US1852480A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1932.

K. RUETZ 1,852,480

Toormanusn Filed Feb. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 19.1. I29. 2 Fly. 3.

v u 1/1/11. ///////z// 11/1/11111/1/1 111/1 April 5, 1932. K RUETZ 1,852,489

TOOTHBHUSH Filed Feb. 27. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL RTJ'E'IZ, OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF ].O J OSEF RUETZ, 0F BIEL, SWITZERLAND TOOTHBRUSH Application filed February 27, 1931, Serial No. 518,815, and in Switzerland May 12, 1930.

it is known that the toothbrushes hitherto known are still imperfect since their formation does not permit of thoroughly cleansing the gaps between the teeth. Dental hygiene, 5, however, requires these gaps, where particles of food are usually trapped, and where theretore decay first starts, to be in particular thoroughly cleaned.

The toothbrush according to the present invention fulfills this purpose by providing a short toothpick for cleaning the gaps between the teeth, which is displaceably mounted transversely to the brush head, and be tween the bristles, in such a way that it is able to penetrate into the gaps between the teeth, and, in conjunction with the bristles, release the food particles trapped in the gaps betw en the teeth so that they can be removed. The action is thus a double one, since with the toothpick the trapped food particles are loosened whilst the bristles penetrating subsequently the gaps between the teeth complete the cleaning operation.

The drawings show by way of example three constructional forms of a combined toothbrush and toothpick made according to the invention, Fig. 1 being a sectional ele ration of one form, and Figs. 2 and 3 a back elevation and elevation partly in section re spectivcly oil: a modification, Figs. 1- and 5 represent a third example in side elevation partly in section with the toothpick in two dillercnt positions, Fig. ('3 is a detail View of this example, and, Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

In the example according to Fig. l a twoarmrd lever 2 is mounted on the head of the brush 1 opposite the bristles by means of a pin a on which it is pivotally mounted. The

long forward arm oi. the lever 2 carries a short toothpick 3. made for example of celluloid, whilst the short rear arn'i carries a pin 5 prorided with a pressure knob 6. The pin 5 penetrates and projects beyond the brush handle 1. Between the latter and the knob (3 there is arranged a coil spring 7. In order to clean the gaps between the teeth pressure is applied to the knob (l with the result that the toothpick is pressed. into the gaps between the teeth. On releasing the knob 6 the toothpick 3, is withdrawn, by means of the spring 7, so far into the bristles that during the usual brushing of the teeth injury to the gums by the toothpick is avoided.

A stop 5 limits the movement of the pin 5 under the pressure of the spring 7.

The manipulation of this toothbrush for cleansing the gaps between the teeth is eX- tremely simple and comfortable and the cleansing is very thorough.

In the example according to Figs. 2 and 3 one end of a gut string 8 is fixed in the brush handle 1. The string 8 carries a pressure knob 9 and the other end, penetrating the brush head, carries the cylindrical foot 3 of the pick 3 A recess 10 is provided in the brush head for receiving the foot of the pick together with a small helical spring 11 ivhiccih tends to press the foot out of the brush In ordinary brushing of the teeth the foot of the pick 3 projects out from the brush head so that it can bend with the bristles without acting. If, however, the pressure knob 9 is pressed towards one side with the thumb. of the hand holding the toothbrush the foot of the pick is drawn into the recess 10 and made immovable so that it can penetrate into a gap and loosen food particles which are then swept away by the bristles. On releasing the pressure on the knob 9 the foot of the pick is again pressedby the spring 11 out of the brush head so that the pick 3 can again bend with the bristles.

The example according to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 permits still a more deep and sure penetrating of the pick in the gaps between the teeth and a greater free mobility of the pick when cleaning the teeth by the bristles, in order to avoid hurting ott'the gums. This example also has the advantage, that the handle and the head of the toothbrush are perfectly smooth as a usual tooth-brush and have no projections. By means of this preferred example, due to the increased protruding of the pick out of the bristles and to the more sure location of the pick in working position, not only food particles may be removed from the inner and outer gaps, but also crusts of tartar of the teeth which mostly deposit in these gaps, may be removed and so the teeth maintained hale much longer. On the other hand the pick retired into the bristles works as a bristle.

