U.S. patent application number 14/640386 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for 3-sided fingerbrush for cleansing multiple teeth surfaces.
The applicant listed for this patent is NUK USA LLC. Invention is credited to Allison F. Capozza, Evan H. Williams, Christopher R. Wolf.
Application Number | 20160255948 14/640386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56850326 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160255948 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Capozza; Allison F. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2016 |
3-SIDED FINGERBRUSH FOR CLEANSING MULTIPLE TEETH SURFACES
Abstract
A fingerbrush for cleaning multiple surfaces of a child's teeth
and/or gum line including a body member having a front side, a rear
side and a cavity extending therewithin. The front side of the body
member includes a brush head having a pair of spaced side panels
and a plurality of bristle members positioned and located on and
between the side panels. The rear side of the body member includes
vertical ribbing positioned and located between the top and base
portions thereof and may further include a plurality of
projections. The brush head is used to clean multiple teeth and/or
gum line surfaces of a child, while the vertical ribbing and
projections, used either independently or together, help to protect
a user's finger from being bitten during the cleaning process and
also aid in massaging a child's gums during teething.
Inventors: |
Capozza; Allison F.;
(Dupont, WA) ; Williams; Evan H.; (Hoboken,
NJ) ; Wolf; Christopher R.; (Portage, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NUK USA LLC |
Tarrytown |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56850326 |
Appl. No.: |
14/640386 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/045 20130101;
A46B 1/00 20130101; A46B 2200/1066 20130101; A46B 5/04 20130101;
A46B 3/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04; A46B 3/22 20060101 A46B003/22; A46B 5/04 20060101
A46B005/04 |
Claims
1. A fingerbrush for the cleansing of multiple surfaces of teeth,
comprising: a body member having a front side portion, a rear side
portions, a top portion, a base portion and a cavity for receiving
a user's finger; the front side portion of said body member
including a brush head having two spaced side panels extending
therefrom, and a plurality of bristle members positioned and
located on and between said two side panels; and the rear side
portion of said body member including a plurality of raised
projections for facilitating the massaging of a gum line; wherein
when said brush head is engaged with the multiple surfaces of teeth
and/or a gum line, one of said side panels engages a labial tooth
surface, one of said side panels engages a lingual tooth surface,
and the remaining bristle members engage an occlusal tooth
surface.
2. The fingerbrush of claim 1 wherein said body member includes an
annular ring positioned and located adjacent the base portion of
said body member.
3. The fingerbrush of claim 2 wherein the rear side portion of said
body member further includes vertical ribbing extending between
said annular ring and the top portion of said body member.
4. The fingerbrush of claim 1 wherein said plurality of projections
are formed integral with said body member.
5. The fingerbrush of claim 3 wherein said vertical ribbing is
formed integral with said body member.
6. The fingerbrush of claim 1 wherein said brush head if formed
integral with said body member.
7. A fingerbrush for the cleansing of multiple surfaces of teeth
and/or gums comprising: a body member having a front side portion,
a rear side portion, a top portion, a base portion, and a cavity
for receiving a user's finger; a plurality of bristle members
positioned and located on the front side portion of said body
member; a side panel positioned and located on one side of said
plurality of bristle members and a side panel positioned and
located on the other side of said bristle members, each side panel
further including a plurality of bristle members; and a plurality
of vertical ribs positioned and located on the rear side portion of
said body member; wherein when said side panels and said bristle
members are engaged with the multiple surfaces of teeth and/or a
gum line, one of the side panels engages a labial tooth surface,
one of said side panels engages a lingual tooth surface, and the
remaining bristle members engage an occlusal tooth surface.
8. The fingerbrush of claim 7 wherein said body member includes an
annular flange positioned and located adjacent the base portion of
said body member.
9. The fingerbrush of claim 8 wherein said plurality of vertical
ribs extend between said annular flange and the top portion of said
body member.
10. The fingerbrush of claim 7 wherein the rear side portion of
said body member further includes a plurality of raised
projections.
11. A fingerbrush for simultaneous cleansing of multiple surfaces
of teeth and/or a gum line comprising: a sleeve type body member
having a front side portion, a rear side portion, a top portion, a
base portion, and a cavity for receiving a user's finger; the front
side portion of said body member including a brush head, said brush
head including a pair of spaced side panels extending outwardly
from said front side portion, said side panels being positioned and
located substantially parallel to one another; said front side
portion of said body member further including a plurality of
bristle members positioned and located on and between said pair of
side panels; the rear side portion of said body member including a
plurality of raised projections; and the rear side portion of said
body member further including a plurality of vertical ribs
positioned and located between the base portion and top portion of
said body member; wherein when said brush head is engaged with the
multiple surfaces of the teeth and/or a gum line, one of said side
panels engages a labial tooth surface, one of said side panels
engages a lingual tooth surface, and the remaining plurality of
bristle members engage an occlusal tooth surface.
12. The fingerbrush of claim 11 wherein said body member includes
an annular flange positioned adjacent the base portion of said body
member.
13. The fingerbrush of claim 12 wherein said plurality of vertical
ribs extend between the top portion of said body member and said
annular flange.
14. The fingerbrush of claim 11 wherein said plurality of
projections are interspersed between said plurality of vertical
ribs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a type of
toothbrush appliance and, more particularly, to a fingerbrush for
use with infants, toddlers and children for simultaneously cleaning
and/or burnishing multiple teeth and/or gum line surfaces.
[0002] Personal oral hygiene has been a challenge throughout the
ages and may present even greater challenges to infants, toddlers
and children who have not learned how to use a regular toothbrush.
Various toothbrush structures and devices have been suggested for
simplifying tooth and/or gum brushing procedures for these
children. The aforementioned toothbrushes are sometimes designed to
simultaneously clean multiple teeth and/or gum line surfaces.
Typical examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,390, U.S.
Pat. No. Des. 605,406, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 595,508, and U.S. Pat.
No. Des. 617,563. The prior art toothbrushes provide multiple
cleansing surfaces for simultaneous contacts with the labial,
lingual, and occlusal tooth surfaces. As a result, the brushing
procedures are greatly simplified and only require longitudinal
reciprocal motion to cleanse the multiple tooth surfaces. As such,
the example brushes are particularly well-suited for use by
toddlers and children who have not yet mastered the use of the
toothbrush.
[0003] The aforementioned toothbrushes and fingerbrushes do however
have some important limitations. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
6,254,390 includes a handle. It can be difficult for children or
adults brushing children's teeth and/or gums to properly use a
handle when cleaning a child's teeth. Children may lack the motor
skills to operate a toothbrush, and adults may not be able to use a
handled toothbrush with the precision required to clean thoroughly.
The other example brushes lack any type of means for massaging the
gum line and/or protecting the finger of an adult user against
biting while the brush is inserted into the oral cavity of a child
to clean a child's teeth and/or gums. New teeth break through the
gums frequently throughout infancy. As a result of the teething
process, gums often become sore and should be massaged to soothe
any pain. Also, when new teeth are forming, infants, toddlers and
children may have a propensity for biting down to ease the pain,
and thus it is important that the fingerbrush protect a wearer's
finger from injury during biting.
[0004] Thus, there is a need, especially in connection with
promoting oral hygiene in young children, to provide a fingerbrush
able to simultaneously clean and burnish multiple teeth and/or gum
line surfaces while, at the same time, also providing comfort to a
teething child or infant and to provide protection against biting
during teething to the person using the fingerbrush.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush type
appliance and, more particularly, to a fingerbrush for cleaning
and/or burnishing multiple teeth and/or gum line surfaces of an
infant or child. The fingerbrush may be made of a pliable plastic
such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Other materials may be
used for the fingerbrush so long as the fingerbrush is flexible
enough to fit over a finger and also durable enough to withstand
normal wear and tear including biting by an infant or child. The
present fingerbrush may be fabricated in an injection molding
process as understood in the art.
