Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJ~8TaB~B C~RVAT~R~ TOOT~BR~a~
BA~R~Ro~ND OF ~ ~V~IO~
1. Field of the Inven~
This invention pertains to toothbrushe More
particularly, this invention pertains to adjustable
curvature toothbrushes which comprise a flexible brush
head which is ad~ustable to convex, concave, and straight
configurations in order to conform th~ toothbrush to the
curvature of human teeth.
2. D~scri~tion of the Prior Art
The configuration of human teeth requires that
tho ideal bristle contour for toothbru~he~ for brushing
the labial or outside surfaces o~ teeth be concav2 and
that the ideal bristl~ contour for brushing the lingual
or inside surfaces o~ teoth be convex. Conventional
toothbruchc~ ~re gen~rally of a fixed curvature or
con~igurati.on or ar~ ad~u~tablo into difforent
conSlgur~ti.ona. Flxod configuration toothbrushes have
limlt-d e~i'ectivenes~. and cannot properly clean toeth and
convertibl~l toothbrushe~ are generally dif~icult to
manipulatQ and are unreliable.
United States patent no. 4,712,267, i~sued to
Çh~ng, di3clos2s ~ convertible toothbrush comprising an
S-~haped elongated handlo o~ ~hape-r~taining material
having curved end regions of opposita curvature, a
flexible bru~h block containing bri~tles, and a mean~ for
~ounting th~ flexible brush block on th~ handle for
longitudinal movement along th~ length of the handle.
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The curved portions of the handle bend the flexible block
and bristles into a concave or convex configuration which
corresp~nds to the curved confiquration of the handle.
United States patent no. 4,694,844, issued to
Berl et al., di~closes a toothbrush comprising a handle
and a hollow head supporting a plurality of tufts. The
hollow head further compriseA an elastically de~ormable
element which urges the tufts toward a generally straight
position. When pressure i8 applied to a tuft during the
uss of the toothbrush, the pressure causes the tips of
the tufts to conform to the contours of a given group of
teeth because the tufts are pushed into the hollow head
to varying degrees against the restoring force of the
elastically de~ormable element.
United States patent no. 4,691,405, issued to
BÇ~, di~closes a toothbrush comprising a handle and a
base at the end of the handl~ consisting of two tabs
containing bristle The tabs pivot relative to the base
~o that th~ bristles mounted on the tabs deflect in order
to aon~orm to the varying tooth ~urface~.
United States patent no. 4,524,478, issued to
Ros~, disclo~es a toothbrush consisting of two brush
heads extending outwardly from a common elongated handle.
The bru~h h-ad~ are connected to the handle by m~an~ of
curved neck~ extending in parallel but opposlng
dir-ctiono ~nd at oppo~ite and equal angles of ~orty-~ive
degr-e~. ~ach brush head i5 de~igned to clean one-half
o~ the teeth.
Europsan Patent Application no. 86107868.1, to
~ , discloses a toothbrush with two brush heads, one
concave and one convex. The bru~h head~ arQ either
int0gral or slideable and are perpendicular at the
opposite ends o~ their common handle. The brush head
with a concave-shaped bris~le sur~ace is longer while the
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brush head with a convex-shaped bristle surface i5
shorter.
United Kingdom patent applicatlon no. 8609437,
to ~iag, discloses a toothbrush having a brushing sur~ace
which is set at an angle to th~ plane of the handle and
is inclined or curved in a convex shape, a~ viewed in
transverse cross-section. The angle of the brushing
surface conforms to the tooth-gum ~unction.
While the above toothbrushe~ provide brush
heads wlth some degree of curvature, none of the above
toothbrushes is entirely satisfactory. Fixed
configur~tion toothbrushe~ have limited effectiveness and
ad~ustable curvature toothbru~hea are generally dif~ic~lt
to manlpulate and are unreliable. Accordingly, it would
be advantageou~ to provide an ad~ustable curvature
toothbrush which can efficiently clean teeth and which is
not awkward to use. The present invention provides such
an improv~d adjustable curvature toothbrush.
