [0022]    An inside port  213  of opening  200  is, when in the CleanChew is in a resting state, substantially closed, and prevents the outward flow of material via elastomeric properties of the material comprised by the opening. However, when a tooth, such as tooth  201 , enters opening  200 , and therefore stretches its outer surface, port  213  may be pulled open due to the semi-flexible, semi-rigid nature of the material comprised in the outer layer and/or its surface, temporarily permitting the outward flow of fluid contained in cavity  215 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the same cleaning-featured variable opening, now pictured as  300 , as that depicted in  FIG. 2 , and serves to illustrate further exemplary aspects of the present invention. In the instance of  FIG. 3 , a tooth is not shown penetrating opening  300  and, as a result the inside port, now shown as  301 , is substantially closed in its undisturbed, resting conformation, preventing the outward flow (which would correspond with upward, out-of-the-page or positive z-axis flow in the figure) of fluid from the fluid containing side of layer  303 , in which cleaning-featured opening  300  is embedded. In this resting conformational state, scrubbing features, such as  305 , and projections, such as  307 , may be seen in an unobstructed top view, and are contracted into a position substantially tighter (with less space between them) than the volume that would be occupied by a tooth if sufficiently embedded into the opening  300  and between them, which would therefore create tension that could be used for scrubbing against any such tooth. Tooth-guiding channels, exemplary edges of which are shown as  308 , are also illustrated more clearly from the top-view, and extend beyond the depression in containing layer  303  comprised by opening  300 , illustrating how, regardless of where a tooth happens to land on the surface of a CleanChew, it may be guided into a cleaning-featured opening, such as that featured as  300 . Of course, a wide variety of alternate channeling feature shapes may be used, aside from those partially illustrated as sloping downward (into the page of the figure) and towards the center of port  301  in a parabolic or otherwise curved shape, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Such alternate channeling feature shapes may also comprise abrading or scrubbing sub-features, which, as with other scrubbing features discussed with respect to other figures, may be angled such that their edges better catch the edges of debris and tartar from one, two, more or opposing directions of tooth movement. As such, configurations of such sub-features may be used that are effective regardless of whether a tooth is moving inward or outward (e.g., due to biting, or opening) and/or twisting and scrubbing or brushing can be more efficient. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an exemplary cleaning-featured variable opening and bite-induced-shifting scrubbing outward projection combination unit—specifically, a pairing—in its resting conformational structure, prior to biting or tooth penetration of a CleanChew comprising the pairing. In the pairing  400 , a cleaning-featured variable opening  401  (for example, such openings of any style discussed elsewhere in this application or as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), is united with a scrubbing outward projection  403  (again, for example, such projections of any style discussed elsewhere in this application or as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) and is so united by connecting intermediate material, comprising a banded spring element(s)  405 , which has/have both ( 1 ) resting and ( 2 ) biting-actuated conformational structures, which lead to different resting and biting-actuated conformational structures in surrounding attached flexible layer(s) or surface materials  407 , which is, preferably, an elastomeric material or fabric and in which spring element(s)  405  are embedded and/or connected. Spring element(s)  405  are shown in its/their resting conformational state, meaning that the CleanChew comprising it/them is not currently being bitten, or, at least not in or about the location of the pairing  400 . In this state, the resting surface tension of surrounding material  407  may lead spring element(s)  405  to be compressed, as by non-deformational bends and/or compressions  409 . In addition, tension-reducing or -breaking bend  411  may variably separate or reduce connections or spring aspects in neighboring material, such as neighboring spring element(s)  413  from spring element(s)  405 . In this state, that resting surface tension and/or the resting conformational state of spring element(s)  405  and  413  and their variable connections, may lead projection  403  to be in a curved, leftward facing structural state. However, as will be discussed in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 5 , when bitten, chewed or otherwise physically insulted, alternate conformational states due to changes in surface tension may lead projection  403  to move into a different structural position, and resultantly brush teeth, gums and/or other oral cavity aspects that the projection may be in contact with. As suggested above, a pairing of one exemplary cleaning-featured variable opening and one bite-induced shifting scrubbing outward projection is exemplary only, and triplets, quartets and much more complex interacting physical relationships between variable openings and bite-induced shifting scrubbing outward projections and/or comprised or related spring elements may be, alternatively, used in accordance with aspects of the present invention, including, but not limited to, relationships where bite-driving of more distant openings, or other differently spaced openings, lead to different conformational results for projections that are more likely to effectively brush a surface area of a pet&#39;s mouth at that distance. For example, spring bands aligning (actuated conformation) with more distant openings only may lead to brushing in directions conforming with the roof of a mouth, rather than, for example, a curved massaging actuation motion which may be created closer to tooth gums. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is another view, from the same perspective except that some aspects have been enlarged, of the same exemplary pairing, now shown as pairing  500 , as that illustrated in  FIG. 4 , but in another structural conformation resulting from biting and tooth penetration of the variable opening, now shown as  501 , of the pairing. Thus, in  FIG. 5 , a tooth  502  is illustrated as inserted into variable opening  501 , creating both downward and outward pressure on opening  501  and creating surface tension in surface materials, now shown as  507 . More specifically, that pressure tends to align banded spring elements, now shown as  505 , to remove conformational folds. More straightened and aligned elements  505  and  513  then approach and achieve a conformational state in which folds disappear and the elements apply a rightward, curving motion in the scrubbing outward projection, now shown as  503 . That motion is illustrated by motion arrow  504 , and may aid in scrubbing gums and neighboring teeth. 
