CN102883677A - Flexible flat toothpick - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothpick made of a flexible flat material which is non-toxic, non-brittle and will not split, the toothpick exhibiting a substantially rectangular and elongated strip of said material, the strip being sharpened at each end into points which form the tips of the toothpick. The ends may be triangular, trapezoidal or hook shaped. Furthermore, at its center, the toothpick has a non-slip surface so that it can be better held by the user.

Description

flexible flat toothpick

brief overview of the invention

The present invention relates to a toothpick made of flexible material, which is flattened to allow for cleaning of the teeth, thereby reaching a deeper penetration in the spaces between the teeth, while being able to avoid damage to the gums and without Any risk of splitting or breaking the toothpick. Furthermore, due to the fact that the toothpick is a flat strip, it avoids causing further gaps when it is introduced between the teeth.

Background of the invention

There are many toothpicks on the market that are formed from a stick made of different materials, shaped to have a circular or rectangular cross-section, sharpened at one or both ends. During their use, some models are coated with chlorophyll or other various pigments to freshen breath. Most toothpicks are made of wood, which is prone to breaking or chipping, leaving debris between the teeth and causing damage to the gums. Other toothpicks are made of plastic material which is stiff and brittle which can injure the gums. These toothpicks do not penetrate sufficiently between the teeth due to their conical shaped tips (when cylindrical) and wedge shaped tips (when rectangular). Where they reach is limited by the length of their tips, which becomes ineffective when the gap between the teeth shrinks. If one of these toothpicks is introduced between these teeth with excessive force, interdental spaces may be caused due to the thickness of the toothpick. Another problem is that it is difficult to use these toothpicks carefully due to their firmness, shape and size, which causes the user to make unsightly movements with the mouth and have to manually place the toothpick in the correct position. position to reach food particles that get stuck between the teeth.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a flexible flat toothpick with a trapezoidal end.

Figure 2 shows a flexible flat toothpick with two trapezoidal ends.

Figure 3 shows a flexible flat toothpick with a triangular end.

Figure 4 shows a flexible flat toothpick in the shape of a hook at one end.

Figure 5 shows a flexible flat toothpick with a non-slip coating for hand holding.

Detailed Description of the Invention

One embodiment of the invention is a toothpick (1) consisting of a thin, generally rectangular strip, preferably made of flexible plastic material or other flexible material. In addition to being flexible, the material must be non-toxic, non-brittle, and not prone to splitting. The toothpick is formed from an elongated piece having a length of between 4.5 cm and 5.5 cm, preferably exactly 5 cm long, as this length is suitable for the size of an average person's mouth. The width of the strip conforming to the toothpick is between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably exactly 3 mm, to allow the user to hold the toothpick with thumb and forefinger. The thickness of the strips is between 0.254 mm and 0.381 mm. The width and thickness allow the toothpick to have a certain rigidity or resistance to bending. Both ends of the strip have an apex (5). Each of said vertices (5) on both ends of said strip is sharpened, thereby forming the points (2) of the toothpick (1 ), wherein said points are introduced into the gaps between the teeth to remove food particles. The tip (2) of the toothpick (1) is smooth in order to avoid damage to the gums when accidentally touching the gums. The bending radius of the tip (2) is between 0.4 mm and 1 mm, preferably exactly 0.6 mm.

The vertices on the ends of the strip are formed by oblique cuts (3) on the corners of the rectangular strip. Each oblique cut (3) is made starting at one corner of the strip and ending on the longer side of the rectangle conforming to the strip that begins the cut The longer sides of the corners are opposite, thus forming a trapezoidal end (4), wherein the angle of the apex (5) is between 10° and 15°, preferably exactly 12.5°. The above situation can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 . Another embodiment of the toothpick (1) consists of diagonal cuts (3) on two adjacent corners at each end of the strip, said corners conforming to one of the short sides of the strip being rectangular. Adjacent, such that said oblique cuts (3) meet each other to shape the apex (5), thereby forming the tip (2) of the toothpick (1), making a triangular end (6). This embodiment can be seen in FIG. 3 .

Yet another embodiment of the toothpick (1) comprises an end in the shape of a hook (7) extending towards one side of the toothpick (1), wherein the bend is between 90° and 180°, preferably Exactly 150°, allowing the user to place the hook (7) into the space between the teeth and pull in the opposite direction. This embodiment is visible in FIG. 4 .

The toothpick (1) may have a point (2) at one or both ends, and said ends may both be triangular (6), both trapezoidal (4), or trapezoidal at one end (4) And one end is triangular (6). Furthermore, one of the points (2) of the toothpick (1) can be replaced by a hook (7) shaped end.

