Gripping element toothbrush utensil and instructional kit

• US 6,461,164 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda O. Ramelli
• Original Assignee: Linda O. Ramelli
• Inventors: Ramelli, Linda O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hufnagel, George F
• Application Number:
  US09/993,879
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 434/127, 434/262, 434/263, 434/433, 401/118-120, 401/268, 206/362, 206/368, 206/361, 433/25-28
• US Class Current: 434/263
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0089 Brushes with figurines such as animals on the handle
• 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 5/00 Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0084 Dental hygiene

Abstract

A toothbrush kit and specially designed toothbrushes and dental utensils for use by children that teach children how to clean and care for their teeth. The toothbrushes and other dental utensils each include a gripping element formed near the middle of the handle of the toothbrush and dental utensils to provide for better gripping by a child'"'"'s hand. The gripping element is in the shape of a sporting implement that also serves to make the use of the toothbrush more attractive and fun for the child. In addition to including the toothbrush and other dental utensils, the toothbrush kit also includes an instructional book for teaching the child dental health practices, a toothbrush stand for holding the toothbrushes and finger puppets ached to the stand that are animal characters from the instructional book.

Claims

1. A dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children comprising:

a plurality of dental utensils having elongated handles, each handle having a first end forming the tip of the handle and a second end forming a dental hygiene implement;

an enlarged portion formed in the handle of a deformable material and located approximately equal distance from the first end and the second end, the enlarged portion defining the shape of a gripping element, the gripping element sized and contoured to fit the shape of the young children'"'"'s palm to enable young children to grip the dental utensil; and

a stand having a flat surface supported by a plurality of legs attached to the flat surface, the flat surface having a plurality of holes for inserting the first end of the handles of the dental utensils, the flat surface engaging the gripping element to hold the dental utensils in place such that the dental hygiene implements are held in a position above the flat surface.

2. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 1 wherein the gripping element is in the shape of a sporting implement.

3. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 1 further comprising:

a finger puppet depicting a fantasy animal character removably attached to each leg;

at least one dental hygiene aid removably attached to the finger puppet;

an instructional book to educate a young child user of the kit about dental health practices, the instructional book including illustrations of the fantasy animal character depicted by each finger puppet, the instructional book through rhyme and graphics educating the young child user of the proper use of the dental hygiene aids and utensils.

4. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a basketball.

5. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a football.

6. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a soccer ball.

7. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a tennis ball.

8. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a golf ball.

9. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a baseball.

10. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the dental utensil is a mirror.

11. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the dental utensil is a picker tool.

12. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the legs are each in the shape of a fruit.

13. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 2 wherein the legs are each in the shape of a vegetable.

14. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 3 wherein at least one fantasy animal character is an elephant.

15. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 3 wherein at least one fantasy animal character is a mouse.

16. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 3 wherein the dental hygiene aid is an hourglass timer.

17. The dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children of claim 3 wherein the dental hygiene aid is a package of disclosing tablets.

18. A toothbrush for use by young children comprising:

a handle having a first end forming the tip of the handle and a second end forming a brush;

an enlarged portion formed in the middle of the handle defining a gripping element, the gripping element in the shape of a sporting implement and of a size and contour to fit in the palm of young children.

19. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a basketball.

20. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a football.

21. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a soccer ball.

22. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a tennis ball.

23. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a golf ball.

24. The toothbrush of claim 18 wherein the sporting implement is in the shape of a baseball.

25. A dental utensil and instructional kit for use by young children comprising:

a plurality of dental utensils having elongated handles, each handle having a first end forming a tip of the handle and a second end forming a dental hygiene implement;

an enlarged portion formed in the handle of a deformable material and located approximately equal distance from the first end and the second end, the enlarged portion defining the shape of a sporting implement, the sporting implement sized and contoured to fit the shape of the young children'"'"'s palm to enable young children to grip the dental utensil;

a stand having a flat surface supported by a plurality of legs attached to the flat surface, the flat surface having a plurality of holes for inserting the first end of the handles of the dental utensils, the flat surface engaging the sporting implement to hold the dental utensils in place such that the dental hygiene implements are held in a position above the flat surface;

a finger puppet depicting a fantasy animal character removably attached to each leg;

at least one dental hygiene aid removably attached to the finger puppet; and

an instructional book to educate a young child user of the kit about dental health practices, the instructional book including illustrations of the fantasy animal character depicted by each finger puppet, the instructional book through rhyme and graphics educating the young child user of the proper use of the dental hygiene aids and utensils.

26. The dental utensil and instructional kit of claim 25 wherein the flat surface of the stand further has at least one hole for inserting a cup, the flat surface engaging the surface of the cup to hold the cup in place.