         [0026]    Spring element(s)  405  and  505  preferably have multiple stable resting conformations that may be switched by biting or other interaction with the surface of the CleanChew. In addition, although this application has stressed biting-actuation for causing a shift from and to resting stable or other conformations of spring elements  405 , and driving scrubbing projections and features, it should be noted that such spring elements may instead, or in addition, drive dilation and contraction of CleanChew surface variable openings such that, when a projection or other surface feature is sufficiently bent over or pulled sideways or compressed by rubbing against a surface to be cleaned, then and only then are spring elements aligned that cause outward, opening tension on the rims and surfaces of fluid, gel and/or liquid-containing orifices. Also preferably, intermediate fluid, gel and/or liquid-containing antechamber(s), preferably abutting, variably opening into and smaller than a main fluid, gel and/or liquid-containing cavity, and also abutting and sharing the variable opening(s) to the surface of the CleanChew, receive such fluid, gel and/or liquid from the main cavity only by a variable valve which substantially closes during a sufficient scrubbing action that drives surface features sufficiently to cause the spring elements to drive dilation of CleanChew surface variable openings. It should also be noted that, although separate spring elements and outer CleanChew layer materials are discussed, a single material, with spring properties and resting conformational state(s) may instead be used as both the material layer and spring element(s), such that surface deformation or teeth acceptance may drive variable opening of both a main fluid, gel and/or liquid-containing chamber, and/or intermediate antechambers, into CleanChew surface variable openings. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a partial top-view of exemplary bitable surface features of a CleanChew, in accordance with additional aspects of the present invention. Reticulated or interspersed grooves, such as those depicted as  600 , comprise converging channel sides, such as those shown as converging channel side pairings  601  and  603 . Such converging channel sides are within an outer CleanChew material layer the outer surface of which is labeled  604 , and may, when a tooth penetrates between where converging channel sides meet (such as that shown as convergences  605  and  607 ) separate sufficiently to permit a fluid from a contained cavity to flow outward (toward the viewer of the figure), and toward the penetrating tooth and gums in which the tooth may be embedded. The meeting points of the converging channel sides are more distant from the viewer of the picture than the main surface  609  of the outer layer of the CleanChew—meaning that as converging side pairs such as  601  and  603  converge, to extend the example, at convergences  605  and  607 , respectively, their surfaces slope inward, into the page, away from the viewer of the figure as they slope toward their convergences. Lining the outer surface of converging side pairings, such as  601  and  603 , are scrubbing surface features, such as those shown as  611 , which preferably comprise and are at least partially surface-covered by scrubbing and fluid absorbing projections, such as those discussed elsewhere in this application, and all of such features facilitate both scrubbing and the creation of temporary fluid-escape gaps during animal biting of the CleanChew. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side-view of aspects of a CleanChew  700  that comprises biting-and/or motor-actuable movable structural members. Major biting- and/or motor-actuable movable structural members, such as those shown as examples  701 , and which are generally cylindrical but with semi-spherical tops such as that shown as  702 , extend from and are mounted to movable ball-and-socket, turret or swivel joints  703 , about which they may rotate, as shown by exemplary rotational motion arrows  705  in the instance of a swivel joint (swiveling around a circular rotation axel, such as axel  706 ), or those major members may rotate in any spherical direction, in the instance of a ball-and-socket or turret joint. Major members  701  are buried beneath outer CleanChew containing layer  707  (layer  707  being shown in vertical cross-section to avoid blocking the view of other aspects of the invention), which is preferably made of an elastomeric or flexible yet deformation-resistant material. Preferably, layer  707  is stretched over major members such as  701  with sufficient tension that the members are in contact with and variably shape (with their motion within joints  703 ) the surface layer  707 . Such contact also aids in permitting biting on the outer surface of the layer  709  to drive motion of the major members such as  701 . But, optionally or in addition, joints  703  may also be driven by servo/motors. Either way, the resulting moving surface shapes of layer  707  result in scrubbing and massaging of gums and teeth of an animal biting into layer  707  with its teeth. Minor biting- and/or motor-actuable movable structural members, such as the examples shown as  711 , are preferably smaller than major members  701 , and may be embedded in layer  707 , and may move both in reaction to the same animal biting (which, as discussed above, may drive the motion of major members  701 ), and in reaction to motion of the major members, which may push minor members  711  upward and/or downward and/or rotate them about lever rotational axes. Minor member  711 , therefore, are or create motion-variable scrubbing/massaging sub-features in layer  707 , in which they are embedded. For example, if major members  701  move as shown in the second joint from the left of the illustration by motion arrows  705 , the top of the left-most minor member may move into the page and to the left, in reaction, as shown by motion arrow  713 .