COMPRESSIBLE SAFETY TOOTHBRUSH WITH SPRING-SUPPORTED TELESCOPING BRUSH HEAD

Abstract

A toothbrush with a collapsible telescoping spring-supported toothbrush head can prevent the toothbrush head from being jammed forcefully into the back of a child's throat, thereby reducing serious injuries. The toothbrush head of the toothbrush is harmlessly pushed towards the handle/body against a spring inside the handle/body, rather than being forcefully pressed against the back of the throat, the toothbrush then returning to full length after removing the pushing force. The toothbrush head can move towards the handle some distance, depending on the pushing force. Even when the toothbrush head is pushed against the back of a child's throat, the toothbrush head moves towards the handle/body, compressing the spring, rather than making a hole in the back of the child's throat. The handle/body includes a weep hole to allow fluids to escape the handle/body. The toothbrush can also have a suction cup attached to the base of the handle/body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to toothbrushes, and particularly to toothbrushes enhanced for safe use by children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although children's toothbrushes seem like they are “child safe”, there are situations where a child's toothbrush can be the cause of a possibly fatal injury. In fact, situations have been reported in the pediatric literature where a child's toothbrush has caused life threatening oropharyngeal injuries.

For example, a 4-year-old child presented to an emergency department with a toothbrush impaled in her mouth while her parent was forcefully brushing her teeth. Hemostasis was achieved by digital pressure, and the impaled toothbrush was removed surgically. The child experienced an uneventful recovery. Although parents are advised to be careful with their children's toothbrush to prevent injuries, known children's toothbrushes continue to cause serious injuries.

For example, a little girl was the shortest in her family, and couldn't yet see herself in the mirror above the bathroom sink. So, she tried brushing her teeth while standing in front of a full length mirror on the back of her parents door. However, the little girl's Mom didn't see her brushing her teeth behind the door, and abruptly opened the door, jamming the toothbrush into the back of the little girl's throat. This caused the toothbrush to puncture the back of her throat—in a place that was close to her carotid artery that supplies blood to her brain. Such a puncture wound in the back of a little girl's throat might be serious, because any damage to the carotid artery could cause a life-threatening hemorrhage.

Although most people consider this type of injury to be a “freak accident,” such injuries are more common than is currently appreciated. For example, between the years 2006 to 2016, there were an estimated 8,500 toothbrush injuries that sent people to the emergency room. In fact, most of those injured by toothbrushes were four years old and younger. Most cases were seen in the emergency room, and then discharged. But a significant number of cases required sutures and/or surgery. For example, a toothbrush injury can be so severe as to require surgery to remove an impaled toothbrush from the back of a young child's throat.

Even though toothbrushes typically come with a warning label that recommends adult supervision for children three years-old or younger, parents cannot always prevent a young child from wandering away from the sink while brushing. Thus, there is always the risk that a child will nevertheless walk around or run with a toothbrush in their mouth, resulting in the risk of serious injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toothbrush with a collapsible telescoping spring-supported toothbrush head can prevent the toothbrush head from being jammed forcefully into the delicate tissue in the back of a child's throat, thereby preventing serious injuries. A key feature of the toothbrush of the invention is a SPRING that supports the toothbrush head so that the toothbrush head can be harmlessly pushed in against the spring rather than being violently pressed against the delicate tissue at the back of the throat, allowing the toothbrush to return to full length after removing the pushing force on the toothbrush head. The spring gets compressed when the toothbrush head is pushed into the handle of the toothbrush. The toothbrush head moves into the handle some distance, depending on the pushing force. The entire toothbrush returns to its normal length after the pushing force stops. So, even if the head of the toothbrush is pushed against the back of a child's throat, the head of the toothbrush moves into the handle, rather than making a hole in the back of the child's throat.

A general aspect of the invention is a compressible safety toothbrush for preventing a head of the toothbrush from injuring soft tissue at the back of a child's throat. The safety toothbrush includes: a movable toothbrush head, a shaft integral with the toothbrush head, and a movement platform in connected relationship with the shaft; a handle/body having a head end and a base end, the handle/body having a first opening at the head end configured to allow passage of the shaft as the movement platform moves through the handle/body towards the base end, and the handle/body having a second opening with a first attachment feature; a base having a second attachment feature configured to be attached to the first attachment feature of the handle/body; and a spring contained within the handle/body, the spring having a spring head end and a spring base end, the spring head end configured to press against the movement platform of the movable toothbrush, and the spring base end configured to rest against the base, such that when the moveable toothbrush head is pressed against an inner surface of a throat, the movement platform of the moveable toothbrush is moveably pressed against the spring, causing the spring to compress within the handle/body, thereby allowing the toothbrush head to move towards the handle/body, and allowing the shaft integral with the toothbrush head to move further into the handle/body.

In some embodiments, when the moveable toothbrush head is subsequently moved away from the inner surface of the mouth, the spring expands, thereby pushing the movement platform towards the first opening at the head end of the handle/body, allowing the toothbrush head to move away from the handle/body, and allowing the shaft integral with the toothbrush head to move outward along the handle/body, the spring regaining its original state within the handle/body.

In some embodiments, the handle/body includes a weep hole towards the second opening, the weep hole configured to allow fluids to escape the handle/body.

In some embodiments, the first attachment feature of the second opening of the handle/body includes internal female threads; and the second attachment feature of the base includes external male threads.

In some embodiments, the base includes circumferential ridges to enhance screwing and unscrewing the base from the handle/body.

In some embodiments, the second attachment feature of the base includes a resiliently supported button; and the first attachment feature of the second opening of the handle/body includes a hole for engaging with the resiliently supported button of the base.

In some embodiments, the collapsible safety toothbrush includes a suction cup attached to the base.

In some embodiments, the head end of the handle/body includes a motion stop configured to prevent the movement platform from being pushed out the first opening at the head end of the handle/body.

In some embodiments, the spring is in a partially compressed state when the movement platform is located along the handle/body so as to be in contact with the motion stop at the head end of the handle/body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an oblique view of an embodiment of the Collapsible Safety Toothbrush in a fully extended state.

FIG. 1B is an oblique view of an embodiment of the Collapsible Safety Toothbrush in a collapsed state in response to the head of the toothbrush being pressed against the soft tissue of the back of a child's throat.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a handle/body and a screw-on base of the embodiment of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a front view of a spring that is contained within the handle/body of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a front view of the head of the toothbrush of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the parts of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C assembled to function as shown in FIG. 1A, the spring shown inside the handle/body in a fully extended state.

FIG. 3B is a front view of the parts of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C assembled to function as shown in FIG. 1B, the spring shown inside the handle/body in a compressed state.

FIG. 4A is an oblique view of an alternate embodiment of the Collapsible Safety Toothbrush, this alternate embodiment having a suction cup attached to a push-button releasable base instead of the screw-on base of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is an oblique view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 4A, showing the suction cup and the push-button releasable base separated from the handle/body by disengaging the resiliently supported button of the push-button releasable base from a hole in the handle/body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1A, an embodiment 100 is shown of the Collapsible Safety Toothbrush in a fully extended state, ready for brushing teeth. This embodiment 100 of the Collapsible Safety Toothbrush includes a movable toothbrush head 102, and a handle assembly 104. The toothbrush head 102 can move into the handle assembly 104 when a force 103 is applied to the tip of the toothbrush head 102 in the direction of the handle assembly 104. Even if the force 103 is not parallel to the handle assembly 104, a component of the force 103 that is parallel to the handle assembly 104 will tend to move the toothbrush head 102 into the handle assembly 104 to some extent.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the embodiment 100 is shown after having been compressed, such as when pressed against the back of the throat of a person (e.g., a child) while brushing his/her teeth. When the movable toothbrush head 102 is pressed against the back of a person's mouth or throat, in response, the toothbrush head 102 resiliently moves into the handle assembly 104, thereby avoiding substantial harm to the soft tissue of the back of the child's throat.

With reference to FIG. 2A, the handle assembly 104 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown to include a handle tube 200 that screws into a base 202. This embodiment of the handle tube 200 screws into the base 202 with screw threads 201 that engage with the screw threads 203 of the base 202. The base 202 also has a ridged circumference 205 to help twist the base 202 when attaching and detaching it from the handle tube 200.

The handle tube 200 also includes a weep hole 204 for allowing fluids to flow out from the handle tube 200, such as water and toothpaste.

The handle tube 200 also includes a stop feature 206 that help ensure that the toothbrush head 102 cannot escape from the handle tube 200 under pressure of the spring 210, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the spring 210 contained within the handle/body of FIG. 2A is shown. The spring 210 has a top end 214, a bottom end 212, and a plurality of coils that can be compressed, and then can expand after pressure is removed from the top end 214 when the movable toothbrush head 102 is pulled away from the back of a child's throat, for example.

With reference to FIG. 2C, the movable toothbrush head 102 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown. The movable toothbrush head 102 includes a stop collar 207, a sealing collar 208, and at least one stability tab 209 opposite the bristles 218. The stop collar 207 abuts against the stop feature 206 to prevent the movable toothbrush head 102 from being pushed out from the handle tube 200. The sealing collar 208 inhibits or prevents fluids from entering the handle tube 200 when the moveable toothbrush head 102 is pushed against the stop feature 206 when the spring 210 is in a fully expanded state. The at least one stability tab 209 presses against the inside surface of the handle tube 200 so as to stabilize motion of the toothbrush head 102 through the handle tube 200. Optionally, a least one linear slot (not shown) can be made along the length of the inside of the handle tube 200, and the at least one stability tab 209 can move within the slot so as to prevent rotational motion of the toothbrush head 102 as the toothbrush head 102 moves through the handle tube 200.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the internal parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B. are shown to illustrate their mode of operation. More specifically, when the toothbrush head 102 is pressed towards the handle 104, the toothbrush head 102 moves into the handle tube 200, while the stop collar 207 moves away from the top 206 thereby compressing the spring 210. FIG. 3B shows the spring 210 in a compressed state after the toothbrush head 102 moves into the tube 200.

FIGS. 3A and 3B both also show the threads 201 of the tube 200 engaged with the threads 203 of the base 202 to removably secure the base 202 to the handle/body 104.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an alternate embodiment 400 of the tube is shown. In this embodiment the tube 400 attaches to a suction cup 402 via a resilient button 404 attached to the suction cup 402, the button 404 engaging with a hole 406 in the tube 400. Also shown is the weep hole 204 for allowing fluids from the toothbrush head 102 to flow out the bottom of the tube 400.

FIG. 4A shows the tube 400 engaged with the suction cup 402, while FIG. 4B shows the suction cup 402 detached from the tube 400 after the button 404 has been released from the hole 406.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.

Claims

1. A compressible safety toothbrush for preventing a head of the toothbrush from injuring soft tissue at the back of a child's throat, the safety toothbrush comprising: a movable toothbrush head, a shaft integral with the toothbrush head, and a movement platform in connected relationship with the shaft;a handle/body having a head end and a base end, the handle/body having a first opening at the head end configured to allow passage of the shaft as the movement platform moves through the handle/body towards the base end, andthe handle/body having a second opening with a first attachment feature;a base having a second attachment feature configured to be attached to the first attachment feature of the handle/body; anda spring contained within the handle/body, the spring having a spring head end and a spring base end, the spring head end configured to press against the movement platform of the movable toothbrush, and the spring base end configured to rest against the base, such that:when the moveable toothbrush head is pressed against an inner surface of a throat, the movement platform of the moveable toothbrush is moveably pressed against the spring, causing the spring to compress within the handle/body, thereby allowing the toothbrush head to move towards the handle/body, and allowing the shaft integral with the toothbrush head to move further into the handle/body.

2. The compressible safety toothbrush of claim 1, wherein when the moveable toothbrush head is subsequently moved away from the inner surface of the mouth, the spring expands, thereby pushing the movement platform towards the first opening at the head end of the handle/body, allowing the toothbrush head to move away from the handle/body, and allowing the shaft integral with the toothbrush head to move outward along the handle/body, the spring regaining its original state within the handle/body.

3. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle/body includes a weep hole towards the second opening, the weep hole configured to allow fluids to escape the handle/body.

4. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the first attachment feature of the second opening of the handle/body includes internal female threads; andthe second attachment feature of the base includes external male threads.

5. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the base includes circumferential ridges to enhance screwing and unscrewing the base from the handle/body.

6. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the second attachment feature of the base includes a resiliently supported button; andthe first attachment feature of the second opening of the handle/body includes a hole for engaging with the resiliently supported button of the base.

7. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising: a suction cup attached to the base.

8. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the head end of the handle/body includes: a motion stop configured to prevent the movement platform from being pushed out the first opening at the head end of the handle/body.

9. The collapsible safety toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the spring is in a partially compressed state when the movement platform is located along the handle/body so as to be in contact with the motion stop at the head end of the handle/body.