Bristle orientation assembly for a toothbrush

• US 7,213,293 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Original Assignee: Steven Schraga
• Inventors: Schraga, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/337,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 151/671, 151/69, 151/84, 152/03, 151/72, 152/01, 151/86, 15/221, 132/119
• 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 9/10 Adjustable supports

Abstract

An assembly structured to be used primarily, but not exclusively, with a toothbrush and cooperatively structured therewith to selectively orient the bristles of bristle tufts of the brush between a neutral position, an angularly oriented forward position and/or a angularly oriented rearward direction. A position assembly is connected to the body of the toothbrush and reciprocally moveable along the length thereof in a manner which substantially maintains the longitudinal axises of both the body of the toothbrush and the positioning assembly in parallel relation to one another. The position assembly including a bristle engaging portion with may be mounted either exteriorly or interiorly of the head portion of the toothbrush body and cooperatively structured therewith to selectively orient the plurality of bristles in any of the above noted positions.

Claims

1. An assembly structured to adjustably orient bristles of a toothbrush, said assembly comprising:

a) a toothbrush body including a head portion and a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from said head portion,

b) a positioning assembly moveably connected to said toothbrush body and reciprocally movable along a longitudinal axis thereof,

c) said positioning assembly comprising a bristle engaging portion cooperatively disposed and structured with said head portion to selectively position said plurality of bristles in either of at least a forward or a rearward angular orientation, and

d) said plurality of bristles fixedly mounted on said head portion and disposed in movable engagement with said bristle engaging portion.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning assembly is disposed on an exterior of said toothbrush body, said bristle engaging portion disposed in at least partially overlying relation to said head portion.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said bristle engaging portion is longitudinally moveable relative to said head portion in moveable engagement with said plurality of bristles.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said bristle engaging portion comprises an apertured construction disposed and configured to have said plurality of bristles extending through said bristle engaging portion.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said apertured construction comprises a plurality of openings extending through said bristle engaging portion.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings are dimensioned and configured to receive a single bristle tuft there through.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings are dimensioned to receive a plurality of bristle tufts there through.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings comprise an elongated configuration disposed in a receiving relation with corresponding aligned ones of said plurality of bristle tufts.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning assembly comprises an elongated configuration of sufficient length to extend along said toothbrush body substantially beyond said head portion.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said positioning assembly further comprises a base secured to said bristle engaging portion and extending along at least a majority of a length of said body outwardly from said head portion.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said base is fixedly connected to said bristle engaging portion and moveable therewith relative to said toothbrush body, said positioning assembly and said toothbrush body having an at least partially corresponding configurations and dimensions.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an adjustment assembly mounted on said positioning assembly and moveable therewith relative to said toothbrush body into any one of a plurality of operative positions.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein each of said operative positions comprises a different orientation of said plurality of bristles relative to said head portion.

14. An assembly structured to adjustably orient bristles of a toothbrush, said assembly comprising:

a) a toothbrush body including a head portion having the plurality of bristles mounted thereon and an elongated handle secured to said head portion,

b) a positioning assembly including a bristle engaging portion connected exteriorly of said head portion and reciprocally moveable substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said head portion, and

c) said head portion and said bristle engaging portion cooperatively disposed relative to said plurality of bristles to selectively position said plurality of bristle at least between forward and rearward angular orientations relative to said toothbrush body.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said bristle engaging portion comprises an apertured construction including a plurality of openings extending through said bristle engaging portion.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings are dimensioned and configured to receive a single bristle tuft there through.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings are dimensioned to receive a plurality of bristle tufts there through.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein at least some of said plurality of openings comprise an elongated configuration disposed in receiving relation with consecutively aligned ones of said plurality of bristle tufts.

19. An assembly as recited in claim 14 further comprising an adjustment assembly mounted on said positioning assembly and moveable therewith relative to said toothbrush housing into any one of a plurality of operative positions.

20. An assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein each of said operative positions comprises a different orientation of said plurality of bristles relative to said head portion.