US20020157202A1

US20020157202A1 - Multiple head toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US20020157202A1
Application number: US09/844,605
Authority: US
Inventors: David Hartel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2001-04-27
Publication date: 2002-10-31

Abstract

A toothbrush, for contacting multiple dental surfaces simultaneously, comprising a handle and a head assembly. The head assembly includes a head junction, and a plurality of heads attached to the head junction. The heads include a pair of side heads having opposed bristles, and a forward head. The side heads substantially perpendicularly downward from the head junction, and the forward head extends at an obtuse angle from the head junction. A middle head is located immediately beneath the head junction. Both side heads and the forward head are each attached to the head junction with a U-joint which allows each head to flex with respect to the head junction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a multiple head toothbrush. More particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush having a plurality of brush heads which allow the toothbrush to engage and clean numerous tooth surfaces at the same time.

During the past century, the importance of brushing teeth has become well known. In addition, for at least several decades, the importance of fluoride toothpaste has been well established. While the use of fluoride toothpaste is virtually universal, cavities still persist. Currently then, it would seem that the only weakness in the overall effectiveness of toothbrushing appears to be in the brush itself.

A conventional toothbrush has a handle, and a grouping of bristles, where all bristles terminate in a common plane. Such a toothbrush relies on the skill and patience of the user to ensure that are surfaces and brushed.

Variations on the conventional toothbrush have been devised which employ bristles of varying height, use curved handles, and have accessories for removing food particles and plaque. These toothbrushes have had varying degrees of success, but still fail to provide effective cleaning of all dental surfaces.

Several United States Patents have proposed systems which employ multiple brush heads so as to engage top and side surfaces. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,118 to Goldberg; U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,601 to Zavagno; U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,481 to Weyer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,466 to Konkhammer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,491 to Hegemann; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,607 to Wagner all disclose various configurations for a multiple head toothbrush.

While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to produce a toothbrush which provides effective cleaning of all dental surfaces. Accordingly, the toothbrush has multiple heads for simultaneously engaging multiple dental surfaces, and thus simultaneously ensuring that multiple dental surfaces are cleaned.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a toothbrush which adapts to the contours of dental surfaces provides sufficient frictional contact therewith. Accordingly, the heads each flex at a U-joint, which allows the angle of each individual head to adjust as it is moved within the mouth along the teeth.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a toothbrush which is economical to manufacture. Accordingly, the toothbrush is configured so that it is susceptible for manufacture by standard manufacturing techniques using readily available materials.

