Toothbrush

• US 5,046,212 A
• Filed: 01/25/1990
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: O'Conke, James R.
• Original Assignee: O'Conke, James R.
• Inventors: O'Conke, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/470,084
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 15/105, 15/111, 15/167.1, 15/167.2, D 4/104, D 4/108, 132/328, 132/321, 132/329
• US Class Current: 15/105
• 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 5/00 Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware

Abstract

A toothbrush for improved dental hygiene providing a body formed with a curved bristle head joined to a substantially straight handle by an offset neck. The curved bristle head tangentially joins the neck and extends therefrom with a decreasing radius of curvature to the extremity thereof. A plurality of bristle bundles are mounted on the concave side of the bristle head and extend substantially perpendicular to a cord joining the ends of the bristle head to free ends located in a flat plane substantially parallel to such cord. A retractable toothpick is mounted in the end of the handle remote from the bristle head and is movable between a retracted position within the handle and an extended position in which it extends beyond the end of the handle.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising a substantially rigid elongated body providing a curved bristle head at one end having a concave side, said bristle head having a length and a width, said length being substantially greater than said width, the curve of the bristle head being substantially in a single imaginary plane that extends along the elongated body, said body having a back side on the side of said body opposite said concave side, said body providing a neck portion joined at one end to said bristle head and at the other end to a substantially straight elongated handle portion, said neck portion providing an offset section adjacent said handle extending toward said back side, a first plane connecting ends of said bristle head being angled with respect to the length of said handle portion at an angle of about 15 degrees, a plurality of bristle bundles mounted on said concave side of said bristle head extending substantially perpendicularly to said first plane to free ends in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, said bristle bundles comprising an array, said array of bristle bundles having a length and a width, sid length being substantially greater than said width, said second plane containing said free ends of said bristles being inclined and offset relative to the length of said handle to allow said bristles adjacent the extremity of said bristle head to reach and efficiently clean embrasures and posterior surfaces of teeth throughout the mouth, the lengths of the bristles in relation to the curve of the bristle head being such that the major portions of the lengths of the majority of the bristles lie outside of said first plane, said bristle head extending from said neck portion to its extremity with a decreasing radius of curvature, said neck portion providing a substantially straight section extending from said offset to said bristle head, said straight section of said neck portion tangentially joining said bristle head, the first plane being oriented such that it intersects the straight section of the neck portion at a point intermediate said offset and said bristle head.

2. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein a back side of the neck portion is angled inwardly to provide a thinning of the neck portion towards the bristle head.

3. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end of said handle remote from said neck portion provides a longitudinal passage, and a retractable substantially rigid toothpick is mounted in said passage for movement from a retracted position within said handle to an extended position extending from said end of said handle.

4. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 3, wherein said handle provides a longitudinal slot along one side open to said passage, and said toothpick provides a lateral projection extending through said slot for moving said toothpick between said extended position and said retracted position.

5. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end of said handle portion remote from said neck portion provides a longitudinal passage, and a retractable substantially rigid toothpick is mounted in said passage for movement from its retracted position within said handle to an extended position extending beyond the end of said handle.