Patent US4214871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4214871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cleaning teeth and removing plaque
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-01-23
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Granted: 1980-07-29
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Expires: 1998-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A fast, efficient, economical method of daily oral hygiene designed for home use to replace the present ineffective methods such as brushing, water flushing, flossing, etc. The method is particularly for removing plaque. A nontoxic and relatively nonabrasive solid material in pellet form is entrained in a stream of liquid, preferably water and discharged as a jet against the teeth and adjacent areas in the mouth. The pellets are of soluble material which preferably is halite and in various sizes generally in the range from 0.010 inches to 0.030 inches at the time of striking the teeth. The pellets strike with a point impact thereby having sufficient energy to remove plaque from the teeth. If any pellets should lodge under the gums they would dissolve thereby preventing a possible abscess. Mechanical apparatus of simplified form can be utilized to entrain the solid particles in the liquid stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Carter H. Arnold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C3/00; A61C3/02; A61C3/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of removing plaque from teeth including the steps of generating a controlled stream of liquid which can be discharged into the mouth, forming particles in pellet form and of a material which has a delayed solubility in said liquid and sufficient mass in pellet form so as to have kinetic energy when moving at the velocity of the stream of liquid, entraining the particles in the stream of liquid and jetting the stream with the entrained pellets into the mouth and against the teeth for removing plaque, whereby said delayed soluble pellets will dissolve if lodged under the gum line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of removing plaque from teeth including the steps of generating a controlled stream of liquid which can be discharged into the mouth, forming particles in pellet form and of a material which has a delayed solubility in said liquid and sufficient mass in pellet form so as to have kinetic energy when moving at the velocity of the stream of liquid, entraining the particles in the stream of liquid and jetting the stream with the entrained pellets into the mouth and against the teeth for removing plaque, whereby said delayed soluble pellets will dissolve if lodged under the gum line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the particles are nontoxic and do not exceed a hardness at 44 Knoop under a 50 gram load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the liquid is water and the particles are formed of halite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein the particles are at the time of impact on the teeth in sizes ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.030 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of discharging the liquid with entrained particles against the teeth in a manner so that the particles have a point impact, the particles being of the size so that at the time of impact they have sufficient mass and velocity whereby the kinetic energy is sufficient to remove plaque from the teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 5 including the step of forming particles having delayed solubility in the liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of producing the said stream of liquid from liquid at ordinary line pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the liquid is water and the particles have a density greater than one.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a system for removing plaque from teeth, in combination, means for providing a stream of liquid and nozzle means whereby a jet of the liquid can be directed against teeth, a supply of pellets, and means for entraining the pellets in the liquid stream and for discharging them against the teeth with the liquid, the pellets being formed of a material which has sufficent mass when in pellet form to have enough kinetic energy when striking the teeth to remove plaque, the liquid being water and the pellets being particles formed from halide, the pellets being in sizes ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.030 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a system for removing plaque from teeth, in combination, means for providing a stream of liquid and nozzle means whereby a jet of the liquid can be directed against teeth, a supply of pellets, and means for entraining the pellets in the liquid stream and for discharging them against the teeth with the liquid, the pellets being formed of a material which has sufficent mass when in pellet form to have enough kinetic energy when striking the teeth to remove plaque, the liquid being water and the pellets being particles formed from halide, the pellets being in sizes ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.030 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a system for removing plaque from teeth, in combination, means for providing a stream of liquid and nozzle means whereby a jet of the liquid can be directed against teeth, a supply of pellets, and means for entraining the pellets in the liquid stream and for discharging them against the teeth with the liquid, the pellets being formed of a material which has sufficient mass when in pellet form to have enough kinetic energy when striking the teeth to remove plaque, the material being soluble in the liquid so as to be dissolved in the event the pellets become lodged under the gum line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a system for removing plaque from teeth, in combination, means for providing a stream of liquid and nozzle means whereby a jet of the liquid can be directed against teeth, a supply of pellets, and means for entraining the pellets in the liquid stream and for discharging them against the teeth with the liquid, the pellets being formed of a material which has sufficient mass when in pellet form to have enough kinetic energy when striking the teeth to remove plaque, the material being soluble in the liquid so as to be dissolved in the event the pellets become lodged under the gum line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 10 wherein the liquid is water and the pellets are particles formed from halite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 11 wherein the pellets are provided in sizes ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.030 inches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-29 | 1984-01-28 | 1984-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-29 | 1988-01-28 | 1988-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-29 | 1992-01-28 | 1992-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |