US4292705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tongue toothbrush
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-05-21
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Granted: 1981-10-06
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Expires: 1999-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A tongue toothbrush has a hollow, pliable body made of thin film material to envelope the outer portion of the tongue and carry on its terminal end short filaments for brushing the teeth with movement of the tongue. The filaments may be composed of brush bristles permanently or detachably mounted. Additionally, abrasive material may be attached to the body rearwardly of the bristles along with a hard rubber tip for gum massage mounted on the outermost portion of the body. The device may be reuseable, disposable, or composed entirely of edible material.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Stouffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:12
CPC Classifications
A; A46; A46B; A46B15/00; A46B15/0055; A46B15/0069; A46B15/0071; A46B11/00; A46B5/00; A46B5/04; A46B7/00; A46B7/04; A46B2200/00; A46B2200/10; A46B2200/1066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A tongue toothbrush, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous, elastic sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; a plurality of bristles secured to at least one of the upper and lower portions adjacent the tip; an abrasive dentrifice material embedded within said bristles; said opposed side portions and said tip being completely free of said bristles; said tip portion being constructed of harder and thicker material than the remainder of said body so as to provide a portion that may be used for the massage of the user's gums; an easily water-soluble flavoring being secured to said body; a soft abrasive material being secured to one of said upper and lower portions on the opposite side of said bristles from said tip; and the elasticity of said sheet material being sufficiently elastic to permit expansion and contraction of said body for secure engagement with different sized tongues.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A tongue toothbrush, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous, elastic sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; a plurality of bristles secured to at least one of the upper and lower portions adjacent the tip; an abrasive dentrifice material embedded within said bristles; said opposed side portions and said tip being completely free of said bristles; said tip portion being constructed of harder and thicker material than the remainder of said body so as to provide a portion that may be used for the massage of the user's gums; an easily water-soluble flavoring being secured to said body; a soft abrasive material being secured to one of said upper and lower portions on the opposite side of said bristles from said tip; and the elasticity of said sheet material being sufficiently elastic to permit expansion and contraction of said body for secure engagement with different sized tongues.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tongue toothbrush, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; a plurality of bristles secured to at least one of the upper and lower portions adjacent the tip; and the entire tongue toothbrush being constructed of edible material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tongue toothbrush, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; a plurality of bristles secured to at least one of the upper and lower portions adjacent the tip; and the entire tongue toothbrush being constructed of edible material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said opposed side portions and tip are completely free of said bristles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said tip portion is constructed of harder and thicker material than the remainder of said body so as to provide a portion that may be used for the massage of the user's gums.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, including an abrasive dentifrice material embedded within said bristles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, wherein an easily water-soluble flavoring is secured to said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, including pile-type fastener means for releasably securing said bristles to said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
the tongue toothbrush of claim 2, including a soft abrasive material secured to the one of said upper and lower portions on the opposite side of said bristles from said tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said opposed side portions and tip are completely free of said bristles and said abrasive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 9, wherein said tip portion is constructed of harder and thicker material than the remainder of said body so as to provide a portion that may be used for the massage of the user's gums.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 10, including an abrasive dentifrice material embedded within said bristles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the other of the upper and lower portions includes means for holding spaced portions of dental floss securely so that the intermediate portion may be used to cleanse the opposed surfaces of adjacent teeth by manipulating the user's tongue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tongue to toothbrush of claim 12, wherein said means includes a storage chamber for holding therein a coil of dental floss integral with said spaced portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said body is provided with opposed slits extending from said peripheral edge partly towards said tip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
208 words
A tongue tooth cleanser, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; wherein one of the upper and lower portions includes means for holding spaced portions of dental floss securely so that the intermediate portion may be used to cleanse the opposed surfaces of adjacent teeth by manipulating the user's tongue; a storage chamber for holding therein a coil of dental floss integral with said spaced portions, formed in one piece with the remainder of said body; said storage chamber having an outwardly extending annular wall portion, and two opposed flaps extending therefrom to form an opening for said storage chamber through which the spaced portions of the dental floss extend; said flaps meeting in tight abutment along a line of separation forming in part the said means for holding one of the spaced portions of dental floss securely; and said means for holding further including an outwardly extending slit projection for holding the terminal end of the dental floss.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
208 words
A tongue tooth cleanser, comprising: a hollow cup-shaped body of a size and shape to envelope the outer portion of a human tongue; said body being constructed of thin, pliable, continuous sheet material with opposed upper and lower portions, opposed side portions, a peripheral edge and a forward tip, with respect to the normal tongue position of a standing human; wherein one of the upper and lower portions includes means for holding spaced portions of dental floss securely so that the intermediate portion may be used to cleanse the opposed surfaces of adjacent teeth by manipulating the user's tongue; a storage chamber for holding therein a coil of dental floss integral with said spaced portions, formed in one piece with the remainder of said body; said storage chamber having an outwardly extending annular wall portion, and two opposed flaps extending therefrom to form an opening for said storage chamber through which the spaced portions of the dental floss extend; said flaps meeting in tight abutment along a line of separation forming in part the said means for holding one of the spaced portions of dental floss securely; and said means for holding further including an outwardly extending slit projection for holding the terminal end of the dental floss.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tongue toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said sheet material is elastic and the nature of said elastic sheet material permits expansion and contraction of said body for secure engagement with different sized tongues.
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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) | 1984-10-05 | 1985-04-06 | 1985-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-05 | 1989-04-06 | 1989-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-05 | 1993-04-06 | 1993-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |