Abstract:
An articulating toothbrush is disclosed that has a flexible bristle head the bristles of which may be changed between flat, concave and convex states for best brushing the fronts and backs of teeth. The change is quickly and easily made by a user of the brush by applying a force to the handle toward or way from the bristled head. The handle comprises an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion that are parallel to each other and slide with alongside each other when the user applies a linear force to the handle. Locking means are provided with the upper and lower handle portions to hold them in a position to which they are moved by applying a force to them.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/610,312 entitled “Articulating Toothbrush” to Peter Arsenault with an effective US filing date of Oct. 31, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an articulating toothbrush having a head that can have the curvature of the tips of its bristles manually adjusted. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior art toothbrushes are typically fixed and the ends of the bristles lie in a plane that is flat, concave or convex, or a combination of these. A toothbrush the bristles of which lie in a concave plane are best for brushing the outer surface of teeth, but are not best adapted for brushing the inner surface of teeth. A toothbrush the ends of the bristles of which lie in a convex plane are best for brushing the inner surface of teeth, but are not best adapted for brushing the outer surface of teeth. A toothbrush the ends of the bristles of which lie in a flat plane compromise between these two extremes but do not do the best job of brushing the inner surface or the outer surface of teeth. 
     Accordingly, a toothbrush is needed that is easily adjustable during use to configure the bristles to best brush both the inner surface and the outer surface of teeth. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an articulating toothbrush that has a head with bristles that may easily be manually adjusted during use by a user to best brush both the inner and outer surfaces of teeth. The user of the novel articulating toothbrush may, during use, easily and quickly alter the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie to form a convex plane which is best for brushing the inner surface of teeth, and easily and quickly change the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie to form a concave plane which is best for brushing the outer surface of teeth. The user may also easily and quickly adjust the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie to be flat if they so desire. 
     The novel articulating toothbrush comprises an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion that are interconnected at the outer end of the bristled toothbrush head at the outer end of the upper handle portion by a flexible, living hinge. The upper handle portion comprises an upper handle and an articulating brush and the outer end. The lower handle portion comprises a lower handle and an arcuate connecting piece to the living hinge at the outer end and connecting the upper handle portion to the lower handle portion of the toothbrush. The tooth brush head at the end of the upper handle portion of the toothbrush has groups of bristles that are separated by grooves in and across the upper surface of the upper handle portion. There are also grooves in and across the lower surface of the bristled toothbrush head. The grooves on both the upper surface on the lower surface of the bristled toothbrush head collectively assist the bristled toothbrush head to bend, both upward and downward, when a force is applied thereto by the arcuate connecting piece. In this matter the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is flat, concave or convex. 
     The lower handle portion of the toothbrush is slidably connected to the upper handle portion in a manner that is parallel to the axis of the upper handle portion of the toothbrush. As the lower handle portion of the toothbrush is moved linearly with respect to the upper handle portion of the toothbrush a force is transmitted via the arcuate connecting piece at the outer end of the lower handle portion of the toothbrush to the living hinge at the outer end of the upper handle portion of the toothbrush. This force causes the bristled head at the outer end of the upper handle portion of the articulating toothbrush to bend, up or down, and thereby change the surface of the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion of the toothbrush snap together firmly enough that the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion easily move linearly with respect to each other to adjust the bristles of the toothbrush while preventing the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion of the toothbrush from being separated from each other. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, attached to the inner side of the lower handle portion of the toothbrush, adjacent to the upper handle portion, is an actuating button. This actuating button passes through an elongated slot through the upper handle portion of the toothbrush. A person utilizing the novel articulating toothbrush uses their thumb to move the actuating button along the elongated slot to move the lower handle portion of the toothbrush parallel to the upper handle portion of the toothbrush. As the person moves the actuating button in one direction or another the force is transmitted via the arcuate connecting piece at the outer end of the lower handle portion of the toothbrush to the outer end of the upper handle portion of the toothbrush and causes the bristled head at the outer end of the upper handle portion to bend, up or down, and thereby change the surface of the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie between flat, convex and concave. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood upon reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush in a neutral position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is flat; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush in the neutral position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is flat; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to a first position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is concave; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to the first position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is concave; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to a second position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is convex; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to the second position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is convex; 
