Improvements in and relating to Tooth-picks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tooth-picks.
I, HEINRICH CARL FRANZ OEHLECKER, of 59 Neuerwall, Hamburg, in the Empire
of Germany, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to tooth-picks, and the object of the same is to provide means
for enabling the point of the tooth-pick to enter into all existing interstices and
cavities of the teeth, on the outside as well as on the inside of the same or upon the
crown of the teeth.
All tooth-picks heretofore in use are particularly distinguished from one another
either by their material, or by the construction of their handles or by the combination
of both, but all such tooth-picks are employed in the same manner, viz., for removing
the particles of food within the spaces between the front teeth by forcing the point of
the tooth-pick in a direction from the outside to the inside.
Such manipulation of the usual tooth-picks is however accompanied by great
disadvantages especially for teeth, which are very close together, as not only will the
gum he pressed backward but also the skin of the root of the teeth is frequently
injured in such a manner, that an inflammation of the same will be caused. This
irritation will occur especially with the back teeth, because it is nearly impossible to
push the usual tooth-pick in a straight horizontal direction through the spaces between
the said teeth, but in most cases this will happen in an oblique direction towards
the gum and consequently the aforesaid irritations will be caused to a dangerous
degree.
In most cases the purpose of the tooth-pick, to clean the spaces between the teeth
has entirely failed, as by the employment of the usual tooth-pick the particles of food
in the spaces between the teeth instead of becoming removed will be very often
pressed still deeper underneath the crown of the teeth, that finally a surgical operation
will be required to relieve the sufferer from pain.
Owing to the present form of the usual tooth-picks it is almost impossible to
introduce the same from the inside and from the crown of the teeth, or to remove
particles of food from hollow teeth.
All these inconveniences are overcome by my present invention, as in my improved
tooth-pick the actual point is bent at about right angles to the shaft, which is connected
to its handle after the manner of a pocket knife, so that, when the tooth pick is folded
together the point is received and protected by a suitably arranged branch of the
handle. In this position the semi-circular bent back of the point will partly project
beyond the notch of the handle receiving the shaft of the tooth-pick, so that the semi-
circular back not only facilitates the opening or unfolding of the tooth-pick, but it
also offers the necessary elasticity to the point for its practical use.
Dated this 21st day of November 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tooth-picks.
1, HEINRICH CARL FRANZ OEHLECKER, of 59 Neuerwall, Hamburg, Germany,
Dentist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My invention relates to tooth-picks and it has for its object to provide an instrument
so constructed as to enable the convenient insertion of its point into all existing

page_text: cavities in or about the teeth, whether on the outside, inside, or in the crown of
the same.
All toothpicks heretofore in use are only distinguished from one another, either by
their material, or the construction of their handles, or the combination of both, all
however being employed in the same manner, in removing particles of food lodged
between the teeth-viz., the point of the pick is forced into the spaces between the
teeth, in a direction from the outside towards the inside.
Such manipulation of the usual tooth-picks is however often accompanied by great
disadvantages, especially in cases where the teeth have grown very close together,
when not only is the gum pressed backwards, but the skin of the root of the tooth
often injured to such a degree as to cause inflammation.
Such irritation is still more liable to occur with the back teeth, as it is almost
impossible to insert the usual tooth-pick between them, at right angles to the line of
teeth, in the horizontal plane. The insertion here usually takes place in an oblique
direction towards the gum, thus frequently causing the aforesaid irritations to a
dangerous degree.
In most cases the purpose of the tooth-pick-i.e. the prevention of the accumulation
of injurious substances in and about the teeth, and the inconveniences ensuring there-
from, has entirely failed; since instead of the particles lodged between the teeth
being removed, they are often driven down underneath the crown of the latter,
ultimately necessitating a surgical operation to alleviate the pain caused thereby.
Owing to the present form of the tooth-picks, it is almost impossible to introduce
the same from the inside and from the crown to reinove particles from hollow teeth.
All these inconveniences are obviated by my present invention as hereinafter
described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side view of the tooth-pick opened, for use, with one side plate of the
handle removed.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same closed;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a modified form of the pick.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2; the point a of the pick is bent round at about right
angles to the shaft b, which is connected to its handle e in the same manner as the
blade of a pocket knife. The handle however is provided with a suitably arranged.
branch d, for the reception of the point a when the tooth-pick is folded together. In
this position the semi-circular back, or hooked portion of the point a projects partly
out of the handle forming a convenient means for opening or unfolding the pick.
Besides this however the object of bending the point round in. this hooked manner
instead of merely bending it round at right angles to the shaft, is to impart sufficient
elasticity to the point for practical use.
In the modification shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 instead of bending-the-point a-of
the pick round, at right angles to the shaft, a short spike or pick a' is pivoted at f to
the handle c¹ and arranged so that it may be arrested and retained in a position either
at right angles to the latter or in a line therewith or when not in use shut up or
enclosed in the same. The boss of the spike or pick a is provided with three
notches a into either of which a spring catch 9 is adapted to engage; the latter is
operated by thumb or finger pressure on the arm i of a double lever i pivoted in
the handle at and under influence of a spring c². By depressing the arm i of
lever the arm h of a second intermediate lever h h³, pivoted in the handle at h¹ is
elevated, whereby the end 2 of the said lever disengages the catch g from the notch aº.
The pick a¹ may now be opened and fixed in either of its respective positions by
releasing the lever arm i from the thumb or finger pressure and thereby allowing the
spring catch g to engage into the corresponding notch.
'
In the drawing the spring of catch g, as also that operating the lever i 2 are shown
formed of one and the same piece .c c²; it is obvious that I can arrange these
separately, or in any convenient manner compatible with the practice, without
departing from the spirit of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. A tooth-pick having its point bent at about right angles to the shaft, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of a tooth-pick having its point bent at about right angles
to the shaft, and a handle pivoted to the latter and provided with a branch for the
reception of the tooth pick.
Third. A tooth-pick pivoted to its handle and adapted to be arrested and retained
in position either at about right angles to the said handle or in a line with the same,
or shut up and enclosed in the same the spring catch being operated either by thumb
or finger pressure, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of a tooth pick a' pivoted to a handle cat and provided
with notches in its boss, as specified, a spring catch g, operating lever i pivoted to
the said handle at and under the influence of a spring c², and intermediate
lever h² pivoted to the handle /', all parts operating in combination with each other
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of August 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.