Information
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Patent Grant
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6308364
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Patent Number
6,308,364
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Date Filed
Monday, March 27, 200025 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, October 30, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 015 106
- 015 1671
- D04 104
- D04 105
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A denture toothbrush including a head with a rounded section extending from its distal end back toward the neck position and a flat section on one side of the head extending from a point spaced back from the distal end to the neck portion. A first set of bristles extend radially out from the rounded section and a second set of bristles extend out perpendicular to the flat section. The first set of rounded bristles resemble a bottle brush and make contact with the curved gum areas on the inside of the dentures. The second set of straight bristles are adapted to clean the teeth and area on the outside of the denture.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of toothbrushes, and more particularly to a denture toothbrush.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,309,596; 5,377,377; 5,465,450 and 5,488,751 the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse toothbrushes.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical denture toothbrush suitable for cleaning the inside surface of dentures.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved denture toothbrush and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a denture toothbrush including a head with a rounded section extending from its distal end back toward the neck position and a flat section on one side of the head extending from a point spaced back from the distal end to the neck portion. A first set of bristles extend radially out from the rounded section and a second set of bristles extend out perpendicular to the flat section. The first set of rounded bristles resemble a bottle brush and make contact with the curved gum areas on the inside of the dentures. The second set of straight bristles are adapted to clean the teeth and area on the outside of the denture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the denture toothbrush of the present invention in use cleaning the curved gum areas on the inside of a denture;
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of the denture toothbrush;
FIG. 3
is a bottom plan view thereof; and
FIG. 4
is a top plan view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particularly to
FIG. 1
, the denture toothbrush that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number
10
. The toothbrush
10
is adapted for use in cleaning both the curved gum areas on the inside of a denture
1
and the teeth and other areas on the outside of the denture
1
. The toothbrush
10
includes an elongated handle
20
, a head
40
, and a neck portion
70
that interconnects the handle
20
and the head
40
.
The head
40
has a proximal end
42
connected to the neck portion
70
and a distal end
44
. A generally rounded section
46
extends back from the distal end
44
toward the proximal end
42
. A flat section
48
is formed on one side of the head
40
and extends from a point spaced back from the distal end
44
to the proximal end
42
.
A first set of bristles
50
extend radially out from the rounded section
46
and resemble a rounded bottle brush covering the distal end
44
and extending back toward the proximal end
42
. The first set of bristles
50
are longer at the distal end
44
and shorter at the proximal end
42
giving a rounded tapered appearance. A second set of bristles
60
extend straight out perpendicular to the flat section
48
.
The rounded bristles
50
are adapted to clean the curved gum areas on the inside of dentures
1
and the straight bristles
60
are adapted to clean the teeth and other areas on the outside of the denture
1
.
Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A denture toothbrush, comprising:an elongated handle, a head, and a neck portion interconnecting the handle and the head; the head including a proximal end connected to the neck portion and a distal end, the head including a rounded section extending from the distal end back to the proximal end and a flat section formed on one side of the head extending from a point spaced back from the distal end to the proximal end; a first set of bristles extending out from all portions of the rounded section of the head, wherein the first set of bristles are tapered being longer at the distal end than at the proximal end; and a second set of bristles extending out perpendicular to the flat section.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
16815 |
Apr 1898 |
CH |
246639 |
Oct 1947 |
CH |
671866 |
Oct 1989 |
CH |
249193 |
Mar 1926 |
GB |
265690 |
Feb 1927 |
GB |
348048 |
Jul 1937 |
IT |