         FIG. 4  shows an end view of the handle of the preferred embodiment of the articulating toothbrush showing the upper and lower portions of the handle separated before they are snapped together; 
         FIG. 5  shows an end view of the handle of the preferred embodiment of the articulating toothbrush showing the upper and lower portions of the handle snapped together; 
         FIG. 6A  is an end view of the upper handle portion showing the details of a channel in the underside thereof; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the upper handle portion  11 ; 
         FIG. 6C  is an end view of the lower handle portion  12  showing the details of a protrusion on top of the lower handle portion  12 ; 
         FIG. 6D  is a side view of the lower handle portion  12 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is an end view of the upper handle portion snapped together with the lower handle portion; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view showing the upper handle portion snapped together with the lower handle portion, to assemble the novel articulating toothbrush; 
         FIG. 8A  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush in a neutral position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is flat; 
         FIG. 8B  shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush in the neutral position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is flat; 
         FIG. 9A  shows a side view of the alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to a first position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is concave; 
         FIG. 9B  shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to the first position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is concave; 
         FIG. 10A  shows a side view of the alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to a second position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is convex; 
         FIG. 10B  shows a top view of the alternative embodiment of the novel articulating toothbrush adjusted to a third position in which the plane in which the tips of the bristles lie is convex; 
         FIG. 11  is a three-dimensional drawing showing the actuating button of the alternative embodiment of the invention being assembled through the elongated slot through the upper portion of the toothbrush handle to the lower portion of the toothbrush handle in a slidable manner; 
         FIG. 12  shows an actuating button of the alternative embodiment of the invention being assembled to the articulating toothbrush and the button is manually used to adjust the bristles of the toothbrush to the first, second and third positions; 
         FIG. 13  shows the actuating button of the alternative embodiment of the invention in a raised position in which the articulating toothbrush may be adjusted between the first, second and third positions; 
         FIG. 14  shows the actuating button of the alternative embodiment of the invention in a lowered position in which it locks the bristles of the toothbrush in either the second or third positions; 
         FIG. 15  shows a side view of the articulating toothbrush before the upper and lower handle portions are fastened to each other in a slidable manner; and 
         FIG. 16  shows another alternative embodiment of the invention in which additional bristles are added to the toothbrush, and on which a tongue scraper is added. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A ,  2 A and  3 A show three side views of a preferred embodiment of the articulating toothbrush  10  wherein the upper handle portion  11  and the lower handle portion  12  of the toothbrush handle snap together. How they snap together is best shown in and described with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 7 .  FIG. 1A  shows toothbrush  10  in a neutral state wherein the tips of all bristles  16  lie in a flat plane.  FIG. 2A  shows toothbrush  10  in an extended state wherein the tips of all bristles  16  lie in a concave plane that is best for brushing the outer surfaces of teeth.  FIG. 3A  shows toothbrush  10  in a retracted state wherein the tips of all bristles  16  lie in a convex plane that is best for brushing the inner surfaces of teeth. 
     The novel articulating toothbrush  10  is typically manufactured to appear as shown in and described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 15 . When the preferred snap together version of the toothbrush is manufactured elements  19  and  27 , and holes  20  and  24  are not included. Instead, the bottom side of the upper handle portion  11  has a groove formed there along as shown in and described with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 7 , and the top side of the lower handle portion  12  has an extension formed there along, and the groove and extension of the two handle portions snap into each other as better shown in and described with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 7 . The lower handle portion or half  12  of toothbrush  10  is folded in the direction of arrow W 7  against and is slidably attached to upper handle portion or half  11  of toothbrush  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A and  3 A. 
     In the articulating toothbrush  10  of  FIGS. 1A&amp;1B  the upper handle portion  11  has a handle at the outer end of which is a head having bristles  16 . A minimal number of bristles  16  are shown to avoid cluttering the drawing. In between each set of bristles  16  there is a groove  17  that extends across the width of the head as better seen  FIG. 1B . On the underside of the bristled head there are also a set of grooves  18  across the width of the head that are vertically offset from grooves  17 . The purpose of grooves  17  and  18  is to permit the head of toothbrush  10  to bend and form the arcuate shapes shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . It should be noticed that the spacing between grooves  17  and  18  is not equal. The spacing between the two grooves  17  closest to the upper handle portion  11  of toothbrush  10  is greatest, and the spacing decreases and is a minimum between the last two adjacent grooves  17 . Grooves  18  on the bottom side of upper portion  11  are located midway between each pair of grooves  17  so the spacing between pairs of grooves  18  also is not equal. The spacing between the two grooves  18  closest to the handle of toothbrush  10  is greatest, and the spacing decreases and is a minimum between the last two adjacent grooves  18 . 
     When a force is applied perpendicular to the outer end of the upper handle portion  11  of toothbrush  10  the force causes the bristled head of toothbrush  10  to bend and form the arcuate shapes seen in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . With the decreasing space between grooves  17  and  18  the outer end of the bristled head will bend more than the end of the bristled head attached to upper handle portion  11  of toothbrush  10 . 
     To apply a perpendicular force to the outer end of the upper handle portion  11  of toothbrush  10  the lower handle portion  12  of toothbrush  10  is snap connected to upper handle portion  11  and the upper and lower portions are connected at their outer end via an arcuate member  14  as seen in  FIGS. 1A through 3A . With reference to  FIG. 15 , during the manufacture of toothbrush  10  upper handle portion  11  is connected to lower handle portion  12  via a connection  30  having two opposing grooves. The material from which toothbrush  10  is manufactured is firm and strong enough to retain bristles  16 , but is flexible enough that a living hinge is formed at connection  30  about which upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  rotate to form the toothbrush  10  shown in  FIG. 1A . There are elements  19 ,  27 ,  20  and  24  shown in  FIG. 15  that are not part of the snap together preferred embodiment of toothbrush  10 , but are part of an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 8-14 . 
     After lower handle portion  12  is snap connected to upper handle portion  11  of toothbrush  10 , when lower handle portion  12  is slid linearly with respect to upper handle portion  11  a force is applied to arcuate member  14 . Due to the arcuate shape of member  14  the force is resolved into a first component that is linear with the handle ( 11 , 12 ) of toothbrush  10 , and a second component that is perpendicular to the outer, bristled end of upper portion  11 . It is that perpendicular force which causes the bristled end to bend upward or downward as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . 
     In  FIG. 1A  upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are in a relaxed state with respect to each other and there is no force created to bow the outer bristled end of upper handle portion  11 . Thus, the tips of all bristles  16  all lie in a flat plane as shown. 
     In  FIG. 2A  a force is applied to upper handle portion  11  in the direction of arrow W 1 . This creates an upward force at end  15  of the bristled head which causes the bristled head to bend upward creating the concave shape as shown. In this configuration the toothbrush bristles can best clean the outer surface of teeth.  FIG. 2B  shows a top view of toothbrush  10  when the bristled head is bent upward into the concave shape. 
     In  FIG. 3A  a force is applied in the direction of arrow W 2 , the opposite of arrow W 1  in  FIG. 2A , to slide upper handle portion  11  to the right with respect to lower handle portion  12 . This creates a downward force at outer end  15  of the bristled head which causes the bristled head to bend downward creating the convex shape as shown. In this convex configuration the toothbrush bristles can best clean the inner surfaces of teeth.  FIG. 3B  shows a top view of toothbrush  10  when the bristled head is bent downward into the convex shape. 
     In  FIG. 4  is shown an end view of toothbrush  10  from the handle end before its upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are snapped together during assembly of toothbrush  10 . Deliberately, no bristles or arcuate element  14  are shown to avoid cluttering this figure of the drawing. Along the length of the underside of the upper handle portion  11  there is a groove  32 , and in the opposite side walls of groove  32  there are “V” shaped grooves  33 . At the top of groove  32  there is a saw tooth ridged portion  34  that is best seen in and described with reference to  FIG. 6B . 
     in  FIG. 4  lower handle portion  12  has a plateau or raised portion  35  thereon that extends along the length of the top side of handle portion  12 . On top of plateau  35  there is a raised portion  37  having saw teeth that are best seen in and described with reference to  FIG. 6B . On the opposite side walls of plateau  35  are “V” shaped protrusions  36  that have the same shape as “V” shaped groove  33  in upper portion  11 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , on assembly of upper handle portion  11  to lower handle portion  12 , when lower handle portion  12  is snap connected to upper handle portion  11  plateau  35  is inserted fully into groove  32  of upper portion  11  as shown. There is a force that “V” shaped protrusions  36  experience as they enter groove  32  that momentarily deforms the side walls of upper handle portion  11  outward. Upon being fully inserted “V” shaped protrusions  36  lie within “V” shaped groove  33  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, saw tooth raised portion  37  on top of plateau  35  lies within saw tooth raised portion  34  in groove  32 . This is best seen in and described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In  FIG. 6A  is again shown the end view ( FIG. 4 ) of first/upper handle portion  11  alongside  FIG. 6B  which is a side view of a segment of upper handle portion  11 . This is done to best correlate the elements of upper handle portion  11  between the end and side views in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . In  FIG. 6B  raised portion  34  in the bottom of groove  32  is best seen to be a “sawtooth” ridge. In  FIG. 6C  is shown an end view ( FIG. 4 ) of lower handle portion  12  alongside  FIG. 6D  which is a side view of a segment of lower handle portion  12 . This is done to best correlate the elements of lower handle portion  12  between the end and side views in  FIGS. 6C and 6D . In  FIG. 6B  raised portion  37  on top of plateau  35  is also seen to be a “sawtooth” ridge that is the same as saw tooth ridge  34  in  FIG. 6B . When upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are snap fit together they appear as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . It is best seen in  FIG. 7B  how the “sawtooth” ridge of raised portion  34  meshes with the “sawtooth” ridge of raised portion  37 . 
     The meshed “sawtooth” ridges shown  FIG. 7  are used to implement an adjustment mechanism for the novel articulating toothbrush  10 . These “sawtooth” ridges are not shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A and  3 A but may be utilized therewith. Without such an adjustment locking mechanism a person utilizing toothbrush  10  manually applies a linear force to upper portion  11  with respect to lower portion  12 , such as indicated by arrows W 1  and W 2 , to bend the bristled head at the outer end of upper portion  11  upward into a concave shape, as shown in  FIG. 2A , or downward into a convex shape, as shown  FIG. 3A . However, the user of toothbrush  10  must apply a continuing force to upper element  11  and lower element  12  to maintain the bristled head in either the concave or convex shape. When no such force is applied upper element  11  and lower element  12  will return to their neutral position, shown  FIG. 1A , and the tips of bristles  16  will all lie in a flat plane. 
     When toothbrush  10  has the “sawtooth” ridges shown in  FIGS. 6B ,  6 D and  7 B, as the user applies a linear force to upper portion  11  with respect to lower portion  12 , such as indicated by arrows W 1  and W 2  in  FIGS. 2A and 3A  to bend the bristled head at the outer end of upper portion  11 , the “sawtooth” ridges  34  of upper handle portion  11  are forced over the “sawtooth” ridges  37  of lower handle portion  12 . After being so moved linearly the meshing “sawtooth” ridges will remain where they are at without a continuing force being applied to upper handle portion  11  with respect to lower handle portion  12 . By having many “sawtooth” ridges a user of toothbrush  10  may adjust the degree of upward bend or downward bend of the bristled head at the outer end of upper portion  11 . Alternately, a continuous row of “sawtooth” ridges need not be utilized. Rather, two single “V” shaped ridges may be utilized to lock upper handle portion  11  with respect to lower handle portion  12  at the furthest travel ends shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . This latter alternative configuration is not shown in the drawings. The height of the saw tooth ridges, and the degree of their slope will determine the ease with which they will pass over each other and yet provide an efficient locking between the upper and lower handle portions  11  and  12 . Preferably, the height of the saw teeth will be small although they are shown larger in  FIGS. 6B ,  6 D and  7 B only for the sake of understanding. 
       FIGS. 8A&amp; 8B ,  9 A&amp; 9 B and  10 A&amp; 10 B show an alternative embodiment  31  of the novel articulating toothbrush wherein upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are held together by other than a “snap fit” means and adjustment and position locking of toothbrush  31  are accomplished in a different matter. The different manner in which this is accomplished is shown in and described with reference to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 . 
     First, referring briefly to  FIG. 15 , and when alternative toothbrush  31  is assembled lower handle portion  12  is rotated in the direction of arrow W 7  until it meets upper handle portion  11 . At this position a three dimensional shaped “T” element  19  protruding from the top side of lower handle portion  12  deliberately does not line up with the wider left end ( 20   a  in  FIGS. 8B ,  9 B and  10 B) of hole  20 . The top of the “T” element  19  has a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of larger hole portion  20   a  so element  19  can pass there through when the two are aligned. 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , upper handle portion  11  is slid far enough to the right with respect to lower handle portion  12  until the “T” top of element  19  aligns with hole portion  20   a . The “T” top is then pushed through hole portion  20   a . When the sliding pressure on upper and lower handle portions  11  and  12  is released the “T” top of element  19  slides into the narrower portion of hole  20  and appears as in  FIG. 8B . The diameter of the “T” top is wider than the width of the narrower portion of hole  20  so it cannot pass back through the narrower portion of hole  20 . Upper handle portion  11  is held against lower handle portion  12  in a slidable manner for use of toothbrush  31 . 
     Again with respect to  FIG. 15 , after lower handle portion  11  is rotated down onto upper handle portion  11  and is held there as described in the previous paragraph, circular extension  27  lies in the center of elongated hole or slot  24  and shown  FIG. 8B . The diameter of extension  27  is only slightly less than the width of elongated slot  24  so it can move freely along the slot. 
     Turning to  FIG. 11  to describe an actuating button  21  and how it is attached to be used to adjust the articulating toothbrush  31  between its flat, concave and convex positions shown respectively in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C.  FIG. 11  is shown as an exploded view to better see all elements. As may be seen in  FIG. 11  slot  24  has an elongated shape with rounded end portions  22  and  23 . The width of the length of slot  24  is only slightly wider than the diameter of circular extension  27  so extension  27  easily enters slot  24 . The rounded ends  22  and  23  of slot  24  each have a circular recess cut in the surface of upper handle portion  11  that is coaxial with the rounded ends. This creates a recess or ledge  25  at each of rounded ends  22  and  23  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The diameter of the recesses or ledges  25  at either end of slot  24  are only slightly larger than the diameter of the head  39  of button  21 . 
     Circular extension  27  on lower handle element  12  has a circular hole  28  in its center as is seen in  FIG. 11 . The diameter of circular hole  28  is very slightly smaller than the diameter of a circular extension  26  extending from the bottom side of adjusting button  21 . To attach button  21  upper handle portion  11  is slid far enough to the right with respect to lower handle portion  12  until extension  27  aligns with rounded end  22  of elongated slot  24  closest to the bristled head of toothbrush  31 . This position is shown in  FIG. 11 . Although not shown in  FIG. 11 , extension  27  lies lengthwise in the center of slot  24  after upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are held together by element  19  as previously described. 
     The circular extension  26  extending from the bottom side of adjusting button  21  is then inserted into hole  28  in the top center of extension  27  and is fastened to extension  27  by interference fit or by an adhesive. Button  21  has a grooved top  29  to make it easier to apply pressure thereto and slide upper and lower handle portions  11  and  12  with respect to each other to adjust toothbrush  31  between its different positions shown in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C. 
     Turning to  FIG. 12  therein is shown an exploded side view of the extension  27  of lower handle portion  12  extending through the end of slot  24  closest to the bristled head of toothbrush  31  and button  21  is about to be attached thereto by interference fit. Circular extension  26  on the underside of button  21  is being moved in the direction of arrow W 3  to be inserted into hole  28  in the top of extension  27  to attach button  21  thereto. 
       FIG. 13  is similar to  FIG. 12  except it shows circular extension  26  fully inserted into hole  28  and the top of extension  27 . 
       FIG. 14  shows installed button  21  pushed down further so its actuating head  39  sits within recess  25 . Due to the spring action of arcuate member  14 , as previously described, head  39  will naturally remain within recess  25  once it has been pushed therein. As previously described with reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B  head  39  of button  21  normally rests in slot  24  approximately midway between its rounded ends  22  and  23  when the tips of the bristles  16  lie in a flat plane. When button  21  is moved in the direction of arrow W 4 , as shown  FIG. 9B , until it reaches the end of slot  24 , any downward pressure on button  21  causes it to move downward into recess  25  at the rounded end  23  of slot  24  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The spring action of arcuate member  14  causes head  39  of button  21  to remain in recess  25 . As a result, the user of toothbrush  31  does not have to maintain any pressure on button  21  to maintain toothbrush  31  and its bristles  16  in a concave state. Similarly, with reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , when button  21  is moved in the direction of arrow W 5 , as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10   b , until it reaches rounded end  22  of slot  24 , any downward pressure on button  21  causes it to move downward into recess  25  at the rounded end  22  of slot  24  as shown in  FIG. 14 . As a result, the user of toothbrush  31  does not have to maintain any pressure on button  21  to maintain toothbrush  31  and its bristles  16  in a convex state. When it is desired to change the bristles  16  of toothbrush  31  from either their concave or convex state upper handle portion  11  and lower handle portion  12  are squeezed together to push head  39  of button  21  out of the recess  25  at either end of slot  24 . A force may then be applied to button  21  to move it along slot  24  to a new position. 
       FIG. 16  shows another alternative embodiment of the invention in which additional bristles are added to the toothbrush, and in which a tongue scraper  38  is added. The additional bristles  16  are placed in and along the grooves  17  between the other bristles. In addition, a tongue scraper  38  may be added to the back or outer side of arcuate member  14 . The surface of tongue scrapers and their use is well known in the art. While the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 16  is shown with reference to the adjusting button  21  embodiment of the invention, the extra bristles and the tongue scraper  38  may be added to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     While what has been described herein is the preferred embodiment of the invention and two alternative embodiments those skilled in the art will understand that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.