Patent Publication Number: US-6338176-B1

Title: Manual rotary brush

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/039,513 filed Mar. 16, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,157. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a toothbrush with multiple levels of bristles affixed perpendicular on a rotary pad. When a user manually operates the toothbrush with forward and backward brush movement, that converts the bristles forward and backward motion into circular motion. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toothbrush with varying lengths and positioned bristles permanently affixed perpendicular on a rounded pad, which rotates when the handle of the brush is pushed either to the right or left manually. 
     It is generally accepted in dental health care maintenance that circular brushing motion around and along the irregular contours of tooth surfaces is the preferred and correct method of brushing teeth and stimulating gums. The circular brushing motion is the best way to clean the gaps and pockets between teeth. It is also generally known that most people find it difficult to brush their teeth in a sustained circular movement manually, because of the physical effort in maintaining the circular movement for an extended length of time. There are electric toothbrushes that accomplish, to some extent, this desired result; however, they are costly to the consumer and require the use of electricity or batteries. 
     A need, therefore, exists for an improved inexpensive toothbrush that converts bristles from forward and backward brushing motion into a desirable system of circular brushing motion manually to clean and stimulate both teeth and gums in the more dental prescribed manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a toothbrush with multiple levels of bristles on a rotary pad. A stepped pattern of bristles is created to brush any and all irregularities, gaps, pockets and contours in the natural tooth formation and construction. It is the combination of the movement of brushing, and the multiple levels of bristles, that catch the surface of irregular teeth, gaps, and pockets which propel the bristles to rotate effectively along the teeth and gum line. When a user operates with left and right brushing movement, there is a force created which propels the bristles to catch the irregular surfaces of the teeth, causing the rotary pad to turn. When the user pushes the brush to the left, the rotary pad turns counterclockwise. When the user pushes the brush to the right, the rotary pad turns clockwise. The rotary pad can be turned at any desired circular position depending on whether the user normally brushes softer or harder in force. The pattern design and length of bristles can be varied and the construction of the rotary pad and the brush head can also be varied. It can be constructed by pose, axis, track, groove, and the like, or just a rotary device loosely set within its matched configuation case with overhang. Or, a rotary device can be comprised of several sets of individual and independent, circular rotating rings as long as the result can be accomplished and improved to provide the most effective manually operated rotary brushing method. 
     In an advantageous further improvement of the present invention, A rotary brush having a hollow space within the brush head and a rotary device is loosely set within the hollow space, a tuft of bristles mounted onto the rotary device, wherein an outer circle of the rotary device is configured a plurality of grooves forming a plurality of tracks and an inner circular wall of the hollow space is configured a plurality of tracks forming a plurality of grooves, wherein configurations of the tracks of the outer circle of the rotary device are constructed to match with configurations of the grooves of the inner circular wall of the hollow space and configurations of the grooves of the outer circle of the rotary device are constructed to match with configurations of the tracks of the inner circular wall of the hollow space, wherein the tracks of the rotary device are set within the matched grooves of the hollow space and the grooves of the rotary device are set within the matched tracks of the hollow space, by utilizes such arrangement which creating a circular rotating path to allow the rotary device to rotate within the hollow space. According to another improvement of the rotary device, the outer circle of the rotary device is constructed with a convex form and the inner circular wall of the hollow space is constructed with a concave form wherein the convex form of the outer circle of the rotary device is configured to match the concave form of the inner circular wall of the hollow space, wherein the convex form of the rotary device is loosely set within the matched concave form of the hollow space. By constructing in such ways, accordingly, while the track form is set with matched groove form or the convex form is set with matched concave form, and the like, are configured to fit in with each other, characteristically creating a unrestricted circular rotating path and retaining condition in between, therefore allows the rotary device to rotate and retain within the hollow space, upon moving the brush handle, a frictional force is created which propels the bristles to turn to a circular rotation. Another further development of the present invention, the rotary device can be comprised of two or three sets of circularly rotating rings with their own tufts of bristles, each of the rings individually and independently capable of acting on their own, and operate substantially similar to the previously described single ringed rotary device, which utilizing