FULL MOUTH TOOTHBRUSH

Abstract

A full-mouth toothbrush may include a semi-elliptical channel confined between an outer semi-elliptical wall and an inner semi-elliptical wall conforming to contours of a set of teeth, a brush assembly mounted within the semi-elliptical channel with a first bristled brush head, a second bristled brush head, and a connecting rod coupled between the outer semi-elliptical wall and the inner semi-elliptical wall. The first bristled brush head and the second bristled brush head are rotatably mounted on the connecting rod and an actuating mechanism may actuate a rotational reciprocating motion of the brush assembly. The actuation mechanism includes a first pedal and a second pedal coupled to the brush assembly that may be actuated by opening and closing motions of a user's mouth and urge the brush assembly to assume a rotational reciprocating motion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to toothbrushes and particularly relates to full-mouth toothbrushes. The present disclosure, more particularly, relates to a full-mouth toothbrush that may be actuated by opening/closing motion of a user's mouth.

BACKGROUND

A toothbrush that has a bristled head attached to a handle may be used to clean teeth or stimulate the gum. A toothbrush may either be a manual or an electrical toothbrush, either way, it is a user's responsibility to move the toothbrush from tooth to tooth and to manipulate the toothbrush onto the various surfaces of each tooth. A user must ensure that each tooth surface is adequately cleaned due to the fact that a bristled head of a toothbrush is only capable of cleaning a small area at a time. Furthermore, a user may favor certain teeth or regions of teeth over other teeth or other regions of teeth, which may lead to the time spent brushing each tooth being distributed unevenly.

To address the abovementioned problem of a user not being able to adequately manipulate a manual or an electrical toothbrush to clean all the surfaces of all the user's teeth evenly and effectively, full-mouth toothbrushes are being developed. Such full-mouth toothbrushes may be designed to brush all of a user's teeth simultaneously. For example, a full-mouth toothbrush may include a couple of bristle strips mounted to a frame that may be shaped and sized to fit in a user's mouth and then the bristle strips may be actuated to brush all of the user's teeth simultaneously. However, there is still a need for designing a brush assembly that can be utilized in a full-mouth toothbrush that may effectively engage all the surfaces of a single tooth. There is further a need for a simple actuating mechanism that may actuate a full-mouth toothbrush without the need for an electrical power source.

SUMMARY

This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of the present disclosure and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed implementations. The proper scope of the present disclosure may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description and the drawings.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a full-mouth toothbrush. An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may include a semi-elliptical channel that may be confined between an outer semi-elliptical wall and an inner semi-elliptical wall. An exemplary semi-elliptical channel may be configured to conform to contours of a set of teeth. An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may further include a brush assembly mounted within an exemplary semi-elliptical channel.

An exemplary brush assembly may include a first bristled brush head, a second bristled brush head, and a connecting rod that may be coupled to an exemplary outer semi-elliptical wall from a first end of an exemplary connecting rod and to an exemplary inner semi-elliptical wall from an opposing second end of an exemplary connecting rod. A longitudinal axis of an exemplary connecting rod may be perpendicular to both an exemplary outer semi-elliptical wall and an exemplary inner semi-elliptical wall. An exemplary first bristled brush head and an exemplary second bristled brush head may be rotatably mounted on an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary first bristled brush head and an exemplary second bristled brush head may be spaced apart along an exemplary longitudinal axis of an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary connecting rod may be rotatable about an exemplary longitudinal axis of an exemplary connecting rod.

An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may further include an actuating mechanism coupled to an exemplary brush assembly. An exemplary actuation mechanism may be configured to actuate a rotational reciprocating motion of an exemplary brush assembly about a longitudinal axis of an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary actuation mechanism may include a first pedal coupled to an exemplary brush assembly. An exemplary first pedal may include a first push surface configured to be engaged by an upper tooth. An exemplary first push surface may be perpendicular to a plane of rotation of an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary first pedal may further include a first lever with a first length that may be configured to connect an exemplary first push surface to an exemplary brush assembly.

An exemplary actuation mechanism may further include a second pedal that may be coupled to an exemplary brush assembly. An exemplary second pedal may include a second push surface that may be configured to be engaged by a lower tooth. An exemplary second push surface may be perpendicular to an exemplary plane of rotation of an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary second push surface may be parallel with an exemplary first push surface. An exemplary second push surface may be opposite an exemplary first push surface by 180° about an exemplary longitudinal axis of an exemplary connecting rod. An exemplary second pedal may further include a second lever with a second length that may be configured to connect an exemplary second push surface to an exemplary brush assembly. An exemplary second length may be equal to an exemplary first length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present disclosure, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a sectional top view of a full-mouth toothbrush, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B illustrates a full-mouth toothbrush, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a brush assembly, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front view of a brush assembly placed inside a user's mouth, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a secondary brush assembly, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a gear train, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present disclosure, as o its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following discussion.

