US3828804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-30
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held device for cleaning between the teeth and in the sulcus between the gingiva and the crown of a tooth includes a handle having forwardly extending spaced arms adapted to retain an elastomeric band under tension so that the band bridges the gap between the spaced arms and can be passed between the teeth and into the sulcus to remove food particles, plaque and other like substances. The band is disclosed in two embodiments, one of which comprises a straight band having a relatively thin intermediate portion and enlarged integral heads which flare outwardly from opposite ends of the intermediate portion and are adapted to seat in notches provided in the arms of the handle. Raised ridges are provided in the intermediate portion of the band to provide an abrasion surface for facilitating removal of plaque from the teeth. An endless band embodiment is also disclosed which bridges the gap between the spaced arms and is anchored to an anchor post on the handle to establish the desired tension in the elastomeric band.
Inventors
- 👤 R Ely
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61C15/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A dental device comprising in combination, a handle with spaced arms at one end and with retention means on said spaced arms having a retaining surface for releasably retaining a cleaning band, and an elastomeric cleaning band adapted to be retained by said retention means on each of said spaced arms whereby said band is held in tension therebetween, said band having an intermediate portion adapted to be stretched between said arms, and an enlarged connecting head at each end, said enlarged heads each having an incline surface contiguous with one end of said intermediate portion that inclines away from said intermediate portion at an obtuse angle with the intermediate portion to strengthen the integral junctions of the inteRmediate portion with the enlarged heads, said retaining surfaces on the handle engaging said inclined surfaces of the cleaning band at locations beyond the juncture of the incline surfaces with the intermediate portion of the band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A dental device comprising in combination, a handle with spaced arms at one end and with retention means on said spaced arms having a retaining surface for releasably retaining a cleaning band, and an elastomeric cleaning band adapted to be retained by said retention means on each of said spaced arms whereby said band is held in tension therebetween, said band having an intermediate portion adapted to be stretched between said arms, and an enlarged connecting head at each end, said enlarged heads each having an incline surface contiguous with one end of said intermediate portion that inclines away from said intermediate portion at an obtuse angle with the intermediate portion to strengthen the integral junctions of the inteRmediate portion with the enlarged heads, said retaining surfaces on the handle engaging said inclined surfaces of the cleaning band at locations beyond the juncture of the incline surfaces with the intermediate portion of the band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the dental device of claim 1, said enlarged heads including a second surface which is parallel with said intermediate portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the dental device of claim 2, wherein each of said first mentioned surface and said second surface of the enlarged heads is flat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the dental device of claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion of the band has oppositely directed faces, and further including a plurality of ridges protruding away from said faces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
In the dental device of claim 4, wherein said ridges are of triangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
A dental device comprising in combination an elongated handle, said handle having spaced arms at one end with retention means including a retaining surface for retaining the ends of an elastomeric band to hold the band in tension between said spaced arms, and an elastomeric band, said elastomeric band having a generally rectangular shaped intermediate portion with upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces each having a plurality of raised ridges, an enlarged head extending outwardly from each end of the intermediate portion and adapted to be retained by said retention means, each of the enlarged heads having a first planar incline surface forming an obtuse angle with said upper surface of the intermediate portion, a second planar surface comprising an extension of said lower surface of the intermediate portion and at least a third surface interconnecting said first and second surfaces defining heads of substantially triangular configuration, said retaining surfaces on the handle engaging said incline surfaces of the cleaning band at locations beyond the juncture of the incline surfaces with the intermediate portion of the band.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
A dental device comprising in combination an elongated handle, said handle having spaced arms at one end with retention means including a retaining surface for retaining the ends of an elastomeric band to hold the band in tension between said spaced arms, and an elastomeric band, said elastomeric band having a generally rectangular shaped intermediate portion with upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces each having a plurality of raised ridges, an enlarged head extending outwardly from each end of the intermediate portion and adapted to be retained by said retention means, each of the enlarged heads having a first planar incline surface forming an obtuse angle with said upper surface of the intermediate portion, a second planar surface comprising an extension of said lower surface of the intermediate portion and at least a third surface interconnecting said first and second surfaces defining heads of substantially triangular configuration, said retaining surfaces on the handle engaging said incline surfaces of the cleaning band at locations beyond the juncture of the incline surfaces with the intermediate portion of the band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
A dental device comprising in combination: an elongated handle having a shank portion defining a grip for the dental device, forwardly extending arms at one end of the shank portion and terminating in spaced free ends, each of said spaced free ends having an open slot, and at least two sockets with beveled surfaces, said sockets being of larger cross-sectional area than the open slot and communicating with the open slot, and an elastomeric strip retained by said handle having an intermediate portion with upper and lower surfaces, and enlarged heads extending outwardly from the ends of the intermediate portion adapted to be seated in one of said sockets to retain the intermediate portion of the strip in tension between the free ends of said arms, the enlarged heads each having a first planar incline surface forming an obtuse angle with said upper surface of the intermediate portion and adapted to be engaged with said beveled surface when the strip is retained by said handle, a second planar surface comprising an extension of said lower surface of the intermediate portion and at least a third surface interconnecting said first and second surfaces defining heads of substantially triangular configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
A dental device comprising in combination: an elongated handle having a shank portion defining a grip for the dental device, forwardly extending arms at one end of the shank portion and terminating in spaced free ends, each of said spaced free ends having an open slot, and at least two sockets with beveled surfaces, said sockets being of larger cross-sectional area than the open slot and communicating with the open slot, and an elastomeric strip retained by said handle having an intermediate portion with upper and lower surfaces, and enlarged heads extending outwardly from the ends of the intermediate portion adapted to be seated in one of said sockets to retain the intermediate portion of the strip in tension between the free ends of said arms, the enlarged heads each having a first planar incline surface forming an obtuse angle with said upper surface of the intermediate portion and adapted to be engaged with said beveled surface when the strip is retained by said handle, a second planar surface comprising an extension of said lower surface of the intermediate portion and at least a third surface interconnecting said first and second surfaces defining heads of substantially triangular configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dental device of claim 7, wherein said sockets are spaced on the free ends of said arms such that the tension in the intermediate portion of the strip is variable according to the combination of sockets in which the enlarged heads are seated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dental device of claim 8, wherein said upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate portion of the strip have a plurality of raised ridges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dental device of claim 7, wherein the intermediate portion has a width dimension which is greater than a thickness dimension and wherein the width dimension extends substantially normal to the length of the handle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |