Abstract:
A toothbrush comprising a handle comprising a bend at approximately a midpoint thereof, a head support structure connected to the handle, and a partially spherical bristle cluster attached to the head support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/590,279, entitled “Spherical Head Toothbrush”, filed on Jul. 22, 2004, and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to dental hygiene. Particularly, the present invention relates to a uniquely-shaped toothbrush which enables a user to more thoroughly clean teeth in difficult to reach areas of the mouth. Attempts have been made at such a device, all with various deficiencies, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,291, to Lee, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,772, to Doyle.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention is of a toothbrush comprising: a handle comprising a bend at approximately a midpoint thereof; a head support structure connected to the handle; and a partially spherical bristle cluster attached to the head support. In the preferred embodiment, the head support and the handle join at an angle, most preferably at approximately 45 degrees. Bristles of the bristle cluster do not project beyond a plane defined by a top of the head support structure. The bristle cluster is approximately hemispherical or toroidal.  
         [0004]     The invention is also of a toothbrush comprising: a handle; a head support structure connected to the handle; and a partially spherical bristle cluster attached to and capped by the head support. Preferred features are as noted in the previous paragraph.  
         [0005]     The invention is further of a toothbrush comprising: a handle; a head support structure connected to the handle; and a substantially hemispherical or toroidal bristle cluster attached to and capped by the head support. Again, the preferred features are as noted two paragraphs above.  
         [0006]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a user with the ability to better brush the inside surfaces of his or her teeth for good dental health and to make it easier to clean those surfaces so that the user is more likely to do so.  
         [0007]     A primary advantage of the present invention is that the ball-shaped tip with myriad bristles at many angles and the neck piece at a certain angle allow for easy and more effective cleaning of the inside surfaces of the teeth, because the user can contact the teeth with the 45 degree angle of the spherical head, then turn and roll the brush head to reach with maximum contact to the farther inside dental surfaces.  
         [0008]     Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a second embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , toothbrush  10  preferably comprises bristle cluster  20  which is preferably cut to form a substantially hemispherical shape. Bristle cluster  20  is preferably fixedly secured to terminal end  30  of handle  40 . It is preferable that terminal end  30  of handle  40  be shaped in such a fashion that some individual bristles of bristle cluster  20  project in the general direction of the proximal end of handle  40 , but others extend in other directions up to being perpendicular to the general direction of the proximal end of the handle. As such, some individual bristles of bristle cluster  20  preferably extend in a substantially parallel fashion with at least a portion of handle  40 , thus allowing a user the ability to effectively brush a back portion of the user&#39;s teeth with handle  40  projecting out of a front portion of the user&#39;s mouth. While desirable results can be produced when handle  40  is substantially straight, bend  50  is preferably disposed near a central portion of handle  40 .  
         [0013]     Some of the problems which are addressed by the present invention include failure to brush the inside surfaces of the teeth; poor brushing of the inside surfaces of the teeth; infrequent brushing of the inside surfaces of the teeth; inability to clean these surfaces easily and well with standard toothbrushes; poor dental health resulting from the above—plaque, gingivitis, periodontitis, other dental diseases, halitosis etc.; pain to gums when trying to use a standard toothbrush to clean the inside surfaces; all of the above with respect to brushing at the back ends of the molars or other teeth farthest within the mouth; costly dental care for failure to clean the inside and back end surfaces adequately; lack of awareness about options for brushing and commitment to the general care of one&#39;s teeth; and all of the above as well with respect to orthodontic care and to the care and brushing of braces as well as dental care for dogs, cats, and other pets.  
         [0014]     The invention preferably has a standard hard or soft plastic or wooded handle, a long slender neck piece at such an angle as to make brushing the inside surfaces of the teeth easier, and a spherical ball at the end of the neck piece from which myriad bristles of the same or varying lengths (⅛, ¼, or ½ inches) extend, in the same way as when a porcupine curls into a ball and his quills come out from the skin at all angles, and in this invention form a spherical shape (referred to as the “ball-head”), so as to make cleaning easy and effective.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view drawing of a first embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention. While those skilled in the art will recognize that various sizes dimensions in accordance with the teachings of this application will produce desirable results, an adult-size toothbrush preferably has a handle of approximately six inches in length with or without bend  50  disposed therein. The substantially hemispherical-shaped bristle cluster preferably has a diameter of about one-half of an inch. While handle  40  can be substantially straight, if bend  50  is disposed therein, it is preferable that bend  50  comprise an angle of about 155 degrees. As depicted in this figure, the darkened area of the bristle cluster can comprise bristles of the same or of varying lengths, and can project from terminal end  30  of handle  40  at a myriad of angles such that only the white area of proximal end  30 , depicted in  FIG. 1 , is not bristled. Bristle cluster  20  is preferably angled (or hooked slightly down) as shown so that it forms an angle of about 45 degrees with a portion of handle  40 , and consistently with the rigid spherical head containing the bristles.  
         [0016]     Upon studying this application, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that numerous materials and/or combinations thereof can be used for the handle of the present invention. However, the handle of the present invention is preferably made from a wood or plastic material and most preferably from a plastic material. The individual bristles are preferably made from a material commonly used for such purposes, such as nylon, and are preferably from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch in length. Bristle length can vary or be the same over the ball-head depending on the fashion in which the bristles extend from terminal end  30  of handle  40 . The ends of the bristles preferably do not extend beyond the “Bristle Plane” line into the white area of the ball-head. Further considerations are:  
         [0017]     (1) The neck piece can also be made so that its angle is adjustable where it joins the handle, at stops from 110 degrees to 180 degrees;  
         [0018]     (2) The neck piece can be made to fold to touch the handle; and  
         [0019]     (3) The toothbrush can be made smaller or larger proportionately for adults and children.  
         [0020]     The toothbrush can also be electric. The electric model may use twin ball-heads and ball-head movements:  
         [0021]     (1) The embodiment in  FIG. 1  preferably would use a motion in which the head moves from side to side (as when the toothbrush is vertical and the ball-head is toward the viewer). The ball-head can be permanent or replaceable on the neck piece or on the handle. The electric model&#39;s handle and/or its neck piece can be a different size and shape than the manual embodiment to accommodate the mechanisms, batteries, cord plug-ins, etc., of electric usage. Sonic features can be incorporated.  
         [0022]     (2) The embodiment in  FIG. 2  preferably would use a ball-head with bristles all the way around the ball-head in the darkened area, congruent on the sphere. This ball-head, as in  FIG. 1 , would have bristles extending out from many points of the darkened area, although, as with the ball-head in  FIG. 1 , the ends of the bristles would not extend beyond the “Bristle Plane” into the white portion of the ball-head. The ball-head in  FIG. 2  would preferably sit or attach to the mid-point of the neck piece, and not be angled at all. The ball-head would spin in a circle. It would be permanent or replaceable on the neck piece as could be the neck piece on the handle. The electric version&#39;s handle and neck piece can be a different size and shape than the brush to accommodate the mechanisms, batteries, cord plug-ins, etc. Again, sonic features can be incorporated.  
         [0023]     (3) The toothbrush can be made smaller or larger proportionately to suit adults, children, dogs, cats, etc.  
         [0024]     Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above and/or in the attachments, and of the corresponding application(s), are hereby incorporated by reference.