A compact disposable toothbrush has a flat, elongate bristle-receiving body having bristles extending downward therefrom in the manner of a traditional toothbrush. A finger clip formed by elongate curved elastic portions extends upward along the length of the bristle receiving body. The elastic action of the curved portions secures mounting to varying sizes of finger. The finger clip has side openings in each and inner guide ridges to avoid lateral movement and rotation on the finger. A bristle cover snaps over bristle-receiving body for removal and replacement and seals against the body and the lower wall of the finger. The toothbrush and cover may be supplied as a kit with a single portion of toothpaste provided in the cover as snapped closed over the bristle portion of the toothbrush, the bristles extending into the toothpaste. The kit is supplied in a wrapper for sanitary distribution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to dental hygiene appliances. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact, disposable finger-mount toothbrush and kit.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many examples of compact toothbrushes such as travel toothbrushes which have removable handles which may be compactly stored in a kit or the like. The kit may also include a tube of toothpaste. Also known are finger-mount toothbrushes. These brushes are of two general types. One type has a brush on the end of a flexible finger cover or glove. Another type is placed on an index finger in the manner of a finger ring.

One problem with known designs, particularly those employing a flexible cover for the finger, is keeping the toothbrush bristles from rotating or pulling away from the finger during use. Many of the finger ring type also suffer from instability of placement relative to the finger and teeth during use. The finger ring type does not have a brush cover for single or multiple use and is either not provided in a kit including toothpaste, have a complicated, unreliable design for applying toothpaste to the bristles, or require a separate toothpaste tube either in the kit or separate therefrom.

It would be desirable to provide a compact, finger-mount toothbrush which may be used once and disposed of or repeatedly used, having a removable and replaceable cover for the bristles, the bristles having a single use portion of toothpaste provided directly on the bristles of the toothbrush. It would also be desirable that the compact toothbrush requires minimum manipulation to use. This would be particularly useful for photography and moving picture studios where a subject or actor may require a quick brushing. In such settings time is valuable and a compact toothbrush ready to use with minimum preparation effort is highly desirable. It would also be desirable that such a toothbrush be reusable, if desired, for the duration of a trip, etc., yet simple, compact, and inherently inexpensive to allow for disposable, one-time use.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a compact disposable finger-mount toothbrush solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compact disposable toothbrush of the present invention has a flat, elongate bristle-receiving body having bristles extending outward therefrom in the manner of a traditional toothbrush. A finger clip in the form of an open band ring formed by elongate curved elastic portions extends upward along the length of the bristle receiving body to partially surround the index finger. The elastic action of the curved portions allows for secure mounting to varying sizes of finger.

The elongate finger clip has side openings in each side to allow side portions of the finger to press into the openings reducing lateral and rotating movement of the brush bristle portion relative to the finger. Inner guide ridges extend along the length of the inner wall of the finger clip, further reducing rotation of the clip relative to the finger.

A bristle portion cover is provided which fully receives the bristles and conforms to the shape of the bristle-receiving body having an upper lip portion which snaps closed over the body and seals against the body and the lower wall of the finger clip to protect the bristles from contamination during storage, but is easily snapped away for use. The toothbrush and cover may be supplied as a kit with a single portion of toothpaste provided in the cover as snapped closed over the bristle portion of the toothbrush, the bristles extending into the toothpaste, making it compact and extremely easy and quick to use. The kit may be packaged in a sealed wrapper for sanitary distribution and storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a finger-mounted, disposable toothbrush provided in a kit having a toothbrush-conforming brush cover containing toothpaste.

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown an environmental perspective view of the finger-mounted toothbrush of the present invention referred to herein by the reference No.10. Toothbrush10has a bristle portion12mounted in a bristle receiver14which, in turn, is attached to finger clip16as shown being worn on index finger F of hand H. The bristles of bristle portion12are embedded at their upper ends in bristle receiver14. Bristle receiver14may be attached to finger clip16or be of unitary construction with finger clip16as desired.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an exploded view of the finger-mounted toothbrush10and the brush cover30and a side elevation of the closed kit with toothbrush10secured in brush cover30, respectively. Toothbrush10has bristle portion12mounted in a flat bristle receiver14connected with finger clip16as above. Finger clip16has curved elastic portions20forming a two-part open band ring-like structure which closes over a range of sizes of finger F once the elastic portions are spread apart by insertion of the finger therethrough. Finger clip curved elastic portions20have apertures22in the sides thereof for comfort during use. The apertures22also allow the skin of the user's finger to expand through the apertures, contributing to a firm fit.

Bristle receiver14has rounded ends26and generally parallel sides having snap ridge receiver grooves24therein. Brush cover30has an upper rim32, sidewalls34having rounded ends36, a separating tab38extending from one curved end at the lip32and opposed snap ridges40on the upper inner sides of sidewall34. Brush cover30has a bottom wall42.

As seen inFIG. 3, lip32of brush cover30conforms to and fits over bristle receiver14to form a seal therebetween. Snap ridges40engage snap ridge receiver grooves24to maintain bristle portion12within brush cover30until use. Toothpaste TP is contained in brush cover30, covering the lower portion of bristles12. Tab38is located at one end36of brush cover30at upper lip32, tab38being useful to provide separating force to overcome the holding force of snap ridges40to remove cover30from toothbrush10.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5there is shown a plan view and an end elevation view of the closed toothbrush kit. Finger clip16has a lower flat portion18connected with bristle receiver14and sealing against upper lip32of brush cover30. Tab38extends outward from one endwall36at upper lip32at one end.

As depicted inFIG. 4, the sidewalls of brush cover30may be wider at the proximate end36relative to tab38extends than at the distal end forming a tapered brush cover30fitting a like tapered bristle receiver14. Finger clip16has two spaced lengthwise guide ridges28extending upward along the substantial length of finger clip flat portion18. Each finger clip curved elastic portion20also has a lengthwise guide ride28extending along the substantial respective lengths thereof at points above and proximate to the upper edges of finger clip apertures22. Guide ridges28help maintain the toothbrush10secure on and aligned with finger F (seeFIG. 1) during brushing and to avoid rotation on the finger. The curved elastic portions20of the finger clip16maintain pressure on the inserted finger, keeping guide ridges firmly pressed against the finger, thus avoiding rotation around the finger.

In use, the user tears away any plastic wrapper and inserts his finger into the finger clip16of toothbrush10. He then pulls on tab38, snapping away the cover30. After use the toothbrush and cover may be disposed of or the toothbrush and cover washed and the cover snapped onto the toothbrush to cover the bristles for later use.

The toothbrush and case of the present invention is preferably made from appropriate plastic materials. The kit may be stored and distributed in a clear, plastic, tear-away wrapper to avoid tampering.