Tongue cleaner

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tongue cleaner and provides a tongue cleaner comprising: a handle part that extends in the form of a rod so as to be graspable by hand by a user; and a tongue plague removal part which is formed at one end of the handle part and manipulated by the user to scrape and remove tongue plague stuck to the user's tongue while in contact with the surface of the tongue. The tongue plague removal part includes: a support plate coupled to the one end of the handle part; and a plurality of recessed portions formed on the support plate, wherein each of the plurality of recessed portions is open at the top and has a partition wall that protrudes from the surface of the support plate.

Description

tongue cleaner

[0001] The present invention relates to a tongue cleaner, and more particularly, to a tongue cleaner that can more smoothly and reliably remove tongue coating stuck on the tongue by using a plurality of concave portions.

[0002] It is known that 70% of bad breath that occurs in the mouth is caused by tongue coating (also called white coating) on ​​the tongue.

[0003] Tongue coating is known to form when bacteria or other germs multiply or cells deposit on the small protrusions on the tongue's surface, called papillae. This coating forms a layer of yellow or white sediment, and the sulfur content of this sediment contributes to bad breath.

[0004] To remove this coating, various tongue cleaners have been known. Most of these tongue cleaners utilize protruding structures, similar to toothbrush bristles. However, these structures can irritate the tongue, causing gagging and a significant foreign body sensation during use. Furthermore, these protruding structures, like toothbrush bristles, have the limitation of being poor at removing deposits from the tongue.

[0005] [Prior Art Literature]

[0006] Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2442635 (Published on September 8, 2022)

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tongue cleaner that can more smoothly and reliably remove tongue coating by using a plurality of concave portions.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tongue cleaner is provided, comprising: a handle formed in a rod shape extended so that a user can hold it by hand; and a tongue coating removal part formed at one end of the handle part and removing tongue coating stuck on the tongue by the user's manipulation while in contact with the surface of the user's tongue; wherein the tongue coating removal part includes a support plate coupled to one end of the handle part, and a plurality of concave parts formed on the support plate, and each of the plurality of concave parts has an open upper portion and a partition formed to protrude from the surface of the support plate.

[0009] Here, the plurality of concave portions may be arranged on the support plate so as to appear as a two-dimensional array when viewed from the front.

[0010] In addition, the bulkhead may be formed to protrude from the surface of the support plate so as to surround the inner surface of the concave portion, excluding the direction toward the handle portion, when viewed from the front.

[0011] Additionally, the inner surface of the concave portion may be formed into a curved surface.

[0012] In addition, the inner surface of the bulkhead is formed so that the thickness between the outer surface of the bulkhead and the inner surface of the bulkhead gradually increases from the upper portion of the concave portion toward the surface of the support plate when viewed from the side, and the outer surface of the bulkhead can be formed to protrude vertically from the surface of the support plate.

[0013] In addition, the bulkhead of each of the above concave portions may be formed to be inclined so that, when viewed from the side, the height thereof gradually decreases toward the handle portion.

[0014] According to the present invention, a tongue cleaner can be provided that can more smoothly and reliably remove tongue coating by using a plurality of concave portions.

[0015] According to the present invention, since it is possible to more effectively remove bad breath-causing substances such as tongue coating present on the surface of the tongue compared to the prior art, it is possible to eliminate bad breath occurring in the user's mouth and keep the mouth more clean.

[0016] Figures 1 to 3 respectively illustrate a perspective view, a front view, and a side view of a tongue cleaner (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tongue contact portion (20) of the tongue cleaner (100).

[0018] Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the tongue contact portion (20).

[0019] FIGS. 6 to 8 are drawings for explaining the state of use and the operating principle of the tongue cleaner (100). FIG. 6 shows a state in which the tongue cleaner (100) is in contact with the surface of the user's tongue (30). FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion A of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when viewed from the front, that is, from the user's front teeth, in the same state as FIG. 6.

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0021] Figures 1 to 3 respectively illustrate a perspective view, a front view, and a side view of a tongue cleaner (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] In addition, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tongue contact portion (20) of the tongue cleaner (100), and FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the tongue contact portion (20).

[0023] In addition, FIGS. 6 to 8 are drawings for explaining the state of use and the operating principle of the tongue cleaner (100). FIG. 6 shows a state in which the tongue cleaner (100) is in contact with the surface of the user's tongue (30), FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion A of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view when viewed from the front, that is, from the user's front teeth, in the same state as FIG. 6.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the tongue cleaner (100) according to the present embodiment includes a handle portion (10) and a tongue coating removal portion (20).

[0025] The handle part (10) is formed in an extended rod shape so that the user can hold it with his hand, and the tongue removal part (20) is formed at one end of the handle part (10).

[0026] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the snow removal unit (20) is formed in a roughly pentagonal shape when viewed from the front, but this is exemplary and it can be formed in a circular, triangular, square, or other shape.

[0027] The tongue coating removal unit (20) performs the function of removing tongue coating stuck on the tongue (30) by scraping it off through the user's manipulation while in contact with the surface of the user's tongue (30).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the user holds the handle (10) with his / her hand and brings the tongue cleaner (100) into contact with the surface of the tongue (30) and pulls the tongue cleaner (100) forward, i.e., toward the user's front teeth, thereby removing the tongue coating stuck on the tongue (30).

[0029] The snow removal part (20) is composed of a support plate (21) and a plurality of concave parts (22).

[0030] The support plate (21) is connected to one end of the handle portion (10), and a plurality of concave portions (22) are formed on the support plate (21).

[0031] The support plate (21) is shown as being formed in a flat surface, but this is exemplary and it is of course possible to form it in a curved surface as needed.

[0032] The plurality of concave portions (22) have an open upper portion as shown.

[0033] Here, the upper part means the side where the tongue coating removal part (20) comes into contact with the surface of the user's tongue when using the tongue cleaner (100) (see Fig. 6).

[0034] A plurality of concave portions (22) can be arranged on the support plate (21) so that they appear as a two-dimensional array overall when viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] It is preferable that the plurality of concave portions (22) are arranged in close contact, side by side, and continuously as shown, but this is exemplary and it is of course possible to arrange them on the support plate (21) with a gap between them.

[0036] Each concave portion (22) has a partition wall (221) that protrudes from the surface of the support plate (21). By virtue of this partition wall (221), a concave space (222, see Fig. 7) with an open upper portion can be formed inside the concave portion (22).

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the bulkhead (221) can be formed to protrude from the surface of the support plate (21) so that it appears to surround the inner surface of the concave portion (21) except for the direction toward the handle portion (10) among the inner surface (223) of the concave portion (22) when viewed from the front.

[0038] For example, the bulkhead (221) can be formed to appear in a semicircular shape when viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] However, this is an example, and it is of course possible for the bulkhead (221) to be formed in a shape such as a square or triangle when viewed from the front.

[0040] Meanwhile, the inner surface (223) of the concave portion (21) formed by the bulkhead (221) can be formed into a curved surface.

[0041] For example, the inner surface (223) of the concave portion (21) can be formed as a rounded surface corresponding to the outer surface of the sphere, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0042] For example, the inner surface of the bulkhead (221) can be formed to have a thickness between the outer surface (224) of the bulkhead (221) and the inner surface (223) of the bulkhead (221) that gradually increases from the upper portion of the concave portion (22) toward the surface of the support plate (21) when viewed from the side, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby forming the inner surface (223) of the concave portion (21) into a curved surface.

[0043] In this case, the outer surface (224) of the bulkhead (221) is formed to protrude vertically from the surface of the support plate (21).

[0044] By the partition wall (221) formed in this manner, a concave space (222) formed as a curved surface can be provided inside the concave portion (22) by the partition wall (221), as shown in FIG. 7.

[0045] In addition, the partition walls (221) of each concave portion (22) can be formed to be inclined so that, when viewed from the side, the height thereof gradually decreases toward the handle portion (10), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0046] This inclined structure allows the user to remove tongue coating more smoothly when pulling the tongue coating removal unit (20) toward the front teeth while in contact with the tongue surface.

[0047] Next, the method of use and operating principle of the tongue cleaner (100) will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0048] First, as shown in Fig. 6, the user holds the handle (10) in his hand and brings the surface of the tongue (30) into contact with the surface of the tongue removing part (20), that is, the surface of the concave part (22), and while lightly pressing the tongue removing part (20) toward the tongue (30), pulls the handle (10) toward the front teeth.

[0049] In this case, as shown in Fig. 7, since the concave space (222) of the concave portion (22) provided by the partition wall (221) is hollow on the inside, a protrusion (31) is created that slightly protrudes toward the concave space (222) on the surface of the tongue (30).

[0050] This is because, as described above, a concave space (222) is provided within the concave portion (22) by the inner surface (223) and outer surface (224) of the partition wall (221). In a state as shown in Fig. 7, the user continuously pulls the handle portion (10) toward the front teeth, so the protrusion (31) of the tongue (30) is also continuously formed on the entire surface of the tongue (30).

[0051] Accordingly, the protrusion (31) of the tongue is pressured toward the concave space (222) of the concave portion (22) as indicated by the arrow, and the tongue coating caught on the tongue (30) is also pressured in the direction of the arrow, so that the removal of the tongue coating can be more easily achieved over the entire surface of the tongue (30).

[0052] Meanwhile, Fig. 8 shows a state similar to Fig. 6 as viewed from the user's front teeth, and referring to this, it can be seen that the contact portion (32) where the partition (221) between the concave portions (22) comes into contact with the tongue (30) is formed in the form of a sharp edge.

[0053] In this state, the contact portion (32) is continuously moved toward the front teeth while in contact with the surface of the tongue (30) by the user's operation, so that the contact portion (32) presses the surface of the tongue (30) and at the same time slightly spreads the tissues such as the protrusions (lingual papillae) on the surface of the tongue (30), making it easier to remove the tongue coating. In addition, in this state, as the inner surface (223) of the partition (221) moves toward the front teeth, the tongue coating can be removed as described above.

[0054] In the above, the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and variations are of course possible within the scope of the present invention as understood by the attached claims and drawings.

Claims

1. A handle portion formed in a rod shape so that the user can hold it with his / her hand; and A tongue coating removal part formed at one end of the handle part and which scrapes and removes tongue coating stuck on the tongue by the user's manipulation while in contact with the surface of the user's tongue Including, The above-mentioned snow removal part includes a support plate coupled to one end of the handle part, and a plurality of concave portions formed on the support plate, A tongue cleaner, characterized in that each of the plurality of concave portions has an open upper portion and a partition formed to protrude from the surface of the support plate.

2. In claim 1, A tongue cleaner characterized in that the plurality of concave portions are arranged on the support plate so as to appear as a two-dimensional array when viewed from the front.

3. In claim 1, A tongue cleaner characterized in that the above-mentioned bulkhead is formed by protruding from the surface of the support plate so as to surround the inner surface of the concave portion, excluding the direction toward the handle portion, when viewed from the front.

4. In claim 3, A tongue cleaner characterized in that the inner surface of the above concave portion is formed into a curved surface.

5. In claim 4, The inner surface of the above bulkhead is formed so that, when viewed from the side, the thickness between the outer surface of the bulkhead and the inner surface of the bulkhead gradually increases from the upper portion of the concave portion toward the surface of the support plate. A tongue cleaner characterized in that the outer surface of the above-mentioned bulkhead is formed to protrude vertically from the surface of the above-mentioned support plate.

6. In claim 3, A tongue cleaner characterized in that each of the partition walls of the above concave portions is formed to be inclined so that, when viewed from the side, the height thereof gradually decreases as it goes toward the handle portion.

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