Two angular pins 20 are screwed oppositely one to the other into the head of the handle 1 and overlap the lateral arms of a frame-like cradle 21 and serve as a pivot therefor. The back endof this cradle serves as a thumb-latch to move the cradle against the action of a spring 7 embedded in a hole of the handle 1. The front end of the cradle forms a bridge having a bore 22 adapted to receive the cylindrical hollow base 3 of the ick 3*. The entering of the base 3 into the ore 22 of the cradle is limited by a small shoulder 3 at the top of the base 3 The pick 3 is arranged laterally to the axis of the base 8 which has a bore to receive a gutstring 8 fixed to the handle head and having a knot 8 resting on the outer face of the shoulder 3 The bore of the foot 3 further receives a compression spring 11 one end of which is secured to the bottom of the bore of the foot 3 and the other end of which is guided in abore of the cradle 21. The pick is preferably made of buifalo horn.

The function of this example is as follows:

If it is desired to remove food particles from the inner or outer gaps between the teeth or to remove tartar of the teeth deposited in the said gaps, the thumb latch of the cradle 21 is pressed down by the thumb of the hand carrying the tooth-brush so that the cradle is tilted and the pick 3 lifted out of the bristles (see Fig. 4). This motion is limited by the knot 8 of the gut'string 8 which pulls the base 3 of the pick into th'e bore 22 of the cradle 21. The pick is now positioned in its working position and the gaps now may be thoroughly free of food particles and tartar of the teeth. If it is now desired to brush the teeth, the cradle 21 is released and the spring 7 tilts it back in its initial position in which the pick 3* is embedded in the bristles (see-Fig. 2). hen the pick '3 is being retracted, the spring 11 projecting over the base 3 of the pick abuts the handle head, is compressed and pushes the base 13 out of the bore 22, so that the pick is fully free and follows the flexions of the bristles as being a bristle. The spring 11 is tensioned when the pick is bent laterally and brings it back in its upright position, so that the pick acts as a yielding bristle. Any hurting of the gums thereby is avoided. v It is evident that the hand carrying the tooth-brush has not to change its position to bring the pick in and outof. operative position, pressure of the thumb upon the thumb-latch and releasing this latch is sufficie nt.

The means for displacing the pick can also be otherwise than those illustrated.

What I claim is 1. In a tooth brush, a brush head, bristles thereon, a pick transversely movable to the brush head and parallel to the bristles between them, and means to move the pick from and towards the brush head.

2. In a tooth brush, a brush head, bristles thereon, a pick transversely movable tothe brush head and parallel to thebristlesbetween them'and having a hollow shouldered base, a framelike cradle pivotally mounted on the inner face of the brush head and having a bore in one of its ends, a compression spring interposed between the other end of the cradle and the brush head, a flexible inextensible end knotted member fixed on the one hand to the brush head and passing on the other hand through the said base of the pick, to pull the said base into the cradle-bore when the pick is moved in operative position, and a spring fixed in the said base and adapted to abut against the brush head when the pick is moved inwardly to free the said base from the cradle bore.

3. In a tooth brush, a brush head, bristles thereon, a pick transversely movable to the brush head and parallel to the bristles between them and having a hollow shouldered base, a framelike .cradle pivotally mounted on the inner face of the brush head and having a bore in one of its ends, a compression spring interposed between the other end of the cradle and the brush head, a flexible inextensible end knotted member fixed on theone hand to the brush head and passing on the other hand through the said base of the pick, to pull the said base into the cradle-bore when the pick is moved in operative position, and a spring having one end fixed in the said base and the other bent over and guided in a small bore of the cradle to prevent distortion of the pick, this end being adapted to abut against the brush head when the pick is moved inwardly, to free the said base from the said cradle-bore.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. KARL RUETZ.

Images