Toothbrush Apparatus With An Arcuate Toothbrush Head And Bristle Configuration

• US 20140101881A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hankookin Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hankookin Inc.
• Inventors: Chun, James Jiwen, Chun, Andrew Youngho, Chun, Angela Soyoung, Chun, Jennifer Miseong
• Granted Patent: US 9,723,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• 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 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0238 Bristles with non-round cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0276 Bristles having pointed ends
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/0284 Bristles having rounded ends

Abstract

A toothbrush apparatus includes a handle with a longitudinal axis and a toothbrush head constructed and arranged to hold multiple bristles. The bristles are formed in a non-circular configuration. The non-circular configuration is on a distal end, or a portion including the distal end, or the entire bristle. A wall defining an elongated bristle body of each bristle tapers from a base end towards a chisel end of the elongated bristle body. The toothbrush head is of an arcuate shape that conforms to a dental arch. The toothbrush apparatus includes one or more bristle carriers for detachably attaching multiple bristles to the toothbrush head. The second end of each of the bristles of predetermined heights defines a first curved trim profile and a perpendicular second curved trim profile. The bristles in the first curved trim profile at a terminal end of the toothbrush head are extended to reach rear teeth.

Claims

1. A toothbrush apparatus comprising:

a toothbrush head comprising at least one non-circular socket; and

a plurality of bristles, each of said bristles having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said each of said bristles is attached to said toothbrush head, wherein at least one of said bristles has an elliptical cross section as viewed from said first end and said second end, and wherein at least one of said bristles is adapted to be accommodated in said at least one non-circular socket of said toothbrush head.

2. The toothbrush apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elliptical cross section is defined by a geometric eccentricity greater than 0.

3. The toothbrush apparatus of claim 1, wherein said toothbrush head further comprises a plurality of circular sockets adapted to accommodate said bristles.

4. A bristle comprising:

an elongated bristle body having a first end and a second end, said second end of said elongated bristle body opposing said first end; and

a wall defining said elongated bristle body, said wall continuously tapering from said first end towards said second end.

5. The bristle of claim 4, wherein a cross section of said elongated bristle body at said first end is greater than a cross section of said elongated bristle body at said second end.

6. The bristle of claim 4, wherein said second end of said elongated bristle body defines a plane surface, wherein said plane surface is perpendicular to a line extending along a length of said elongated bristle body.

7. The bristle of claim 4, wherein said second end of said elongated bristle body defines a plane surface, wherein said plane surface is inclined with respect to a line extending along a length of said elongated bristle body.

8. The bristle of claim 4, wherein said first end of said elongated bristle body is adapted to be attached to a toothbrush head.

9. A toothbrush apparatus comprising:

a generally arcuate toothbrush head, said generally arcuate toothbrush head configured to conform to a dental arch, said generally arcuate toothbrush head comprising one or more base sections on an upper surface of said generally arcuate toothbrush head;

one or more bristle carriers detachably attached to said one or more base sections on said upper surface of said generally arcuate toothbrush head; and

a plurality of bristles of predetermined heights attached to each of said one or more bristle carriers, each of said bristles having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein said first end of said each of said bristles is attached to said one or more bristle carriers, wherein said second end of said each of said bristles of said predetermined heights is configured to define a first curved trim profile along a longitudinal axis of said toothbrush apparatus, and a second curved trim profile substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said toothbrush apparatus, wherein said bristles in said first curved trim profile positioned proximal to a terminal end of said generally arcuate toothbrush head are configured to extend to reach a rear section of rear teeth along said dental arch.

10. The toothbrush apparatus of claim 9, wherein said bristles in said first curved trim profile positioned proximal to an opposing end of said terminal end of said generally arcuate toothbrush head are of heights lower than heights of said bristles positioned proximal to said terminal end of said generally arcuate toothbrush head to reach a frontal section of said rear teeth.

11. The toothbrush apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second curved trim profile substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said toothbrush apparatus is configured to conform to a surface curvature of teeth.

12. The toothbrush apparatus of claim 9, wherein said generally arcuate toothbrush head is of a curvedly tapering thickness towards said terminal end of said generally arcuate toothbrush head along said longitudinal axis of said toothbrush apparatus.