U.S. patent application number 10/326664 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for twin-headed toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Brice, Michael F..
Application Number | 20030135944 10/326664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32680747 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030135944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brice, Michael F. |
July 24, 2003 |
Twin-headed toothbrush
Abstract
A toothbrush includes: a handle shaped and dimensioned to be
grasped by a human hand; necks coupled to the handle; bristle
supports coupled to the necks; and bristles coupled to the bristle
supports. The toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to the
bristle supports and the necks, is configured to adapt to a
dento-gingival junction and all other changing surfaces encountered
during brushing to disrupt plaque. The necks provide (i) resistance
above 0.35 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii) resiliency
below 3.77 kilograms of brushing pressure force. The bristles, the
necks, and the bristle supports, in combination, provide (i)
resistance above 0.55 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii)
resiliency below 3.89 kilograms of brushing pressure force.
Inventors: |
Brice, Michael F.; (Syosset,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTON BOGGS LLP
2550 M Street, NW
Washington
DC
20037-1350
US
|
Family ID: |
32680747 |
Appl. No.: |
10/326664 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10326664 |
Dec 23, 2002 |
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09596081 |
Jun 16, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1066 20130101;
A46B 5/0012 20130101; A46B 9/026 20130101; A46B 5/0062 20130101;
A46B 5/0066 20130101; A46B 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 009/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toothbrush comprising: a handle shaped and dimensioned to be
grasped by a human hand; a first neck coupled to the handle; a
second neck coupled to the handle; a first bristle support coupled
to the first neck; a second bristle support coupled to the second
neck; a plurality of first bristles coupled to the first bristle
support; and a plurality of second bristles coupled to the second
bristle support, wherein the toothbrush, through the bristles
coupled to the bristle supports and the necks, is configured to
adapt to a dento-gingival junction and all other changing surfaces
encountered during brushing to disrupt plaque, wherein the necks
provide (i) resistance above 0.35 kilograms of brushing pressure
force and (ii) resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing pressure
force, and wherein the bristles, the necks, and the bristle
supports, in combination, provide (i) resistance above 0.55
kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii) resiliency below 3.89
kilograms of brushing pressure force.
2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the first bristle support and
the second bristle support are twin articulating heads.
3. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the brushing pressure force
is between 1.05 kilograms and 2.35 kilograms.
4. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i)
resistance above 0.35 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii)
resiliency below 3.68 kilograms of brushing pressure force.
5. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i) lateral
resistance above 0.65 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii)
lateral resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
6. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide resistance
above 1.8 kilograms of brushing pressure force, and wherein the
bristles, the necks, and the bristle supports, in combination,
provide (i) resistance above 1.95 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
7. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i) lateral
resistance above 1.93 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii)
lateral resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
8. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide resistance
above 1.42 kilograms of brushing pressure force, and wherein the
bristles, the necks, and the bristle supports, in combination,
provide (i) resistance above 1.63 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
9. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i) lateral
resistance above 1.47 kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii)
lateral resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
10. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide resistance
above 0.68 kilograms of brushing pressure force, and wherein the
bristles, the necks, and the bristle supports, in combination,
provide (i) resistance above 0.84 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
11. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i)
lateral resistance above 0.78 kilograms of brushing pressure force
and (ii) lateral resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing
pressure force.
12. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide resistance
above 0.83 kilograms of brushing pressure force, and wherein the
bristles, the necks, and the bristle supports, in combination,
provide (i) resistance above 1.05 kilograms of brushing pressure
force.
13. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the necks provide (i)
lateral resistance above 1.19 kilograms of brushing pressure force
and (ii) lateral resiliency below 3.77 kilograms of brushing
pressure force.
14. A toothbrush comprising: a handle shaped and dimensioned to be
grasped by a human hand; a first neck coupled to the handle; a
second neck coupled to the handle; a first bristle support coupled
to the first neck; a second bristle support coupled to the second
neck; a plurality of first bristles coupled to the first bristle
support; and a plurality of second bristles coupled to the second
bristle support, wherein the first bristle support and the second
bristle support are twin articulating heads, wherein the plurality
of first and second bristles have a stiffness, and the first and
second necks have a resiliency, a flexibility and a bending
resistance, and wherein the resiliency, flexibility and bending
resistance of the necks are set depending upon both (i) a brushing
force and (ii) the stiffness of the bristles, such that the
toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to the necks, adapts to a
dento-gingival junction and all other changing surfaces encountered
during brushing to disrupt plaque.
15. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein (i) the plurality of first
and second bristles have the stiffness, and (ii) the first and
second necks and the first and second bristle supports have the
resiliency, the flexibility and the bending resistance, and wherein
the resiliency, flexibility and bending resistance of the necks and
the bristle supports are set depending upon both (i) the brushing
force and (ii) the stiffness of the bristles, such that the
toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to the bristle supports
and the necks, adapts to the dento-gingival junction and all other
changing surfaces encountered during brushing to disrupt
plaque.
16. A toothbrush comprising: a handle shaped and dimensioned to be
grasped by a human hand; a first neck coupled to the handle; a
second neck coupled to the handle; a first bristle support coupled
to the first neck; a second bristle support coupled to the second
neck; a plurality of first bristles coupled to the first bristle
support; and a plurality of second bristles coupled to the second
bristle support, wherein the first bristle support and the second
bristle support are twin articulating heads, wherein the plurality
of first and second bristles have a stiffness, and the first and
second necks have a resiliency, a flexibility and a bending
resistance, and wherein the stiffness of the bristles is set
depending upon both (i) a brushing force and (ii) the resiliency,
flexibility and bending resistance of the necks, such that the
toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to the necks, adapts to a
dento-gingival junction and all other changing surfaces encountered
during brushing to disrupt plaque.
17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein (i) the plurality of first
and second bristles have the stiffness, and (ii) the first and
second necks and the first and second bristle supports have the
resiliency, the flexibility and the bending resistance, and wherein
the stiffness of the bristles is set depending upon both (i) the
brushing force and (ii) the resiliency, flexibility and bending
resistance of the necks and the bristle supports, such that the
toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to the bristle supports
and the necks, adapts to the dento-gingival junction and all other
changing surfaces encountered during brushing to disrupt
plaque.
18. A toothbrush comprising: a handle shaped and dimensioned to be
grasped by a human hand; one or more necks coupled to the handle;
one or more bristle supports coupled to the one or more necks; and
a plurality of bristles coupled to the one or more bristle
supports; wherein the toothbrush, through the bristles coupled to
the one or more bristle supports and the one or more necks, is
configured to adapt to a dento-gingival junction and all other
changing surfaces encountered during brushing to disrupt plaque,
wherein the one or more necks provide (i) resistance above 0.35
kilograms of brushing pressure force and (ii) resiliency below 3.77
kilograms of brushing pressure force, and wherein the bristles, the
one or more necks, and the one or more bristle supports, in
combination, provide (i) resistance above 0.55 kilograms of
brushing pressure force and (ii) resiliency below 3.89 kilograms of
brushing pressure force.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/596,081, filed
Jun. 16, 2000.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This invention relates to toothbrushes. More particularly,
this invention relates to contour adaptive toothbrushes.
[0003] As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,121,520 and 5,499,421
issued to the present inventor, Michael Brice, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference, to effectively clean
teeth and gum areas complex maneuvering of a toothbrush is
necessary. It is generally acknowledged that the great majority of
individuals brush their teeth and gum surfaces primarily in a
horizontal and semi-circular manner, even though this particular
technique is not deemed to be the best way of cleaning the teeth
and gum surfaces. There are two reasons why most individuals resort
to this ineffective technique. First, conventional brushing heads
are not particularly designed to follow the contours of the teeth
and gum surfaces, and as an extension of the human arm do not
permit complicated and exact maneuvers to be performed. Second,
most brushing takes place in the early morning when one first
arises and in the evening just prior to retiring. This is a factor,
as demanding complicated procedures for this time of day and night
are beyond the tolerance of most individuals. For these reasons,
most individuals resort to a simple natural horizontal or
semi-circular conventional brushing technique.
[0004] Numerous attempts have been made in the past as shown, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 860,840 to Strassburger, U.S. Pat. No.
3,742,549 to Scopp et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,67,360 to Marthaler
et al. to improve the design of the toothbrush such as the bristles
and/or the head. U.S. Pat. No. 860,840 to Strassburger discloses a
toothbrush having two rows of bristles sloped in opposite
directions relative to each other, and a central section of
bristles arranged parallel to and located between the two outside
rows. However, these prior toothbrushes do not simultaneously
and/or independently accommodate different contours of the
teeth.
