A HYGIENIC DEVICE

DISPOSITIF D'HYGIENE

English Abstract

A tongue cleaner (10) is disclosed which comprises an elongate element (12)
which constitutes a handle for a tooth brush. Two sets of ribs (42, 44) are
provided. The set of ribs (42) is a fine set and the other set of ribs (44) a
coarser set. The ribs extend across the handle. Two flanks (48) meet to form a
tongue scraping edge (46). A depression (36) is bounded by a part circular
edge (38) constituted by inner and outer curving flanks which intersect to
bound the part circular edge.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif (10) de nettoyage de la langue comprenant un élément allongé (12) constituant le manche d'une brosse à dent. Deux ensembles de nervures (42, 44) sont prévus: le premier ensemble (42) de nervures étant un ensemble de nervures fines, l'autre ensemble (44) de nervures étant un ensemble de nervures plus grossières. Les nervures s'étendent de part et d'autre du manche. Les deux bords (48) se rejoignent pour former une arête (46) de raclage de la langue. Un évidement (36) est délimité par un bord (38) partiellement circulaire constitué par des bords concaves et convexes qui s'entrecroisent pour former le bord partiellement circulaire.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A tongue cleaner which comprises an elongate element having a
scraping edge which extends in the direction of the length of the element, a
set of
parallel ribs which extend transversely of the element and a circular
depression in
said element at one end thereof, at least a part of the periphery of said
depression
being bounded by a curving inner flank and by a curving outer flank, the
curving
flanks intersecting to provide a curving tongue cleaning edge.
2. A tongue cleaner according to claim 1 and including two sets of
parallel ribs, the pitch, and the root to crest dimension, of one set of
parallel ribs
being greater than the pitch and root to crest dimensions of the other set.
3. A tongue cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said sets of ribs are on
opposed faces of said elongate element.
4. A tongue cleaner as claimed in claim 1 and including a pair of flanks
which are elongate in the direction of the length of said elongate element,
the flanks
intersecting to provide said scraping edge.
5. A tongue cleaner as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 and including tooth
cleaning bristles at the other end of said element.

6. A tongue cleaner as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
7. A new tongue cleaner substantially as herein described.
6

Description

CA 02345946 2001-03-29
WO 99/49754 PCT/ZA99/00010
A HYGIENIC DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a hygienic device in the form of a tongue
cleaner.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is known that a coating on the tongue can give rise to halitosis. The
present invention seeks to provide an efficient tongue cleaner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a tongue cleaner
which comprises an elongate element having a scraping edge which extends in
the
direction of the length of the element, a set of parallel ribs which extend
transversely
of the element and a circular depression in said element at one end thereof,
at least
a part of the periphery of said depression being bounded by a curving inner
flank
and by a curving outer flank, the curving flanks intersecting to provide a
curving
tongue cleaning edge.
In a preferred form there are two sets of parallel ribs, the pitch, and the
root to crest dimension, of one set of parallel ribs being greater than the
pitch and
root to crest dimensions of the other set. Said sets of ribs can be on opposed
faces
of said elongate element.
1

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The cleaner can include a pair of flanks extending in the direction of
the length of the elongate element of the tongue cleaner, the flanks
intersecting to
provide said scraping edge which extends along the element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how
the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of
example,
to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the underside of a combined tongue cleaner and
tooth brush; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the combined tongue cleaner and tooth brush.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The tongue cleaner 10 illustrated comprises an elongate element 12
which is of moulded synthetic plastics material and is in the form of a tooth
brush
handle. One end of the element is in the form of a flat head 14 with holes 16
in it for
receiving groups of tooth brush bristles 18 (Figure 2).
The element 12 is curved in two planes. When viewed in plan (Figure
1 ) it has two curves therein. The first curve starts at the head 14 and, as
viewed in
Figure 1, is a right hand curve 20. The right hand curve 20 merges by way of a
generally straight section 22 with a left hand curve 24.
2

CA 02345946 2001-03-29
WO 99/49754 PCT/ZA99/00010
The element 12 is at its narrowest closest to the head 14 and becomes
progressively wider through the section 22 and curve 24 to reach a maximum
width
of the zone 26. The element becomes slightly narrower at the end remote from
the
head 14.
When viewed in side elevation the handle has a downward bend 28
immediately adjacent the head 14. A sloping portion 30 leads downwardly from
the
bend 28 to a second bend 32 of opposite hand. Thus the head 14, and the
portion
34 which is beyond the bend 32, are generally parallel to one another but in
different planes.
At the end of the element 12 remote from the head 14 there is, in the
top face thereof, a circular depression 36. The depression 36 is bounded by a
part
circular raised edge 38 which is itself bounded by an inner curving flank and
an
outer curving flank. The edge 38, as viewed in Figure 1, merges at each end
thereof with a ribbed section 40 of the cleaner 10. The edge 38 is constituted
by
said curving flanks which met at a relatively sharp angle and extend through
approximately 270 degrees.
3

CA 02345946 2001-03-29
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A portion 40 extends from the widest zone 26 to the depression 38 and
comprises two sets of parallel spaced ribs 42 and 44. Each rib of each set
extends
obliquely to the length of the portion 34 of the element. The ribs 42 are
relatively
close together as compared to the ribs 44, that is, the pitch of the ribs 42
is less than
the pitch of the ribs 44. In addition the root to crest dimension of the ribs
42 is
smaller than the root to crest dimension of the ribs 44. The ribs 42 extend
across
the top face of the element 12 and the ribs 44 across the underface.
An edge 46 extends in the direction of the length of the portion 34 from
the region of the circular wall 38 and along the inside of the curve 24. The
edge 46
is bounded by flanks 48 which intersect so that the edge 46 is relatively
sharp. The
ribs 44 extend from one of the flanks 48, across the underface of the element
12 to
the outside of the curve 24. The ribs 42 extend from the other flank 48 across
the
top face of the handle and terminate at the outside edge of the curve 24.
4

Representative Drawing