An additional feature of the toothpick (1) is that it can be covered with an anti-slip coating on both sides of its central part (8), so that the user can achieve a better grip. Another option is that the toothpick (1) can have a circular plastic piece (9) of non-slip material with a diameter of 1.5 cm attached to the central part (8) of the toothpick for easy handling The toothpick ( 1 ) sometimes achieves a more comfortable grip, as can be seen in FIG. 5 . This combination of the above features results in a toothpick (1) that has a number of advantages including that it does not crack or split, it does not separate the teeth, it is ergonomic and it enables easier penetration into the spaces between the teeth. Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be used to remove food particles stuck in orthodontic brackets as it tends to bend to reach these stains between the bracket and the teeth to remove these food particles due to its The hooks (7) are extremely flexible without pushing or putting pressure on these brackets.

Claims (as amended under Article 19 of the Treaty)

Having described the Applicant's invention in a manner sufficient for it to be novel, the Applicant therefore claims as its property the subject matter of the following claims:

1. Toothpicks comprising a thin flexible flat elongated strip, generally rectangular in shape, made of a nontoxic, non-brittle and non-split material, the strip having a length of between 4.5 cm and 5.5 cm, having a width between 1 mm and 5 mm, having a thickness between 0.254 mm and 0.381 mm; wherein said strip is coated on both sides of its central part (8) covered with non-slip material; wherein the ends of said strips have a sharpened apex (5) forming the points (2) of the toothpick (1), wherein said points (2) are smooth, having a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; wherein the sharpened vertices (5) at the ends of the strip are formed by oblique lines located on the corners of the rectangular strip cuts (3), each diagonal cut (3) being made from one corner of the strip and ending on the longer side of the rectangle conforming to the strip, the longer side The longer side that coincides with the corner of the strip starting the cut is opposite, thus forming a trapezoidal end (4) where the angle of the apex (5) is between 10° and 15° .

2. Toothpicks comprising a thin flexible flat elongated strip, generally rectangular in shape, made of a non-toxic, non-brittle and non-split material, the strip having a length of between 4.5 cm and 5.5 cm, having a width between 1 mm and 5 mm, having a thickness between 0.254 mm and 0.381 mm; wherein said strip is coated on both sides of its central part (8) covered with non-slip material; wherein the ends of said strips have a sharpened apex (5) forming the points (2) of the toothpick (1), wherein said points (2) are smooth, has a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; wherein the apexes (5) on both ends of the strip are notched by two diagonal lines (3) on two adjacent corners of the strip formed, said corner adjoining a short side of a rectangle conforming to said bar, such that said diagonal cuts (3) meet each other to shape the apex (5), thereby forming the toothpick ( 1) at the tip (2), made into a triangular end (6).

3. Toothpicks comprising a thin flexible flat elongated strip, generally rectangular in shape, made of a non-toxic, non-brittle and non-split material, the strip having a length of between 4.5 cm and 5.5 cm, having a width between 1 mm and 5 mm, having a thickness between 0.254 mm and 0.381 mm; wherein said strip is coated on both sides of its central part (8) covered with non-slip material; wherein the ends of said strips have a sharpened apex (5) forming the points (2) of the toothpick (1), wherein said points (2) are smooth, having a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; wherein the end of the toothpick (1) consists of a hook (7) extending towards one side of said toothpick (1), the hook having a radius between 90° and Bends between 180°.

4. The toothpick according to claims 1 to 3, comprising a circular non-slip plastic piece (9) with a diameter of 1.5 cm in the central part of the toothpick (1).

5. Toothpick according to claims 1 to 4, comprising a point (2) on one or both ends.

6. The toothpick according to claim 5, comprising a triangular-shaped tip (6) on each end of the toothpick (1 ).

7. Toothpick according to claim 5, comprising a trapezoidal tip (4) on each end of the toothpick (1).

8. The toothpick according to claim 5, comprising a trapezoidal tip (4) on one end of the toothpick (1 ) and a triangular tip (6) on the other end of the toothpick.

9. Toothpick according to claim 5, comprising a hook (7) on each end of the toothpick (1).

Statement or declaration (as amended under Article 19 of the Treaty)

Declaration under Treaty 19.1

Reply to the written opinion of the International Searching Authority (ISA).

The opinion of the written opinion on independent claims 1 to 3 is as follows: These independent claims do not involve an inventive step, because by combining the common knowledge of those skilled in the art and the disclosure content of Reference 1, these independent claims are obvious to those skilled in the art Obvious. In this regard, the applicant makes the following statement:

a) Although Reference 1 appears to describe a toothpick with multiple flat sides, this is not the case as shown in the drawings and other parts of the disclosure, where It is clearly seen that the tip of the toothpick is cylindrical and its diameter is equal to the thickness of the body of the toothpick, wherein said body has "dimples" (dimples) and "narrower" on its opposite flat sides. "Flanges" (narrower flanges), but not flat, as opposed to the claimed invention, where the toothpick body has a thickness of between 0.254mm and thin strips between 0.381mm.

b) On the other hand, the claimed invention is generally flexible and capable of springing back to its original shape, whereas the toothpick of Reference 1 mentions that it is made of a hard plastic that is found in retains its shape when bent and does not snap back to its original shape, unlike the claimed invention, which snaps back to its original shape and, as a very thin strip, plus The tension is used to control the use of the toothpick.

