Title:

Toothbrush with bristle pick

United States Patent Application 20020073496

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

An improved toothbrush comprising a thin bristled pick rotatably mounted at the bottom end of the toothbrush handle. A rotating device allows the bristle pick to be extended roughly 85 degrees from the handle shaft so that the user may insert the pick between the teeth with ease for cleaning purposes. When not in use, the pick may be stored within the shaft of the toothbrush by rotating it inward and into a small rectangular cavity in the shaft. The added bristled pick feature allows users to attain enhanced tooth cleaning benefits from one device instead of a plurality of cleaning utensils.

Inventors:

Kim, Soo An (Burbank, CA, US)

Application Number:

09/736725

Publication Date:

06/20/2002

Filing Date:

12/15/2000

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Primary Class:

15/106

Other Classes:

15/172, 15/185, 132/309, 132/328, 15/167.1

International Classes:

A46B15/00; (IPC1-7): A46B9/04

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20020073496 PDF help

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Attorney, Agent or Firm:

Eugene, Oak (610 S. Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90005, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. Toothbrush comprising a thin bristle pick rotatably mounted to the end of the bottom of the toothbrush shaft, and A rotating device located at the bottom of the shaft base comprising a hinge pick and a rotating outer element, and A means for the rotating device to allow an angle of 85 degrees between the fully extended bristle pick and the toothbrush shaft.

2. Toothbrush having a thin bristle pick according to claim 1 wherein the shaft of the toothbrush handle has a rectangular cavity for storing the bristle pick when not in use.

3. Toothbrush having a thin bristle pick according to claim 1 wherein the bristle is substantially thin in order to fit between the average person's teeth.

Description:

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a toothbrush, particularly to a toothbrush with an added bristle feature at the base of the handle shaft that loosens and pulls out food debris and plaque buildup between the teeth, thereby ensuring a more thorough cleaning and hygiene of the teeth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many modified versions of the conventional toothbrush exist on the market today. Toothbrushes have been altered to improve things such as grip of the handle by adding non-slip material to the parts that make contact with the user's hand. Oral B. Corporation along with other companies, have created the “Indicator”, which indicates wear and tear on the bristles by adding a pigment that wears off with prolonged use. Virtually all toothbrush manufacturers have tried to enhance the effectiveness of the bristles by shaping them in concave fashion, and even to allow the shaft of the toothbrush to bend and flex in order to achieve better cleaning results. Perhaps most related to the present invention, however is a bristle pick, which can be fixed onto a short rod. G.U.M Corporation currently sells such a product under the name of “Proxabrush.” However the “Proxabrush” is not part of a toothbrush and thus requires the user to utilize two different teeth cleaning items in order to achieve the desired dental hygiene.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is a toothbrush with a tapered bristle pick located at the bottom of the handle shaft, which may be retracted and stored within a cavity of the handle shaft when not in use.

[0004] The bristle pick is engaged manually by pulling out of a concavity located at the bottom of the toothbrush shaft. The vertically disposed cavity includes a rotatable portion, which allows the bristle pick to swing out as an attached arm at the base of the toothbrush shaft. The pivotally attached bristle pick extends out to form a 45 degree angle to the shaft for maximum comfort when utilizing the pick.

[0005] These together with other objects of the invention are pointed out clearly in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its use, references should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] For a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the peripheral embodiment.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring now to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shaft of the toothbrush 5 and a pivotally mounted bristle pick 10. Said pivot 15 rotates so that pick 10 may be extended away from shaft 5 and become perpendicularly disposed to the shaft. Shaft 5 has a cavity 20 that allows pick 1 to fit into the shaft of the toothbrush by being placed into the cavity. When the pick is inside the cavity, it does not break or alter the original outline of the toothbrush shaft thereby allowing the toothbrush to be compatible with any conventional toothbrush holder.

[0011] Looking at FIG. 2, rotational device 15 comprises a screw portion 17, which acts as a hinge for the device. Cavity 20 encases bristle 10, which is attached in similar orientation to the bristle base 25. Base 25 is pivotably joined to rotating device 15 by means of a hinge pin 15. The hinge pin movably connects the bristle and the base to shaft 5 of the toothbrush allowing users to manually extend and retract the bristle for use and for storage. FIG. 2 shows the bristle unit in both an extended and stored position. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the bristle unit is fully extended so that bristle base 17 engages with end of shaft 5 the angle that the bristle creates with respect to the shaft is about 85 degrees.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the bristle unit placed in the stored position. Rotating device 15 is attached to the shaft by means of screw pin 11. The rotating device is integrally attached to the base of the bristle pick. Cavity 20, which encases the bristle pick ends, terminates where base 27 begins by widening into a hollow made to accommodate the rotating device.

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