Such a device is known from US 4,237, 574 in the name of Kelly et al.

Said device provides a cleaning action, which is obtained by inserting the teeth in said U-shaped channel and forming a chewing action. Although said device is said to yield an acceptable cleaning of the teeth, a disadvantage of said system is that the teeth are only in contact with the activators (bristles) if the teeth are completely inserted in the U-shaped channel. A further disadvantage of this known system is that it is not possible to accurately seal the space formed by the U-shaped channel from the oral cavity, because of the obligatory chewing action of the teeth.

The present invention aims at providing an oral cleaning device which does not provide the disadvantages of the known system.

The present invention especially aims at providing an oral cleaning device which provides a fully automatic system for cleaning the teeth.

Furthermore, the present invention aims at providing an oral cleaning device with which the gums of the jaws are massaged, preferably in combination with a cleaning action of the teeth and the gums.

The present invention also aims at providing an oral cleaning device which is cheap, easy to manufacture and with which a good cleaning of the teeth can be obtained.

In order to provide at least one of the above- mentioned objects, the invention relates to an oral cleaning device as defined in claim 1.

Since the activators, which preferably are comprised of bristles, make a rotary movement, a good cleaning action of all teeth which are received in said U-shaped channel is obtained, whereas all teeth are cleaned simultaneously. Since the axis of rotation of said activators is directed

essentially perpendicular to the contact surface of the activators with said teeth, a good cleaning action is obtained.

It is preferred that the activators are provided with a rotary shaft. One end of said rotary shaft can be connected to the activators, whereas said shaft comprises, at a position away from the activators, rotation means for inducing a rotary movement to the shaft, and hence to the activators. These rotation means may be chosen from the group comprising at least gear wheels, fluid turbines and the like.

If gear wheels are provided, the oral cleaning device may also be provided with a wire, said wire comprising lateral protrusions which interact with said gear wheel, such that when said wire is moved longitudinally, said shaft and activator are rotated. Such embodiment provides an oral cleaning device which can be manufactured cheap and easy. Of course, said wire may contact each activator's rotation means, so as to have each activator rotate. It is possible, however, that some predetermined activator (s) is (/are) not rotated, if such is preferred in some specific embodiments.

It is also possible to provide the rotation means with fluid turbines, which are positioned in a fluid conduit.

If a fluid is forced through said conduit, a rotary movement is imposed on the turbines. As a consequence, the activators are rotated. If it is preferred that not all activators are rotated, provisions may be made that said activators are not connected to the fluid conduit or that these do not hace any rotation means. It is very convenient to have the fluid conduit connected to a pump by means of fluid pipes, with which an automatic rotary movement of the activators can be obtained. It is especially preferred if said fluid conduit, fluid pipes and pump consist of a closed system.

If the activators are rotated by means of a wire, as mentioned above, it is preferred that said wire comprises two ends which are positioned outside said cleaning device, and which ends each comprise an actuation handle. This handle may be grasped by a person. By moving the wire, in a sort of

flossing movement, the activators are rotated hence and forth.

It is also possible to have the wire connected to for example a motor, which is rotated reciprocally. Then, an automatic rotation is imposed to the activators.

Herein before, reference is made to activators.

Activators may be comprised of bristles or of soft, flexible cups. Bristles are ideal means to clean the teeth, whereas cups are ideal means to massage the gums. However, bristles and cups can be used for both purposes.

The oral cleaning device according to the present invention, may be made such that the body and the activators are formed as a single unit. However, the invention also relates to a cleaning device wherein said device is comprised of a body having a U-shaped channel, and wherein the bristles are inserted in said U-shaped channel in the form of an inlay. In accordance with this embodiment, the inlay comprising said activators may be removed from the body and an other inlay may be inserted, which is preferred if several people use the same body.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an oral cleaning device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the oral cleaning device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the oral cleaning device according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the oral cleaning device in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of an automatic oral cleaning device in accordance with the invention when in use.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the oral cleaning device in accordance with the present invention. The oral cleaning device 1 comprises a

body 2 which has a U-shaped channel 3. In the U-shaped channel 3 bristles 4 are provided at two opposite walls 5 each at the side of the bottom of the U-shaped channel 3. The bristles 4 are rotatably connected to the walls 5 of the body 2.

A wire 6 is provided having two ends 7, 8. Each end 7,8 is provided with a handle 9, 9'. These handles may be grasped, so as to impose a reciprocating movement to the wire 6. The wire 6 extends through the body 2 of the oral cleaning device 1, and actuates the bristles 4.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the oral cleaning device as shown in fig. 1. In the body 2 of the cleaning device 1 through holes 10 are provided. The bristles 4 are connected to a first end of a shaft 11, whereas a second end of said shaft extends into said through holes 10.

The shaft 11 is provided with rotation means 12. These rotation means are at the circumference provided with indentations and protrusions respectively, alongside of which the wire 6 is guided. The wire 6 is provided with protrusions 13 which interact with the indentations of the rotation means 12.

Provision is made that the wire 6 is kept in intimate contact with the rotation means 12. Therefore, if the wire 6 is moved, by exerting a drawing force on one handle 9 or 9'and releasing the other handle 9'or 9, the rotation means are actuated upon by said wire 6 by means of the protrusions 13, such that a rotary movement is imposed on the bristles 4.

Since the bristles are rotated, a person using this oral cleaning device 1 can easily insert his teeth in the U- shaped channel 3, 3', and actuate the wire 6, such that the bristles 4 are rotated. Thus, a cleaning action on the teeth (not shown) is performed.

The bristles may be provided with some toothpaste, as known in the art. So as to keep the toothpaste within the channels 3, 3', a membrane 13, 13', is provided at the top side of the U-shaped parts of the cleaning device. These membranes 13, 13'provide a retention for any fluids within

the channels 3, 3'. Thus, any spilling of cleaning fluids, bleaching fluids or any other substances is reduced or prevented.

In fig. 2 the rotation means 12 are comprised of gearlike means, but the invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, fluid turbines may be used, which may have any convenient shape, and which are actuated by means of a fluid which flows through said through holes 10 (which then will be a fluid conduit 10). Of course, the form of the through holes (fluid conduit) 10 will be adapted to provide a suitable rotation action to the turbines and hence to the bristles 4.

Although the teeth are not shown in fig. 2, it will be clear that the bristles 4 will contact the surface of the teeth, and the ends 14 of the membranes 13 will contact the gums of the jaws. Also, the ends 22 of the cup-like bases of the bristles, will rotate and perform a massaging action to the gums. This is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the oral cleaning device 1 in accordance with the present invention.

In fig. 3, the bristles 4 are replaced by flexible membranes 15 in the form of cups. These cups 15 can be rotated and provide a massaging and cleaning action to the teeth and the gums of the jaws. These cups may be formed circular, but may also be formed elliptical (as shown in the figure).

Furthermore, nozzles 16 are shown, through which a liquid, for example a cleaning liquid, a polishing liquid, or a whitening liquid, and the like, can be added to the U-shaped channels 3, 3' (not shown).

As shown in fig. 4, the cups 15 may be rotated by means of the wire system, described in relation to figures 1 and 2.

A liquid medium may be added to the U-shaped channels 3, 3', through the nozzles 16. For example, these liquids may be forced through the cavity 17.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective, schematic view of an automatic cleaning device, which is used by a person 18. The

oral cleaning device 1 is inserted into the mouth of said person 18. In this case, the means for imposing a rotatory action to the activators is connected with a device 19 through pipes 20, 20'. For example, if the rotatory movement is imposed by means of a fluid, a fluid is forced through pipe 20'by means of said device 19, through the fluid conduit in the oral device 1, and imposing a rotatory action to the activators, after which said fluid is forced through pipe 20 to the device 19. For example, if said fluid is also used to rinse the teeth, said liquid can be discarded through the exit pipe 21. It is also possible that the liquid is filtered, after which the filter's liquid is forced through the pipe 20'to the oral cleaning device, whereas the contaminants are discarded through the pipe 21.

The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as shown in the figures and as described before.

The activators may be placed on three walls of the U-shaped channel, as shown in fig. 4, but it is also possible that two bristles, as shown in fig. 2, are accomodated in the U-shaped channel. The size and the number of bristles, as well as their disposition in the U-shaped channel, may be chosen according to the size of the jaw and of the teeth, and may be changed with respect to the length, diameter, flexibility, hardness, density, inclination and the like.

Although the wire type device, as shown in figures 1,2, 3,4, is comprised of a manual type, it may also be connected to a motor, which automatically provides the reciprocating movement to the wire.

If an automatic device is used, it is advisable that a control system is added to said device, such that if an activator is trapped into the teeth structure, the device will be shut off.

Finally, the device may be provided with containers for fluids to be added to the bristles. Examples are washing and/or bleaching agents, liquid tooth pastes, microabrasive polishing granulates, whitening gels, fluoride therapy agents, and the like.

Also, if an automatic system is used, a timer may be provided. In a first step, a fluid may be added to the oral cleaning device, for example a whitening agent, after which the pump, forcing said fluid to the cleaning device, is stopped, and after a predetermined period of time, the said liquid is removed from the cleaning device and a rinsing fluid is optionally added, by means of said pump.