US6450810B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cushioned, fiber-covered dental applicators
Assignee: Ultradent Products Inc
•
Filing: 2000-10-30
•
Granted: 2002-09-17
•
Expires: 2020-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A dental instrument is configured to be positioned adjacent the teeth and gums of a patient without injuring or causing pain to sensitive teeth or gums. The dental instrument includes: (i) a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, the main body being configured to be grasped by a practitioner; (ii) an elastomeric member coupled to the distal end of the main body such that abutment of the elastomeric member against the teeth or gums of a patient does not injure or cause pain to the teeth or gums; and (iii) a plurality of fibers disposed on the elastomeric member. The fibers can be used to remove air bubbles from impression material, or for a variety of other uses. The instrument may be in the form of an applicator or delivery tip, for example. The instrument can have a non-slip gripping surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan E. Fischer
- 👤 Richard N. Rachal
- 👤 Paul Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:47
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05C; B05C17/00; B05C17/005; B05C17/00593; A; A61; A61C; A61C5/00; A61C5/60; A61C5/62; B05C17/00503; B05C17/00516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A dental instrument for performing various procedures on around the gums and teeth of a patient while protecting the teeth or gums from injury or pain, comprising: a rigid main body having a proximal end and a distal end, a working lip attached to said main body at said distal end thereof, and said working tip comprising means for cushioning the working tip at the distal end of the main bodly such that abutment of the working tip of the dental instrument against the teeth or gums of a patient is protected from causing injury or pain to the teeth or gums; and a plurality of fibers flocked essentially uniformly over the means for cushioning the working tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A dental instrument for performing various procedures on around the gums and teeth of a patient while protecting the teeth or gums from injury or pain, comprising: a rigid main body having a proximal end and a distal end, a working lip attached to said main body at said distal end thereof, and said working tip comprising means for cushioning the working tip at the distal end of the main bodly such that abutment of the working tip of the dental instrument against the teeth or gums of a patient is protected from causing injury or pain to the teeth or gums; and a plurality of fibers flocked essentially uniformly over the means for cushioning the working tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the main body is elongated and is configured to be selectively grasped by a practitioner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning the working tip of the distal end of the rigid main body comprises an elastomeric member coupled to the distal end of the main body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric material, and the fibers comprise a material that is more rigid than the elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the the means for cushioning comprises a deformable elastomeric material, and the fibers comprise a material that is less rigid than the elastomeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric deformable material, and the fibers comprise a material that has the same rigidity as the elastomeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fibers are deposited onto the means for cushioning through electrostatic flocking.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the same body comprises a non-slip gripping surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the applicator is formed through a process comprising a procedure selected from the group consisting of two color molding, three color molding, injection molding and insertion molding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises a spherical elastomeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 10 , wherein the spherical elastomeric material has a groove therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the main body is hollow and wherein the applicator further has a reservoir in fluid communication with the hollow main body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a first rigid member, a second rigid member and an elastomeric member connecting the first rigid member to the second rigid member, the means for cushioning coupled to the second rigid member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises a coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises a solid tip member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the working tip of the distal end of the main body comprises a paddle shaped member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the working tip of the distal end of the main body comprises a spherically shaped member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric material having a diameter in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 40 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric material having a diameter in the range of about 0.4 mm to about 1.8 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric material having a diameter in the range of: (i) greater than about 1 mm; to (ii) about 4 mm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instrument serves as a cleaning device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instrument serves as a brush.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric member comprises a base and an adhesive coating on the base.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A dental instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the means for cushioning comprises an elastomeric coating having a width in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
A dental instrument for performing various procedures on around the gums and teeth of a patient while protecting the teeth or gums from injury or pain, the applicator comprising: a main body having a proximal gripping end and a distal end with a working tip, an elastomeric member formed at the working tip of the distal delivery end of the main body so that when using the working tip to perform dental procedures on or around the teeth or gums, the elastomeric member protects the teeth or gums from injury or pain; and a plurality of fibers flocked essentially uniformly over the elastomeric member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
104 words
A dental instrument for performing various procedures on around the gums and teeth of a patient while protecting the teeth or gums from injury or pain, the applicator comprising: a main body having a proximal gripping end and a distal end with a working tip, an elastomeric member formed at the working tip of the distal delivery end of the main body so that when using the working tip to perform dental procedures on or around the teeth or gums, the elastomeric member protects the teeth or gums from injury or pain; and a plurality of fibers flocked essentially uniformly over the elastomeric member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A dental instrument as defined in claim 26 wherein said elastomeric member is spherical.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dental instrument as defined in claim 26 wherein the main body comprises a proximal gripping end and wherein an elastomeric portion is coupled between the proximal gripping end and the distal end of the main body in order to permit the working tip to bend in relation to the proximal gripping end when performing a dental procedure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4718889A
Cited
US4767398A
Cited
US5236355A
Cited
US5001803A
Cited
US5119803A
Cited
US5127831A
Cited
US5337463A
Cited
US5693360A
Cited
US5800367A
Cited
US5630244A
Cited
US5944519A
Cited
US5816804A
Cited
US6096382A
Cited
US6049934A
Cited
US6059570A
Cited
US6162202A
Cited
US6083002A
Cited
US6082999A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-18 | 2006-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-16 | 2010-03-18 | 2010-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-16 | 2014-03-18 | 2014-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |