Dental hygiene cleaning tool

• US 5,700,146 A
• Filed: 12/07/1995
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smiljana Kucar
• Original Assignee: Smiljana Kucar
• Inventors: Kucar, Smiljana
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/568,535
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 601/162, 601/141, 132/321, 132/322, 433/80, 433/82, 433/87, 433/118, 401/163, 401/169, 15/24, 15/22.2
• US Class Current: 433/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/224 Electrical recharging arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

A dental hygiene cleaning tool (12) comprising an elongated generally cylindrical housing (14) to be grasped by a hand (16) of a person. A brush bit (18) is provided. A structure (20) is for coupling the brush bit (18) to a first end of the housing (14). A component (22) within the housing (14) is for rotating the brush bit (18). An element (24) within the housing (14) is for reciprocating the brush bit (18) back and forth, so as to clean plaque build up on teeth (26) and gums (28) of a person (30), to remove bacteria which causes periodontal disease to the gums (28).

Claims

1. A dental hygiene cleaning tool comprising:

a) an elongated generally cylindrical housing to be grasped by a hand of a person;

b) a brush bit having a shank and a brush head;

c) means for coupling said brush bit to a first end of said housing, said coupling means being a chuck spindle extending longitudinally from said first end of said enlongated housing which will engage with a shank of said brush bit;

d) means within said housing, for rotating said brush bit;

e) means within said housing, for reciprocating said brush bit back and forth, so as to clean plaque build up on teeth and gums of a person, to remove bacteria which causes periodontal disease to the gums; and

f) means within said housing for applying a liquid antiseptic through said brush bit, for distribution onto the teeth and gums to help destroy bacteria which causes periodontal disease, said applying means including;

i) a compressible cartridge filled with the liquid antiseptic;

ii) a side access opening in said housing, with a longitudinal chamber therein, to receive said compressible cartridge;

iii) a hollow passageway through said chuck spindle;

iv) a hollow conduit in said shank of said brush bit;

v) release holes in said brush head of said brush bit;

vi) a puncture membrane on a forward end of said compressible cartridge;

vii) a puncture pin on a rearward end of said chuck spindle to puncture said puncture membrane, so that the liquid antiseptic can be released from said compressible cartridge; and

viii) means in said housing for forcing the liquid antiseptic out of said compressible cartridge, through said hollow passageway in said chuck spindle and past said hollow conduit in said shank and out said release holes at said brush head of said brush bit.

2. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said brush bit includes:

a) a shank to engage with said coupling means; and

b) a brush head on a distal end of said shank to engage with the teeth and gums of the person.

3. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said shank of said brush bit can be fabricated straight and curved to help clean the teeth and gums.

4. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said brush head of said brush bit can be fabricated in various geometric shapes to help clean the teeth and gums.

5. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said coupling means is a chuck spindle extending longitudinally from the first end of said elongated housing which will engage with a shank of said brush bit.

6. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 5, wherein said rotating means is an electric motor connected centrally to said coupling means, so as to cause said coupling means to revolve about.

7. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 6, wherein said reciprocating means is a magnetic oscillator connected centrally to said coupling means, so as to cause said coupling means to move back and forth.

8. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 7, further including a power source within said housing to operate said rotating means and said reciprocating means.

9. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 8, wherein said power source is a battery.

10. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 9, further including a control switch on said housing electrically connecting said power source to said rotating means and said reciprocating means, so that when a person grasps said housing by the hand, said control switch can be depressed to operate said rotating means and when said control switch is moved forward towards said brush bit, it will operate said reciprocating means.

11. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 10, further including a removable base on a second end of said housing, so that said battery can be removed and replaced when needed.

12. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 11, further including means for recharging said battery within said housing through said base.

13. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 12, wherein said recharging means includes:

a) said base having a built-in socket electrically connected to said battery;

b) a recharger stand having a built-in plug which engages with said socket in said base;

c) an elongated electric cord connected at a first end to said recharger stand; and

d) a transformer with plug connected to a second end of said elongated electric cord to plug into a wall socket, so as to convert 110 VDC to 12 VDC to recharge said battery.

14. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 13, wherein said shank of said brush bit can be fabricated straight and curved to help clean the teeth and gums.

15. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 14, wherein said brush head of said brush bit can be fabricated in various geometric shapes to help clean the teeth and gums.

16. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 15, further including means within said housing, for applying a liquid antiseptic through said brush bit, for distribution onto the teeth and gums to help destroy the bacteria which causes periodontal disease to the gums.

17. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 16, wherein said forcing means includes:

a) a spring mounted longitudinally within said chamber opposite from said puncture pin;

b) a push plate on a free end of said spring, wherein said push plate will bear against said compressible cartridge; and

c) a compressor lever hinged to said housing opposite from said side access opening with a portion of said compressor lever extending into said chamber, so that the hand of the person can press said compressor lever to squeeze against said compressible cartridge and force the liquid antiseptic out.

18. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 17, further including:

a) a door hinged to said side access opening in said housing; and

b) a latch member for keeping said door closed over said side access opening in said housing.

19. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotating means is an electric motor connected centrally to said coupling means, so as to cause said coupling means to revolve about.

20. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating means is a magnetic oscillator connected centrally to said coupling means, so as to cause said coupling means to move back and forth.

21. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, further including a power source within said housing to operate said rotating means and said reciprocating means.

22. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 21, wherein said power source is a battery.

23. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 22, further including a removable base on a second end of said housing, so that said battery can be removed and replaced when needed.

24. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 23, further including means for recharging said battery within said housing through said base.

25. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 24, wherein said recharging means includes:

a) said base having a built-in socket electrically connected to said battery;

b) a recharger stand having a built-in plug which engages with said socket in said base;

c) an elongated electric cord connected at a first end to said recharger stand; and

d) a transformer with plug connected to a second end of said elongated electric cord to plug into a wall socket, so as to convert 110 VDC to 12 VDC to recharge said battery.

26. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 21, further including a control switch on on said housing electrically connecting said power source to said rotating means and said reciprocating means, so that when a person grasps said housing by the hand, said control switch can be depressed to operate said rotating means and when said control switch is moved forward towards said brush bit, it will operate said reciprocating means.

27. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said forcing means includes:

a) a spring mounted longitudinally within said chamber opposite from said puncture pin;

b) a push plate on a free end of said spring, wherein said push plate will bear against said compressible cartridge; and

c) a compressor lever hinged to said housing opposite from said side access opening with a portion of said compressor lever extending into said chamber, so that the hand of the person can press said compressor lever to squeeze against said compressible cartridge and force the liquid antiseptic out.

28. A dental hygiene cleaning tool as recited in claim 1, further including:

a) a door hinged to said side access opening in said housing; and

b) a latch member for keeping said door closed over said side access opening in said housing.