Patent Publication Number: US-2013247319-A1

Title: Oral Utensil

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This filing claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/432,988 titled Oral Utensil and filed on Jan. 14, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Palm pressure points have been identified by a number of researchers including Scarborough et. al. in J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 139, No 10, whose article “Altering the Gag Reflex Via a Palm Pressure Point.” from the same issue is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The point identified by Scarborough et. al. as well as others known in the art have been demonstrated to affect physiological phenomena relevant to oral care, including for instance modification of the gag reflex. The various pressure points present in the hand of a user which have been identified to have physiological effect will hereinafter be referred to collectively as “pressure point.” 
     Consequently, devices are disclosed herein for both grossly and selectively applying force upon the pressure points disposed upon a pressure point on a user&#39;s palm. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes at least an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it abuts the palm of a user. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a tongue brush. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion comprises a portion of dental floss. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupling is substantially circular, thereby allowing rotation of the distal-end portion relative to the proximal-end portion. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are detents disposed upon the rotational path of the coupling operatively configured to interfere with one another at at least two points along the rotational path, thereby defining positions. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, a section of the surface of the proximal end portion is modified by means of one at least one of the following: a embossed pattern, a recessed pattern, or a portion of material having a distinct texture, surface finish, or appearance from the remainder of the proximal end portion. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein there is a section of material disposed upon the surface of the proximal end portion selected from either thermoplastic or silicone. 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       In the figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the claims of the present document. 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 3  shows a right-hand plan view of the distal-end portion of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a distal end portion of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a proximal end portion of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a right-hand plan wire-frame view of an embodiment of a proximal end portion of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7-11  show further embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  shows an isometric view of a further embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Various embodiments of the presently disclosed apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. In the drawings and in the description that follows, the term “proximal,” will refer to the end of a device or system that is closest to the operator, while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the device or system that is farthest from the operator. Further, the term “dorsal,” will refer to the end of the device or system which in a first configuration is closest to the sky, while the term “ventral” will refer to the end of the device or system which is closest to the ground. 
     According to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown wherein an oral utensil  1000  comprises a distal end portion  1100  and a proximal end portion  1200 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , distal end portion  1100  comprises an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis X extending therethrough. There is a brush head  1110  disposed near the distal-most portion of distal end portion  1100  having a plurality of bristles  1115  projecting in a substantially dorsal direction therefrom. Brush head  1100  is oriented at acute offset  6  from X. 
     There is a substantially arcuate face  1120  disposed in a proximal relation to brush head  1110  and in substantially tangential relation therewith. Further, there are a plurality of gripping portions  1130  disposed about the periphery of distal end portion  1100  operatively configured such that a user may engage their hand or fingers thereupon. Gripping portions  1130  may be an elevated area composed of the same material as distal end portion  1100  or composed of another material having a greater coefficient of static friction than the material of which distal end portion  1100  is composed. Further, gripping portions  1130  may comprise an alternative surface finish including, but not limited to embosses, indents, or other finishing techniques known in the art. 
     There is a pivot  1140  disposed upon the proximal-most portion of distal end portion  1100  wherein pivot  1140  comprises a distal shoulder  1141 , a medial bearing surface  1142 , a distal shoulder  1143 , and a proximal fillet  1144 . Bearing surface  1142  comprises a substantially round, elongated portion having a substantially smaller diameter than gripping portions  1130 , defining shoulders  1142  and  1143  at the respective distal and proximal ends thereof. Fillet  1144  comprises a rounded edge about the proximal-most portion of distal end portion  1100 , operatively configured to aide in the assembly of certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , proximal end portion  1200  is shown, wherein proximal end portion  1200  comprises an distal aperture  1210 , a proximal aperture  1220 , and a dorsal body  1230 . 
     Referring now for  FIG. 6 , distal aperture  1210  is a shaped aperture extending proximally into proximal end portion  1200  having a substantially round cross-section. Distal aperture  1210  comprises a distal face  1211 , a medial bearing surface  1212 , a proximal shoulder  1213 , and a proximal fillet  1214  which are operatively configured to abut distal shoulder  1141 , medial bearing surface  1142 , a distal shoulder  1143 , and proximal fillet  1144  respectively, thereby rotably coupling distal end portion  1100  to proximal end portion  1200 . 
     According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are complimentary detents/protrusions disposed upon a proximal end portion and distal end portion of an oral care utensil configured to temporarily mechanically interfere with the rotation of one relative to another, thereby providing tactile feedback thereof. Further, there may be a spring disposed within the engagement mechanism to aide in the insertion and removal of the parts relative to one another. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 6 , proximal aperture  1220  is a substantially ovoid portion removed from the center of proximal end portion  1200  comprising an aperture  1221  and a series of concentric ridges  1222 . 
     Dorsal body  1230  comprises protrusions  1231 ,  1232 , and  1233 . Dorsal protrusion  1232  comprises a substantially spherical face extending in a dorsal direction from face  1201 . Dorsal protrusion  1232  is configured and disposed such that it abuts and applies force upon the pressure point of a user when proximal end portion  1200  is grasped in the user&#39;s hand. Lateral protrusions  1231  and  1233  are respectively disposed distally and proximally of dorsal protrusion  1232 . 
     A method of using the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in the figures will now be described. Oral Utensil  1000  is provided in a first state, as shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein brush head  1110  is oriented such that bristles  1115  are oriented in a substantially dorsal direction. Next, a user grasps Oral Utensil  1000  about proximal end portion  1200  such that protrusion  1232  is oriented upon the pressure point on the palm of the user, and the user&#39;s digits are engaged about gripping portions  1130 . Next, a user proceeds to use Oral Utensil  1000  to clean his/her teeth in a manner similar to that of brushing one&#39;s teeth known in the art. 
     Next, as it becomes ergonomically advantageous to do so, a user may rotate distal end portion  1100  relative to proximal end portion  1200  into a second configuration, for instance, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 , thereby allowing the user to continue brushing opposing teeth while maintaining the contact between protrusion  1232  and a user&#39;s pressure point. 
     Although distal end portion  1100  of the embodiment shown in the figures will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art to comprise a toothbrush, there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the active, distally oriented portion of the device comprises a tongue cleaner, floss holder, or other oral hygiene device known in the art. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein these active heads are removably or interchangeably coupled to a proximal end portion. 
     Although in the embodiment shown in the figures distal end portion  1100  and proximal end portion  1200  are rotably coupled to one another, there are further embodiments of the present disclosure wherein the distal portion of the device and the proximal end portion of the device are rigidly coupled to one another. 
     The various components may be constructed of various rigid and semi-rigid materials known in the art including for instance natural and synthetic polymers and metals. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.