Intraoral appliance for cleaning teeth

Abstract

The self-contained intraoral appliance includes first and second substantially rigid bands ( 12, 14 ) configured to fit along the outer and the inner surfaces of a row of teeth in the mouth. A motor ( 20 ) driven by a battery is connected to the bands through a connecting assembly ( 2, 24, 28, 34, 40 and 44 ) in such a manner as to provide substantially complete coverage of top surfaces of molar teeth. Brush elements ( 16, 18 ) are mounted on the surfaces of the bands to provide cleansing of the teeth.

1 . A self-contained intraoral dental apparatus for cleaning teeth, comprising:
 a first substantially rigid band ( 12 ) configured to fit along the outer surfaces of at least one row of teeth in the mouth;   a second substantially rigid band ( 14 ) configured to fit along the inner surfaces of said one row of teeth;   a motor assembly ( 20 ), including a battery ( 23 ), for driving the first and second bands;   an assembly ( 22 ,  24 ,  28 ,  34 ,  40 ,  44 ) connecting the motor to the first and second bands such that one end of the first band moves through a displacement path while the other end remains substantially stationary, and such that one end of the second band moves through a displacement path while the other end thereof remains substantially stationary; and   brush elements ( 16 ,  18 ) attached to the bands, with such a configuration that the teeth are cleaned in operation of the appliance,   wherein the brush elements are configured to give substantially complete coverage of the exterior and interior surfaces of the teeth during operation of the appliance,   and further wherein the brush elements are configured and the bands move in such a manner to provide substantially complete coverage of top surfaces of molar teeth.   
     
     
         2 . A self-contained intraoral dental apparatus for cleaning teeth, comprising:
 a first substantially rigid band ( 12 ) configured to fit along the outer surfaces of at least one row of teeth in the mouth;   a second substantially rigid band ( 14 ) configured to fit along the inner surfaces of said one row of teeth;   a motor assembly ( 20 ), including a battery ( 23 ), for driving the first and second bands;   an assembly ( 22 ,  24 ,  28 ,  34 ,  40 ,  44 ) connecting the motor to the first and second bands such that one end of the first band moves through a displacement path while the other end remains substantially stationary, and such that one end of the second band moves through a displacement path while the other end thereof remains substantially stationary; and   brush elements ( 16 ,  18 ) attached to the bands, with such a configuration that the teeth are cleaned in operation of the appliance,   wherein the appliance includes two sets of first and second bands to cover all the teeth in the mouth,   wherein the connecting assembly includes a swash plate assembly ( 62 ,  64 ,  68 ) which is mounted at an angle relative to the bands to produce generally circular motion between the bands in each set, resulting in a vertical brushing action on the teeth.   
     
     
         3 . The dental appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is approximately 15° from a reference line. 
     
     
         4 . The dental appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the motor and drive shaft are oriented vertically in the mouth when the appliance is operatively positioned therein. 
     
     
         5 . The dental appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the motor and drive shaft are oriented horizontally in the mouth when the appliance is operatively positioned therein. 
     
     
         6 . The dental appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting assembly further includes a plate connecting a drive shaft of the motor to the one end of the first band and the one end of the second band, and wherein the other end of the first band and the other end of the second band are fixed in position. 
     
     
         7 . A self-contained intraoral dental appliance for cleaning teeth, comprising:
 a first substantially rigid band ( 106 ) configured to fit along the outer surface of at least one row of teeth in the mouth;   a second substantially rigid band ( 108 ) configured to fit along the inner surfaces of said at least one row of teeth;   at least one motor assembly ( 110 / 112 ), including a battery therefore, wherein the motor has a motor body connected by a plate ( 114 ) to ends of the first and second bands, one motor assembly having a drive shaft ( 115 / 116 ) and an eccentric weight ( 116 / 118 ) attached to the drive shaft, which in operation is free running; and   brush elements attached to the bands, with such a configuration that the teeth are cleaned in operation of the appliance.   
     
     
         8 . The dental appliance of  claim 7 , including two first and second bands, arranged to provide cleaning of both the upper and lower rows of teeth. 
     
     
         9 . A self-contained intraoral apparatus for massaging gums, comprising:
 a first substantially rigid band ( 121 ) configured to fit along the outer surfaces of the upper or lower gums in the mouth;   a second substantially rigid band ( 122 ) configured to fit along the inner surfaces of said upper or lower gums;   a motor assembly ( 127 ), including a battery, for driving the first and second bands;   an assembly connecting the motor ( 129 ) to the first and second bands such that one end of the first band moves through a displacement path while the other end remains substantially stationary, and such that one end of the second band moves through a displacement path while the other end thereof remains substantially stationary; and   massage elements ( 124 ,  126 ) attached to the bands, with such a configuration that the gums are massaged in operation of the appliance.