Patent Application
20120321369
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dental hygiene devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and improved toothbrush device that incorporates an articulating head and a toothpaste delivering body portion that communicates toothpaste into the head portion for cleaning and brushing the surfaces of teeth and along the gum line.
It is well understood that poor dental hygiene, and more particularly poor brushing habits, can lead to various oral maladies related to the structure of one's teeth, gums, and tongue. These generally include plaque buildup, gum diseases and tooth decay. It is submitted that proper cleaning of teeth surfaces, between teeth and along the gum line can prevent or reduce instances of these conditions, wherein debris, plaque and bacteria are removed from the surfaces of the mouth by the contact of the toothbrush in conjunction with toothpaste dentifrice. Proper brushing of one's teeth involves comprehensively cleaning both the surfaces of each tooth, while also cleaning along the tooth gum line and scrubbing the surface of the tongue. This prevents oral disorders and further improves hygiene.
Traditional toothbrush devices utilize elongated shafts comprising handle portion and a head portion having a plurality of densely clustered and upstanding bristles. The bristles are adapted to abrasively remove plaque and debris from a tooth surface, clean within the spaces between teeth, and further to massage the interface between the teeth and gums. More modern brushes include tongue cleaning portions along the head posterior and opposite of the bristles, along with a configuration and design for the bristles that is directed for a specific type of cleaning. These devices are thoroughly described in the art as oral hygiene instruments for the purposes of cleaning teeth using toothpaste. Many variations of the brush head design and handle have been proposed and implemented, wherein their structure improves upon the ability of the brush to remove plaque, contact various surfaces of the tooth and to further increase the utility of the device with respect to brushing effectiveness and overall oral hygiene.
The present invention is related to an oral hygiene device that comprises an articulating head region and a body structure adapted to store toothpaste therein and communicate the paste to the head region during brushing operations. The head region comprises a structure that allows simultaneous brushing and cleaning of the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the tooth, as well as the gum line interface of the tooth. The head region comprises a flexible, articulating construction that allows the device to be comfortably utilized and accommodate various tooth geometries using the same configuration. The backside of the head region preferably comprises a tongue cleaning surface, while the body region comprises an internal cavity and mechanism for transmitting toothpaste stored within the body region to the head region during brushing activities.
Combining a toothbrush head that is well adapted for maintaining ready oral hygiene of a user with a toothbrush body structure that is capable of storing quantities of toothpaste therein offers several advantages not realized in the prior art. For traveling users and those in military service, it is not always convenient to carry both a toothpaste container and a separate toothbrush instrument, wherein the two items may become separated from one another or the combination thereof creates too much clutter in a tightly packed carrying case. The present invention contemplates a unique body structure that provides a toothpaste container within an interior volume, wherein the container defines the handle of the brush. A manual drive mechanism is utilized to manually force the paste through the body region interior and to the head region, wherein it is dispensed therethrough for ready use in oral tooth brushing and cleaning. Oral hygiene while deployed in the military or while traveling for extended periods is a very important consideration for the overall health of an individual. It is therefore contemplated that the use of the present device facilities such hygiene and oral health, wherein thorough and effective tooth brushing is accomplished in conjunction with ready deployment of toothpaste.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to oral hygiene implements and encompassing toothbrushes. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices have familiar design elements for the purposes of brushing an entire tooth surface and engaging the gum region. These devices specifically relate to brush head devices that provide bristles in a number of different configurations and orientations. Those devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,794 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,288 to Porper disclose a brush head and body defining a new electric toothbrush, comprising a pair of opposing bristle head portions, a longitudinal drive shaft and a drive means located between the bristle head portions to provide a reciprocating motion of the bristle head. A reciprocating motion imparted by the drive means through the crank creates a side-to-side, lateral movement of the bristle head in an oscillatory motion. While disclosing a new and novel brush head that is adapted to function with an electric toothbrush body, the Porper device is limited thereto and comprises a divergent structure as it relates to the present invention. While the present invention contemplates use with a reciprocating or sonic toothbrush driver, it is more directed to a new toothbrush head and body structure that facilitates complete coverage of the user's teeth while brushing either manually or using a drive means.
Similar to the Porper device is U.S. Pat. No. 7,849,549 to Hegemann, wherein an oral brushing device adapted to be connected to a drive means is disclosed having a head design that follows the “Bass” or “Modified-Bass” tooth-brushing method. The drive means of the device provides bi-directional and straight motion of a first and second opposing brush assembly, which brush both the upper portions of a tooth and along the lateral gum lines. The brush assemblies are mounted to separated and elastic arm structures, which angle the bristles of the brush inward and downward to cover the crown and respective side portions of the tooth. The independently mounted structures are motioned in opposing directions by the drive means when in operation. By contrast, the present invention comprising an oral brushing device head having flexible and rotatable side portions with respect to a crown portion, along with a body structure that facilitates toothpaste flow into the head or a drive means for oscillating the head portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,520 to Eickmann discloses a toothbrush having bristles attached to a two-sided, arcuate head wherein bristles are facing inward toward one another for the purposes of brushing between teeth and along the gum line. The head comprises of two portions that diverge from a handle portion, wherein the bristles are inwardly facing to rub against a tooth between the two head portions. The Eickmann device, while providing a novel toothbrush head design, fails to disclose the structure of the present invention, for both the body of the toothbrush and the head design. The Eickmann device provides two diverging portions, while the present invention provides a crown portion and two lateral portions that are flexibly attached or hinged with respect to the crow portion to accommodate the geometry of a user's tooth and provide complete coverage thereof when brushing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,607 to Wagner discloses an oral hygiene device that includes a bristle carrying head having a spine region and a pair of planar side panels angled approximately forty-five degrees downward from the spine region. The spine region and side panels include inwardly facing bristles for simultaneous engagement of occlusal tooth surfaces and buccal and lingual tooth sidewalls, gingival surfaces and tooth surfaces below the gum line. The bristles are tapered as they extend outward along the side panels from the spine, getting progressively longer to allow contact along the tooth sidewalls and gum line intersection. The Wagner device provides a means to brush a tooth along the gum lines, sidewalls and crow portion simultaneously; however this is accomplished via a tapering set of bristles. The present invention angles uniform bristles inward from upstanding sidewall portions that hingeably connect to a horizontal crown portion.
Similar to the Wagner device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,039 to Klinkhammer discloses a tooth cleaning implement having a pair of spaced jaws adapted to straddle a row of teeth and clean both gums and teeth simultaneously. The jaws are adapted to secure to a number of different tooth and gum cleaning implements for the purposes of removing debris and cleaning the tooth and gum surfaces. As noted in the aforementioned prior art devices, the Klinkhammer device fails to disclose the novel aspects of the present toothbrush device articulating head region and toothpaste delivering body region.
The present invention provides a new and improved dental hygiene device that incorporates an enveloping and articulating brush head, along with a body structure that provides storage and communication of toothpaste from its interior to the head region for brushing and cleaning the surfaces of teeth and gums. The structure and intent of the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing toothbrush devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of oral hygiene implements now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new articulating toothbrush and toothpaste storage device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when brushing the surfaces of teeth and gums while packaging the cleaning implement together with the toothpaste solution.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toothbrush device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush device that has an articulating and encompassing head region, wherein the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of a tooth and gum line are contacted with each pass of the brush head.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush device having a crown portion that contacts the occlusal surface of the tooth and hingeable sidewall portions that contact the buccal and lingual sides of the tooth.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush device having a rotatable crown portion that allows the brush head portion to rotate with respect to the brush body portion.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush device wherein the body portion of the device includes an internal cavity and drive means for storing and communicating toothpaste from the body portion and into the head portion.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush device that combines an enveloping head portion with a toothpaste delivering body portion that may further incorporate an electric oscillation means for vibrating the bristles in the head region during brushing activities to facilitate tooth and gum cleaning.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the oral hygiene implement. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for combining an enveloping brush design with a body region adapted to store and dispense toothpaste into the brush head portion when cleaning the surfaces of a tooth and along the tooth gum line. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
Also shown in
The head region 11 of the device is adapted to securely connect to the body region 12 via a threaded or similar mechanically fastening connection that prevents dislodgement or relative rotation while in use. The upper side of the crown portion of the head may further incorporate a tongue abrasive cleaning surface, wherein a surface texture removes debris from the surface of the tongue when dragged thereagainst. Further elements highlighted in
Referring now to
In this view the connection between the body region and the head region is further illustrated, wherein the head region 11 is removable from the body region for cleaning the body region interior, and further for replacing the head region with an alternate form or fresh replacement. The preferred means of connection is a threaded engagement, wherein the head threadably connects to the body portion and is torqued thereto to prevent relative rotation or dislodgement. The connection between the two regions further includes an open aperture and pathway for toothpaste to flow from the body region 12 to the brush head 11. Once within the head region 11, an internal conduit routes the viscous paste through the crown portion 20 to an outlet extending through the crown interior surface. The paste exits this aperture and is placed onto the bristles, wherein contact with water and the induced scrubbing motion of the bristles quickly lathers the paste into an oral cleaning solution. The drive means of the body region forces the paste into the head region 11, wherein hydraulic pressure causes the paste to exit the head region aperture onto the bristles. As the toothpaste is consumed, the remaining quantity thereof is readily visualized from a window provided in the body region 12, which can be monitored over time to estimate when the assembly needs refilling.
Referring now to
In any embodiment of the present invention, the head region is adapted to provide a continuous bristle surface that envelops the exposed regions of a tooth, simultaneously contacting the sidewall and crown regions of a tooth to remove debris, plaque and germs therefrom. The sidewalls 17 are further adapted to extend from the crown of the tooth towards and over the gum line, gently massaging the gums while also allowing the bristles 18 to remove plaque and debris from the oral epithelium, free gingival margin and gingival sulcus portion of the periodontium. In use, a user's row of teeth is placed within the interior volume of the head region U-shape, contacted by bristles along three planes. Fore-aft and oscillatory motion of the brush head breaks up plague and removes debris from the exposed surface area of the tooth, while the bristles penetrate the spaces between teeth and between the teeth and gums. The design and shape of the brush head reduces gaps in brushing coverage, increases brushing efficiency and further reduces time required to brush one's teeth.
Referring now to
The end cap freely rotates in either direction when applied to the body region, wherein a snap top connection between the cap and the proximal end of the body region secures the cap thereto but allows static rotation. This connection is familiarly utilized in medicine bottles, wherein an internal tab along the interior of the cap traverses a raised ridge on the body region until placement into a valley that allows free rotation. The valley prevents separation of the cap 26 from the body region 12, except the tab is aligned with a flat region in the ridge perimeter, which allows the tab to slide unopposed therefrom to separate the two elements. When the cap is removed and the drive means 24 is removed from the interior of the body region 12, interior threading 29 along the interior surface of the proximal end allows secure connection to a toothpaste container 30 for refilling the assembly. The toothpaste incorporates a threaded cap 31 that allows the two to be connected and pressure to be applied to the paste container for transference of paste from one vessel to the other without fear of separation or spillage.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Traditional toothbrush devices may not be designed to cover exposed regions of a user's teeth, which requires the user to manually move the brush across individual portions of each tooth to ensure proper care and uniform cleaning of each tooth. This process is time-consuming and prone to compliance issues, as it relates to regular, consistent and thorough brushing of one's teeth. Additionally, toothbrush heads may not be sized to fit different teeth sizes, and therefore can be uncomfortable or particularly ineffective for individuals with very small or large teeth. If the bristles of toothbrushes do not clear out all food remnants and other deteriorative items, users' teeth may develop cavities, plaque build-up, and other oral hygiene problems. A further problem associated with traditional toothbrush devices that is particular to traveling or deployed personnel is the volume and time consumed by extracting paste from separate container of toothpaste. The present invention provides a new toothbrush assembly that addresses these needs, and further fulfils a long-felt need in the art.
The present invention features a hollow body region for containing dispensable toothpaste therefrom, wherein its working end is connects to a three-sided brush head. Flexible pivot joints connect the side portions of the head in a moveable, pliable manner for accommodating teeth of different shapes and sizes. An internal motor can power the bristles, causing them to vibrate, or alternatively the assembly may be manually utilized without a power source. Overall, the present invention ensures food remnants, plaque, and other threats to optimal oral hygiene are thoroughly removed from all sides and in-between areas of each tooth, along with the areas along the gum line that may capture plaque and other germs.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/497,560 filed on Jun. 16th, 2011, entitled “Cleanser.” The patent application identified above is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61497560 | Jun 2011 | US |
