US4610045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toothbrush
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-07-12
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Granted: 1986-09-09
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Expires: 2004-07-12
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a toothbrush provided with a teeth brushing surface and two gum treatment brush surfaces which distributes the brushforce to optimally and automatically clean the tooth surfaces, clean under the sulcus and massage the gums during casual horizontal brushing. The gum treatment brush surfaces can be integral with the tooth portion or disposed on an outrigger brush body that may be attached to a conventional toothbrush or one specially adapted for that purpose.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Rauch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:37
CPC Classifications
A; A46; A46B; A46B15/00; A46B15/0055; A46B15/0075; A46B7/00; A46B7/06; A46B9/00; A46B9/02; A46B9/04; A46B9/06; A46B2200/00; A46B2200/10; A46B2200/1066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/05; Y10S15/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An improved toothbrush for cleaning teeth and automatic and simultaneously cleaning under the sulcus and cleaning, massaging and stimulation the gums which comprises: a first brush body; an elongated handle extending from the first brush body; a plurality of bristles having ends projecting from the first brush body defining a teeth brushing surface; an outrigger comprising a second brush body; a plurality of bristles having first ends embedded in the second brush body and second ends projecting therefrom defining gum treatment brush surface fitting on both sides of the tooth brushing surface, the relationship of the bristle ends are such that the teeth brushing surface primarily contacts the teeth and the gum treatment brush surface primarily contacts the gum tissue during horizontal brushing, the gum treatment brush surface being adapted to apply less brushing pressure on gums than the teeth brushing surface applies to the teeth: the difference in brushing pressure being accomplished for each surface by varying at least one of bristle length, diameter, spacing, cross section, material and end configuration and the brush head being of a sufficient width so that the first and second brush bodies cooperate with the elongated handle to provide an overturning moment when the upper or lower teeth are brushed requiring the user to push the brushing surfaces into the buccal corridor and causing a rotation of the brush body about the handle axis to approximately 45° which results in cleaning under the sulcus in the Bass (Stillman) toothbrushing technique.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An improved toothbrush for cleaning teeth and automatic and simultaneously cleaning under the sulcus and cleaning, massaging and stimulation the gums which comprises: a first brush body; an elongated handle extending from the first brush body; a plurality of bristles having ends projecting from the first brush body defining a teeth brushing surface; an outrigger comprising a second brush body; a plurality of bristles having first ends embedded in the second brush body and second ends projecting therefrom defining gum treatment brush surface fitting on both sides of the tooth brushing surface, the relationship of the bristle ends are such that the teeth brushing surface primarily contacts the teeth and the gum treatment brush surface primarily contacts the gum tissue during horizontal brushing, the gum treatment brush surface being adapted to apply less brushing pressure on gums than the teeth brushing surface applies to the teeth: the difference in brushing pressure being accomplished for each surface by varying at least one of bristle length, diameter, spacing, cross section, material and end configuration and the brush head being of a sufficient width so that the first and second brush bodies cooperate with the elongated handle to provide an overturning moment when the upper or lower teeth are brushed requiring the user to push the brushing surfaces into the buccal corridor and causing a rotation of the brush body about the handle axis to approximately 45° which results in cleaning under the sulcus in the Bass (Stillman) toothbrushing technique.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the outrigger is integral with the first brush body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1, wherein the outrigger is removable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claims 2 or 3 wherein the combined width of the brush bodies is wider than it is long.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 4 wherein the width is slightly longer than its length to 3 times its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 5 wherein the preferred width being 1.25 times its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 6 wherein the gum treatment brush surface have a combined width sufficient to simultaneously contact a user's upper gums, teeth and lower gums.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 wherein the teethbrushing portion is from about 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide and each gum brushing portion being from about 11/32 inch to 14/32 inch wide, the tooth portion being less in width of each gum brushing portion and all widths selected so that the overall width of the brush head is about 15/16 inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 where the combined brush surface is flat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 where the combined brush surface is concave or stepped to approximate concavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 where the combined brush surface is convex or is stepped to approximate this shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 where the combined brush surface is double concave or is stepped to approximate this shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 7 wherein the combined brush surface possesses a contour unique to an individual and is shaped to fit the individual user's teeth and gums, having an initial configuration selected from continuous or stepped shapes including flat, convex, concave, or double concave.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 where bristle and tuft length are equal to or less than approximately 3/8 inch, the length of the tufts and bristles on toothbrushes currently marketed for children.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 where the bristles define an evelope, the total volume of the toothbrush body, handle and bristle envelope that enter the mouth is approximately 0.58 cu. in.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles define an envelope, the first and second brush body and bristle envelope are shaped so that the bristles comprising the gum treatment brush surface are longer and more flexible than those comprising the teeth brushing surface, while the brushing surface is flat or otherwise.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles comprising the gum treatment brush surface are fabricated from more flexible standard bristle material, one with smaller modulus of elasticity, than those comprising the teeth brushing surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles comprising the gum treatment brush surface are smaller in diameter and more flexible than those comprising the teeth brushing surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles comprising the gum treatment brushing surface are tapered and more flexible than those comprising the teeth brushing surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles of the tooth portion are made from natural bristles and the bristles of the gum portions are made from synthetic bristle material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the bristles comprising the gum treatment brush surface and the teeth brushing surface are arranged in tufts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the tufts in the gum treatment brush surface are composed of bristles of variable length so that they are more flexible than those tufts comprising the teeth brushing surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein there are fewer tufts, or greater tuft spacing, comprising the gum treatment brush surface than the teeth brushing surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein sharp edges are removed from the bristle ends comprising the gum treatment brush surface so that they are gentle on the gums by reducing the pressure on the gum and sharp edges are left or provided on the bristles comprising the teeth brushing surface to facilitate the removal of plaque and other debris from hard tooth surfaces by increasing the pressure on the teeth.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved toothbrush recited in claim 1 wherein the outrigger is adapted to engagement with a conventional toothbrush.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-08 | 1990-03-10 | 1990-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-08 | 1994-03-10 | 1994-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-08 | 1998-03-10 | 1998-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |