SINGLE-USE TOOTHBRUSH
United States Patent 3691585
A single-use toothbrush of molded plastic material, composed of a plurality of cylindrical clusters of bristles integrally molded with the body of the toothbrush and coated with a thin layer of dentifrice composition which is sprayed onto the bristles in an amount adequate for a single brushing only. Each cluster is composed of four bristles of approximately triangular section and is formed by bristles projecting from a cylindrical base of small depth which is bisected by a pair of rectangularly displaced diametral slots which define the inner surfaces of the bristles while the lateral surfaces of the latter are coincident with the periphery of the base. The size of the clusters and their spacing from each other impart an optimum degree of flexibility to the bristles.
US Patent References:
Disposable toothbrush
Woodrow - September 1963 - 3103935
Disposable toothbrush
Conder - February 1966 - 3231925
Dental cleaning pad
Diveley - March 1954 - 2673364
Combination comb and brush
Dent - May 1964 - 3133546
DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH
Hendrickson - June 1971 - 3589823
Disposable toothbrush
Woodrow - September 1963 - 3103935
Disposable toothbrush
Conder - February 1966 - 3231925
Dental cleaning pad
Diveley - March 1954 - 2673364
Combination comb and brush
Dent - May 1964 - 3133546
DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH
Hendrickson - June 1971 - 3589823
Application Number:
05/101540
Publication Date:
09/19/1972
Filing Date:
12/28/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
15/167.100, 15/187
International Classes:
A46B1/00; A61H13/00; A46B1/00
Field of Search:
15/104.94,187,104.93,167R 300/21 132/84
Primary Examiner:
Machlin, Leon G.
Claims:
I claim
1. A single-use toothbrush of generally elongate shape, comprising
2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dentifrice material sprayed onto said bristles is of an amount sufficient for a single brushing operation only, and contains detergent, abrasive and preservative ingredients, as well as wetting and flavoring agents.
1. A single-use toothbrush of generally elongate shape, comprising
2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dentifrice material sprayed onto said bristles is of an amount sufficient for a single brushing operation only, and contains detergent, abrasive and preservative ingredients, as well as wetting and flavoring agents.
Description:
This invention relates to a single-use toothbrush formed of synthetic plastic material and more particularly to one formed with bristles molded integrally with the brush and coated with a dentifrice composition which is effective for a single brushing operation, and which is designed to be discarded thereafter.
It is the object of the present invention to mold a toothbrush composed of a handle at one end for convenient grasping, and a bristle portion at the opposite end wherefrom project a plurality of bristles which are capable of cleansing the teeth without undue irritation of the gums and which are spray-coated with a dentifrice composition so that a toilet item of low cost may be attained for a single use only.
The item of low cost may be dispensed from machines or distributed as a form of advertising in hotels, motels or other business establishments, or may be purchased economically for casual use by a traveller when the need therefor arises, and by all consumers that daily brush their teeth.
It is a further object of the invention to so correlate the physical characteristics of the molded plastic material, which may be a high density polyethylene, with the distribution of the individual bristle elements so that a light coating of the dentifrice composition, which is sprayed onto the bristles, is adequate for a single use only, so that after use, the brush is thrown away, thereby eliminating any possibility of infection. The bristles are formed in cylindrical clusters and are subdivided by four radial slots or by a pair of rectangularly displaced diametral slots, the dimensions of which, relative to the size of the clusters, provide adequate spaces between the bristles, so that the fluid dentifrice composition which is sprayed on the bristles in a light layer covers the resulting three faces of each bristle to provide a critically proportioned quantity of the composition, to make possible a single brushing of the teeth, following which the brush may be thrown away.
Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toothbrush in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view of the bristle portion of the toothbrush;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along line 6--6 of Fig. 3.
The toothbrush T in accordance with the invention is formed of an integrally molded elongate handle portion 1 at one end thereof and a bristle portion 2 at the opposite end thereof. The cross-section of the handle portion is varied along the length thereof, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, to afford a convenient hand-hold for the user of the brush, and the top of the bristle portion 2 is contoured to provide a comfortable base for the bristles as the brush is moved in the mouth.
The bristles 3 are molded integrally and project from the bottom face 4 of the portion 2. These bristles are arranged in cylindrical clusters which project from circular bases 5 of small depth at the junction of the bottom face 4 of brush 2 and the bristles. These circular bases are offset from each other with four individual bristles extending from each base. Each circular base may be approximately one-sixteenth to three thirty-seconds inch in diameter and the bristles are formed by bisecting the clusters with a pair of rectangularly displaced diametral slots 6 and 7 of approximately three sixty-fourths inch in width, or four radial slots of greater dimension so that in effect each cluster of bristles is constituted by four bristles of triangular section which taper to points at the end of the bristles remote from the bases 5. The slots 6 and 7 may be of uniform width, or they may flare or widen in radial directions from the center to narrow the bristles at their outer sides, as shown in FIG. 3.
The diametral slots 6 and 7 enable the sprayed dentifrice composition to be applied to the juxtaposed faces of the bristles in each cluster, as well as to the outer curved faces of the latter.
The bristles project from the base of the brush for approximately three-eighths inch in order to permit a limited flexing thereof so that the teeth may be brushed without undue irritation of the gums.
An adequate brush area may be attained by the provision of approximately ten clusters which extend along the length of the bristle portion along each edge thereof spaced from each other approximately one-eighth inch apart, with one or more rows of bristle clusters between the outer rows. The adjacent rows of clusters are displaced longitudinally from each other to give rise to a staggered effect which provides an effective brushing area. The lateral spacing between the longitudinal rows may also be one-eighth inch apart, or slightly less.
Following the molding of the brush, the bristles are sprayed with a dentifrice composition having a suitable amount of detergent and abrasive ingredients in conjunction with wetting and flavoring agents.
The following formula has proven to be especially effective:
carboxymethylcellulose (120) 0.9 gm. saccharin sodium 0.18 gm. methyl paraben sodium fluoride 0.1 gm. sodium lauryl sulfate 2.5 gm. dicalcium phosphate 54.0 gm. strontium chloride 5.0 gm. glycerin 1.0 gm. propylene glycol 18.0 gm. water 13.5 gm. mineral oil 1.0 cu. mm. peppermint oil 0.7 cu. mm. oil of pine 0.7 cu. mm.
The dentifrice composition may be prepared and applied to the bristles in following manner:
Dissolve the methyl paraben in the propylene glycol; wet the carboxymethylcellulose with the glycerin and then the propylene glycol solution to make a slurry; dissolve the saccharin sodium, sodium fluoride and strontium chloride in the water; add the aqueous solution to the carboxymethylcellulose slurry slowly while stirring (in a "Hobart" mixer), continuing stirring until a homogeneous gel results (heat may be used); add the dicalcium phosphate slowly to the gel while stirring until homogeneous; add the mineral oil, peppermint and pine oils and the sodium lauryl sufate and mix until evenly dispersed; (the paste may be milled and deaerated if necessary); add warm water of approximately 50°C. slowly, with constant stirring to a paste consistency until it becomes sufficiently fluid for spraying; introduce the warm mixture into a spray dispenser using a Freon propellant; spray on bristles of the brush and place the brush in a warm place of 30° to 40°C. to dry.
The spraying of the dentifrice composition onto the bristles results in a highly improved product over the practice of dipping the bristles into the composition, even in the case of molded plastic bristles.
It is the object of the present invention to mold a toothbrush composed of a handle at one end for convenient grasping, and a bristle portion at the opposite end wherefrom project a plurality of bristles which are capable of cleansing the teeth without undue irritation of the gums and which are spray-coated with a dentifrice composition so that a toilet item of low cost may be attained for a single use only.
The item of low cost may be dispensed from machines or distributed as a form of advertising in hotels, motels or other business establishments, or may be purchased economically for casual use by a traveller when the need therefor arises, and by all consumers that daily brush their teeth.
It is a further object of the invention to so correlate the physical characteristics of the molded plastic material, which may be a high density polyethylene, with the distribution of the individual bristle elements so that a light coating of the dentifrice composition, which is sprayed onto the bristles, is adequate for a single use only, so that after use, the brush is thrown away, thereby eliminating any possibility of infection. The bristles are formed in cylindrical clusters and are subdivided by four radial slots or by a pair of rectangularly displaced diametral slots, the dimensions of which, relative to the size of the clusters, provide adequate spaces between the bristles, so that the fluid dentifrice composition which is sprayed on the bristles in a light layer covers the resulting three faces of each bristle to provide a critically proportioned quantity of the composition, to make possible a single brushing of the teeth, following which the brush may be thrown away.
Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toothbrush in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view of the bristle portion of the toothbrush;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along line 6--6 of Fig. 3.
The toothbrush T in accordance with the invention is formed of an integrally molded elongate handle portion 1 at one end thereof and a bristle portion 2 at the opposite end thereof. The cross-section of the handle portion is varied along the length thereof, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, to afford a convenient hand-hold for the user of the brush, and the top of the bristle portion 2 is contoured to provide a comfortable base for the bristles as the brush is moved in the mouth.
The bristles 3 are molded integrally and project from the bottom face 4 of the portion 2. These bristles are arranged in cylindrical clusters which project from circular bases 5 of small depth at the junction of the bottom face 4 of brush 2 and the bristles. These circular bases are offset from each other with four individual bristles extending from each base. Each circular base may be approximately one-sixteenth to three thirty-seconds inch in diameter and the bristles are formed by bisecting the clusters with a pair of rectangularly displaced diametral slots 6 and 7 of approximately three sixty-fourths inch in width, or four radial slots of greater dimension so that in effect each cluster of bristles is constituted by four bristles of triangular section which taper to points at the end of the bristles remote from the bases 5. The slots 6 and 7 may be of uniform width, or they may flare or widen in radial directions from the center to narrow the bristles at their outer sides, as shown in FIG. 3.
The diametral slots 6 and 7 enable the sprayed dentifrice composition to be applied to the juxtaposed faces of the bristles in each cluster, as well as to the outer curved faces of the latter.
The bristles project from the base of the brush for approximately three-eighths inch in order to permit a limited flexing thereof so that the teeth may be brushed without undue irritation of the gums.
An adequate brush area may be attained by the provision of approximately ten clusters which extend along the length of the bristle portion along each edge thereof spaced from each other approximately one-eighth inch apart, with one or more rows of bristle clusters between the outer rows. The adjacent rows of clusters are displaced longitudinally from each other to give rise to a staggered effect which provides an effective brushing area. The lateral spacing between the longitudinal rows may also be one-eighth inch apart, or slightly less.
Following the molding of the brush, the bristles are sprayed with a dentifrice composition having a suitable amount of detergent and abrasive ingredients in conjunction with wetting and flavoring agents.
The following formula has proven to be especially effective:
carboxymethylcellulose (120) 0.9 gm. saccharin sodium 0.18 gm. methyl paraben sodium fluoride 0.1 gm. sodium lauryl sulfate 2.5 gm. dicalcium phosphate 54.0 gm. strontium chloride 5.0 gm. glycerin 1.0 gm. propylene glycol 18.0 gm. water 13.5 gm. mineral oil 1.0 cu. mm. peppermint oil 0.7 cu. mm. oil of pine 0.7 cu. mm.
The dentifrice composition may be prepared and applied to the bristles in following manner:
Dissolve the methyl paraben in the propylene glycol; wet the carboxymethylcellulose with the glycerin and then the propylene glycol solution to make a slurry; dissolve the saccharin sodium, sodium fluoride and strontium chloride in the water; add the aqueous solution to the carboxymethylcellulose slurry slowly while stirring (in a "Hobart" mixer), continuing stirring until a homogeneous gel results (heat may be used); add the dicalcium phosphate slowly to the gel while stirring until homogeneous; add the mineral oil, peppermint and pine oils and the sodium lauryl sufate and mix until evenly dispersed; (the paste may be milled and deaerated if necessary); add warm water of approximately 50°C. slowly, with constant stirring to a paste consistency until it becomes sufficiently fluid for spraying; introduce the warm mixture into a spray dispenser using a Freon propellant; spray on bristles of the brush and place the brush in a warm place of 30° to 40°C. to dry.
The spraying of the dentifrice composition onto the bristles results in a highly improved product over the practice of dipping the bristles into the composition, even in the case of molded plastic bristles.