Dental appliance cleaner

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method related to the field of dentistry, specifically dental appliances such as retainers, dentures, grills and athletic mouth-wear and is proposed to provide advanced assembly in providing assistance in cleaning the appliances through improved measures. Currently, there are cleaning methods for retainers and dentures, however they only include liquid solution methods without automatic moving bristles. As per the present art, users soak their retainers or dentures in the solution and then are required to use a toothbrush to scrub off excess liquid solution or built-up plaque that was not dissolved by the solution, making the process too repetitive and time consuming. Additionally, the toothbrush does not provide automatic circular motion, which is preferred in order to produce retainers or dentures that are plaque-free and completely transparent. Finally, appliances can be damaged and break when using a handheld technique with a toothbrush due to lack of support and stability for the appliance. This cleaning device takes into consideration these deficiencies and corrects them to make the process more effective and convenient for all users in any environment.

Claims

1. A removable dental appliance storage and cleaning apparatus comprising: a closed top portion comprising a first circular sidewall with at least two spaced apart edges and a central opening; and a planar bottom surface comprising, as a single component, a central protrusion and a plurality of bristles, the central protrusion adapted to detachably receive the central opening; and a circular base portion adapted to engage the closed top portion, the circular base portion comprising a second sidewall that engages the edges of the top portion, the second sidewall circumscribing a bottom surface to define a cavity, and at least one groove extending about the circumference of the second sidewall, the at least one groove adapted to receive the at least two spaced apart edges, thereby attaching the closed top portion to the circular base portion, wherein the attached portions are rotatable.

2. The removable dental appliance storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, comprising a liquid in the cavity of the circular base portion.

3. The removable dental appliance storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circular base portion further comprises a raised portion interiorly circumscribing the cavity sidewall and at a height less than a height of the second sidewall to allow user to transport the removable dental appliance.

4. The removable dental appliance storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closed top portion further comprises a motor configured to rotate the removable bristles.

5. The removable dental appliance storage and cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circular base portion further comprises a plurality of flexible pegs affixed within the cavity that can be adapted to snugly retain file user's removable dental appliance when in use such that the dental appliance remains stationary when in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present embodiments are described with reference to the following FIGURES, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts the two-piece cleaning device with the bristles in accordance with one or more implementations. FIG. 1 also depicts the gripping texture in accordance with one or more implementations.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a system configured to allow for removable bristles in accordance with one or more implementations.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a system configured to provide an electric version of the device in accordance with one or more implementations.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a twist-to-lock system configured in accordance with one or more implementations.

(6) FIG. 5 further demonstrates the twist-to-lock system and depicts an additional system configured to hold the dental appliances in place while cleaning using five plastic molds arranged in a mouth-like formation in accordance with one or more implementations.

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a method to keep the assembly in an upright position using small suction cups on the posterior end, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

(8) Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

(9) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(10) The present invention is a system to provide new and improved methods for cleaning dentures, retainers, athletic mouthpieces and mouth jewelry by removing daily deposits and accumulations of plaque and food debris by an advanced assembly of bristles and circular, twisting motion.

(11) The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing the preferred embodiment. FIG. 1 presents a two-piece plastic circular container with one round soft bristle component (7), measuring between one to three inches long at the top, interior portion of the structure. It is also the objective of the system to provide the exterior of the bottom half of the unit with a gripping texture (8), in order to avoid drops or spills of the present invention and its contents.

(12) The bristle (7), will be replaceable, as shown in FIG. 2, giving the user the ability to keep the device sanitary and after wearing down the bristles overtime, the user can install a new set of bristles to optimize performance. The top of the bristles (10), will fit directly into the hexagon mold (9), in the dome of the device.

(13) On the interior side of the bottom half of the plastic case, a twist-to-lock mechanism is proposed, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. This type of lock will allow the user to spin the bristles around to clean the dental appliances, but also lock it when used as a container. The lip (15), will lock into place with the extended edge (14). When not locked into place, the twisting in opposite directions will allow for a circular motion of the bristles (7). The mouthpieces can be set inside and closed with the twist-to-lock mechanism.

(14) As pictured in FIG. 6, the exterior, bottom of the lower half is proposed to have four mini suction cups (18), positioned near the outer edges. These suction cups are designed to keep the proposed assembly in place on a bathroom sink or counter top, increasing the stability of the product.

(15) The interior of the lower half of the container, as per its exemplary embodiments in FIG. 5, will contain a standard-size mold, to be made out of five flexible, rubber pieces (17). These rubber pieces (17), are aligned in a mouth-like configuration, which is to aid in stabilizing the dental appliances in-place during the moving of the bristles. The standard mold will allow larger and smaller appliances to be held in place equally since the mold is a general outline of a mouthpiece. These five pieces (17), will act as bumper guards for the appliance.

(16) As per further embodiments of the invention in FIG. 4, a “fill-to” line (19), is planned in order to indicate the water required during the cleaning process.

(17) It is further proposed to make the cleaning device as an electric apparatus as depicted in FIG. 3. This change will be achieved by adding the electric motor (12), to the interior, top half of the device to make the bristles spin in a curricular motion with a button (13), for start/stop, or on/off. A timer with an automatic stop after 15 seconds is also proposed to increase the efficiency of use for the present invention. The motor inside the top of the container (12), allows for spinning the toothbrush-like bristles that have the capability of cleaning plastic and metal retainers as well as dentures. It is further proposed that the electric motor operate with the use of a rechargeable battery (11), that is compartmentalized in the upper portion of the dome as seen in FIG. 3. This present invention can also be used as a dental appliance container.

(18) It is further proposed to allow the complete removal of bottom half of the container so that excess water or used water can be released. The assembly of the device will make it simple to clean and sanitize. The bottom half of the device can be separated from the top half, as seen in FIG. 1, allowing the user to clean the bottom half, where most of the debris will accumulate, using anti-bacterial soap and water. Once washed, it should be rinsed, dried, reassembled with the top half.

(19) The proposed use of the device starts once the mouth pieces are in place. The user will add water to the indicated “fill-to” line (19), and will add a drop of toothpaste, a solution cleaner tablet or any preferred type of cleaning agent on the top of the bristles (7). The depth of the bristles, between one to three inches will reach beyond the dental appliances in order to reach all sides, edges, and crevices. The two-piece round container with the twist-to-lock mechanism will allow the user to twist the container in opposite directions to create a curricular motion that will clean all facets of the appliances. The pressure created by the two-piece container with bristles (7), water, and a dynamic circular motion will scrub off all excess plaque, small food particles, and make the dental appliances transparent, free of particles and plaque.

(20) The twist-to-lock mechanism will allow the user to lock the device when used as a mouthpiece holder. The user will simply put their appliances in the bottom half of the container, as seen in FIG. 1 and turn the two pieces until the lip inside the ring edge (15), locks into the extended edge piece (14).

(21) While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

(22) Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its intent and purpose. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described herein. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

(23) The abstract of the disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing detailed description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.