Interproximal toothbrush

• US 4,319,377 A
• Filed: 08/25/1980
• Issued: 03/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John O. Butler Company (Hosei Gijuku Luxembourg SA)
• Original Assignee: John O. Butler Company (Hosei Gijuku Luxembourg SA)
• Inventors: Tarrson, Emanuel B., Maric, Dane
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US06/180,812
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 15/105, 15/110, 15/111, 15/172, 15/176, 15/206, 15/167 R, 15/145, D24/11, 132/89
• US Class Current: 15/111
• 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 2200/108 Inter-dental toothbrush, i.e. for cleaning interdental spaces specifically
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks

Abstract

An interproximal toothbrush comprises an elongated metal handle terminating at one end in a threaded section. The stem of a twisted wire brush passes through a hole in said threaded section, humps up above the threads, and then passes down into a groove in the handle. A nut travels on the threads until it encounters and seizes upon the hump in the twisted wire. This way, the brush is securely locked into position, but the nut never touches the stem in the area of the brush. Thus, the brush is not damaged by the locking nut. A second hole in the handle receives a toothpick.

Claims

1. An interproximal brush handle comprising an elongated handle part having a bend near one end, said handle terminating in a threaded portion at the bent end, at least one hole lying in the plane of said bend and extending diametrically through said threaded portion of said handle, said hole having a diameter which receives a twisted wire brush stem, a groove having a lower surface beginning near the top of said hole at a point which is displaced downwardly into said handle by a distance which is less than the thickness of said twisted wire brush stem, said groove further extending downwardly along the length of said handle to a depth which is more than the thickness of said twisted wire, and a nut turned on said threaded portion, the lower surface of the groove near the top of the hole being high enough so that a twisted wire brush stem extending through said hole and pressed down into said groove forms a hump projecting above the threads far enough to terminate the forward motion of said nut as it travels toward the end of said handle.

2. The handle of claim 1 wherein said hole has a diameter which enables said twisted wire to pass easily, but snugly therethrough.

3. The handle of claim 1 or claim 2 and a second hole lying in the plane of said bend and extending diametrically through said threaded portion, said second hole having a diameter which receives a predetermined length of a wooden toothpick, when wedged therein.

4. The handle of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said groove is formed with a radius in the plane of said bend.

5. The handle of claim 3 wherein said second hole is positioned relative to the groove and to said first hole so that the second hole receives a tool for pushing the twisted stem out of the groove.

6. The handle of claim 3 wherein said hole terminates within said groove so that any splinters on said toothpick are within said groove.

7. An interproximal toothbrush comprising a metal handle and a twisted wire brush having a stem of a predetermined thickness formed by said twisted wire, said handle comprising an elongated metal bar terminated at one end in a threaded section, at least one hole piercing said threaded section, said hole having a diameter which easily but somewhat snugly enables said stem to pass therethrough, a stem receiving groove beginning a distance which is less than the predetermined thickness below the top of said hole and extending downwardly into said handle and longitudinally along the length of said handle in a direction which is away from the threaded end, said groove ending at a depth in said handle which is greater than said predetermined thickness, whereby said groove has dimensions such that said wire stem forms a hump which projects above said threads and then fits down into said groove, and a nut on said threads which passes over a stem in said groove to engage and secure the hump of said wire stem.