GB2423511A

GB2423511A - Cleaning vessel for dentures

Info

Publication number: GB2423511A
Application number: GB0504039A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Barry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-26
Filing date: 2005-02-26
Publication date: 2006-08-30
Also published as: GB0504039D0

Abstract

A cleaning vessel for dentures and the like comprising a first part (10) defining an internal chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, a perforate shelf (19) disposed in the chamber to receive an article to be cleaned, and a second part (13) removably engageable with the first part to form a sealed enclosure of the vessel which when closed may be inverted to cause fluid in the first part to pass through the perforate shelf (19) and through the article to be cleaned which may reside with the cleaning fluid in the upturned second part (13) until the cleaning process is complete whereupon the vessel may be re-inverted and opened to recover the cleaned article without the user coming into contact with the cleaning fluid.

Description

1 2423511

A CLEANING VESSEL

This invention concerns a vessel for cleaning such articles as dentures, for

example.

A object of the present invention is to provide such a vessel which may contain a sufficient quantity of cleaning fluid to submerge an article to be cleaned, with means for initially supporting the article in the vessel out of contact with the cleaning fluid whereby when the vessel is closed it may be inverted to cause the cleaning fluid to pass over the article to be cleaned and subsequently to be recontained within the vessel out of contact with the article such that a user need not come into physical contact with the cleaning fluid when placing the article into the vessel or when removing same after cleaning.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning vessel comprising a first part defining an internal chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, a perforate shelf disposed in the chamber above the base thereof to receive an article to be cleaned, and a second part removably engageable with the first part to form a sealed closure for the vessel.

The perforate shelf may be removable from the first part.

The second part may have a resilient sealing ring engageable with an interior wall surface of the first part when the vessel is closed.

The perforate shelf may have article retention means thereon.

The interior volume of the first part beneath the level of the shelf therein may be at least as great as the internal volume of the second part.

The interior volume of the first part beneath the shelf therein is at least equal to a volume great enough fully to enclose an article to be cleaned.

The first and second parts may be of a plastics material.

The shelf may be of a plastics material.

The resilient sealing ring may be retained within a groove in an outer wall portion of the second part.

At least one of the first and second parts of the vessel may support an outer casing member attached to the respective part thus to define an air gap therebetween.

The or each outer casing member may be of metal.

At least one finger grip may be provided on an outer wall portion of at least one of the first and second parts.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the parts of a cleaning vessel made in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the vessel with the parts shown separated.

The invention is intended to provide a vessel for cleaning, amongst other things, dentures. The dentures are cleaned using an effervescent substance usually in tablet form which conventionally is placed in a vessel containing water and into which the dentures may be introduced to reside in the effervescent cleaning fluid for a period of time until the dentures are clean.

Conventionally, it is necessary for a user to insert his fingers into the cleaning fluid to recover the dentures, or alternatively to use some retrieval tool.

Referring now to the drawings, a cleaning vessel made in accordance with the invention comprises a first part 10 having a base 11 and a cylindrical side wall 12 to form a container, and a second part 13 comprising a top 14 and a cylindrical side wall to form another container. A resilient sealing ring 16 of Neoprene or the like is retained within a groove 17 in the cylindrical wall 15 of the second part thus, when the first and second parts 10 and 13 are brought together as a push fit, to seal against the interior wall surface of the first part 10. The fit of the first and second parts together is sufficiently close, with the resilient sealing ring 60, as to retain the vessel in the closed condition until the parts are pulled apart.

Within the first part 10 and supported on a shelf 18 therein is a removable shelf 19 of a plastics material such as nylon and having apertures 20 at spaced position therein and an annular ring 21 upstanding from the surface of the shelf at a position radially inwards of its peripheral edge.

Disposed on the outer surface of the first part 10 is an outer casing 22, for example of stainless steel, which defines a narrow air gap between its inner surface and the outer surfaces of the base 11 and the cylindrical wall 12.

A similar outer caseing part 23 is disposed in the upper region of the second part 13, again defining a narrow air gap with the latter.

In use, the first part 10 is filled with water to a level just beneath the shelf 19.

The denture or other article to be cleaned is then placed upon the shelf 19 and a cleaning substance, usually in tablet form is also placed thereon. The vessel is then closed by pressing together the first and second parts. It may then be inverted so that the water passes through the appertures 20 and combines with the cleaning tablet and the denture all of which are then retained within the first part so that the cleaning process can take place. After a suitable period of time the vessel is inverted once again so that the cleaning fluid and any particulate or contaminant deposits are retained beneath the shelf 19 whereupon the cleaned article may be removed from the vessel without the user coming into contact with the contents beneath the shelf.

Since dentures and many other articles are cleaned using fluid at an elevated temperature, retention of the interior temperature is enhanced by the external casing members 22 and 23 and the narrow air gap formed therewithin.

If required, casing members 22 and 23 may be recessed as indicated at 24 and respectively to include instructional or advertising indicia. The first and second parts 10 and 13 are provided with circumferentially spaced finger grips 26 and 27 respectively, the latter of which may be dimpled or otherwise formed to facilitate separation of the first and second parts.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the details described herein. For example, the first and second parts may be threadedly engaged instead of a push fit.

The shelf 19 may be in the form of a stainless steel mesh. In place of water and a cleansing tablet, a pre-mixed cleaning liquid may be introduced into the vessel.

Claims

1. A cleaning vessel comprising a first part defining an internal chamber for receiving a cleaning fluid, a perforate shelf disposed in the chamber above the base thereof to receive an article to be cleaned, and a second part removably engageable with the first part to form a sealed closure for the vessel.

2. A cleaning vessel according to claim 1 wherein the perforate shelf is removable from the first part.

3. A cleaning vessel according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second part has a resilient sealing ring engageable with an interior wall surface of the first part when the vessel is closed.

4. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein the perforate shelf has article retention means thereon.

5. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein the interior volume of the first part beneath the level of the shelf therein is at least as great as the interior volume of the second part.

6. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein the interior volume of the first part beneath the shelf therein is at least equal to a volume great enough fully to enclose an article to be cleaned.

7. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second parts are of a plastics material.

8. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein the shelf is of a plastics material.

9. A cleaning vessel according to claim 3 wherein the resilient sealing ring is retained within a groove in an outer wall portion of the second part.

10. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the first and second parts of the vessel supports an outer casing member attached to the respective part thus to define an air gap therebetween.

11. A cleaning vessel according to claim 10 wherein the or each outer casing member is of metal.

12. A cleaning vessel according to any preceding claim wherein at least one finger grip is provided on an outer wall portion of at least one of the first and second parts.

13. A cleaning vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.