Abstract:
A toothbrush which includes a handle with a head portion at one end, a recess in the head, a bristle pack located in the recess with the bristles attached by one end to the base of the recess, the recess opening being bounded by inwardly directed shoulders, and the outer extremities of the bristles lying in abutting relationship with the inner faces of the shoulders. There is a fluid supply line provided along or through the handle and communicating with the recess. Preferably, the bristle pack is formed by a number of clusters of bristles, it being the outermost clusters that are in close abutting relationship with the edges of the shoulders of the recess, and adjacent clusters at least at the edges of the pack being in close but spaced relationship.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/509,370, filed Mar. 24, 2000, as well as claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/268,260, filed Feb. 13, 2001.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    This invention relates to toothbrushes and in particular toothbrushes for use in oral hygiene systems suited for use by bedridden users.  
           [0003]    Conventionally, water is applied to the bristled head of a toothbrush to assist the cleaning action of a dentifrice applied to its bristles, and following brushing, it is usual to rinse the mouth. To the able bodied or to those able to sit upright without undue difficulty, cleaning the teeth is not particularly troublesome.  
           [0004]    However, when it is the case of a bedridden patient, not able to sit upright, or only able to sit upright with considerable difficulty and discomfort, cleaning the teeth is particularly troublesome, and especially rinsing the mouth, as neither the application of fluid to assist the action of the dentifrice nor subsequent rinsing of the mouth can be effected in conventional manner with the patient in the prone position.  
           [0005]    It is known from such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,953 to provide a toothbrush with first and second passageway means through the handle for the supply of fluid to the bristles of the brush and its removal from the patient&#39;s mouth by suction, in an attempt to overcome the difficulties mentioned above in relation to patients who must, of necessity, remain in a prone position.  
           [0006]    However, such a construction still leaves room for improvement in the sense that with prone patients it can frequently occur that the patient&#39;s mouth inadvertently closes on to the toothbrush during use causing an undesired build-up of vacuum during removal of spent fluid. This problem is attended to in European Patent Number 0557337B where a toothbrush construction is provided that ensures that in the circumstance when a patient&#39;s mouth does inadvertently close on to the toothbrush there is the substantial guarantee that a vacuum build-up in the mouth is prevented.  
         OBJECT AND SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush construction of simpler and less expensive construction but with the same time a significantly improved ability to provide and remove fluid and prevent a vacuum build-up.  
           [0008]    According to the present invention, a toothbrush comprises a handle with a head portion at one end, a recess in the head, a bristle pack located in the recess with the bristles attached by one end to the base of the recess, the recess opening being bounded by inwardly directed shoulders, and the outer extremities of the bristles lying in abutting relationship with the inner faces of the shoulders, and there being a fluid supply line provided along or through the handle and communicating with the recess. Preferably, the bristle pack is formed by a number of clusters of bristles, it being the outermost clusters that are in close abutting relationship with the edges of the shoulders of the recess, and adjacent clusters at least at the edges of the pack being in close but spaced relationship.  
           [0009]    Thus, and in use, water or cleansing agent cam be supplied to the bristle pack to emerge from the bristle pack during teeth cleaning, and simultaneously, the connection of the vacuum line to a source of reduced pressure or a vacuum pump causes the extraction of water or cleansing fluid from the mouth.  
           [0010]    Most desirably, the bristle pack is dimensioned such that it locates in the recess in the bristle head with clearance on all four sides, the outer bristles or bristle clusters extending vertically from the base of the recess in alignment with the edges of the flanges at the edges of the recess to ensure that vacuum is provided around the whole of the bristle pack.  
           [0011]    By having the bristles or bristle clusters at the edge of the bristle pack in abutting engagement with the faces of the shoulders at the edges of the recess, there is a major concentration of vacuum created around the base of the bristles between adjacent bristles or bristle clusters not only at the edges of the bristle pack, but also over the whole of its area, maximizing the extraction of fluid from the mouth of the user.  
           [0012]    Able bodied users can deal adequately with fluid in the mouth should it be that removal of fluid is not at the same rate as the supply of water or cleansing fluid. However, with users who must remain prone, are ill or semi-conscious, it is essential that control of water or cleansing fluid supply to the mouth is balanced with the rate of extraction, to ensure that the mouth of the user does not fill with fluid.  
           [0013]    Equally, it is important that if such users close their mouth around the toothbrush, an excess vacuum does not build up in the mouth. It is therefore desirable that there is an air vent means located on the handle and extending along the handle form a position in close proximity to the bristles, the air vent means having an inlet to longitudinal spaced relationship along the length of the handle to prevent the inlet being closed by the lips of the user.  
           [0014]    The vent may be a tube-like member located on the handle, but preferably the vent is formed by at least one and preferably two diametrically opposed passageways within the confines of the handle, with longitudinally spaced access holes through the outer wall of the passageway.  
           [0015]    To enable the toothbrush of the invention to be used in conjunction with a machine such as is disclosed in European Patent Number 0557337B, the end of the handle remote form the bristle head may be fashioned as a plug-like connector, the machine being provided with a mating plug-like connector such that the first chamber can be connected to a source of vacuum, i.e., to a fluid pump on the machine, by one simple act. It enables a brush to be dedicated to a particular use in the circumstances where it is the machine of European Patent Number 0557337B, and in use as in such as a hospital.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an end view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 2;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 2;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 2;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 2;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a bottom portion of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush which is similar to that which is shown in FIG. 1, but where the toothbrush has a bend;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush which is in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 12;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is an enlarged top plan view of an end of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 12 and 13;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 12 and 13;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a toothbrush which is in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of a toothbrush which is in accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the head of a toothbrush which in accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein bristles are attached directly to a base; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an end of a toothbrush which is in accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein there are a plurality of ribs on the surface of the toothbrush to prevent a build up of vacuum.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]    While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.  
         [0037]    Shown in the drawings are several toothbrushes which are in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a toothbrush  10   a  which is in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 shows a toothbrush  10   b  which is in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 12 and 13 show a toothbrush  10   c  which is in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 shows a toothbrush  10   d  which is in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 shows the cross-sectional profile of a toothbrush  10   e  which is in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the head of a toothbrush  10   f  which in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an end of a toothbrush  10   g  which is in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Each of the toothbrushes  10   a - 10   g  provide fluid supply, suction for removing the fluid from a user&#39;s mouth, and vent means for preventing an excess vacuum from building up in the mouth. Additionally, each of the toothbrushes  10   a - 10   g  have a relatively simple and inexpensive construction.  
         [0038]    The toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will first be described in detail, and then the other toothbrushes  10   b - 10   g  will be described with emphasis on the differences. With regard to the toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 shows an end view thereof, and FIGS.  4 - 9  show various cross-sectional views taken along corresponding lines of FIG. 2 (i.e. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 2, etc.).  
         [0039]    The toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a first chamber in the form of a hollow handle  20  to provide a passageway  22  (see FIGS.  5 - 10 ) for vacuum, there being a connection  24  to the passageway  22 , which allows connection of the passageway  22  to a source of vacuum. Extending through the handle  20  is a fluid supply line  26 , there being a connection  28  to the fluid supply line  26 , which allows connection of the fluid supply line  26  to an appropriate source of fluid to be delivered to the mouth of a patient.  
         [0040]    At the closed end of the handle is a bristle head  30  in which are located packed bristles  32 , the supply line  26  for fluid emerging directly in the center of the packed bristles  32 . The bristles  32  are surrounded by an area or opening  34  that can be a series of slots or can be a surface through which are provided a series of holes whereby to communicate the area immediately around the bristles  32  with the interior of the bristle head  30  and hence to the vacuum passageway  22 .  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the handle  20 , to the side from which the bristles  32  emerge, is a longitudinal groove  40 . As will be described later herein, the longitudinal groove  40  functions as a vent to prevent build up of vacuum in the mouth of a user if the user closes her or her mouth onto the toothbrush  10   a.    
         [0042]    As shown in FIGS.  4 - 9 , the toothbrush  10   a  includes a lower portion  42  and an upper portion  44  which is attached, such as via welding, an adhesive, etc.) to the lower portion  42 . As shown in FIGS.  4 - 9 , the lower portion  42  and upper portion  44  mate to form the passageways  22  and  24  for vacuum and fluid, respectively. FIG. 10 shows the lower portion  42  removed from the upper portion  44 . As shown in FIG. 10, the lower portion  42  provides the connections  24  and  28  to vacuum and fluid, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper portion  44  includes a pad  50  through which the fluid line  26  emerges. The bristles  32  are attached directly to the top surface of the pad  50 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the bristles  32  may be attached directly to a surface of the lower portion  42 .  
