Patent Publication Number: US-3875940-A

Title: Oralmoist device

Description:
United States Patent Beuther Apr. 8, 1975 ORALMOIST DEVICE Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko [76] Inventor 521 g g ii ifi l Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marden S. Gordon Conn. 06417 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 3, 1974 App]. No.: 430,534  
 A unitary integrally formed hollow device having a body portion terminating at one end in a curved forklike configuration which is contoured to fit the dimensions of an individuals mouth and with the prongs of the fork including small apertures penetrating therethrough in communication with the interior of the fork, and a watertight snap-on cap affixed to the opposite end of the body member, the device adapted to receive a liquid therein, such as water, with the liquid then being frozen after which an individual using the device places the fork-like end into the individuals mouth to suck the melting liquid into the mouth. The present device is specifically designed for those individuals who must restrict their intake of liquids.  
 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures ORALMOIST DEVICE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illus- This invention relates generally to health care detrated a preferred form of an oralmoist health care devices and more specifically to a device designed for those persons who must restrict their intake of liquids with the device dispensing a cool and satisfying liquid over an extended period of time to such an individual.  
  After different types of operations on individuals, such as those individuals who are recovering from a tonsilectomy, it is necessary that such individuals restrict the total amount of intake of liquids. However, it is also normal that the individuals craving for liquids increases due to being deprived thereof and that, conventionally, a cup or spoon of crushed ice or ice chips is normally given the individual to relieve the dry and sore throat and oral cavity as well as to somewhat satisfy the individuals craving for liquids. However, such conventional means are usually short lived due to the quick melting of the ice.  
  The present invention provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a device adapted to be filled with water and then frozen after which the device is inserted into an individuals mouth such that the individual sucks the melting liquids into the mouth in a slow and time consuming manner thus restricting the intake of liquids to the individual while simultaneously providing needed relief for the dry and sore throat and oral cavity.  
  It is a feature of the present invention to provide a unitary structure health care device wherein all portions thereof are of a flexible nature.  
  Among the features and advantages of the present invention is the provision of an oralmoist health care device which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which is devoid of moving parts and which therefore is inlikely to get out of order; one which is rugged and durable in construction and yet inexpensive enough to be discarded upon completion of use; one which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation; one which is refined in appearance; and one which is otherwise well adapted to perform the services re quired of it.  
  Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following descrip tion.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:  
  FIG. I is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention as inserted into the mouth of an individual;  
  FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention partially broken away to illustrate interior details thereof;  
  FIG. 3 is a rear end elevational view of the device illustrating the cap end thereof; and  
  FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device having a prong of the fork configuration broken away to illustrate the interior details thereof.  
  vice constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is comprises of an integral unitarily formed hollow body member 11 which is manufactured of a resilient or flexible material, such as low density polyethylene plastic, and which is comprised of a back portion 12 having a back surface 13 and with the side wall sul faces tapering inwardly and outwardly from the back surface to terminate at a fork-like configuration 14 including a pair of fork prongs 15 with a notch like recess 16 therebetween. Throughout the body member there is defined a chamber 17 to which access is provided through an opening 18 provided in back surface 13, the opening being closed by a cap 20 having a circular head portion 21 with there being formed concentric with the bottom surface thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom a reduced diameter collar member 22 which terminates in a radially outwardly directed annular flange 23 such that the cap is snapped into opening 18 with side wall surfaces of collar 22 in engagement with the opening edge surfaces so as to provide a watertight seal for the compartment 17.  
  The prongs 15 are provided with a multiplicity ofperforations 31 thereover which are adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough in a manner outwardly of compartment 17 upon the flexing of the prongs 15.  
  In operation liquid, such as water 40, is poured into compartment 17 after which cap 20 is snapped into opening 18 to seal the compartment, after which the device 10 is placed in a freezer or the like such that the liquid is frozen. A person who must restrict his intake of liquids then takes the device while the liquid is still frozen and inserts the fork-like configuration end 14 into his mouth such that the prongs 15 are received in the mouth in a position between an individuals teeth 41 and relative to an individuals tongue 42 such that the individual may suck the melting water out of the perforations 31 in a manner to relieve the dry and sore throat and oral cavity of the individual while simultaneously providing a long term relief to an individuals need for liquid due to the slow melting of the frozen liquid.  
  It is to be understood that the fork-like configuration 14 including prongs 15 is of a configuration which is contoured to fit the dimensions of an individuals mouth with it being envisioned within the scope of the present invention that the oralmoist device 10 may be manufactured in different sizes such as small, medium, large and the like for the comfortable fitting into individuals mouths of different sizes.  
  An example of a preferred adult size for the present device provides that the end surface 13 is preferably approximately 2% inches in diameter with the head portion 21 of cap 20 measuring approximately one and seven-eighth inch in diameter and with the overall length of the device being approximately four inches.  
  It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangment of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of 1. An oralmoist health care device intended to proan integrally formed unitary hollow body member manufactured of a low density polyethylene plastic material to provide a resilient, flexible and slightly pliable construction therefor;  
 said body member having a flat back surface, side wall surfaces diverging outwardly and inwardly from the peripheral edges of said back wall surface and terminating in a position forwardly thereof, and a bifurcated fork-like configuration formed contiguous with the front edges of the side wall surfaces and projecting forwardly thereof defining the front end of said body member;  
 a compartment defined interiorly of said body member and extending completely therethrough;  
 an opening ofa circular cross-sectional configuration disposed in said body member back wall surface providing access to said compartment interiorly of said body member;  
 a cap having a generally circular configuration adapted to be removably secured in said back wall surface opening for selective opening and closing of said opening, said cap when in position thereon closing said opening in a watertight manner, said cap comprised of:  
 a flat circular disc shaped head portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said back wall surface opening, the head portion having a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface;  
 an elongated cylindrically shaped collar member of a reduced diameter relative to said head portion and having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being disposed concentric with said head portion bottom surface and mounted permanently thereto with said collar member projecting axially outwardly therefrom in a direction away from said bottom surface;  
 said collar member having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said body member back wall surface opening and adapted to be received therein to seal said opening in a watertight manner;  
 an annular rim forming flange disposed about the exterior surface of said collar member adjacent said bottom end thereof and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said flange being of a diameter greater than the diameter of said collar member and less than the diameter of said head portion, said flange adapted to releasably retain said collar member in said back wall surface opening with said flange projectinginto said interior body member compartment;  
 an annular shoulder defined between the exterior surface of said collar member and the top surface of said annular flange, said shoulder engaging the interior edge surface of said back wall surface opening to prevent the inadvertent withdrawal of said cap from said opening until said cap is purposely withdrawn therefrom by a positive act of an individual by manipulating the cap in a manner to remove the cap from said opening to provide access to said compartment;  
 said fork-like configuration forming the front end of said body member consisting of a pair of prong members transversely spaced apart and projecting parallel to each other forwardly of the body member and which are contoured to readily fit the dimensions of an individuals mouth so that they may be readily inserted into an individuals mouth with the lip portion of an individuals mouth abutting said side wall surfaces of said body member;  
 a multiplicity of normally closed perforations disposed completely about the exterior wall surfaces of each of said prong members and extending therethrough in communication with said hollow interior of said prong members which is in communication with said body member compartment;  
 said perforations being of a size and configuration normally closed by the resilient nature of the material of which the prongs are constructed to thus prevent any passage therethrough of liquids and the like from said body member compartment to points exterior of said prong members;  
 said compartment adapted to receive liquid producing means therein, such as ice and the like; and  
 said perforations of said prong members only being opened to permit limited passage of liquid therethrough upon a pressure differential existing between the interior of said body member and the exterior of said body member;  
 whereby said perforations only permit liquid to pass therethrough upon an individual placing the prong members in the individuals mouth and applying a sucking action thereto in a manner to reduce the pressure exteriorly of the prong members in the individuals mouth as compared to the pressure interiorly of the compartment thus effecting the temporary opening of the perforations to discharge a limited amount of liquid from the compartment to pass at a slow rate through said perforations and into the individuals mouth to thus provide satisfaction of the individuals craving for liquid over an extended period of time while simultaneously limiting the total amount of liquid intake to the individual.