The present disclosure is directed to exemplary embodiments of a full-mouth toothbrush that may be placed within a user's mouth and may be configured to engage all of a user's teeth. An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may include a semi-elliptical main frame including a semi-elliptical channel configured to follow contours of a user's teeth. An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may further include a primary brush assembly that may be disposed within semi-elliptical channel. An exemplary primary brush assembly may include two spaced apart and opposite bristled brush heads that may be rotatably mounted on a connecting rod. Exemplary bristled brush heads of an exemplary primary brush assembly are configured to engage facial and lingual surfaces of at least one maxillary and one mandibular teeth of a user responsive to a user's teeth being placed within an exemplary semi-elliptical channel of an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush.

An exemplary primary brush assembly may be actuated by two pedals mounted on both sides of an exemplary primary brush assembly. Exemplary pedals may engage at least one upper tooth and one lower tooth of a user. In practice, when a user opens/closes their mouth, exemplary pedals may move according to exertion and removal of the forces exerted by the at least one upper and one lower teeth of a user. Exemplary pedals are rotatable with an exemplary primary brush assembly, consequently in response to movement of exemplary pedals, primary brush assembly may assume a reciprocating rotational movement. Such reciprocating rotational movement of an exemplary primary assembly may allow for bristled brush heads to move over facial and lingual surfaces of at least one maxillary and one mandibular teeth of a user. Furthermore, a portion of an exemplary connecting rod that may be positioned between two exemplary bristled brush head may include bristles radially extended from an outer surface of an exemplary connecting rod. Such exemplary bristles extending out of connecting rod may engage incisal or occlusal surfaces of at least one maxillary and one mandibular teeth of a user that are disposed within an exemplary semi-elliptical channel between two exemplary bristled brush heads.

An exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may further include a plurality of secondary brush assemblies that may be structurally similar to an exemplary primary brush assembly. Exemplary secondary brush assembly may be disposed along an exemplary semi-elliptical channel, such that respective bristled brush heads of exemplary secondary brush assemblies along with bristled brush heads of an exemplary primary brush assembly may engage all user's teeth. Exemplary secondary brush assemblies may be coupled to primary brush assembly by utilizing an exemplary gear train, such that exemplary secondary brush assemblies may be driven by an exemplary primary brush assembly. In practice, an exemplary primary brush assembly may be actuated by opening/closing movements of a user's mouth, the force of which is transferred to an exemplary primary brush assembly by utilizing exemplary pedals attached to an exemplary primary brush assembly. Then, reciprocating motion of an exemplary brush assembly may be transferred to exemplary secondary brush assemblies by utilizing an exemplary gear train. Such configuration of full-mouth brush assembly may allow for an easy actuation of an exemplary brush assembly by opening/closing movements of a user's mouth without the need for electrical power.

FIG. 1A illustrates a sectional top view of a full-mouth toothbrush 100, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B illustrates an image 190 of a full-mouth toothbrush, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, full-mouth toothbrush 100 may include a mouthpiece 102 attached to a handle 104. In an exemplary embodiment, mouthpiece 102 may include a main frame 106 that may be shaped and sized to fit in a user's mouth. In an exemplary embodiment, handle 104 may be configured to facilitate placing mouthpiece 102 inside a user's mouth by allowing a user to grab full-mouth toothbrush 100 utilizing handle 104 and placing mouthpiece 102 in a user's mouth.

