US4660583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interdental stimulator
Assignee: KLEEN-PIKS Ltd 1179 FINCH AVENUE WEST SUITE 4 DOWNSVIEW ONTARIO M3J 2J1 CANADA
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Filing: 1984-07-12
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2004-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An interdental stimulator is formed from an elongate member of generally triangular section. It has two end portions that taper down to respective ends of small cross-section. This enables either end portion to be used to clean interdental spaced and invigorate gums. The end portions have different height to width ratios, to accommodate different shaped interdental spaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank P. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/02; A61C2201/00; A61C2201/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second ends of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion, and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second ends of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion, and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A interdental stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulator is symmetrical about a vertical plane containing its axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An interdental stimulator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross-section of the first and second end portions is an isosceles triangle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein sides of the first and second end portions are rounded, as viewed in section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second end portions have rounded sides that are convex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, 4 or 5, wherein an upper ridge extends the length of the stimulator, and is generally rounded as viewed in section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, which includes a central portion, between the first and second end portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central portion includes a transition section between the first and second end portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the central portion includes a first portion having a cross-section corresponding to the greatest cross-section of the first end portion, and located between the first end portion and the transition section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 8 or 9, which further includes a second section having a cross-section corresponding to the greatest cross-section of the second end portion, and located between the transition section and the second end portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transition section has a lower profile corresponding to the first end portion and an upper profile corresponding to the second end portion, with shallow side ridges dividing said lower and upper profiles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the central portion includes flat, vertical lower side surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sides of each of the first and second end portions are rounded as viewed in section
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sides of the first and second end portions are convex.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 14 wherein the central portion has an upper ridge which curves convexly, when viewed from the side.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second end portions has a rounded upper ridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upper ridges of the first and second end portions are both convex.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, which is formed from a plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member comprising: a first end portion, which tapers down to a first end of small cross-section; a second end portion, which tapers down to a second end of small cross-section, with the height to width ratio of the first end portion being greater than the height to width ratio of the second end portion; a central portion between the first and second end portions, which central portion includes a transition section; and a series of ribs spaced along the elongate member; wherein the sides of the first and second end portions are convex when viewed in cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member comprising: a first end portion, which tapers down to a first end of small cross-section; a second end portion, which tapers down to a second end of small cross-section, with the height to width ratio of the first end portion being greater than the height to width ratio of the second end portion; a central portion between the first and second end portions, which central portion includes a transition section; and a series of ribs spaced along the elongate member; wherein the sides of the first and second end portions are convex when viewed in cross-section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 19, wherein the central portion includes a series of ribs spaced therealong, each rib extending across both sides of the central portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 19, wherein tips of the first and second end portiosn are rounded.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 19, which is formed from a plastic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 19 which is formed from a plastic which is impregnated with a flavouring agent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second ends of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a hiehgt ot width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion, and with each of the first and second end portions terminating in a truncated tip.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
An interdental stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second ends of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a hiehgt ot width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion, and with each of the first and second end portions terminating in a truncated tip.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
An interdental stimulator as claimed in claim 1 or 24, which includes a central portion between the first and second end portions, and wherein the total length of the first and second end portions is comparable to, or greater than, the length of the central portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stimulator as claimed in claim 1, 24 or 25 wherein each of the first and second end portions has an upper ridge that is straight and inclined.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
138 words
A set of stimulators, each of which comprises an elongate member for isnertion between the teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second end portions of small cross-section, with the cross-section of the first end portion having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof, and a central portion between the first and second end portions which central portion inludes vertical lower side surfaces; and wherein the stimulators are arranged side by side in a row, with the stimulators being adjacent and continuous with one another at their vertical lower side surfaces.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
138 words
A set of stimulators, each of which comprises an elongate member for isnertion between the teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second end portions of small cross-section, with the cross-section of the first end portion having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof, and a central portion between the first and second end portions which central portion inludes vertical lower side surfaces; and wherein the stimulators are arranged side by side in a row, with the stimulators being adjacent and continuous with one another at their vertical lower side surfaces.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
170 words
a method of forming a stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second end protions of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height of width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof; the method comprising passing a first cutter having a first profile corresponding to the first end portion along an elongated member and along a first path such as to form the tapered profile for the first end portion of the elongated member, and passing a second cutter having a second profile corresponding to the second end portion of the elongated member and along a second path such as to form the tapered profile for the second end portion.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
170 words
a method of forming a stimulator comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and having first and second end portions, which taper down to respective first and second end protions of small cross-section, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height of width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof; the method comprising passing a first cutter having a first profile corresponding to the first end portion along an elongated member and along a first path such as to form the tapered profile for the first end portion of the elongated member, and passing a second cutter having a second profile corresponding to the second end portion of the elongated member and along a second path such as to form the tapered profile for the second end portion.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of forming a plurality of interdental stimulators, each moulded from plastic and comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and hasving first and second end protions, which taper down to respective first and second end portions of small cross-sections, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof, and a central portion between the first and second end portions, the stimulator having convex sides; the method comprising forming the stimulators in a common mould having a plurality of individual stimulator cavities with the stimulators joined to one another, and separating the individual stimulators.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of forming a plurality of interdental stimulators, each moulded from plastic and comprising an elongate member for insertion between adjacent teeth, the elongate member having a generally triangular profile and hasving first and second end protions, which taper down to respective first and second end portions of small cross-sections, with the first end portion in cross-section having a height to width ratio greater than the height to width ratio of the cross-section of the second end portion and with the cross-section of each of the first and second end portions being of uniform shape along the length thereof, and a central portion between the first and second end portions, the stimulator having convex sides; the method comprising forming the stimulators in a common mould having a plurality of individual stimulator cavities with the stimulators joined to one another, and separating the individual stimulators.
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) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |