Patent US5944519A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5944519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mouth cleaners
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-01-21
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2017-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A device for oral cleaning consists of an elongate handle carrying a resilient pad, for example of polyester foam, with flock adhering directly to its surface. Preferably the pad surrounds an underlying support portion of the handle so that this does not contact the interior of the mouth in use. The handle support portion may have a series of projections to enhance the cleaning action. The pad may be pre-impregnated with an oral cleaning agent.
Inventors
- 👤 John Stephen Griffiths
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:54
CPC Classifications
A; A46; A46B; A46B15/00; A46B11/00; A46B7/00; A46B7/04; A46D; A46D1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to 50 mm long and from about 5 to 20 mm wide and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said flocking being of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to 50 mm long and from about 5 to 20 mm wide and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said flocking being of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the resilient pad is of cellular material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 2 in which the cellular material is closed-cell polymeric foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 2 in which the cellular material is open-cell polymeric foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 4 in which the open-cell foam has a closed surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 2 in which the resilient pad comprises an outer layer of softer foam on a core of firmer foam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the length of the resilient pad is at least 20 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the thickness of the resilient pad overlying the handle support portion is at least 5 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the width of the resilient pad is in the range 7 to 16 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the resilient pad surrounds the handle support portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the resilient pad is a single piece of resilient pad material bent around the handle support portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the handle support portion is in the form of a strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the handle support portion is formed as a one-piece integral unit with the handle grip portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the handle support portion has a longitudinal series of projections underlying the resilient pad.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which the cleaning surface of the resilient pad has a series of undulations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 1 in which said flock fibres are between about 0.3 and about 1 mm in length and between about 1 and 3 dtex.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
An oral cleaner, comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion, and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion and having a flocked cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said resilient pad having an impregnation of an oral cleaning agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
An oral cleaner, comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion, and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion and having a flocked cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said resilient pad having an impregnation of an oral cleaning agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 17, in which the resilient pad is from about 15 to 50 mm long and from about 5 to 20 mm wide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 18, in which said flocking is of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
An oral cleaner for human use comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion, and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to about 50 mm long and surrounding the support portion of the handle element, the resilient pad further having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
An oral cleaner for human use comprising; an elongate handle element including a grip portion and a support portion, and a resilient pad attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to about 50 mm long and surrounding the support portion of the handle element, the resilient pad further having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, in which said flocking is of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 21, in which said flock fibres are from about 0.3 to about 1 mm long and between about 1 and about 3 dtex.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 21, in which the resilient pad presents said flocked outer cleaning surface all around the support portion of the handle element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 21, in which the resilient pad comprises first and second portions of pad material applied to opposite sides of the support portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, in which the handle support portion is inserted in a hole in the resilient pad.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, in which the handle support portion comprises a series of projections underlying the resilient pad.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, having an impregnation of an oral cleaning agent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, in which the thickness of said resilient pad overlying the support portion of the handle element is at least about 5 mm in at least two opposed directions transverse to the support portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 20, in which the resilient pad is up to about 20 mm wide.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 29, in which the resilient pad is up to about 16 mm wide.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
90 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising: s stiff handle support portion; a resilient pad attached to and overlying said handle support portion to a depth of at least about 5 mm, said resilient pad being of cellular material selected from the group consisting of closed-cell polymeric foam and open-cell polymeric foam with a closed surface, and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by a flocking of flock fibres between about 0.3 and about 1 mm in length, said pad being suitable for use with an oral cleaning agent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
90 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising: s stiff handle support portion; a resilient pad attached to and overlying said handle support portion to a depth of at least about 5 mm, said resilient pad being of cellular material selected from the group consisting of closed-cell polymeric foam and open-cell polymeric foam with a closed surface, and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by a flocking of flock fibres between about 0.3 and about 1 mm in length, said pad being suitable for use with an oral cleaning agent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
83 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising: a resilient pad and a support portion, the resilient pad being attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to about 50 mm long, from about 5 to about 20 mm wide, at least about 5 mm thick, and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said flocking being of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
83 words
An oral cleaner for human use, comprising: a resilient pad and a support portion, the resilient pad being attached to and overlying the handle support portion, the resilient pad being from about 15 to about 50 mm long, from about 5 to about 20 mm wide, at least about 5 mm thick, and having a flocked outer cleaning surface provided by flocking on the surface of the resilient pad, said flocking being of flock fibres from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm long.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 32, in which said flock fibres are between about 0.3 and about 1 mm in length and between about 1 and about 3 dtex.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
An oral cleaner according to claim 32, having an impregnation of an oral cleaning agent.
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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) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |