This invention relates to toothpicks and toothpick holders or frames.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Toothpicks are generally provided as single items, or in containers holding a plurality of separate toothpicks. They may be of wood or synthetic plastics. It is not generally practical for an individual to carry single toothpicks in their pockets, purse, handbag, etc. The toothpicks are easily lost, readily broken, and it is not very hygienic. Furthermore, the containers for holding a plurality of toothpicks are not generally designed for personal use, but rather for offering toothpicks for use in public places, such as restaurants.

It is important that toothpicks, and especially the pick end or ends, be protected from damage. Further, where a plurality of picks are provided in a container or holder it is important that each pick be securely retained and protected in the container or holder until it is required.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide toothpicks in a toothpick holder which provides a convenient personal package and which protects the toothpicks from damage, and/or which reduces or overcomes some of the above mentioned problems, or at least which provides the public with a useful alternative.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothpick holder comprising a support means and at least one toothpick, the or each toothpick having at least one connection to the support means, said support means providing protection for the one or more toothpicks from forces applied in at least two orthogonal directions.

In one preferred form said support means of a toothpick holder of the present invention may protect at least the longitudinal sides and one end of the one or more toothpicks in at least one plane.

In another preferred form of the invention the support means may surround said one or more toothpicks in one plane.

In a preferred form of the invention there may be a plurality of toothpicks.

In a preferred form, each toothpick may be connected to the support means at a handle end.

In a further preferred form of the invention in which the support means comprises a frame, adjacent toothpicks may be oppositely disposed in the support means, the handle ends of adjacent toothpicks connected to opposite sides of the support means.

In a further preferred form of the toothpick holder of the present invention, the support means may have a base plate adapted to attach the toothpick holder in a match-book-type folder.

In a further preferred form, the toothpick holder may further comprise at least one holding means for retaining a used toothpick.

Preferably said holding means may comprise a receiving means on the support means, said receiving means adapted to receive the handle end of a toothpick and hold said toothpick securely in the support means.

In a further preferred form of the toothpick holder of the present invention each toothpick may have a handle and a blade. Preferably said handle may have a polygonal cross-section, most preferably square.

In a preferred form of the invention said blade may have a triangular cross-section with an upper edge and angled sides forming a sharpened lower edge, said upper edge forming a point at one end, opposite the handle end, and said sharpened lower edge curving to meet said point of said upper edge to form the pick end of the toothpick.

Preferably, an angle between the sides of the blade at the sharpened lower edge may be between substantially 25 ° and 30° , and most preferably substantially 27° .

In one preferred form of the invention the toothpick holder may be made of plastics material, and preferably manufactured as a single piece by injection moulding.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothpick comprising a handle and a blade, said blade having a triangular cross-section, comprising an upper edge and angled sides forming a sharpened lower edge, and wherein said upper edge of said blade forms a point at one end, opposite the handle end, and said sharpened lower edge curves to meet said point of said upper edge to form a pick end of the toothpick.

Other aspects of the present invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 :

Shows a plan view of a toothpick holder of the present invention in one embodiment.

Figure 2:

Shows views from each end of the toothpick holder of figure 1 .

Figure 3:

Shows A. a side view and B. a plan view of one embodiment of a toothpick of a toothpick holder of the present invention.

Figure 4:

Shows a front end view of the toothpick of figure 3.

Figure 5:

Shows a plan view of a toothpick holder of the present invention in an alternative embodiment.

Figure 6:

Shows a toothpick holder of the present invention in a match- book-type folder.

DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A toothpick holder 1 of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, as shown in figure 1 , may comprise support means 2, base plate 3 and a plurality of toothpicks 4.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3 the support means 2 is a frame, substantially square or rectangular in shape. In this embodiment the support means 2 entirely surrounds the plurality of toothpicks 4 in one plane. Thus, pressure applied transverse to that plane, in the form of an unintentional force, would not cause individual toothpicks to bend and be dislodged from the support means 2. Intentional force applied within the frame to a single toothpick would however, be able to separate a toothpick for use. Further, the toothpicks 4, and especially the pointed or pick ends 5, are protected from damage by forces applied parallel to the plane of the support

means 2, i.e. the plurality of toothpicks 4 are situated within the plane of the support means and protected by its sides 6a, b, c, d.

Each toothpick 4 has a handle 7 and a blade 8. Referring to figures 3 and 4 it can be seen that, in a preferred embodiment, the handle 7 has a four-sided cross-section. The handle may alternatively have a circular or other polygonal cross-section. The blade 8 has a substantially triangular cross-section with a flat upper edge 9 and lateral sides 1 0 which form a lower knife edge 1 1 . The upper edge 9 forms a point 1 2 opposite the handle end. The lower knife edge 1 1 has a curved profile which from an apex 1 1 a curves to join the upper edge 9 at its point 1 2 to form the pick end 5 of the toothpick 4.

The angle at which the lateral sides 10 form the lower knife edge 1 1 is preferably in the range 25 ° - 30° and, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, is substantially 27 °.

Each toothpick 4 may be connected to the support means 2 at the end 1 3 of its handle 7 by a connection member 14, this connection member 14 having a narrowed or weakened portion 1 5 which enables the toothpick 4 to be separated from the support means 2 by bending the toothpick 4 out of the plane of the support means.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 adjacent toothpicks are oppositely disposed, and therefore connected to the support means 2 on opposite sides 6b, 6d. It will be appreciated that other configurations of toothpicks within the support means 2 are envisaged

and included within the scope of this invention. For example, the toothpicks may all point in the same direction with the handles all connected on the same side of the support means, as shown in figure 5.

It will also be appreciated that a square or rectangular shape of support means 2 is only one example of the shape of support means 2 envisaged. Other shapes are envisaged although less practical.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in figure 5, for example, in which the toothpicks 4 are all connected to the same side 6d of the support means 2, the support means 2 may only have three sides, comprising a base side 6d and two lateral sides 6a, b. With such a configuration the support means 2 would still provide protection against forces applied transverse to the plane of the support means, although less efficiently, as well as to forces applied parallel to the plane of the support means except at the open side.

Referring to figure 1 the support means 2 may also include a used toothpick receptacle 1 7. This receptacle 1 7 may comprise a slot 1 8 in a preformed part 1 9 of the support means 2. This slot 1 8 may have a cross-section corresponding with that of the end 1 3 of handle 7 of a toothpick 4, and is therefore adapted to receive the handle end 1 3 and hold it securely. Thus, once a toothpick 4 has been removed from the support means 2 for use, it may be returned to the support means for re-use. There may be a plurality of used toothpick receptacles 1 7 on the support means 2. However, it will be appreciated that in most

cases a single receptacle will be sufficient since the product is intended to be a personalised toothpick holder and it is envisaged that only a single toothpick would be in use at any one time.

The toothpick holder 1 of the present invention may be of plastics material, and the preferred form of manufacturing is by injection moulding. It will be appreciated however that toothpick holders and toothpicks of the invention may be made of any substantially rigid material.

The base plate 3 may be provided on a toothpick holder 1 of the present invention to enable the holder 1 to be incorporated into a match-book-type folder 20, as shown in figure 6. In this configuration advertising material can be applied to the folder 20, if required. Alternatively, it is envisaged that advertising material may be applied directly to the base plate 3.

It is also envisaged that toothpick holders 1 of the present invention may be packaged in sachet-type packages, such packaging again providing a source of advertising space.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example, and with particular reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.