It should be noted that an invention that appears obvious at first glance may in fact involve an inventive step. When a new idea has been expressed, it is often theoretically possible to show how to arrive at it by a series of seemingly easy steps starting from what is known. Examiners should be cautious with such retrospective analysis. When combining multiple documents cited in a search report, the examiner should always bear in mind that the documents resulting from the search must have been obtained through foreknowledge of the thing constituting the alleged invention.

Therefore, claims 1 to 3 are amended to include the characteristic portion consisting of: being flat and being flexible. Based on the above reasons, it is considered that the toothpick of Reference Document 1 has no similarity with the claimed invention, and the judgment of inventive step must take these reasons into consideration. Also, the assessment of the existence or non-existence of an inventive step should be based on the regulations and guidelines that each entity should grant patent rights.

With regard to claims 4 to 5, the applicant believes that the written opinion is pertinent, and has amended these claims according to the said opinion.

With regard to dependent claims 6 to 9, the applicant considers that the proposals in the opinion will limit the scope of these claims, and therefore amends these claims to remain dependent only on claim 5.

Claims (9)

1. The applicant's invention has been described in sufficient mode, the applicant think it have novelty and therefore the applicant require with regard to the content of the following claims property as the applicant:

   1. flexible flat toothpick, comprise a haply thin long strips of rectangle, this is flexible, nontoxic, non-friable and non-brittle material, this length that has be between between 4.5cm and the 5.5cm, the width that has be between between 1mm and the 5mm, the thickness that has is between 0.254mm and 0.381mm; Wherein said is coated with anti-slip material on two sides of heart part (8) therein; These ends of wherein said have one by the summit of sharpening (5), thereby have formed these tips (2) of this toothpick (1), wherein said tip (2) be level and smooth, have a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; The described summit (5) of wherein locating these ends of described is to be formed by a plurality of oblique line otch (3) on these turnings that are positioned at this rectangular strip, each oblique line otch (3) begins and making than the long side surface end at the rectangle that is consistent with this from a turning of described, it is described that what be consistent than long side surface and the turning of described the described otch of beginning is opposite than long side surface, therefore, formed a trapezoidal end (4), wherein the angle of summit (5) is between 10 ° and 15 °.
2. 2. flexible flat toothpick, comprise a haply thin long strips of rectangle, this is flexible, nontoxic, non-friable and is non-brittle, this length that has be between between 4.5cm and the 5.5cm, the width that has be between between 1mm and the 5mm, the thickness that has is between 0.254mm and 0.381mm; Wherein said is coated with anti-slip material on two sides of heart part (8) therein; These ends of wherein said have one by the summit of sharpening (5), thereby have formed these tips (2) of this toothpick (1), wherein said tip (2) be level and smooth, have a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; Summit (5) on two ends of wherein said is to be formed by two the oblique line otch (3) on two contiguous turnings of described, described turning is adjacent with a short side of rectangle that meets described, described so a plurality of oblique line otch (3) join each other and this summit (5) are shaped, thereby formed the tip (2) of this toothpick (1), made a triangle shaped ends (6).
3. 3. flexible flat toothpick, comprise a haply thin long strips of rectangle, this thin long strips is flexible, nontoxic, non-friable and is non-brittle, this length that has be between between 4.5cm and the 5.5cm, the width that has be between between 1mm and the 5mm, the thickness that has is between 0.254mm and 0.381mm; Wherein said is coated with anti-slip material on two sides of heart part (8) therein; These ends of wherein said have one by the summit of sharpening (5), thereby have formed these tips (2) of this toothpick (1), wherein said tip (2) be level and smooth, have a bending radius between 0.4mm and 1mm; Wherein the end of this toothpick (1) is comprised of a hook (7) that extends towards a side of described toothpick (1), and this hook has the bending between 90 ° and 180 °.
4. 4. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 3, the diameter that is included in the core of described toothpick (1) is the circular Antislip plastic materials and parts (9) of 1.5cm.
5. 5. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 4, be included in the tip (2) on one or two end.
6. 6. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 5, be included in the triangle most advanced and sophisticated (6) on each end of described toothpick (1).
7. 7. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 5, be included in the trapezoidal tip (4) on each end of described toothpick (1).
8. 8. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 5, be included in trapezoidal tip (4) and the triangle on another end of described toothpick most advanced and sophisticated (6) on the end of described toothpick (1).
9. 9. such as the flat toothpick of the described flexibility of claim 1 to 5, be included in the hook (7) on each end of described toothpick (1).

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