Patent Grant
8887339
The present invention generally relates to toothbrushes and more particularly to toothbrushes having movable bristles sets.
Many designs for toothbrushes are available today using a variety of handle and bristles materials. Most toothbrushes have either soft bristles for people with sensitive gums or harder bristles for enhancing cleansing efficiency.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle, a head and a moving mechanism. The head includes a head base; and at least two bristles sets: two outer bristles sets and a middle bristles set located therebetween. The moving mechanism connects to the two outer bristles sets for rotating thereof in respect to a main axis of the toothbrush for shifting the bristle sets between at least two positions: a first position ad a second position, wherein in the second position the bristles of all bristles sets are more dense than in the first position thereby allowing a user to change hardness level of the toothbrush by changing the position of the outer bristles sets.
Optionally, the moving mechanism enables shifting the bristle sets between three positions: a neutral position in which the outer bristles sets are substantially parallel to the middle bristles set and to one another; the open position, in which the outer bristles sets are angularly shifted away from the main axis; and the closed position, in which the outer bristles sets are angularly shifted towards the main axis.
Additionally or alternatively, the outer bristles sets comprise softer bristles than the bristles of the middle bristles set.
Optionally, the moving mechanism allows shifting between the at least two positions in a discrete manner, where the respective outer bristles set can be discretely positioned at optional angles in respect to the main axis.
Additionally or alternatively, the moving mechanism comprises: (i) a main shaft; (ii) a mechanical switch connected to the main shaft for rotating thereof for switching between positions; (iii) two axles each configured for rotating a different the outer bristles set; and (iv) at least one spring configured for pushing the axles inwardly and outwardly towards and away for the main axis according to the positioning of the mechanical switch, wherein the spring is operatively connected to the main shaft, which is rotatable by the mechanical switch for contracting and retracting of the spring for shifting between the at least two discrete positions.
The head base may optionally be made of an elastic material for bending in response to forces applied over the head when a user brushes his/her teeth using the toothbrush.
Additionally or alternatively, in the open position, the angle between each outer bristles set and the main axis is between 20-30 degrees.
According to some embodiments, the moving mechanism comprises an electronic switch, configured to allow electronic switching between positions.
Additionally or alternatively, the toothbrush further includes an electric motor system configured for moving at least one of the bristles sets in rotational movements.
According to some embodiments, the bristles of each outer bristles set include an angular tip facing the main axis and the bristles of the middle bristles set are straight.
In the following detailed description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides a novel toothbrush having movable bristles for enabling a user to change configuration of the toothbrush according to his/her brushing requirements in a manner that will effectively cleanse his/her teeth. The toothbrush includes a handle, which can be ergonomically designed, a toothbrush head including three sets of bristles: two outer bristles sets and a single middle bristles set located therebetween, and a moving mechanism for rotating the outer bristles sets for changing the configuration of the toothbrush head and thereby changing its hardness level, design and the like.
The moving mechanism may be configured to discretely change the configuration of the toothbrush head between three optional positions: a neutral position, in which all the bristles of all the bristles sets are substantially parallel to one another; an open position in which the two outer bristles sets are tilted away from a main axis of the toothbrush forming an angle between their bristles and the bristles of the middle bristles set; and a closed position in which the bristles of the outer bristles sets are tilted inwardly towards the main axis of the toothbrush forming a much denser bristles configuration creating thereby a toothbrush of a substantially higher hardness level.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the outer bristles sets may include much softer bristles than those of the middle bristles set. In this way, once brushing in sensitive areas such as receding gums area the outer bristles sets are the ones that reach the gum-line due to the tilting of the entire head for brushing the sides of the teeth and therefore only the softer part of the head brushes these areas. This may require the user to mechanically or electronically shift the position of the toothbrush head for brushing each area in his/her mouth, where for example, to brush less sensitive areas such as the occlusal teeth surfaces.
Reference is now made to
The moving mechanism includes three bristles sets: two outer bristle sets 123a and 123b and a middle bristles set 123c located therebetween. The middle bristles set 123c fixedly connects to the handle 110 while the outer bristles sets 123a and 123b pivotally connect to a head base 121 via tubular holders 121a and 121b respectively for rotating to switch between: (i) a neutral position, in which all bristles sets 123a-123c are substantially parallel to one another, as shown in
According to some embodiments, as illustrated in
The main shaft 130 defining the main axis “x”, is held by the head base 121 via two holders 126a-126b and a holding member 126c. The main shaft 130 is also inserted through an opening at the mechanical switch 122. The spring 124 is held by the head base 121 as illustrated in
The spring 124 allows forcing the tubular holders 121a and 121b to rotate inwardly or outwardly in respect to the main axis “x” and thereby rotate the bristles sets 123a and 123b connected thereto.
It is also clear from
According to some embodiments of the invention, the bristles of the outer bristles sets 123a-123b are much softer than the bristles of the middle bristles set 123c. In this configuration, the user may shift the toothbrush 100 to its open position for brushing sensitive areas such as areas in which the user has receding gums for (i) allowing the bristles of the outer bristles sets 123a and/or 123b to reach the gum-line as well as to (ii) allow gentle brushing in those sensitive areas. When brushing less sensitive areas such as the occlusal teeth surfaces area, the user can shift the toothbrush 100 to a closed position to enhance brushing effect—since in this position the bristles of all sets 123a-123c are much denser and harder improving cleansing properties of the toothbrush 100 or alternatively use the neutral position if there is some sensitivity there. The neutral position may also be used for areas in which no gum sensitivity is felt by the user but when the brushing area is still near the gum-line.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the head base 121 may include specially designed recesses or holes that improve cleaning of the toothbrush 100 after it is used thereby improving preservation thereof.
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments and/or by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention.
The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.
The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
Although the invention has been described in detail, nevertheless changes and modifications, which do not depart from the teachings of the present invention, will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to come within the purview of the present invention and the appended claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140053357 A1 | Feb 2014 | US |
