TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure relates to an oral care device. In particular, the disclosure pertains to a toothbrush that compensates for a user's toothbrushing technique and that can be used to clean teeth effectively without hurting the gum.
BACKGROUND
Oral hygiene is an important part of everyday life. Proper oral hygiene can be achieved using a variety of tools. For example, a toothbrush is used to clean teeth by removing plaque and food debris from the tooth surfaces. When used properly, a toothbrush can effectively remove plaque and food debris from the teeth. Proper use of the toothbrush entails brushing the teeth in an up-down direction while maintaining a substantially constant brush head orientation. Also, proper brushing technique entails avoiding use of excessive force. Since gums have soft tissues, excessively vigorous brushing may cause teeth and gum damage.
Although the teeth cleaning tools available in the market today may clean teeth satisfactorily when used properly, studies have shown that many people do not brush their teeth the proper way. For example, many people tend to brush their teeth in a left-right direction or a pivoted sweeping direction that entails moving just the wrist instead of the whole arm (less arm fatigue). In a conventional toothbrush, the head piece and the handle are typically aligned in a same direction. Hence, the hand or wrist movements described above result in a brush head movement that is sub-optimal for cleaning teeth.
Also, many people often brush their teeth vigorously in an attempt to remove trapped food debris. In a conventional toothbrush, the head piece is typically hard and rigid. As a result, when a user brushes the teeth vigorously with a conventional toothbrush, large stresses may be exerted onto teeth and gum, causing an unnecessary degree of wear and damage. When the toothbrush is used incorrectly, plaque and food debris are not effectively removed, which can lead to plaque buildup, tooth cavities, and toothaches over time. Moreover, vigorous brushing on the gums can hurt the gums and cause gum bleeding.
In a conventional toothbrush, the tooth cleaning elements (e.g. bristles) are typically disposed on only one side of the head piece. The tooth cleaning elements typically have the same length and are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the head piece. Since all of the tooth cleaning elements have the same length and orientation, the tooth cleaning elements may not be able to effectively clean the inner parts of the teeth that are more difficult to reach. Furthermore, in a conventional toothbrush, the tooth cleaning elements are often densely arrayed on the head piece, which may result in adjacent tooth cleaning elements interfering with each other during brushing. The interference prevents the tooth cleaning elements from reaching between neighboring teeth.
Accordingly, there is a need for a toothbrush that compensates for a user's toothbrushing technique and that can be used to clean the teeth effectively without hurting the gums.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to one aspect of the inventive concept, a toothbrush includes a handle and a head piece. The head piece includes a base supported by a frame, wherein the base is made of a flexible material.
According to another aspect, the inventive concept pertains to a toothbrush that includes a handle, a base attached to the handle and including a flexible material, a set of first tooth cleaning elements extending from the flexible material, and a set of second tooth cleaning elements extending from the flexible material, wherein the first and second tooth cleaning elements extend from the flexible material at different angles with respect to the flexible material.
According to yet another embodiment, the inventive concept pertains to a toothbrush that has a handle and a head piece having tooth cleaning elements thereon, wherein the head piece and the handle connect to form an angle θ that is less than 180°.
According to a further embodiment, a toothbrush includes a head piece that has a base and tooth cleaning elements extending from opposing surfaces of the base such that the tooth cleaning elements on two sides of the base are symmetric with respect to the base.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A depicts a side view of a toothbrush in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive concept.
FIG. 1B illustrates the range of motion of the head piece when the exemplary toothbrush is used in a pivoted sweeping direction.
FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of the head piece with tooth cleaning elements in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and FIG. 2D depict side views of the head piece of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B depict a head piece with tooth cleaning elements in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 4 depicts a layout of the tips of the tooth cleaning elements.
FIG. 5 depicts the toothbrush of FIG. 3A being used.
FIG. 6A depicts a top view of tooth cleaning elements in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concept.
FIG. 6B depicts a side view of the tooth cleaning elements in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 7A depicts a toothbrush in accordance with an embodiment that includes a compartment extending through the handle.
FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C depict cross sectional views of a toothbrushes in accordance with different embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A toothbrush that compensates for a user's toothbrushing technique and that can be used to clean the teeth effectively without hurting the gums is presented. While the disclosure focuses on a few embodiments of the inventive concept for clarity and simplicity of illustration, it should be understood that the embodiments shown here are not exhaustive and there are many other ways in which the inventive concept may be practiced.
In this disclosure, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and thus a repeated description of those similar elements will be omitted. Also, it will be understood that although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, the components should not be limited by those terms. Instead, those terms are merely used to distinguish one component from another. A “toothbrush,” as used herein, is intended to mean an oral care device. A “set,” as used herein, is intended to mean one or more.
FIG. 1A depicts a side view of a toothbrush 10 in accordance with one embodiment. The toothbrush 10 includes a handle 12 and a head piece 16. A side 16a of the rectangular base 18 interfaces with the handle 12. The head piece 16 is connected to the handle 12 to form an angle θ, wherein θ is less than 180°. Specifically, where the side 16a extends along a y-axis of a coordinate 14, the handle 12 extends to form an angle θ with respect to the side 16a. In one embodiment, the angle θ may range from about 20° to about 50°. In another embodiment, the angle θ may be about 35°. In some embodiments, the head piece 16 may be connected to the handle 12 by a neck section (not shown in Figures).
The head piece 16 has a head width W1 and a head length L1 as shown in FIG. 1A. The head width W1 and the head length L1 may be the same or different. In one embodiment, the head width W1 may be about 10-20 mm and the head length L1 may be about 20-40 mm. In another embodiment, the head width W1 may be about 15 mm and the head length L1 may be about 30 mm. Where there is a neck section, the neck section may have a neck width W3 and neck length L2, wherein the neck width W3 may be about 8-18 mm and neck length L2 may be about 5-13 mm. In another embodiment, the neck width W3 may be about 13 mm, and the neck length L2 may be about 9 mm.
In one embodiment, the handle 12 and head piece 16 may be different components that are assembled together to form the toothbrush 10. In another embodiment, the handle 12 and head piece 16 may be formed integrally as one continuous piece, for example, by using an injection molding process. In yet another embodiment, the handle 12 and the neck section may be formed integrally and the head piece 16 may be a separate component that is made attachable to the neck section.
The handle 12 enables a user to readily grip and manipulate the toothbrush 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the handle 12 is formed having a rod-like shape. However, it is noted that the handle 12 may be formed of many different shapes and constructions. For example, the handle 12 may be ergonomically shaped to fit a user's hand. The handle 12 may be made of materials such as plastic, for example, polypropylene. The handle 12 may be formed as a solid body.
FIG. 1B illustrates the range of motion of the head piece 16 when the toothbrush 10 is used in a pivoted sweeping direction R about a pivot point O. Referring back to FIG. 1A, the handle 12 and the head piece 16 are joined at an angle θ relative to the handle 12. In some embodiments, the angle θ may be adjustable according to a user's preference, perhaps within a limited range. In those embodiments, there may be a neck section that serves as a swivel, allowing the head piece 16 to be tilted at different angles relative to the handle 12. For example, in some embodiments, the neck section may include a ball-and-socket joint that can be locked in place (and unlocked to adjust to a different angle). Any combination of different swiveling and locking mechanisms may be used to rotate the head piece 16 and lock it in place.
As mentioned above, using incorrect brushing techniques with a straight, conventional toothbrush results in sub-optimal teeth cleaning. The angle θ of the toothbrush 10 translates the same left-right hand movement or up-and-down pivoting of the wrist into a movement of a headpiece 16 that is optimal for cleaning teeth.
In more detail, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pivot arm (handle 12) is long, and the head piece 16 is tilted at an angle θ relative to the handle 12 and located far away from the pivot point O (the user's hand), which thus reduces the angular motion of the head piece 16. As a result, the head piece 16 moves in a substantially up-down vertical direction V even though the handle 12 is rotating in the pivoted sweeping direction R. As previously mentioned, proper tooth brushing entails brushing the teeth in an up-down direction so that the bristles of the toothbrush can reach into the gaps between the teeth and remove trapped food debris. Accordingly, the exemplary toothbrush 10 compensates for a user's sub-optimal brushing technique and can be used to clean teeth effectively.
Next, the head piece 16 will be described in further detail. FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D depict one embodiment of the head piece 16 wherein tooth cleaning elements 22 are present on one side of the base 18. The head piece 16 includes a base 18 made of a flexible material supported by a frame 20. The frame 20 may be rigid. A part of the frame 20 that makes up the side 16a (see FIG. 1A) interfaces with the handle 12 or the neck section, if there is one. The base 18 has a first face 18a and an opposite second face 18b. The tooth cleaning elements 22 may include filament bristles or elastomeric fingers that are used for wiping and cleaning the user's teeth. Other types of tooth cleaning elements known in the art may be used as desired.
In contrast to the rigid head piece of a conventional toothbrush, the base 18 of the toothbrush 10 is made of a flexible material such as elastomers. For example, the base 18 may include silicone. Since the base 18 is supported by the frame 20, the base 18 behaves like a membrane and flexes in response to a force applied during brushing. Accordingly, less stress is exerted onto the user's teeth and gums when brushing using the toothbrush 10 (compared to using a conventional toothbrush having bristles on a hard surface that hardly “gives”). Even if the user applies too much force, the flexible base 18 will prevent all of the force from reaching the teeth. As a result, tooth wear and gum damage can be minimized using the exemplary toothbrush 10.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, the tooth cleaning elements 22 are disposed on one side of the base 18, the first face. The tooth cleaning elements 22 include first cleaning elements 22a, second cleaning elements 22b, third cleaning elements 22c, and fourth cleaning elements 22d. In the depicted embodiment, the first cleaning elements 22a are arranged along a second side 16b of the head piece 16, substantially in a straight line. The fourth cleaning elements 22d are arranged along a fourth side 16d of the head piece 16, also substantially in a straight line. However, the first cleaning elements 22a and the second cleaning elements 22d are arranged in a staggered configuration, such that they are not directly across the base 18 from each other. In other words, where there are imaginary “rows” extending across the base 18 parallel to the first side 16a (as shown in FIG. 2A), the first cleaning elements 22a and the fourth cleaning elements 22d would be on alternating rows. In the example of FIG. 2A, the first cleaning elements 22a are formed on odd-numbered rows (row 1, row 3, row 5), and the fourth cleaning elements 22d are formed on even-numbered rows (row 2, row 4, row 6). The first and fourth cleaning elements 22a, 22d extend straight up from the base 18, substantially orthogonally to the first face 18a. The first and fourth cleaning elements 22a, 22d may all have the same length or have varying lengths.
Second cleaning elements 22b and the third cleaning elements 22c are arranged near the center portion of the base, between the line formed by the first cleaning elements 22a and the line formed by the fourth cleaning elements 22d. FIG. 2B depicts side view of row 1, which includes one of the first cleaning elements 22a and some of the second cleaning elements 22b. The second cleaning elements 22b are separated from each other by a distance d. The second cleaning element 22b that is next to the first cleaning element 22a in the same row may be separated from the first cleaning element 22a by a distance 2d. The second cleaning elements 22b incline away from the first cleaning element 22a, forming an angle α with respect to the base 18 as shown in FIG. 2B. The angle α may range from 20° to 70°. The second cleaning elements 22b may all have the same length or different lengths. Where the second cleaning elements 22b have different lengths, the length should increase/decrease in the y-direction to form a rooftop outline 23 as shown below in FIG. 2D.
FIG. 2C depicts a side view of row 2 in the head piece 16 of the embodiment of FIG. 2A. As explained above in reference to FIG. 2A, row 2 has a fourth cleaning element 22d but not a first cleaning element 22a. The third cleaning elements 22c incline away from the fourth cleaning elements 22d in the same row, forming an angle of (180-α) with respect to the base 18 as shown in FIG. 2C. The third cleaning elements 22c are separated from each other by a distance d. The third cleaning element 22c that is next to the fourth cleaning element 22d in the same row may be separated from the fourth cleaning element 22d by a distance 2d.
Odd-numbered rows arranged like row 1 of FIG. 2B and even-numbered rows arranged like row 2 of FIG. 2C alternate across the length of the head piece 16 in the x-direction. Although six rows are shown in FIG. 2A, this is just one embodiment and more or fewer rows may be formed. FIG. 2D depicts a side view of the head piece 16. As shown, the second cleaning elements 22b and the third cleaning elements 22c form a crisscross pattern having a rooftop outline 23 (shown with a broken line) when seen from the y-z plane. The rooftop outline 23 includes two lines coming together at an angle to form an apex. The apex extends along a center of the headpiece 16, in the x-direction.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B depict another embodiment of the head piece 16 in accordance with the inventive concept. FIG. 3A depicts a side view of the head piece 16 in accordance with another embodiment, and FIG. 3B depicts a cross sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A. In this embodiment, the tooth cleaning elements 22 are disposed on both the first and second faces 18a, 18b of the base 18. The tooth cleaning elements 22 on the second face 18b may be arranged similarly to the tooth cleaning elements 22 on the first face 18a. The tooth cleaning elements 22 on the first face 18a and the second face 18b may be arranged symmetrically with each other, with respect to a center line L extending in the y-direction through the head piece 16, as depicted in FIG. 3B.
In the embodiment of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, tooth cleaning elements 22 extend from the first face 18a and the second face 18b in opposite directions. In more detail, both the first face 18a and the second face 18b include first tooth cleaning elements 22a and fourth cleaning elements 22d disposed orthogonally to the first face 18a and the second face 18b. The second tooth cleaning elements 22b may be disposed at an angle α relative to the first face 18a and the second face 18b. The third tooth cleaning elements 22c may be disposed at an angle (180-α) relative to the first face 18a and the second face 18b.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, and 3B, the second cleaning elements 22b are all inclined at about the same angle α and the third cleaning elements 22c are all inclined at about the same angle (180-α). However, these embodiments are just examples and there may be other embodiments where tooth cleaning elements are inclined at different angles.
FIG. 4 depicts a layout of the tips of the tooth cleaning elements 22 along an x-y plane, “tips” being the ends that are farthest from the base 18. The dots shown in FIG. 4 mark where the tips of the tooth cleaning elements 22 would contact the surface(s) being cleaned, such as teeth. As shown, tips of the first cleaning elements 22a and fourth cleaning elements 22d touch the surface being cleaned along two parallel sides 16b, 16d of the head piece 16 in alternating rows. The separation distance h between adjacent rows may be such that when odd-numbered rows align with the boundary between two neighboring teeth, the even-numbered rows align with ridges of the teeth. This separation distance h may be between 2-3 mm. Depending on whether the top teeth or the bottom teeth are being cleaned, either the first cleaning elements 22a or the fourth cleaning elements 22d would contact an area where teeth meet the gum and clean the gum line. Hence, an up-and-down movement of the head piece 16 results in the cleaning elements 22 simultaneously cleaning the teeth ridge, the area of the teeth near the gum line, and the area between teeth. As shown, the tip arrangement works for both lower and upper teeth. The second cleaning elements 22b that contact the ridge portion of upper teeth contacts the area between teeth when used on the lower teeth. Similarly, the third cleaning elements 22c that contact the area between neighboring upper teeth contacts the ridge portion when used on the lower teeth.
The density of tooth cleaning elements 22 on the brushing surface of the head piece 16 is much lower than the density of bristles on a conventional toothbrush head (i.e., fewer tooth cleaning elements per unit area compared to a conventional toothbrush). As a result, there is less interference between adjacent tooth cleaning elements 22 during brushing. Accordingly, the tooth cleaning elements 22 can clean teeth more effectively than the tooth cleaning elements in a conventional toothbrush.
FIG. 5 depicts the toothbrush of FIG. 3A being used. As shown, the second tooth cleaning elements 22b and third tooth cleaning elements 22c extending from the first face 18a may simultaneously clean the teeth and massage the gum, respectively. At the same time, the tooth cleaning elements 22 on the second face 18b massages the inner cheek area of the mouth.
Since the tooth cleaning elements 22 are disposed on opposite faces 18a, 18b of the head piece 16, a user may alternate between the tooth cleaning elements 22 on the first/second faces 18a/18b for brushing the facial side and lingual side of the same set of teeth with substantially the same arm motion. The arrangement of the tooth cleaning elements 22 on the two sides of the base allow the tooth cleaning elements 22a to reach into crevices between teeth from either the facial side or the lingual side.
It should be noted that the inventive concept is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the length, orientation, layout, density, and material of the tooth cleaning elements 22 may be modified in different ways to optimize cleaning effect on the teeth (and also the massaging effect on the gums and wall of the mouth).
FIG. 6A depicts a cross-sectional view of a single tooth cleaning element 22 sliced along the x-y plane. Referring to FIG. 6A, the tooth cleaning element 22 includes a core 27a and a plurality of bristles 27b surrounding the core 27a. The core 27a may be a rubber post, while the bristles 27b may be made of the same type of material as in a conventional toothbrush. As shown in FIG. 6A, the core 27a is thicker than a bristle 27b (the diameter of the core 27a is greater than the diameter of a bristle 27b). In one embodiment, the core 27a may be 1-3.5 mm in cross-sectional diameter, and the bristles about 1 mm±0.2 mm. Accordingly, the core 27a increases the rigidity of the tooth cleaning element 22, thereby extending its useful life. In other embodiments, there may not be a core 27a but just bristles 27b as in a conventional toothbrush.
FIG. 6B depicts a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the tooth cleaning elements 22. In this embodiment, there are a plurality of cores 27a, which may be rubber posts, arranged to extend at an angle (e.g., angle α) with respect to the base 18. The rubber posts may be about 2.5 to 3.5 mm in cross sectional diameter. In some embodiments, the rubber posts may each have a cross sectional diameter of about 3 mm. Although only two rubber posts are shown to extend out of the base 18 on each surface 18a/18b, this is for simplicity of illustration and a plurality of such arrangements may be made between the first and second cleaning elements 22a, 22b. Where there are multiple rubber posts arranged, their lengths may vary so as to form the rooftop outline 23 (see FIG. 3B). The rubber posts are thicker than the first tooth cleaning elements 22a.
FIG. 7A depicts a side view of a toothbrush 10′ in accordance with another embodiment.
The embodiment of FIG. 7A is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1A except for the following differences. In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the handle 12′ has a hollow compartment inside designed to hold toothpaste or tooth whitener refills. There may be two compartments, one holding toothpaste and another one holding whitener refills. A cavity extends through the neck section, allowing the toothpaste and tooth whitener to travel toward the head piece 16. There is an outlet on or near the head piece 16, such that the toothbrush 10′ in FIG. 7A can be operated to dispense a desired amount of toothpaste and tooth whitener as a user is brushing his teeth.
FIG. 7B depicts a cross section view of the handle 12′ along line B-B′ of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C depicts a cross section view of the handle 12′ along the line B-B′ when a toothpaste refill 24a and a tooth whitener refill 24b are loaded into the handle. Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the handle 12′ includes a dispensing button 12a located on a surface of the handle, a cap 12b disposed at one end of the handle, and a first cavity 12c and a second cavity 12d extending along the length of the handle and separated by a wall 12e. The first cavity 12c is designed to hold the toothpaste refill 24a, and the second cavity 12d is designed to hold the tooth whitener refill 24b.
The cap 12b, which may be located at one end of the handle 12′, encloses the toothpaste refill 24a and the tooth whitener refill 24b in the respective first and second cavities 12c/12d. In one embodiment (not shown), the dispensing button 12a may be mechanically coupled to a plunger mechanism in the cap 12b. The plunger mechanism may include, for example, a spring-loaded mechanism, a screw driven piston mechanism, etc. When a user presses the dispensing button 12a with a finger (e.g., the thumb), the plunger mechanism travels by a predetermined distance along the cavities 12c/12d and pushes a predetermined amount of the toothpaste and the tooth whitener through the cavities 12c/12d/14c and out of the hole 14d.
In an alternative embodiment, the toothpaste refill 24a and the tooth whitener refill 24b need not be separately provided and may be combined into a single refill. Accordingly, in the alternative embodiment, the wall 12e may be omitted and the cavities 12c/12d may be merged into a single cavity.
In the preceding specification, the inventive concept has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the inventive concept as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Other embodiments of the inventive concept may be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the concept disclosed herein.
Patent Grant
10959510
