U.S. patent application number 09/887401 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-10 for superior toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Graham, Marilyn.
Application Number | 20020002753 09/887401 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26908563 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020002753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graham, Marilyn |
January 10, 2002 |
Superior toothbrush
Abstract
A toothbrush for cleaning the entire mouth having a solid
straw-like support base (6) which is completely surrounded at one
end by a cylindrical formation of radically extending tufts of
bristles (8) implanted in rows and creating a dome like formation
at the tip of the cylindrical bristle formation.
Inventors: |
Graham, Marilyn; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Marilyn Graham
10202 Club Creek, # 1408
Houston
TX
77036
US
|
Family ID: |
26908563 |
Appl. No.: |
09/887401 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60213974 |
Jun 24, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1066 20130101;
A46B 9/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 009/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for cleaning the teeth and entire mouth, the device
comprising a solid straw-like support base; rows of tufts of
radically extending bristles implanted in and completely covering
the end portion of said straw-like support base resulting in a
cylindrical formation of said bristles and ending in a dome-like
formation of bristles at the tip.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/213,974 filed Jun. 24, 2000.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to toothbrushes, specifically to a
toothbrush adapted for the thorough cleaning of the entire
mouth.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] Previously various devices have been used in an attempt to
clean the teeth and entire mouth thoroughly in order to prevent
tooth decay, plaque, tartar, halitosis and gum disease.
[0006] These devices have included toothpicks, floss, including a
variety of flossing devices, tongue scrapers and irrigation
devices. These cleaning devices have done an unsatisfactory job as
they do not clean thoroughly, are only ment for use in small and
limited areas, and in some cases, cannot be reused.
[0007] Still, the most effective and widely used of all these
cleaning devices is the conventional toothbrush. These have
included toothbrushes with bristles of various lengths, angles and
bristles that cross. Toothbrushes with angled, flexible and various
shaped bristle support heads. Toothbrushes with angled and
irregular shaped handles, electrical toothbrushes and folding
toothbrushes.
[0008] However, while most of these toothbrushes are inexpensive to
manufacture and do a basic job of cleaning, they fail to do a
thorough job of cleaning the teeth, gums, tongue and entire
mouth.
[0009] This failure of the conventional toothbrush is due to the
fact that in all the different variations of the conventional
toothbrush, the bristles are on only one side of the bristle
support head. This makes it difficult and time consuming to
thoroughly clean the easy to reach areas of the teeth, gums, tongue
and mouth, missing some areas entirely as the user has to keep
adjusting the angle of the toothbrush to clean different areas.
Also, the user can only clean one area at a time. Additionally, it
is impossible to clean the hard to reach areas of the mouth, for
example, the back of the mouth where the gums contact the cheek,
also, under the tongue. Because there are no bristles at the
extreme tip of the bristle support head, when the user attempts to
clean that area, it is impossible to angle the toothbrush so that
the bristles can contact the area.
[0010] This lack of thorough cleaning of the teeth, gums, tongue
and entire mouth can cause dental problems, such as, plaque,
tartar, tooth decay, gum disease and halitosis.
[0011] Also, being aware that the conventional toothbrush is not
doing a thorough job of cleaning, the user, because of the
flattened shape of the body of the toothbrush, tends to use too
much pressure resulting in abrasion and permanent damage to the
teeth.
[0012] Thus, all the toothbrushes heretofore known suffer from
these disadvantages:
[0013] (a) They do not clean the teeth, gums, tongue and mouth
thoroughly.
[0014] (b) The user has to keep adjusting the angle of the brush in
order to clean different areas,
[0015] (c) They are time consuming to use.
[0016] (d) They cannot reach the hard to reach areas of the mouth,
thus leaving those areas uncleaned.
[0017] (e) They invite the use of excessive pressure when brushing,
causing permanent damage to the teeth.
SUMMARY
[0018] In accordance with the present invention a toothbrush
comprises a solid straw like base formation completely surrounded
at one end by tufts of bristles implanted in rows to achieve a
cylindrical formation.
[0019] Objects and Advantages
[0020] Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the
cleaning devices described above, several objects and advantages of
the present invention are:
[0021] (a) to provide an extremely efficient toothbrush that is
easy to use, of simple construction and economical to
manufacture;
[0022] (b) to provide a toothbrush that cleans the easy to reach
areas of the mouth thoroughly;
[0023] (c) to provide a toothbrush that will clean surrounding
areas simultaneously;
[0024] (d) to provide a toothbrush that will clean the areas of the
mouth that are impossible to clean with other cleaning devices;
[0025] (e) to provide a toothbrush that can clean the gum line and
all other areas of the mouth without the user adjusting its
angle;
[0026] (f) to provide a toothbrush that will eliminate the
possibility of the user brushing too hard;
[0027] (g) to provide a toothbrush that will lessen the time spent
cleaning the teeth.