         [0043]    As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rim  52  is fitted to the pad  50 . Specifically, a ridge  54  of the rim  52  is fitted under a lip  56  on the pad  50 . The rim  52  includes upper interned edges or shoulders  60  which contact the outermost bristles. The rim  52  creates a recess  62  from which the bristles  32  emerge. The contact between the outermost bristles and the upper interned edges  60  of the rim  52  provides for enhanced concentration of vacuum withdrawal of spent fluid and debris through the bristles  32 . Additionally, the openings  34  into the vacuum passageway  22  (see FIG. 5) is within the area (i.e. recess  62 ) defined by the rim  52 .  
         [0044]    As shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and  9 , the toothbrush  10   a,  and specifically the upper portion  44  thereof, provides structure for receiving a placard  70  for identifying, for example, a patient. The structure may include inwardly extending flanges  72  which define a channel  74  for receiving the placard  70  (the placard  70  is not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, but is shown in FIG. 2).  
         [0045]    In use, and with connection  24  attached to a source of vacuum and connection  26  attached to a source of fluid, the toothbrush  10   a  can be placed within the mouth of a patient to brush the patients, teeth, the simultaneous application of an appropriate fluid and its removal is to the considerable advantage of particularly a prone or comatose patient in allowing a proper cleansing of the teeth without the patient chocking or there being spillage of fluid from the patient&#39;s mouth. In a circumstance where the patient&#39;s mouth inadvertently closes onto the toothbrush  10   a,  the length of groove  40  is such that the patient&#39;s mouth cannot close beyond its end, and consequently at least a portion of the groove  40  remains exposed to allow air to be drawn into the patient&#39;s mouth and hence prevent vacuum applied through the bristle head  30  to cause an unwanted build up of vacuum in the mouth of the patient.  
         [0046]    The toothbrush  10   b  shown in FIG. 11 is very much like the toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and FIGS.  3 - 10 ), and includes bristles  32 , rim  52  and a handle  20   b.  The toothbrush  10   b  differs from toothbrush  10   a  in that toothbrush  10   b  includes a bend, i.e. handle  20   b  is angled. This provides that the toothbrush  10   b  can be placed on a surface with the head held clear of the surface.  
         [0047]    The toothbrush  10   c  shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (see also FIGS. 14 and 15) is very much like the toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and FIGS.  3 - 10 ), except the toothbrush  10   c  does not include any rim  52 . The toothbrush  10   c  includes a groove  40  and an opening  34  into the vacuum passageway  22 , as well as bristles  32  and a fluid supply inlet  26 . However, unlike with toothbrush  10   a,  the opening  34 , bristles  32  and fluid supply inlet  26  of toothbrush  10   c  are not contained with a rim (such as rim  52  of toothbrush  10   a ).  
         [0048]    The toothbrush  10   d  shown in FIG. 16 is very much like toothbrush  10   a,  and is very much like toothbrush  10   b  in that toothbrush  10   d  includes a bend. However, toothbrush  10   d  is different in that, in place of the longitudinal groove  40 , a slot  90  is provided through the thickness of the handle to provide venting means. Additionally, the toothbrush  10   d  provides that the gripping portion  92  is generally oval which provides enhanced grip.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional profile of a toothbrush  10   e  which is very much like any of the toothbrushes  10   a - 10   d  already described, except that toothbrush  10   e  includes rubber grip portions  98 .  
         [0050]    The toothbrush  10   f  shown in FIG. 18 is very much like the toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and FIGS.  3 - 10 ), and includes bristles  32  and a rim  100 . However, unlike toothbrush  10   a,  toothbrush  10   f  provides that the bristles  32  are attached directly to the lower portion  42 , as opposed to being attached to a pad.  
         [0051]    The toothbrush  10   g  shown in FIG. 19 is very much like the toothbrush  10   a  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and FIGS.  3 - 10 ), but instead of including a single longitudinal groove for venting, the toothbrush  10   g  includes three small ribs  102  on the top surface to prevent a build up of vacuum in a user&#39;s mouth.  
         [0052]    With regard to use, use of toothbrushes  10   b - 10   g  is very much the same as toothbrush  10   a.    
         [0053]    While embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.