Abstract:
A multi-positionable toothbrush comprising a brush array member shiftably supported on the forward end of a hollow handle member within which is housed a toothed element adapted to change its position in accordance with the tooth setting in reference to a spring biassed lever having a detent adapted to be disposed between the teeth in the toothed element; the particular disposition being effected by pressing the lever against its spring bias to allow the brush array member to have its position changed relative to the axis of the handle member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of multi-positionable brushes in general, and, in particular, to multi-positionable toothbrushes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The desirability for certain uses of a toothbrush, the bristle array of which can be moved angularly with respect to the handle has been recognized for more than a 100 years, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 430,909. Since then, there have been issued numerous United States and foreign patents on toothbrushes designed with such capability. Examples are British Patent No. 191,745, issued in 1923; Austrian Patent No. 134,759, issued in 1933; French Patent No. 1,075,819, issued in 1954; German Patent No. 214,298, issued in 1960; French Patent No. 2,450,579, issued in 1979; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,731,896, 5,033,154, 5,003,658, 5,228,166 and No. 5,442,831, issued Aug. 22, 1995, to one of the present co-inventors. 
     The problem with the prior art devices is that they have not met all of the desired features for an angularly adjustable toothbrush. Principal among these features are: effectiveness in holding each angular position in which the toothbrush may be set; simplicity of construction and assembly and related requirement of minimizing the expense of its manufacture; convenience for the user, both from the standpoint of adjusting the angle and from the standpoint of holding the brush during the toothbrushing operation. It is also desirable to have the brush offer the user at least four or five different angular positions. Prior art brushes have failed adequately to meet one or more of these desirable features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention may be constructed of five moldable parts and a small spring member. 
     These five parts are the brush array holder, two semi-cylindrical or other elongated space defining halves, a brush array support element and an angle selector member. The brush array member is elongated and rigid, with its forward end carrying bristles extending transversely outwardly from one side of the forward end. The after end of the brush array member contains an axial bore which extends part-way into the member and terminates in a short transverse passage. The handle itself may be formed by bringing together the two semi-cylindrical or other elongated space defining halves, each being closed by a transverse closure at its after end and capped at its forward end by a semi-dome having an arcuate outer edge with a recess to define one half of a first slot. The upper side edge of each said half is recessed similarly to form a second slot when the two halves are brought together. 
     The inner walls of the two cylindrical halves, when brought together, will define a cavity in which are provided a forward pair of journals adjacent the dome and centrally disposed with respect thereto. A second pair of journals may be provided rearwardly of the first journals and adjacent the bottom edges of the walls of the two halves. In addition, one of the halves may be molded to provide a projecting anchor for a spring hereinafter described. Provision is made for the two halves to be snapped together to form an integral handle member. 
     For disposition within the cylindrical or other defined cavity defined by the walls of the halves when brought together, is a partially rotatable brush array support element comprising a forward arcuate block having substantially the same radius of curvature as that of the inside of the dome formed by bringing together the two semi-domes. Extending rearwardly from the arcuate block and, preferably, unitary therewith is a rectangular block which terminates in a plurality of transverse ridges and valleys. Trunnions are provided on each side of the arcuate block to be inserted for rotational movement within the first journals. A rigid stem extends radially forward of the arcuate block for insertion into the bore in the after end of the brush array member, the stem having a hook or transverse portion at its end for snap locking in the transverse orifice at the inner end of the bore. This stem extends through the first slot formed by the recesses in the semi domes of the two elongated halves when brought together. Preferably, the after end of the bristle array member is flared outwardly, not only to cover the slot but also to provide some support for the brush array member against the outside of the dome wall. The brush array member thus may be swung angularly with respect to the axis of the handle section--to the extent of the angle circumscribed by the first slot through which the projecting stem may be moved. 
     Selection of the particular angle is determined by the setting of the angle selector element, the base of which is provided with laterally extending trunnions which are supported in the second journals within the handle cavity. This element extends upwardly into the cavity and is capped by a lever which is disposed to protrude up through the second slot. A projection extends forwardly from the front face of the angle selector element. 
