Combined ultrasonic toothbrush module

• US 6,353,956 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jason Berge
• Original Assignee: Jason Berge
• Inventors: Berge, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/652,944
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 151/05, 151/672
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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 9/026 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: A46B 9/045 specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/228 Self-contained intraoral toothbrush, e.g. mouth-guard toothbrush without handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/32 reciprocating or oscillating

Abstract

A U-shaped, ultrasonic toothbrush module to be used with currently available ultrasonic toothbrush hand pieces made of soft thermoplastic, silicone, or latex material with upper and lower bridge receiving spaces formed on opposite sides. The receiving spaces are designed to receive a user'"'"'s upper and lower bridges when placed into the user'"'"'s mouth. Disposed on the three inside surfaces of each receiving space are a plurality of bristles which completely contact the exposed surfaces of every tooth when the device is used. The module includes a housing with a pivoting T-shaped member and magnets attached at one end that connects to a standard ultrasonic toothbrush hand piece. Motion generated by the hand piece is transmitted through the T-shaped member and to the U-shaped member. The movement of the U-shaped member generates ultrasonic waves that are transmitted to the surfaces of the teeth and move the brushes when teeth are placed into the upper and lower bridge receiving spaces.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic toothbrush module, for use with an ultrasonic toothbrush head, comprising:

a. a U-shaped member, including opposite upper and lower bridge receiving spaces formed therein;

b. a plurality of bristles attached inside each said bridge receiving space so that when said U-shaped member is placed in a user'"'"'s mouth and the user'"'"'s teeth are placed in said upper and lower bridge receiving spaces, said bristles surround all of the teeth on the upper and lower bridges; and

,

c. means for connecting said U-shaped member to an ultrasonic toothbrush head.

2. The toothbrush module as recited in claim 1, further including drain holes in said U-shaped member to allow fluid to flow through said upper and lower bridge receiving spaces.

3. The toothbrush module as recited in claim 1, wherein said U-shaped member includes an outer U-shaped element and a longitudinal aligned and registered inner U-shaped element.

4. The toothbrush module as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer U-shaped element and said inner U-shaped element are integrally formed together.

5. The toothbrush module, as recited in claim 3, wherein said outer U-shaped element and said inner U-shaped element are separate components connected together to make said U-shaped member.

6. The toothbrush module, as recited in claim 1, further including a rigid Y-shaped member disposed around said U-shaped member to improve the transmission of vibrating movement from the ultrasonic toothbrush head to the entire length of said U-shaped member.

7. The toothbrush module, as recited in claim 1, wherein said bristles are disposed inside said bridge spaces at a non-perpendicular angle to the front and rear surface of the user'"'"'s teeth when said U-shaped member is placed around the user'"'"'s teeth.

8. The toothbrush module, as recited in claim 1, further including a vibration producing means capable of being connected to a hand piece having means to activate said vibration producing means.