U.S. patent application number 12/228986 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-26 for disposable toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Bohdan Holowecky.
Application Number | 20090049632 12/228986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40380799 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090049632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holowecky; Bohdan |
February 26, 2009 |
Disposable toothbrush
Abstract
A disposable toothbrush includes a handle member produced from a
pre-selected biodegradable material. The handle member has a
predetermined size and a predetermined shape. There are a
predetermined number of rows of bristles attached to and extending
above a top surface of the handle member closely adjacent one end
thereof. Such bristles have a predetermined length. A pouch
containing toothpaste is disposed beneath the rows of bristles such
that the toothpaste will be in fluid communication with the
bristles when the pouch is punctured and compressed.
Inventors: |
Holowecky; Bohdan;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES RAY & ASSOCIATES
2640 PITCAIRN ROAD
MONROEVILLE
PA
15146
US
|
Family ID: |
40380799 |
Appl. No.: |
12/228986 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60957365 |
Aug 22, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 ;
401/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1066 20130101;
A46B 11/0003 20130101; A46B 11/0041 20130101; A46B 2200/01
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 ;
401/132 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04; A46B 11/02 20060101 A46B011/02 |
Claims
1. A disposable toothbrush, said disposable toothbrush comprising:
(a) a handle member produced from a pre-selected biodegradable
material, said handle having a predetermined size and a
predetermined shape; (b) a predetermined number of rows of bristles
attached to and extending above a top surface of said handle member
closely adjacent one end thereof, said bristles having a
predetermined length; and (c) a pouch, containing toothpaste,
disposed beneath said rows of bristles, said toothpaste being in
fluid communication with said bristles when said pouch is punctured
and compressed.
2. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 1, wherein said
pre-selected biodegradable material is selected from the group
consisting of wood, cardboard and plastic.
3. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said
pre-selected biodegradable material is wood.
4. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 1, wherein said
predetermined shape of said handle member is generally
rectangular.
5. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said
predetermined size of said handle member is generally between about
3.0 to about 4.0 inches long and between about 0.25 to about 0.38
inch wide and about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch in height.
6. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 5, wherein said
height of said handle member is about 0.25 inch in height.
7. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 6, wherein said
bristles extend above said handle member for about 0.2 and about
0.3 inch.
8. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 7, wherein said
bristles extend above said handle member for about 0.25 inch.
9. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said
predetermined number of rows of bristles five.
10. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 9, wherein said
wherein alternating rows of bristles have different heights.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is related to and claims priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/957,365 filed
Aug. 22, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to dental hygiene
and, more particularly, this invention relates to a disposable
toothbrush for use in such dental hygiene.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Prior to the conception and development of the present
invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, dental
hygiene is of utmost importance for a number of reasons. It is well
established that poor dental hygiene can lead to poor health as
well as bad breath.
[0004] Because brushing one's teeth is a time consuming task, it is
often the case that people who are running late for whatever reason
will forego brushing their teeth in order to conserve as much time
as possible.
[0005] The applicant is aware of the following U.S. Patents dealing
with disposable toothbrushes:
[0006] 1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,762;
[0007] 2) U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,420;
[0008] 3) U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,129;
[0009] 4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,481; and
[0010] 5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,126.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a disposable toothbrush. The
disposable toothbrush includes a handle member produced from a
pre-selected biodegradable material. Such handle member having a
predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A predetermined
number of rows of bristles are attached to and extend above a top
surface of the handle member closely adjacent one end thereof. Such
bristles have a predetermined length. Further, there is a pouch
containing toothpaste disposed beneath the rows of bristles. The
toothpaste will be in fluid communication with the bristles when
the pouch is both punctured and compressed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide a disposable toothbrush which is easy to
use.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
disposable toothbrush which is relatively inexpensive to
manufacture.
[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a disposable toothbrush which is environmentally friendly by being
produced from biodegradable materials.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
disposable toothbrush which is relatively small compared to normal
toothbrushes.
[0016] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a disposable toothbrush which is has a built in toothpaste
holder.
[0017] In addition to the various objects and advantages of the
present invention described with some degree of specificity above
it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the
present invention will become more readily apparent to those
persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more
detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such
description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing
figures and with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention; and
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of disposable toothbrush
illustrated in FIG. 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the
present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity
and understanding, identical components which have identical
functions have been identified with identical reference numerals
throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing
figures.
[0021] Reference is now made, more particularly, to drawing FIGS. 1
and 2. Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of a
disposable toothbrush, generally designated 10. The disposable
toothbrush 10 includes a handle member 12 produced from a
pre-selected biodegradable material. The handle member is has each
of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape.
[0022] Such pre-selected biodegradable material is preferably
selected from the group consisting of wood, cardboard and plastic.
Most preferably such pre-selected biodegradable material is wood.
Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment of the
invention the predetermined shape of the handle member 12 is
generally rectangular. Furthermore, the presently preferred
predetermined size of the handle member 12 is generally between
about 3.0 to about 4.0 inches long and about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch
in height. Most preferably the predetermined height of the handle
member 12 is about 0.25 inch.
[0023] The disposable toothbrush further includes a predetermined
number of rows of bristles 14 attached to and extending above the
top surface 16 of the handle member 12 closely adjacent one end
thereof. The bristles 14 have a predetermined length. Preferably,
the bristles 14 will extend about handle member 12 for about 0.25
inch. Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment of the
invention the predetermined number of rows of bristles 14 is five.
Further, in this embodiment bristles 14 will extend above the top
surface 16 of the handle member 12 for between about 0.2 and about
0.3 inch. Preferably, about 0.25 inch. The predetermined number of
rows of bristles 14 preferably will have alternating rows of
bristles with different heights.
[0024] The final element of the disposable toothbrush 10 is a pouch
18 containing toothpaste therein. Pouch 18 is disposed beneath the
rows of bristles 14. Such toothpaste will be in fluid communication
with the bristles 14 when the pouch 18 is punctured and
compressed.
[0025] While a presently preferred and various alternative
embodiments of the present invention have been described in
sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant
art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various
other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those
persons skilled in such art without departing from either the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
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