Anatomical toothbrush

• US 5,678,274 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken T.U. Liu
• Original Assignee: Ken T.U. Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Ken Tu
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US08/597,850
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 15/207.2, 15/167.1, 15/DIG. 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 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes

Abstract

An anatomical toothbrush having a configuration for maximizing the brushing effectiveness of the molar and premolar teeth is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a toothbrush with a bristle face forming a plurality of arcuate curves of various lengths along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head in order to conform to the premolar and molar tooth configuration, thus maximizing the brushing of the interproximal tooth surfaces.

Claims

1. An anatomical toothbrush comprising a handle and a toothbrush head having a longitudinal axis, said toothbrush head substantially conforming to the lingual surfaces of the molar and second premolar teeth, said toothbrush head comprising:

a. a plurality of bristles, each of said bristles having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed ends being connected to said toothbrush head, and said free ends of said bristles disposed so as to form a bristle face;

b. a plurality of substantially arcuate curves defined in said bristle face along the longitudinal axis of said toothbrush head, said curves including a first curve furthest from the handle, a second curve between said first curve and said handle, and a third curve between said second curve and said handle, said first curve substantially conforming to the lingual or buccal surface of a second molar tooth and extending approximately 11 millimeters along the length of said toothbrush head, said second curve substantially conforms to the lingual or buccal surface of a first molar tooth and extending approximately 11.9 millimeters along the length of said toothbrush head, and said third curve conforming substantially to the lingual or buccal surface of a second premolar tooth, and extending approximately 8 millimeters along the length of said toothbrush head.