U.S. patent application number 10/627462 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for folding, disposable toothbrush.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shanti Gallery. Invention is credited to Sexson, Marlene Ann.
Application Number | 20050016561 10/627462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34080648 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050016561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sexson, Marlene Ann |
January 27, 2005 |
Folding, disposable toothbrush
Abstract
A foldable toothbrush comprises a bristle arm including bristles
and a handle arm formed from sheet plastic. The bristle arm
includes toothbrush bristles. The bristle arm and handle arm are
attached via a grommet that allows for relative rotation of the
arms in an arc in arc in the plane that generally includes the two
arms of the toothbrush and that is generally perpendicular to the
bristle axis. Because the materials are economical and readily
available and manufacture is simple, the cost of the brushes is low
enough such that the brush can be considered disposable after a
single use.
Inventors: |
Sexson, Marlene Ann;
(Felton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lorrain Hirsch, Esq.
Law Offices of Lorraine Hirsch
17491 Hicks Road
Lo Gatos
CA
95032
US
|
Assignee: |
Shanti Gallery
|
Family ID: |
34080648 |
Appl. No.: |
10/627462 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0081 20130101;
A46B 2200/01 20130101; A46B 15/0055 20130101; A46B 15/0069
20130101; A46B 5/0033 20130101; A46B 5/0041 20130101; A46B
2200/1066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/309 |
International
Class: |
A45D 044/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A folding toothbrush comprising: a bristle arm including means
for cleaning teeth and stimulating gums, said cleaning means having
an end attached to said bristle arm and a free end, said attached
end and said free end defining a bristle axis; a handle arm; an
attachment means for attaching said bristle arm and said handle arm
such that at least one of said bristle arm and said handle arm can
be positioned relative to each other by rotation in an arc in the
plane that generally includes the two arms of the toothbrush and
that is generally perpendicular to the bristle axis.
2. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the means for cleaning teeth
and stimulating gums is bristles.
3. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the attachment means is an
annular grommet.
4. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the attachment means is a
solid rivet.
5. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the attachment means is a
brad.
6. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the bristle arm is
manufactured from sheet plastic.
7. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the handle arm is
manufactured from sheet plastic.
8. The toothbrush of claim 6 in which the sheet plastic is of a
thickness within a range between 0.008 inch and 0.5 inch
inclusive.
9. The toothbrush of claim 6 in which the plastic is of a thickness
within a range between 0.01 inch and 0.1 inch inclusive.
10. The toothbrush of claim 7 in which the sheet plastic is of a
thickness within a range between 0.08 inch and 0.5 inch
inclusive.
11. The toothbrush of claim 1 further including dental floss
attached to the handle arm.
12. The toothbrush of claim 1 further including a detachable
toothpick integrally formed in the handle arm.
13. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which the handle arm and the
bristle arm are manufactured from cardboard.
14. The toothbrush of claim 12 in which the cardboard is laminated
for water resistance.
15. The toothbrush of claim 12 in which the cardboard is of a
thickness within the range of 0.02 inches to 0.25 inches
inclusive.
16. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which at least one handle is made
of bamboo.
17. The toothbrush of claim 6 in which the plastic is vinyl.
18. The toothbrush of claim 1 in which toothpaste is applied to the
toothbrush in advance of purchase by a consumer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is dental hygiene products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Maintaining proper dental hygiene is a key to good health.
In particular, regular removal of dental plaque from the teeth by
brushing and flossing can prevent gingivitis and periodontal
disease. Gingivitis and periodontal disease can cause tooth loss
and have even been associated with heart disease. To combat these
diseases, many dentists recommend brushing the teeth three times a
day and flossing at least once a day.
[0003] Most people know the importance of good dental hygiene, but
putting it into practice can be difficult. Many people would have
to carry around dental hygiene equipment in order to brush and
floss according to the recommended schedule. Toothbrushes,
toothpaste, and floss can be awkward and inconvenient to carry for
use outside the home.
[0004] To address these problems, some manufacturers have created
small toothbrushes that can be easily carried in a purse or pocket.
However, a small toothbrush often does not provide sufficient
leverage for adequate cleaning and can be awkward to use.
[0005] Others have created folding toothbrushes. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,467,822 to Blackwell, "Toothbrush" (1984); U.S. Pat. No.
4,850,074 to Klevan, "Folding Toothbrush" (1989); U.S. Pat. No.
4,979,258 to Buj, "Children's Folding Toothbrush" (1990); U.S. Pat.
No. 5,464,294 to Chee et al., "Folding Toothbrush" (1995); U.S.
Pat. No. 5,476,334 to Tello-Vallarino, "Foldable Toothbrush with
Toothpaste" (1995); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,810 B1 to Jacobson,
"Collapsible Toothbrush" (2003) are all concerned with toothbrushes
that fold up along an arc parallel to the plane that includes the
longitudinal axis of the bristles.
[0006] However, when the hand grips a toothbrush that folds in an
arc in the plane parallel to the bristles, it may not provide
enough rigidity to prevent the toothbrush from folding
inadvertently during use. To keep the toothbrush rigid, support
must be applied behind the joint in the toothbrush. Typically, this
support is the curved palm of the hand if the toothbrush folds
inwards, and the curled fingertips if the toothbrush folds
outwards. Because of the curvature of the palm and fingers when the
palm grips a toothbrush handle, this support can be problematic. If
the toothbrush cannot be used without risk of buckling, the user
may be unable to brush her teeth with the force needed to remove
plaque.
[0007] Typically, a toothbrush is grasped in what is known by
ergonomists as a modified power grip. In an "ummodified" power
grip, the fingers wrap around a handle with the thumb overlapping
the fingers. In a modified power grip as used with a toothbrush,
the fingers wrap partially or wholly around the toothbrush handle
with the thumb out straight along the handle. The handle is thick
enough to separate the fingertips from the palm. (The grip is also
known technically as a "power grip with a precision
component".)
[0008] In the modified power grip, the forearm muscles have
shortened partially through their available range of contraction
and are at their most efficient because of the mechanics of the
line of pull. In holding a toothbrush firmly in this kind of grip,
movements are carried out by the powerful muscles of the forearm,
upper arm and shoulder, and not by the fine and delicate muscles in
the palm of the hand. The positions of the finger joints are fixed
by the shape of the grip, which further fixes the small hand
muscles. The powerful muscles also help stabilize the toothbrush,
and reinforce the joint and thus provide stronger reinforcement. In
contrast, a toothbrush that folds in the direction of the bristles
(or 180.degree. from it) is less stable because the weaker muscles
of the hand and palm provide force opposing folding.
[0009] A locking mechanism can be applied to prevent the toothbrush
from buckling. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,258 to Buj,
"Children's Folding Toothbrush" (1990). However, adding a locking
mechanism increases manufacturing difficulty and adds to the
expense of manufacture.
[0010] Still others have created telescoping toothbrushes. For
example U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,087 to Pandak, "Combination Toothbrush
Carrier and Holder" (1980); U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,809 to Pelletier,
"Collapsible Toothbrush Construction" (1989); U.S. Pat. No.
5,400,457 to Ridgley, "Collapsible Toothbrush" (1995); and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,699,574 to Oviatt, "Extendible Applicator" (1997) all
concern toothbrushes that telescope along an axis generally
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bristles.
[0011] However, if the toothbrush telescopes along the axis
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush, the act of
brushing--which moves the toothbrush in the direction of the
telescoping--may cause the toothbrush to collapse or telescope down
during use.
[0012] Both folding and telescoping can possibly be avoided by
gripping the toothbrush in a tight power grip or modified power
grip. However, gripping the toothbrush with sufficient force can be
fatiguing, and some users may be unable to do so due to disability.
Again, a locking mechanism can be added, but such a mechanism
complicates use and manufacture.
[0013] Another approach has been to produce a toothbrush in two
pieces that can be temporarily joined to create a toothbrush of one
length for use, and then taken apart for storage at a shorter
length. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,601 to King, "Toothbrush"
(1999) takes this approach. However, having to assemble and
disassemble a toothbrush before and after use can be bothersome,
and a toothbrush in multiple pieces increases the possibility that
parts may get lost and the toothbrush become unusable.
[0014] These previous approaches result in toothbrushes that, in
addition to being cumbersome and difficult to use, require
sufficient material and are sufficiently expensive to manufacture
such that they are not practicably disposable for the average
consumer. This in turn necessitates the additional development and
manufacture of a storage system so that the toothbrush can be
carried without becoming dirty or wetting the pocket or purse it is
carried in.
