US2673364A - Dental cleaning pad - Google Patents

Description

March 1954 H. e. DIVELEY DENTAL CLEANING PAD Filed May 4, 1948 INVENTOR HARRY a. DIVELEY A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 30, 1 954 DENTAL CLEANING PAD Harry G. Diveley, Colorado Springs, 0010., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Twix, Inc., Colorado Springs, 0010., a corporation of 0010- rado Application May 4, 1948, Serial No..24,97 9

3 Claims.

My invention is directed to improvements in dental cleanin pads and has among its primary Objects the provision of an inexpensive, disposable dental pad which may be stored for substantial periods of time without appreciable degeneration and which incorporates detergent and astringent ingredients refreshin to the mouth.

Other objects include the provision of novel processes for the production of my pad, as well as for the preparationand application of impregnating reagents.

. Referring tothe drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a pad embodying the subject matter of my invention, the pad as shown in this figure being sealed in a transparent cellophane envelope.

Figure 2 illustrates a similar pad, without the cellophane envelope, in which the desired irregular surface is of a somewhat different design.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating how the pad is made of a plurality of plies.

In the drawings reference character it designate a sheet of paper which is corrugated, embossed or otherwise formed as at H, to provide an irregular surface. As shown by reference character [3, in Figure 3, a plurality of the sheets I 0 are superimposed, one upon the other, to form a pad consisting of any desired number of plies, preferably not less than two nor more than twelve plies, eight usually being the most satisfactory. The individual sheets of this pad, which is intended to be employed as a unit, and then discarded after one use, may be bound together at one edge, if desired, or they may be kept separate. impregnated as hereinafter described, are preferably sealed in a suitable container such as a cellophane envelope as indicated by reference character M in Figure 1. The dimensions of the pad should be such that it may be placed around the finger without unfolding and thus used to vigorously massage the teeth and gums. A square, approximately two inches on each side, has been found suitable for this purpose.

The paper employed in forming my pad should be of an absorbent nature, such as the paper conventionally employed for the manufacture of paper table napkins, and containing only relatively minor quantities of size. An absorbent high wet strength paper, such as the paper employed in 1 the production of paper towels, is also highly satisfactory and is in some instances preferable to the relatively low Wet strength paper previously mentioned, since the tendency to tear while in use is substantially reduced.

In either event the sheets, after being I prefer to purchase this paper in the form of rolls or sheets which I impregnate by dipping,

4 ounces oil of peppermint 36 ounces ethyl alcohol drops menthol 9 ounces detergent solution 18 ounces aqueous astringent The detergent solution above mentioned is essentially similar to conventional liquid dentifrices which include, in general, a small percentage of a non-toxic surface active compound such as sodium lauryl sulphonate or lauryl glycerol sulphate, alcohol, water, a thickening agent, and if desired a small percentage of a soft colloidally suspended abrasive, such as chalk or anhydrite. The aqueous astringent may include a quantity of zinc chloride dissolved in water and mixed with a small quantity of formaldehyde and alcohol. Commercially available dentifrices and astringents of the type above described may be employed without difficulty provided that excessive quantities of th ingredients do not become insoluble upon mixing with each other. The composition above described will form a minor quantity of insoluble precipitate when the alcohol is added to the mixture, as certain of the ingredients are relatively insoluble in alcohol; but since the quantity of precipitate is relatively minor, it may be removed by filtration and the resulting clear solution utilized without difliculty.

The ingredients are ordinarily mixed by agitation in'a suitable vessel and stored out of contact with air prior to application to the paper. After the paper has been impregnated, it must be dried at relatively low temperatures, preferably at a room temperature on the order of 75-80 F. A blast of air, preferably of low humidity, is advantageous in the drying process, provided that the temperature of the air does not exceed the range specified. If attempt is made to apply heat in the drying process a substantial reduction in the value of the final product will occur, since several of the ingredients in the impregnating solution are relatively volatile even in solid form, as well as being subject to oxidation.

In order to preserve the desirable detergent and. astringent properties of the dried pad it is necessary to package the pad in such manner, as to substantially inhibit the oxidation or volatization of the ingredients. As heretofore pointed out, this is best accomplished by enveloping the pad in a cellophone container l4 suitably sealed against the passage of air. When so packaged I have found that my pad may be carried in a pocket or bag for substantial periods of time without either soiling or rendering less eificient the active ingredients.

When: application of the pad is required, the: user breaks the seal of the package, removes the pad from the container and wraps it around the; index finger. The pad is then inserted in the mouth and brushed vigorously against the teeth. The saliva partially dissolvesthe, compound& dc,- posited in the paper by impregnation, which be; come active in the mouth both as detergents; and astringents. The embossed. surface of the paper, although soft, provides sufficient, irregularity to, serve as an efiicient scrubbing surface against the teeth. When the application has been;completed the pad is discarded; thus making the prod- HCIJ highly desirable. for travelers and the like when, access to the customary cleaning equip: ment. is, inconvenient.

Lhave described in detail. a preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do not, bind myself to the. details therein disclosed except insofar as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dental pad for; use in cleaning the teeth and gums comprising a sheet of soft absorbent paper having: an, embossed surface and impregnated with av liquid consisting of flavoring, a detergent and an astringent solution.

2. A dental pad for use in cleaning the teeth and gums comprising a pad having not less than two nor more than twelve plies of soft absorbent embossed paper, said plies being impregnated with the dried reaction product of a liquid incorporating a flavoring oil, an astringent, and a detergent.

3. Adental pad for cleaning 13116 11661 and gums comprising a folded pad-; of; soft, absorbent embossed paper containing the dried reaction prod- 16, not of a liquid mixture including oil of peppermint, alcohol, water, a non-toxic wetting agent, and zincchloride.

7 HARRY G. DIVELEY.

References; Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,143,614 Criswell June 22, 1915 1,201,440 Christen Oct. 17, 1916 1,435,498 Resnik Nov. 14, 1922 1 ,446,836 Crupain- Feb-27,1923 1,452,363 Crupa-in- Apr. 17-, 1923- l ,488-,09.'7 Creger Mar. 25', 1924 1, 30,459 Carmichael -1 Mar. 17, 1925 1,54 $2.58- v l ioi*enz June 2, 1925 1,577,406? Friedman Mar. 16, 192

1,967,937 *Horwitt 1 July ,2 :I 34. 2,155,731 Mitchell /Ap'li 25, 1939 2,183,711 De Witt Dec. 19', 1939: 2,211,369, .Durgiri L Aug; 13, 1 940 2,419,896 fieblmann Apr. 29, 1947 2,526,076 Jones Oct. 17-, 1950

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