Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Finger Toothbrush
[001] This application claim.s priority from and incorporates by reference the
contents of U.S. patent application 11/882,353 filed August 1, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[002] This invention relates generally to toothbrushes, and in particular to a
new
and improved form of finger toothbrush that may be used for brushing teeth
and/or
massaging gums. In a more particular embodiment the invention relates to a
finger toothbrush or oral hygiene device that can be used for babies, infants
and
small children as a treatment for teething in the early stages of tooth growth
and
development and as a preventative care device for cleaning and massaging teeth
and gums.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] Teething is a natural physiological process in a baby's growth and
development. It can first occur as early as two or three months of age.
Teething
typically causes discomfort, pain and restlessness to a baby or infant and
makes
oral hygiene very difficult to administer. An insufficient or inadequate
cleaning of a
child's gums and teeth can be a primary cause of tooth decay in infants and
small
children. To a very large extent tooth decay in infants and small children can
be
prevented by gently wiping or cleaning the child's teeth and gums. However,
all
too often teething prevents a parent or a guardian from administering oral
hygiene
in a timely and effective fashion. Although teething is not preventable, the
consequences and affects of teething can often be averted or minimized through
appropriate oral hygiene.
[004] When an infant or small child is teething he or she will exhibit a
tendency to
scratch the area of the gum in concern or gnaw on objects in an effort to help
relieve pain. The gums in the affected area typically exhibit swelling,
redness,
inflammation and soreness to varying degrees. Further, abnormal drooling can
sometimes result in a facial rash. Amongst other uncomfortable experiences and
side effects, tooth decay may occur as a result of teething symptoms and the
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difficulty experienced in administering oral care, particularly with oral
hygiene and
oral care devices that are currently available.
[005] The consequences of developing cavities in baby teeth can be severe and
can
sometimes go unnoticed for many years. For example, cavities that develop in
baby teeth can sometimes spread to the developing permanent tooth beneath the
gums. Damage to the permanent tooth in such cases usually goes unnoticed for
many years until such time as the permanent tooth emerges through the gum.
Further, if a baby tooth develops a cavity and is untimely extracted, the
teeth
beside it tend to drift into the open space, thereby closing the natural space
of the
arch that is normally preserved by sound teeth. This can often cause a loss of
space necessitating expensive and time consuming corrective care for crowding
and
other problems that the child may develop at a later point in life.
[006] In an effort to help minimize the affects of teething, and to assist in
the
cleaning and massaging of the gums of infants and small children, others have
developed a variety of sizes and forms of teething rings. Although such rings
may
be effective for some children, they often tend to be too large for the
youngest of
babies to insert into their mouths. Smaller infants and children also
sometimes do
not have sufficient manual dexterity to handle teething rings effectively. In
some
instances parents or guardians will apply topical medication to help alleviate
gum
pain. While such medications may help to remove or reduce pain, they do not
treat
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the underlying problems and do not clean the teeth and gums from damaging food
debris and plaque. In addition, allergic reactions can result from the
application of
certain medications.
[007] Still others have developed what may generally be referred to as finger
toothbrushes that can be slid over the end of a finger and placed into the
mouth of
a baby or infant to clean the teeth and massage the gums. Such devices are
described in United States patent 2,077,540 issued to Welker, United States
design
patent D97360 issued to Stevens and United States design patent DES 313,317
issued to Brunner et al. While devices of this nature may to varying degrees
be
somewhat effective in providing the ability to clean the teeth or massage the
gums
of a baby or infant, they suffer from the inherent problem of requiring the
user to
insert his or her finger fully into the device in order to manipulate it
within the
infant's mouth. Such structures make it difficult, or in some cases dangerous,
to
reach the back portion of the gums or teeth as the user must insert his or her
finger fully into the child's mouth. Furthermore, existing devices are limited
in their
application as they do not allow a baby to gnaw upon them. During use babies
or
infants will have a tendency to bite down hard upon finger toothbrushes when
placed in their mouth, preventing parents or caregivers from effectively
cleaning
the teeth or massaging the gums and also exposing the user's fingers to injury
from
biting.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] The invention therefore provides a form of finger toothbrush that
eliminates
a number of the deficiencies of finger toothbrushes that are currently
available.
[009] Accordingly, in one of its aspects the invention provides a finger
toothbrush
comprising an elongate sleeve having an open first end and an enclosed second
end, said open first end in communication with a generally hollow and
generally
cylindrical cavity extending from said open first end into the interior of
said sleeve;
a plurality of protuberances extending generally outwardly from said second
end,
and, said sleeve further including means to limit the ingress of an
individual's finger
through said open first end and into the interior of said sleeve beyond a pre-
determined point prior to said finger reaching said second end.
[0010] In a further aspect the invention provides a finger toothbrush
comprising a sleeve having an open first end and an enclosed second end, said
open first end in communication with a generally hollow cylindrical cavity
extending
from said open first end and partially into the interior of said sleeve; a
generally
rounded tip portion at said second end of said sleeve; and, a plurality of
protuberances extending generally outwardly from said tip portion, said
generally
cylindrical cavity including a barrier limiting the ingress of an individual's
finger
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through said open first end and into said sleeve beyond a predetermined point
prior
to said finger reaching said second end.
[0011] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more
clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way
of
example, to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of
the present invention in which:
[0013] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a finger toothbrush constructed
in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0014] Figure 2 is a lower side perspective view of the finger toothbrush
shown in Figure 1;
[0015] Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 - 3 in Figure 1;
[0016] Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the
finger toothbrush of the present invention;
[0017] Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of a
finger toothbrush according to the present invention; and,
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[0018] Figure 6 is an upper side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
the finger toothbrush.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The present invention may be embodied 'in a number of different
forms. However, the specification and drawings that follow describe and
disclose
only some of the specific forms of the invention and are not intended to limit
the
scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow herein.
[0020] In the attached Figures a finger toothbrush constructed in accordance
with one of the preferred embodiments of the invention is noted generally by
reference numeral 1. Finger toothbrush 1 is comprised generally of an elongate
sleeve 2 having an open first end 3 and an enclosed second end 4. First end 3
is in
communication with a generally hollow and generally cylindrical cavity 5 that
extends from first end 3 into the interior of sleeve 2. In the embodiments of
the
invention that are shown, enclosed second end 4 forms a generally rounded tip
6 on
the end of sleeve 2. A plurality of protuberances 7 extend generally outwardly
from
enclosed second end 4. It is expected that in most instances protuberances 7
will
be comprised of a plurality of bristles that extend outwardly from the surface
of tip
6 and that are arranged in a series of rows or in a pre-determined geometric
pattern forming an overall brush-like surface, as indicated in Figure 1. In
other
cases the bristles may be.spaced about the circumference of tip 6 as indicated
in
Figure 6. In still other embodiments of the invention smaller patches of
bristles or
protuberances may be spaced about the exterior of enclosed second end 4 of
sleeve
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2. Protuberances 7 could also take the form of relatively small bumps, ridges,
or
nodes.
[0021] As shown in the attached drawings, in a preferred embodiment of the
invention elongate sleeve 2 and hollow cavity 5 have somewhat of a cylindrical
shape, permitting an individual's finger to be inserted through open first end
3 into
the cavity. An integral part of the invention is the inclusion of a means to
limit the
ingress of an individual's finger into hollow cavity 5, and into the interior
of sleeve
2, beyond a pre-determined point. In the embodiment of the invention shown in
Figures 1 through 3, the means to limit the ingress of an individual's finger
into the
interior of sleeve 2 comprises an area 8 of hollow cavity 5 having a reduced
diameter that prevents an individual's finger from moving further into the
cavity.
In this embodiment the exterior diameter of elongate sleeve 2 is also reduced,
forming a reduced diameter neck that terminates at tip 6. The reduction in
diameter of hollow cavity 5 is such that, when inserted through first end 3,
an
individual's finger will be prevented from passing through cavity 5 beyond the
point
where its diameter is reduced. In other versions of the invention the exterior
diameter of sleeve 2 need not be reduced.
[0022] In alternate embodiments of the invention the means by which the
ingress of an individual's finger through open first end 3 and into the
interior of
sleeve 2 is limited may take the form of various other physical or mechanical
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structures. For example in the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, such means
comprises a barrier 9 that extends across the hollow cavity, effectively
terminating
the cavity at that point. Here, the portion of sleeve 2 between barrier 9 and
second
end 4 is solid. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments
barrier
9 could be a partition extending fully or partially across hollow cavity 5
preventing
any further ingress of an individual's finger there through, with the
remainder of
the portion of the sleeve between the barrier and second end 4 being generally
hollow. In still further versions of the irivention, barrier 9 may take the
form of one
or more individual ribs or nodules extending inwardly from the interior
surface of
hollow cavity 5 such that the cross-sectional area of the cavity is reduced to
the
point that further ingress of an individual's finger is prevented at the point
of the
nodules or ribs. It will thus be appreciated by one of skill in the art having
a full
understanding of the invention that the particular form of barrier or means to
prevent ingress of an individual's finger into cavity 5 beyond a pre-
determined point
may vary significantly, provided that the barrier provides a mean to limit the
ingress of a finger through the cavity. As such a portion of sleeve 2 and
rounded
tip 6 will extend beyond the limit of where an individual's finger can be
inserted into
the elongate sleeve.
[0023] It will thus be understood that the design and construction of the
invention as described and shown herein will permit sleeve 2 to be slid over
the
finger of an individual such that the finger toothbrush can be inserted into
the
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mouth of an infant or child (or for that matter an adult if desired) to enable
protuberances 7 to be used to massage the gums and/or clean the teeth. The
encasement of the finger within sleeve 2 increases hygiene by creating a
barrier
between the skin of the person administering care and the child's oral cavity.
Further, through the incorporation of a means or barrier to limit the ingress
of an
individual's finger into the interior of the sleeve beyond a pre-determined
point,
finger toothbrush 1 is presented with a tip portion containing protuberances 7
upon
which an infant or child can gnaw or bite without exposing a caregiver's
finger to
harm. As mentioned, the portion of sleeve 2 from barrier 9 to second end 4 may
be of the same diameter as the remainder of the sleeve or may be comprised of
a
reduced diameter neck portion that terminates in tip 6. In instances where the
finger toothbrush is to be used for the massaging of the gums or cleaning
teeth of
an infant or small child, a reduced diameter neck portion at the end of sleeve
2
enhances its ability to massage the gums and clean the teeth toward the back
of
the child's mouth. To further enhance the ability to reach into a child's
mouth, in
one embodiment of the invention (as shown in Figure 4) a portion of sleeve 2
extending between barrier 9 and second end 4 may be offset from the
longitudinal
axis of the sleeve.
[0024] It is expected that in most instances finger toothbrush 1 will be
formed
from a generally soft, pliable, resilient material such as rubber, silicone or
other
similar products that are commonly used in the construction of baby bottle
nipples,
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teething rings and similar devices. Protuberances 7 may be comprised of the
same
material or, alternatively, may be formed from nylon or any one of a wide
variety of
other synthetic or natural fibres that are commonly used to form the bristles
of
toothbrushes and other oral hygiene appliances. In yet a further embodiment,
sleeve 2 may be constructed from a more rigid plastic or other material
commonly
used in the construction of standard toothbrushes. Where finger toothbrush 1
is
constructed from rubber or flexible material sleeve 2 will preferably be
dimensioned
such that it may be secured over an individual's finger by means of a friction
fit. In
instances where the sleeve is formed from a more rigid material it may be
desirable
to incorporate indentations, finger holding ribs or ridges, or other
mechanical
structures that will assist in gripping and holding the sleeve onto an
individual's
finger.
[0025] It should also be noted that protuberances 7 may be formed integrally
with elongate sleeve 2, and be comprised of the same material. Where the
protuberances are in the form of small nibs or ridges upon tip 6, it is
expected that
they will be moulded in place on sleeve 2 as the sleeve is formed.
Alternately, the
protuberances may be secured to the end of the sleeve by means of mechanical
fastening mechanisms, through the use of adhesives, or through commonly
employed plastic or rubber related welding processes.
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[0026] It will be appreciated that the overall length and other dimensional
aspects of finger toothbrush 1 may be varied while remaining within the broad
scope of the invention. For example, the neck portion, or that portion that
extends
between barrier 9 and second end 4, may be made relatively short such that the
overall appearance of the finger toothbrush is not unlike that of a standard
baby
bottle nipple or pacifier. Alternately the neck portion may be elongated to
allow
increased flexibility and maneuverability within an infant's mouth.
[0027] I,n some instances it may be desirable to apply a small amount of a
topical medical or other substance to protuberances 7 so that the medication
can be
applied directly to the gums or teeth. In other instances second end 4 of
sleeve 2
may include a separate compartment 10 which can be filled with medication,
liquids, solutions, gels or other materials such that the medication or
material can
be applied to a child's teeth or gums as the child bites down or gnaws on the
end of
elongate sleeve 2. In such cases one or more holes 11 will typically connect
compartment 10 to the exterior surface of second end 4, thereby permitting
solution or material received within the compartment to be exuded therefrom
during use. It will be appreciated that a number of different and separate
compartments may be incorporated into the second end of elongate sleeve 2.
Those compartments can be designed for holding different solutions or
components
(for example one may include an analgesic, another may include a fluoride
solution,
etc.). Alternately, finger toothbrush 1 may further be fitted with one or more
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sealed compartments that may be filled with air, water or other material that
will
alter the pliability of second end 4 and thereby enhance the characteristics
of the
end of the finger toothbrush making it softer and more conducive to gnawing on
the
part of small children when teething. The incorporation of a sealed
compartment
full of water or other material within the end of elongate sleeve 2 also
allows the
toothbrush to remain in a warmed or cooled state for an extended length of
time
when it is desirable to apply a heating or cooling effect to the teeth or
gums.
Finally, finger toothbrush 1 may be constructed so that it is of a disposable
nature
with internal compartment 10 pre-filled with a particular liquid, solution or
gel-type
material. Alternately, the compartment may include a filling hole to allow an
individual or caregiver to fill or replenish the compartment with a desired
material.
[0028] It will thus be appreciated from a thorough understanding of the
present invention that the finger toothbrush as described and shown will
provide a
means for massaging the gums and wiping and/or cleaning the teeth of infants,
small children and adults alike. The finger toothbrush provides a mechanism
that is
safe, effective and, unlike standard toothbrushes that have long handles,
presents
no choking hazard. Through the utilization of an individual's finger as the
means to
manipulate the protuberances on the toothbrush,. the invention also minimizes
the
possibility that the end of the toothbrush will be driven into the back of the
mouth
causing potential damage to the mouth or throat. As discussed, the design of
the
finger toothbrush also prevents a caregiver's finger from becoming bitten or
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when an infant or small child bites down or gnaws on the end of the device.
Tip 6
of elongate sleeve 2 may be formed in such a manner that presents an effective
and simple mechanism to deliver and administer medication and/or other
substances to a child's oral cavity.
[0029] It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred
embodiments of the invention and that it may be possible to make variations to
these embodiments while staying within the broad scope of the invention. Some
of
these variations have been discussed while others will be readily apparent to
those
skilled in the art.
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