Patent Application
20140325777
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of tooth brushes and more specifically relates to a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and ingredients, made from synthetic and natural fibers, so that clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled. The tongue cleaner can be included for cleaning of the tongue.
A toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction with a toothbrush to increase the effectiveness of tooth brushing. Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes and forms. Most dentists recommend using a toothbrush labeled “soft”, since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums. Toothbrushes have usually been made from synthetic fibers since they were originally developed, although animal bristles are still sometimes used. Toothbrushes may not be effective or efficient at tooth-care.
A tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper or tongue brush) is an oral hygiene device designed to clean the bacterial build-up, food debris, fungi, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. The bacteria and fungi that grow on the tongue are related to many common oral care and general health problems. In addition, decaying bacteria produce volatile sulphur compounds on the rear of the tongue; these molecules account for 80 to 95 percent of all cases of halitosis (bad breath).
Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,142 to Young-Jun Kwon; U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,693 to Sung-Wook Kwon; U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,467 to Donna J. Beals; U.S. Pat. No. 8,297,710 to Toyokazu Mori; U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,227 Satoshi Hayashi; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,336,967 to Sung-Hwan Kwon. This prior art is representative of toothbrushes with bristles. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
Ideally, a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients and with tongue cleaner should be compact and convenient in use, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients made from synthetic and natural fibers, so that clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. A tongue cleaner can be included on the other side of the brush head.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known toothbrushes art, the present invention provides a novel a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system (toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients and with tongue cleaner). The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system, made from synthetic and natural fibers, so that clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled. The tongue cleaner can be included for cleaning of the tongue.
A toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system as disclosed herein comprises a toothbrush assembly having a handle comprising a first end, a second end, a top side, and a bottom side; a brush head having a first side, a second side, and at least one bristle. The brush head is connected to the first end of the handle of the toothbrush assembly.
The at least one bristle acts in a capacity of a cleaner-abrasive. The first side of the brush head having the at least one bristle is located on the top side of the handle. Optionally, the second side of the brush head can have a surface for the tongue cleaner. The handle serves as a levering and controlling means for the device.
The at least one bristle preferably includes at least one sharp and pointed edge for reaching and cleaning hard to reach areas on teeth and gums of a user-brusher. The at least one bristle is approximately 0.05 to 0.5 millimeter thick before tapering. The at least one bristle is tapered approximately 0 to 20 millimeters on one end with a tapered thickness of approximately 0.01 to 0.5 millimeter thick. The at least one bristle is preferably planted approximately 5 to 20 millimeters high on the toothbrush assembly.
The bristles can be planted at varying length and thickness on the toothbrush. And the bristles can have varying tapered length and thickness. The at least one bristle comprises at least one synthetic fiber and each one may act in the capacity of an abrasive ‘pick’. As such it is able to reach into confined spaces between teeth and abrasively remove debris. The at least one synthetic fiber is selected from the group consisting of bio-plastic, plastic, nylon, polyester, and acrylic. The toothbrush assembly is usable for hygienically maintaining teeth of a user-brusher.
The toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system further comprises a kit including the following parts: a plurality of the toothbrush assemblies having the brush head with the at least one tapered bristle comprising various ingredients and flavors; a plurality of toothbrush assemblies in children and adult sizes; and a set of user instructions.
A method of use for the toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system comprises the steps of choosing a toothbrush assembly having at least one bristle; wetting the brush head; applying toothpaste onto the brush head; brushing teeth of a user-brusher; optionally cleaning tongue of a user; rinsing the brush head of the toothbrush assembly; storing the toothbrush assembly when brushing is complete; and using another toothbrush assembly to perform a different type of cleaning if desired.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients and with tongue cleaner for purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system (toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients and with tongue cleaner), constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a toothbrush with thin bristles device and more particularly to a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system, made from synthetic and/or natural fibers, so that clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled. The tongue cleaner can be included for cleaning of the tongue.
Generally speaking, the toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles and with ingredients and with tongue cleaner (toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system) is made from synthetic and/or natural fibers, so that clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled. By creating a toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles, and tapering at the edges, clean and comfortable brushing of the teeth and gums is enabled. The tongue cleaner can be included for cleaning of the tongue.
The at least one bristle is approximately 0.05 to 0.5 millimeter thick before tapering and is tapered approximately 0 to 20 millimeters on one end with a tapered thickness of approximately 0.01 to 0.5 millimeter thick. The at least one bristle is preferably planted approximately 5 to 20 millimeters high on the toothbrush assembly. The bristles can be planted at varying lengths and thickness on the toothbrush. And the bristles can have varying tapered length and thickness. The at least one bristle can have tapered tips and non tapered tips at the end of the bristles. Further, at least one bristle can comprise of tiny tapered bristles about 0.5 to 2 millimeters in length, and 0.01 to 0.5 millimeter in tapered thickness, separated from one another by about 0 to 3 millimeters, arranged at least one layer of 0 to 100 bristles in each layer, along the length of at least one bristle, perpendicular to at least one bristle, and angularly affixed to at least one bristle. The tiny tapered bristles can have the same ingredient, same flavoring, same synthetic fiber, and same natural fiber as the at least one bristle.
The at least one bristle can include a small size brush with just one bristle, so that the bristle can clean between the teeth and can be used as a toothpick. The small size brush can have a size of about 1 to 12 inches in length. The small size brush can have a range of about 1 to 10 bristles, to clean between the teeth. By having a handle for the one bristle, is it easier for the user to use and to the reach the teeth. Unlike a toothpick which has to be thrown away after each use, the toothbrush with the one bristle is reusable. The toothbrush assembly may have a number of bristle ranging from 1 to a few hundred can have a length of about 1 to 12 inches. The brush head has a size of about 1 square millimeter to 2 square inches.
One side of the brush head is connected to the bristles for brushing of the teeth. The other side of the brush head can have a flat surface, or a surface for cleaning of the tongue. The ergonomic tongue cleaner is shaped in accordance with the anatomy of the tongue, and is optimized to lift and trap the plaque coating and effectively clean the surface of the tongue.
For cleaning of the tongue, the surface of the second side of the brush head can have a variety of different shapes. The shapes can include pointed edges in rows, evenly spaced pointed edges, rounded edges in rows, evenly spaced rounded edges, cone shapes in rows, evenly spaced cone shapes, dome shapes in rows, evenly spaced dome shapes, spherical shapes in rows, evenly spaced spherical shapes, cylindrical shapes in rows, evenly spaced cylindrical shapes, cubical shapes in rows, evenly spaced cubical shapes, ring shapes in rows, evenly spaced ring shapes, bundles of bristles in rows, evenly spaced bristles in bundles, and so on.
For cleaning of the tongue, the shapes can have a size of about 1 to 5 millimeters in height. When the shapes are evenly spaced, they can be separated from one another by about 0 to 3 millimeters. When the shapes are in rows, the rows can be separated from one another by 0 to 5 millimeters. The surface for cleaning of the tongue consists of materials including bio-plastic, plastic, nylon, polyester, acrylic, rubber, wood, and bamboo. The tongue cleaner can be created with or without the addition of flavors and ingredients. The flavors can include fruit flavors, plant flavors, herb flavors, tea flavors, root flavors, and flower flavors, including peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, ginger, ginseng, apple, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, cinnamon, thyme, licorice, cherry, strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, coconut, lemon, lime, rose, jasmine, chamomile, lavender, and the like. The ingredients may include toothpaste, baking soda, fluoride, triclosan, bleach, salt, Epsom salt, charcoal, and so on. The comprised flavoring and ingredient can be imbedded and/or coated. The tongue cleaner can be white or transparent in color, and it can have a variety of other colors. The tongue cleaner can have the same color as the brush head and the handle.
The bristle, the brush head, and the handle of the toothbrush can be transparent or white in color, or they can have a variety of different colors. Part or all of the bristle can be perpendicular to the brush head. Part or all of the bristle can also be angular to the brush head. The bristle can be arranged both perpendicularly and angularly to the brush head.
The bristle can be arranged in a variety of different patterns. The patterns can include bundles of bristles in rows, bundles of bristles in circular shapes, bundles of bristles in round shapes, bundles of bristles in jagged shapes, bundles of bristles in cylindrical shapes, bundles of bristles in cubical shapes, bundles of bristles in ring shapes, evenly spaced bristles in bundles, evenly spaced bundles of bristles, and so on. When the shapes are in bundles, the bundles can be separated from one another by about 0 to 5 millimeters, and the bristles of the bundles can be evenly spaced. When the bristles are evenly spaced, they can be separated from one another by about 0 to 5 millimeters.
The bristles of the toothbrush can be made of synthetic and/or natural fibers. Synthetic fibers include but are not limited to bio-plastic, plastic, nylon, polyester, and/or acrylic. Natural fibers include but are not limited to animal and plant fibers, including rubber, wood, and bamboo. It should be noted that biodegradable materials can also be used.
The handle of the toothbrush may be curved, straight or angular. Further, the handle can be designed for easy gripping with one or both hands of a user-brusher. The brush head and handle of the toothbrush can be manufactured from both synthetic and natural materials. Synthetic materials may include bio-plastic and plastic. Natural materials may include but are not limited to rubber, wood, and bamboo. The toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles may also be used for electric toothbrush.
The bristles of the toothbrush can be created with or without the addition of flavors and ingredients. The flavors can include flavors of the fruits, plants, herbs, teas, roots, and flowers, including peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, ginger, ginseng, apple, orange, strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, coconut, mango, guava, grapefruit, pineapple, cinnamon, thyme, licorice, cherry, lemon, lime, rose, jasmine, chamomile, lavender, and the like. The ingredients may include toothpaste, baking soda, fluoride, triclosan, bleach, salt, Epsom salt, charcoal, and so on. The comprised flavorings and ingredients can be imbedded and/or coated. The toothpaste can also be applied on top of the bristles or can be embedded thereon.
Further, the toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles can have a variety of hardness, patterns, shapes, and sizes. The hardness level of the bristle can be soft or hard. The bristle can be planted at varying hardness on the toothbrush. The pattern of the bristle can include circular, jagged, and so on. The shape of the brush head can include rectangle, square, oval, circle, and so on. The brush head can have a size for the range of 1 bristle to a few hundred bristles. The size of the toothbrush can be small or large. The large size is for adult, and the small size is for children. The toothbrush can have a length of about 1 to 12 inches.
One side of the brush head can have a flat surface, or a handle. The other side of the brush head can be connected to the bristles, or it can have a surface for cleaning of the tongue. So the toothbrush and the tongue cleaner can be separate, on separate devices. The brush head with just the bristles for brushing teeth can be fixed, removable, and replaceable. The brush head with just the tongue cleaner can also be fixed, removable, and replaceable.
The toothbrush can be both manual and electrically powered. When it is electrically powered, it may be powered by a small DC motor, which is either powered by batteries, or rechargeable batteries. The electric toothbrush can be designed to allow for wet/dry use. And it can have oscillation movements of high and low speed and pulse for brushing and cleaning the teeth and gums. The oscillation movements can include vibrational movements, clockwise movements, and counterclockwise movements. The tongue cleaner can also be both manual and electrically powered. And it can be designed to allow for wet/dry use. Further, the tongue cleaner can have oscillation movements of high and low speed and pulse for cleaning of the tongue. The oscillation movements can include vibrational movements, clockwise movements, and counterclockwise movements.
An example is a toothbrush with a rectangular brush head of about 2 centimeters by 3 centimeters, and a straight handle of about 8 inches, and with bristles about 12 millimeters in length, in bundles of circular shapes and perpendicular to the brush head. The bristles can be about 0.2 millimeter thick before tapering, tapered about 3 millimeters on one end with a tapered tip thickness of about 0.01 millimeter. The other side of the brush head is for cleaning of the tongue. The surface for tongue cleaner is created to have rows of sharp edges, about 6 millimeters in height. The bristles and the tongue cleaner can be imbedded with peppermint flavor. The entire toothbrush with tongue cleaner can be made of bio-plastic, in white color.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
Toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system 100 preferably comprises toothbrush assembly 110 having handle 120 comprising first end 126, second end 132, top side 138, and bottom side 144; brush head 150 having first side 156, second side 162, and at least one bristle 170 acting as a cleaner-abrasive. Toothbrush assembly 110 is usable for hygienically maintaining teeth 184 of user-brusher 180. Brush head 150 is preferably connected to first end 126 of handle 120 of toothbrush assembly 110. First side 126 of brush head 150 having at least one bristle 170 is located on top side 138 of handle 120. Optionally, second side 132 of brush head 150 may have a surface for a tongue cleaner (not shown). Brush head 150 connected to first end 126 of handle 120 of toothbrush assembly 110 can be fixed, removable, and replaceable. A shape of brush head 150 is selected from the group consisting of rectangle, square, oval, and circle. Toothbrush assembly 110 is not only limited to manual toothbrush assembly 110 and may comprise an electric toothbrush (not shown) for wet and dry use, and is selected from the group consisting of vibrational movements, clockwise movements, and counterclockwise movements; and of high and low speeds.
At least one bristle 170 located on brush head 150 is soft and may form circular tip 200 as shown in
Composition 174 is preferably located on at least one bristle 170 which acts in a capacity of a cleaner-abrasive. Composition 174 may comprise at least one ingredient. The at least one ingredient is selected from the group consisting of toothpaste, baking soda, fluoride, triclosan, bleach, salt, Epsom salt, and charcoal. Composition 174 may also comprise at least one flavoring. The at least one flavoring is selected from the group consisting of fruit flavors, plant flavors, herb flavors, tea flavors, root flavors, and flower flavors, including peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, ginger, ginseng, cinnamon, thyme, licorice, apple, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, cherry, strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, coconut, mango, guava, lemon, lime, rose, jasmine, chamomile, and lavender. It should be noted that the ingredient and flavoring can be imbedded and/or coated on at least one bristle 170. When flavoring and ingredient is depleted on embedded version, the device may be disposable, or flavors and ingredients may be placed thereon.
At least one of bristle 170 may comprise at least one synthetic fiber. The at least one synthetic fiber is selected from the group consisting of bio-plastic, plastic, nylon, polyester, and acrylic. At least one bristle 170 may also comprise at least one natural fiber. The at least one natural fiber is selected from the group consisting of animal and plant including rubber, wood, and bamboo. It should be noted that biodegradable materials can also be used. At least one bristle 170 located on first side 156 of brush head 150 can be fixed, removable, and replaceable. And at least one bristle 170 having a pattern selected from the group consisting of bundles of bristles in rows, bundles of bristles in circular shapes, bundles of bristles in round shapes, bundles of bristles in jagged shapes, bundles of bristles in cylindrical shapes, bundles of bristles in cubical shapes, bundles of bristles in ring shapes, evenly spaced bristles in bundles, and evenly spaced bundles of bristles.
Referring now to
Toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of
Toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system 100 having second side 162 of brush head 150 having a tongue cleaner 190 connected to first end 126 of handle 120 comprises at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of bio-plastic, plastic, nylon, polyester, acrylic, rubber, wood and bamboo. First side 156 of brush head 150 comprises a surface selected from the group consisting of flat surface, and surface with at least one bristle 170. Tongue cleaner 190 comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of baking soda, fluoride, triclosan, bleach, salt, Epsom salt, and charcoal. Further, tongue cleaner 190 comprises at least one flavoring selected from the group consisting of fruit flavors, plant flavors, herb flavors, tea flavors, root flavors, and flower flavors, including peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, ginger, ginseng, cinnamon, thyme, licorice, apple, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, cherry, strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, lemon, lime, coconut, mango, guava, rose, jasmine, chamomile, and lavender.
Tongue cleaner 190 located on second side 162 of brush head 150, and brush head 150 with tongue cleaner 190, can be fixed, removable, and replaceable. The brush head 150 with tongue cleaner 190 have a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangle, square, oval, round, and circle. Handle 120 for tongue cleaner 190 is selected from the group consisting of curved, straight, and angular. And handle 120 can be located at first side 156 of brush head 150. And tongue cleaner 190 having a pattern selected from the group consisting of pointed edges in rows, evenly spaced pointed edges, rounded edges in rows, evenly spaced rounded edges, cone shapes in rows, evenly spaced cone shapes, dome shapes in rows, evenly spaced dome shapes, spherical shapes in rows, evenly spaced spherical shapes, cylindrical shapes in rows, evenly spaced cylindrical shapes, cubical shapes in rows, evenly spaced cubical shapes, ring shapes in rows, evenly spaced ring shapes, bundles of bristles in rows, and evenly spaced bristles in bundles. The tongue cleaner 190 may comprise a manual tongue cleaner 190 and an electrically powered instrument for wet and dry use, and is selected from the group consisting of vibrational movements, clockwise movements, and counterclockwise movements; and of high and low speeds.
Referring now to
Method of use 500 for toothbrush with thin and tapered bristles system 100 may comprise the steps of: step one 501 choosing toothbrush assembly 110 having a user-preferred composition located on brush head 150 having at least one bristle 170; step two 502 wetting brush head 150; step three 503 applying toothpaste onto brush head 150; step four 504 cleaning a tongue of user-brusher 180; step five 505 brushing teeth 184 of user-brusher 180; step six 506 rinsing brush head 150 of toothbrush assembly 110; step seven 507 storing toothbrush assembly 110 when brushing is complete; and optionally step eight 508 using another toothbrush assembly 110 to perform a different type of cleaning. The device may be used to pick teeth if desired using end bristle 170.
It should be noted that steps 504 and 508 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/819,475 filed May 3, 2013, and pending non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/949,208 filed Jul. 23, 2013 which applications are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61819475 | May 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13949208 | Jul 2013 | US |
| Child | 13968298 | US |
