Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-05-15
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230356
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toothbrush and more particularly to a toothbrush which is designed to have a plurality of brush segments. The brush segments are formed conceptualistically by slicing a conventional brush across its length into pieces. Applicant's brush segments are gathered together straight into a brush assembly during brushing and are formed into a curved shape to be spaced from each other while they are not in use, thereby facilitating drying and cleaning bristles of the brush resulting in a sanitary toothbrush.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A toothbrush generally is made from lengths of stiff bristles densely fixed to a brush part formed at a distal end of a handle so that the wet brush part can hardly dry perfectly by shaking it forcefully with a hand after brushing. In addition, the toothbrush can retain water in the brush part due to frequent use and poor ventilation because it usually is kept in a damp bathroom. An experiment reveals that the toothbrush can easily be an unsanitary place welcoming propagation of bacteria.
The densely arranged brush bristles are not easy to free of food particles and the bristles provide the welcome environment for propagation of bacteria. Related prior art brushes are also disadvantageous in that the brush bristles become broken or bent during removal of food particles thereby shortening useful lives of the toothbrushes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object the present invention to provide a toothbrush comprising a plurality of brush pieces formed as small segments, wherein the brush segments are mountable on an extension which is normally arcuate and elastic. The brush segments are gathered together during brushing and straightened. When not in use they are preferably spaced from each other thereby facilitating drying and cleaning the brush bristles and hence resulting in a sanitary toothbrush.
To achieve the first object of the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush made from lengths of bristles embedded in brush segments and positioned at a distal end of a handle. The toothbrush includes the plurality of brush segments (visualized by dividing the brush part into small segments), an elastic normally arcuate extension plate is provided to spread out radially the brush segments for drying, and a slide member is provided for straightening the arcuate extension plate to gather the brush pieces together for brushing action.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1894509 (1933-01-01), Booth
patent: 2003243 (1935-05-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 2254365 (1941-09-01), Griffith et al.
patent: 2418344 (1947-04-01), Goldberg
patent: 2668973 (1954-02-01), Glaza et al.
patent: 4712267 (1987-12-01), Cheng
patent: 5350248 (1994-09-01), Chen
patent: WO 93/14671 (1993-08-01), None
Baxley Charles E.
Till Terrence R.
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