Toothbrush and electric toothbrush

• US 20020152563A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Masanori Sato
• Original Assignee: Masanori Sato
• Inventors: Sato, Masanori
• Application Number:
  US10/022,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/045 specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

Various embodiments of novel toothbrush bodies are provided. In one embodiment, a first toothbrush body has a handle, while two other toothbrush bodies are attached are attached to the first toothbrush body by curved stainless steel arm pins disposed on opposite sides of the first toothbrush body. Removable nuts are provided to allow the other two toothbrush bodies to be replaced. In another embodiment, three toothbrush bodies have fitting grooves in their outer surfaces, and stainless steel joints having a channel shape are fitted in the grooves. In another embodiment, three toothbrush bodies are integrally joined to each other by a curved stainless steel enclosing plate that is fastened to the bodies by screws. A hard sponge cushion, rather than a bristle assembly, is attached to the lower surface of the toothbrush bodies.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a grip handle;

a crown cap mounted on a distal end of said grip handle and having a substantially L-shaped cross section and a predetermined length; and

bristle assemblies planted on inner surfaces of wings of said crown cap and having tip ends inclined at a predetermined angle toward a bent corner of said crown cap.

3. A toothbrush or an electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said crown cap has adjusting means for adjusting the projection of one of said bristle assemblies, and mounting means for mounting a distal end of said grip handle or said handle detachably on a longitudinal end of said crown cap.

2. An electric toothbrush comprising:

a grip base;

a handle mounted on said grip base for reciprocating angular movement at least about an axis thereof by electric actuator means housed in said grip base;

a crown cap mounted on a distal end of said handle and having a substantially L-shaped cross section and a predetermined length; and

bristle assemblies planted on inner surfaces of wings of said crown cap and having tip ends inclined at a predetermined angle toward a bent corner of said crown cap.

4. An electric toothbrush comprising a bristle assembly reciprocally angularly movable to swing upwardly along teeth sides while being held against the teeth sides or neighboring regions, reciprocally rocking means for angularly moving said bristle assembly, and an actuator coupled to said reciprocally rocking means.

5. An electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein said bristle assembly is mounted in one side of a casing having a substantially inverted L shape, and a temporary positioning member mounted on the other side of said casing for temporarily positioning said bristle assembly for engagement with a tooth side.

6. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said temporary positioning member comprises a resilient member.

7. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said temporary positioning member comprises bristles.

8. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said temporary positioning member is adjustable in height.

9. An electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles and a lower set of bristles, said lower set of bristles being longer than said upper set of bristles.

10. An electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles, a middle set of bristles, and a lower set of bristles, said bristles being of longer, shorter, and medium lengths successively from said lower set through said middle set to said upper set.

11. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles, a middle set of bristles, and a lower set of bristles, said bristles being of longer, shorter, and medium lengths successively from said lower set through said middle set to said upper set.

12. An electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein said temporary positioning member is adjustable in height.

13. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles and a lower set of bristles, said lower set of bristles being longer than said upper set of bristles.

14. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles, a middle set of bristles, and a lower set of bristles, said bristles being of longer, shorter, and medium lengths successively from said lower set through said middle set to said upper set.

15. An electric toothbrush according to claim 4 wherein said bristle assembly comprises an upper set of bristles, a middle set of bristles, and a lower set of bristles, said bristles being of longer, shorter, and medium lengths successively from said lower set through said middle set to said upper set.