Patent Publication Number: US-10758032-B2

Title: Toothbrush and toothbrush handle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present principles generally relates to dental instruments and, more particularly, it relates to toothbrushes and toothbrush handles. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Toothbrushes are common oral hygiene devices that are used for cleaning the teeth and gums of the user. Toothbrushes typically include a head having bristles for cleaning the teeth and gums and a handle which permits the user to manipulate the toothbrush inside the user&#39;s mouth. 
     While a toothbrush provides improved oral hygiene, a toothbrush is less effective at cleaning the teeth and gums at certain angles. For example, the Bass technique and modified Bass technique have been determined to provide the most effective cleaning. These techniques require the user to hold the toothbrush so that it extends approximately 45 degrees onto the gum line of the user. Known prior art toothbrushes require significant skill and fine motor control by the user to hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle while brushing his/her teeth. 
     Known toothbrushes have handles which permit the user to grip the toothbrush in many different regions. This increases the number of orientations that the user may hold the toothbrush and increases the complexity with respect to extending the toothbrush a desired angle onto the user&#39;s gums and teeth and to maintain that angle during the brushing. 
     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a toothbrush or toothbrush handle that is configured to provide a 45 degree angle with respect to the user&#39;s gum line and/or teeth. 
     It is another aspect of the invention to provide a toothbrush or toothbrush handle that prevents the user from holding the toothbrush in certain regions and induces the user to hold the toothbrush on a gripping portion. 
     It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a toothbrush and toothbrush handle that is cost effective to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present principles, a toothbrush is provided. The toothbrush includes a head positioned on a distal end of the toothbrush. The head includes a plurality of bristles connected thereto. A handle is secured to the head. The handle includes a grip constraining portion positioned on a proximal end of the handle. The grip constraining portion has dimensions that are configured to define a grip constraining region. The dimensions of the grip constraining portion are configured to prevent a user from gripping the toothbrush along the grip constraining region when the user uses the toothbrush. A gripping portion is positioned adjacent a distal end of the grip constraining portion. An angled extending length is positioned adjacent a distal end of the gripping portion. The angled extending length has a curved portion which is configured so that the head of the toothbrush extends onto the gum line of the user at a desired angle. 
     In another embodiment, a toothbrush handle for attaching to a head of a toothbrush having a plurality of bristles connected thereto is provided. The toothbrush handle includes a grip constraining portion positioned on a proximal end of the handle. The grip constraining portion has dimensions that are configured to define a grip constraining region. The dimensions of the grip constraining portion are configured to prevent a user from gripping the toothbrush along the grip constraining region when the user uses the toothbrush. A gripping portion is positioned adjacent a distal end of the grip constraining portion. An angled extending length is positioned adjacent a distal end of the gripping portion. The angled extending length has a curved portion which is configured so that the head of the toothbrush extends onto a gum line of the user at a desired angle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily, understood from a detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures. Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of the toothbrush and toothbrush handle of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a user gripping the toothbrush and toothbrush handle at the gripping region. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present principles, a toothbrush and toothbrush handle is provided. The toothbrush is configured to induce the user to hold the toothbrush on a gripping portion of the toothbrush handle with a particular grip when brushing his/her teeth and to restrict the user from gripping the toothbrush handle in a grip constraining portion. An angled extending length is positioned adjacent to the gripping portion and extends the toothbrush handle to the head of the toothbrush. When the user holds the toothbrush at the gripping portion, the configuration of the angled extending length with respect to the gripping portion provides a 45 degree angle of the toothbrush head and the bristles thereon onto the user&#39;s gums. Therefore, the toothbrush permits the user to easily position the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle with respect to the user&#39;s gum line. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the toothbrush  100  includes a head  102  that is positioned on a distal end  104  of the toothbrush. In some embodiments, the head  102  may be removably attached to the toothbrush handle  106 . However, the head  102  may be integral with the handle  106  as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     The toothbrush handle  106  includes a grip constraining portion  108  which defines a grip constraining region (also interchangeably referred to as “grip encapsulating portion”)  110 . The grip constraining portion  108  is configured to prevent a user from gripping the toothbrush along the grip constraining region  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the grip constraining portion  108  comprises a first constraining length  112  which extends from the proximal end  114  of the toothbrush handle to an angled connection portion  116 . In one embodiment, the length of the first constraining length  112  may be between 1.75-3.25 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the first constraining length  112  is approximately 2.5 inches. 
     The angled connection portion  116  has a curved surface preferably having an arc  117  of between 100° and 150°. In a preferred embodiment, the arc  117  of the angled connection portion  116  is approximately 125°. 
     The grip constraining portion  108  further comprises a second constraining length  118  which extends from the angled connection portion  116  to a gripping portion  120 . The angled connecting portion  116  connects the first constraining length  112  to a second constraining length  118 . In one embodiment, the first constraining length  112  and the second constraining length  118  are substantially planar and the grip constraining portion  108  is generally V-shaped. In one embodiment, the length of the second constraining length  118  may be between 1.75-3.25 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the second constraining length  118  is approximately 2.5 inches. 
     The dimensions of the grip constraining portion  108  make it very difficult and cumbersome for users to hold the toothbrush handle  106  in the grip constraining region  110  and be able to efficiently and effectively manipulate the toothbrush while brushing their teeth. For example, if users naturally grip the toothbrush along the first constraining length  112 , the toothbrush head extends away from the user&#39;s mouth and would require a large degree of wrist/arm bending and dexterity to direct the toothbrush into the user&#39;s mouth. This position is physically uncomfortable for the users and presents a considerable challenge for the users to be able manipulate the toothbrush properly while brushing their teeth. Therefore, the features of the first constraining length  112  will prevent users from holding the toothbrush at the first constraining length when brushing their teeth. 
     If the user gripped the toothbrush handle  106  on the second constraining length  118 , the first constraining length  112  would extend into the user&#39;s hand and make it very difficult and cumbersome to hold the toothbrush and manipulate the toothbrush properly during a cleaning regimen. Therefore, the features of the second constraining length  118  will prevent users from holding the toothbrush at the second constraining length when brushing their teeth. 
     While the grip constraining portion  108  is shown having a first constraining length  112  and second constraining length  118  which forms a generally V-shaped grip constraining portion  108 , the grip constraining portion may be a variety of other shapes, such as spherical shapes, rectilinear shapes, combinations thereof, etc., which are configured to prevent the user from comfortably gripping toothbrush at that region and efficiently manipulating the toothbrush during a cleaning. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the configuration of the toothbrush  100  including the grip constraining portion  108  induces the user to grip the toothbrush on a gripping portion  120  adjacent the grip constraining region  110 . The gripping portion  120  may have a generally rectilinear surface with rounded corners. In one embodiment, the gripping portion  120  also includes raised portions  122 , such as raised ridges, for improved gripping of the toothbrush handle  106  at the gripping portion  120  by the user. The gripping portion  120  preferably has dimensions which permit the user to comfortably, hold the toothbrush handle  106  between the user&#39;s thumb and pointer finger. This natural grip at the gripping portion  120  provides improved control of the toothbrush to the user. 
     An angled extending length  124  is positioned adjacent the gripping portion  120 . The angled extending length  124  preferably has a curved portion  125  at a proximal end  126 . The curved portion  125  preferably has an arc of between 5° and 35° with respect to the gripping portion. In a preferred embodiment, the curved portion  125  has an arc of 20°. 
     The angled extending length  124  also includes a distal length  128 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the distal length  128  may be substantially planar. The distal length  128  extends to the head  102  of the toothbrush and is connected to the head on a distal end  129  of the distal length. In one embodiment, the length of the angled extending length may be between 0.5-2 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the angled extending length  112  is approximately 1 inch. 
     As the user naturally holds the toothbrush at the gripping portion  120  with the toothbrush handle between his/her thumb and pointer finger, the angle of the angled extending length  124  with respect to the gripping portion  120  of the toothbrush handle provides a 45° angle on the gums of the user as the user manipulates the brush onto the gums. When the user naturally brushes his/her teeth and extends the bristles on the toothbrush head to the gum line of the user, the toothbrush provides the desired 45° angle on the user&#39;s gum line without require any special dexterity or skill. 
     While the toothbrush  100  has been described as providing a 45° angle on the gums of the user, in other embodiments, the positioning and surface dimensions of the gripping portion  120  in combination with the angle of the angled extending length  124  may provide another angle on the user&#39;s gums, such as an angle between 30°-60°. 
     The present invention is also directed to a toothbrush handle  106  as described above with respect to the toothbrush. The toothbrush handle  106  may be integral with the toothbrush head  102  or may have an attachment mechanism on a distal end for attachment to a toothbrush head  102 . 
     The toothbrush handle  106  may be fabricated from any relatively rigid material known in the art including a thermoplastic resin, metal or other materials known in the art that are not substantially bendable by hand and which permit the toothbrush handle  106  to substantially retain its shape during usage of the toothbrush handle by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the toothbrush handle  106  is fabricated from a rigid material that prevents any change of the shape of the toothbrush when used by the user. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.