Toothbrush

• US 5,398,368 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sherri A. Elder
• Original Assignee: Sherri A. Elder
• Inventors: Elder, Sherri A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US08/216,292
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 15/110, 15/159.1, 15/160, 15/167.1, 15/207.2, 15/DIG. 5, D 4/104-112, D 4/134
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• 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: Y10S 15/05 Varied length bristle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush utilized for properly cleaning all teeth, including hard to reach back teeth. It includes a tapering head having bristles extending outward from its end. This toothbrush improves the quality of brushing by being configured to be readily maneuverable within confined portions of a user'"'"'s mouth. The brushing surface formed by the bristles is substantially planar with the distance between adjacent bristles being substantially consistent throughout the head. This assures an even cleaning of the teeth, and also provides for even wear of the bristles.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a handle, a head, connected to said handle being said head, said head further comprising;

a top face;

a first end surface distal to said handle and being substantially perpendicular to said top face; and

a first plurality of bristles extending from said top face and a second plurality of bristles attached to and extending from said first end surface, there being a portion of each of said first and second pluralities of bristles extending beyond said first end surface in a direction away from said handle, said first and second pluralities of bristles defining a single planar brushing surface parallel to said top face.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said first end surface is rounded.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said first end surface has a first width, and said head tapers from a region proximate to said handle to said first end surface, said region proximate to said handle having a width larger than said first width, and wherein said first width is less than a width of said handle.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein each of said first plurality of bristles and said second plurality of bristles define an angle of greater than 45 degrees relative to said top face.