Ear cleaner device
An ear cleaning device is provided for removing debris from an ear. In one form, the ear cleaning device includes a shaft, a head connected to the shaft, and a contiguous pocket structure of the head. The contiguous pocket structure includes a plurality of pockets that may be configured to receive debris. In another form, the ear cleaning device has a handle, a bulbous cleaner connected to the handle, and a solid inner core of the bulbous cleaner. The bulbous cleaner has two or more spaced, longitudinal walls disposed outward of the inner core that are configured to remove debris with turning of the ear cleaning device about a longitudinal axis of the device.
1 . An ear cleaning device having a central, longitudinal axis, the ear cleaning device comprising:
an elongate body having a unitary, one-piece construction, the body including a pair of ear cleaners at opposite ends of the body, the body including a handle intermediate the ear cleaners;
at least one ear cleaner of the pair of ear cleaners including an elongate head configured to fit in a human ear, the head having a length extending along the longitudinal axis;
the head having a bulbous exterior shape;
the head including an inner shaft and a helical thread extending about the inner shaft;
the head having a trailing end connected to the handle and a leading end opposite the trailing end;
the helical thread of the head comprising:
a leading turn of the helical thread adjacent the leading end of the head, the leading turn having a first width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a trailing turn of the helical thread adjacent the trailing end of the head, the trailing turn having a second width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
an intermediate turn of the helical thread intermediate the leading turn and the trailing turn along the length of the head, the intermediate turn having a third width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is larger than the first width and is larger than the second width.
2 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the helical thread comprises a pair of helical scraping edges extending from the leading end to the trailing end of the head.
3 . The ear cleaning device of claim 2 wherein the helical thread comprises:
an inboard helical surface extending from the inner shaft to one of the helical edges; and
an outboard helical surface extending from the inner shaft to the other of the helical edges, the outboard helical surface on an opposite side of the helical thread than the inboard helical surface.
4 . The ear cleaning device of claim 3 wherein the helical thread comprises a radially outer, helical surface connecting the helical scraping edges.
5 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the helical thread comprises a pair of helical scraping edges extending from the leading end to the trailing end of the head; and
wherein the helical thread includes a helical outer surface connecting the edges and defining at least a portion of the bulbous exterior shape of the head.
6 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the head includes a helical groove extending around the inner shaft from the leading end to the trailing end, the helical groove defined at least in part by the helical thread and the inner shaft.
7 . The ear cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the helical groove has a closed end at the leading end of the head.
8 . The ear cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the helical groove has a closed end at the trailing end of the head.
9 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the leading end of the head includes a terminal outward convex surface.
10 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the leading end of the head includes a wall extending radially from the inner shaft; and
wherein the helical thread includes a leading end portion that extends away from the wall and around the inner shaft.
11 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the helical thread comprises a pair of helical scraping edges extending from the leading end to the trailing end of the head; and
wherein the head includes an axial scraping edge extending from the leading end of the head to one of the helical scraping edges.
12 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the intermediate turn of the helical thread extends completely around the inner shaft.
13 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the helical thread is a single helical thread that extends from the leading end to the trailing end of the head.
14 . The ear cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the ear cleaning device is made of an inedible material.