US5133971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal dental hygiene assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-10-02
•
Granted: 1992-07-28
•
Expires: 2010-10-02
Abstract
Abstract From prior oral hygiene devices, this invention, in its preferred embodiment, is dry and intended for oral use in cleaning and polishing the teeth and for cleaning the gums, tongue, and surrounding mucosa of the mouth and in plaque removal, with the user's own mouth furnishing the only liquid required, which reconstitutes in situ, the ingredients which are dehydrated and/or impregnated within a membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Phoebe Copelan
- 👤 James B. Copelan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61Q; A61Q11/00; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/12; A61K; A61K8/00; A61K8/02; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B17/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
In a disposable personal dental hygiene assembly, a flexible porous dentifrice carrier of a size adapted to allow a portion thereof to enter the mouth and having surface portions engagable with the distal and proximal tooth surfaces; said carrier being substantially dry and with at least a portion of its surface being impregnated with a substantially dry mixture of a dentifrice and an expectorant; said impregnating mixture constituting in the order of 40% of the weight of the carrier with the major weight of the impregnating mixture being the dentifrice and the expectorant being in effective trace amount to allow the user's own saliva to moisten the dentifrice sufficiently for tooth cleaning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a disposable personal dental hygiene assembly, a flexible porous dentifrice carrier of a size adapted to allow a portion thereof to enter the mouth and having surface portions engagable with the distal and proximal tooth surfaces; said carrier being substantially dry and with at least a portion of its surface being impregnated with a substantially dry mixture of a dentifrice and an expectorant; said impregnating mixture constituting in the order of 40% of the weight of the carrier with the major weight of the impregnating mixture being the dentifrice and the expectorant being in effective trace amount to allow the user's own saliva to moisten the dentifrice sufficiently for tooth cleaning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 1 in which said carrier is moisture absorbent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 1 in which said carrier is a substantially flat membrane presenting a porous surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 3 in which said carrier is moisture absorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 3 in which said string is dental floss.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 1 in which said carrier is in the form of a soft foam plastic wedge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 6 in which said wedge is formed with transverse grooves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 6 including, additionally, a manually engageable handle attached to said wedge at its base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 6 including, additionally, a rupturable, moisture impervious pouch enclosing said wedge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 9 including, additionally, means for rupturing said pouch comprising a string embedded in said pouch adjacent an edge thereof and having a manually engageable portion projecting from said pouch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly according to claim 10 in which said string is dental floss.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a disposable personal dental hygiene assembly, a flexible porous dentifrice carrier of a size adapted to enter the mouth and having surface portions engagable with the distal and proximal tooth surfaces; said carrier being substantially dry and with at least a portion of its surface being impregnated with a substantially dry mixture of equal parts of a dentifrice and a flavoring plus an expectorant; the expectorant being in effective trace amount to allow the user's own saliva to moisten the dentifrice sufficiently for tooth cleaning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a disposable personal dental hygiene assembly, a flexible porous dentifrice carrier of a size adapted to enter the mouth and having surface portions engagable with the distal and proximal tooth surfaces; said carrier being substantially dry and with at least a portion of its surface being impregnated with a substantially dry mixture of equal parts of a dentifrice and a flavoring plus an expectorant; the expectorant being in effective trace amount to allow the user's own saliva to moisten the dentifrice sufficiently for tooth cleaning.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 1 or claim 12 wherein in the order of 30% of the surface area of said carrier is impregnated with said substantially dry mixture and the balance of the carrier is available for cleanup of residue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said impregnating mixture constitutes, by weight, in the order of 40% of the weight of said carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 1 or claim 12 wherein said impregnating mixture includes additionally a trace of an anti caries agent chosen from the group consisting of sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 1 or claim 12 wherein said impregnating mixture includes a trace of an anti caries agent chosen from the group consisting of sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride and includes additionally a trace of an etching agent chosen from the group consisting of mono and dibasic sodium phosphates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 1 or claim 12 wherein said impregnating mixture includes additionally a trace of a sweetening agent chosen from the group consisting of sodium saccharin, acripitolymahnitol and aspartame sufficient in quantity to overcome the flavor of the tooth cleanser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A disposable personal dental hygiene assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said expectorant is sodium acetate.
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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) | 1995-07-28 | 1996-01-27 | 1996-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-28 | 2000-01-27 | 2000-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-28 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |