Toothbrush

• US 4,691,718 A
• Filed: 03/31/1986
• Issued: 09/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sangi
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sangi
• Inventors: Sakuma, Shuji, Fujinawa, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US06/846,069
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167, 15/159 A, 604/20, 604/21, 132/84 A, 128/393
• US Class Current: 433/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a bristle portion having implanted bristles and molded from an ion eluting-type ceramic, a conductor extending into the interior of the bristle portion, and a battery to which the conductor is connected. An electric current flows from the user'"'"'s hand toward the surface of the teeth through the user'"'"'s body as the teeth are brushed, thereby causing calcium of fluorine ion, which elutes from the ceramic constituting the bristle portion, to be deposited onto and to penetrate the teeth and dental pulpa while tartar is removed from the surface of the teeth by electronic decomposition.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising a bristle portion having bristles implanted therein, and a handle portion contiguous to said bristle portion, said bristle portion consisting of an ion eluting-type ceramic, said handle or bristle portion having a battery accommodated therein, a first conductor accommodated therein and connected to one pole of said battery, and a second conductor connected to the pole of said battery and fixedly secured to the surface of said handle, said iirst conductor extending into the interior of said bristle portion and exposing outward via at least one hole on said bristle portion.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said bristle portion comprises a molded body of an apatite ceramic.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein said apatite ceramic is hydroxy apatite [Ca₁₀ (PO₄)₆ (OH)₂ ].

4. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein said apatite ceramic is apatite fluoride [Ca₁₀ (PO₄)₆ F₂ ].

5. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein said first conductor is connected to a negative pole of said battery and said second conductor is connected to a positive pole of said battery.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said handle portion comprises a synthetic resin material and said first conductor is insertable into said bristle portion.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said handle portion comprises an ion eluting-type ceramic and is integrally molded with said bristle portion.