[0015] What is needed is a compact, foldable toothbrush that fits
easily into the hand and that can be supported by the hand in an
ergonomically efficient way, and that can be manufactured
efficiently so that the toothbrush can be priced low enough to be
disposable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A compact, foldable toothbrush folds in the plane
perpendicular to the axis of the toothbrush bristles, in a
fanning-out motion of two arms. One arm includes toothbrush
bristles, and the other extends the toothbrush handle. Toothpaste
can be put on the bristles at the time of manufacture so that the
user need not carry toothpaste to use the brush. The prepasted
toothbrush can be easily carried in a pocket or purse, used once,
and then thrown away.
[0017] The two arms of the toothbrush can be attached via a
grommet. The grommet allows the two arms to rotate so that when
open, the two arms form a toothbrush with a generally longitudinal
body with bristles mounted generally perpendicular to the
toothbrush body. When opened, the toothbrush can be held so that
the extended thumb above and the fingers below support the joint,
providing sufficient support for vigorous brushing. Because the
hand provides much of the support, the bristles can be mounted on a
very thin toothbrush body, thus using little material. The
simplicity of design and ease of manufacture enable the toothbrush
to be manufactured cheaply enough that it is economically feasible
for the consumer to dispose of the toothbrush after a single
use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1A is a depiction of a toothbrush in accordance with
the present invention showing the toothbrush in its fully opened
position.
[0019] FIG. 1B is a schematic drawing of the toothbrush of 1A in
side view, showing the grommet extending through both arms of the
toothbrush.
[0020] FIG. 1C is a depiction of toothbrush in accordance with the
present invention showing an alternative shape of the
toothbrush.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in a half-opened
position to show the action of folding.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in a fully folded
position.
[0023] FIG. 4A is a depiction of an alternative embodiment of the
invention in which the toothbrush includes dental floss, a
toothpick, and a tongue scraper.
[0024] FIG. 4B shows an alternative configuration of the tongue
scraper that allows the floss to be easily inserted into the
mouth.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] FIG. 1A shows a toothbrush 100 in accordance with the
present invention. Toothbrush 100 includes bristles 102 having an
affixed end 104 and a free end 106 defining a longitudinal bristle
axis. A bristle arm 108 is attached to a handle arm 110 by means of
a grommet 112. The end of handle arm 110, extending under bristle
arm 108, is schematically illustrated by a dashed line 114.
[0026] Grommet 112 is attached so as to allow rotation of bristle
arm 108 and handle arm 110 around grommet 112 and in a plane
generally perpendicular to the longitudinal bristle axis. In a
first alternative, a brad, or in a second alternative, a rivet can
be used to attach the arms. A side view showing grommet 112
extending through the thicknesses of both arms is shown in FIG. 1B.
Alternatively, another method of attachment that allows for
rotational movement can be used.
[0027] Handle arm 108 and bristle arm 110 are preferably made from
sheet plastic, preferably vinyl, in a thickness ranging from 0.01
inch to 0.8 inch. In a preferred embodiment, the arms are cut from
vinyl 30 mils (0.03 inch) thick. Sheet plastic is readily
obtainable and is used in applications including credit cards,
calendar cards, membership cards, and placards. Because arms 108
and 110 can be cut from plastic sheets, manufacturing costs of
injection molding or construction of the toothbrush body can be
avoided. Manufacturing materials are thus readily available, and
the toothbrush body can be made without expensive custom design and
manufacture, thereby decreasing production cost. Furthermore,
because the toothbrush is made from sheet plastic, companies,
systems and means already exist that can cheaply and easily print
advertising logos and artwork onto each toothbrush by offset
printing including a four-color process. Accordingly, the
toothbrush arms provide an easy, cheap and very effective means for
advertising.
[0028] The toothbrush can be made from any of a wide range of
plastics, including polyethylene, polycarbonate, plexiglass,
lucite, acrylic, polypropylene, butyrate, lexan, nylon, and
styrene.
[0029] In another embodiment, the toothbrush can be manufactured
from bamboo. The bristle arms and the handle arms can be made from
strips of bamboo in approximately the same dimensions as the
plastic arms. In a preferred embodiment, the bamboo arms are in the
range of 2 to 4 inches in length, 0.5 inch to one inch in width,
and between 0.05 and 0.5 inch thick. Preferably, the length of each
arm is 3 inches and the overlap is 1.5 inches, so that the
toothbrush is 4.5 inches in length when fully open. The bamboo arms
can be attached by methods including grommets, brads, and rivets.
Any method of attachment that allows for relative rotation of the
two handles is compatible with the invention. In another
alternative, each of the handle arm and bristle arm is made from a
different material.
[0030] Other materials and thicknesses can be used so long as they
support the fanning/rotation mechanism and so long as the
toothbrush fits comfortably in the hand and mouth. In a preferred
embodiment, each arm of the toothbrush is approximately 3 inches in
length and the overlap is approximately 2 inches, so that when
fully extended, the toothbrush is approximately 4 inches long. In a
preferred embodiment, the toothbrush is approximately one inch
wide, and each arm is 0.03 inches (30 mils) thick. The bristles are
approximately 0.75 inch long.
[0031] The overlapped portion 116 of the toothbrush body adds
stability to the toothbrush. The toothbrush can be comfortably held
in the hand so that the thumb braces the hinge on one side of the
toothbrush and the fingers brace the hinge on the other side of the
toothbrush, allowing the user to apply sufficient pressure to clean
tooth surfaces without causing the brush to buckle. Unlike
toothbrushes that fold in an arc parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the bristles, the novel design herein allows the user's hand to
stabilize the brush.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the overlapped portion 116 is at
least 1 inch to provide for sufficient stabilization of the
toothbrush body joint during vigorous brushing. However, the
invention is compatible with a much smaller overlapped portion
since the hand support alone provides adequate stability.
[0033] Tufts of bristles 102 are shown extending longitudinally
from the toothbrush body. Bristles 102 are preferably nylon with
rounded ends to avoid scratching the gums. The bristles can be
attached to the bristle handle by any means that adequately secures
them to the handle. They can be embedded in the plastic, sewn to
the handle, glued in place, or, alternatively, can be stapled to
the bristle arm. The bristles can be attached to a separate piece,
forming a bristle element. The bristle element is glued to the
bristle arm. Alternatively, the bristle element can be attached to
the bristle arm by other means including stapling and sewing.
[0034] Other materials, such as polyester, can also be used for the
bristles. Natural bristles can be used. Toothbrush bristles
typically come in soft, medium, and hard, with soft or medium
recommended for typical use. Bristles 102 can be alternatively
soft, medium, or hard, or a combination. Furthermore, although the
preferred embodiment uses bristles to clean, other dental cleaning
and gum stimulation mechanisms are compatible with the invention.
For example, a cleaning pad can be attached in place of bristles
102, or, alternatively, soft rubber or vinyl or silicone
protrusions can be affixed.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment, bristles are in tufts in a
roughly rectangular pattern of approximately 5 by 9 rows. Other
configurations are within the scope of the invention. Fewer or more
rows of bristle tufts or a nonrectangular arrangement (for example,
elliptical or round) can be used. Furthermore, combinations of
soft/medium/hard bristles and combinations of bristles and cleaning
pads or rubber, vinyl, or silicone protrusions can be used. The
upper surface of the bristles (the surface formed by the free ends
of the bristles) is depicted as generally planar; it can also be
wavy or uneven.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, toothpaste is applied to the
toothbrush by the manufacturer so that the user purchases the
toothbrush prepasted. In one embodiment, the toothbrush bristles
are dipped in a liquid dentifrice, for example tooth powder in
water, and allowed to dry. Thus, when the consumer purchases the
brush, the dentifrice is already on the bristles and the consumer
need not apply toothpaste to the brush.
[0037] Grommet 112 is preferably annular and made of brass. Grommet
112 extends through both upper bristle arm 108 and lower handle arm
10. In a preferred embodiment, grommet 112 attaches arms 108 and
120 tightly enough to allow rotation with a small motion, but does
not so loosely attach the arms as to allow them to swing freely
without being moved. Although the preferred embodiment features a
grommet, other fastenings that attach the two arms but allow
rotation, such as rivets, posts, and brads, can also be used. The
fastening may be solid or may have a hollow core, e.g., can be
solid or, alternatively, cylindrical or annular. A locknut or a
finishing washer can also be used to attach the arms.
[0038] The grommet or, alternatively, other means of attachment of
the arms can be made of any material that allows the invention to
operate as intended. The means of attachment can be made from
another material, but preferably is water resistant as the
toothbrush is designed to get wet.
[0039] Also in a preferred embodiment, the toothbrush is in the
shape of a rectangle with rounded corners (so as not to poke or
scratch the user) or an ellipse. Other shapes are within the scope
of the invention, such as the generally oval shape depicted in FIG.
1C. Preferably, the toothbrush when fully open is between two
inches and seven inches long. The specific dimensions of the
toothbrush are not critical to the invention so long as they allow
the practice of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows the folding toothbrush of FIG. 1A in a
partially folded position. Dashed line 202 indicates that the
handle arm and the bristle arm both rotate 360.degree. around
grommet 112. In other embodiments, each of handle arm 110 and the
bristle arm rotates at least 180.degree. around grommet 112. The
rotation is relative; it does not matter whether one or both arms
rotate around the grommet so long as the relative rotation between
the arms allows for the toothbrush to be opened. (For instance, the
attachment means could be integrally formed in one of the
arms.)
[0041] FIG. 3 depicts the toothbrush of FIG. 1A in a fully folded
position. Handle arm 110 is folded completely underneath bristle
arm 108. When fully folded, the toothbrush is compact so as to fit
easily into a pocket or purse. When prepared for storage in pocket
or purse, a cover can be slipped over bristle portion 102.
Preferably, the cover includes a waterproof material such as
plastic, rubber, or silicone so that the toothbrush can be put back
after use without getting the user's purse or pocket wet. In one
embodiment, the cover is a soft pouch; in another, it has rigid
sides. In one embodiment, the folding toothbrush is sold with
toothpaste applied to the bristles and a plastic cover that
prevents the toothpaste from getting crushed. A sleeve can also be
used to reinforce the joint and prevent the toothbrush from folding
during use.
[0042] FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present
invention in which a foldable, disposable toothbrush 400 includes a
detachable toothpick 402 and dental floss 404. Detachable toothpick
402 is formed from the same piece of sheet plastic as handle arm
110. Detachable toothpick 402 is partially cut away from handle arm
110, leaving at least one attachment point 406. In an alternative,
more than one attachment point attaches detachable toothpick 406 to
handle arm 110. The user detaches toothpick 402 completely for
use.
[0043] The edges of detachable toothpick 402 can be cut according
to conventional means during manufacture and can be used according
to such cutting. In an alternative, the edges of detachable
toothpick 402 can be rounded during manufacture using a friction-
or heat-based smoothing means.
[0044] Because the toothbrush is manufactured from thin sheets of
plastic, any edge of handle arm 110 can be used as a tongue
scraper. Alternatively, a thin-edged tongue scraper can be
manufactured into the handle.
[0045] Dental floss 404 is prestrung between two points of handle
arm 110 so that the user can use the floss by inserting the handle
arm 110 into the mouth. For embodiments with dental floss attached,
handle arm 110 (or, alternative, both arms 108 and 110) can be
narrowed to fit more comfortably into the mouth. The handle
narrowing can be effectuated by the removal of detachable toothpick
402 as schematically depicted in FIG. 4B. Alternatively, another
detachable piece can be removed to narrow arm 10. In another
embodiment, the entire toothbrush can be manufactured more
narrow.
[0046] In a preferred embodiment, dental floss 404 is affixed to
the handle by an adhesive. Alternatively, dental floss 404 can be
heat-embedded into handle arm 110. In a preferred embodiment, the
prestrung dental floss is approximately one-half to one inch long;
it can be longer or shorter. In a preferred embodiment, dental
floss 404 is a predetermined length and is not adjustable. In an
alternative, toothbrush 400 includes reserve floss. Floss 404 can
be used and a new length put into place. In that alternative,
toothbrush 400 includes reserve floss and means to hold the floss
in place. Small metal clips can be used to hold the floss in place.
Dental floss 404 can be placed on any edge of the toothbrush
arms.
[0047] The invention comprises many variations and adaptations, as
will be apparent to those with skill in the art. Such embodiments
are intended to fall within the scope of the invention, the scope
of which is limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *