Patent Publication Number: US-8533891-B2

Title: Toothbrush that provides enhanced cleaning and comfort

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Application No. 60/720,418, filed Sep. 26, 2005, in which the contents are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a manually manipulated toothbrush having a head with flexible sections that provide enhanced cleaning and comfort when used. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional toothbrushes usually include a substantially rigid head with an outer surface from which cleaning elements extend. Conventional cleaning elements include bristles arranged in bristle tufts, elastomeric members or other known cleaning elements. However, rigid portions of certain conventional toothbrush heads can prevent the cleaning elements from being comfortably received in the mouth, and thereby prevent effective cleaning of the oral cavity. 
     To eliminate the problems associated with large, rigid toothbrush heads, certain conventional toothbrush heads include flexible segments that allow carried cleaning elements to move relative to the head. However, these flexible segments may not fit comfortably within the mouth of the user. Similarly, because of the size and/or shape of the flexible segments, the heads may not be comfortably manipulated within the mouth of the user during cleaning. As a result, the toothbrush may not be used on a regular basis. Additionally, when introduced into the mouth, the toothbrush may not be used for a period of time sufficient to provide the person with effective oral cleaning. It is also possible that the cleaning elements may not be capable of reaching all intended portions of the mouth. This can result in poor oral hygiene that can cause tooth and/or gum disease. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a toothbrush with flexible cleaning element support members that provide the user with enhanced cleaning and comfort during brushing. The cleaning element support members permit a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the toothbrush includes a head with a first flexible cleaning element support member positioned at a first end of the head, a second flexible cleaning element support member positioned at a second, free end of the head and at least one intermediate flexible cleaning element support member. Each flexible cleaning element support member has a flexible stem formed of a soft, resilient material that is comfortable to the user when the material contacts a portion of the user&#39;s mouth. Additionally, the flexible cleaning element support members carry cleaning elements. The flexibility of these support members allows the cleaning elements to move easily in different directions during brushing, thereby providing enhanced cleaning. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the toothbrush has at least two flexible cleaning element support members that each forms a continuous outer surface with a respective end of the head so that the head can be comfortably received and manipulated in a mouth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a portion of a toothbrush in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section of an exemplary cleaning element support member according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the portion of the toothbrush shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a portion of the toothbrush shown in  FIG. 1  taken opposite the view of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a toothbrush  10  according to an aspect of the present invention. The toothbrush  10  includes an elongated handle (not shown) that may be formed of any shape and with a variety of constructions that permit the toothbrush  10  to be readily gripped and manipulated for effective tooth and gum cleaning. The toothbrush  10  also includes a neck  14  and a head  20  having a first end  21  proximate the neck  14  and a second, free end  22  distal the neck  14 . The head  20  also includes a base  24  and spaced cleaning element support members  26 . The base  24  provides an area onto which the cleaning element support members  26  are secured, in any known manner (See  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an isolated example of a cleaning element support member  26  according to an aspect of the present invention. The exemplary cleaning element support member  26  includes a stem  27  and a flexion control member  28  positioned within the stem  27 . The cleaning element support members  26  also include a support head  23  with a section  29  that overhangs the stem  27  in the direction of the center of the other cleaning element support members  26 . The body of the stem  27  that surrounds each flexion control member  28  and each support head  23  are formed of flexible materials, such as flexible resins. In an embodiment, the flexible resins usable with the support members  26  include soft thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Other soft, resilient materials can also be used to form the stems  27  and the support heads  23 . The resilient material of the support members  26  serves to bias the stems  27  and flexion control members  28  back to initial, rest position after they have been deflected. This return action creates an active motion in the opposite direction of the initial flexion of the support members  27 , which aids in the cleaning of teeth by introducing additional cleaning strokes and by strengthening the cleaning stroke because of the bias force created by the material. 
     The flexion control members  28  limit the flexibility of their respective support members  26 . The internally extending flexion control members  28  can be of any shape that allows some flex and have a cross-section that is circular, square or any other geometric shape that provides a thin dimension or thin diameter about which the support member  26  can bend. The size of this thin dimension/diameter can contribute to the total amount of flex experienced by each cleaning element support member  26 . 
     The flexion control members  28  are each secured to the base  24  or alternatively they are formed together with the base  24  as an integral unit. The flexion control members  28  can be formed of conventional hard plastic materials, such as polypropylene. In an alternative embodiment, the flexion control members  28  can be formed of a more flexible material that allows their respective stems  27  additional movement in a direction at an angle to its length during brushing. For example, each stem  27  would be capable of deflecting in a direction toward the center of the head  20  and, in embodiments, for example, with circular cross sections, deflect in all directions that extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the support member  26 . 
     The cleaning element support members  26  also include carriers  25  that each supports at least one cleaning element  50 . The cleaning elements can be used to clean the teeth, gums and/or tongue of a user. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the cleaning elements  50  are in the form of bristles arranged in bristle tufts  52  that are secured to the carriers  25 . However, one or more elastomeric members or other forms of cleaning members may be used to form the cleaning elements in lieu of or in addition to the use of bristles arranged in bristle tufts. The term “cleaning element” is intended to be used in a generic sense which could also include massage elements and other forms of cleaning elements such as elastomeric fingers or walls arranged in a circular cross-sectional shape or any type of desired shape and/or cross-section including straight portions or sinusoidal portions. 
     The carriers  25  are each supported by a flexion control member  28  and secured to the support head  23  of their respective stem  27 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The carriers  25  are preferably formed from conventional hard plastic materials, such as polypropylene, commonly used in the making of toothbrush handles and heads. However, other known hard materials can be also be used. The cleaning elements  50  extend from the carriers  25  for performing an oral care function within the mouth of the user. The tooth cleaning elements  50  can be anchored to their carrier  25  using any known technique. For example, the tooth cleaning elements  50  can be anchored into their carrier  25  during the formation of the carrier  25  (e.g., in mold tufting or anchor free tufting). Alternatively, the cleaning elements  50  can be anchored using other known techniques, such as, stapling, pinning or gluing. 
     While  FIGS. 2-5  illustrate the cleaning elements  50  oriented generally perpendicular to the outer surface of base  24 , some or all of the cleaning elements  50  may be oriented at various angles with respect to the outer surface of the base  24 . It is thereby possible to select the combination of cleaning element configurations, materials and orientations to achieve specific intended results to deliver additional oral health benefits, like enhanced cleaning, tooth polishing, tooth whitening and/or massaging of the gums. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the head  20  includes a plurality of the exemplary cleaning element support members  26 . In the illustrated embodiment, the head  20  includes three spaced cleaning element support members  30 ,  40 ,  60  having the same components as support members  26 . However, the head  20  can include only two or more than three support elements spaced along the head  20 . The positioning of the support elements  26  along the head  20  is not limited to the linear arrangement illustrated in the figures. Instead, the support elements  26  can be arranged in any fashion on the head  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first support member  30  is positioned at the first end  21  of the head  20 . The body of this support member  30  includes a stem  32  and a support head  33 . The stem  32  forms a smooth, continuous surface  16  with a portion  17  of the head  20  proximate the neck  14 . The continuous surface  16  formed between the head  20  and the stem  32  is sized and shaped so it will be easily received and manipulated within the mouth. The continuous surface  16  provides a profile having a shape that is similar to that of a comfortable, conventional toothbrush head. Additionally, the soft material used to form the stem  32  will deflect when it engages a portion of the user&#39;s mouth. As a result, the soft, flexible material of the stem  32  provides the user with additional comfort. 
     The support head  33  has a greater diameter/width than the stem  32  that extends away from it toward the neck  14 . The portion  35  of the support head  33  that overhangs the stem  32  creates a partial mushroom-shaped profile. This portion  35  is also movable relative to the stem  32  and the base  24 , as illustrated by the arrows in  FIG. 3 . The overhanging portion  35  has a lower surface  36  spaced from the base  24  by a distance  38 . As shown, a channel  39  is formed between the lower surface  36  and the base  24 . The distance  38  is greater than the distance  37  that the overhanging portion  35  extends beyond the stem  32  in the direction of the second end  22 . The distance  38  allows the overhanging portion  35  to deflect toward the base  24 . 
     The flexion control member  31  within the stem  32  limits the total deflection of the support member  30  and cooperates with the material of the stem to return the stem  32  and its carrier  25  to their original, rest position. This deflection and return movement of the stem  32  and its carrier  25  allow the cleaning elements  50  to follow the teeth during cleaning and create an enhanced cleaning action within the mouth of the user. In an alternative embodiment, the distance  38  could be shorter than the distance  37 . In such an embodiment, the base  24  could limit the travel of the overhanging portion  35 . Regardless of the distance  38 , the support member  30  is capable of achieving 360 degrees of movement relative to its central longitudinal axis. 
     The second end  22  of the head  20  also includes the second cleaning element support member  40  that forms a continuous smooth surface  56  with the free end of the base  24  at the second end  22  of the toothbrush  10 . The continuous surface  56  is sized and shaped so it will be easily received and manipulated within the mouth of the user. As shown, the second end  22  has a convexly curved profile that is similar to some comfortable, conventional toothbrush heads. This convex curve allows the end of the toothbrush  10  to be easily and comfortably received within the user&#39;s mouth during brushing. Additionally, the soft material used to form the stem  42  will deflect when it engages a portion of the user&#39;s mouth. As a result, the soft, flexible material of the stem  42  provides the user with additional comfort. 
     The body of this support member  40  includes the stem  42  that carries a support head  43  and a flexion control member  41 . The support head  43  has a greater diameter/width than the stem  42  and forms a partial mushroom-like shape, as illustrated. The portion  45  of the support head  43  that overhangs the stem  42  is similar to overhanging portion  35 . The overhanging portion  45  is movable relative to the base  24  and includes a lower surface  46  that is spaced from the base  24  by a distance  48 . As shown, a channel  49  is formed between the lower surface  46  and the base  24 . The distance  48  is less than a distance  47  that the overhanging portion  45  extends beyond the stem  42  in the direction of the first end  21 . Alternatively, the distance  48  could be greater than the distance  47 , as discussed above with respect to support member  30 . The distance  48  allows the overhanging portion  45  to deflect toward the base  24  and provide the same cleaning benefits discussed above with respect to the first support element  30 . Additionally, the support member  40  is capable of achieving 360 degrees of movement relative to it central longitudinal axis. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the head  14  also includes at least one intermediate support member  60  positioned between the support members  30 ,  40 . The total number of intermediate support members  60  can vary based on their size, the size of the base  24  and the distance between the support members  30 ,  40 . As with the other support members  30 ,  40 , the intermediate support member  60  includes a flexion control member  61 , a flexible stem  62 , and a flexible support head  63  that receives a carrier  25 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the support member  60  has a substantially mushroom-like shape. A lower surface  64  of the support head  63  is spaced from the base  24  by a distance  68  that is less than its length  67  from the stem  62 . Nevertheless, the distance  68  is sufficient to permit the flexible support head  63  to deflect in any direction toward the base  24 . In an alternative embodiment, the length  67  can be less than the distance  68  so that the base  24  cooperates to control the total deflection of the stem  62 . Due to its shape and materials, the intermediate support member  60  can deflect in any direction. The support head  63  is capable of flexing in the direction of the first end  21 , the second end  22  and/or the sidewalls of the head  20 . As a result, the resilient intermediate support member  60  is capable of moving in all directions to provide enhanced cleaning to the teeth of the user. 
     While only a few toothbrush variations are disclosed herein, the invention could be used in toothbrushes having many variations in, for example, the head, handle, and materials used. Additionally, the toothbrush could be a powered toothbrush. The head  20  can also be removably secured to the handle  12  whether it is powered or manual. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.