Toothbrush

• US 6,851,153 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James P. Lehman
• Original Assignee: James P. Lehman
• Inventors: Lehman, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US10/157,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20030221272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 151/591, 151/671, 15D/IG.5
• 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 9/026 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: Y10S 15/05 Varied length bristle

Abstract

An improved toothbrush for superior cleaning in the embrazure(74) and occlusal groove(66) areas of the dentition. A handle (28), a neck(26), and a head portion(16) are connected in sequence. The head portion has a non planar shaped face(12). This shape can be mathematically represented by the combination of a sine wave(37) and a parabola(18). Inserted into non planar face(12) are bristles with varying inertia and orientation. Stiffer peak bristles(48) with higher inertia are positioned most adjacent to the dentition promoting better penetration and better strength yielding better cleansing ability in areas of the dention that most need it; interproximal tissue(74) which is most susceptible to gum disease and occusal groove(66) area which is most susceptible to decay. More supple outer row bristles(52) have lower inertia and are in a recessed position which promotes softer contact and protection of the most prominent and delicate areas of the dentition.

Claims

1. A toothbrush which comprises:

a rounded handle and a head on one end of said handle having

a) a longitudinally elongated face,

b) a back flat side of the head opposing the face, and

c) a plurality of bundles of bristles embedded in said head and projecting from said face and terminating with a free end cumulatively creating a bristle end contour arranged in five to eight longitudinal rows in transversely spaced relation and with the bundles in each row being longitudinally spaced, there being two outboard rows, one on each side of the longitudinal length of the head, and the remainder of longitudinal rows are classified as inboard rows, the bristle bundles in the outboard rows having uniform heights to lightly engage the gums of the teeth being scrubbed and the bristle bundles in the inboard rows having variable heights that simultaneously mate with and scrub a group of adjacent teeth, the longitudinally elongated face of the brush head being contoured to similarly match the bristle end contour of both outboard and inboard rows thereby presenting a mirror image of a group of adjacent teeth to be scrubbed, whereby humans can thoroughly brush their dentition more efficiently with greater bristle contact and force, at the same time yielding less harm to the teeth and gums.

2. Toothbrush of claim 1 wherein some of the bristle bundles in a central inboard row have the free ends which are oriented to project the furthest distance from the toothbrush head as measured from the back flat side of the head of the toothbrush creating a peak area of bristle bundles and the longitudinally elongated face is contoured to envelope said inboard row of bristles as much as any other bristle bundle leaving a free end length the same as every other bristle bundle in this toothbrush whereby these peak areas of bristle bundles would be more capable to access recessed areas of a dentition and to provide a more even pressure throughout the bristle end contour.

3. Toothbrush in claim 2 wherein some of the most central inboard row bristle bundles have a shorter bristle length measured from the back flat side of the head and a stiffer bristle quality whereby these shorter stiffer bristle bundles possess less mass, less bristle density and less bristle material stiffness than longer bristle bundles of equal stiffness which provides these bristle bundles with an unequaled opportunity to penetrate smaller, tighter areas with more vigor than any other bristle bundles could.

4. Toothbrush in claim 3 wherein the outboard row of bristle bundles are less enveloped by the toothbrush face material than are the peak bristle bundles whereby a softer more supple bristle bundle is produced in the outboard rows and with the same amount, length, and type of bristle bundle material used throughout the brush there is created the softer recessed outboard row of bristle bundles and the stiffer peak area of bristle bundles in the central inboard row.

5. Toothbrush in claim 4 wherein a mathematical formula defining the face of the toothbrush incorporates both the sine wave and parabolic functions on the x, y, z coordinate system according to the formula;

y=a+b cos kz-b cos kc+dx^2 where d=−

0.667/4−

cos2.5 z4 and the letters a, b, c, and k, are constants that modify the shape of the combination sine wave and parabola and the notation ^ denotes an exponential function.

6. A toothbrush which comprises:

an elongated handle and a head on one end of said handle having

a) a longitudinally elongated face,

b) a back flat side of the head opposing the face

c) a plurality of bundles of bristles embedded in said head and projecting from said face exposing a free end of said bristle bundle and cumulatively creating a bristle end contour and with said brush head having an undulating surface spaced inwardly from an outer shelf edge which completely borders the face thereof, wherein said undulating surface mirrors the shape of a group of adjacent teeth, the bristles are embedded to create a shape with the bristle bundle free ends that mates with and scrubs an adjacent group of teeth, the bristle bundles have a variability of exposed length depending on the position of the bristle bundles, there are two outboard rows, one on each side of the longitudinal length of the head, in the outer shelf area and the remainder of the longitudinal rows are classified as inboard rows, to yield a variable bristle stiffness whereby humans can brush their teeth more thoroughly without damaging their teeth and gums.

7. Toothbrush of claim 6 wherein some of the bristle bundles in the central part of the undulating surface of the elongated face are oriented with the free ends projecting the furthest distance from the toothbrush head as measured from the back flat side of the head creating a peak area of bristles and the longitudinally elongated face is contoured to envelope said inboard rows of bristles as much as any other bristle bundle leaving a free end length the same as every other bristle bundle in this toothbrush whereby these peak areas of bristle bundles would be more capable to access recessed area and to provide a more even pressure throughout the bristle end contour.

8. Toothbrush in claim 7 wherein some of the most central inboard row bristle bundles with a shorter bristle length as measured from the back flat side of the head to the end have a stiffer bristle quality whereby these shorter stiffer bristle bundles possess less mass, less bristle density, and less bristle material stiffness than longer bristle bundles of equal stiffness which provides these bristle bundles with an unequaled opportunity to penetrate smaller, tighter areas with more vigor than any other bristle bundle could.

9. Toothbrush in claim 8 wherein the outboard row of bristle bundles are less enveloped by the toothbrush face material than are the peak bristle bundles whereby a softer, more supple bristle bundle is produced in the outboard rows and with the same amount, length, and type of bristle bundle material used throughout the brush there is created the softer recessed outboard row of bristle bundles and the stiffer peak area of bristle bundles in the inboard row.