Oral Utensil

Abstract

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral utensil includes at least an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task, and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it abuts the palm of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral utensil comprising;
 an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough,   a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task,   and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P.   
     
     
         2 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al. 
     
     
         3 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion comprises a tongue brush. 
     
     
         4 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush. 
     
     
         5 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion comprises a portion of dental floss. 
     
     
         6 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The oral utensil of  claim 6 , wherein the coupling is substantially circular, thereby allowing rotation of the distal-end portion relative to the proximal-end portion. 
     
     
         8 . The oral utensil of  claim 7 , wherein there are detents disposed upon the rotational path of the coupling operatively configured to interfere with one another at at least two points along the rotational path, thereby defining positions. 
     
     
         9 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein a section of the surface of the proximal end portion is modified by means of one at least one of the following: a embossed pattern, a recessed pattern, or a portion of material having a distinct texture, surface finish, or appearance from the remainder of the proximal end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The oral utensil of  claim 9 , wherein there is a section of material disposed upon the surface of the proximal end portion selected from either thermoplastic or silicone. 
     
     
         11 . The oral utensil of  claim 1 , wherein there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil. 
     
     
         12 . An oral utensil comprising;
 an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough,   a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task,   and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al., and the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush.   
     
     
         13 . An oral utensil comprising;
 an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough,   a distal end portion configured for executing an oral care task,   and a proximal end portion having a protrusion extending in a substantially orthogonal relation from the longitudinal axis and positioned upon the proximal end portion such that it selectively abuts the palm of a user at a point P, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to depress pressure point as described by Scarbourough et al., wherein the distal end portion and proximal end portion a separate and distinct members having a complementary male-female coupling allowing them to be coupled to one another, and the distal end portion comprises a tooth brush, and wherein there is an aperture extending through the proximal end portion in substantially orthogonal relation to the long axis of the oral utensil.