Hygienic dental appliance

• US 4,356,585 A
• Filed: 04/08/1981
• Issued: 11/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard L. Ward, Martin R. Protell
• Original Assignee: Howard L. Ward, Martin R. Protell
• Inventors: Ward, Howard L., Protell, Martin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US06/252,166
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167 R, 15/167 A, 15/111, 15/110, 15/DIG. 5, 128/304
• US Class Current: 15/111
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0081 Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper
• 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 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/244 for cleaning of the tongue

Abstract

An improved dental appliance having an elongated handle portion including a tongue grooming region formed therein, a head portion having a plurality of discrete spaced bristle tufts extending therefrom in spaced relationship to each other, and wherein the head portion lies entirely below the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle. There is provided an offset connecting portion rigidly joining the head to the handle which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and extends downwardly therefrom to a point below the level of the head and rigidly joins the handle with the head. The bristle tufts of the head are disposed in four longitudinal rows, and in a preferred embodiment the center two rows comprise stiffer bristles than those of the outer rows, are cut so as to form several wedge shaped crests when viewed from the side thereof, and extend above the level of the outer two rows. The tongue grooming region has formed therein a spoon-like shaped concave portion which is located within the ends of the handle and includes a rounded smooth curved lip which is adapted to be run along the upper surface of the tongue to remove any coating formed thereon.

Claims

1. A dental appliance comprising an elongated handle portion including a tongue grooming region formed therein, a head portion having a plurality of discrete bristle tufts extending from said head in spaced relationship to each other, said head portion being entirely disposed below the longitudinal axis of said handle, and an offset connecting portion rigidly joining said head to said handle such that such connecting portion extends downwardly from the longitudinal axis of said elongated handle to a point below the level of said head and extends upwardly to join with said head, said bristle tufts of said head being in four longitudinal rows, the free ends of said bristles of the two center rows forming a planar surface and extending above the uppermost point of the free ends of the two outer rows, the longitudinal plane of the head being not parallel to the longitudinal axis of said handle such that the end of said head furthest from the handle is lower than the end which is closer thereto, and the bristle tufts being of unequal length such that the bristles are progressively longer traveling away from said handle and the free ends thereof are substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said handle.

2. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein the bristles of the inner two rows are of a stiffer material than the bristles of the outer two rows.

3. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein the bristle tufts of the inner two rows are not in transverse alignment with the bristle tufts of the outer two rows.

4. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein the bristle tufts of the inner two rows are disposed in selective non-parallel relationship.

5. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein the inner two rows of bristle tufts are cut to form several discrete wedge shaped portions when viewed laterally.

6. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein said tongue grooming portion is a bulbous region located within the ends of the handle portion and has at least one elongated slot therein.

7. A dental appliance as in claim 1, wherein the edges of said tongue grooming portion comprise a raised lip of rounded smooth shape and define a smooth curved portion, and the lip faces in the direction of the bristles.