Abstract:
A hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner is disclosed for brushing a user&#39;s teeth all at once, without requiring manual manipulation, thereby enabling the user to engage in other activities while his teeth are being brushed. The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner includes top and bottom brush trays which include tooth-brushing material (such as bristles) for contacting the user&#39;s teeth, a motor housed within a motor case located in the space formed by the brush trays, and a switch for actuating the motor. In some embodiments the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner includes a handle for easy insertion and removal. In some embodiments, the tooth-brushing material is capable of contacting all sides of a user&#39;s teeth, as well as the gum line. Other embodiments include an external surface capable of providing non-irritating frictional contact to soft tissue of a user&#39;s mouth.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to teeth cleaning devices, and more specifically to motorized teeth cleaning devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Dental and oral hygiene is an important part of one&#39;s personal health and appearance. Brushing the teeth removes plaque and reduces decay. Traditional teeth cleaning devices are manual toothbrushes. Manual toothbrushes have a head with bristles, the head being supported by a handle. A user grasps the handle and maneuvers the handle so as to move the bristles across the teeth, thereby brushing the teeth manually. 
         [0003]    Manual brushing of teeth requires that a user devote considerable attention to proper brushing. If one is not careful during manual brushing of their teeth, he can miss important regions of his teeth, leaving the teeth vulnerable to decay. 
         [0004]    On the other hand, improper manual brushing can also lead to abrasion, thereby wearing off the protective enamel layer of the teeth. Some people with busy schedules are unable to properly brush their teeth using this manual approach, within the time they allot to brushing. 
         [0005]    Motorized toothbrushes aim to add convenience and enhanced effectiveness to the tooth brushing process. Some motorized toothbrushes require manual movement of a generally linear shaft, so as to guide a head with bristles along the outer surfaces of the teeth and gums. 
         [0006]    By contrast, some other motorized teeth cleaning devices include a “brush tray” (a tray filled with toothbrushing material such as bristles) for surrounding an entire row of teeth, with an external handle attached to the brush tray, and a motor housed within the external handle. The brush tray is capable of receiving a user&#39;s row of teeth when the user inserts his row of teeth into the brush tray. These brush-tray motorized teeth cleaning devices can help a user to brush his teeth, without requiring the user to move a generally linear shaft along a row of the teeth. 
         [0007]    Nonetheless, these devices require that a user hold the external handle during brushing. The user must hold the external handle so as to keep the trays level for the proper degree and uniformity of pressure, and the user must also hold the handle when manipulating the device so as to switch between brushing the top row of teeth and the bottom row of teeth. 
         [0008]    A user who does not hold and manipulate the external handle, would not receive the proper degree and uniformity of pressure required during brushing, and would not receive brushing to both rows of teeth. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, if a user wished to let go of the handle at any time, he would have to clench his jaws and apply biting pressure in an attempt to hold the brush tray in place despite the weight of the handle. Such biting action can compromise the degree and uniformity of pressure being applied to the user&#39;s teeth, and could also pose the risk of damage to the teeth and/or jaws. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    A hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner is claimed for automatically brushing teeth without requiring hand manipulation during brushing. Because a motor is housed in a case that sits inside the space created by brush trays, no bulky handle is required. Therefore, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner is capable of automatically brushing both upper and lower rows of a user&#39;s teeth simultaneously, without requiring manual manipulation. In some embodiments the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner can clean other tissue in the mouth as well, such as the inner cheeks and tongue, for example. 
         [0011]    The user can simply insert the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner into the mouth, and then turns it on. The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner brushes all of the user&#39;s teeth in parallel, cleaning the teeth of the whole mouth all at once. While the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner is operating in the mouth, the user can accomplish other morning and/or evening tasks, including dressing or undressing. Therefore, the user&#39;s teeth can be brushed with the proper degree and uniformity of pressure without requiring any manual manipulation during brushing. 
