US2947013A - Audible tooth brush - Google Patents

Description

1960 M. B. SILVERMAN 2,947,013

AUDIBLB TOOTH BRUSH Filed Feb. 17, 1956 )Y/A j/ 4 g 4 -l7 5 22; 2 Z INVENTOR. 4 MILTON aslLveRmAm AUDIBLE TOOTH BRUSH Milton B. Silverman, 3204 Garrison Ave., Baltimore 16, Md.

Filed Feb. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 566,209

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-105) This invention relates to toothbrushes suitable for employment in the cleansing of the teeth of individuals.

The invention includes among its objects the provision of a new and improved toothbrush including a bristle head that is moveable during its operative motions in a substantially vertical direction across the teeth, to cleanse the teeth of the user and in doing so cause musical sounds to interest and entertain the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved toothbrush having a structure provided with a bristle head that can be propelled in specified directions and in doing so operate an included mechanism for causing audible sounds of an attractive nature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated toothbrush having a bristle head mounted on one end portion of an elongated handle and its other end portion surmounted by a musical box including mechanism actuated by varying the position of the axis of the toothbrush.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved toothbrush having a bristle head mounted thereon for cleansing the teeth of the user, longitudinally and transversely, and also including a sound mechanism attached at a distance from the bristle head, but connected thereto, and so arranged that the mechanism will be actuated by the manipulation of the bristle head in a predetermined manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as its details are outlined and explained.

For a better comprehension of the invention, and its construction together with the principles that control its operation, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and following specification, which serve as illustrations of What is included in its structural make-up. Also it may be added that this invention is an improvement on the embodiment of the invention described and illustrated in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,877,477, issued March 17, 1959, to Jack I. Levin for Audible Tooth Brush.

Referring to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a musical tooth brush embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken. on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the musical box used in this embodiment looking in the direction of 3-3 of Figure 2, and with the end flange covering removed;

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation looking in the direction of line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2 indicating the ratchet mechanism used in the musical box in this embodiment; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified design of the housing of the tooth brush.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts in the various figures.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, a tooth-brush assembly consists of a tooth brush head 10 with its bristles 11 attached to a suitable frame mounted on a cylinder 12. The cylinder on a shaft 13 is oscillated through an are limited by the position and length of the sides 14 of a casing 15. The interior of the casing 15 contains the cylinder 12, and its walls 14 support its shaft '13. The shaft 13 extends to a musical box 16 positioned at a suitable distance from the tooth-brush assembly. The box 16 preferably has one of its walls louvered or windowed to form an open register 17 for the tones to escape from the musical mechanism therein. The shaft 13, as it extends from the casing 15 to the musical box, is encased in a hollow tube 18 that is rigidly connected with them. The tube forms a handle for the user to grasp and operate the toothbrush. The musical mechanism consists of a drum 19 loosely mounted on the shaft 13 and is rotated by a hub 20 on which a pawl 21 is loosely hinged. The hub 20 is keyed to the shaft 13. The pawl is normally positioned in a plane and tensioned by a spring (not shown) that induces it to ratchetly connect with the internal teeth 22 arranged annularly in the drum 19 and move the drum. When the bristles 11 are drawn over the teeth of the user, in a vertical plane, they are given an oscillating movement through a predetermined are by the resistance of the teeth. The purpose of this movement is to clean particles in between the vertical spaces of the teeth. The tooth brush assembly through the shaft 13 makes the pawl 21 reciprocate through an arc and rotate the drum 19 in one direction, and in doing so brings its prongs 24 arranged radially thereon, into individual contact with the musical reeds 25. The reeds spring away and each give out a musical note as they do so. This music is heard through the register 17 and particularly by the user of the brush. The connecting enclosing parts of the assembly, namely the musical box 16, brush casing 15 and the tubing 18 are termed the housing of the tooth brush.

, The structure is preferably as indicated in Figure l, and has arrangements for facilitating access to the interiors of the box 16 and the casing 15. The arrangements consist of a flange cover 26 with insert-able telescopic rims 27 for the box walls. A similar flange cover 29, shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the flange cover 26, can be used in the wall of the casing 15, but is not essential. The use of rectangular contours in Figures 1 and 2, of these parts is intended to designate a preferred form, but not one of limitation. In Figure 6, the same general structure is utilized, but the outer contours are rounded to suit any requirements that make such modified form desirable. The elements indicated by reference numerals 10', 11', 15', 16', 17, 18, and 26' of Fig. 6, correspond to the elements indicated by reference numerals 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 26, in Figs. 1 and 2. The operating mechanisms used in this form are of the same design, used in the embodiment previously described.

The purpose of the musical creation is one intended to interest the user of the tooth brush and to audibly tell him when he is properly brushing and cleaning his teeth. For younger folk, it attracts their attention and offers inducements to use the tooth brush. In doing so, the device makes necessary, the operation for its main function in a most effective manner, and agreeably forces its use along lines of use that are predetermined by the designer and constructors of the tooth brush. It brings to the human being an inducement to perform a function that has a desirable consequence.

The construction of the tooth brush assembly can be varied in design to make it more aesthetic or meet specific desires, without departing from the principles involved, and coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Patented Aug. 2, 1960 Havingfthus described theinvention, what is claimed is:. t

1.' A toothbrush assembly, comprising, a housing having an opening on one side thereof and including an oscillatable brush head-mounted therein having; bristles ex;

tending, therefrom through I said opening and limited to; a predetermined arcuate, movement with respect to-said housing, said' housing including a musical box spaced;

from said brush head and enclosing among; and

mechanism for creating predeterminedmusical. tones, a; shaftconnecting said prong and'reed mechanism to said oscillatable brush'head, said shaft beingactuated when said brushhead-is rubbed against the tooth'of a -userin a. vertical direction for operating said prong and reed mechanism to create musicahtones;

2., A toothbrush assembly, comprising-,2. housing-hay ing an opening" on one side thereof and includinggan o's cilla'table brush head mounted-therein havingbri'stles-emtending therefrom through said opening and limited toa predetermined arcuate movement with respect to said housing, said housing. including a" musical; boXspaced from said brush head and enclosing aprong-andereed mechanism including a drumtfor creatingpredetermined:

musical tones, the reed part of said mechanism being "positioned on the interiorwall of said rmisic'boxand the prong part to the drum; a shaft connecting said drum to said oscillatable head, said shaft being operated when said brush head is rubbed against the teeth of a user in a vertical direction for operating said prong and reed mechanism to create musical tones, said drum being actuated by said shaft through a pawl and sprocket in a ratchet-1ike action, to rotate it; in a. predetermined direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDJSTATES}PATENTS" Germany Apr. 22, 1954

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