Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-12-25
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S143100, C016S430000, C016S436000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332233
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to dental hygiene and more particularly to a toothbrush handle that contributes to improved dental hygiene and a toothbrush incorporating such handle.
This application is closely related to applicant's corresponding Canadian application Serial No. 2,261,355 filed Feb. 10, 1999.
The term “dental hygiene”, as contemplated herein, concerns healthy teeth and healthy peridontium the latter of which pertains to gums, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and cementum.
In order to maintain healthy teeth and peridontium one needs to be diligent with their home care and practice good dental brushing habits. Extending tooth life is necessary because of increased life expectancy.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
People, with their natural teeth, normally brush regularly to maintain healthy teeth and gums. There are two principle aspects to consider one being the pressure applied to the teeth and the other the motion imparted to the brush during brushing. Both of these aspects are influenced by the toothbrush handle design.
One problem, common to many, is that too much pressure is applied to the teeth and gums during brushing. Too much pressure can cause, or contribute to, all kinds of dental problems such as recession, abrasion, loss of periodontal ligaments and/or loss of cementum and bone. Once the roots are exposed the teeth can become sensitive and the exposed roots are vulnerable to root decay. Gum recession also occurs.
Tooth brushes presently on the market are available with soft or ultra soft bristles, but this does little to alleviate the foregoing problems because the handle designs are conducive to applying heavy pressure during brushing. Specifically, the handles are long and because of their length, they are gripped in such a manner that results in high leverage to apply force to the bristle, i.e. head end of the brush.
Commonly the long handles are grasped by wrapping all of the fingers, on one hand, around the handle, i.e. a strong grip. With this grip heavy pressure can be applied without it being realized by the user how much pressure is actually being applied.
A long handle also extends beyond the finger grasped portion in a direction toward the wrist region. The projecting end of the handle engages in proximity of the wrist region or near the rear extremity of the hand and this engagement serves as a fulcrum for applying heavy pressure to the bristle end of the brush. As mentioned before, this heavy brushing pressure can be detrimental causing irreversible damage to the gums and/or teeth.
Turning to the other aspect it is difficult with existing toothbrush handle designs to impart a proper brushing motion during use. The motion employed normally is one or more of gum to tooth, modified bass and Steilman.
One purpose of brushing is to remove particulate material from between the teeth. The existing up and down brush motion employed, particularly along with high pressure applied during brushing, can be very damaging. The up and down motion particularly can cause gum recession and/or unknown to the brush user, force particulate material under the gum. The up and down motion normally each go from gum to tooth and tooth to gum, the latter of which is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A principle object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush handle that normally will be gripped in such a manner as to reduce the pressure one otherwise would apply to their teeth during brushing.
A further principle object of the present invention is provide a toothbrush handle that can be readily and comfortably gripped between the thumb and finger tips.
A further principle object is to provide a thumb and finger tip grip toothbrush handle that is relatively short in length thereby preventing the handle free end from engaging the hand at a position spaced a substantial distance from the fingers. Preferably the handle length corresponds approximately to the transverse width of the users four fingers.
A further principle object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush handle with defined finger tip engagable areas on each of opposite top and bottom faces of the handle. These defined areas preferably comprise at least one defined area on each of such top and bottom faces of the handle and are positioned proximate the junction of the handle with the stem and wherein such defined area has thereon a resilient portion.
A further principle object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical toothbrush having a handle with a resilient finger engagable defined area, for at least the index finger, on each of the top and bottom faces of the handle.
In keeping with the foregoing, there is provided by the present invention a toothbrush handle having, on respective opposite top and bottom faces thereof, a designated area defining an index finger tip engaging area and wherein each such designated area includes a resilient portion that is finger pressure sensitive.
There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a toothbrush comprising a handle, a stem and a head with said head having bristles projecting therefrom and wherein said handle has finger pressure deformable defined areas on respective opposite top and bottom faces thereof defining finger tip engaging areas on each of said respective top and bottom faces.
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patent: 5052071 (1991-10-01), Halm
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patent: 5465449 (1995-11-01), Lewkowicz
patent: 4229152 (1994-03-01), None
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