Device for hygienization of an oral hygiene implement

Abstract

 Device for hygienization of an implement (1) for oral hygiene having at least one head (11) and a handle (12) for cleaning teeth, the hygienization device comprising a casing (3) having a cavity complimentary to the head (11) of the implement (1) and at least one internal part (31) made of silver or silver-coated in contact with the head (11) in order to transfer ions released from the internal part (31) of the head (11).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention refers to a hygienization device for an oral hygiene implement.

State of the art

[0002] Tooth-brushes are well-known.

[0003] Pipe cliners are additional devices for cleaning the interdental spaces between the teeth. This is an oral hygiene implement consisting of a handle and a rigid metal wire with a series of bristles arranged in a 360° radial pattern with respect to the rigid wire, with diameter increasing towards the handle or the junction of the rigid wire to the handle. Arranged all around, the bristles are capable of cleaning and removing food residues from the interdental spaces, under fixed bridges, under the fixed prosthetics on implants, and under the fixing bars of dental prosthetics. Tooth-brushes having a portion of the brush made of silver or in any case silver-coated, are also known. For example, one known brush comprises a support for the bristles that is made of silver.

[0004] The reasons for using silver reside in the fact that, in contact with water, silver releases active ions that attack bacteria, thus achieving an antibacterial function. The head of said brushes can be replaced when the bristles are consumed or deformed, but this is costly.

Summary of the invention

[0005] The scope of the present invention is to provide a hygienization device for an oral hygiene implement that can be reused independently of the lifetime of the consumable parts of such implements.

[0006] A subject of the present invention is a hygienization device for an oral hygiene implement in compliance with claim 1.

[0007] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, ions are transferred indirectly to the head of the toothbrush or the pipe cliner by means of a vector liquid retained by a sponge that is essentially interposed between the head of the implement and the silver-coated part.

[0008] Another scope of the present invention is to present a system comprising an pipe cliner and a hygienization device for the head of the pipe cliner.

[0009] Said device is particularly applicable for travel pipe cliners.

[0010] A further scope of the present invention is to present a system comprising a toothbrush and a hygienization device for the head of said toothbrush.

[0011] Said device is particularly applicable for travel toothbrushes.

[0012] Another scope of the present invention is to propose hygienization methods for the head of a toothbrush or pipe cliner.

[0013] Toothbrush or pipe cliner head hygienization methods, as described more precisely in the claims, are also a subject of the present invention.

[0014] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention, forming an integral part of the present description.

Brief description of the Figures

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a hygienization device for an oral hygiene implement, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents an pipe cliner of the known art with a handle at 90°,

Fig. 2 shows an pipe cliner of the known art with a straight handle,

Fig. 3 shows a view of a first variant of the device forming the subject of the present invention according to a longitudinal section of a longitudinal development of an every-day hygiene implement;

Fig. 4 shows a view of a second variant according to the same section of figure 3;

Fig. 5 shows a view of a third variant according to the same section of figure 3;

Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the device of figure 3.

[0016] The same reference numbers and letters in the figures identify the same elements or components.

Detailed description of one preferred embodiment of the invention

[0017] According to the present invention, a hollow casing 3 is adapted to enclosing the head of an implement 1 intended for every day oral hygiene, such as a toothbrush or an pipe cliner, at least when said implement is not being used. In other words, said casing is such that the head 12 of the implement can be inserted therein. Said casing essentially defines a cap or cover for at least the head of the implement 1.

[0018] Said casing comprises a silver or silver-coated element 31 inside the cavity.

[0019] The head may be that of a toothbrush, i.e. essentially flat and having natural or synthetic bristles attached to one of the two faces of the head, or with the bristles arranged radially around a rigid conical-shaped or cylindrical core.

[0020] According to one preferred variant of the invention, with the insertion of the head 12 into the casing 3, the bristles are in direct contact with said silver or silver-coated part 31. The bristles, previously wet or humid, typically after each use of the implement, are capable of releasing ions from the silver element 31, thus remaining sanitized. Therefore, the casing size is designed so that the bristles are in direct contact with the silver part.

[0021] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing is adapted to retain a vector liquid at least while the head 11 of the toothbrush or pipe cliner is inserted therein, so that said liquid allows the release of active ions from the silver, contributing towards the hygienization of the head 11 of the toothbrush or pipe cliner. Said liquid may be, for example, water or a mouthwash or a disinfectant suitable for the present purpose of hygienization of the head 3 by means of ions.

[0022] In this sense, both variants comprise means adapted to transferring ions released from said internal part 31 to said head 11.

[0023] According to the variants reported in figures 3 - 5, the interior of the casing 3 contains a sponge 2, preferably pliable and shaped so as to be complimentary to the shape of the head 11 of the implement 1.

[0024] Said sponge may be advantageously soaked in water or mouthwash or another suitable disinfectant, as above, acting as the vector liquid.

[0025] This variant is that ensuring the best performance of the device, especially when coupled with an pipe cliner, in that the latter possesses bristles that are shorter on average than a toothbrush and that therefore tend to become less deformed due to contact with the sponge.

[0026] According to the variant of figure 3, the portion of the casing is at least partially silver coated, defining a layer of silver 31, preferably achieved by means of a galvanic process. Or alternatively, a plate, figure 4, of silver coated material may be placed inside the cavity of the casing 3. Said sponge may contribute to maintaining the position of said plate. According to the variant of figure 5, the sponge may be made by incorporating the silver or silver coated component 31, for example a small pellet.

[0027] Advantageously, the deterioration and replacement of the head 11 does not involve the replacement of a silver coated part.

[0028] Figure 6 represents a preferred example embodiment of the device wherein an pipe cliner 1 with a straight head 11, i.e. essentially aligned with the longitudinal development of the related handle 12, comprises a cap 3, similar to that represented in figure 3, that engages over the head of the pipe cliner 1 until it partially locks with the handle 12 of the pipe cliner. In this case, the cap 3 may also be liquid-tight.

[0029] One of the advantages of using a sponge inside the cover 3 is that of not necessarily having to use a hermetic seal on the cover, in that the vector liquid for the ions is held within the sponge.

[0030] Another advantage is that hygienization of the head 11 of the implement 1 occurs over a much longer time compared to that for toothbrushes of the known art, in that, both the presence of the sponge, and the closure of the cover over the body of the toothbrush or pipe cliner do not allow evaporation of the vector liquid, whereby it remains wet, even for days.

[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, the antibacterial effect of the ions is combined with the effect of the mouthwash, which plays both its own role as mouthwash and that of vector liquid for the ions released from the silver. Therefore, it is certainly very advantageous to use a mouthwash or a suitable disinfectant/antibacterial agent as vector medium for the ions.

[0032] The same principle may be used for any suitable oral hygiene implement, independently of the shape of the body of said implement, in that it is not strictly necessary that the cover 3 closes over the body. That which is of primary importance is that the head 11 of the implement 1 is in direct or indirect contact with the silver coating by means of the vector liquid, in order to achieve hygienization by the ions released from the silver part 31 contained inside the cover 3.

[0033] It is preferable that the sponge 3 be removable so as to be able to be easily rinsed and wrung out, for easier maintenance of the device. To this end, it may be fixed to the cover permanently or reversibly, by means of a retaining ring for example, not represented, or in any other way.

[0034] Said silver or silver coated part 31 may in turn be removable from the cover, should it be necessary to replace the cover or should it be necessary to replace said silver coated part 31.

[0035] According to another preferred variant of the invention, the cover is made from at least partially flexible material, so that the sponge can be rinsed and wrung out without its removal from the cover. In this case, the role played by the cover 3 is limited to preventing the moisture contained in the sponge from being released. This indeed would constitute a problem for travel implements, which could, for example, be kept in a pocket.

[0036] Therefore, this solution is best applied to travel toothbrushes and pipe cliner.

[0037] The elements and the characteristics illustrated in the various preferred embodiments can be used in combination together, without however deviating from the scope of protection of the present patent application.

Claims

1. A device for hygienizing an oral hygiene instrument (1) such as an toothbrush or a pipe cliner or similar, the instrument (1) having at least one head (11), the hygienizing device comprising

- a casing (3) having a cavity adapted to receive said head (11) of the oral hygiene instrument (1),

- an inner part (31) to the cavity, made of silver or coated with silver and characterized in that it comprises a sponge (2) is inserted in the cavity and arranged so as to be interposed between said inner part (31) and said head (11) when the head (11) is inserted in the cavity, for transferring ions released by said inner part (31) to said head (11).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said casing (3) is suitable for holding a vector liquid adapted to allow ions to be transferred from said silver-coated part (31) to said head (11).

3. A device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising closing means for liquid sealing said cavity.

4. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said vector liquid is water or mouthwash or a hygienizing disinfectant.

5. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said part (31) is galvanically silver-coated.

6. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said sponge (2) is integral with the casing (3) or is removable, and in this case, it is fixable to the cavity of the casing (3) by means of locking means.

7. A device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said inner part (31) is at least partially incorporated in said sponge (2).

8. A device according to one of the preceding claims from 1 to 6, wherein said inner part (31) is integral with said casing (3) or is removable.

9. A system comprising an toothbrush brush and a hygienizing device of the head of the toothbrush according to any one of claims from 1 to 8..

10. A system comprising a toothbrush comprising a hygienizing device for the head of the toothbrush according to any one of the claims from 1 to 8.

11. A method of hygienizing the head (11) of a toothbrush or dental brush (1) comprising the steps of:

- preparing a sponge (2) having a cavity complementary to said head (11), said sponge at least partially incorporating a component made of silver or silver-coated (31),

- impregnation of said sponge with water or mouthwash or a suitable hygienizing antibacterial product,

- inserting of said head (11) into the cavity of the sponge (2).

12. A method of hygienizing the head (11) of a toothbrush or a pipe cliner (1) comprising the steps of:

- preparing a casing having a cavity adapted to receive said head (11),

- silver-coating of at least one portion of said cavity,

- insertion of a sponge (2) in the cavity in contact with said silver-coating

- impregnation of said sponge with water or mouthwash or a suitable hygienizing antibacterial product,

- inserting of said head (11) into the cavity

13. A method of hygienizing the head (11) of a toothbrush or pipe cliner (1) comprising the steps of:

- preparing a casing having a cavity adapted to receive said head (11),

- insertion of an element of silver or silver-coated inside said cavity.
Insertion of a sponge (2) in the cavity, in contact with said element of silver or silver-coated;

- impregnation of said sponge with water or mouthwash or a suitable hygienizing antibacterial product,

- inserting of said head (11) into the cavity.

Drawing