means for matching configurations between each of the rings also between the outer circle of the rotary device and the inner circular wall of the hollow space. The rings&#39; bristles individually and independently rotate as a result of a user manually pushing the brush in a side-to-side fashion. The bristles of each of the rings catch different gaps and points of the teeth which create different forces of circular rotation with more effective results. According to further feature of the present invention, an arched overhang is formed around top edge of the hollow space which provides a retaining configuration, such overhang is a extra secure feature to retain the rotary device within the brush head. The present invention&#39;s objects and advantages: The present invention omitted integral elements of the prior art without loss of capability which still creates a manual rotary brush effectively. The toothbrush can be comprised of two or even three rotary pads for an adult size toothbrush, or only one rotary pad for a child&#39;s size toothbrush. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings. While my above description contains many specificities these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a toothbrush with two rotary pads with varying length bristles, and water release holes. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of the same bristle pattern wherein the pattern is two combined sets of equally graduated bristle stepped patterns. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective views of two different angles of the same bristle pattern wherein the pattern is three combined sets of equally graduated bristle stepped patterns. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate perspective views of two different angles of bristle patterns wherein the bristles are in an alternating pattern. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a hand-held toothbrush with handle and two flat surface rotary pads and water release holes with two rounded post axes with crown tops. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a hand-held toothbrush with handle and two convex surface rotary pads and water release holes with two rounded post axes with crown tops. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a hand-held toothbrush comprising a handle and two concave rotary pads and water release holes with two rounded post axes with crown tops. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a rotary pad and rounded post axis with a crown top. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of rotary pads within a brush head in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates another side view of an embodiment of rotary pads within a brush head of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a toothbrush having rotary pads. 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate top views of rotary pads having rings with their own tufts of different lengths of bristles. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a hand-held toothbrush comprising a handle  22  and two rotary pads  26  with two stepped pattern bristle configurations is shown. Bristle  11  represents the highest level graduated to bristles  16 , which represent the lowest level. The differences in length between the bristles  11 - 16  in graduated outer pattern  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 , 16  is 0.04 inch. Bristles  17 ,  18  and  19  which represents an inner pattern is shorter in measurement. The difference in length in a graduated inner pattern between bristles  17 , 18 , 19  is 0.04 inch. Water release hole  20  is to release water and toothpaste residue. Hole  20  facilitates clean out. Rotary pad  26  rotates easily upon manual pushing movement from either right to left or left to right. Rotary motion covers a complete 360 degrees or can be rotated at any circular position. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bristle pattern is exactly the same configuration, except graphically displayed from different angle position. 
     The bristle pattern is designed to specially improve the rotation more effectively. It can be described as follows: center bristle  10  has a length of 0.32 inch. Inner circle consists of two sets of bristles  17 , 18  and  19 . Bristle  17  has a length of 0.44 inch. Bristle  18  has a length of 0.4 inch. Bristle  19  has a length of 0.36 inch, and the difference in length between each bristle  17  to  19  is 0.04 inch. Outer circle consists of two sets of bristles  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14   15 , and  16 . Bristle  11  has a length of 0.5 inch. Bristle  12  has a length of 0.46 inch. Bristle  13  has a length of 0.42 inch. Bristle  14  has a length of 0.38 inch. Bristle  15  has a length of 0.34 inch. Bristle  16  has a length of 0.3 inch and the difference in length between each bristle  11  to  16  is 0.04 inch. Measurement can be adjusted respectively as long as bristles remain consistent with the aforementioned pattern. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B generally illustrate a bristle pattern with exactly the same configuration, except graphically displayed from different angle positions. The bristle pattern is designed to specially improve the rotation more effectively. It can be described as follows: center bristle  36  has a length of 0.34 inch, inner circle consists of three sets of bristles  34  and  35 . Bristle  34  has a length of 0.42 inch, and bristle  35  has a length of 0.38 inch. Outer circle consists of three sets of bristles  30 , 31 , 32  and  33 . Bristle  30  has a length of 0.48 inch, bristle  31  has a length of 0.44 inch, bristle  32  has a length of 0.4 inch, and bristle  33  has a length of 0.36 inch. Measurement can be adjusted respectively as long as bristles remain consistent with the aforementioned pattern. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, bristle patterns have exactly the same configuration, except graphically displayed from different angle position. The bristle pattern is designed to specially improve the rotation more effectively. It can be described as follows: the center bristle  43  has a length of 0.4 inch, the inner circle consists of six bristles  41 , and each bristle  41  has the same length of 0.44 inch. Outer circle consists of six bristles  40  and six bristles  42 . Each bristle  40  length has a length of 0.48 inch, each bristle  42  has a length of 0.4 inch. Bristle  40  and bristle  42  are arranged in an alternating pattern. Measurement can be adjusted respectively as long as bristles remain consistent with the aforementioned pattern. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a hand-held toothbrush comprises a handle  22  and a brush head with a rotary pad  26  with a flat surface and multiple levels of bristles, placed on a rounded post axis  21  to allow rotary pad  26  to freely turn. A water release hole  20  on both sides of the brush is created to facilitate cleaning the toothbrush and to release excess water. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a hand-held toothbrush comprises a handle  22  and a brush head with rotary pads with a slightly convex top and bottom with multiple levels of bristles. Placed on rounded post axis  21 , the slightly convex shape of the rotary pad is designed to more effectively cause the rotary pad to freely turn. A water release hole  20  on both sides of the brush is created to facilitate cleaning the toothbrush and to release excess water. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a hand-held toothbrush comprises a handle  22  and a brush head with rotary pads  24  with a slightly concave top and bottom with multiple levels of bristles. Placed on a rounded post axis  21 , the slightly concave shape of the rotary pad is designed to more effectively cause the rotary pad to freely turn. A water release hole  20  on both sides of the brush is created to facilitate cleaning the toothbrush and release excess water. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an axis  21  with a wider diameter crown  23 , which secures rotary pad  26  in place, and allows the rotary pad to turn freely. 
     FIG. 9 generally illustrates another embodiment of a toothbrush with a head having rotary pads  44  configured within two grooves  45   a  forming three tracks  46   a  on an outer circle  44   a  of the rotary pads  44 . The outer circle  44   a  of the rotary pad  44  rotate within the tracks  46   a  defined by the grooves  45   a  of an inner circular wall of a hollow space of the toothbrush. The grooves  45   a  of the rotary pad  44  fits in with the tracks  46   a  of the hollow space and the tracks  46   a  of the rotary pad  44  fits in with the grooves  45   a  of the hollow space. Preferably, the grooves  45   a  and the tracks  46   a  both have smooth rounded corners, also a bottom base of the rotary pad and an inner foundation of the hollow space of the brush head both having a flat configuration to match with each other. An arched overhang  47  is formed around top edge of the hollow space of the toothbrush head such that the rotary pad  44  is retained in position. The rotary pads  44  are loosely set within the toothbrush head and allows for substantially unrestricted mobility thereof. 
     Another embodiment of rotary pads  48  is generally shown in FIG.  10 . The rotary pads  48  have a flat top and bottom with a convex form exterior circle  49   a . The head of the brush has two rotary pads  48  built therein. A hollow space has a concave form  49   b  fits in with its matched convex form exterior circle  49   a  of the rotary pad  48 , also a bottom base of the rotary pad and an inner foundation of the hollow space of the brush head both having a flat configuration to match with each other. The head has an arched overhang  50  around top edge of the hollow space to substantially retain the rotary pad  48  in position such that the rotary pad  48  is loosely set within the head and allows for substantially unrestricted mobility of the rotary pad  48  therein. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a toothbrush having two rotary pads  51  each having a tuft  52  of bristles between the spaces of the rotary pads  51 . The tufts  52  of bristles do not rotate but are implemented to fully use the space on the brush head of the toothbrush, particularly the space between the rotary pads  51 . 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate rotary pads having two or three sets of circularly rotating rings with their own tufts of different lengths of bristles on each ring individually and independently capable of acting on their own. A rotary pad  100  is generally shown in FIG. 12A having three sets of circular rotating rings  101 ,  102 , and  103 . FIG. 12B illustrates a rotary pad  200  having two sets of rings  201  and  202 . The rotary pads with their independently operating rings of FIGS. 12A and 12B operate substantially similar to the previously described single ringed rotary pads of the previous figures. The rings&#39; bristles individually and independently rotate as a result of a user manually pushing the toothbrush in a side-to-side fashion. The bristles of each of the rings catch different gaps and points of the teeth which create different forces of circular rotation with more effective results. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.