[0006] The present fingerbrush generally includes a sleeve type
body member having front side, a rear side and a cavity for
receiving a person's finger. A brush head is positioned and located
on the front side of the body member. The brush head includes two
side panels that are substantially parallel to one another and are
approximately the same size and shape. A plurality of bristle
members are positioned and located on and between the side panels.
A plurality of vertically extending ribs are positioned and located
on the rear side of the body member along with a plurality of
raised projections. Both the ribs and projections can take on a
wide variety of different shapes and sizes and can be used to
massage the gums of an infant or child.
[0007] Once a user has placed his/her forefinger into the cavity of
the fingerbrush, a user should make sure that the back portion of
the finger is generally aligned with the bristle members positioned
and located on the front side of the fingerbrush. The user may then
place his or her finger that includes the fingerbrush into the oral
cavity of the infant to begin cleaning. The brush head should be
placed over the teeth and/or gum line such that one side panel
engages a lingual tooth surface, one side panel engages a labial
tooth surface, and the plurality of bristle members between the
side panels engage an occlusal tooth surface. The brush head is
then moved in a reciprocal motion such that the side panels and
bristle members engage the various teeth and/or gum line surfaces
in rubbing contact in order to clean and burnish the various teeth
and/or gum line surfaces within the oral cavity. The user can also
use the plurality of projections to massage the gum line of the
infant or child.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which
like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts
in the various views:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a 3-sided fingerbrush for
cleaning three sides of an infant or child's teeth constructed
according to the teachings of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the 3-sided
fingerbrush of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the 3-sided fingerbrush
of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the 3-sided
fingerbrush of FIG. 1, the right side elevational view being a
mirror image thereof.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the 3-sided fingerbrush of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the 3-sided fingerbrush of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a 3-sided
fingerbrush 1 constructed according to the teachings of one
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a front
elevational view of fingerbrush 1; FIG. 3 illustrates a rear
elevational view thereof; and FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevational
view. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, one embodiment of fingerbrush 1
includes a generally sleeve type body member 2 having a front side
portion 5, a rear side portion 10, and a cavity 35 extending
sufficiently therethrough for receiving the finger of a person
using fingerbrush 1.
[0016] Body member 2 includes an annular base ring or flange 15
which circumscribes the base portion of fingerbrush 1 and thus
provides additional support to fingerbrush 1 such that it stays on
a user's finger when in use. The front side portion 5 of
fingerbrush 1 includes a brush head 20. Brush head 20 includes a
variety of components that may help a user in the cleaning and/or
burnishing process, namely, components that allow the labial,
occlusal, and lingual teeth and/or gum line surfaces to be cleaned
simultaneously. More specifically, brush head 20 includes a pair of
side panels 25 which are positioned and located substantially
parallel to one another in spaced apart relationship and are
approximately the same size and shape as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Side panels 25 are further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 and are
preferably formed integral with body member 2. Side panels 25 may
be gradually sloped as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the
gradual sloping further facilitating the brush head 20 to receive
teeth to be cleaned. It is also recognized and anticipated that the
side panels 25 may take on a wide variety of different sizes and
shapes and that a wide .variety of these different alternative
embodiments of side panels 25 will likewise achieve the stated
purpose so long as the side panels 25 are each positioned and
located respectively on one side of a plurality of bristle members
30 as explained below and so long as each side panel 25 likewise
includes some plurality of bristle members.
[0017] A plurality of bristle members 30 are positioned on and
between side panels 25 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Bristle members 30 may also be formed integral with body member 2
and may extend outwardly from their respective surfaces as
illustrated in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each
bristle member 30 being illustrated as a small tubular member. In
alternative embodiments, bristle members 30 may be sized and/or
shaped differently than as presently illustrated without impacting
the scope of the present invention. In this regard, the bristle
members 30 could be square, rectangular, hexagonal, triangular,
pointed in shape, or they could take on the wide variety of
different shapes and lengths associated with the bristles of a
regular toothbrush, to name a few alternative shapes which would
still achieve the stated purpose.