8uMKaRy 0~ T~B I~Y~NTIO~
Tho present invention pQrtains to an ad~ustable
curv~ture toothbru~h which comprise~ ~a) an ~longated
handlo having an aperture, (b) a cam attached to th~
handlo within th~ aperture by means of a ca~ ~haft, (c) a
cam follow~r which i~ engaged with, and follows, the cam,
~d) a flexible brush head, ~e) bristle~ ~upported by the
brush head, (~) a rigid neck attached to a first end o~
the brush hQad and to an end of the handle~ and ~g~ a
flexible neck atta~hed to æ second end o~ th~ brush head
and to the cam follower, wh~re~y the curvatur~ of the
brush head can b~ adjusted by rotation of ths chm. In
another embodiment, the inven~ion pertains to an
adjustable curvatur~ toothbrush wherein the cam and cam
follower are replaced by a slideable button. In yet
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another embodiment, the invention p~rtains to a~
adju~table curvature toothbrush in the form of a
compres~ible closed loop.
BRI~ D~C~IP~ION 0~ T~æ DRa~IN~8
FIGURES 1 through 4 show a fir~t embodiment of
an ad~ustable curvature toothbrush which has a flexible
bru~h head, and bristles supported by the brush head,
which i8 ad~usted by mean~ of a cam wheel and cam
follower.
FIGURE 1 show~ a profile of the toothbrush with
the bristle surfaca in a concave configuration for
brushing the labial surfaces of teQth.
FIGURE 2 shows a profil~ of the toothbrush with
the bristls surface in a co~vex configuration for
br~ahing the lingual surfac~s of teeth.
FIGURE 3 shows a partial front vi~w of the
toothbru~h with the bri~tle sur~ace in a concaYe
con~iguration.
FIGURE 4 show3 a partial ~ront view of`the
toothbru~h w~th the bri~tlo surface in a convex
con~iguration~
E'IGURES 5 and 6 show a ~econd embodiment of an
ad~ustable curvaturo toothbrush which has a flexible
brush head, and bristle~ supported by tha brush head,
which is ad~ustQ~ by means o~ a cam wheel and cam
~ollower.
FIGURE 5 show~ a partial front view of the
toothbruch with the bristle surfaca in a concave
configuration.
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FIGURE 6 shows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a convex
configuration.
FIGURES 7 and 8 show a variation of the first
embodiment of an adjustable curvature toothbrush which
has a hinged bru~h head, and bristles supported by the
brush head, which is adju~ted by means of a cam wheel and
cam follower.
FIGURE 7 shows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a concave
con~iguration.
FIGURE 8 chows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a convex
configuration.
FIGURES 9 and 10 show a ~ariation of tho ~econd
embodiment o~ an ad~ustable curvature toothbrush which
has a hinged brush head, and bristles supported by the
brush head, which i8 ad~usted by msan~ of a cam wheel and
cam ~ollow~r.
FIGURE 9 show~ a partial front view of the
toothbru~h with the bristle surface in a concave
con~lgurat$on.
FIGUR~ 10 ~how~ a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a convex
configuration.
FIGURES 11 and 12 show a third embodiment of an
ad~uRtable curvature toothbru~h which has a hinged brush
head, and bristle~ ~upported by the brush head, which is
ad~u~ted by mean~ of a slideable button.
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FIGURE 11 shows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a concave
configu~ation.
FIGURE 12 shows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristle surface in a convex
configuration.
FIGURES 13 and 14 ~how a fourth embodiment of
an adjustable curvature toothbrush which has a hinged
brush head, and bristles ~upported by the brush head,
which is adjusted by means of a slideabls button.
FIGURE 13 shows a partial front view of the
toothbru~h with the bristle surfaca in a concave
configuration~
FIGURE 14 shows a partial front view of the
toothbrush with the bristlQ surface in a convex
configuration.
FIGURES 15 and 16 show a ~ifth embodiment of an
ad~uAtable curvatur~ toothbrush in the form of a
compressible clo~ed loop.
l?IGURE 15 show~ a partial front view o~ the
toothbru~h with the bri~tle surface in a concave
configuration.
FIGURE 16 ~hows a partial front view of the
too~hbrush with the bristle sur~ace in a convex
configurat~on.
DJT~ILED D~C~IPTIO~ OY Ta~ PR~RR~D ~BODI~E~T8
To provide a better understanding of the
preferr~d embodiments, ^applicant will describe the
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invention by reference to the above described figures in
which like numerals refer to like parts of the invention
through~ut the several figure The details shown are
for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments
s of the present invention and no attempt is made to show
every structural detail of the invention. The
description taken with the drawings will make apparent to
those skilled in the art how the several for~s of the
invention may be embodied in practice.
FIGURES 1 through 4 show a first embodiment of
an adjustable curYature toothbru~h which comprises an
elongated handle 1 having an aperture 2; a cam 3 attached
to the handle within the aperture by means of a cam shaft
4; a cam follower 5 which is engaged with, and follows,
the cam; a flexible brush head 6; bri~tles 7 supported by
the brush head; a rigid neck 8 attached to a Pirst end of
the bru~h head and to an end of the handle; and a
flexible neck 9 attached to a second end o~ the brush
head and to the cam follower 5. The curvatur~ of the
brush head can be adjusted by rotation of the cam.
In this first embodiment, the first end of the
brush hQad attached to rigid neck 8 is an end re~ote to
cam 3 and the second end of the brush head attached to
flexibl~ neck 9, which is attached to cam follower ~, is
an ond adjac~nt to ths cam. When the ca~ rollower is
urg~d toward the cam by rotation of tho cam, the cam
~ollower drivs~ the flexible neck to adju~t the brush
head 6 into a concave conriguration. When the cam
follower i~ urged away from the cam, the ca~ follower
drive~ the flexible neck to adjust the brush head into a
convex configuration.
3S FIGURES 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of an
adju~table curvature toothbrush. In this second
embodiment, the first end of the brush head attached to
rigid neck 10 is an end adjacent to ca~ 3 and the second
end of the brush head attached to flexible neck 11, which
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is attached to cam follower 12, is an end remote to the
ca~. When the cam ~ollower is urged toward the cam by
rotation of the cam, the cam followsr drives the flexible
neck to adjust the brush head into a convex
configuration. When the cam follower i8 urged away from
the cam, the cam follower drives the flexible neck to
adjust the brush head into a concave configuration.
In the first and second embodiments, the
flexible brush head 6 is made of a flexible material. In
variations of the fir~t and second embodiments set out
below, the flexible brush head 13 comprises a centrally
located hinge 14, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of
the brush head, which supplie~ flexibility to the brush
head. The brush head with a centrally located hinge may
be made o~ a flexible or inflexible material.
FIGURES 7 and 8 show a variation of the first
embodiment o~ an adju~table curvature toothbrush. In
thi~ embodiment, brush head 13 has a centrally located
hinge 14, perpendicular to the longitudinal axi~ of the
brush head. Rigid n~ck 8 is remote to the cam and the
flexible neck 9, which is attached to cam follower 5, is
ad~acent to thc cam. Whon the ca~ follower is urged
toward th~ cam by rotation of the cam, the cam follower
drive~ the flexible neck to ad~u~t the brush head into a
conc~vo configuration~ When the cam ~ollow~r 1~ ùrged
away from the cam, th~ cam follower drives the flexible
neck to ad~u~t the bru~h he~d into a convex
configur~tion.
FIGURES 9 and 10 ~how a variation o~ the second
embodiment of an ad~ustable curvatura toothbrush. In
thi~ embodiment, brush head 13 has a centrally located
hinge 14, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
bru~h head. Rigid neck 10 is ad~acent to the cam and
flexible neck 11, which is attached to cam follower 12,
i8 remot~ to the cam. When the cam follower is urged
toward the cam by rotation of the cam, the cam follower
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drives the flexible neck to adjust the brush head into a
convex configuration. When the cam follower is urged
away f~om the cam, the cam follower drives the flexible
neck to adiust the brush head into a concave
configuration.
In the variation~ of the ~ir~t and second
embodiments, the centrally located hinge in the brush
head may be any conventional hinge made of a material
such as metal or plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the
hinge is made of a pla~tic material thinner than the
material used in the remainder of the brush head.
In the first and second embodiments, cam
followers 5 and 12 may optionally contain one or more
detents, whereby the cam can be engaged with the detent
in the cam follower to lock the brush head into a desired
position.
