It has previously been proposed to provide a device for cleaning teeth in the form of an element adapted to be inserted into the mouth and chewed. The element, of the prior proposed arrangement, comprises a deformable core having, on one side, two spaced apart upwardly directed support and, on the other side, two spaced apart downwardly directed supports. The two upwardly directed supports define between them a valley, and the two downwardly directed supports define between them an inverted valley. Bristles or inserts of an abrasive or cleaning material are located in the valley and in the inverted valley, such that when selected teeth are brought into engagement with the valley and the inverted valley, and the jaw is closed, the core is compressed and the bristles or abrasive material are brought into contact with the sides of the teeth, thus cleaning the teeth.

A prior proposed device to this type is relatively small, and is configured to be located between one or two upper teeth and one or two lower teeth at a time. The tooth cleaning process, if all teeth are to be cleaned, is relatively lengthy as the device has to be repositioned several times to complete the cleaning process.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved device for cleaning teeth.

According to this invention there is provided a device for cleaning teeth, the device comprising a deformable resilient core, the core presenting an upper part carrying bristles or an insert of cleaning or abrasive material in the form of a trough or valley, the lower part carrying bristles, or an insert of cleaning or abrasive material in the form of an inverted trough or valley, parts of the core having cut-outs to permit the core to flex in at least one plane.

Preferably, the core is provided with supports which define an upper trough or valley and a lower inverted trough or valley, each trough or valley being provided with bristles or an insert.

Conveniently, the cut-outs permit the core to flex in two orthogonal planes.

Advantageously, the core is a hollow core, the core having a plurality of cut-outs extending over substantially the whole length of the core.

Conveniently, the core is a hollow core which comprises at least two panels hingedly interconnected to define the upper part, and at least two panels hingedly interconnected to define the lower part, each panel being provided with a plurality of cut-outs.

Preferably, the cut-outs are each of triangular form.

Advantageously, each cut-out has a base which is coincident with a hinge-line joining the panels to an adjacent panel, and an apex adjacent the hinge-line joining the panel to another adjacent panel.

Preferably, on any panel the cut-outs alternate between cut-outs having their apex adjacent one adjacent panel, and cut-outs having their apex adjacent the other adjacent panel.

Conveniently, each insert is formed of packed cotton or a material incorporating abrasive fibres.

Preferably, the inserts are impregnated with dentifrice or another cleaning agent.

In order that the invention maybe more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the inner part of a core of a device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a view of the core provided with supports, FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic end view of a complete device for use in cleaning teeth in accordance with the invention, shown in use with incisor of teeth at the beginning of a chewing action, FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of a later stage in the chewing action, FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 at the end of the chewing action, FIGURE 6 is a side view illustrating the core in an initial position, FIGURE 7 is a top view showing the core in an initial position, FIGURE 8 is a side view corresponding to Figure 6 showing flexing of the core in a vertical plane, FIGURE 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing flexing of the core in a horizontal plane, FIGURE 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing an alternate form of flexing of the core in a vertical plane, FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 9 showing an alternate form of flexing of the core in a vertical plane, FIGURE 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 6 showing skewing of the core in a vertical plane, and FIGURE 13 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing skewing of the core in a horizontal plane.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a device 1 for cleaning teeth comprises a central core 1 which has resilient properties.

The core 1 is of generally hollow tubular form having a substantially "diamond"cross-section when viewed axially. Thus the core may be considered to comprise of four separate panels 2,3,4,5, and the panels are hingedly interconnected so that, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the core may flex resiliently. The panels may be formed of a material with some inherent rigidity, but the material should be capable of flexing resiliently in the manner to be described below.

However, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, various triangular-shaped segments of each panel have been cut away. To leave triangular cut-outs, such as the cut-out 6. Of course the core, if it is moulded, may be moulded with the cut-outs as an integral part of the design of the core.

Each cut-out that is cut away has an apex, such as the apex 7 which is located adjacent a hinge-line 8 between two adjacent panels. Each cut-out has, opposite the apex, a linear base 9 which lies in alignment with the hinge-line 10 between the panel of the cut-out and the next adjacent panel. Wherever a cut- out has a linear base 8 that is in alignment with the hinge-line, such as hinge- line 10, then a further cut-out 11 is provided in the adjacent panel that shares the same hinge-line.

It can be seen that there are five cut-outs provided in the panel 4, the first cut-out being orientated so that the apex is adjacent the hinge-line 8 between the panel 4 and the adjacent panel 3, and the base is co-aligned with the hinge-line 10 between the panel 4 and the other adjacent panel 5, the next cut-out having its apex adjacent the hinge-line 10 between the panel 4 and the adjacent panel 5, and its base aligned with the hinge-line 8 between the panel 4 and the adjacent panel 3. The next cut-out has the same orientation as the first described cut-out, thus having its apex adjacent the hinge-line 8 formed between the panel 4 and the adjacent panel 3, and its base coincident with the hinge-line 10 between the panel 4 and the adjacent panel 5. The fourth cut-out has the same orientation as the second cut-out with its apex adjacent the hinge- line 10 between the panel4 4 and the next adjacent panel 5, and its base coincident with the hinge-line 9 between the panel 4 and the next adjacent panel 3. The fifth cut-out by the same orientation is the first and third cut-outs.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that panel 3 has a pattern of cut-outs which is a mirror-image of the pattern of cut-outs provided on the panel 4. It will be understood that each panel will have a pattern of cut-outs which is a mirror- image of the cut-outs provided on the next adjacent panel, with the mirror- image being symmetrical about the hinge-line. In each panel the orientation of the cut-outs alternate between"apex up"and"apex down". The cut-outs thus present a"diamond"pattern.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the core 1 of Figure 1 is provided with a plurality of support elements 12 on its upper surface, with the support elements being configured to be supported by the parts of the panels 3 and 4 that are not cut-away. The support elements are segmented and are thus not totally evenly spaced along the core.

Each support element has a planar outer surface 13 which is, in an initial condition of the device, substantially vertical. Each support element has a curved inner surface 14, and the curved inner surfaces form, together with the upper part of the core, a trough or valley 15. The trough or valley is adapted to receive an insert 16 formed of a cleaning or abrasive material or may receive bristles, the bristles themselves having tips which define a trough or valley.

The insert 16 may be impregnated with a dentrifice or other cleaning agent.

Equivalent support elements are provided on the lower surface of the core 1 defining an equivalent, but inverted trough or valley 17 which will receive an insert 18, or bristles.

Thus, the core defines an upwardly open trough or valley receiving an insert in the form of a cleaning or an abrasive element which lines the trough, and a downwardly open inverted trough or valley which receives a corresponding insert.

Figure 3 illustrates a complete device including the central core as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the inserts.

It is intended that the device should be completely located within the mouth of the person who wishes to clean their teeth, and the complete device is shown, in Figure 3, between the incisors of a person who wishes to clean their teeth. The incisors and the adjacent canine teeth generally present an arcuate "bite"and it will be appreciated that the described device will automatically adopt a curved configuration, with the core being resiliently deformed, to accommodate the"bite"of the person using the device, so that the various supports define a trough or valley which is in alignment with a plurality of teeth, such as three or four teeth simultaneously. The nature of the"bending" of the core will be shown in greater detail hereinafter.

When the person begins to bite, the incisors move towards each other, and the device will then occupy the position shown in Figure 4. The central core is beginning to deform and the supports 12 on either side of the upper trough or valley 15, begin to move inwardly, moving the appropriate insert 16, into contact with the upper incisors to effect a cleaning action. Simultaneously of course, a similar effect is achieved in the lower trough or valley 17 with the insert 18 being brought into engagement with the lower incisors.

As the biting action continues, the described device is further deformed, thus causing the two inserts 16,18 to be brought firmly into contact with the entire exterior of each of the two illustrated incisor teeth and also the adjacent gums. It is important that the gum-line should be cleaned thoroughly, since the gum-line can prove to be a point where plaque and tartar build up, and such plaque and tartar may be a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria may cause not only gum disease, but also other diseases.

When the biting action has been completed, as shown in Figure 5, the bite will be released and, due to the resilience of the core, the describe device will return to the condition shown in Figure 3. Several biting actions may be completed before the described device is relocated to be aligned adjacent a different set of teeth, and the biting actions can then be repeated to clean those teeth.

Whilst the device has been illustrated cleaning incisor teeth, the device will operate in the same way when cleaning molar teeth.

It is to be appreciated that the core 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is very flexible and very adaptable. Not only will the core compress when subjected to a substantially vertical compressing force, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, but the core may flex or bend in other directions.

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, a side view and a top view of the core as shown in Figure 1. In this initial condition of the core, the core is"straight", and is not bent in any way.

As shown in Figure 8, the core may be bent to have an arcuate form when viewed from the side, and thus the core may be bent in a horizontal plane in one sense. Similarly, as shown in Figure 9, the core may be bent in a horizontal plane.

Whilst Figures 8 and 9 show one direction of bending, Figures 10 and 11 illustrate that bending in the opposite direction is equally possible.

It can be seen, that as the core bends, so the core is effectively deformed about virtual pivot points formed by the relatively short pieces of core which remain between the apex of each cut-out and the adjacent hinge-line. The deformation of the core is facilitated by the fact that the actual width of each cut-out, provided on each side of the relevant hinge-line, can contract slightly, in the region of the base, thus facilitating the flexing of the core.

As shown in Figures 12 and 13, it is possible for the arrangement to be "skewed", should this be desirable, with one end of the core being bent in one sense, and the other end being bent in the opposite sense.

This great"flexibility"of the core-by which is meant the ability of the core to adopt many different configurations, enables the device, as described, to mould itself automatically to the precise configuration of teeth that are being cleaned, thus helping ensure that the device provides an adequate cleaning action.

Any form of hollow core may be acceptable, including cores with circular or hexagonal or octagonal sections. Such a hollow core may be provided with cut-outs of many designs which permit flexing in one plane, or preferably (as described above) in two orthogonal planes, and the cut-outs are preferably of a"diamond"pattern. The cut-outs preferably extend over substantially the whole length of the core.

In the present Specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of' and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following Claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.