[0005] In other patents, adjacent head portions of a toothbrush are
made to pivot or flex relative to the handle portion so that the
bristles are better able to conform to the contours of the teeth
and gum surfaces. Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
928,328 to Carpentier, U.S. Pat. No. 2,266,195 to Hallock, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,152,349 to Brennesholtz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,199 to Del
Rosario, U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,328 to Hyman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,405
to Reed, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,054 to Rauch. More particularly,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,199 to Del Rosario and U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,328
to Hyman disclose a toothbrush having a single discreet brushing
head that can be pivoted about the handle. The Del Rosario patent,
in addition, discloses a brushing head that can rotate about three
planes.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 1,928,328 to Carpentier, U.S. Pat. No.
2,266,195 to Hallock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,349 to Brennesholtz and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,405 to Reed show a toothbrush head capable of
flexing or articulating relative to the handle. Specifically, the
brushing head comprises a plurality of serially arranged flexing
head segments, wherein the segments flex in union or relative to
each other.
[0007] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,054 to Rauch discloses a
toothbrush head having three arranged brushing segments, whereby
the central segment is aligned with the handle and the two segments
on either side are symmetrically arranged relative to the central
segment. The bristles on the outer sides of the Rauch patent have
narrow, blade-like, contact points which are likely to induce
excessive pressure to the gum due to the narrow contact points. In
other words, the narrow blade-like bristles inherently place higher
excessive concentrated pressure on the gum more so than bristles
with a larger contact area.
[0008] None of these toothbrushes are directed to overcoming
ineffective brushing techniques, or the individual's anatomically
limited abilities to effectively clean the curvilinear surfaces of
the teeth and provide for gentle stimulation of the varying gum
tissues without harm or discomfort for the user, for example, by
utilizing side-by-side arranged brushing heads.
[0009] In addition, none of these toothbrushes provide for the
discreet functioning of one or more brushing heads as separate
elements by addressing the force exerted by the user (hereinafter
"the X Value"), the resistance/resiliency characteristics of the
molecular density of the material used in conjunction with the
structural dimensions of the toothbrush (hereinafter "the Y
Value"), in concert with the resistance/resiliency of the bristle
body as separate functioning elements of the uniform bristle body
mass (hereinafter "the Z Value"), as well as the lateral resistance
characteristics of the one or more necks (hereinafter "the L
Value").
[0010] Moreover, none of these toothbrushes enables the varying of
the brushing pressure, in accordance with the proclivity of the
user, in order to prevent excessive pressure from being applied to
the gums and/or gingival tissue or from injury to the tooth
enamel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the left and right side handles
of one embodiment of a toothbrush;
[0012] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the insert of the toothbrush in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the left and right side handles
in which the handles are slightly turned to enable a partial view
of the top of the left and right side handles of the toothbrush in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a top view similar to FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of a toothbrush,
with the left and right handles being slightly separated;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a view of the toothbrush in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows the Certificate of Calibration supplied by the
Mark 10 Corporation for model No. EG20, Serial No. 41629, dated
Oct. 11, 2002;
[0018] FIGS. 7-9 shows force diagrams to address and understand the
Y, Z, and L values; and
[0019] FIG. 10 shows the contour-adaptive-functioning of the
toothbrush in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Presently, it is only generally known that a neck or a head
of a toothbrush can be "resilient." To achieve full
contour-adaptivity of a toothbrush, however, specific forces,
resistances and resiliencies of the toothbrush have to be addressed
and understood. As a result, full "functioning" of a toothbrush has
not been possible as the dynamic-interaction between a user and the
toothbrush, as well as the forces, resistances and resiliencies of
the toothbrush, have not been addressed, appreciated and/or
understood.
[0021] One embodiment of a toothbrush includes one or more necks
and/or uniform bristle body mass offering resistance and then
providing resiliency as to brushing forces as may be applied to
achieve full contour-adaptivity of the toothbrush. One can
appreciate the toothbrush from the standpoint of a machine having
moving parts wherein the force and/or energy of the user is
harnessed (the power source) and the moving parts of the toothbrush
are dependent upon the understanding of degree of force over a
range of user variants and what is required to resist such force
and at what point or value of such force in which such resistances
incorporated into the toothbrush become resilient. Full functioning
of the toothbrush is not possible without this knowledge and the
lack of such knowledge prevents any toothbrush from realizing
dynamic contour adaptivity that provides workability and full
functionality for the user in the application and use of the
toothbrush. Therefore, merely stating that a toothbrush is
resilient does not provide any degree of knowledge as to what is
required on the part of the toothbrush to function.
[0022] The embodiment of toothbrush may provide resistance to the
brushing force by the flexible neck portions to the degree that
such one or more necks resist such force and then become resilient
to such force based upon the resistance/resiliency characteristics
of the neck structures meeting obstructions. The separate and
combined neck structures also provide contour-adaptivity by being
directly related to the resistance and resiliency characteristics
of the one or more bristle body heads. The resistance/resiliency of
the bristle body heads is related to the neck structures, and may
correspond to the force(s) exerted by the user. The bristle body
heads may be configured to provide resistance to the changing
curvilinear structures encountered during brushing.
[0023] The toothbrush may then achieve proper functioning of its
one or more brushing heads, and provide alternate addressing and
penetration of the dento-gingival junction of the tooth/teeth/gum
structures (e.g., the gingival margin) so as to respond
independently with the inside and adjacent rows of bristles of each
head in maintaining contact and orientation to such gingival-margin
areas of each individual during brushing. The toothbrush also may
provide an instrument for cleaning teeth and gingival tissue that
enables a user to achieve correct tooth brushing pressure. In
addition, the toothbrush may include one or more heads that respond
to the pressure exerted by the user to enable effective
tooth/gingival tissue cleaning, without tooth or gingival damage.
Furthermore, the toothbrush may be configured to coordinate the
brushing force of a user (designated as "the X Value") with the
structural dimensions and the molecular density of the materials of
the toothbrush (designated as "the Y Value"), in conjunction and
concert with the one or more discreet and combined bristle body
mass offering resistance and resiliency characteristics (designated
as "the Z Value").
[0024] The toothbrush may include: a handle to be grasped by a
human hand; a first neck extending from the handle; a second neck
extending from the handle parallel to the first neck; a first
bristle support attached to the first neck; a second bristle
support attached to the second neck; a plurality of first bristles
extending from the first bristle support; and/or a plurality of
second bristles extending from the second bristle support. The
plurality of first and second bristles may be formed of a
stiffness. The first and second necks may be formed of a
predetermined resiliency, flexibility and bending resistance. The
value of the stiffness relative to the predetermined resiliency,
flexibility and bending resistance may be set in accordance with a
predetermined brushing force to be applied by the bristles to
achieve the full functioning of the one or more articulating heads
in making and maintaining contact with the dento-gingival
junction.
[0025] The embodiments described herein have been included for
purposes of illustrating the principals of the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the
configurations and constructions as illustrated and/or set forth
herein.
[0026] Also, throughout the illustrations of different embodiments,
the same or equivalent elements have been identified with the same
reference numerals.
[0027] FIGS. 1-3 show one embodiment of the left (L) and right (R)
handles of a dual headed toothbrush 10. Conventional molding
equipment may be used to form the integral right handle (R) and
integral left handle (L). The right and left handles may include
handles 12L and 12R, neck portions 13L and 13R and/or the brushing
heads 14L and 14R. The right and left handles may be molded
polymers of amorphoric resins and/or semicrystalline resins. The
heads may be held flat to drill holes for the brushes and plug
bristles 15 into the holes (see FIG. 3). The bristles have a
stiffness, which can range from soft to hard to vary the resiliency
and resistance presented by the bristles to the teeth and gums
during brushing. The bristles may be cut to any desired length,
shape and/or profile, and polished in accordance with commercially
known techniques.
[0028] The left and right handles may be brought together and
welded along the handles 12L and 12R by conventional bonding and
welding techniques. For example, the Branson Ultrasonic
Corporation, manufactures and sells commercial vibrational and
ultrasonic welding machines capable of welding various types of
plastics.
[0029] As discussed above, the toothbrush is configured to be
dependent upon understanding and addressing the force exerted by
the user in brushing his or her teeth ("the X Value"), meeting the
resistance, resiliency characteristics of the molecular density of
the material used in conjunction with the structural dimensions of
the neck elements ("the Y Value"), achieving alternate functioning
of the brushing heads in concert with the resistance/resiliency
characteristics of the discreet and combined uniform bristle body
mass ("the Z Value") in maintaining contact with the dento-gingival
junction with the inside and adjacent rows of bristles of each
independently articulating brushing head. Addressing each of these
factors (values), and the elements for carrying out each of these
factors, provides for the proper functioning characteristics of the
toothbrush.
[0030] The toothbrush is dependent on characteristics of necks 13L
and 13R, and brush heads 14L and 14R to achieve the proper
functioning of the toothbrush. Moreover, the toothbrush can work
(function) with the use of a cushioned insert 16 in the handle (see
FIGS. 1A and 1B). The embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the
toothbrush without the use of a cushioned insert 16.
[0031] The inclusion of the cushioned insert, which can be made of
a rubber having a stiffness which varies from soft to hard can
increase the sensitivity for the user. The increase in sensitivity
occurs as a result of the pressure transmitted by the user through
the thumb being totally or partially absorbed by said insert. The
insert can be of any shape or design which fits into a similarly
shaped cavity provided in the left and right handles. The insert 16
is shown to have an oval top. Moreover, the oval shaped inset 16 is
provided with a rectangular base 16B. The rectangular base 16B
slides into a rectangular cavity 16C formed during the molding
operation of the left and right handles. A suitable adhesive may be
used to hold the rectangular base 16A of insert 16 in cavity 16C of
the handles. Thereafter the bonding of the left and right handles
may insure the permanent retention of insert 16 in the finished
toothbrush. Also, the insert may be made of rubber and shaped to
accommodate the thumb of the user. The resiliency characteristics
of the rubber can be varied to accommodate the pressure exerted on
the brush through the thumb of the user. Thus the stiffness of the
rubber insert can be varied from soft to hard to provide a range of
cushioning characteristics.
[0032] Further, the polymers used to make the left and right
handles can be selected to increase or decrease the flexibility,
resiliency and resistance of the necks 13L and 13R of the left and
right handles. Similarly, the stiffness of the bristles 15 of the
brushing heads 14L and 14R can be selected to range from soft to
hard to vary the resiliency and resistance presented by bristle to
the teeth and gum of the user.
[0033] The embodiments of the toothbrush provide for the adaptation
of the toothbrush to the changing surfaces of the differing
tooth/teeth/gingival structures of the user encountered during
brushing by the one or more self-responding, self articulating
brushing heads (see FIG. 10). Addressing and understanding the X,
Y, Z and L values allow for the full, proper and safe functioning
of the toothbrush.
[0034] The independent contour-adaptivity of the one or more
brushing heads is dependent upon critical and exact understanding
of the forces involved during brushing:
[0035] X-Value=force of the user;
[0036] Y-Value=resistance/resiliency of the one or more necks
(resistance to force/load);
[0037] Z-Value=the resistance/resiliency of the one or more bristle
heads working in conjunction with the one or more necks; and/or
[0038] L-Value=Lateral resistance characteristics of the one or
more necks combined.
[0039] Method of Determining Forces, Resistances &
Resiliencies
[0040] All laboratory testing utilized the Digital Force &
Torque Gauge supplied by the Mark 10 Corporation of Hicksville,
N.Y. The model used for this testing is the Series EG20 Digital
Force Gauge, which is calibrated in pounds, kilograms and/or
millinewton. Such compression determination was calibrated in
kilograms for establishing the necessary and exact forces,
resistances and resiliencies for the functioning requirements of
the toothbrush. FIG. 6 illustrates the Certificate of Calibration
supplied by the Mark 10 Corporation for model No. EG20, Serial No.
41629, dated Oct. 11, 2002.
[0041] All calibrations were completed using a fixture constraining
each flexible/resistant element in a fixed position (see FIGS. 7-9)
wherein such forces were applied either (1) deflecting such bristle
uniform masses to 50% of their natural fixed vertical orientation
and (2) wherein such measurements were established deflecting necks
to 3/8ths from their "natural" fixed molded positions.
[0042] Calibration of forces (1): (Y Value) Initial resistance,
then subsequent resiliency of the neck structures. The method
employed here concerned having the handle portion of the toothbrush
fixed in a holding fixture replicating the handle being grasped by
a human hand and, allowing the necks (unsupported, as it would be
in normal brushing) to deflect and/or flex to a degree of 3/8ths of
an inch off of their "natural" fixed and/or molded position upon
such force that would yield their deflecting to this 3/8ths of an
inch (see FIG. 7). Such deflecting (3/8ths of an inch) allows the
toothbrush to achieve optimum contour-adaptivity of all surfaces
encountered during brushing and, in particular, the achieving of
contacting and removing plaque from the dento-gingival junction of
all individuals using the toothbrush.
[0043] Calibration of forces (2): (Z Value) Vertical deflecting to
50% of fixed (without any pressure being applied) vertical
orientation of such bristle body mass and/or structure(s) wherein
such pressure was applied to deflect such bristle body mass(es) to
50% off of vertical. This method provides the degree of resistance
necessary to derive the degree of force required to produce such
deflection. The bristle-body mass, upon 50% of deflection, provides
the Z Value (see FIG. 8).
[0044] Calibration of forces (3): (X Value) All calculations here
utilized establishing the average force applied by the average user
of toothbrushes, single-headed or otherwise. These calculations
incorporated gauging what force was required to deflect such
bristle structure/masses to 50% off their "natural" vertical
orientation. Additionally, the same method as described in (1)
above was used where each different handle was constrained in said
fixture replicating the same holding orientation of the average
user of a toothbrush allowing the necks and/or neck element of the
toothbrush to deflect the same 3/8ths of an inch off of their
normal fixed positions to replicate the average movement range
occurring during "normal" brushing.
[0045] Calibration of forces (4): (L Value) Lateral
resistance/resiliency of the individual and/or combined neck
structures of the toothbrush. These calibrations were determined
having the individual neck segments/structures fixed as described
in (1) and (3) above wherein such force was applied allowing each
segment to deflect laterally, again, 3/8ths of an inch replicating
the movement of the brush head(s) combined as the individual uses
the "upward and downward" movement during brushing (see FIG. 9).
(This movement being distinct from the individual brushing into and
out of the oral cavity in a fashion horizontal and parallel to the
tooth/teeth/gum structures). The "upward and downward" movement of
the average individual incorporates using the toothbrush going from
the top of the palatal structures of teeth and to the bottom of the
lower jaw tooth/teeth/gum structures in such "upward and downward"
motion.
[0046] Force, Resistance & Resiliency Values The average force
exerted by the user on a toothbrush is from 1.05 to 2.35 kg of
brushing force. Such pressure force exerted deflects the bristle
body mass to 50% of vertical orientation.
[0047] The following values were derived from deflecting the neck
structures (Y-Value) 3/8ths of an inch from their fixed molded
position. The heads and necks combined (Z-Value) were also
deflected 3/8ths of an inch from their fixed positions. The lateral
calculations (L-Value) also were deflected 3/8ths of an inch from
their fixed positions.
[0048] The operational range of 5 different variations of a
toothbrush follows:
1 Y-Value Z-Value L-Value 1.sup.st Variation 1.80 kg 1.95 kg 1.93
kg Resistant Value 2.sup.nd Variation 1.42 kg 1.63 kg 1.47 kg "
3.sup.rd Variation .68 kg .84 kg .78 kg " 4.sup.th Variation .35 kg
.55 kg .65 kg " 5.sup.th Variation .83 kg 1.05 kg 1.19 kg "
[0049] While the above values represent embodiments of the
toothbrush establishing the ranges of full-functioning,
contour-adaptivity, the following stated values represent the
additional ranges in which the toothbrush can still operate and
achieve full range contour-adaptivity.
[0050] Values for resiliency follows:
2 Y-Value Z-Value L-Value 3.68 kg 3.89 kg 3.77 kg
[0051] The range of X, Y, Z, and/or L values of one embodiment of a
toothbrush may be:
[0052] X-Value=1.70 kilograms of pressure force exerted by user
(Average);
[0053] Y-Value=resist above 0.35 kg of pressure force and are
resilient below 3.68 kg pressure force;
[0054] Z-Value=resist above 0.55 kg of pressure force and are
resilient below 3.89 kg pressure force;
[0055] L-Value=resist above 0.65 kg of pressure force and are
resilient below 3.77 kg pressure force.
[0056] The foregoing presentation of the described embodiments is
provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the
present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments are
possible, and the generic principles presented herein may be
applied to other embodiments as well. As such, the present
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown
above, and/or any particular configuration of structure but rather
is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles
and novel features disclosed in any fashion herein.
* * * * *