U.S. patent application number 12/287233 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for manual toothbrush with movable head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Christopher Denney. Invention is credited to Christopher Denney, Robert G. Dickie.
Application Number | 20090038091 12/287233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39343725 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090038091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Denney; Christopher ; et
al. |
February 12, 2009 |
Manual toothbrush with movable head
Abstract
A manual toothbrush including a handle that reciprocates into
and out of a channel within a head of the toothbrush. The head
includes a plurality of fixed first bristles and a first movable
base that has a plurality of second bristles extending outwardly
therefrom. A first end of the handle is non-releasably connected to
the first movable base within the channel in the head. The first
movable base is mounted for arcuate movement in response to the
reciprocation of the handle when the first and second bristles
frictionally engage the teeth of the user.
Inventors: |
Denney; Christopher;
(Burlington, CA) ; Dickie; Robert G.; (King City,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SAND & SEBOLT
AEGIS TOWER, SUITE 1100, 4940 MUNSON STREET, NW
CANTON
OH
44718-3615
US
|
Assignee: |
Denney; Christopher
Burlington
CA
|
Family ID: |
39343725 |
Appl. No.: |
12/287233 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11592908 |
Nov 3, 2006 |
|
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12287233 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/28 ;
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1066 20130101;
A46B 7/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/28 ;
15/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04 |
Claims
1. A manual toothbrush comprising: an elongated handle having a
gripping end; a first end remote from said gripping end and a
longitudinal axis running through the gripping end and first end; a
head having an outer wall and an internal channel into which the
first end of the handle is slidingly received, said first end of
the handle being adapted to reciprocate into and out of said
channel during a brushing motion; a first aperture defined in said
outer wall; a plurality of first bristles extending outwardly away
from the outer wall of the head, a first movable base disposed in
the channel and being at least partially complementary shaped to
the first aperture; a first pivot pin extending outwardly from said
first movable base and into the channel; said pivot pin engaging
the first end of the handle; and wherein said first movable base
pivots about the first pivot pin in response to the reciprocal
motion of the handle; and a plurality of second bristles mounted on
the first movable base and extending outwardly away therefrom and
outwardly through the first aperture in the head; and wherein said
plurality of second bristles move relative to the first bristles in
response to the reciprocal motion of the handle.
2. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 1, wherein a region of
the outer wall defines a peripheral edge of the aperture and that
peripheral edge is arcuately shaped.
3. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a
portion of said first movable base is housed within the
through-aperture.
4. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 3, further comprising:
a second aperture defined in the outer wall of the head and a
spaced distance from the first aperture; a second movable base
disposed in the channel and being at least partially complementary
shaped to the second aperture; a second pivot pin extending
outwardly from said second movable base and into the channel; said
second pivot pin engaging the first end of the handle; and wherein
said second movable base pivots about the second pivot pin in
response to the reciprocal motion of the handle; and a plurality of
third bristles mounted on the second movable base and extending
outwardly away therefrom and outwardly through the second aperture
in the head; and wherein said plurality of third bristles move
relative to the first bristles in response to the reciprocal motion
of the handle.
5. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 4, wherein the second
movable base pivots in the opposite direction to the first movable
base.
6. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 1, wherein the head
comprises: a front cover; a back cover that is complementary shaped
to the front cover and is securable thereto; said front cover and
back cover defining the internal channel of the head therebetween
and wherein the said outer wall of the head constitutes a portion
of the front cover.
7. A manual toothbrush comprising: a longitudinally elongated
handle that has a gripping end; a first end and a longitudinal axis
running through the gripping end and first end; a first pair of
gripping fingers extending outwardly away from said first end of
the handle; a head having an outer wall and an internal channel
into which the first end of the handle is slidingly received; said
first end of the handle being adapted to reciprocate into and out
of said channel during the brushing motion; a curved aperture
defined through said outer wall and into said internal channel; a
plurality of first bristles fixedly mounted to the outer wall of
the head and extending outwardly away therefrom; a first movable
base mounted within the head; said first movable base having an
interior surface that extends into the channel; a first drive pin
extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the first
movable base and into the channel; said first drive pin being
non-releasably captured by the first pair of gripping fingers;
whereby the first movable base is arcuately movable relative to the
outer wall of the head in response to reciprocation of the handle
during brushing; and a plurality of second bristles mounted on an
exterior surface of the first movable base and extending through
the aperture and outwardly away from the outer wall of the head;
whereby the arcuate movement of the first movable base during
brushing causes the second bristles to move arcuately relative to
the outer wall of the head.
8. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 7, wherein the
gripping end and first end of the handle are unitary.
9. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 8, wherein the
gripping end of the handle terminates in a leading end; and wherein
the first end of the handle originates at the leading end of the
gripping end.
10. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 7, wherein the first
pair of gripping fingers are immovable relative to the first end of
the handle.
11. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 7, wherein the first
pair of gripping fingers extends outwardly at an angle from a first
side edge of the first end of the handle; and that angle remains
constant during reciprocation of the handle.
12. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 11, wherein the angle
of the gripping fingers relative to the first side edge of first
end of the handle is ninety degrees.
13. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 7, further
comprising: a second pair of gripping fingers extending outwardly
away from said first end of the handle and a spaced distance away
from the first pair of gripping fingers; a second movable base
rotatably mounted on the head; said second movable base having an
interior surface that extends into the channel; a second drive pin
extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the second
movable base and into the channel; said second drive pin being
non-releasably captured by the second pair of gripping fingers;
whereby the second movable base is arcuately movable relative to
the outer wall of the head in response to reciprocation of the
handle during brushing; a second plurality of second bristles
mounted on an exterior surface of the second movable base and
extending outwardly away from the outer wall of the head; whereby
the arcuate movement of the second movable base during brushing
causes the second plurality of second bristles to move arcuately
relative to the outer wall of the head.
14. The manual toothbrush as defined in claim 13, wherein the
second pair of gripping fingers extend outwardly away from a second
side edge of the first end of the handle and at a fixed angle
thereto; whereby the first and second movable bases oscillate in
opposite directions to each other upon reciprocation of the handle
during brushing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/592,908, filed Nov. 3, 2006, the entire
specification of which is incorporated herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This invention generally relates to oral implements. More
particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush. Specifically,
the invention relates to a manual toothbrush having a handle that
reciprocates within a channel formed in the head of the toothbrush
and thereby causes arcuate movement of some of the bristles on the
toothbrush head.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Many people brush their teeth with a manually operated
toothbrush. These brushes are ideally used by positioning the
bristles at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and applying a
reciprocating back and forth motion to cause the tips of the
bristles to move over the surfaces of the teeth. This motion causes
the bristle tips to travel across the surface of the teeth in a
substantially linear fashion and to remove plaque and particulate
material as they do so.
[0006] Many dentists, however, believe that moving the tips of the
bristles in a rotary motion over the surface of the teeth is far
better for removing plaque and particulate material from the teeth.
This may be achieved by moving the entire toothbrush head in a
rotating or oscillating fashion across the teeth or by rotating or
oscillating the bristles.
[0007] The prior art includes a number of powered and manual
toothbrushes that incorporate a rotary motion of some or all of
their bristles. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,557,244, issued to
Domingue discloses a manual toothbrush that has a handle that
reciprocates in and out of the head of the brush. The interior
walls of the handle are provided with a rack, while the head is
provided with a number of independently rotatable brushes, each of
which is provided with a toothed pinion. The toothbrush is used by
holding the head of the brush stationary with one hand and then
reciprocating the handle back and forth within the head. The rack
and pinion mechanism causes the brushes to rotate.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,939 to Holland, discloses a manual
toothbrush comprising an integrally formed handle and head. The
head is provided with a plurality of individually rotatable or
oscillating bristle clusters. Each cluster of bristles includes a
crank mechanism for connecting the cluster to a rod that extends
through the interior of the head and handle of the toothbrush. The
rod is operationally geared to a weight in the handle. As the
toothbrush is reciprocated, the weight travels back and forth
within the handle, causing the gears to rotate and thereby causing
the rod to reciprocate within the interior of the handle and head.
The reciprocating rod rotates the individual bristle clusters
within the head.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,627, issued to Amit et al, discloses a
manual toothbrush that has base with a plurality of fixed bristles
and one rotatable member that also includes a set of bristles. The
base is positioned over a front portion of the handle and a cover
is provided around the sides of the base and front portion. The
front portion of the handle includes a toothed rack and the
lowermost surface of the rotatable member includes a pinion. The
cover and base are longer than the front portion of the handle.
Consequently, as the handle is moved back and forth during
brushing, the front portion of the handle moves back and forth
within the cover and the interlocking rack and pinion forces the
rotatable member on the base to rotate.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,870 issued to Stollman also discloses a
toothbrush having an integrally formed head and handle. The head
includes a frame having a cavity therein and in which a carriage
travels back and forth. The frame is also provided with a toothed
rack. The carriage is provided with a plurality of bristles
thereon, and a number of those bristles have gears provided at
their lower ends. As the carriage slides within the frame during
brushing, the rack engages the gears causing the geared bristles to
rotate.
[0011] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,932 issued to Byrd discloses a
toothbrush including one or more rotatable bristle members that are
geared to a thumb-actuated member. As the thumb-actuated member is
engaged in a first direction, the rotatable bristles rotate in a
first direction. When the thumb-actuated member is engaged in a
second direction, the rotatable bristles rotate in a second
direction.
[0012] The devices disclosed in the prior art have a variety of
different mechanisms for causing rotation of some of the bristles
in the head. In every instance mentioned above, however, the
mechanism has required some form of geared interaction between the
various components. The geared mechanisms are reasonably
complicated and therefore relatively more expensive to manufacture.
There is therefore still a need in the art for a manually operable
toothbrush that imparts both linear and rotational motion to
bristles mounted on its head without the use of gears and which
effectively clears plaque and particulate material from the surface
of the teeth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The device of the present invention comprises a manual
toothbrush including a handle that reciprocates into and out of a
channel within a head of the toothbrush. The head includes a
plurality of fixed first bristles and a movable base that includes
a plurality of second bristles extending outwardly therefrom. The
movable base is mounted for arcuate movement relative to the outer
surface of the head of the toothbrush. A first end of the handle is
non-releasably connected to the movable base within the channel in
the interior of the head. A movement of the handle in a first
direction causes the movable base and therefore the second bristles
to move in a first direction. Movement of the handle in the
opposite direction causes the movable base and therefore the second
bristles to move in a second direction. The rotational motion of
the movable base is caused when the friction generated as the
bristles move over the surface of the teeth is sufficiently large
enough to overcome the internal friction of the moving components
within the toothbrush head. If the internal friction in the
toothbrush head is greater than the drag or friction experienced by
the tips of the bristles, then the movable base will not oscillate
or rotate. The total movement of the moving components within the
brush head is very limited.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of
the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the
principles, are set forth in the following description and are
shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed
out and set forth in the appended claims.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of
a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush of FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view of the
toothbrush in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of the exploded head
of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 3B is a front view of the movable base;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of the
toothbrush in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective view of the exploded head
of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 4;
[0022] FIG. 4B is a rear view of the movable base;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the
toothbrush;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the toothbrush with the cover
removed with the movable heads in a first position;
[0025] FIG. 6B is a front view of the toothbrush with the front
cover and bristle assembly removed to more clearly show the
positioning of the movable heads relative to the extension of the
shaft;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the toothbrush with the cover
removed with heads in a second position; and
[0027] FIG. 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a
toothbrush in accordance with the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the toothbrush of FIG. 8, with the
back cover removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a toothbrush in
accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at
10. Toothbrush 10 includes a handle 12 and head 14. Head 14
includes a plurality of bristles 16 thereon for removing plaque and
particulate matter from the surface of the teeth (not shown) of a
user. A first plurality of said bristles 16 are fixed in place on
the head and a second plurality of bristles 16 are arcuately
movable as will be hereinafter described.
[0030] Handle 12 is ergonomically designed to enable the toothbrush
10 to be easily held and manipulated. Handle 12 comprises a
gripping section 18 and a first end that extends outwardly away
therefrom. First end comprises an actuating shaft 20 that is fixed
to gripping section 18 and extends outwardly away therefrom. Shaft
20 further includes an extension 22 that is both thinner and
narrower than shaft 20. Extension 22 is also fixedly mounted to
shaft 20, thus, gripping section 18, shaft 20 and extension 22 all
move together as a single unit when toothbrush 10 is moved back and
forth across the teeth. Handle 12 is therefore a longitudinally
elongated member that has a longitudinal axis "X" (FIG. 1). During
use, toothbrush 10 is reciprocated along the longitudinal axis "X"
thereof.
[0031] In accordance with one of the specific features of the
present invention, extension 22 includes two spaced apart pairs of
gripping fingers 24, 26 that extend laterally outwardly away from
the sides 22a, 22b of extension 22. The first pair of fingers 24
extends laterally outwardly away from the side 22a of shaft
extension 22 in a first direction, while the second pair of fingers
26 extends outwardly away from the side 22b of shaft extension 22
in a second direction (FIG. 4). The two fingers of the first pair
of fingers 24 are separated from each other by a small gap.
Similarly, the two fingers of the second pair of fingers 26 are
also separated from each other by a small gap. Both the first pair
and second pair of fingers 24, 26 are fixed in position on
extension 22, i.e., the fingers are immovable relative to the
extension 22. Furthermore, the angle between the fingers of each of
the first and second pair of fingers 24, 26 relative to extension
22 remains constant. That angle preferably is ninety degrees to the
longitudinal axis "X" of handle 12. The purpose of these fingers
24, 26 will be hereinafter described.
[0032] Head 14 of toothbrush 10 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3-5.
Head 14 preferably is generally spoon-shaped and comprises a back
cover 28 and a complementary shaped front cover 30. Back and front
covers 28, 30 are designed to snap-fit together or to be otherwise
fixedly secured to each other. Both back and front cover 28, 30
include a rounded end portion 28a, 30a and a narrower shank portion
28b, 30b. Back cover 28 may also include one or more apertures 32
therein.
[0033] Front cover 30 is formed so as to include two spaced apart
recesses 34, 36 in the inner surface 30c thereof (FIGS. 4 & 5).
Recesses 34, 36 open up in apertures 38, 40, respectively, in outer
surface 30d of front cover 30. Apertures 38, 40 are smaller than
recesses 34, 36. Front cover 30 also includes a channel 42 in its
inner surface 30c that extends from the end of shank portion 30b to
recess 34. Channel 42 includes a first section that is shaped and
sized to receive shaft 20 of handle 12 therein and a second section
that is shaped and sized to receive extension 22 therein. A
shoulder 44 is provided at that portion of channel 42 where the
first section thereof joins the second section thereof. Shoulder
limits the travel of shaft 20 therein. Front and back covers 30,
20, snap fit together around shaft 20 and extension 22. The
dimensions of front and back covers 30, 20, shaft 20 and extension
22 are such that shaft 20 and extension 22 can travel within
channel 42 between a first position (FIG. 1) where the end 46 of
head 14 abuts a leading end 48 of gripping section 18; and a second
position (FIG. 2) where a gap exists between end 46 of head 14 and
leading end 48 of gripping section 18.
[0034] Head 14 further includes a bristle assembly 50 and two
movable bases 52, 54. Bristle assembly 50 comprises a flexible
skirt 56 with a plurality of bristle tufts 58 extending outwardly
away therefrom. These bristles 58 constitute the fixed, nonmovable
bristles 16 of head 14. The layout, number and relative sizes of
said bristles 58 can be of any desired configuration without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. Skirt 56 is
designed to snap fit around outer surface 30d of front cover 30 and
a lip 59 (FIG. 3) that, once passed around the appropriate region
of outer surface 30d, locked between front and back covers 30, 20
when they are secured together. Skirt 56 could, alternatively be
glued to outer surface 30d. Skirt 56 also includes two apertures
56a (FIG. 1) which are shaped and positioned to align with the
apertures 38, 40 in front cover 30. It will be understood that
while the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a bristle
assembly 50 that, alternatively, a plurality of bristle tufts may
be individually adhesively secured into front cover 30 in any
designed pattern or configuration.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 3A-4B, 6 & 7, head 14 is provided
with two movable bases 52, 54 that are designed to arcuately move
in response to a combination of the reciprocation of handle 12 and
the frictional engagement of bristles 16 with the surface of the
user's teeth. Movable bases 52, 54 are substantially identical. The
following description therefore is made with reference to movable
base 52, but it will be understood that it applies equally to
movable base 54. Movable base 52 comprises a generally rectangular
member 60 that is formed with a narrower saddle region 62 in the
middle of the rectangular member 60 and a pair of rounded outside
ends 64, 66. Member 60 includes an interior surface 60a (FIG. 4A)
and an exterior surface 60b (FIG. 3A). Interior surface 60a of
member 60 includes pair of spaced apart drive pins 68, 70 that
extend outwardly away therefrom. Drive pins 68, 70 are positioned
proximate ends 66 and 64, respectively and toward the peripheral
outer edge 65 of member 60. Extension 22 extends over the rear
surface 60a of member 60 and over the saddle region 62 thereof, and
intermediate drive pins 68, 70. In this first embodiment of the
invention, each of the movable bases 52, 54 have a side pivot point
and a side drive pin location. In the instance of movable base 52,
extension 22 is connected to drive pivot 68 and base 52 pivots
about drive pin 70.
