Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-26
2001-04-03
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S167100, C015S022100, C015S176100, C015S176600, C015S145000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209164
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toothbrush and an electric toothbrush for efficiently removing plaque, tartar, and calculus from teeth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Teeth are an important organ indispensable for the mastication of food and the utterance of speech sounds. In order for the teeth to perform their functions, it is necessary for them to be brushed after meals or before sleeping to prevent tartar and calculus from being deposited on dental necks for protection against periodontites.
For brushing teeth, it has heretofore been customary to use tooth brushes having bristle assemblies planted on an end of a handle. Electric toothbrushes that have been developed in recent years have also been widely used.
Toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes, which are respectively manually and automatically operable, are generally used by turning the bristle assemblies back and forth about the toothbrush axis.
However, the conventional toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes have suffered the following drawbacks:
When the handle of a toothbrush is rocked about its own axis in use, the bristle assemblies are angularly moved alternately upwardly and downwardly. More specifically, when the user of an electric toothbrush holds its grip cylinder and angularly moves the bristle assemblies about the axis while keeping the bristle assemblies against a tooth side or neck, a downward swinging movement of the bristle assemblies peels an end of the gum off the tooth neck, and pushes a deposit of plaque into a recess that is formed between the peeled gum and the tooth neck. Therefore, the brushing operation tends to produce a deposit of tartar and calculus, causing periodontites such as a dentoalveolitis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Means according to the present invention for solving the above problems are as follows:
According to a first invention, a toothbrush comprises:
a grip handle;
a crown cap mounted on a distal end of the grip handle and having a substantially L-shaped cross section and a predetermined length; and
bristle assemblies planted on inner surfaces of wings of the crown cap and having tip ends inclined at a predetermined angle toward a bent corner of the crown cap.
According to a second invention, an electric toothbrush comprises:
a grip base;
a handle mounted on the grip base for reciprocating angular movement at least about an axis thereof by electric actuator means housed in the grip base;
a crown cap mounted on a distal end of the handle and having a substantially L-shaped cross section and a predetermined length; and
bristle assemblies planted on inner surfaces of wings of the crown cap and having tip ends inclined at a predetermined angle toward a bent corner of the crown cap.
According to a third invention, in the toothbrush or the electric toothbrush according to the first or second invention, the crown cap has adjusting means for adjusting the projection of one of the bristle assemblies, and mounting means for mounting a distal end of the grip handle or the handle detachably on a longitudinal end of the crown cap.
The electric actuator means is not limited to any structure, but may comprise a known means such as a combination of a motor and a cam mechanism.
The mounting means for detachably mounting the grind handle or the handle on the crown cap is not limited any particular structure. The mounting means may be composed of known means, e.g., engaging holes defined in the opposite ends of the crown cap and an engaging body mounted on the distal end of the grip handle or the handle and engaging in one of the engaging holes, or alternatively, an engaging hole defined longitudinally through the crown cap and an engaging shaft mounted on the distal end of the grip handle or the handle and engaging in the engaging hole.
The bristle assemblies are inclined at an angle of 45°, for example, to the inner surfaces of the crown cap. However, the angle of inclination is not limited to 45°. The bristle assemblies are not limited to any particular length, but may have the same length or lengths that vary stepwise.
The adjusting means for adjusting the projection of one of the bristle assemblies is not limited to any particular structure, but may be known means, e.g., a screw for moving a base on which the bristle assembly is planted into and out of the crown cap.
According to a fourth invention, a toothbrush comprises:
a grip handle;
a crown cap mounted on a distal end of the grip handle and including a molar tooth fitting portion and a front tooth fitting portion which have respective inner walls corresponding to respective tooth surfaces; and
bristle assemblies planted on the inner walls of the molar tooth fitting portion and the front tooth fitting portion and inclined at an angle ranging from 30° to 60° toward tip ends of molar and front teeth that are fitted in the molar tooth fitting portion and the front tooth fitting portion, respectively.
According to a fifth invention, an electric toothbrush comprises:
a grip base;
a handle mounted on the grip base for reciprocating angular movement about an axis thereof or in the direction of a tooth axis, or in the direction normal to the direction of the tooth axis, by electric actuator means housed in the grip base;
a crown cap mounted on a distal end of the handle and including a molar tooth fitting portion and a front tooth fitting portion which have respective inner walls corresponding to respective tooth surfaces; and
bristle assemblies planted on the inner walls of the molar tooth fitting portion and the front tooth fitting portion and inclined at an angle ranging from 30° to 60° toward tip ends of molar and front teeth that are fitted in the molar tooth fitting portion and the front tooth fitting portion, respectively.
According to a sixth invention, in the toothbrush or the electric toothbrush according the fourth or fifth invention, the crown cap has only a molar tooth fitting portion and a bristle assembly corresponding thereto.
According to a seventh invention, in the toothbrush or the electric toothbrush according the fourth or fifth invention, the crown cap has only a front tooth fitting portion and a bristle assembly corresponding thereto.
The electric actuator means is not limited to any structure, but may comprise a known means such as a combination of a motor and a cam mechanism.
The bristle assemblies should preferably be inclined at an angle of 45° to the surfaces of a molar or front teeth that is fitted in the tooth fitting portion. However, the angle of inclination is not limited to 45°, but may be selected in a range from 30° to 60°. The bristle assemblies are not limited to any particular length, but may have the same length or lengths that vary stepwise.
According to an eighth invention, a toothbrush comprises:
a grip handle; and
a plurality of toothbrush bodies detachably mounted on a distal end of the grip handle;
the toothbrush bodies having bristle assemblies inclined at an angle ranging from 30° to 60° with respect to sides of teeth toward tip ends of the teeth in use.
According to a ninth invention, a toothbrush comprises:
a grip base;
a vibrator mounted on the grip base for vibration in predetermined directions by electric actuator means housed in the grip base; and
a plurality of toothbrush bodies detachably mounted on the vibrator;
the toothbrush bodies having bristle assemblies inclined at an angle ranging from 30° to 60° with respect to sides of teeth toward tip ends of the teeth in use.
The electric actuator means is not limited to any structure, but may comprise a known means such as a combination of a motor and a cam mechanism.
The toothbrush bodies should preferably be attached such that the bristle assemblies are inclined at an angle of 45° with respect to sides of teeth that are inserted. However, the angle of inclination is not limited to 45°, but may be selected in a range from 30° to 60°.
The number of toothbrush bodies may generally range from two to three though not limited to any particular value. If two toothbrush bodies are employed, then they are positioned respectiv
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Graham Gary K.
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