An Improved Tooth-pick or Cleanser.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tooth-pick or Cleanser.
1, HERMANN FALKENSTEIN, of 18 Breitestrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Dental Surgeon, 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 an improved tooth-pick or cleanser intended for picking
or cleansing the teeth by means of a thread and the object of my improvement
is to provide an apparatus by which a reliable picking of the teeth, especially
of closely set teeth, is secured, and by which the enamel of the teeth and the
gums are not so prejudicially affected as by tooth brushes and tooth picks commonly
in use.
In order that my invention may be understood I will now describe it in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part
of this Specification and read therewith but not as limiting the invention to the
particular combination illustrated.
Figure 1 is a front view and Figure 2 a side view of the improved tooth-pick.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the handle or shaft, the bobbin and screw-plug
are shown apart in side views.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The improved tooth-pick consists of a hollow handle d provided at its upper end
with an inclined plate upon which a bifurcated arm c is pivoted by means of a
suitable set-screw a so that the said arm c may be turned and clamped in any
desired position upon the inclined plate. In the interior of the hollow handle d is
placed a spool or bobbin s upon which is wound a thread such as antiseptic silk-
thread, the end of which passes through a slot g of the handie into suitable
notches or grooves in the branches or prongs of the bifurcated arm c so as to span
the ends of the latter (Figs. 1 and 2). The bight of the thread as well as its free
end will then be clamped upon the arm c by means of the collar of the above
mentioned set screw a in such a manner that the thread running over the branches
of the arm c is tightly stretched as shown in Fig. 1. The stretched part of the
thread between the said branches of the arm c may then be used, as will be easily
understood from the drawing, as a tooth-pick by bringing this stretched thread
into the spaces between the teeth.
The spool or bobbins carrying the thread may be held in its proper position by
means of a suitable screw-plug screwed into the lower end of the hollow
handle d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. An improved tooth-pick or cleanser consisting of a handle (d) a bifurcated
arm (c) adapted to be clamped to the handle (d) and a thread (f) stretched over
the branches of the said arm (c) substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a tooth-pick or cleanser the combination of a handle (d) having an inclined
plate at its upper end and a slot (g) in its hollow shaft with a bifurcated arm (c)
pivoted upon the said inclined plate and adapted to be clamped in any position by

page_text: means of a set-screw (a), a bobbin (s) placed in the hollow handle-shaft and
adapted to carry a thread to be stretched over the branches of the bifurcated
arm (c), substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of February 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to the Applicant.