[0036] The exterior surface 60b of member 60 includes a shaped, and
preferably diamond-shaped, region 72 that extends outwardly away
therefrom. Region 72 is formed inwardly of the outer edge 65 of
member 60. A plurality of fixed bristles or bristle tufts 74 extend
outwardly away from region 72. The number, size and configuration
of bristles 74 can be of any suitable desired design without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. Region 72 at
least partially abuts that portion of the wall of front cover 30
that surrounds and defines apertures 38, 40. The arcuate travel of
mounting bases 52, 54 is at least partially guided by the
interaction between region 72 and the edges 39, 41 (FIG. 3A) of
front cover 30 surrounding apertures 38, 40.
[0037] In accordance with one of the features of the present
invention, member 60 is sized to be received within recess 34 of
front cover 30, but as shown in FIG. 6 the recess 34 is larger than
member 60 and, consequently, member 60 can be moved within recess
34, as hereinafter described. At the same time, the hole 38 in
front cover 30 is smaller than exterior surface 60b of member 60,
but larger than region 72 on member 60. Thus, movable base 52 is
inserted into recess 34 so that region 72 and bristles 74 project
outwardly away from front surface 30d of front cover 30 and
exterior surface 60b of base 52 abuts the interior surface 30c of
front cover 30. Similarly, movable base 54 is inserted into recess
36 and a similar region 72a and bristles 74a project outwardly away
from front surface 30d of front cover 30.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 6 & 7, toothbrush 10 is assembled and
used as follows. Bristle assembly 50 is placed over front surface
30d of front cover 30. Movable bases 52, 54 are inserted into
recesses 34, 36 so that bristles 74 and 74a extend outwardly
through holes 38, 40 and away from front surface 30d of front cover
30. Handle 12 is then connected into the inner surface 30c of front
cover 30 by placing extension 22 and shaft 20 into channel 42.
Fingers 24 engage and lock around drive pin 68 on movable base 54
and fingers 26 engage and lock around drive pin 70 on movable base
52. Obviously, it would also be possible that fingers 24 could
engage and lock around drive pin 70 on movable base 52 and fingers
26 engage and lock around drive pin 62 on movable back 54, instead.
Once fingers 24 and 26 are engaged with the respective drive pins
70, 68, they do not release the drive pins 70, 68, but rather stay
substantially permanently connected thereto. FIGS. 6 & 7 show
that extension 22 extends over the middle of each of the movable
bases 52, 54 as opposed to being positioned alongside one of side
edges 65 thereof. Back cover 28 is then snap fitted over inner
surface 30c of front cover 30, thereby securing back and front
covers 28, 30 together and securing bristle assembly 50 in place.
Toothbrush 10 is now ready for use.
[0039] Toothbrush 10 is positioned in the mouth of the use so that
the tips of bristles 74 and 58 engage the surface of the teeth,
preferably at 45 degrees to the gum line. The brush 10 may start
out in the first position shown in FIG. 6 and then be reciprocated
into the second position shown in FIG. 7, and then back to the
first position again, or vice versa. In the first position, the end
46 of head 14 is in abutting contact with the leading end 48 of
handle 12. It should be noted that when brush 10 is in this first
position, leading end 20a of shaft 20 is spaced a distance away
from shoulder 44 of front cover 30 and leading end 22a of extension
22 is a spaced distance away from end 42a of channel 42. It should
also be noted that the orientation of movable base 52 within recess
34 is opposite to the orientation of movable base 54 in recess 36,
i.e., the end 66a of movable base 52 lies closer to the tip 80 of
toothbrush 10 than does the end 64a thereof; while the end 66b of
movable base 54 lies further from tip 80 than does the end 64b
thereof.
[0040] When handle 12 of toothbrush 10 is pulled in the direction
of arrow "A" (FIG. 6), friction between the tips of bristles 74 and
58 and the surface of the teeth tends to want to keep the bristles
74 and 58 substantially stationary. At the same time, the shaft 20
and extension 22 want to move in the direction of arrow "A" with
gripping section 18 of handle 12. When the movement of the shaft 20
and extension 22 overcomes the friction between the bristles 58 and
the teeth, then movable bases 52, 54 are forced to rotate within
recessed 38, 40 in the direction indicated by arrows "B" and "C",
respectively. This occurs because fingers 26, 24 are non-releasably
engaged with drive pins 70, 68 and the fingers 26, 24 are being
pulled in the direction of arrow "A" by extension 22. The rotation
of movable bases 52, 54 causes bristles 74, 74a to rotate relative
to outer surface 30d of front cover 30 and to inscribe an arc
across the surface of the teeth of the user. At the same time,
fixed bristles 58 move linearly across the surface of the teeth in
the direction of arrow "A".
[0041] When handle 12 is pulled in the direction of arrow "A" and
head 14 initially remains essentially stationary, a gap opens up
between end 46 of head 14 and leading end 48 of handle 12. This gap
is illustrated at 82 in FIG. 7. It will also be noted that the
distance between shoulder 44 and leading end 20a of shaft 20
increases, as does the distance between leading end 22a of
extension 22 and end 42a of channel 42.
[0042] The handle 12 of toothbrush 10 is then pushed in the
opposite direction as indicated by arrow "D" (FIG. 7). Because the
tips of bristles 74 and 58 are in contact with the surface of the
teeth, friction between the tips and the surface causes head 14 to
substantially remain in place while handle 12 slides inwardly along
channel 42 and into head 14. This inward movement causes drive pin
68 on movable base 54 to be moved closer to tip 80, thus causing a
rotation "E" in movable base 54. The inward movement also causes
drive pin 70 on movable base 52 to move closer to tip 80, thereby
causing a rotation "F" in movable base 52. Furthermore, leading end
20a of shaft 20 moves into abutting contact with shoulder 44 and
leading end 22a of extension 22 moves into abutting contact with
end 42a of channel 42. The rotation of movable bases 52, 54 causes
the tips of bristles 74 to inscribe an arc across the surface of
the teeth. At the same time, the tips of bristles 58 travel
linearly across the surface of the teeth in the direction of arrow
"D".
[0043] Thus, as the handle 12 is moved reciprocally back and forth
along the longitudinal axis "X" of toothbrush 10 between direction
"A" and "D", the movable bases 52 and 54 and therefore the bristles
74 extending outwardly therefrom are caused to oscillate
reciprocally between the position shown in FIG. 6 and the position
shown in FIG. 7. At the same time, the bristles 58 are moving in a
linear fashion across the teeth parallel to the longitudinal axis
"X" of the toothbrush 10.
[0044] Toothbrush 10 therefore includes a first plurality of fixed
bristles that move reciprocally across the teeth in a linear
fashion and a second plurality of bristles that are moved
reciprocally across the teeth in an arcuate fashion. The arcuate
motion of the second plurality of bristles is caused by the
reciprocal motion of the handle in conjunction with the friction of
the tips of the bristles on the surface of the teeth.
[0045] FIGS. 8 & 9, show a second embodiment of a toothbrush in
accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at
110. Toothbrush 110 includes substantially all of the same features
as toothbrush 10 with the exception that the movable bases 152 and
154 are substantially circular in shape. Movable bases 152, 154 are
received within circular recesses 134, 136 in front cover 130. The
fingers 124,126 on extension 122 are non-releasably engaged with
drive pins 168, 170. Drive pins 168, 170 are positioned proximate
the peripheral outer edge 190, 192 of movable bases 152,154.
Movable bases 152, 154 are caused to move in a substantially
circular motion around a central pivot point by shaft 120 and
extension 122 as handle 112 is reciprocated back and forth along
the longitudinal axis "Y" of toothbrush 110. Movable bases 152 and
154 therefore effectively have a center pivot in that they rotate
within recesses 134, 136, but have a side drive pin 168, 170. The
effective difference between the two embodiments is that, with the
same input movement of the handle 12 or 112, the circularly shaped
movable bases 152, 154 will experience more arcuate or circular
movement than do the rectangular movable bases 52 and 54 of
toothbrush 10.
[0046] While the above disclosure has shown two movable bases 52,
54 that move arcuately in opposite directions to each other during
reciprocation of the handle, it will be understood that the first
and second pairs of gripping fingers 24, 26 could be provided a
spaced distance apart on the same side of the extension 22. This
would cause the two movable bases 52, 54 to rotate or oscillate in
the same direction as each other.
[0047] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed.
[0048] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact
details shown or described.
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