[0028] Further objects and advantages are to provide a toothbrush
that is inexpensive to purchase, can be used by people of all ages
to prevent plaque, tartar, halitosis, tooth decay, gum disease and
abrasion of the teeth. Still further objects and advantages will
become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and
drawings.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0029] In the drawings, closely related figures have the same
number but different suffixes.
[0030] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the toothbrush as view from both
sides.
[0031] FIG. 2 show a longitudinal sectional view taken from line
2-2 of FIG. 1A.
[0032] FIG. 3 show a transverse sectional view taken from line 3-3
of. FIG. 1B.
[0033] As shown in the drawings, the toothbrush of the present
invention comprises of four simple parts, namely, a solid
straw-like base 6, bristles 8 and a small metal plug 10.
DESCRIPTION
[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B--Preferred Embodiment
[0035] A preferred embodiment of the toothbrush of present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B (views from both
sides).
[0036] While the solid straw-like base 6 may be made from other
simular material, it is at present preferred to form it as a
molding in part or in whole of a suitable plastic material which is
rigid, strong, will not easily snap and is capable of securely
anchoring bristles.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a solid straw like form 6
extends from a gripping area at one end, to a bristly area, or
bristle support head at the other end 6a.
[0038] Tufts of bristles 8 which extend radically, are implanted
securely 8a at one end in the bristle support head 6a. The bristles
8 are implanted in rows in a cylindrical formation completely
covering the bristle support head 6a, terminating in a dome like
formation at the tip of the bristle support head 6a.
[0039] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4--Additional Embodiments
[0040] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in each case the interior of the
toothbrush is shown.
[0041] FIG. 2 show the sectional view taken from line 2--2 of FIG.
1A. As shown in FIG. 2, tufts of radically extending bristles 8 are
implanted 8a in rows completely covering the bristle support head
6a including its tip.
[0042] FIG. 3 show a transverse view of the bristle support head 6a
taken from 3-3 of FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 3, the bristles 8 are
securely implanted 8a in rows in the bristle support head by
bending the tufts of bristles 8 measuring twice the required length
in half and implanting said bristles 8a in the bristle support head
6a, securing the bristles with a small flat rectangular metal plug
equal to width of fold in bristles, as is the mothod used in
conventional toothbrushes.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows the exploded view of a tuft of bristles 8. It
shows portion of bristles implanted 8a in bristle support head 6a
bent in half at mid length 8b. A small flat retangular metal plug
10 equal to width of bristle fold 8b secures the bristles 8a in the
bristle support head 6a, the bristles converging to form a common
unit 8 as they emerge from the bristle support head 6a.
[0044] Advantages
[0045] From the description above, a number of advantages of my
toothbrush become evident:
[0046] (a) Since the solid straw-like base of my toothbrush is
smaller in width then the flattened base of the conventional
toothbrush, less material would be needed to manufacture it.
[0047] (b) The thorough cleaning of the entire mouth due to the
cylindrical formation of the bristles and the hundreds of
additional bristles.
[0048] (c) The ability of cleaning impossible to reach areas of the
mouth due to the dome like formation of bristles at the tip of the
bristle support head.
[0049] (d) The ability of my toothbrush to clean surrounding areas
simultaneously.
[0050] (e) The smaller straw-like base of my toothbrush makes it
impossible to use excessive pressure when brushing.
[0051] (f) The routine of cleaning the teeth will be less time
consuming.
[0052] Operation--FIGS. 1A and 1B
[0053] The manner of using the Superior to clean the teeth, gums,
tongue and entire mouth is identical to that of the conventional
toothbrush Namely, the toothbrush as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is
used after applying toothpaste to the toothbrush. Next, the user
proceeds to clean the teeth, gums, tongue and entire mouth as one
would with the conventional toothbrush.
[0054] Conclusion, Ramifications and Scope
[0055] Accordingly, the reader will see that the toothbrush of this
invention has superior cleaning ability over the conventional
toothbrush and other teeth cleaning devices. Futhermore, the
Superior Toothbrush's cylindrical bristle formation has the added
advantage in that:
[0056] it cleans the impossible to clean areas;
[0057] it cleans thoroughly;
[0058] it cleans surrounding areas simultaneously;
[0059] it cleans without having to re-adjust its angle;
[0060] it prevents the user from using too much pressure when
brushing;
[0061] it reduces the time required for brushing.
[0062] Although the above description contain many specifications,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention, but rather as an exemplification of some os the
presently perferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the
said solid straw-like base could be make of variety of materials.
It could be hollow, spiral, looped, a hinge could be added to make
it fold and convient for travel, a wire core could be used to
anchor the bristles. The bristles could be implanted in a different
design, for example, a swirling design, Also. the bristles could be
of different lengths, inclined or crossed.
[0063] Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by
the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the
example given.
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