Toothbrush for babies

• US 6,223,376 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joong Woo Lee
• Original Assignee: Joong Woo Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Joong Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/592,329
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22.1, 606/234, 606/235, 606/236
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• 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 15/0081 Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper
• 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 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/228 Self-contained intraoral toothbrush, e.g. mouth-guard toothbrush without handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

Disclosed is a toothbrush. The toothbrush comprises a toothbrush body having a handle and a first vibration generating section and possessing a first groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour; an intermediate engaging member detachably engaged into the first groove of the toothbrush body, having substantially a U-shaped configuration, and possessing a second groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour; a bristle holder having anchored thereto a plurality of bristles, the bristle holder including a teeth cleaning section and a tongue cleaning section; the teeth cleaning section being detachably fitted into the second groove of the intermediate engaging member, having substantially a U-shaped configuration, and possessing a third groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour to receive therein upper or lower teeth of a person; and the tongue cleaning section integrally coupled to a curved portion of the teeth cleaning section for removing a coating existing on a surface of the tongue of the person.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a toothbrush body having a handle and a first vibration generating section and possessing a first groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour;

an intermediate engaging member detachably engaged into the first groove of the toothbrush body, having substantially a U-shaped configuration, and possessing a second groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour;

a bristle holder having anchored thereto a plurality of bristles, the bristle holder including a teeth cleaning section and a tongue cleaning section;

the teeth cleaning section being detachably fitted into the second groove of the intermediate engaging member, having substantially a U-shaped configuration, and possessing a third groove which has substantially a U-shaped contour to receive therein upper or lower teeth of a person; and

the tongue cleaning section integrally coupled to a curved portion of the teeth cleaning section for removing a coating existing on a surface of the tongue of the person.

2. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a remote controller including at least one switch for controlling an operation of the first vibration generating section, a speaker for outputting music, a light emitting section capable of flickering, and a second vibration generating section for exerting vibration to an operator'"'"'s hand, the remote controller being connected to the first vibration generating section of the toothbrush body through a wire.

3. The toothbrush as claimed on claim 2, wherein each of the first through third grooves of the toothbrush body, the intermediate engaging member and the teeth cleaning section of the bristle holder, respectively, has substantially the U-shaped contour in a manner such that it conforms to an outline of gums of the person.

4. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bristle holder and the plurality of bristles are made from silicon.

5. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bristles which are anchored at one end thereof to a surface of the teeth cleaning section of the bristle holder, define a variety of different profiles in a manner such that they can simultaneously clean buccal, lingual and occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and labial and lingual surfaces of anterior teeth of the person.