The invention is a toothbrush, for contacting multiple dental surfaces simultaneously, comprising a handle and a head assembly. The head assembly includes a head junction, and a plurality of heads attached to the head junction. The heads include a pair of side heads having opposed bristles, and a forward head. The side heads substantially perpendicularly downward from the head junction, and the forward head extends at an obtuse angle from the head junction. A middle head is located immediately beneath the head junction. Both side heads and the forward head are each attached to the head junction with a U-joint which allows each head to flex with respect to the head junction.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. [0012]
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the toothbrush, illustrating the various heads thereof extending from the handle. [0013]
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view, illustrating relative positioning the side heads with respect to the head junction, wherein the forward head has been removed for clarity. [0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a [0015] toothbrush 10, having a handle 12 and a head assembly 14. The head assembly 14 comprises a head junction 16, which is attached to the handle 12 by a stiff rubber ring 18.
The [0016] head assembly 14 further comprises a plurality of heads 20, which include a pair of side heads 22 and a forward head 24. Each of the heads 20 include a bristle mount 26 and a bristle group 28 attached to the bristle mount 26. Each bristle group 28 comprises numerous individual bristles.
The [0017] side heads 22 are opposed to each other, and are positioned such that they initially extend perpendicular to the head junction 16, and then angle slightly inward towards each other. The bristle groups 28 for the side heads 22 are oriented inward, such that the bristles of the side heads 22 extend toward each other in direct opposition. Referring to FIG. 2, the bristles of the side heads 22 substantially meet with minimal space therebetween opposite from the head junction 16. However, the opposed bristles of the opposed side heads 22 are spaced further apart closer to the head junction 16. The bristle group 28 of each of the side heads 22 preferably comprises soft bristles.
The [0018] forward head 24 extends from the head junction 16 such that the forward head 24 forms an obtuse angle with the head junction 16. Preferably, the bristle group 28 of the forward head 24 is also made up of soft bristles.
Further, a [0019] middle bristle group 30 is provided immediately beneath the head junction 16. The bristles in the middle bristle group 30 are preferably medium or hard. The bristels in the middle bristel group 30 preferably do not extend perpendicular to the head junction 16. Instead, they extend at a nearly ninety degree angle, but criss-cross each other, such that they intermesh as illistrated in the drawing figures. It is envisioned that the middle bristle group 30 will contact upper surfaces of the teeth, while the side heads 22 contact side surfaces of the teeth.
Referring to FIG. 2, each of the [0020] heads 20 are attached to the head junction 16 with a U-joint 32. The U-joint 32 has several alternating channels 34, separated by a series of one hundred eighty degree bends, which allow the heads 20 to flex with respect to the head junction 16.
In conclusion, herein is presented a toothbrush which has multiple heads which are positioned and configured so as to contact multiple dental surfaces simultaneously, whereas the heads are each capable of flexing so as to meet those surfaces at an ideal angle so as to maximize cleaning of the dental surfaces thereby. The inventive concept is illustrated using the example shown in the drawings figures. It should be apparent that numerous variations may be devised, while adhering to the concepts of the invention. Accordingly, such variations are considered to be a part of the instant invention. [0021]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush, for contacting multiple dental surfaces, comprising:

an elongated handle;

a head assembly, having a head junction;

a plurality of heads attached to the head junction, each of the heads having a bristle group having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom; and

wherein each of the heads is attached to the head junction with a u-joint, the u-joint having alternating channels which allow its associated head to flex with respect to the head junction.

2. The toothbrush as recited in claim 1, wherein the head junction has a middle bristle group, and wherein the side heads and forward head have softer bristles than the middle bristle group.

3. The toothbrush as recited in claim 2, wherein the heads include a pair of opposed side heads, the side heads initially extend perpendicularly from the head junction, and then angle inward toward each other, the bristles of the side heads extend toward each other.

4. The toothbrush as recited in claim 3, wherein the heads include a forward head which extends at an obtuse angle from the head junction and substanially perpendicular to both side heads.

5. The toothbrush as recited 4, wherein the bristles of the side heads extend toward each other and substantially meet with minimum space therebetween opposite from the head juction, and said bristles extend toward each other with increaing space therebetween toward the head junction.

6. The toothbrush as recited in claim 5, wherein the bristles of the head junction do not extend perpendicular to the head junction, but criss-cross each other.

7. A toothbrush, for contacting multiple dental surfaces, comprising:

an elongated handle;

a head assembly, having a head junction; and a plurality of heads attached to the head junction, including a pair of opposed side heads, each side head initially extending substansially perpendincular to the head junction, parallel to each other near the head junction, and then angling inward, the heads further including a forward head extending at an obtuse angle to the head junction and substansially perpendicular to each of the side heads, each of the heads having a bristle group having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom.

8. The toothbrush as recited in claim 7, wherein the bristles of the side heads extend toward each other and substansially meet with minimum space therebetween opposite from the head junction, and said bristles extend toward each other with increasing space therebetween toward the head junction.

9. The toothbrush as receited in claim 8, wherein each of the heads is attached to the head junction with a u-joint, the u-joint having alternating channels which allow its associated head to flex with repect to the head junction.

10. The toothbrush as recited in claim 9, wherein the head junction has a middle bristle group, and wherein the side heads and forward head have softer bristles than the middle bristle group.