U.S. patent application number 10/955031 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for mouth brush.
Invention is credited to Scott Jacobs.
Application Number | 20060064833 10/955031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36097373 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060064833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jacobs; Scott |
March 30, 2006 |
Mouth brush
Abstract
A mouth brush having a frame with first and second ends defining
a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material such as hard
plastic. Conventional tooth brush bristles are mounted on the first
end of the frame and extend down to define a first orientation
perpendicular to the axis. Soft rubber nubs are mounted on the
first end and extend perpendicularly from the axis in all other
directions from the first orientation. These nubs are sufficiently
soft to gently massage all oral tissue without changing one's
toothbrushing routine. The device minimizes exfoliation of tissue
layers in the mouth. A second material is also formed on the frame
as a handle portion. The handle portion may be a soft material such
as soft rubber so as to increase the user's grip when wet with
water.
Inventors: |
Jacobs; Scott; (Lakewood,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Offices of John S. Munday
PO BOX 423
Isanti
MN
55040
US
|
Family ID: |
36097373 |
Appl. No.: |
10/955031 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/110 ; 15/106;
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0002 20130101;
A46B 2200/1066 20130101; A46B 15/0032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/110 ;
015/106; 015/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04 |
Claims
1. A mouth brush device, comprising: a frame with first and second
ends defining a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material;
tooth brush bristles mounted on the first end of the frame and
extend up to define a first orientation perpendicular to the axis;
soft nubs mounted on the first end and extending perpendicularly
from the axis in all other directions from the first orientation;
and a second material formed on the frame as a handle portion for
gripping said device.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said solid material is a hard
plastic.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said hard plastic is
polypropylene.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said soft nubs are made from soft
rubber.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said soft rubber is selected from
the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic
vulcanizates and thermoplastic polyurethane.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein said rubber is sufficiently soft
to minimize exfoliation of tissue in the mouth.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said second material is a soft
rubber.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said second material and said
soft nubs are both formed from the same material.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said soft nubs and said second
material are molded on to said hard material in a single molding
step.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said handle is selected from the
group consisting of hand held toothbrushes and electric
toothbrushes.
11. A mouth brush device, comprising: frame means with first and
second ends for defining a longitudinal axis and formed from a
solid material; tooth brush bristles mounted on the first end of
the frame and extend down to define a first orientation
perpendicular to the axis; soft nub means for massaging the
interior of the mouth during brushing mounted on the first end and
extending perpendicularly from the axis in all other directions
from the first orientation; and second material means formed on the
frame for forming a handle portion for gripping said device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein said solid material is a hard
plastic.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein said hard plastic is
polypropylene.
14. The device of claim 11, wherein said soft nub means are made
from soft rubber.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein said soft rubber is selected
from the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers,
thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic polyurethane.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein said rubber is sufficiently
soft to minimize exfoliation of tissue in the mouth.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein said second material is a soft
rubber.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein said second material and said
soft nub means are both formed from the same material.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein said soft nub means and said
second material are molded on to said hard material in a single
molding step.
20. The device of claim 16, wherein said handle is selected from
the group consisting of hand held toothbrushes and electric
toothbrushes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a brush for use with tooth
paste. More particularly, the present invention relates a mouth
brush that massages portions of the mouth during use of the device
as a tooth brush.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tooth brushes have been part of the normal routine of people
for a long, long time. The dental industry, including dentists,
oral hygienists, tooth brush and tooth paste manufacturers, and
many others have successfully encouraged the use of a tooth brush
on a regular schedule as part of normal life routines.
[0003] A variety of designs have been proposed for tooth brushes,
some having simple, straightforward configurations and others
having designs, artistic flairs and the like. U.S. Pat. No.
1,125,532 is one example of a conventional tooth brush.
[0004] In addition, some tooth brushes have other components that
attempt to accomplish additional functions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,522
teaches that braces can be cleaned with its design. U.S. Pat. No.
6,308,365 provides a tooth brush for false teeth. U.S. Pat. No.
6,254,390 discloses a tooth brush with a "U" shaped head to contact
more than one surface of the teeth at one time.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,296 discloses an all-sided mouth brush
having a variety of alternate cleaning devices on the three sides
that do not have the toothbrush bristles. This patent teaches the
use of a plurality of parallel ridges, or a plurality of spade
headed bristles, or offset rows of bristle-like structures, or a
series of templates that removeably fit on to the device as
desired. None of the various cleaning devices in U.S. Pat. No.
6,119,296 are formed from soft rubber in the shape of a nub, and
this patent does not suggest the idea that portions of the mouth
may be gently messaged and stimulated to promote general health. In
point of fact, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,296 specifically states that
interchangeable bristle type or rigid structures are adapted to be
connected over the alternative cleaning portion of the device.
Cleaning is the stated goal of this patentee.
[0006] None of the prior art discloses another purpose for tooth
brushes, which is to gently massage the soft vital oral tissue
including the tongue, cheeks, and gums of the user while the user
is brushing his or her teeth in a normal fashion.
[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is to provide device
for massaging the inside of the user's mouth while brushing the
teeth.
[0008] Another embodiment is to provide a device for massaging the
mouth that is sufficiently gentle to avoid significant exfoliation
of tissue layers in the mouth.
[0009] Yet another embodiment is to provide a simple, effective
mouth brush that can be made in a double molding step.
[0010] Other embodiments will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is admirably suited for use as a mouth
brush. The device includes a frame with first and second ends
defining a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material such
as hard plastic. Conventional tooth brush bristles are mounted on
the first end of the frame and extend down to define a first
orientation perpendicular to the axis.
[0012] Soft rubber nubs are also mounted on that first end and
extend perpendicularly from the axis in all other directions from
the first orientation. These nubs are sufficiently soft to avoid
exfoliation of tissue layers in the mouth. A preferred second
material is also formed on the frame as a handle portion. The
handle portion may be a soft material such as soft rubber so as to
increase the user's grip when wet with water. Both the soft nubs
and the handle can be molded on to the frame in one molding or
over-molding step.
[0013] The mouth brush of this invention may be made as a hand held
brush or it may be made as an electric brush that attaches to a
conventional electric toothbrush device.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1A is a plan or bottom view of a device according to
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the device shown in
FIG. 1A;
[0016] FIG. 1C is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1A;
[0017] FIG. 2A is a plan or top view of another device according to
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the device shown in
FIG. 2A; and
[0019] FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 2A.
[0020] In the figures, like reference characters designate
identical or corresponding components and units throughout the
several views.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present invention is a mouth brush 10 generally, shown
as a hand held toothbrush and mouth brush in FIGS. 1A-C and as an
attachment to an electric toothbrush in FIGS. 2A-C. The mouth brush
has a hard frame having a first end 11 and a second end 13,
defining a longitudinal axis 15. The frame is hard enough that it
holds its shape when used as a brush, and is preferably made from a
hard plastic that is suitably safe for use in a person's mouth.
Polypropylene is most preferred, but any material normally used now
or in the future for toothbrushes may be used.
[0022] Bristles 17 are mounted on the second end 13 and extend up
from the axis 15 to define a first orientation generally
perpendicular to the axis. It is understood that generally
perpendicular is meant to define the typical orientation of
bristles on a toothbrush and includes other angled alignments of
bristles to handle, including fancy designs.
[0023] Soft nubs 19 are also mounted on the first end 11 of the
frame and extend generally perpendicularly from the axis 15 in all
other directions from the first orientation. In FIGS. 1A, 1C, 2A
and 2C, soft nubs 19 are at a 90.degree. angle with respect to
bristles 17, and in FIGS. 1B and 2B are at a 180.degree. angle with
respect to bristles 17. Soft nubs 19 are formed from a soft
material such as soft rubber, such as thermoplastic elastomers
including styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic vulcanizates and
thermoplastic polyurethane. Many soft rubbers are available
commercially, such as from GLS Corporation in McHenry, Ill. Soft
nubs 19 may be attached to first end 11 in any manner. Preferred is
to mold nubs 19 on to first end 11 of a molded handle.
[0024] Also formed on the frame is a handle portion 21, which is
preferably a material similar to or identical to the nub 19
material. Soft rubber as described above is most preferred. In a
preferred method of making the mouth brush of this invention, both
soft nubs 19 and handle material 21 are molded on to the frame at
one time, leaving exposed some portions of first end 11 and second
end 13. Of course, logos and other indicia may also be added during
or after the molding process.
[0025] The device of the present invention may be configured as a
hand held device as shown in FIGS. 1A-C or it may be configured as
an electric toothbrush attachment, shown in Fits. 2A-C, having a
suitable opening 14 for attachment to the electric device. It is
recognized that various electric toothbrushes are available and it
is intended to provide the mouth brush of this invention to any and
all of the commercially available products. For that reason, the
end 14 will be specific to the particular product for which it is
intended. The present invention does not depend on any specific
form of electric toothbrush, recognizing that individual designs
may require specific attachment configurations or components. In
FIGS. 2B and 2C, nubs 19a are stationary and interact with soft
tissue when the device is moved from one location to the next
during brushing. In FIG. 2A, part 23 of a typical electric
toothbrush rotates as Illustrated by arrow 24, and part 25
reciprocates back and forth as illustrated by arrow 26. Those parts
23 and/or 25 having soft nubs 19 will also contact soft tissue in
the mouth during use of the device.
[0026] The device of the present invention functions in two
distinct and important manners. First, it is a conventional
toothbrush with bristles 17 for brushing the user's teeth. Second,
it is a mouth brush such that soft nubs 19 gently massage soft
vital oral tissue, including the tongue, inside of the cheeks,
lips, palate, gums and the intersections of these parts of the oral
cavity. The soft nubs 19 are designed to flex, and are sufficiently
soft to not exfoliate tissue layers that would happen if bristles
or other coarser materials were employed as a massage agent. The
soft, gentle massage of the mouth brush of this invention is
believed to contribute to improved mouth care to preserve or
maintain healthy mouth soft tissues, and this is accomplished
during ordinary tooth brushing steps.
[0027] It is known that the oral cavity can be afflicted with
numerous ailments including, but not limited to burning mouth
syndrome, canker sores, dry mouth/xerostomia, oral thrush, aphthous
stomatitis, lichen plonus and halitosis. It is theorized, but not
clinically documented, that the mouth brush of this invention may
be able to stimulate saliva production and additional blood flow
levels to the vital tissues in the oral cavity by gently massaging
soft oral tissues and glands.
[0028] Specifically, dry mouth may be caused by aging and metabolic
changes, prescription and nonprescription drugs, diseases such at
Sjogren's syndrome and lupus, medical treatments such as
chemotherapy and radiation. To a lesser degree, every day habits
such as using tobacco products, caffeine and alcohol consumption or
mouthwashes can cause mouth problems. Talking for long periods of
time, nervousness, snoring, being exposed to dust, paint, Irritants
and dry heading conditions can also cause dry mouth. A non chemical
method of stimulating saliva flow such as the present invention
would be extremely important to the estimated 30% of adults in the
United States affected by dry mouth or xerostomia.
[0029] A return to normal saliva flow is essential for taste,
swallowing, digestion, healthy gums and teeth, voice and speech
articulation. Saliva also helps prevent potentially severe dental
problems, and provides a first defense against chemical, mechanical
and infectious attacks, and the present invention is believed to
cause increased saliva flow.
[0030] The mouth brush of this invention is also designed to
promote increased blood circulation b gently massaging oral tissues
not addressed by normal brushing alone. These areas include the
tongue, inside of checks and the palate, and the gums. Increased
blood circulation to these areas increases the healing process and
promotes vital and healthy oral tissue, all in accordance with the
present invention.
[0031] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the
invention, except as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *