US2121701A - Dental cleaning and massage device - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1938. J. LANDERs DENTAL CLEANING AND MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Dec. 2.2, 1936 ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE v 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a dental cleaning and massage device and has for the primary object the provision of a simple and inexpensive device of this character which may be employed ior home use or when away from home and will provide an -eflicient substitute for the conventional tooth brush, permitting a person to thoroughly cleanse the teeth with a dental powder confined therein and protected until ready for use and also when used will massage the gums and after use may be discarded, the cost of manufacture of such a device being small so that purchasing in numbers may be economically made p by the purchaser, permitting the discarding of the device after use non-burdensome and thereby providing maximum sanitation in the care of teeth and gums and convenience to the user.

With these and other objects in view, this inventioh consists in certain novel features of cono struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description g5 and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of a dental cleaning and massage device to a persons finger and constructed in ac'- cordance with my invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the device prior to the removal of the protective cover.

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the device after the removal of the protective cover.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the finger engaging strap of the device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral i indicates a backing strip constructed from a suitable fabric such as toweling material and the edges of said strip are bent to overlie the strip and stitched thereto, as shown at 2, providing in one face of the backing strip a recess 3 for the reception of a dentifrice 4. .The dentifrice may be of any well known character and is retained inthe recess by a cover 5 secured to the backing strip by the stitching 2 and preferably of a readily destructible material such as paper and has formed on one end a tab or tongue I to permit the user to readily grasp the protective cover for tearing or removing the same to ex- 5 pose the dentifrice. Secured to the backing strip is a finger strap 'l adapted to extend over a finger, as shown in Figure 1, so as to retain the device in an operative position upon the finger,

preferably the index finger of a persons hand. 10

After the application of the device to the finger the protective covering is removed and the dentifrice is applied to the teeth and gums byA the insertion of the index finger in the mouth.v lit is to be understood that the device, of course, can 15 be moistened with water prior to its insertion in the mouth and with a rubbing action upon the teeth and gums the teeth will be cleansed of foreign matter and the gums thoroughly massaged. 'Ihe backing strip being of a toweling 20 material will have a very desirable massaging actionon the gums. 'I'he dvice described may be manufactured at a very small cost and such devices can be sold in different numbers so that the purchaser may purchase a supply of such de- 25 vices and may conveniently carry them when on a trip or may make use of such devices when at home. The device being inexpensive can without burden on the purchaser be discarded after use, thereby increasing the sanitary care of teeth o and gums owing to the person being able to afford the use of one of these devices each time the teeth are cleaned and the gums massaged. While the device, as shown, is substantially oval shaped.

it is to be understood -that it may be made in dif- 35 ferent shapes if desired.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A dental cleaning and massaging device comprising a backing strip having its edges folded upon itself to dene a recess for the reception of a dentifrice, means securing the edges in folded position, a destructible cover for the dentifrice and secured to the backing strip by said means, and a finger strip secured to the backing strip by said means. 45 v JOHN

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