ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE

• US 3,608,548 A
• Filed: 03/24/1969
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terreil D. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Terreil D. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Terreil D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, L. W.
• Application Number:
  US04/809,862
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 128/62,66,67,65 401/196,207
• US Class Current: 601/162
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/063 by means of a supply pipe

Abstract

An oral hygiene device comprising a brush having a tubular handle with rows of bristles extending laterally from one end and a discharge nozzle positioned between the outside rows of bristles substantially contacting the adjacent bristle tufts to brace such tufts and provide a clear discharge space for liquid issuing from the nozzle so the liquid will directly contact the teeth and gums and means are provided to produce a pulsating action on the liquid to increase the stimulation of circulation and to flush the loosened particles and also dilute the mouth acids. The handle is made in two parts with the bristle-carrying portion removable for replacement.

Claims

1. An oral hygiene device comprising a handle having a passage for liquid therethrough, a brush at one end of the handle having a base, rows of tufts of bristles extending outwardly from the base, a single outwardly projecting nozzle having an outer discharge orifice within said rows of bristle tufts and extending a substantial distance outwardly in a direction normal to the base for directing fluid substantially parallel to the bristle tufts intermediate the outer rows of bristle tufts thereby providing a clear discharge space between the adjacent tufts so the emerging liquid can directly contact the area to be cleaned, massaged and stimulated, said discharge orifice communicating with the passage in said handle whereby pulsating liquid under pressure can be forced through the passage in the handle and discharged from said orifice adjacent the teeth to provide an effective flushing action while the teeth are being brushed, wherein the brush includes two outer rows of bristles and an intermediate row of bristles, and the discharge orifice is located at approximately the center of the intermediate row of bristles and the nozzle extends outwardly in the direction of the bristles at least approximately one-third of their length and is of sufficient diameter so that the nozzle prevents the adjacent bristles from interfering with the liquid impinging on the areas to be cleaned.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which a supply of pulsating water is connected to the handle and communicates with the passage therethrough.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which the handle includes a handgrip which is removable from the bristle section of the device to provide for replacement of the bristle section so the handgrip portion may be used by others without danger of contamination.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which a threaded nipple is provided on one section and a threaded socket on the other section with an O-ring to seal the connection.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which the handle is connected to a source of pulsating liquid under a pressure of from approximately 15 to in the order of 100 p.s.i.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which the passage in the handle extends substantially the length thereof and the hand-engaging section of the handle is removably connected to the bristle-carrying section by an axial threaded connection and the outer end of the handle is connected to a source of pulsating-water jet supply of at least 15 p.s.i. pressure.

7. The invention according to claim 1 in which the passage in the handle is connected to a source of pulsating liquid under a pressure of from approximately 15 to in the order of 100 p.s.i.