In an exemplary embodiment, main frame 106 may include an outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and a corresponding inner semi-elliptical wall 110 spaced apart from and attached to each other to form a semi-elliptical channel 112 that may be configured to envelope a user's teeth, that is, a semi-elliptical shape of semi-elliptical channel 112 may allow for enveloping of a user's teeth. In other words, main frame 106 may provide semi-elliptical channel 112 that is of a semi-elliptical shape adapted to follow the contours of a set of teeth, where semi-elliptical channel 112 is extended along a flat plane confined between outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and inner semi-elliptical wall 110. In an exemplary embodiment, outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and inner semi-elliptical wall 110 may be perpendicular to the flat plane of semi-elliptical channel 112. Consequently, semi-elliptical channel 112 may be configured, that is, a shape of semi-elliptical channel 112, may allow a user's both upper and lower teeth to be placed inside semi-elliptical channel 112 in response to a user placing mouthpiece 102 inside a user's mouth. In an exemplary embodiment, mouthpiece 102 may further include a brush assembly 114 that may be mounted between outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and inner semi-elliptical wall 110, such that brush assembly 114 may be housed within semi-elliptical channel 112 of mouthpiece 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of brush assembly 114, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 114 may include a connecting rod 120, a first bristled brush head 116, and a second bristled brush head 118. In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118 may be rotatable with and mounted on connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 116 may include a first bristled surface 122 with a first plurality of bristle bundles 124 attached to first bristled surface 122 of first bristled brush head 116. In an exemplary embodiment, second bristled brush head 118 may include a second bristled surface 126 with a second plurality of bristle bundles 128 attached to second bristled surface 126 of second bristled brush head 118. In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 120 may interconnect respective bristled surfaces (122, 126) of first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118. In an exemplary embodiment, respective bristled surfaces (122, 126) of first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118 may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120 and may face an interior of semi-elliptical channel 112. In other words, first bristled surface 122 of first bristled brush head 116 may face away from outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and second bristled surface 126 of second bristled brush head 118 may face away from inner semi-elliptical wall 110. In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 120 may include a third plurality of bristle bundles 134 attached to an outer annular surface of a portion of connecting rod 120 between first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118. In an exemplary embodiment, third plurality of bristle bundles 134 may extend radially from the outer annular surface of connecting rod 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 116 may include a first convex disc 138 with a first diameter 140 and second bristled brush head 118 may include a second convex disc 142 with a second diameter 144. In an exemplary embodiment, each bristle bundle of first plurality of bristle bundles 124 may include bristles extended perpendicularly out of first bristled surface 122 of first convex disc 138. Similarly, each bristle bundle of second plurality of bristle bundles 128 may include bristles extended perpendicularly out of second bristled surface 126 of second convex disc 142. In an exemplary embodiment, bristled surfaces (122 and 128) may include convex surfaces, out of which respective first plurality of bristle bundles 124 and second plurality of bristle bundles 128 may extend towards the interior of semi-elliptical channel 112.

In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 114 may be rotatably coupled to outer semi-elliptical wall 108 by utilizing a first extended connection rod 132 extended from a surface of first bristled brush head 116 opposite first bristled surface 122 along longitudinal axis 130. In an exemplary embodiment, first extended connection rod 132 may extend through an aperture within outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and may be rotatably coupled to outer semi-elliptical wall 108. In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 114 may further be rotatably coupled to inner semi-elliptical wall 110 by utilizing a second extended connection rod 136 extended from a surface of second bristled brush head 118 opposite second bristled surface 126 along longitudinal axis 130. In an exemplary embodiment, second extended connection rod 136 may extend through an aperture within inner semi-elliptical wall 110 and may be rotatably coupled to inner semi-elliptical wall 110. In an exemplary embodiment, first extended connection rod 132 and second extended connection rod 136 may include extended portions of connecting rod 120 that may extend and pass through first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118.

In an exemplary embodiment, such coupling of brush assembly 114 to main frame 106 may allow for first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118 to be rotatable with connecting rod 120 about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. Such rotational movement of first bristled brush head 116, second bristled brush head 118, and connecting rod 120 may in turn allow for first plurality of bristle bundles 124 to rotate over facial face of a user's teeth, second plurality of bristle bundles 128 to rotate over lingual face of a user's teeth, and third plurality of bristle bundles 134 to rotate over the incisal or occlusal surfaces of a user's teeth to remove the plaques.

In an exemplary embodiment, full-mouth toothbrush 100 may further include an actuating mechanism 146 that may be coupled to brush assembly 114 and may be configured to actuate a rotational movement of brush assembly 114 about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, a rotational movement of brush assembly 114 may include a reciprocating rotational movement of brush assembly 114 about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front view of brush assembly 114 placed inside a user's mouth, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, actuating mechanism 146 may include a first pedal 148 and a second pedal 156 that may be coupled to brush assembly 114. In an exemplary embodiment, first pedal 148 may include a first push surface 154 that may be connected to brush assembly 114 by utilizing a first lever 158. In an exemplary embodiment, a first end 1582 of first lever 158 may be attached to an outer surface of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, a second end 1584 of first lever 158 may be attached to first push surface 154. In an exemplary embodiment, first lever 158 may be connected to connecting rod 120 in such a way that a main longitudinal axis 1583 of first lever 158 crosses longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, first lever 158 may be connected to first push surface 154 in such a way that a first angle 1585 is formed between first lever 158 and first push surface 154. In an exemplary embodiment, first angle 1585 may be less than 45°. For example, first angle 1585 may be equal to 30°. In an exemplary embodiment, first push surface 154 may be configured to engage at least one of upper teeth of a user. For example, first push surface 154 may be configured to engage maxillary central incisor 400a in response to brush assembly 114 being placed inside a user's mouth. As used herein, a tooth, such as maxillary central incisor 400a being engaged with a surface such as first push surface 154 may refer to a bite surface of the tooth being placed over the surface. For example, a bite surface 401a of maxillary central incisor 400a may be placed over first push surface 154.

In an exemplary embodiment, second pedal 156 may include a second push surface 160 that may be connected to brush assembly 114 by utilizing a second lever 162. In an exemplary embodiment, a first end 1622 of second lever 162 may be attached to the outer surface of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, a second end 1624 of second lever 162 may be attached to second push surface 160. In an exemplary embodiment, second lever 162 may be connected to connecting rod 120 in such a way that a main longitudinal axis 1623 of second lever 162 crosses longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, second lever 162 may be connected to second push surface 160 in such a way that a second angle 1625 is formed between second lever 152 and second push surface 160. In an exemplary embodiment, second angle 1625 may be less than 45°. For example, second angle 1625 may be equal to 30°. In an exemplary embodiment, second push surface 160 may be configured to engage at least one of lower teeth of a user. For example, second push surface 160 may be configured to engage mandibular central incisor 402b in response to brush assembly 114 being placed inside a user's mouth. As used herein, a tooth, such as mandibular central incisor 402b being engaged with a surface such as second push surface 160 may refer to a bite surface of the tooth being placed over the surface. For example, a bite surface 403b of mandibular central incisor 402b may be placed over second push surface 160.

In an exemplary embodiment, first push surface 154 may be perpendicular to a plane of rotation of connecting rod 120 and second push surface 160 may be oriented opposite to first push surface 154 by 180° perpendicular to longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, first push surface 154 and second push surface 160 may be symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of connecting rod 120 with equal radial distances from the outer surface of connecting rod 120. In other words, first push surface 154 may be positioned opposite second push surface 160 by 180° about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 114 may be positioned within semi-elliptical channel 112 of mouthpiece 102, such that longitudinal axis 130 may be perpendicular to both outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and inner semi-elliptical wall 110 of main frame 106. In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 114 may be mounted between outer semi-elliptical wall 108 and inner semi-elliptical wall 110 such that connecting rod 120 may be extended along longitudinal axis 130 on a plane of symmetry 103 of mouthpiece 102. As used herein, plane of symmetry 103 (perpendicular to view in FIGS. 1 and 3) may refer to a plane perpendicular to outer semi-elliptical wall 108, inner semi-elliptical wall 110, and the plane of semi-elliptical channel 112 that may divide mouthpiece 102 into two symmetrical halves. In an exemplary embodiment, mouthpiece 102 may be configured such that in response to mouthpiece 102 being placed inside a user's mouth, plane of symmetry 103 may be superimposed on a median plane of a user's mouth. Consequently, responsive to mouthpiece 102 being placed inside a user's mouth, first push surface 154 and second push surface 160 may be equally spaced apart from plane of symmetry 103. As mentioned before, responsive to placing mouthpiece 102 within a user's mouth, plane of symmetry 103 may be superimposed on a median plane of a user's mouth, which is an imaginary vertical plane passing through a midline of a user's set of teeth.

In an exemplary embodiment, longitudinal axis 164 of first lever 158 may be oriented relative to a normal axis 168 of first push surface 154 by 45° and longitudinal axis 166 of second lever 162 may be oriented relative to a normal axis 170 of second push surface 160 by 45°. In an exemplary embodiment, first push surface 154 may be configured to be engaged with incisal surface of a maxillary tooth, such as bite surface 401a of maxillary central incisor 400a and second push surface 160 may be configured to be engaged with incisal surface of a mandibular tooth, such as bite surface 403b of mandibular central incisor 402b.

In an exemplary embodiment, in practice, when a user places mouthpiece 102 in their mouth, first pedal 148 and second pedal 156 may be in their respective initial positions. In an exemplary embodiment, an initial position of first pedal 148 may corresponds to a position where bite surface 401a of maxillary central incisor 400a is placed over first push surface 154 and first lever 158 makes a 45° angle with bite surface 401a. In an exemplary embodiment, an initial position of second pedal 156 may corresponds to a position where bite surface 403b of mandibular central incisor 402b is placed over second push surface 160 and second lever 162 makes a 45° angle with bite surface 403b. In an exemplary embodiment, an angle between first lever 158 and normal axis 168 of first push surface 154 may be an angle other than 45° and similarly, an angle between second lever 162 and normal axis 160 of second push surface 160 may be an angle other than 45°.

