US4304245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Therapeutic toothpick
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-06-16
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Granted: 1981-12-08
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Expires: 2000-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A toothpick for cleaning teeth and for gingival stimulation consists of a four-sided sheet of thin polymeric material curled back upon itself to form a hollow body having a forwardly tapering layered front end with spiraling ridges and either an enlarged central and rear portion or an enlarged central portion and a backwardly tapered layered rear end portion.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Lichfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A toothpick for cleaning teeth and gingival stimulation comprising a thin sheet of flexible plastic material capable of maintaining a configuration that is tightly curled back upon itself and rolled to form a layered body having a hollow central core, said body having a pointed forwardly tapered front portion containing spiraling ridges formed from one side edge of the curled material and with each outer layer of plastic material forming the layered body being movable over an inner layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A toothpick for cleaning teeth and gingival stimulation comprising a thin sheet of flexible plastic material capable of maintaining a configuration that is tightly curled back upon itself and rolled to form a layered body having a hollow central core, said body having a pointed forwardly tapered front portion containing spiraling ridges formed from one side edge of the curled material and with each outer layer of plastic material forming the layered body being movable over an inner layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Toothpick according to claim 1 wherein the forwardmost point of the tapered front portion consists of a single curl of flexible material which defines the minimum and forward diameter of the hollow central core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toothpick according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the hollow central core at the rear of the body is larger than at the front.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toothpick according to claim 3 wherein the flexible material is in the shape of a parallelogram having two acute angles and wherein the material is tightly curled along one side and rolled in a parallel relationship from one side to the opposing side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toothpick according to claim 4 wherein the acute angles of the material are between about 40 and 80 degrees and the obtuse angles of the material are between about 100 and 140 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toothpick according to claim 5 wherein the acute angles are about 60 degrees and the obtuse angles are about 120 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toothpick according to claim 5 wherein the material has a length that is from about one to three times the width.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toothpick according to claim 7 wherein the length of the material is about twice the width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A toothpick according to claim 7 wherein the material has a thickness of from about 1 to 5 mils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A toothpick according to claim 3 wherein the flexible material is generally rectangular in shape and wherein the material is angularly curled at a predetermined angle beginning at one corner and rolled at such an angle until all of the material has been rolled forming a body having a central portion and front and rear tapered portions having tapered spiraling ridges formed from the curling of the material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toothpick according to claim 10 wherein the angle at which the material is curled varies about 20 to 40 degrees from the longitudinal plane of the rectangular sheet of material from which the toothpick is made.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toothpick according to claim 11 wherein the angle at which the material is curled is about 30 degrees from the longitudinal plane of the rectangular sheet of material from which the toothpick is made.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toothpick according to claim 11 wherein the material has a length that is from about one to three times the width.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toothpick according to claim 13 wherein the length of the material is about twice the width.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A toothpick according to claim 13 wherein the material has a thickness of from about 1 to 5 mils.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A toothpick according to claim 3 wherein the spiraling ridges are scored.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A toothpick according to claim 3 wherein the spiraling ridges are serrated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-07 | 1985-06-08 | 1985-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-07 | 1989-06-08 | 1989-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-07 | 1993-06-08 | 1993-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |