Orthodontic toothbrush

• US 4,706,322 A
• Filed: 09/23/1986
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yvon M. Nicolas
• Original Assignee: Yvon M. Nicolas
• Inventors: Nicolas, Yvon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US06/911,049
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167 R, 15/167 A, 15/106, 15/110, 128/62 A, 132/89-93
• US Class Current: 15/106
• 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 15/0069 Brushes fitted with a interdental devices, e.g. toothpick A46B2200/108 takes precedence
• 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 2200/1073 Denture toothbrush, i.e. used for dentures specifically
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes

Abstract

The present invention relates to an orthodontic toothbrush, particularly for children wearing regulating pins, characterized by a brushing head (30) comprising on the one hand two lateral and longitudinal groups of tufts of bristles (31,35), each group possessing tufts (32,36) inclined towards the outside of the brushing head and diverging relative to a median longitudinal plane of the head, and tufts (33,37) converging towards this median longitudinal plane, and secondly at least one central longitudinal row of shorter tufts (40) parallel to the median longitudinal plane.

Claims

1. Orthodontic toothbrush, particularly for children wearing regulating pins, characterized by a brushing head (30) comprising on the one hand two lateral and longitudinal groups of tufts of bristles (31,35), each group possessing tufts (32,36) inclined towards the outside of the brushing head and diverging relative to a median longitudinal plane (P) of the head, and tufts (33,37) converging towards this median longitudinal plane (P), and secondly at least one central longitudinal row of shorter tufts (40) parallel to the median longitudinal plane (P).

2. Toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that the difference in length between the bristles of the lateral groups (31,35) and the bristles of the central row (40) is substantially equal to the thickness of the regulating pins (V).

3. Toothbrush according to claim 1 characterized in that the difference in length between the bristles of the lateral groups (31,35) and the bristles of the central row (40) is of the order of 2 mm.

4. Toothbrush according to claim 1 characterized in that the axes of all the tufts (32,36, 33,37,40) are contained within transverse planes perpendicular to the said median longitudinal plane (P) and to the mean plane of the surface (39) of the head bearing the tufts.

5. Toothbrush according to claim 1 characterized in that each lateral group of tufts (31, 35) comprises two longitudinal rows of tufts (32,36;

33, and

     37) which diverge and converge respectively relative to the median longitudinal plane (P) of the brushing head.

6. Toothbrush according to claim 1 characterized in that the inclination (x,y) of the tufts of the lateral groups (31,35) relative to the median longitudinal plane (P) is between 5°

and 30° and

preferably of the order of 10°

.

7. Toothbrush acccrding to claim 1 characterized in that the end (23) of the handle (20) opposite to the brushing head (30) is designed to carry, in a removable fashion, accessories (50,60) for dental hygiene.

8. Toothbrush according to claim 7, characterized in that the end (23) of the handle (20) opposite to the brushing head (30) is designed to carry, in a removable fashion, an interdental brush (60).

9. Toothbrush according to claim 7, characterized in that the end (23) of the handle (20) opposite to the brushing head (30) is designed to carry, in a removable fashion, a support for dental floss (70).

10. Orthodontic toothbrush, in particular for children wearing regulating pins, according to claim 1, characterized by a brushing head (30) possessing, first, two lateral and longitudinal groups of tufts of bristles (31,35), each group being formed of two longitudinal rows of tufts (32,36;

33,37) which diverge and converge respectively relative to the median longitudinal plane (P) of the brushing head, the tufts of these lateral rows being implanted in staggered lines to intersect, and secondly a central longitudinal row of tufts of shorter bristles (40) parallel to the median longitudinal plane (P).