WO2001037699A1

WO2001037699A1 - Toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2001037699A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arvinder Kaur Nanra
Original assignee: Arvinder Kaur Nanra
Priority date: 1999-11-26
Filing date: 2000-11-21
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: AU1293401A

Abstract

A toothbrush (10) has a handle part (11), a head part (13) and a neck part (12) joining the handle part (11) to the head part (13), the head part (13) having bristles (14) projecting in one direction from one side (15) thereof. The neck part (12) has a curved end portion (16) adjacent the head part (13), the end portion (16) being curved concavely in a direction away from the projecting direction of the bristles (14). In use, the curved end portion (16) of the neck part (12) urges the gum lining and other tooth adjacent surfaces of the mouth away from the teeth being brushed.

Description

TITLE:

Toothbrush

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to toothbrushes.

BACKGROUND ART:

The present invention relates to toothbrushes and, in particular, to a toothbrush that may be used by young children, elderly and adults who are lacking in manual dexterity or grip strength as may be due to various physically debilitating conditions such as arthritis and cerebral palsy. Such a toothbrush is intended to be ergonomically efficient and to better utilize the little available grip strength of such individuals.

The inability of children and elderly based on their lack of manual dexterity and muscle strength, to adequately hold and control the use of conventional toothbrushes and the need to design a toothbrush that would compensate for their needs was recognised as early as 1979. The specific toothbrush needs of such children and elderly have largely been ignored by toothbrush manufacturers after this problem was recognised. Toothbrush manufacturers have continued to seek profit in designing adult toothbrushes with little thought being given to designing toothbrushes for children. In fact, most of the toothbrushes available on the market for children are merely a smaller version of adult toothbrushes. It has long been known that individually modified toothbrushes have a positive impact on the improvement of oral hygiene and gingival health in the physically handicapped and the elderly with impaired dexterity. In a study of the effects of individually modified toothbrushes on 28 cerebral palsy patients, it was noted that these patients required longer and wider handles for better grasp and more effective brushing. This also improved the brushing attempts of patients by virtue of easier access especially to the posterior areas of the mouth. The percentage of surfaces cleaned during the four visits using conventional toothbrush and modified toothbrush on alternate visits were assessed. The results indicated a 20% to 30% improvement in the surfaces cleansed using individually modified toothbrushes.

Another study has shown a relationship between the development of manual dexterity in children and their ability to perform adequate tooth brushing. The study identified that children between 0 and 1.5 years of age cannot brush at all; between 1.5 and 3.5 years of age can brush the lower occlusal surfaces and facial surfaces of the anterior teeth; between 3.5 an 4.5 years of age can brush occlusal surfaces, buccal surfaces and lingual surfaces of anterior teeth; between 4.5 and 5 years of age can brush as far back as the lingual surface of the lower molars an children 5 years of age and older can reach all regions of the mouth. The results of the study also indicated the need for parents/care givers to give the finishing touches to their children's tooth brushing efforts, at least up to the age of 5 years or until the children enter school. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is an object of the present invention to improve a child's ability to hold and control a toothbrush so that they may become more self reliant in performing adequate tooth brushing and so require less 5 parental or other assistance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush that is specially designed to be used by young children, elderly and adults lacking in manual dexterity and/or grip strength.

According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a 10 handle part, a head part, and a neck part joining the handle part and the head part, the head part having bristles projecting in one direction from one side thereof, wherein the neck part has a curved end portion adjacent to the head part, the said end portion being curved concavely in a direction away from the projecting direction of the bristles so that, 15 in use, the curved end portion of the neck part urges the muscles and other tooth adjacent surfaces of the mouth away from the teeth being brushed.

Preferably, the handle part is made of plastic and is of a sufficient length (say approximately 14 to 17 cm) and width (say approximately 20 15 to 24 mm diameter) to enable use of the toothbrush by children and adults who are lacking in manual dexterity or grip strength.

In a preferred form of the invention, the bristles are arranged so that the brushing profile offered by the bristles is concave shaped. The bristles may be made of soft Tynex and are preferably 0.8 to 1.1cm in length and 0.2mm in diameter.

It is also preferred that the handle part is hollow and includes thumb-rests approximately 66 to 86 mm in length.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the toothbrush includes releasable connection means whereby the head part and adjoining neck part may be readily detached from and connected to, as required, the handle part. Preferably, the releasable connection means comprises a manually operable latch arrangement that consists of a male part located on the neck part and a corresponding female engaging part that is located in the handle part.

Further to this the inventor discloses that the arrangement of bristle tufts in a 'figure 8' configuration ( two ove^f r •- eferred.

The head of the toothbrush may have its long axis at an angle to the long axis of the handle, preferably so as to angle the head in a direction away from the bristled side of the toothbrush head.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES:

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig 2 is a side view of the head part and neck part of the toothbrush of Fig 1 without the bristles, Fig 3 is a top view of the head part of the toothbrush of Fig 1 showing the shape and distribution of bristle tuft holes,

Fig 4 is an end view of the neck part nearest the handle part of the toothbrush of Fig 1, showing a male part of a latch arrangement, Fig 5 is an end view of the handle part nearest the neck part of the toothbrush of Fig 1, showing a female part of the latch arrangement, and Fig 6 is an enlarged view of the female part of the latch arrangement.

The toothbrush 10 shown in Fig 1 comprises a handle 11, neck 12 and a head 13 having an array of bristles 14 attached to a side 15 of the head 13. The neck 12 has a curved end portion 16 that is curved concavely in a direction away from the projecting direction of the bristles 14 so that, when in use, the curved end portion 16 will urge the muscles and other tooth adjacent surfaces of the mouth away from the teeth being brushed. Although the neck 12 is otherwise substantially linearly shaped as shown in Fig 1, it should be appreciated that the neck 12 may be any shape so long as the end portion 16 is curved concavely in a direction away from the projecting direction of the bristles 14.

The head 13 is generally of a small shape when compared with the handle 11. The head 13 has an enlarged rear portion 17 (also shown in Fig 2) that is curved outwardly and which assists in keeping the inner lining of the mouth, including the muscles, out of the path of movement of the toothbrush 10.

Both portions 16 and 17, by virtue of the curved shapes, facilitate the access of the toothbrush 10 to the posterior regions of the mouth, particularly the lingual / palatal tooth surfaces which need to be cleansed thoroughly.

The bristles 14 are cylindrical in cross-section and made of soft Tynex and are 0.7 to 1.1 cm long and 0.2 mm in diameter. The bristles 14 offer a brushing profile 19 that is concave shaped.

A preferred "figure 8" or overlapping ring type distribution of the bristles 14 on the head 13 is shown in Fig 1 to optimize brushing and cleansing efficiency. The bristles 14 are securely mounted in bristle tuft holes 25 formed within the head 13 as shown in Fig 3.

Fig 4 is an end view of the neck 12 nearest the handle 11 and shows a male part 20 of a latch arrangement for enabling the neck 12 to be releasably connected to the handle 11.

A female part 21 of the latch arrangement is shown in Fig 5 located within the end of the handle 11 adapted to be connected to the neck 12. The latch arrangement can be manually operated to cause the male part 20 to engage with the female part 21 by a push fit all twist mechanism, thereby connecting the neck 12 and adjoining head 13 to the handle 11. The latch arrangement may also be manually operated to detach the neck 12 and adjoining head 13 from the handle 11 for the purpose of cleaning, storage or adjustment of handle size to suit the user's needs. An enlarged view of the female part 21 of the latch arrangement is shown in Fig 6.

Thumb-rests and other gripping grooves 22 are formed on the handle 11 which, along with the larger than normal size of the handle 11, enable the user to obtain a better grip of the toothbrush 10. The handle 11 is made of soft plastic and is hollow to keep its weight to a minimum. The length of the handle 11 (see Fig 1) aids in achieving maximum amplitude of movement of the head 13 and bristles 14 when the toothbrush is in use.

A removable cap 29 is connected to the end of the handle 11 furthest from the neck 12 allowing access to the hollow interior of the light weight handle 11 for cleaning purposes. The cap 29 maybe press fitted to the engaging orifice of the handle 11.

It is a particular advantage of the aforementioned toothbrush that it may be easily and effectively used by young children, elderly and adults who are lacking in manual dexterity and/ or grip strength.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope or ambit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A toothbrush comprising a handle part, a head part, and a neck part joining the handle part and the head part, the head part having bristles projecting in one direction from one side thereof, wherein the neck part has a curved end portion adjacent the head part, the said end portion being curved concavely in a direction away from the projecting direction of the bristles so that, in use, the curved end portion of the neck part urges the muscles and other tooth adjacent surfaces of the mouth away from the teeth being brushed.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the handle part is a hollow cavity made of plastic and is sufficient length and width to enable use of the toothbrush by children, elderly and adults who are lacking in manual dexterity or grip strength.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bristles are arranged so that the brushing profile offered by the bristles is concave shaped.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the toothbrush includes releasable connection means whereby the head part and adjoining neck part may be readily detached from and connected to, as required, the handle part.

5. The toothbrush of claim 4 wherein the releasable connection means comprises a manually operable latch arrangement that consists of a male part located on the neck part and a corresponding female engaging part that is located in the handle part.

6. A toothbrush as in any one of the preceding claims 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the bristle tuft holes are arranged to be in a 'figure 8' configuration ( two overlapping circles ) so that the bristle tufts are thereby similarly disposed.

7. A toothbrush as in any one of the preceding claims 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the long axis of the head portion of the toothbrush is arranged to be at an angle to the long axis of the handle, preferably in a direction away from the bristled side of the toothbrush head.

8. A toothbrush characterised in that the toothbrush is constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the preceding claims and with reference also to the rest of this specification.