Multifunctional disposable oral hygiene appliance

Abstract

An oral hygiene device having an integrally formed, elongate member with opposed first and second ends. The member including first and second handle portions defined near the first and second ends of the member, respectively, a scraping portion defined between the first and second handle portions and having a generally arc-shaped cross-section defining a longitudinally extending, concave channel along the member between the first and second handle portions, a spoon defined at the first end and inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the member, and a generally rectangular blunt fine edge defined at the second end.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An oral hygiene device comprising: 
 an integrally formed, single-body elongate member having opposed first and second ends, said member including:    first and second handle portions defined near said first and second ends of said member, respectively;    a scraping portion defined between said first and second handle portions and having a generally arc-shaped cross-section defining a longitudinally extending, concave channel along said member between said first and second handle portions;    a spoon defined at said first end and inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of said member, said spoon having first and second surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is concave and another one of said surfaces is convex; and    a generally rectangular blunt fine edge defined at said second end.    
     
     
         2 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein the scraping portion includes at least one working surface defined along a perimeter edge of the concave channel for scraping a tongue when dragged thereacross.  
     
     
         3 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 2  wherein said scraping portion includes two working surfaces defined along opposite perimeter edges of said concave channel such that one of said working surfaces is sharper than another of said working surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said spoon is covered with a brushing element impregnated with dental hygiene powders.  
     
     
         5 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said fine edge is covered with a brushing element impregnated with dental hygiene powders.  
     
     
         6 . The oral hygiene device according to claims  4  or  5  wherein said brushing element is selected from a group consisting of bound cotton, synthetic fibers and masses of foams.  
     
     
         7 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein an absorbent material is mounted along said concave channel.  
     
     
         8 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said member comprises a flexible resilient material such that said member assumes a straight shape but which can be bent to enable scraping of a tongue.  
     
     
         9 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said handle portions include grasping elements.  
     
     
         10 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said fine edge includes first and second surfaces wherein one of said surfaces is concave and another one of said surfaces is convex.  
     
     
         11 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein said fine edge is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said member.  
     
     
         12 . The oral hygiene device according to  claim 1  wherein material used to fabricate said member is selected from the group consisting of bamboo, wood, polyethylene and nylon.