US4811445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oral hygiene system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-01-25
•
Granted: 1989-03-14
•
Expires: 2008-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An oral hygiene system including an aseptic container enclosing a disposable dental hygiene head having a socket for receiving a detachable handle having a male extension for penetrating the aseptic container to engage the socket of the head. The socket and male extension forming a fit which prevents rotation between the handle and head.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel P. Lagieski
- 👤 Todd B. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:16
CPC Classifications
A; A46; A46B; A46B5/00; A46B5/0095; A46B11/00; A46B11/0003; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An oral hygiene system comprising a disposable head, an aseptic container for storing the head and a handle for penetrating said container and engaging said head, a. Said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove, b. Said aseptic container enclosing said head and with the head positioned within said container with said applicator near a first end of said container and the socket positioned near a receiving end, said container having a scored cover over said receiving end for aseptically sealing said head in said container, and c. Said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user, and an operating end having a pointed male extension for penetrating said scored cover and engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An oral hygiene system comprising a disposable head, an aseptic container for storing the head and a handle for penetrating said container and engaging said head, a. Said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove, b. Said aseptic container enclosing said head and with the head positioned within said container with said applicator near a first end of said container and the socket positioned near a receiving end, said container having a scored cover over said receiving end for aseptically sealing said head in said container, and c. Said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user, and an operating end having a pointed male extension for penetrating said scored cover and engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said socket is in the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is in the general shape of a cone with the pointed end of the cone engaging said scored cover to penetrate the cover and for engaging the cone-shaped socket to lock said handle to said head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles for cleaning teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 in which said brush has dentifrice on the surface of the bristles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said scored cover is scored by at least two intersecting score lines which intersect at a point generally adjacent the location of said socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
An oral hygiene device comprising a handle and a disposable head into which the handle may be inserted to form a functional device, a. said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove, b. said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user and an operating end having a pointed male extension for engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
An oral hygiene device comprising a handle and a disposable head into which the handle may be inserted to form a functional device, a. said disposable head comprising a body portion having an oral hygiene applicator and an end portion having a socket, said socket having a generally annular groove, b. said handle comprising a free end for grasping by a user and an operating end having a pointed male extension for engaging said socket, said pointed male extension having a generally annular projection for engaging said annular groove to lock said handle to said head in a snap-fit arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said socket is the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is the general shape of a cone to engage said socket in a friction fit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device in accordance with claim 7 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles and in which said brush has a dentifrice applied to said brush.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said socket has walls with serrations along the length of the wall and said male extension has at least one fin extending along at least a portion of the length of said extension for engaging said serrations to prevent rotational movement between said handle and said head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said fin is located between a point on said pointed male extension and said annular projection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device in accordance with claim 6 in which said socket has walls with serrations along the length of the wall and said male extension has multiple fins extending along a least portion of the length of said extension for engaging said serration to prevent rotational movement between said handle and said head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said socket is the general shape of a cone and the pointed male extension is the general shape of a cone and in which said fins are equally spaced about the surface of the pointed male extension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said applicator is a dental brush having bristles for cleaning teeth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device in accordance with claim 13 in which said brush has a dentifrice applied to said brush.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device in accordance with claim 13 in which said dentifrice is applied along the bristles of said brush.
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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) | 1992-03-13 | 1992-09-12 | 1993-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-13 | 1996-09-12 | 1997-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-13 | 2000-09-12 | 2001-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |