CA1248307A - Dental cleaning and gum massage device - Google Patents
Dental cleaning and gum massage deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1248307A CA1248307A CA000488793A CA488793A CA1248307A CA 1248307 A CA1248307 A CA 1248307A CA 000488793 A CA000488793 A CA 000488793A CA 488793 A CA488793 A CA 488793A CA 1248307 A CA1248307 A CA 1248307A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- handle
- toothbrush
- plane
- sectional area
- brush
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
- A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
- A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
- A46B5/02—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware specially shaped for holding by the hand
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
- A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A "J" shaped toothbrush for dental cleaning and gum massage includes an elongated handle having a pair of opposing flat gripping surfaces, a neck member with a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the handle and which extends coaxially from one end of the handle and recurves into a brush head that is posi-tioned in a plane spaced apart from the handle. The toothbrush is hygienic to use since the "J" shape minimizes dribbling of saliva and tooth cleaning substances.
A "J" shaped toothbrush for dental cleaning and gum massage includes an elongated handle having a pair of opposing flat gripping surfaces, a neck member with a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the handle and which extends coaxially from one end of the handle and recurves into a brush head that is posi-tioned in a plane spaced apart from the handle. The toothbrush is hygienic to use since the "J" shape minimizes dribbling of saliva and tooth cleaning substances.
Description
3~)~7 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This inven~ion relates to a toothbrush and more particularly to a toothbrush that is adapted to function as an improved gum massage device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Effecive oral hygiene requires assiduous application of a toothbrush to effect periodic removal of plaque and other undesirable generated products of localized flora and fauna.
Frequent daily use will minimize the creation of dental caries.
Concurrent gum massage with the toothbrush will also improve the general health of the gums so as to minimize subsequent tooth loss due to gum disease.
The benefits resulting from a diligent personal dental program are sufficiently well known as to develop a large population of users which constitute a vast market poten-tial for household dental products. In this respect, tooth-brush designs are many and varied in an effort to provide users with effective toothbrushes that are simple and conven-~ ient to use. This accounts for the many designs of tooth-brushes having brush heads that are set at an obtuse anglerelative to the handle of the toothbrush in order to improve on brush efficacy.
Despite the myriad available designs, the search con-tinùes for an improved toothbrush having good gum massage capabilities. In addition, a recognized problem associated with conventional toothbrushes is the tendency of such brushes to drip saliva and tooth cleaning preparations in the course of vigorous brushing. Since brushing may occur away from the ho~e e~vironment of an individual, as in the washroom of a public place such as a restaurant, a dripping toothbrush can .
be a~kward to u~e under such circumstances and can le~d to soiling of street attire,which is undesirable.
SUMM~RY OF THE IMVENTION
Having reyard to thP perceived need of an improved toothbrush, a principal object o~ Applicant's invention is the provision of a toothbrush having a reduced tendency to drip Another provision of the invention is a toothbrush that is "J" shaped having an elongated handle with a pair of opposing flat gripping surfaees that facilitate holding the brush.
Still another provision of the invention is a "J"
shaped toothbrush having a brush head that overlies a portion of the handle in substantially parallel relation which facili-tates gum massage.
Still another provision of the invention is a.tooth-brush in whieh the brush head is joined to the handle by a reeurving neek member with a eross-seetion area substantially smaller than the eross-seetional area of the handle.
The problems assoeiated with the prior art are sub-stantially overeome and the foregoing objeetives aehieved by recourse to Applieant's in~vention whieh is a dental eleaning and gùm massage deviee eomprising an elongated handle, a neek member having a first portion extending coaxially from one end of the handle and a second portion recurving from the first portion into a plane spaced apart from the handle and brush means extending from the free end of the second portion into the plane.
This inven~ion relates to a toothbrush and more particularly to a toothbrush that is adapted to function as an improved gum massage device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Effecive oral hygiene requires assiduous application of a toothbrush to effect periodic removal of plaque and other undesirable generated products of localized flora and fauna.
