Ear Wax Remover and Cleaner

Abstract

The present invention comprises a disposable ear brush which is an ear cleaning device comprising a one piece, flexible wire shaft that forms two twisted wire shaft arms with a plurality of soft, angled bristles disposed at each end. The twisted wire shaft and bristles may be safely inserted into the ear canal and subsequently withdrawn pulling the bristles and any collected earwax therein from the ear canal.

Claims

1. A disposable ear brush and cleaner comprising: a) an elongate body consisting of at least two twisted wire arms connected by a substantially spheroidal handle; b) at least one set of flexible bristles located at the distal ends of said arms; c) at least one rounded tip located at opposite ends of each arm; d) wherein each bristle is angled in parallel away from the distal ends and the auditory ear canal opening.

2) The ear brush cleaner of claim 1 wherein said elongate body is comprised of a twisted pair of flexible wires.

3) The ear brush cleaner of claim 2 wherein said twisted pair of wires are joined at their anterior ends by a substantially spherical handle.

4) The ear brush cleaner of claim 3 wherein said twisted pair of wires are joined at their anterior ends by a substantially spherical handle which is larger than the opening of the outer ear so as to prevent the rounded tips of the device from contacting the eardrum.

5) The ear brush cleaner of claim 4 wherein there are two rounded tips located at opposite ends of each arm;

6) A method for the removal of ear wax, cerebrum and other debris from the ear canal of a mammal using the ear brush cleaner of claim 5.

7) The method of claim 6 wherein one or the other distal end of the brush cleaner is gently inserted into the ear canal of the user until the substantially spherical handle, which is larger than the opening of the outer ear gently contacts said outer ear opening.

8) The method of claim 7 wherein the substantially spherical handle is gently rotated in a clockwise and counter-clockwise motion so that the bristles gently remove the ear wax, cerumen, dirt and detritus from the sides of the ear canal.

9) The method of claim 8 further comprising withdrawal of said wire brushes from the ear canal after handle rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of the disposable ear brush cleaning and removal device of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention comprises a disposable ear brush which is an ear cleaning device comprising a one piece, flexible wire shaft that forms two twisted wire shaft arms with a plurality of soft, angled bristles disposed at each end. The twisted wire shaft and bristles may be safely inserted into the ear canal and subsequently withdrawn pulling the bristles and any collected earwax therein from the ear canal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for its' use to safely and effectively clean the human ear of cerebrum and dried ear wax with any accumulated detritus therein. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for its' use to clean the human ear that stimulates the auditory nerves along the lining of the ear so as to effect a pleasant feeling to the user while providing a safety element that prevents damage to the inner ear and ear canal.

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, the disposable ear brush of the present invention comprises an ear cleaning device consisting of an elongated body 2 comprising a pair of twisted wire arms 4 and 6 with a first proximal end 8 and a second distal end 10 with a centrally disposed, substantially spheroidal, connector 12 which also serves as a handle there between. The central connector element 12 which forms a handle for the device between the twisted wire arms 4 and 6 can be grasped and the device held between the thumb and forefinger in this manner. Whereas each side of the cleaner may be used at a time, arm 21 may be inserted into one ear at one time and arm 23 into the other ear later. The handle 12 has a centrally enlarged, rounded spheroidal center 13 with a circumference considerably larger than either of the wire arms 4, 6 and the handle elements 12a, 12b and this may be slowly and gently pressed up against the users' ear canal in the direction of arrow a from one side and (or arrow d from the other) swiveled or rotated in a 360° manner about the central axis of the device thereby cleaning the ear canal lining of any cerumen, ear wax or dirt contained thereon. Emanating from the twisted wire arms 4, 6 along a substantial portion of their length are the cleaner bristles 14, 16 which are oriented at approximately a 45° angle rear-ward from the point of the devices' insertion into the ear. The angled orientation of the bristles 14, 16 allows for insertion of the arms of the device into the ear canal in the direction of arrows a or b without pushing wax and cerumen deeper therein and will grab onto and hold excessive wax when the device is pulled out of the ear for removal and cleaning (arrows c & d).

[0017] The soft, pliable bristles consist of preferably of a soft polymer plastic, and each group 14, 16 are angled back towards the central handle 12 of the device as shown. Again, the circumference formed by the outer peripheral tips of the bristles is smaller than that of the centrally located handle 12 which limits the depth of insertion of the device into the ear canal and prevents any damage or scarring. The tips of each twisted wire arm are rounded 20, 22 to prevent ear canal irritation during insertion of the device. In this way, when the device is inserted into the ear canal of the user and gently pressed inwardly in the direction of the ear drum 18, the pliable bristles 14, 16, upon pressing against the inner surface of the ear canal, bend back. The resilient nature and soft flexibility of the bristles makes them resistant to the force bending them back and adds some resistance to the bend—back so as to retain the bristles original position prior insertion into the ear canal. Therefore at a pre-determined point, i.e., when the centrally located handle 12 presses up against the outer ear canal, the user may pull back on the handle 12a of the shaft of the device in the direction of arrow c and the pliable bristles will scrape any ear wax, dirt, detritus and/or cerumen that is deposited on the surface of the ear canal. Due to the unique angled nature of the bristles, these can scrape off the wax from the surface of the ear canal and then retain said wax between them at the base thereof. Once removed from the ear canal, the ear cleaner device may be either thrown away or the bristles cleaned and re-used another time.

[0018] Referring now again to FIG. 1, the ear cleaner device of the present invention 2 comprises the twisted wire arms (4, 6) and bristles (8, 10) emanating there from. This then, is similar to a small brush. The outer tips (14, 16) of the bristles (8) define a roughly cylindrical shape of predetermined diameter, or a conical shape when viewed down along the central axis of the device from the tip of the proximal end towards the distal end. The size or length of the bristles may be further modified so as to arrive at various additional lengths and shapes so long as they are angled and oriented in a rear-wardly positioned manner at angle (α) of from about 30° to about 45°. In this position, the shaft of the device may be slowly inserted into the ear canal from the external or outer ear inwardly toward the inner ear (see arrow a) and, due to the angle and pliability of the bristles will pass easily and encounter little resistance from the ear canal surface.

[0019] The disposable ear brush of the present invention promotes more frequent cleaning of the ears and the ear canals due to the inherent features which effectively clean the ears and comfortably remove the excess wax from deep inside the ear canal while leaving a surface coating of wax behind to continue protecting the middle ear from insects, dirt and microbial infection. The methods and devices used in the prior art such as washing out the ear wax with a solution is uncomfortable and can actually remove too much wax leaving the middle ear vulnerable to dangerous elements such as dirt and micro-organisms which the wax or cerumen is there in the first place to protect against. Currently available ear cleaners such as liquid solutions, pressure washers or vacuum systems are not intended to be used inside the ear canal and are for the outer ear areas only. Cotton swabs tend to push wax deeper into the ear and are not effective for a thoroughly clean ear canal.

[0020] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a substantially spheroidal center connects two wire arms which together comprise an elongated body consisting of two twisted wire shaft arms with a first proximal end and a second distal end with a substantially thicker bulbous section disposed there between. The bulbous center section is substantially spheroidal in shape and is sized larger than the outer ear canal of the user to prevent entry thereof into the ear canal and this in turn prevents the first proximal and second distal ends of the wire arms from contacting the eardrum.

[0021] The twisted wire arms which together comprise the main shaft of the device contain and are extended outwardly by a plurality of angled bristles. Each set of bristles are angled inwardly towards the spheroidal center and away from the first proximal and the second distal ends of the twisted arms. The angular orientation of the bristles permits insertion of the arms of the device into the ear without pushing any ear wax disposed therein further into the canal towards the center of the head. The angulation and orientation of the bristles also provides the cleaning functionality as the angled bristles can grab excessive ear wax from the lining of the ear canal as the ear brush is withdrawn there from without causing irritation. Each end portion of the body which forms a handle on the plastic body that can be grasped and swiveled or rotated in a 360° manner about the central axis of the device. The shaft is flexibly rigid with a plurality of pliable extrusions that are positioned and angled away from the proximal tip at an angle of approximately 30° to 45° so that the device can be safely inserted into the ear canal and then withdrawn thereby scraping off and holding any wax build-up and foreign debris.

[0022] In summary then, the present invention comprises disposable ear brush and cleaner comprising an elongate body consisting of at least two twisted wire arms connected by a substantially spheroidal handle. Each of the twisted wire arms has at least one set of flexible bristles located at the distal ends of said arms with at least one rounded tip located at opposite ends of each arm. Each bristle of each respective set of bristles is angled in parallel away from the distal ends of the arms and the auditory ear canal opening for easy insertion of the arms into the users ear canal. The spheroidal center or handle which joins the twisted wire arms at their anterior ends is larger than the opening of the outer ear so as to prevent the rounded tips of the device from contacting the eardrum 18.

[0023] The present invention also comprises a method for the removal of ear wax, cerebrum and other debris from the ear canal of a mammal using the ear brush cleaner described herein above. One or the other distal end of the brush cleaner is gently inserted into the ear canal of the user until the centrally disposed, substantially spherical handle, which is larger than the opening of the outer ear, gently contacts said outer ear opening. The handle is then gently rotated in a clockwise and counter-clockwise motion so that the bristles gently remove the ear wax, cerumen, dirt and detritus from the sides of the ear canal. The wire brushes of the ear brush cleaner are then withdrawn from the ear canal after handle rotation.

[0024] It is recognized that changes may be made to the specific elements and/or components of the device and the parameters and ranges disclosed herein and that there are a number of different ways known in the art to change the disclosed variables. And whereas it is understood that only the preferred embodiments of these elements are disclosed herein as set forth in the specification and drawings, the invention should not be so limited and should be construed in terms of the spirit and scope of the claims that follow herein.