Personal Ear Cleaning Device

This invention relates to a personal ear cleaning device which is capable of being used safely by a person to clean his own ears as and when required. More particularly, the invention relates to an ear cleaning device of the general type described in my earlier patent 83/6818.

In my said earlier patent 83/6818 I described and claimed an ear cleaning device which simply comprised an operative end for insertion into the ear passage or canal to collect wax or other dirt therein; a manipulating handle whereby the equipment may be held; and means whereby the introduction of the elongate device was limited to a depth insufficient to cause damage to the eardrum and, in fact, whereby the operative end is maintained a safe distance away from the eardrum. Such means are most conveniently a stop suitably positioned intermediate the operative and handle ends of the device.

A drawback of the ear cleaning device described in my earlier patent is that no means is provided for cleaning the outer regions of the ear canal so that, even after cleaning using that device, wax or other dirt can remain at the entrance to the ear canal, or a short distance inwardly therefrom, which may be unsightly.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an ear cleaning device comprising an elongate member formed at one end, the operative end, with a collection formation; at the opposite end with a handle or finger grip; a stop formation intermediate the ends of the elongate member adapted to limit the extent to which the operative end can be inserted into an ear canal; and, positioned between the stop formation and the collection formation, a resiliently deformable, soft plug of cleaning material for engaging and cleaning the ear surface in the region of the entrance to the ear canal.

Further features of the invention provide for the plug of cleaning material to be made of a material selected from the group comprising foam plastic or rubber material, cottonwool, or a mat of suitable fibers optionally bonded to each other to form the plug of material; for the shape of the plug of material to be selected from part-spherical, truncated conical, truncated conical with concave sides, or ellipsoidal, optionally with deep grooves formed in the surface of the solid shape for collecting wax or other dirt; for the collection formation to be defined by at least one loop (a first loop) located at the end of the elongate element with an optional second loop orientated at an angle to the first loop in each of which cases the remote end or ends of the loop or loops may be indented, alternatively the collection formation is defined by at least one arcuate scraper (a first scraper) located at the end of the loop or loops may be indented, alternatively the collection formation is defined by at least one arcuate scraper (a first scraper) located at the end of the elongate element with an optional second scraper oriented at an angle to the first loop; for the stop to be located at a distance from the extreme operative end of the collection formation equal to approximately one half of the distance between the entrance to the ear canal and the eardrum of an average person; and, for the elongate device itself to be injection molded from soft, resiliently deformable, plastics material.

Preferably, the stop formation assumes the form of a disc, conveniently a dished disc, such that a smooth part-spherical surface is presented to the entrance to the ear canal. Also, a region of the handle is preferably substantially circular in cross-section and suitably knurled or otherwise roughened to enable the device to be rotated, such as between a forefinger and thumb.

In order that the invention may be fully understood various different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation illustrating an ear cleaning device according to the invention in the operative position in an ear canal;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 a, b, c, d and e each illustrate, in isometric view, a different form of operative end or collection formation which is regarded as being suitable for implementing the invention; and

FIG. 4 a, b and c illustrate three alternative forms of cleaning plug for installation between the stop and collection formation.

As described in my said earlier patent, and as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 1, the general principles of the invention are that an ear cleaning device comprises an elongate member (1) having, at one end thereof, an operative collection formation (2) and, at the opposite end, a handle (3). A convex stop (4) is located intermediate the ends and is positioned such that the collection formation (2) can only enter the ear canal (5) to the extent of about one half of the length thereof. This is considered to be adequate for the removal of most wax deposits and the like. The convex stop (4) is arranged to prevent further insertion of the device as shown clearly in FIG. 1.

As provided by this invention there is interposed between the stop (4) and the collection formation (2), a plug (6) of cleaning material which may, as indicated above, be a foam plastic material or a matted fibrous material whereof the fibres are preferably stuck together and spaced apart considerably to provide a porous nature to the plug. The plug may also be made of cottonwool if required.

The outer surface (7) of the plug may have a variety of different shapes one of which is shown in FIG. 2. In this case the shape is simply an elongate, convex plug tapering downwardly from the stop towards the collection formation (2).

Finally, the central region (8) of the handle is of reduced diameter and knurled or otherwise roughened so that it can be twirled between a finger and thumb for example.

In use, it will be understood that the ear cleaning device is held by the handle and the operative wax collection formation inserted into the ear canal until such time as the stop engages the outer ear. At this stage the cleansing plug (6) will lightly engage the entrance to the ear canal for a short distance from said entrance.

The element is then manipulated using the handle, and twirled as required, so that wax can be collected in the collection formation (2) and, simultaneously, the outer region and entrance to the ear canal is cleaned by means of the plug.

The actual configuration of the collection formation may vary widely. Five different proposals are illustrated in FIGS. 3a, b, c, d and e respectively. In the case of the variation illustrated in FIG. 3a, two substantially circular shaped loops (9), each located in a plane including the axis of the cleaning device, but angularly offset at 90.degree. to each other, are provided. These loops are resiliently deformable and, as with the remainder of the element, made of soft injection molded plastics material such as SANTOPRENE.RTM. a registered trademark of Monsanto Company exclusively licensed to Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P. for thermoplastic rubber marketed by Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P. of Akron, Ohio.

It is also within the scope of this invention that a single circular loop (10) be used as illustrated in FIG. 3b. The free end of the loop may also be indented as indicated by numeral 11 in FIG. 3c.

It may be that a spiral formation such as is indicated by numeral 12 in FIG. 3d, will be desirable because, in such a case, cleaning of the collection formation is very much facilitated as it can simply be drawn through a cloth or wad of cottonwool to remove wax therefrom.

As an alternative to the hollow centered loops described in FIGS. 3a to d, arcuate scrapers (18) can be used as shown in FIG. 3e. In this embodiment two such scrapers (18) are located in a plane including the axis of the cleaning device and are angularly offset at 90.degree. to each other. The scrapers (18) are solid and project from a discoid base (19).

FIGS. 4a, b and c illustrate three different shapes of plug which can be used. FIG. 4a illustrates a truncated ellipsoidal shape of plug (13). FIG. 4b illustrates a truncated conical shaped plug with concave sides as illustrated by numeral 15. This figure also illustrates the concept of having grooves (16) extending deep into the plug and providing space for accommodating wax of other dirt removed by the plug during use.

FIG. 4c illustrates a simple truncated conical shaped plug (17).

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, the collection formation and portion of the elongate element passing through he plug 14 may be made removable from the handle in order to provide disposable end pieces. The product itself may be made either as a disposable product or as a more elaborate re-usable product. The exact shape and configuration of the collection formation may be varied widely as can the shape of the plug and the material from which it is made.