         [0012]    The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner contains toothbrush trays including tooth-brushing material for brushing a user&#39;s teeth, and a motor case situated within a center space created by toothbrush trays, the toothbrush trays having tooth-brushing material for contacting a user&#39;s teeth. A motor housed within the motor case is capable of causing movement of the tooth-brushing material so as to effect brushing of the teeth, and a switch is capable of actuating the motor. 
         [0013]    Because the motor is located in an area that is meant to be inserted into the mouth, no excessively bulky parts are required to protrude from the inserted portion of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. Therefore, the shape, size, and weight distribution of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner is conducive to hands-free operation, and enables a user to accomplish other activities during brushing. Because this hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner does not require a bulky and heavy motor-filled handle, a user can receive the proper degree and uniformity of pressure required during brushing without manually manipulating the device itself. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner includes a handle for inserting and removing the toothbrush housing. While the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner can be inserted by hand, no manual manipulation is required during actual use of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner can clean a person&#39;s teeth, and in some embodiments, soft tissue within the mouth as well, all without the user being required to manipulate it manually upon insertion. 
         [0015]    In one general embodiment, a hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner for brushing teeth without requiring any manual manipulation is claimed, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner including: a top brush tray with an arc-shaped, upward-facing channel capable of receiving a user&#39;s top row of teeth, the top brush tray having tooth-brushing material affixed to an inner surface of the upward-facing channel, the tooth-brushing material being positioned so as to contact the user&#39;s top row of teeth when the user&#39;s teeth are received by the top brush tray; a bottom brush tray with an arc-shaped, downward-facing channel capable of receiving a user&#39;s bottom row of teeth, the top brush tray having tooth-brushing material affixed to an inner surface of the downward-facing channel, the tooth-brushing material being positioned so as to contact the user&#39;s bottom row of a user&#39;s teeth when the user&#39;s teeth are received by the bottom brush tray; a motor case attached to at least one of the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray, the motor case being located in a center space formed by at least one of the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray; a motor housed within the motor case, the motor being in driving relationship with at least one of the top and bottom brush trays, the motor being thereby capable of causing movement of the tooth-brushing material within the top and bottom brush trays; and a switch capable of actuating the motor, thereby causing the tooth-brushing material within both the top and bottom brush trays to simultaneously brush both the top and bottom rows of the user&#39;s teeth. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the tooth brushing material includes at least one of: bristles; sponge material; polymer foam; and gel. In some embodiments, the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray are mutually affixed so as to lie in substantially parallel planes. In some embodiments, the tooth-brushing material is positioned so as to be capable of contacting at least one of: an outer surface of a tooth; and an inner surface of a tooth. In some embodiments, the tooth-brushing material is positioned so as to be capable of contacting at least one of: bottom surfaces of top teeth; and top surfaces of bottom teeth. In some embodiments, the tooth-brushing material is positioned so to be capable of contacting a user&#39;s gum line. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, plastic is used to make at least one of: the top brush tray; the bottom brush tray; and the motor case. In some embodiments, the motor is capable of vibrating at least one of the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray in a substantially random motion. In some embodiments, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner further comprises a handle extending from at least one of: the motor case; the top brush tray; and the bottom brush tray, the handle being for manually guiding the top brush tray and bottom brush tray into and out of a user&#39;s mouth, the handle being sufficiently small and lightweight, so as to enable a user to perform actions other than toothbrushing during operation of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the handle extends from an apex of at least one of the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray. In some embodiments, the handle is short enough to enable a user to pull clothes over the user&#39;s head. In some embodiments, the handle includes a rounded end. In some embodiments, the handle includes a ball-shaped end. In some embodiments, the switch is located on the handle. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner further comprises an extended soft-tissue contacting surface of at least one of: the top brush tray, the bottom brush tray, and the motor case, the extended soft-tissue contacting surface being capable of providing non-irritating frictional contact to soft tissue of a user&#39;s mouth via vibration induced by the motor. In some embodiments, the non-irritating frictional contact is capable of at least one of: removing dead cells from the soft tissue; and cleaning the soft tissue. In some embodiments, the soft tissue includes at least one of: the user&#39;s gums; the user&#39;s tongue; and the user&#39;s inner cheeks. In some embodiments, the extended soft-tissue contacting surface is capable of providing simultaneous non-irritating frictional contact to each of: the user&#39;s gums; the user&#39;s tongue; and the user&#39;s inner cheeks. In some embodiments, the extended soft-tissue contacting surface includes rubber. In some embodiments, the extended soft-tissue contacting surface contains at least one of: bumps; ridges; dimples; and grooves. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an oblique view of an alternative embodiment which includes brushes that are angled so as to be capable of reaching a person&#39;s gum line; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an oblique underside view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , further including extended soft-tissue contacting surfaces on portions of its exterior surface; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an elements diagram showing the relationship between the main elements of an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing exemplary steps of using an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100 . A motor case  102  which houses a motor (not shown), is attached to a top brush tray  104  containing tooth-brushing material  106 , as well as a bottom brush tray  108 , also containing tooth-brushing material  106 . The top and bottom brush trays  104 ,  108  each have an arc-shaped channel capable of receiving a user&#39;s row of teeth when the user inserts his top and bottom rows of teeth into the respective trays  104 ,  108 . 
         [0030]    Both the top and bottom brush trays contain tooth-brushing material  106 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the tooth-brushing material shown is a set of bristles, such as toothbrush bristles, located within the top brush tray  104 , and also the bottom brush tray  108 . Therefore, to be precise, in the context of discussing the figures the tooth-brushing material  106  will be referred to as “bristles.” 
         [0031]    In alternative embodiments, the tooth-brushing material  106  can be sponge material, polymer foam material, gel-like material, a combination thereof, and/or any other substance that can safely and effectively clean a user&#39;s teeth, especially when used in conjunction with a teeth-cleaning agent such as toothpaste. In some embodiments, the tooth-brushing material  106  can be a micro-cleaning material such as micro-fiber, or a micro-sponge, and/or traditional cleaning pad material. It can be non-abrasive and form-fitting, as well as flexible and pliable. 
         [0032]    The top brush tray  104  is an arc-shaped, upward facing channel capable of receiving a user&#39;s top row of teeth, and the bottom brush tray  108  is an arc-shaped, downward-facing channel capable of receiving a user&#39;s bottom row of teeth. In some embodiments, the motor case  102  can be attached to one of the trays and not the other. In the embodiment shown, the top and bottom brush trays are secured to the motor case, via a tray support structure (not shown here, but shown and discussed in  FIG. 2 , below) which in turn supports both of the trays. 
         [0033]    Some embodiments include a handle  110 . A manually operable switch  112  is capable of operating the motor. In some embodiments the switch  112  can be located on a handle  110 , while in other embodiments, the switch  112  can be located directly on the motor case  102 . In the embodiment shown, the handle  110  is a finger-graspable handle protrusion extending from a front side of the motor case  102  and through the trays  104 ,  108 . In other embodiments, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner does not include a handle  100 . 
         [0034]    The motor case  102  and the trays  104 ,  108  can be made of a safe and non-abrasive material, such as plastic. The bristles  106  can be any bristles capable of brushing teeth in a non-abrasive manner, such as traditional toothbrush bristles. In the embodiment shown, the top  104  and bottom  105  trays lie in substantially parallel planes. Also in the embodiment shown, the toothbrush bristles  106  include bristles positioned so as to be capable of contacting the front and back surfaces of a user&#39;s teeth. Furthermore, the top brush tray  104  contains bristles capable of contacting the bottom and side surfaces of a user&#39;s top teeth, while the bottom brush tray  105  contains bristles capable of contacting the top and side surfaces of a user&#39;s bottom teeth. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the motor  200  is visible. Also visible is a tray support structure system including two support fins  202 ,  203 , which attach to the motor case  102  and support the top brush tray  104  and bottom brush tray  108 . The motor  200  can be capable of vibrating the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  in such a manner as to induce the toothbrush bristles  106  to brush a user&#39;s teeth. In some embodiments, the motor  200  can vibrate the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  so as to induce the toothbrush bristles  106  to brush a user&#39;s teeth in a random pattern. 
         [0036]    The trays  104 ,  108  can be replaceable, so that a user can use the same core product including the motor case  102  and support fins  200  (and handle  110  when included in the design), but easily replace the trays  104 ,  108 , for example, if and when the bristles  106  have been worn out and are no longer useful, and/or the tray(s)  104 ,  108  are otherwise damaged or otherwise not properly functional. The support fins  202 ,  203  can be adjustable, so as to accommodate different size trays for people with various different sized rows of teeth. 
         [0037]    Because the motor  200  resides in a user&#39;s mouth during its use, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  does not contain bulky or heavy parts that protrude from the mouth. Therefore, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  can be stabilized by being secured in the mouth, and does not require a user to hold the device. The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  can be used to brush their teeth while still allowing a user the freedom to accomplish other tasks, such as getting ready for the day or for bed, including getting dressed or undressed. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3B  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is an oblique view of an alternative embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  which includes gum-brushing toothbrush bristles  400  that are angled so as to be capable of reaching a person&#39;s gum line. In this embodiment, the motorized action of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  can both brush a user&#39;s teeth as well as massage the user&#39;s gums, all without requiring manual manipulation. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is an oblique underside view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , further including extended soft-tissue contacting surfaces  500 ,  502  that are capable of providing non-irritating frictional contact to soft tissue of a user&#39;s mouth, via movement induced by the motor. In the embodiment shown, the extended soft-tissue contacting surface includes a bumped and dimpled surface  500  on the outer area of the top and bottom brush trays  104 ,  108  so as to aid in cleaning and/or removing dead skin cells from the inside of a user&#39;s cheeks; as well as a ridged and grooved surface  404  on the underside of the motor case  102 , so as to aid in cleaning and/or removing dead skin cells from the top of a user&#39;s tongue. The extended soft-tissue contacting surfaces  500 ,  502  can be comprised of a soft material, such as rubber. In various alternative embodiments, extended soft-tissue contacting surfaces  500 ,  502  can include bumps, dimples, and/or any other shape and/or texture features which promotes the desired non-agitating frictional contact. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is an elements diagram showing the relationship between the main elements of an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. A motor case  102  housing a motor  200  supports a tray support structure system (which in the embodiments shown, include two support fins  202 ,  203 ), which in turn supports the top brush tray  104  and bottom brush tray  108  (each of which contain toothbrush bristles). In embodiments, a handle  110  protrudes from the front of the motor case  102 . In the embodiment shown, the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner includes a handle  110 . A power switch  112  is attached to the handle in this embodiment. The switch  112  is in communication with the motor  200  so as to actuate the motor  200 , turning the motor  200  on or off, as desired. In this embodiment, the motor  200  causes the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  100  to vibrate so as to induce the toothbrush bristles to brush a user&#39;s teeth in a random pattern. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps of using the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner. In this example, an embodiment of the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner including a handle is used. First, a user puts toothpaste in the motor case  700 . In some embodiments, this can be done simply by squeezing toothpaste into the top brush tray and the bottom brush tray while holding the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner vertically, while holding the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner by the handle. Next, the user inserts the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner into their mouth  702 . The user then positions their top row of teeth into the top brush tray, and their bottom row of teeth into the bottom brush tray  704 . 
         [0042]    Next, the user operates the switch, thereby powering on the motor and causing the bristles to move  706 . In some embodiments, the motor causes the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner to vibrate so as to induce the toothbrush bristles to brush a user&#39;s teeth in a random pattern. The hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner brushes a user&#39;s teeth, leaving the user&#39;s hands free and enabling the user to engage in other activity, such as dressing or undressing. If the user has other tasks to engage in during brushing teeth  708 , the user can engage in those tasks during the brushing of their teeth  710 . Finally, when the user is finished brushing their teeth, the user shuts the power off, and removes the hands-free simultaneous whole-mouth teeth cleaner  712 . 
         [0043]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.