In an exemplary embodiment, when a user closes their mouth, maxillary central incisor 400a may push first push surface 154 down in a direction shown by arrow 300 and mandibular central incisor 402b may push second push surface 160 up in a direction shown by arrow 302 and since push surfaces (154, 160) are placed with a lateral symmetry on opposite sides of connecting rod 120, a torque may be applied on connecting rod 120 by first push surface 154 and second push surface 160, which may cause connecting rod 120 to rotate about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120 in a direction shown by arrow 304. In other words, when a user closes their mouth, first pedal 148 and second pedal 156 may be forced to move from their respective initial positions into their respective second positions, where first lever 158 may be parallel with bite surface 401a and second lever 162 may be parallel with bite surface 403b. Such movement of first pedal 148 and second pedal 156 from their respective initial positions to their respective second positions in response to a user closing their mouth may force connecting rod 120 to rotate about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120 by a predetermined angle, for example 45° as illustrated in FIG. 3.

As mentioned before, in an exemplary embodiment, first lever 158 and second lever 162 may be configured to make any desired angle other than 45° with respect to normal axes (168 and 170) of first push surface 154 and second push surface 160. In this case, in response to a user biting into mouthpiece 102, connecting rod 120 may be urged to rotate by that desired angle. In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118 may rotate with connecting rod 120 since first bristled brush head 116 and second bristled brush head 118 are rigidly attached to or integrally formed with connecting rod 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, actuating mechanism 146 may further include a biasing member 172, such as a spring that may be coupled to connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, biasing member 172 may be coupled between connecting rod 120 and main frame 106 or handle 104 and may be configured to bias connecting rod 120 into the first position when a user opens their mouth. Such configuration of first and second push surfaces (154, 160) and biasing member 172 may allow for a user to actuate a reciprocating rotational movement of brush assembly 114 about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120 by opening and closing their mouth.

In an exemplary embodiment, biasing member 172 may be a compression spring mounted within handle 104. In an exemplary embodiment, a first end of biasing member 172 may be coupled to first extended connection rod 132 and an opposing second end of biasing member 172 may be coupled to an inner wall 174 of handle 104. In practice, when a user places mouthpiece 102 within their mouth and closes their mouth, connecting rod 120 may rotate about longitudinal axis 130 in response to the torque exerted on connecting rod 120 by the movement of first pedal 148 and second pedal 156 from their respective initial positions to their respective second positions. In response to such rotation of connecting rod, biasing member 172 may be compressed and when a user opens their mouth, biasing member 172 may decompress and bias connecting rod 120 to its initial position that corresponds with first pedal 148 and second pedal 156 being biased to their respective initial position.

In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary mouthpiece of an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush may further include a plurality of secondary brush assemblies that may be coupled to and driven by an exemplary brush assembly of an exemplary mouthpiece. For example, mouthpiece 102 of full-mouth toothbrush 100 may further include a plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d) that may be coupled to and driven by brush assembly 114, as will be discussed. In an exemplary embodiment, each secondary brush assembly of plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d) may be structurally similar to brush assembly 114.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a secondary brush assembly 400, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, secondary brush assembly 400 may be structurally similar to each secondary brush assembly of plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d).

In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 400 may include a first bristled brush head 416 similar to first bristled brush head 116 attached to a second bristled brush head 418 similar to second bristled brush head 118 by utilizing a connecting rod 420 similar to connecting rod 120. In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 416 may include a bristled surface 422 with a first plurality of bristle bundles 424 attached to bristled surface 422 of first bristled brush head 416. In an exemplary embodiment, second bristled brush head 418 may include a bristled surface 426 with a second plurality of bristle bundles 428 attached to bristled surface 426 of second bristled brush head 118. In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 420 may interconnect respective bristled surfaces (422, 426) of first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418. In an exemplary embodiment, respective bristled surfaces (422, 426) of first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418 may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 430 of connecting rod 420 and may face an inner volume of semi-elliptical channel 112. In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 420 may include a third plurality of bristle bundles 434 attached to an outer annular surface 436 of connecting rod 420. In an exemplary embodiment, third plurality of bristle bundles 434 may extend radially from an outer annular surface of connecting rod 420.

In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 416 may include a first convex disc 438 similar to first convex disc 138 with a first diameter 440 and second bristled brush head 418 may include a second convex disc 442 similar to second convex disc 142 with a second diameter 144. In an exemplary embodiment, each bristle bundle of first plurality of bristle bundles 424 may include bristles extended perpendicularly out of bristled surface 422 of first convex disc 438. Similarly, each bristle bundle of second plurality of bristle bundles 428 may include bristles extended perpendicularly out of bristled surface 426 of second convex disc 442. In an exemplary embodiment, bristled surfaces (422 and 428) may include convex surfaces, out of which respective first plurality of bristle bundles 424 and second plurality of bristle bundles 428 may extend towards the interior of semi-elliptical channel 112.

In an exemplary embodiment, responsive to placing mouthpiece 102 inside a user's mouth, upper and lower teeth of a user may be placed within semi-elliptical channel 112 between first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418. For example, a lower tooth 401 may be positioned between first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418. In an exemplary embodiment, first bristled brush head 416 may be configured to engage facial surfaces of teeth and second bristled brush head 418 may be configured to engage corresponding lingual faces of teeth. For example, first bristled brush head 416 may be configured to engage facial surface 402 of tooth 401 and second bristled brush head 418 may be configured to engage corresponding lingual face 404 of tooth 401. In an exemplary embodiment, first diameter 440 may be larger than second diameter 444. Consequently, convex bristled surface 422 of first bristled brush head 416 may be a larger surface in comparison with second bristled brush head 418 and may include a larger number of bristle bundles that may effectively engage the entire facial surface of a given set of teeth. On the other hand, convex bristled surface 426 of second bristled brush head 418 may engage a relatively smaller corresponding lingual face of the given set of teeth. In an exemplary embodiment, third plurality of bristle bundles 434 of connecting rod 420 may engage incisal or occlusal surfaces of respective teeth. For example, third plurality of bristle bundles 434 may engage occlusal surface 406 of tooth 401. As used herein, teeth may refer to at least one tooth that may be positioned within semi-elliptical channel 112 between first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418 and may be enveloped by first plurality of bristle bundles 424, second plurality of bristle bundles 428, and third plurality of bristle bundles 434. For example, tooth 401 is positioned between first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418 and is enveloped by first plurality of bristle bundles 424, second plurality of bristle bundles 428, and third plurality of bristle bundles 434.

In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 420 may be rotatably coupled to main frame 106. In other words, a first end 419 of connecting rod 420 may be rotatably coupled to outer semi-elliptical frame 108 and an opposing second end 421 of connecting rod 420 may be rotatably coupled to inner semi-elliptical frame 110. In an exemplary embodiment, such coupling of connecting rod 420 to main frame 106 may allow for first bristled brush head 416 and second bristled brush head 418 to be rotatable with connecting rod 420 about longitudinal axis 430 of connecting rod 420. Such rotational movement of first bristled brush head 416, second bristled brush head 418, and connecting rod 420 may in turn allow for first plurality of bristle bundles 424 to rotate over facial face of a user's teeth, second plurality of bristle bundles 428 to rotate over lingual face of the user's teeth, and third plurality of bristle bundles 434 to rotate over the incisal or occlusal surfaces of the user's teeth to remove the plaques. For example, first plurality of bristle bundles 424 may rotatable brush against facial surface 402 of tooth 401, second plurality of bristle bundles 428 may rotatable brush against lingual face 404 of tooth 401, and third plurality of bristle bundles 434 may rotatable brush against occlusal surface 406 of tooth 401.

In an exemplary embodiment, mouthpiece 102 of full-mouth toothbrush may further include a gear train 178 that may be configured to couple brush assembly 114 to plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d). In an exemplary embodiment, actuating mechanism 146 may be utilized to actuate a reciprocating rotational movement of brush assembly 114 and then gear train 178 may be configured to transfer such reciprocating rotational movement of brush assembly 114 to plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d).

In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary gear train may include a face gear that may be couple to a main spur gear and a plurality of secondary spur gears mounted around a peripheral edge of an exemplary face gear. An exemplary main spur gear may be coupled to an exemplary brush assembly actuated by an exemplary actuating mechanism and exemplary secondary spur gears may be coupled to respective exemplary secondary brush assemblies by utilizing an exemplary face gear. Such coupling of an exemplary brush assembly with other secondary brush assemblies may allow for transferring a rotational movement of an exemplary brush assembly actuated by an exemplary actuation mechanism to other exemplary secondary brush assemblies. For example, gear train 178 may include a face gear 180 that may be coupled to a main spur gear 181 and a plurality of secondary spur gears (182a-182b), such that a rotational movement of main spur gear 181 may urge face gear 180 to assume a rotational movement, which in turn may actuate rotational movements of plurality of spur gears (182a-182b).

In an exemplary embodiment, a connecting rod 177a of secondary brush assembly 176a may be rotatably coupled to spur gear 182a, a connecting rod 177b of secondary brush assembly 176b may be rotatably coupled to spur gear 182b, a connecting rod 177c of secondary brush assembly 176c may be rotatably coupled to spur gear 182c, and a connecting rod 177d of secondary brush assembly 176d may be rotatably coupled to spur gear 182d. In an exemplary embodiment, connecting rod 120 of brush assembly 114 may further be rotatably coupled to main spur gear 181.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a gear train 500, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, gear train 500 may be similar to gear train 178. In an exemplary embodiment, gear train 500 may include a face gear 502 similar to face gear 180, a main spur gear 504 similar to main spur gear 181, and secondary spur gears (506a and 506b) similar to secondary spur gears (182c and 182d). In an exemplary embodiment, main spur gear 504 may be rotatably coupled to connecting rod 120, secondary spur gear 506a may be coupled to connecting rod 177c, and secondary spur gear 506b may be coupled to connecting rod 177d. In an exemplary embodiment, main spur gear 504 and secondary spur gears (506a and 506b) may mesh with face gear 180. This way, rotational movement of connecting rod 120 may be transferred to connecting rods (177c and 177d) via gear train 500.

In practice, when a user closes their mouth, actuating mechanism 146 may actuate a rotational movement of brush assembly 114 about longitudinal axis 130 of connecting rod 120. Such rotational movement of connecting rod 120 may be transferred to face gear 180 by utilizing main spur gear 181 which is meshed with face gear 180. Consequently, face gear 180 may assume a rotational movement in response to rotational movement of brush assembly 114 and secondary spur gears (182a-182b) may follow such rotational movement of face gear 180. In an exemplary embodiment, rotational movement of secondary spur gears (182a-182b) may urge corresponding plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d) to rotate about their respective connecting rods (177a-177d). In an exemplary embodiment, such coupling of brush assembly 114 to plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d) by utilizing gear train 178 may allow for simultaneous rotation of brush assembly 114 and plurality of secondary brush assemblies (176a-176d) in response to a user opening/closing their mouth. This way, full-mouth toothbrush 100 may be actuated by the opening/closing movement of a user's mouth without the need for a source of electrical power, such as batteries.

In practice, a user may grab an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush by an exemplary handle of an exemplary full-mouth tooth brush and place an exemplary mouthpiece of an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush within a user's mouth, such that exemplary bristled brush heads of an exemplary brush assembly and secondary brush assemblies may engage all surfaces of all the user's teeth simultaneously. A user may apply toothpaste or mouthwash to exemplary bristles of exemplary brush assemblies of an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush. Then a user may operate an exemplary full-mouth toothbrush by simply opening/closing their mouth. When the user is finished with brushing their teeth, the user removes the mouthpiece from their mouth.

The embodiments have been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. Moreover, the word “substantially” when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic, e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element. Further use of relative terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, and “side-to-side” are used in a relative sense to the normal orientation of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A full-mouth toothbrush, comprising: a semi-elliptical channel formed between an outer semi-elliptical wall and an inner semi-elliptical wall, a shape of the semi-elliptical channel corresponding to contours of a set of teeth, a surface area of the outer semi-elliptical wall larger than a surface area of the inner semi elliptical wall;a brush assembly mounted within the semi-elliptical channel, the brush assembly comprising: a first bristled brush head;a second bristled brush head;a connecting rod coupled to the outer semi-elliptical wall from a first end of the connecting rod and to the inner semi-elliptical wall from an opposing second end of the connecting rod, the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod perpendicular to both the outer semi-elliptical wall and the inner semi-elliptical wall, the first bristled brush head and the second bristled brush head rotatably mounted on the connecting rod, the first bristled brush head and the second bristled brush head spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, the connecting rod rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod;an actuating mechanism coupled to the brush assembly, the actuation mechanism configured to actuate a rotational reciprocating motion of the brush assembly about a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, the actuation mechanism comprising: the first pedal coupled to the brush assembly, a first pedal comprising: a first push surface comprising a cylindrical shape, the first push surface configured to engage an upper tooth responsive to a bite surface of the upper tooth being placed over the push surface, the first push surface perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the connecting rod; anda first lever with a first length, the first lever connecting the first push surface to the brush assembly; anda second pedal coupled to the brunch assembly, the second pedal comprising: a second push surface comprising a cylindrical shape, the second push surface configured to engage a lower tooth responsive to the second push surface being placed over a bite surface of the lower tooth, the second push surface perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the connecting rod, the second push surface parallel with the first push surface, the second push surface opposite the first push surface by 180° about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod; anda second lever with a second length connecting the second push surface to the brush assembly, the second length equal to the first length.

2. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the first pedal is rotatable with the connecting rod about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod responsive to an upper tooth pushing onto the first push surface, a first end of the first lever attached to the connecting rod, a main longitudinal axis of the first lever crossing the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, a second end of the first lever attached to the first push surface, a first angle formed between the first lever and the first push surface, the first angle being less than 45°.

3. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the second pedal is rotatable with the connecting rod about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod responsive to a lower tooth pushing onto the second push surface, a first end of the second lever attached to the connecting rod, a main longitudinal axis of the second lever crossing the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, a second end of the second lever attached to the second push surface, a second angle formed between the second lever and the second push surface, the second angle being less than 45°.

4. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the first bristled brush head comprises a first bristled surface with a first plurality of bristles attached to the first bristled surface, the first bristled surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.

5. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 4, wherein the second bristled brush head comprises a second bristled surface with a second plurality of bristles attached to the second bristled surface, the second bristled surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, the second bristled surface facing the first bristled surface along the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.

6. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the first bristled brush head and the second bristled brush head rotatable with the connecting rod about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, a plane of rotation of the first bristled brush head parallel with a plane of rotation of the second bristled brush head.

7. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 6, wherein the first bristled surface comprises a first convex annular surface, each bristle of the first plurality of bristles perpendicular to the first convex annular surface.

8. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the second bristled surface comprises a second convex annular surface, each bristle of the second plurality of bristles perpendicular to the second convex annular surface.

9. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 6, wherein the connecting rod comprises a bristled portion disposed between the first bristled brush head and the second bristled brush head, the bristled position comprising a third plurality of bristles extended radially from an outer surface of the bristled portion of the connecting rod.

10. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: a longitudinal axis of the first lever makes a predetermined non-zero angle with a normal axis of the first push surface, anda longitudinal axis of the second lever makes a predetermined non-zero angle with a normal axis of the second push surface.

11. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 10, wherein the first pedal and the second pedal are symmetrically connected to opposite sides of the connecting rod, the opposite sides of the connecting rod opposite each other by 180° about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.

12. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the first pedal and the second pedal are rotatable with the connecting rod about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod between a respective first position and a respective second position, the first position corresponding to the first lever and the second lever oriented with respect to a plane of semi-elliptical channel by the predetermined non-zero angle, the second position corresponding to the first lever and the second lever being parallel to the plane of semi-elliptical channel, the plane of the semi-elliptical channel perpendicular to both the outer semi-elliptical wall and the inner semi0elliptical wall.

13. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the predetermined non-zero angle is 45°.

14. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a biasing member, the biasing member coupled to the connecting rod, the biasing member configured to bias the connecting rod into the first position.

15. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring, the compression spring compressible along the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod, a first end of the compression spring coupled to the connecting rod and an opposing second end of the compression spring coupled to the semi-elliptical channel.

16. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the first push surface is configured to engage an upper tooth of a set of teeth responsive to the set of teeth being placed within the semi-elliptical channel, the second push surface is configured to engage a lower tooth of the set of teeth responsive to the set of teeth being placed within the semi-elliptical channel.

17. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 16, wherein the first pedal and the second pedal move from the first position to the second position is response to the upper tooth and the lower tooth pushing onto the respective first push surface and the second push surface.

18. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the brush assembly is a primary brush assembly, the full-mouth toothbrush further comprising a plurality of secondary brush assemblies mounted within the semi-elliptical channel, each secondary brush assembly of the plurality of secondary brush assemblies comprising: a respective first secondary bristled brush head;a respective second secondary bristled brush head; anda respective secondary connecting rod rotatably coupled between the outer semi-elliptical wall and the inner semi-elliptical wall, a longitudinal axis of the respective secondary connecting rod perpendicular to both the outer semi-elliptical wall and the inner semi-elliptical wall, the respective first secondary bristled brush head and the respective second secondary bristled brush head rotatably mounted on the respective secondary connecting rod, the respective first secondary bristled brush head and the respective secondary second bristled brush head spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the respective secondary connecting rod, the respective secondary connecting rod rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the respective secondary connecting rod.

19. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 18, further comprising a gear train coupling the primary brush assembly with the plurality of secondary brush assemblies, the gear train comprising: a primary spur gear rotatably coupled to the connecting rod, the primary spur gear rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod;a plurality of secondary spur gears, each secondary spur gear rotatably coupled to the respective connecting rod of each secondary brush assemblies of the plurality of brush assemblies; anda face gear meshed with the primary spur gear and the plurality of secondary spur gears, the face gear configured to transfer a rotational movement of the primary spur gear to the plurality of secondary spur gears.

20. The full-mouth toothbrush of claim 19, wherein a plane of rotation of the face gear is perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the primary spur gear and respective planes of rotation of the plurality of secondary spur gears.