[0018] The rear side portion 10 of body member 2 as best
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 may likewise include a plurality of
upward extending vertical ribs 45 that extend from the top portion
40 of body member 2 to the annular base ring 15. In addition to
vertical ribbing 45, the rear side portion 10 may further include a
plurality, of raised projections 50 as best illustrated in FIG. 3.
Both the vertical ribs 45 and the plurality of raised projections
50 may be used together in one embodiment, or separately in two
separate embodiments, and both may be formed integral with body
member 2. The vertical ribs 45 and the plurality of raised
projections 50 may likewise take on different shapes and sized as
explained above with respect to the side panels 25 and the bristles
30. For example, projections 50 can likewise be square,
rectangular, hexagonal, triangular or pointed in shape to name a
few alternative embodiments, and the vertical ribs 45 can likewise
take on a variety of different shapes and lengths such as, for
example, an undulating, sinusoidal or wavy pattern, a thicker or
thinner width pattern, or a cascading pattern to name a few. A
limitless number of alternatively sized and shaped projections 50
and ribs 45 may be used to add strength to the overall fingerbrush,
to protect against biting, and to massage the gums of an infant or
child. Still further, the specific arrangement and/or array of
projections 50 and ribs 45 can likewise be varied. Both the
vertical ribbing 45 and/or the raised projections 50 may provide
protection to a user's finger against biting when fingerbrush 1 is
inserted into the oral cavity of an infant or child.
[0019] The cavity 35, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, extends within
the body member 2 and is sized and shaped to receive a finger of
the user, preferably the forefinger. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the
top portion 40 of body member 2 is enclosed thereby preventing a
user's finger from slipping within fingerbrush 1 during the
reciprocal cleaning motion described below, as well as prevent a
user's finger from transmitting or receiving germs from an infant's
oral cavity.
[0020] To use fingerbrush 1, a user simply places his or her finger
into cavity 35 and aligns the fingerbrush with bristle members 30
positioned on the back side of the finger and the ribs 45 and/or
projections 50 positioned on the front side of the finger. The
fingerbrush 1 may, now be inserted into the oral cavity of a child
to begin cleaning. When using the present fingerbrush 1, brush head
20 should be placed over the teeth and/or gum line such that one
side panel 25 engages at least one labial tooth surface, the other
side panel 25 engages at least one lingual tooth surface, and the
plurality of bristle members 30 therebetween engage at least one
occlusal tooth surface. The brush head 20 is then moved in a
reciprocal motion back and forth with side panels 25 and bristle
members 30 engaging the teeth and/or gum line surfaces in rubbing
contact in order to clean and burnish the various teeth and/or gum
line surfaces.
[0021] If a user is going to use the vertical ribbing 45 and/or
raised projections 50 to massage a child's gums, the user may
realign his or her finger in cavity 35 such that the front side
portion of the finger is substantially aligned with rear side
portion 10 of the fingerbrush 1 which includes the vertical ribbing
45 and raised projections 50. Alternatively, a user may simply use
the back side of his or her finger to massage a child's gums
thereby obviating the need to realign the fingerbrush 1.
[0022] Fingerbrush 1 may be made of a material that is formed
during an injection molding process. In one preferred embodiment,
the material may be a monoprene thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)
material. A wide variety of other materials may also be used so
long as fingerbrush 1 is sufficiently flexible to fit over a finger
yet also sufficiently durable to withstand wear and tear such as
biting by an infant.
[0023] The constructions described above and illustrated in the
drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended
to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a
novel fingerbrush. As is evident from the foregoing description,
certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the
particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is
therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications,
or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The
terms "having" and "including" and similar terms as used in the
foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or "may
include" and not as "required". Many changes, modifications,
variations and other uses and applications of the present
construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the
art after considering the specification and the accompanying
drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other
uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope
of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is
limited only by the claims which follow.
* * * * *