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`US005462067A
`
`United States Patent
`
`Shapiro
`
`[19]
`5,462,067
`[11] Patent Number:
`Oct. 31, 1995
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`[54] DEVICE FOR HYGIENIC PROTECTION OF
`THE TEETH AND GUMS
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Ira Shapiro, P.O. Box 174, Radio City
`Station, New York, NY. 10101
`
`[21] Appl. No: 292,724
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 18, 1994
`
`Int. Cl.6 ........................................................ A61F 5/56
`[51]
`
`[52] US. Cl.
`....................
`128/861; 128/859; 433/136
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 128/859, 860,
`128/861, 862, 857, 846, 848; 602/52; 433/136,
`138, 229; 2/174
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,257,709
`9/1941 Anderson ................................ 128/861
`3,303,844
`2/1967 Johnson et a1.
`..
`...... 128/862
`
`3,379,193
`4/1968 Monaghan
`.. 128/862
`3,416,527
`12/1968 Haef .....
`.. 128/862
`
`3,924,638
`12/1975 Mann ............. 128/862
`
`4,063,552 12/1977 Going et a1.
`.
`...... 128/861
`1/1980 Peterson .................................. 128/861
`4,185,817
`
`4,211,008
`4,338,928
`4,718,849
`4,738,259
`5,033,480
`5,194,003
`5,293,646
`
`7/1980 Lerrnan ................................... 433/229
`...................
`7/1982 Martin et a1.
`128/857
`
`1/1988 von Weissenfluh et a1.
`433/229
`
`...............
`4/1988 Brown et al.
`128/859
`............
`7/1991 Wiley et a1.
`128/861
`
`3/1993 Garay et al.
`433/229
`3/1994 Winston ...................................... 2/174
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert A. Hafer
`Assistant Examiner—Michael O’Neill
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Norman B. Rainer
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A disposable shield device which serves to keep food away
`from the gums and teeth during eating is made from an
`integral piece of thin plastic film having a substantially
`rectangular perimeter defined by opposed end edges and
`parallel first and second long edges. A compliant strip is
`positioned along the first edge for fitting against the front
`gum line. Two slits entering from the second edge define a
`center flap and paired outer flaps. An adhesive strip posi-
`tioned on the center flap adjacent the second edge enable the
`outer flaps to securely overlap the center flap,
`thereby
`achieving close fit against the rear gum line.
`
`6 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`22
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`22
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`I9
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`I3
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`27
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`25
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`ll
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`20
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`l4
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`Mus
`1128
`R10
`28
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`II
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`PAGE 000001
`
`CLIO USA
`
`EXHIBIT 1006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 1995
`
`5,462,067
`
`
`
`PAGE 000002
`
`PAGE 000002
`
`

`

`5,462,067
`
`1
`DEVICE FOR HYGIENIC PROTECTION OF
`THE TEETH AND GUMS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention concerns a device to be worn in a person’s
`mouth during eating for the hygienic protection of teeth and
`gums.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Devices for protecting a person’s teeth and mouth from
`injury due to impact during sports activities are disclosed in
`U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,247,844; 3,457,916; 3,496,936; 3,864,
`832; 4,350,154, and elsewhere. Tooth protectors for use
`during dental and other medical procedures are disclosed in
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,838, and elsewhere. Such devices either
`prevent or interfere with normal motion of the jaw, as in
`chewing food.
`Considerable attention is directed toward hygiene of the
`teeth and gums. For example, most dental authorities rec-
`ommend frequent use of dental floss and a toothbrush to
`remove particles of food that lodge between the teeth during
`eating. It is often diificult for individuals to abide by a strict
`dental hygiene regimen, and even with conscientious atten—
`tion to dental hygiene, disorders of the gums and teeth can
`still be produced by food particles allowed to remain
`between the teeth adjacent the gum line.
`It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
`provide a disposable shield device to be worn upon the teeth
`and gums during chewing of food to prevent food particles
`from lodging between the teeth.
`It is another object of this invention to provide a device as
`in the foregoing object which can be easily emplaced in the
`user’s mouth.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`device of the aforesaid nature of simple construction ame-
`nable to low cost manufacture.
`
`It is yet another object of this invention to provide a
`dispensing package containing a multitude of the shield
`devices of the aforesaid nature in stacked relationship.
`These and other beneficial objects and advantages will be
`apparent from the following description.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are
`accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a
`gum and teeth protector comprised of a pair of shield devices
`each comprised of:
`a) a piece of thin, initially fiat polymeric film elongated
`between parallel end extremities, and further bordered
`by straight parallel first and second edges of substan-
`tially equal
`length, said piece of film having two
`parallel slits beginning at said second edge and extend-
`ing toward said first edge in orthogonal relationship
`thereto, said slits defining a center flap and paired outer
`flaps,
`b) a compliant strip disposed in association with said first
`edge, and
`c) adhesive means interactive between said center and
`outer flaps to enable said outer flaps to securably
`overlap said center flap, thereby efi'ectively shortening
`the length of said second edge.
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`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
`invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
`description taken in connection with the accompanying
`drawing forming a part of this specification and in which
`similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in
`all the figures of the drawing:
`FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the shield
`device of the present invention shown in its packaged state.
`FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the shield
`embodiment of FIG. 1 as it would appear during use.
`FIG. 3 is a sectional side View showing the protector
`shown in association with the teeth and gums of a user of the
`protector.
`FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View of a storage container
`containing a multitude of the shield devices.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIGS. 1—3, an embodiment of the protector
`10 of this invention is shown comprised of paired shield
`devices 11 exemplified as being of identical construction and
`disposed in facing upper and lower relationship.
`Each shield device 11 is comprised of a thin, initially flat
`piece of film 12 of a polymer such as polyethylene or other
`polymers of comparable strength and relatively low cost.
`The piece of film 12 has a substantially rectangular perim—
`eter defined by parallel end extremities 13 and by straight
`parallel first and second long edges 14 and 15, respectively,
`of substantially equal length. However, as shown in FIG. 1,
`the second edge in the exemplified embodiment is rounded
`to meet said end edge extremities. The piece of film has a
`plane of symmetry 16 that vertically bisects the film between
`end extremities 13.
`
`Film 12 has two parallel slits 17 that begin at second edge
`15 and proceed toward first edge 14. Said slits create center
`flap 18 and embracing outer flaps 19.
`A strip 20 of compliant material is attached to the film
`along first edge 14. By “compliant”, it is meant that strip 20,
`initially flat and coplanar, can be manipulated to achieve
`diiferent contours which remain even when the deforma-
`tional force is removed. Typical materials which may be
`utilized for strip 20 include cardboard and certain plastics
`containing a high percentage of fillers such as talc, having
`plate-like crystal structure. The height of the film, measured
`between first and second edges,may range from about 11/2 to
`2V2 inches. The length of the film, measured between end
`extremities 13 may range from about 21/2 to 31/2 inches. The
`thickness of the film may range between 1 mil and 5 mils.
`Adhesive means,
`in the form of adhesive strip 21 is
`disposed upon center flap 18, and adapted to secure said
`outer flaps when said outer flaps are moved so as to partially
`overlap said center i flat. Such disposition is shown in FIG.
`2, wherein the overlapped regions 22 are of substantially
`triangular contour. Such securement of the overlapped outer
`flaps eflectively shortens the length of said second edge.
`Suitable adhesive means include pressure-sensitive coatings
`having aflinity for film 12 and which may be protected
`during storage by way of peel-off release papers 23.
`In use,
`two of the shield devices are removed from
`stacked storage in a dispensing device 24 and placed in the
`mouth such that the first edges are disposed upon the front
`gum lines and the compliant strip is pressed against the
`gums. The film of the upper device is then drawn upwardly
`
`PAGE 000003
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`PAGE 000003
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`3
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`4
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`5,462,067
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`around the lower extremities of the teeth. Release paper strip
`23 is removed, and outer flaps 19 are displaced toward
`center flap 18 so that a snug fit is secured. Outer flaps 19 are
`then pressed against adhesive means 21, causing securement
`of all three flaps. In such emplaced state, the device has a
`curved,
`trough-like shape,
`the bottom of the trough 25
`accommodating the tips of teeth 28 . It is to be noted that,
`when properly emplaced, second edge 15 will be above first
`edge 14 in said upper device.
`With respect to the lower device, placement is similar to
`that of the upper device except
`that certain positional
`relationships are symmetrically inverted. After use,
`the
`devices may be discarded.
`In certain embodiments, supplementary adhesive, such as
`the paste products currently employed to secure dentures,
`may be used to further enhance retention of the shield
`devices. The lower surface 26 of film 12 may be provided
`with a zone of toughened texture 27 along the site where
`upper and lower teeth come together. The toughened texture
`provides better gripping of food during chewing.
`While particular examples of the present invention have
`been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and
`modifications may be made therein without departing from
`the invention in its broadest aspects. The aim of the
`appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and
`modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
`invention.
`
`Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:
`1. A gum and teeth protector comprised of:
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`a) a piece of thin, initially flat polymeric film having a
`substantially rectangular perimeter defined by parallel
`end edges and straight parallel first and second edges of
`substantially equal length, said piece of film having two
`parallel slits beginning at said second edge and extend-
`ing toward said first edge in orthogonal relationship
`thereto, said slits defining a center flap and paired outer
`flaps,
`the height of said piece of film, measured
`between said first and second edges being between 11/2
`to 21/2 inches,
`
`b) a compliant strip disposed in association with said first
`edge, and
`c) adhesive means interactive between said center and
`outer flaps to securably overlap said center flap, thereby
`effectively shortening the length of said second edge.
`2. The protector of claim 1 wherein the length of the piece
`of film, measured between said end extremities, is between
`21/2 and 31/2 inches.
`3. The protector of claim 2 wherein the thickness of said
`piece of film is between 1 and 5 mils.
`4. The protector of claim 3 wherein overlapping of said
`outer flaps defines regions of triangular contour.
`5. The protector of claim 4 wherein said adhesive means
`is a pressure-sensitive coating protected by a peel-ofi release
`paper.
`6. A dispensing device comprising a multitude of the
`protectors of claim 5 stacked in flat form.
`
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`PAGE 000004
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`PAGE 000004
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