US4922936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental cleaner
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-08-12
•
Granted: 1990-05-08
•
Expires: 2007-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A dental cleaner in the nature of a toothpick has an elongated stable support which is covered with fine plastic flock particles of a small diameter in order to effectively clean small gaps between the teeth, between bridge anchors and in the sulcus region and to function as a type of "micro-bottle cleaner" for the spaces where plaque needs to be cleaned from the teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 Carlo A. Buzzi
- 👤 Ulrich A. Saxer
- 👤 Paul A. Stager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of making a dental cleaner in the nature of a toothpick in which an elongated rigid support is at least partially covered with bristles, the method comprising, providing a rigid stable support, and placing plastic bristles which are in the nature of flock on the support by flocking.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of making a dental cleaner in the nature of a toothpick in which an elongated rigid support is at least partially covered with bristles, the method comprising, providing a rigid stable support, and placing plastic bristles which are in the nature of flock on the support by flocking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a rigid stable support further comprises providing said support with a tapered end to be introduced in an interdental embrasure, and wherein bristles are placed on the tapered end by flocking.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein when said plastic bristles are placed on said rigid stable support, one end of the support is not flocked.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a rigid stable support further comprises providing said rigid support preshaped with variations in cross sections of said support, and wherein plastic bristles of equal length are placed on said support so that the plastic bristles of equal length provide a saw-tooth effect due to variations in the cross sections of said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing at least some of the bristles with a cleaning agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a rigid stable support further comprises forming said support of plastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 further including the step of providing said plastic material with reinforcement selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber and glass fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic bristles are placed on said support so that said support is flocked in a tapering manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing said bristles with a disinfecting agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said flocking comprises electrostatic flocking.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing said plastic bristles on said support comprises placing plastic bristles having a diameter of between 1.7 and 5 dtex on said support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US792471A
Cited
US1966205A
Cited
US1989895A
Cited
CH211202A
Cited
US3511249A
Cited
FR2220234A1
Cited
US3939520A
Cited
DE2925020A1
Cited
US4265258A
Cited
WO1982001126A1
Cited
FR2519543A1
Cited
US4538315A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |