Toothbrush with Integrated Tongue Scraper

The present invention is a toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper is an all in one dental cleansing device that facilitates the cleaning of the teeth and tongue. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper contains a toothbrush body, a tongue scraper, and a scraper shuttle. The toothbrush body constitutes a scraper receiving channel. The scraper receiving channel contains a proximal end and a distal end. The scraper receiving channel traverses between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush body. The tongue scraper is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle. The scraper shuttle is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel, where the scraper shuttle traverses between the proximal end and the distal end in order to displace the tongue scraper between a retracted position and a deployed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toothbrushes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toothbrush with an integrated tongue scraper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, most existing toothbrushes lack an integrated tongue scraper for the convenience of cleaning tongues while brushing teeth. Without a tongue cleaning tool, users normally rely on brushing their tongues with the existing toothbrush bristles, which is unsuitable and ineffective in properly cleaning the tongue. Some toothbrushes employ tongue scraping bristles along the back of the toothbrush head to alleviate this, but these tongue scraping bristles usually wear out quickly, and are limited to light use. Dedicated tongue scrapers exist but are often a hassle for a user to carry around and handle. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a toothbrush that integrates a tongue scraper.

The present invention aims to solve these problems. The present invention offers a complete mouth cleaning system which employs an integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush of the present invention conceals and secures the tongue scraper such that the toothbrush is compact and non-intrusive during tooth brushing operation. The present invention can be easily cleaned and provides ample amounts of air-flow ventilation when drying and not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper comprises a toothbrush body, a tongue scraper, and a scraper shuttle. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper allows the user to clean their teeth and tongue using the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The user can deploy the integrated tongue scraper along the toothbrush body when in use or retract the tongue scraper along the toothbrush body when not in use or when storing the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush body comprises a scraper receiving channel. The toothbrush body serves as the chassis of the toothbrush that facilitates the scraper receiving channel. The scraper receiving channel comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The scraper receiving channel traverses between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush body. The tongue scraper is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle. The scraper shuttle is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel, where the scraper shuttle traverses between the proximal end and the distal end in order to displace the tongue scraper between a retracted position and a deployed position.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.

In reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 6, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1comprises a toothbrush body11, a tongue scraper12, and a scraper shuttle13. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1allows the user to clean their teeth and tongue using the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1. The user can deploy the integrated tongue scraper12along the toothbrush body11when in use or retract the tongue scraper12along the toothbrush body11when not in use or when storing the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1is made out of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1may take the form of any size, facilitating all ages or for any applicational use, such as, but not limited to travel, home, professional, or any other applicational use. The toothbrush body11comprises a scraper receiving channel111, as shown inFIGS. 1-5. The toothbrush body11serves as the chassis of the toothbrush that facilitates the scraper receiving channel111. The scraper receiving channel111comprises a proximal end1111and a distal end1112, as shown inFIGS. 1-2 and 4. The scraper receiving channel111traverses between the proximal end1111and the distal end1112within the toothbrush body11, as shown inFIGS. 1-2 and 4. The tongue scraper12is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle13, as shown inFIG. 5. The scraper shuttle13is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel111, where the scraper shuttle13traverses between the proximal end1111and the distal end1112in order to displace the tongue scraper12between a retracted position and a deployed position, as shown inFIGS. 1-2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1further comprises at least one vent aperture14, as shown inFIGS. 1-6. The at least one vent aperture14is distributed about the scraper receiving channel111. The at least one vent aperture14traverses through the toothbrush body11into the scraper receiving channel111. The at least one vent aperture14allows ample aeration and water permeability of the scraper receiving channel111. More specifically, the at least one vent aperture14facilitates easier drying, cleaning, and sterilizing of the scraper receiving channel111.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush body11further comprises a toothbrush head112and a toothbrush handle113, as shown inFIGS. 1-2, 4, and 6. The toothbrush head112is terminally connected to the toothbrush body11opposite to the scraper receiving channel111. The toothbrush head112serves as the teeth cleaning member of the toothbrush body11. In another embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush head112is removably connected to the toothbrush body11, facilitating a replaceable toothbrush head112. The scraper receiving channel111traverses between the proximal end1111and the distal end1112within the toothbrush handle113. The toothbrush handle113serves as the grasping member of the toothbrush body11.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1further comprises a cap15, as shown inFIGS. 1-2, 4, and 6. The tongue scraper12comprises a shuttle connection end121, a tongue scraping portion122, and a cap connection end123, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. The shuttle connection end121and the cap connection end123are terminally positioned opposite to each other along the tongue scraper12. The tongue scraper12portion is positioned between the shuttle connection end121and the cap connection end123. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tongue scraper12may take the form of a copper infused band-style tongue scraper12but may take the form of any other suitable tongue scraper12with anti-septic properties. The scraper shuttle13is connected terminally adjacent to the shuttle connection end121. The cap15is connected terminally adjacent to the cap connection end123. The cap15allows the user to pull or push the tongue scraper12along the scraper receiving channel111.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1further comprises a detent mechanism16, as shown inFIGS. 1-5. The detent mechanism16comprises a detent arm161and a plurality of detent notches162. The at plurality of detent notches162is positioned within the scraper receiving channel111. The detent arm161is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle13. The detent arm161is selectably engaged with the plurality of detent notches162. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detent mechanism16catches the scraper shuttle13along the scraper receiving channel111, such that the tongue scraper12is held in place along one detent notch162.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper receiving channel111further comprises a scraper receiving rail1113, as shown inFIGS. 2-3 and 5. The tongue scraper12comprises a shuttle connection end121, as shown inFIGS. 4-5. The scraper shuttle13comprises a scraper guide131and a scraper connection tab132, as shown inFIGS. 4-5. The scraper receiving rail1113traverses along the scraper receiving channel111. The scraper guide131is slidably engaged with the scraper receiving rail1113. The shuttle connection end121is removably attached to the scraper guide131through the scraper connection tab132. The removably attached components that constitutes the scraper shuttle13facilitates proper servicing, cleaning, and sterilization of the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper1.