     A spring extends between the inner wall anchor and the angle selector element to bias the latter forwardly to urge its forward projection into one of the valleys in the terminus of the rectangular block of the brush array support element. 
     It may be seen from the description of the novel toothbrush of the present invention that it is a very simple matter to adjust the angle of the brush array member with respect to the axis of the handle member. One simply pulls back the lever which protrudes through the second slot defined by the recesses in the upper edges of the elongated space defining halves which, when brought together and secured, form the handle member. This results in the disengagement of the projection which extends forwardly from the angle selector element into one of the valleys at the terminus of the rectangular block of the partially rotatable brush array support element. Thereby, one may manually adjust the angle of the brush array member with respect to the axis of the handle member. When the desired angle is attained, release of the lever will result in the forward projection of the angle selector element engaging a valley at the after end of the rectangular block of the brush array support element, thereby to secure the brush array member and the handle member in the set angle until the lever protruding from the handle member is again moved back against the bias of the spring. The outer end of the lever may be formed as a flattened element which slides against the outside of the elongated half through which the lever projects. 
     It may thus be seen that the present invention provides an easily adjustable angled toothbrush of a simple design which may be fabricated of five molded parts and a spring, all of which are easily assembled. While the two elongated space defining halves comprising the handle could be simply secured other than by adhesive, it would also be possible to secure those halves together by snap locks which are well known in the plastic art. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention in its axially extended position; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial view similar to FIG. 3 showing the brush array member elevated to its maximum angle in relation to the axis of the handle member; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a toothbrush of the present invention in which handle has been streamlined. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-4 of the application illustrate an embodiment of the invention with an enlarged cylindrical handle in order to more clearly disclose the mechanical aspects of the invention. Desirably, however, a toothbrush with the features herein described would be provided with a thinner handle, and one not cylindrical in configuration, so as to appear more as shown in FIG. 5. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a toothbrush 10 is constructed of brush array member 12 and a handle member 14. The brush array member 12 may be molded of plastic as an elongated element 16 having a forward end 18 supporting a brush or brush array 20. The after end 22 of the brush array member terminates in a surface 24 which is arcuate and flared out as shown at 26 in FIG. 2. The arcuate surface 24 has an axial bore 28 which terminates in a transverse passage 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4). 
     The handle member 14 may be formed of two semi-cylindrical or other elongated space defining halves 14a and 14b. Each of these halves 14a, 14b is capped by an arcuate semi-dome 14a&#39; and 14b&#39;, respectively. Each of said semi-domes may be recessed at 32 (not shown at 14a&#39;) so that, when the two semi-domes 14a&#39; and 14b&#39; are brought together, a first arcuate slot 34 is defined. In addition, each of the two elongated halves 14a and 14b may be recessed at 36a, 36b, respectively along its upper edges 14a&#34;, 14b&#34;. The inside wall 14b&#34;&#39; of the half 14b is preferably molded to provide a first journal 36, a second journal 38, and a spring anchor member 40. The inside wall (not shown) of the half 14a would be similarly molded with journals, (also not shown) corresponding to, and aligned with, journals 36 and 38. The after end of each half 14a, 14b is preferably closed by a transverse bottom wall 42a and 42b, respectively. Desirably, also a plurality of snap lock recesses 44 are provided along the upper edges 14b&#34; of the half 14b and the lower edges 14b&#34;&#34; of the half 14b. Not shown, but provided correspondingly along the edges 14a&#34; and 14b&#34;&#34; are a series of projections located and designed to snap into the recesses 44 in the half 14b, thereby to enable the two halves to be brought together and snap-locked in a manner well known in the manufacture and assembly of plastic parts. 
     Before the two halves 14a and 14b are brought together, a brush array support element 48, and an angle selector element 50, together with a spring 52 are disposed within the cavity 26 defined by the inside walls of the elongated halves 14a and 14b. 
     The brush array support element 48 is formed of a forward arcuate block section 48a from the rear side of which extends a rectangular block section 48b, the after end 48b&#39; of which terminates in an a series of transverse ridges 48b&#34; and valleys 48b&#34;&#39;. Desirably, the element 48 is unitary. Extending from each side 49 of the element 48 is a trunnion 51 adapted rotatably to seat in the first journal 36. A stem 54 (FIGS. 3 and 4) protrudes from the forward arcuate block 48a of the element 48. This stem 54 terminates in a hook or transverse member 54&#39;. This stem is designed to fit in the bore 28 in the brush array member 12, with its hook 54&#39; engaging the transverse passageway 30 at the inner end of the bore 28. 
     The angle selector element 50 includes a lower end 56 from which extends from each side a trunnion 58 to be mounted for rotation in the second journals 38. The element 56 has an upwardly extending section 60 adapted to extend through the slot formed by the recesses 36a and 36b and capped by a cylindrical head 62. Extending forward of the front face 60&#39; of the section 60 is an angular projection 64, and from its back side 60&#34;, an arcuate projection 66. 
     The toothbrush of the present invention is assembled by first disposing the brush array support element 48 within the semi-dome 14b&#39; of the handle half 14b, and inserting a trunnion 51 in the journal 36. 
     One end of spring 52 is inserted in the spring anchor member 40, and the other end, in the orifice 68 in the side of the element 50. At this time, the projection 64 will be inserted in the one of valleys 48a&#34;, 48b&#34;&#39; at the rear of the rectangular block section 48b of the brush array support element 48. The other half cylinder 14a is then brought edgewise against the cylinder half 14b, with the trunnions 51 and 58 being seated in corresponding journals 36 and 38 (not shown in 14a). The two halves may then be snapped together by inserting projections (not shown in 14a in the recesses 44 in the upper and lower edges 14b&#34; and 14b&#34;&#34; of the cylinder half 14b. Stem 54 is then inserted in the axial bore 28 to the point where its hook or transverse element snaps into the transverse passage 30 at the end of the bore 28 in the elongated brush array member 12. 
     Adjustment of the angular selection of the brush array member 12 with respect to the handle member 14 may be accomplished by pulling back on the cylindrical cap 62 in the direction of the arrow 68 (FIG. 4), thereby moving the element 50 rearwardly to disengage the projection 64 from any of the valleys 48b&#34;&#39; and to clear the ridges 48b&#34;. When such clearance is effected, the brush array support element 48 to which the brush array member 12 is attached by the stem 54 may be swung upward in an arc limited by the first slot 34 formed by the recesses 32 in the semi-domes 14a and 14b of the semi-cylindrical halves 14a and 14b which form the handle member. The movement of the angle selection element 50 may be limited by a stop member 70 which may be provided on one or both of the inside walls 14a&#39; (not shown) and 14b&#39; of the semi-cylindrical members 14a and 14b. 
     When the element 50 is disposed in its rearmost position, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the projection 64 clears the ridges 48b&#39; of the member 48, the brush array member 12 may be set to any of the angular positions shown in FIG. 3 and locked in such position by the release of the element 50, thereupon to be pressed forward by the spring 52 to seat the projection 64 in one of the valleys 48b&#34;&#39;, or on one side or another of the terminus of the rectangular block 48b. 
     As previously mentioned, the preferred configuration of the handle members is shown in FIG. 5 where it may be seen that the two halves may be rectangular with rounded outer edges so that the embodiment appears to look and feel like a customary toothbrush and the lever cap appears as a sloping slideable element. However, when the halves are referred to in the claims as being semi-cylindrical, that term should be deemed to comprehend any other shape of an elongated space-defining half member which would be similarly constructed internally and would perform the same functions as those disclosed in FIGS. 1-4 and described hereinabove. 
     It may be seen from the foregoing description, that an adjustable angle toothbrush may be provided by the present invention which may be manufactured and assembled easily by the use of molded parts, and when assembled, may be simply operated to allow a predetermined range of angular adjustments with respect to the axis of the handle member.