FIGURES 11 and 12 show a third embodiment of an
ad~ustable curvature toothbruch which comprises an
elongated handle 15 having an elongated aperture 16; a
button 17 slideably engaged within the elongated aperture
of the handle; a brush head 18 having a centrally located
hinge 19 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
brush head; bristles 20 supported by the brush head; a
rigid neck 21 attached to a ~irst end of th~ brush `head
and to an end o~ the handle; and a ~lexibl~ neck 22
attach-d to a ~eçond end o~ the brush head and to the
~lideable button. Th~ curvature of the brush head can be
ad~u~ted by sliding movement o~ the button.
In this third embod$ment, rigid neck 21 is
ad~acent to slideable button 17 and ~lexible neck 22 is
remote to the slideable button. Flexible neck 22 i~
attached to the slideable button, which i8 inserted
through, and is slideably engaged within, the aperture of
the handle. When the button is saideably moved within
the aperture of the handle toward brush head 18, the
button drives the flexible neck to adjust the brush head
into a concave configuration~ When the button is
slideab~y moved away from the brush head, the button
drive~ the flexible neck to adjust the brush head into a
convex configuration.
FIGURES 13 and 14 show a fouxth embodiment of
an adjustable curvature toothbrush. In thi fourth
embodiment, rigid neck 23 is remote to slideable button
25 and flexible neck 24 i~ adjacent to the slideable
button. Fl~xible neck 24 i~ attached to the slideable
button, which is inserted through, and is slideably
engaged within, the aperture of the handle. When the
button i8 slideably moved within tha aperture of the
handle toward the brush head, the button drives the
~lexible neck to adjust the brush head into a concave
conPiguration. When the button is ~lideably moved away
from the brush head, the button driv~s the flexible neck
to adjust the brush head into a convex configNration.
In a variation of the third and fourth
embodiment~ of an adjustable curvature toothbrush (not
shown), the flexible bru~h head doe~ not contain a hinge
but rather i8 made of a ~lexibl~ material.
FIGURES 15 and 16 show a fifth embodiment of an
adjustable curvatur~ toothbrush in the ~orm o~ a
compressibll~ clo~ed loop which comprises a compres~ible
handle 26 in the ~orm of a clo6ed loop: a flexible brush
head 27 integral with the ~losed loop: bristles 28
supported by tho brush head; a rigid neck 29 attached to
a first end of the brush head and to a first end of the
handle; and a fl~xible neck 30 ~ttached to a ~econd end
of the brush head and to a ~cond end of the handle.
The curvature of the brush head can be adjusted
by compression o~ the closed loop handle. When handle 26
i9 in a rest or nor~al position (the handle is not
compressed), brush head 27 is in a concave configurAtion.
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When the handle is compressed, th~ handle drives flexible
neck 30 to adjust the brush head into a convex
configuration.
In a variation of the fifth embodiment of an
adjustable curvature toothbrush (not shown), the flexible
brush head comprises a centrally located hinge,
perpendicular to a longitudinal axis o f the brush head.
The handle, brush heads, and necks of the
adjustable curvature toothbrushes of the present
invention can be made o~ any flexible or soft shape
rstaining material known to be usQful in the art or
conceived to be useful by one skilled in the art, such as
pla~tic. The material comprising the handles, brush
heads, and necks preferably should be the same material
and when possible, the material should bo integrally
molded to ~orm one piece, such as with conventional
toothbrush handle~, brush heads, and necks. All edges
and corners should be round and smooth.
The flexible bruqh head in the present
invention may be made of a flexible material such as
pla~tic or may comprise a centrally located hinge,
perpendicular to a longitudinal axi~ o~ the brush head.
The hinged brush head may be made of a flexible or
in~lexiblo material such a~ a metal or a pla~tic. In a
pr-rerred e~bodi~ent, the hinge i~ made of ~ plastic
mat~rial th~nner than the material used in the remainder
o~ tho bru~h head.
The bri~tles can be mounted on the brush head
in a plurality o~ tuft~ sat in row~ on the brush head or
in any other manner known in the art or conceived by one
~killed in the art. The bristles should pre~erably be
nylon and have rounded ends.
The apparatus and matsrials use~ul in
accordance with the manu~acture o~ the present invention
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comprises apparatus well known in the toothbrush
manufacturing arts, and therefore the selection of the
specific apparatus will be apparent to the artisan~
