US3867927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tongue blade sucker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-13
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1994-06-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for motivating cooperation of youthful patients in oral examinations by intimately associating a reward with the examination procedure and maintaining the reward in the patients field of view throughout the examination. The reward, which may comprise a confection enclosed in a sanitary, transparent, removable wrapper, is mounted on one end of a tongue depressor. The other end is covered by a removable adhesive water proof strip which engages the patient''s tongue during the examination, and is subsequently removed to leave the blade as a substantially dry handle for the confection. The blade is graduated along one edge to give it additional permanent value to the patient and a humorous, puzzle, or advertising message may be printed on the blade to be uncovered when the adhesive strip is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick F Hergott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/24; A61B13/00; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for motivating the cooperation of youthful patients in oral examinations comprising, in combination: a blade having a first end for manipulating the patient''s tongue and a second end for simultaneously retaining the patient''s attention; a waterproof protecting strip removably adhered to the face of the first end of the blade to engage the patient''s tongue and prevent it from substantial contact with the blade; and a reward element carried by the second end of the blade to remain in the patient''s field of vision during use of the appliance in an oral examination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for motivating the cooperation of youthful patients in oral examinations comprising, in combination: a blade having a first end for manipulating the patient''s tongue and a second end for simultaneously retaining the patient''s attention; a waterproof protecting strip removably adhered to the face of the first end of the blade to engage the patient''s tongue and prevent it from substantial contact with the blade; and a reward element carried by the second end of the blade to remain in the patient''s field of vision during use of the appliance in an oral examination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the reward element is comestible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the reward element is enclosed in a transparent wrapping to prevent contact therewith by the examiner''s hand during the examination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the blade carries a message beneath the protective strip to be revealed after the examination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the blade is impressed with a characteristic making it of value to the patient after the reward element has been removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said characteristic comprises a set of graduations along one edge of the blade to function as a ruler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said second end is formed as a narrow tip to receive a confection in lollipop fashion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for motivating the cooperation of a youthful patient in an oral examination comprising, in combination; a blade having a first end for manipulating the patient''s tongue, a second end for simultaneously retaining the patient''s attention, and a set of graduations for giving the blade permanent value to the patient as a ruler; a waterproof opaque protection strip removably adhered to the face of the first end of the blade in masking relation to a message on the blade, to engage the patient''s tongue during the examination and prevent it from substantial direct contact with the blade; a comestible reward element secured to the second end of the blade to remain in the patient''s field of view during use of the apparatus in an oral examination; and a transparent wrapper removably enclosing said reward element to prevent contact thereof by the examiner''s hand during the examination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for motivating the cooperation of a youthful patient in an oral examination comprising, in combination; a blade having a first end for manipulating the patient''s tongue, a second end for simultaneously retaining the patient''s attention, and a set of graduations for giving the blade permanent value to the patient as a ruler; a waterproof opaque protection strip removably adhered to the face of the first end of the blade in masking relation to a message on the blade, to engage the patient''s tongue during the examination and prevent it from substantial direct contact with the blade; a comestible reward element secured to the second end of the blade to remain in the patient''s field of view during use of the apparatus in an oral examination; and a transparent wrapper removably enclosing said reward element to prevent contact thereof by the examiner''s hand during the examination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |