US2533757A - Sanitary container - Google Patents

Description

A BEAUCHEMIN 2,533,757

SANITARY com'umsa 2 sheets-Shae; 1

. Inventor v Attorneys- Dec. 12, 1950 v Flled May 18 1946 Dec. 12, 1950 A. BEAUCHEMIN 2,533,757

SANITARY CONTAINER Filed May 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li. \Wlv 30 I lnven scr fliveizefieaaakm At torn eys Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containers for the hygienic, overnight preservation of artificial dentures.

In general, dentures are removed from the mouth at night and placed in any available container, usually a drinking glass or cup which is filled with water or an antiseptic solution. Such containers are often undistinguishable from similar household articles and may be inadvertently used for other purposes without proper sanitary precautions being taken, a practice which obviously can lead to the spreading of disease, germs, or at least unhygienic living conditions. In addition, the liquid in the container is usually colorless and it has occurred that the foul liquid has been consumed or utilized in some way, such as for brushing the teeth through inadvertence or mistake. Further, this unsanitary practice may have harmful results to the user of the dentures as they are left for relatively long periods with the liquid exposed to dust and other air-borne foreign matter which may contaminate the liquid thus the dentures therein.

In brief the present invention contemplates a distinctive container having a peripheral lip which is unsuitable for pouring liquids or drinking therefrom and which is provided with a seating for proper disposition of the dentures therein, and additionally provided with a protective cover.

In accordance with the invention, one object is to provide a container which even under casual observation will be seen to be provided for a distinct purpose unrelated to normal household usage. Another object is to provide a container which renders difficult and discourages the act of drinking therefrom particularly by small children who fail to perceive the unsanitary condition of the container. Still other objects thereof are provision for the proper disposition of the dentures or partial dental restorations in the container to the end that they are not subjected to stresses of any kind which may distort or fracture the denture, and to facilitate the insertion or removal of the dentures therefrom.

In considering the invention in greater detail, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view thereof in which the cover has been removed.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view, with the cover removed, of still another form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view along the line 9-9 of Figure 8, and through the attached cover.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, throughout the several views it will be seen that the invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 to 5, consists of a cruciform. The cover has a marginal rib I2, to effect a relatively dust-proof seal between the container and the;-

container I5, provided with a cover II.

container is below the level of the bottom of the remaining arm I4, and is provided with a raised, arcuate portion I5, in the center thereof. The upper denture is disposed in the arm I3, with the rib of the said denture partially supported on the raised portion I5, and the lower denture is disposed in the arm I4, at right angles to, and bridging the upper denture as shown most clearly in Figure 4. By arranging the dentures as indicated a minimum strain is imposed upon each denture and they are nested in a compact manner commensurate with the shape of the container.

The peripheral lip of the container is fluted or notched I5, and this irregular edge coupled with the fact that any portion of the edge is much more narrow than the mouth of a child, renders the act of drinking from the container exceedingly difficult, and discourages such attempts.

The container is filled with water or preferably an antiseptic solution which is displaced when the dentures are deposited therein. To avoid wastage of the antiseptic and the inconvenience an excessive amount of the liquid would cause through overflowing when the dentures are placed in the container, an indicating means I'l, such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided in which the numerals l and 2 indicate the liquid levels for one or two dentures respectfully and 3 the letters A and B indicate the amount of concentrated antiseptic required for the total liquid levels I and 2 respectively.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the container 20, has a cruciform inner configuration and a distinctive outer appearance which includes opposed curvilinear enlargements 2|, to discourage drinking and pouring from the container and fanciful legs 22, to indicate the specific use thereof. 7 V

The container 2 3, is adapted for a single denture which is disposed in one arm 23. The lower center portion 24, of the said arm is restricted to maintain the denture in an upright position. The remaining arm 25, is relatively shallow and curves downward and inward to the arm 23:, to the end that the thumb and finger are directed toward the denture and facilitates the insertion and removal of the said denture therefrom.

It is obvious that a cover, liquid indicating means and a crenated. or fluted peripherymaybe employed in combination with the container described and. illustrated in Figures 6 and '7.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures- 8 9, the container is particularly adaptable to partial dental restorations although it should be understood that a complete denture may be disposed therein, in a substantially horizontal position. Exterio'rly the container 30, has a shallow, circi-rl'ar appearance with a crenated peripheral flange =3l, for the purpose hereinb'efore described. The top surface of the flange is additionally provided with an annular recess 32 which coacts with the annular rib 33, of the cover M, to elfect an eflicient seal for proper hygienic conditions.

Intericny the container '35,. forms an arcua-t'e basin 1'35, rising concentrically to form a module: 36, which is still further elevated at its rear edge to provide a fulcrum 31-, for the lever '38. To

the rear of the fulcrum a depression 3'9, permits the short arm 48,. of the lever to be depressed and thus raise the three arms which follow the contour of the nodule, 36, and the bottom of the ar-cnate basin '35. It is obvious that the denture supported on the arms of the lever and is raised from. the basin 'by' depressing the short :arm flyall for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the denture ironr the container.

In general the salient features of my invention are carried into effect in all embodiments thereof and each container may be formed from plastic, glass or ceramic material which may be transparent or translucent.

What I claim isi 1. A partitionless leakproof container to support a pair of dentures in nested vertical position in an antiseptic solution, having an interior cruciform configuration, walls of a height suffici'ent to extend above the top portion of said dentures when in vertical position, in which one arm is less shallow than the remaining arm, a raised arcuate portion formed at the center of the bottom of said first arm to support a denture in vertical position, a crenated peripheral lip and. a cover for the container.

2. A partitionless leakproof container to support a pair of dentures in nested vertical position in an antiseptic solution, having an exterior irregular substantially cruciform configuration, an interior cruciform configuration, walls of a height suilicien't to extend above the top porticn of said dentures when in vertical position, in which one arm-is less shallow than the remaining arm, a raised arcuate portion formed at the center ofthe bottom of said first arm to support a denture in vertical position, a crenated peripheral lip and a cover for the container.

ARSENE BEAUCHEMIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 101,290 Schneider Sept. 22, 1936' 908,723 Anderson Jan. 5, 19 09- l,49'7,'?'55 Huntley June 1'7, 1924 1,912,62? Dyer June 6, 1933 2,218,388 Twombly Oct. 15, 1940- 23155645 Gordon May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,127 Italy Sept. 21, 1933

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