Toothbrush

• US 5,351,358 A
• Filed: 08/27/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Babatu Larrimore
• Original Assignee: Babatu Larrimore
• Inventors: Larrimore, BaBaTu
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/936,851
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167.2, 15/167.1, 15/144.1, 15/143.1, 15/201, 15/207.2
• US Class Current: 15/201
• 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 5/0012 Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle for simultaneous use, e.g. cooperating with each-other
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0025 Brushes with elastically deformable heads that change shape during use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/06 movably during use , i.e. the normal brushing action causing movement driven brush bodies A46B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/045 specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously

Abstract

A toothbrush for simultaneously brushing the top and side faces of the user'"'"'s teeth, comprising: first and second orthogonally disposed brush heads unitarily formed with an elongated body portion at one end thereof, the brush heads each comprising a plurality of flexibly adjoined segmented portions, each having a plurality of bristles rigidly attached thereto; and an elongated body having a unitarily formed grip handle at the opposite end thereof and integral provisions for allowing longitudinal twisting and flexing thereof to adjustably conform the toothbrush to the user'"'"'s bite, the handle having external dimensions and peripheral surface undulations to facilitate comfortable grasping by the user to permit a high degree of control and maneuverability during the tooth cleansing process.

Claims

1. A toothbrush for simultaneously brushing the top and side faces of the user'"'"'s teeth, comprising:

a first brush head having a plurality of flexibly adjoined segmented portions, each of said segmented portions having a plurality of bristles rigidly attached thereto and spaced to include a gap therebetween, and extending outward therefrom;

a second brush head having a plurality of flexibly adjoined segmented portions, each of said segmented portions having a plurality of bristles rigidly attached thereto, and extending outward therefrom, bristles of said second brush head positioned orthogonally and at a spaced relationship relative to said bristles of said first brush head;

an elongated body portion of narrow plan form width having first and second ends along a body axis, said first end being integral and axially aligned with said first brush head and further wherein said body portion includes at least three ridges extending in and transverse to the length of said elongated body portion for allowing said body portion to bend and twist longitudinally in relation to said first and second brush heads; and

a handle integral with said body portion at said second end thereof, whereby said first and second brush heads may be strategically positioned against said user'"'"'s teeth to simultaneously brush said top and side faces thereof, wherein said flexibly adjoined segmented portions may bend and twist relatively therebetween to conform to said user'"'"'s tooth profile and bite.

2. The toothbrush recited in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises an elongated member having a plan form of a greater transverse dimension than said body portion width, said handle elongated member further having a plurality of peripheral edge undulations to facilitate grasping by said user.

3. The toothbrush recited in claim 1, wherein a flat surface of the ends of said elongated body portion defines a first plane and a surface of said bristles on said first brush head define a second plane, whereby said first and said second planes are oriented along separate planes so as said first brush head bristles faces away from the surface of said elongated body portion.

4. A toothbrush for simultaneously brushing the top and side faces of the user'"'"'s teeth, comprising:

a first brush head having a plurality of flexibly adjoined segmented portions, each of said segmented portions having a plurality of bristles rigidly attached thereto and spaced to include a gap therebetween and extending outward therefrom;

a second brush head having a plurality of flexibly adjoined segmented portions, each of said segmented portions having a plurality of bristles rigidly attached thereto and spaced to include a gap therebetween and extending outward therefrom, said bristles of said second brush head positioned orthogonally and at a spaced relationship relative to said bristles of said first brush head;

an elongated body portion having first and second ends along a body axis and said body portion including at least three ridges extending in and transverse to the length of said elongated body portion for allowing said body portion to bend and twist longitudinally in relation to said first and second brush heads, said first end being axially aligned with said brush head and integral with said first and second brush heads; and

a handle integral with said body portion at said second end thereof, said handle comprising a elongated member having a plan form of a greater transverse dimension than said body portion width, said handle further having a plurality of peripheral edge finger sized undulations on one side thereof and a thumb undulation on the opposite side to facilitate grasping by said user, whereby said first and second brush heads may be strategically positioned against said user'"'"'s teeth to simultaneously brush said top and side faces thereof, wherein said flexibly adjoined segmented portions may bend and twist relatively therebetween to conform to said user'"'"'s tooth profile and bite.

5. The toothbrush recited in claim 4, wherein a flat surface of the ends of said elongated body portion defines a first plane and a surface of said bristles on said first brush head define a second plane, whereby said first and said second planes are oriented along separate planes so as said first brush head bristles faces away from the surface of said elongated body portion.