Patent ID: 6343396
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A46B

Abstract:
A tooth cleaning device comprising(a) a tooth cleaning head, including: (i) a housing with sides that straddle the tooth along both long faces and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the sides thereof; (ii) gears affixed along respective inner surfaces of the sides of said housing; (iii) tooth cleaning elements affixed along the inner side of said gears, said tooth cleaning elements being operatively spaced apart from one another, along the longitudinal axis of said tooth cleaning head, to form a gap therebetween; and (iv) a drive mechanism comprising: A. a drive shaft affixed to said inner surfaces of the sides of said housing and spanning said housing; B. a drive wheel connected to said drive shaft; C. transfer gears affixed near ends of said drive shaft and aligned with said gears; and (b) a handle connected to said tooth cleaning head, wherein as said tooth cleaning device travels along a row of teeth, said drive wheel rotates along the biting surface of the teeth, thereby rotating said drive shaft and said transfer gears, said transfer gears in turn providing rotating motion to said gears affixed along the inner surfaces of the sides of said housing and said tooth cleaning elements, such that said long faces of the tooth are cleaned simultaneously by rotary cleaning motion.