Frequent daily use will minimize the creation of dental caries.
Concurrent gum massage with the toothbrush will also improve the general health of the gums so as to minimize subsequent tooth loss due to gum disease.
The benefits resulting from a diligent personal dental program are sufficiently well known as to develop a large population of users which constitute a vast market poten-tial for household dental products. In this respect, tooth-brush designs are many and varied in an effort to provide users with effective toothbrushes that are simple and conven-~ ient to use. This accounts for the many designs of tooth-brushes having brush heads that are set at an obtuse anglerelative to the handle of the toothbrush in order to improve on brush efficacy.
Despite the myriad available designs, the search con-tinùes for an improved toothbrush having good gum massage capabilities. In addition, a recognized problem associated with conventional toothbrushes is the tendency of such brushes to drip saliva and tooth cleaning preparations in the course of vigorous brushing. Since brushing may occur away from the ho~e e~vironment of an individual, as in the washroom of a public place such as a restaurant, a dripping toothbrush can .
be a~kward to u~e under such circumstances and can le~d to soiling of street attire,which is undesirable.
SUMM~RY OF THE IMVENTION
Having reyard to thP perceived need of an improved toothbrush, a principal object o~ Applicant's invention is the provision of a toothbrush having a reduced tendency to drip Another provision of the invention is a toothbrush that is "J" shaped having an elongated handle with a pair of opposing flat gripping surfaees that facilitate holding the brush.
Still another provision of the invention is a "J"
shaped toothbrush having a brush head that overlies a portion of the handle in substantially parallel relation which facili-tates gum massage.
Still another provision of the invention is a.tooth-brush in whieh the brush head is joined to the handle by a reeurving neek member with a eross-seetion area substantially smaller than the eross-seetional area of the handle.
The problems assoeiated with the prior art are sub-stantially overeome and the foregoing objeetives aehieved by recourse to Applieant's in~vention whieh is a dental eleaning and gùm massage deviee eomprising an elongated handle, a neek member having a first portion extending coaxially from one end of the handle and a second portion recurving from the first portion into a plane spaced apart from the handle and brush means extending from the free end of the second portion into the plane.
- 2 -~8.~q37 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-The invention will now be more particularly de-scribed with reference to an embodiment thereof shown by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a toothbrush e~bodying the structural features oP the invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. l;
and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating its application.
GENER~L DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTR:ATED EMBODIMENT
A dental cleaning and gum massage device that embodies the structural features of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as a "J" shaped toothbrush 10. Having regard to Figs. 1-3, it will be observed that the toothbrush 10 comprises an elongated handle 11 having a pair of opposing flat, gripping surfaces 12 and 13 that facilitate holding the toothbrush as indicated in Fig. 4.
A neck member 14 is shown with a first portion 15 ex-tending coaxially from the end of the handle 11 to which the member 14 is joined. A second portion 16 is illustrated re-curving from the portion 15 into an imaginary plane that is spaced apart from the handle 1~.
The free end of the portion 16 is shown joined to brush means in the form of a brush head 17 having a bristle supporting surface 18 which aces awa~ from the handle 11. As illustrated, the head 17 includes a plurality of separate bristle groups 19 which are uniformly disposed on the surface 18 are which are upstanding ~herefrom. Individual fibers in the groups 19 may be selectively graded in accordance with known and accepted practices in the art of toothbrush manufac-ture although in the embodiment illustrated and described herein, such fibers are preferably of a soft tuft form com-patible with the function o~ the toothbrush 10 as a gum mas-sage device.
In keeping with the known practices of toothbrush manu~acture, all edges and corners of the toothbrush 10 are either chamfered or preferably rounded to prevent injury to a user.
Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which the tooth-brush 10 is used to derive the full benefits thereof and also indicates the structural features of the toothbrush that pre-vent dribbling of saliva and tooth cleaning compounds along the handle 11 as the toothbrush is used. Of particular note in this respect is firstly the "J" shape of the toothbrush 11 which permits the head 17 to be positioned between the teeth 20 and the cheek 21 of a user. Due to the recurved portion 16, ~0 saliva and tooth cleaning compounds ~end to be retained within the mouth and do not dribble down along the handle 11 even though the handle ma~ be tipped downwardly as will commonly occur in use. In this regard, the toothbrush 10 is superior to the straight handled or bent handled toothbrushes of the prior art in which dribbling along the handle thereof will occur should the handle be inclined downwardly as the toothbrush is used~
It will be understood that the relative dimensions of the various parts described in the toothbrush 10 are not critical. Having said this, however, a preferred ambodiment of the toothbrush 10 has its head 17 and portion 16 o~rlyiny approximatel~ one-third of the handle 11, substantially as illustrated.
Although cross-sectional views of the toothbrush 1]
are not shown, and the dimensions thereof are not critical, the preferred embodiment has a member 14 with a cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the handle 11. Tha purpose of this structural feature is to permit the user to closé his llps tightly about the member 14 to further reduce any tendency of dripping or drib-bling saliva andtooth cleaning substances while using the tooth-brush 10.
The overlying arrangement of the head 17 and the handle 11 permits better control of the head as the handle is rocked back and for~h, causing the bristle groups 19 to con- -tact both the teeth and gums of the user for effective dental cleaning and gum massage. Preferably, the bristle groups 19 are positioned sideways in respect of the gums and pressed thereagainst several times before starting the known vertical brushing procedure for the upper tee~h. The lower teeth are cleansed and corresponding gums massaged in a like ~anner.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to whom this specification is addressed that the embodiment here-tofore described may be varied to meet particular specialized requirem~nts without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. Thus, alt~ough the head 17 is shown to be in a plane substantially parallel to the handle 11, such plane need not be parallel and ma~ be at an acute angle with respect to the handle. Accordingly, the foregoing em-3Q bodiment should not be taken as indi~cative of the limits of _ 5 _ 83~)7 the invention but rather as an exemplary structure thereofwhich is described by the claims appended hereto.
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-The invention will now be more particularly de-scribed with reference to an embodiment thereof shown by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a toothbrush e~bodying the structural features oP the invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. l;
and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating its application.
GENER~L DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTR:ATED EMBODIMENT
A dental cleaning and gum massage device that embodies the structural features of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as a "J" shaped toothbrush 10. Having regard to Figs. 1-3, it will be observed that the toothbrush 10 comprises an elongated handle 11 having a pair of opposing flat, gripping surfaces 12 and 13 that facilitate holding the toothbrush as indicated in Fig. 4.
A neck member 14 is shown with a first portion 15 ex-tending coaxially from the end of the handle 11 to which the member 14 is joined. A second portion 16 is illustrated re-curving from the portion 15 into an imaginary plane that is spaced apart from the handle 1~.
The free end of the portion 16 is shown joined to brush means in the form of a brush head 17 having a bristle supporting surface 18 which aces awa~ from the handle 11. As illustrated, the head 17 includes a plurality of separate bristle groups 19 which are uniformly disposed on the surface 18 are which are upstanding ~herefrom. Individual fibers in the groups 19 may be selectively graded in accordance with known and accepted practices in the art of toothbrush manufac-ture although in the embodiment illustrated and described herein, such fibers are preferably of a soft tuft form com-patible with the function o~ the toothbrush 10 as a gum mas-sage device.
In keeping with the known practices of toothbrush manu~acture, all edges and corners of the toothbrush 10 are either chamfered or preferably rounded to prevent injury to a user.
Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which the tooth-brush 10 is used to derive the full benefits thereof and also indicates the structural features of the toothbrush that pre-vent dribbling of saliva and tooth cleaning compounds along the handle 11 as the toothbrush is used. Of particular note in this respect is firstly the "J" shape of the toothbrush 11 which permits the head 17 to be positioned between the teeth 20 and the cheek 21 of a user. Due to the recurved portion 16, ~0 saliva and tooth cleaning compounds ~end to be retained within the mouth and do not dribble down along the handle 11 even though the handle ma~ be tipped downwardly as will commonly occur in use. In this regard, the toothbrush 10 is superior to the straight handled or bent handled toothbrushes of the prior art in which dribbling along the handle thereof will occur should the handle be inclined downwardly as the toothbrush is used~
It will be understood that the relative dimensions of the various parts described in the toothbrush 10 are not critical. Having said this, however, a preferred ambodiment of the toothbrush 10 has its head 17 and portion 16 o~rlyiny approximatel~ one-third of the handle 11, substantially as illustrated.
Although cross-sectional views of the toothbrush 1]
are not shown, and the dimensions thereof are not critical, the preferred embodiment has a member 14 with a cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the handle 11. Tha purpose of this structural feature is to permit the user to closé his llps tightly about the member 14 to further reduce any tendency of dripping or drib-bling saliva andtooth cleaning substances while using the tooth-brush 10.
The overlying arrangement of the head 17 and the handle 11 permits better control of the head as the handle is rocked back and for~h, causing the bristle groups 19 to con- -tact both the teeth and gums of the user for effective dental cleaning and gum massage. Preferably, the bristle groups 19 are positioned sideways in respect of the gums and pressed thereagainst several times before starting the known vertical brushing procedure for the upper tee~h. The lower teeth are cleansed and corresponding gums massaged in a like ~anner.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to whom this specification is addressed that the embodiment here-tofore described may be varied to meet particular specialized requirem~nts without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. Thus, alt~ough the head 17 is shown to be in a plane substantially parallel to the handle 11, such plane need not be parallel and ma~ be at an acute angle with respect to the handle. Accordingly, the foregoing em-3Q bodiment should not be taken as indi~cative of the limits of _ 5 _ 83~)7 the invention but rather as an exemplary structure thereofwhich is described by the claims appended hereto.
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Claims (10)
1. A dental cleaning and gum massage device, com-prising:
an elongated handle;
a neck member having a first portion extending co-axially from one end of the handle and a second portion re-curving from the first portion into a plane spaced apart from the handle; and brush means extending from the free end of the second portion into said plane.
an elongated handle;
a neck member having a first portion extending co-axially from one end of the handle and a second portion re-curving from the first portion into a plane spaced apart from the handle; and brush means extending from the free end of the second portion into said plane.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the brush means comprises a brush head having a bristle supporting sur-face facing away from the handle.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the brush head includes a plurality of separate bristle groups upstanding from the supporting surface.
4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the neck member has a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the handle.
5. A device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the handle includes a pair of opposing flat gripping surfaces to facilitate holding the device.
6. A device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the second portion and head overlie approximately one-third of the length of the handle-from the end at which the first portion extends.
7. A device as claimed in Claim 6 having a generally "J" shape.
8. A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the "J"
shape functions as a hook for suspending the device.
shape functions as a hook for suspending the device.
9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said plane is substantially parallel to the elongated handle.
10. A device as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said plane is at an acute angle with respect to the elongated handle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000488793A CA1248307A (en) | 1985-08-15 | 1985-08-15 | Dental cleaning and gum massage device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000488793A CA1248307A (en) | 1985-08-15 | 1985-08-15 | Dental cleaning and gum massage device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1248307A true CA1248307A (en) | 1989-01-10 |
Family
ID=4131188
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000488793A Expired CA1248307A (en) | 1985-08-15 | 1985-08-15 | Dental cleaning and gum massage device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1248307A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8578544B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2013-11-12 | The Gillette Company | Oral hygiene implements having flexible elements, and methods of making the same |
-
1985
- 1985-08-15 CA CA000488793A patent/CA1248307A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8578544B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2013-11-12 | The Gillette Company | Oral hygiene implements having flexible elements, and methods of making the same |
| US9504312B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2016-11-29 | The Gillette Company Llc | Oral hygiene implements having flexible elements, and methods of making the same |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |