Abstract:
The present invention provides a cohesive progression of various sizes and shapes and styles of tooth and gum cleaning devices which are ideally suited to each stage of a child&#39;s physical and psychological development, and which maintain elements of familiarity to the child from stage to stage to make the progression less dramatic and less stressful to the child and to the caregiver.  
     Several aspects of this invention have also been applied to tooth and gum cleaning devices for older children and adults and to powered toothbrush designs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/462,563 filed Apr. 11, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is common for caregivers of infants and small children to assume that the proper care of primary teeth is less important than the care of adult teeth because the baby teeth will eventually be replaced as the child grows older. However, it has become known to the dental industry in recent years, that the proper care and health of the baby teeth is critical to the health and alignment of the adult teeth when they grow in.  
           [0003]    It is now understood that the proper care and cleaning of an infant&#39;s gums and the proper care and cleaning of a child&#39;s primary teeth can increase the health and esthetics of the adult teeth when they grow in as well as save the caregiver potentially hundreds or even thousands of dollars in dental work and orthodontic care.  
           [0004]    Many different toothbrush shapes and styles for infants and children are known in the prior art. Many of these designs are aimed at meeting a specific need of a specific age group of child.  
           [0005]    From the perspective of the caregiver, the disadvantage of the prior art inventions are that they require the often uneducated caregiver to determine and locate and purchase the type of toothbrush which is appropriate for each stage of the child&#39;s development.  
           [0006]    From the perspective of the infant or child, the prior art inventions do not provide a logical or easy transition from one stage to the next, which may cause the child to resist such a dramatic change.  
           [0007]    In summary, it is the overall objective of this invention to meet the changing oral hygiene needs of a growing child with a series of tooth and gum cleaning devices which exhibit a dramatic change between the first stage and the last, but with stages of incremental change in between which are subtle enough so the child will welcome the change at each stage rather than resist it.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    These and other aspects of the invention are set out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference.  
           [0009]    Change can be a difficult process for young children, which in turn, makes change for the child a difficult process for the caregiver. It is, therefore, one objective of the present invention to provide a cohesive progression of various sizes and shapes and styles of tooth and gum cleaning devices which are ideally suited to each stage of a child&#39;s physical and psychological development, and which maintain elements of familiarity to the child from stage to stage to make the progression less dramatic and less stressful to the child and to the caregiver.  
           [0010]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a tooth and gum cleaning kit for infants and children which starts with cleaning tips which are ideally suited for infants and progresses in stages which are specifically designed for each level of a child&#39;s physical and psychological development until the child is old enough to make proper use of a more conventional toothbrush.  
           [0011]    It is a further objective of the present invention to reward the child with a feeling that they are “growing up” as they progress from stage to stage.  
           [0012]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a progression of shapes and styles of tooth and gum cleaning tips and handles which will aid the caregiver and the child in developing healthy habits of oral hygiene.  
           [0013]    It is a further objective of the individual components of this invention to enable the best possible oral hygiene for the infant or child with consideration given to reducing the time and effort required by the caregiver as well as taking into consideration the limited attention span and the limited motor skills of the child at different stages of the child&#39;s physical and psychological development.  
           [0014]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a complete kit which will allow the caregiver to benefit from the knowledge and experience of dental care professionals in determining the different needs of different ages of infants and children and thereby save the caregiver time and money by providing them with a simple and straightforward progression of tips and handles for each stage of a child&#39;s physical and psychological development from infancy to the age when a child is able to make proper use of a more conventional toothbrush.  
           [0015]    It is a further objective of the present invention to reduce the size and cost of such a kit by making it modular in construction with a universal handle that can hold and secure a number of different tips.  
           [0016]    It is a further objective of this invention to provide a series of tooth and gum cleaning tips and handles which are attractive as well as functional and safe to use.  
           [0017]    It is further objective of the present invention to apply several of the unique concepts which have been developed for the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit and apply them to unique designs for tooth and gum care products for older children and adults.  
           [0018]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide tips which comfortably and effectively and automatically clean the inner cheek area, the roof of the mouth and the tongue during tooth and gum cleaning by using an omni-directional bristle tip which is generally oval or elliptical or oblong in shape when viewed from the top.  
           [0019]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide practical methods of manufacturing some of the components of this invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0020]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit storage case;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit storage case with the lid open;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit contents without the storage case;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of the stage one “finger tip” for infants ages 0-1 years.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the stage one “finger tip” for infants ages 0-1 years.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective partial side view of the drying pegs in the side of the storage case.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the stage two “clip tip” for children ages 1-2 years.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the stage two “clip tip” for children ages 1-2 years.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view of the stage two “clip tip” for children ages 1-2 years.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a front view of the preferred handle with the stage two “clip tip”.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 is a side view of the preferred handle with the stage two “clip tip”.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 is a section view of the preferred handle with the stage two “clip tip” attached.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 is a section view of the preferred handle in the locked position.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 is a section view of the preferred handle in the unlocked position.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 is a perspective front view of the preferred handle with the stage two “clip tip”.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 16 is a side view of the stage three “clip tip” for children ages 2-3 years.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 is a front view of the stage three “clip tip” for children ages 2-3 years.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 is a top view of the stage three “clip tip” for children ages 2-3 years.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 is a side view of the stage four “clip tip” for children ages 3-4 years.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 is a front view of the stage four “clip tip” for children ages 3-4 years.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 21 is a top view of the stage four “clip tip” for children ages 3-4 years.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 22 is a schematic top view of a round inner surface shape with a non-round outer surface shape.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 23 is a schematic top view of a non-round inner surface shape with a round outer surface shape.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 24 is a schematic top view of a non-round inner surface shape with a non-round outer surface shape.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 25 is a schematic top view of a different non-round inner surface shape with a non-round outer surface shape.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 26 is a schematic side view of a cylindrical inner surface shape with a tapered outer surface shape.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 27 is a schematic side view of a tapered inner surface shape with a cylindrical outer surface shape.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 28 is a schematic side view of a tapered inner surface shape with a tapered outer surface shape.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 29 is a perspective side view of a tapered-ridge stage three tip.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 30 is a perspective side view of a tapered-bristle stage four tip.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 31 is a perspective side view of longitudinal-ridge tip.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 32 is a perspective side view of a helical-ridge tip.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 33 is a perspective bottom view of four tip stages for infants and children from ages 0-4 years.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 34 is a perspective side view of four tip stages for infants and children from ages 0-4 years.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 35 is a perspective sectional side view of the stage two “swivel tip”.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 36 is a perspective partial side view of the “swivel tip” alternate handle showing a detail of the securing means.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 37 is a perspective front view of the “swivel tip” handle embodiment and securing means with the tip before insertion.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 38 is a perspective front view of the “swivel tip” handle embodiment and securing means with the tip inserted and swiveled into final position.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 39 is a top view section of the “swivel tip” alternate handle with the tip inserted showing a detail of the securing means.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 40 is a perspective top view of a cost effective “disposable” handle with a stage two tip.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 41 is a perspective top view of the same cost effective “disposable” handle with a stage three tip.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 42 is a perspective front view of the same cost effective “disposable” handle with a stage four tip.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 43 is a sectional side view of the same cost effective “disposable” handle showing the safety air passage.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 44 is a perspective front view of an alternative low cost shape for the stage one or two tip.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 45 is a perspective front view of an alternative low cost shape for the stage two tip.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 46 is a perspective front view of an alternative low cost shape for the stage three tip.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 47 is a front view of the omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 48 is a side view of the omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 49 is a perspective side view of the omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 50 is a front view of the helix tip omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 51 is a side view of the helix tip omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 52 is a perspective close-up partial side view of the helix tip omni-bristle tooth brush for older children and adults.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 53 is a perspective view of step one of the elliptical tip manufacturing method.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 54 is a perspective view of step two of the elliptical tip manufacturing method.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 55 is a perspective view of step three of the elliptical tip manufacturing method.  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 56 is a simplified perspective view of step four of the elliptical tip manufacturing method.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 57 is a close-up simplified front view of step two of the manufacturing method for triangular shaped final parts.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 58 is a close-up simplified front view of step four of the manufacturing method for triangular shaped final parts.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 59 is a simplified sectional front view of the omni-bristle electric toothbrush for older children and adults.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 60 is a close-up simplified sectional partial front view of the omni-bristle electric toothbrush for older children and adults.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 61 is a close-up simplified sectional top view of the omni-bristle electric toothbrush for older children and adults.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0082]    The indefinite article “a” before a claim feature does not exclude more than one of the feature being present.  
         [0083]    Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments of the invention described here without departing from the invention.  
         [0084]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail.  
         [0085]    The storage case  1  is shown in FIG. 1. It is preferably constructed of injection molded plastic and of a color similar to or complementing the color of the contents. The cover  2  is preferably of a translucent injection molded plastic so the contents of the kit are somewhat visible while the cover is closed. The circle-line pattern  3  on the cover  2  is preferably a consistent feature of this line of products.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 2 shows the storage case  1  with the cover  2  in the open position. The contents of the kit are held in molded cavities  4  and include a universal toothbrush handle  5 , a tube of edible toothpaste  6 , a row  7  of “finger tips”  8  for infants ages zero to one years old, a row  9  of “clip tips”  10  for ages one to two years old, a row  11  of “clip tips”  12  for ages two to three years, a row  13  of “clip tips”  14  for ages three to four years, a mini CD  15  with computer instructions, and a laminated instruction card  16  which is shown in FIG. 3. Each row of tips is labeled with raised numbers and letters  17  on the storage case  1  according to the age they are intended for.  
         [0087]    The contents of the kit are shown in FIG. 3 without the case. The smaller size of the smaller tips  8 ,  10  allow more of these tips to fit in the same space as the larger tips  12 ,  14 . The recommended life of the tips will most likely require refills to be purchased. The kit is designed with this in mind so that rows of refill tips can be molded or secured in a temporary holder so they could be easily placed into the appropriate rows of cavities  4  in the storage case  1  as a set.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIGS. 4 through 17 will discuss the function and construction of the different tips in more detail.  
         [0089]    [0089]FIGS. 4 and 5 show the “finger tip”  8  for infants. The foam cleaning member  18  of the tip  8  is a flexible foam material. Important characteristics of the type of foam are tear resistance, tasteless, and attractive color. An example of the type of foam that would be suitable is currently used for pen and pencil comfort grips and sold at many stores in North America.  
         [0090]    The foam cleaning member  18  is molded or bonded to a flexible sleeve  19 . The sleeve is constructed with an integrated finger loop  20  to be secured around a finger or fingers of the caregiver. The material for the sleeve  19  should also be flexible, tasteless, tear resistant and attractively colored. Alternatively, if a strong enough foam is used, the safety finger loop  20  may be molded as one piece from the same material as the foam cleaning member  18 .  
         [0091]    The shape of all the foam tips in the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit are generally elliptical or oval or an oblong shape  21  when viewed from the bottom as seen in FIG. 5 to allow easy insertion into the infant or child&#39;s mouth and to achieve effective cleaning of the surface of the tongue and the roof of the mouth as well as the inside of the cheeks (which is called the “vestibule”) with a 90 degree twist of the finger or the handle. The tips are also generally tapered  22  toward the top end to increase the comfort and ease of inserting the tip into the infant or child&#39;s mouth. “Top” in this patent being defined as the end which is closest to the user during brushing and/or the end which is vertically upright when the handle is free standing on its base  35  (see FIG. 10)  
         [0092]    Referring back to FIG. 5, to use the “finger tip”  8 , the caregiver places their finger (preferably their “pinky” finger) into the sleeve  19  and places the loop  20  around the adjacent finger or fingers as a safety feature to keep the tip  8  secure. A small amount of edible cleaning gel  6  is then applied to the tip  8  which is then placed gently into the infant&#39;s mouth.  
         [0093]    The baby&#39;s natural reflex at this age is to suck on anything placed in its mouth. This will allow the cleaning member  18  of the tip  8  to clean the tongue and roof of the infant&#39;s mouth at the same time. To complete the cleaning procedure, the caregiver sweeps the tip  8  from side to side over the top and bottom of the gums so that the insides of the cheeks are also cleaned. This whole procedure will only take a short time and should preferably be done after the infant has been fed to help to prevent “milk mouth” and other oral hygiene related problems. After the cleaning procedure is complete, the tip  8  is rinsed, squeezed to remove excess water and placed on a drying peg  23  shown in FIG. 6 to dry. The foam tips may also be soaked in water and frozen and used to sooth the gums of the infant during the teething process. All of the foam tips of the present invention may be washed with soap and hot water periodically, but are designed to be replaced after a certain period of time or a certain number of uses which will best be determined through testing and experimentation and recommended by the manufacturer.  
         [0094]    The first “clip tip”  10  is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9. Elements of familiarity with the previous tip  8  include a similar elliptical or oval or oblong shape  21  as the “finger tip”  8  when viewed from the top and a similar tapered shape toward the top end  22  to aid in the smooth transition from the stage one tip  8 . The cleaning member  24  is also made of a similar foam material of the cleaning member  18  of the “finger tip”  8 .  
         [0095]    The stage two tip  10  is designed for children ages one to two years. Elements of progression from the previous tip  8  may include a slight increase in size in consideration of the growing child. More noticeably, the stage two tip  10  attaches to the universal handle  5  to begin to prepare the child to use a more conventional adult toothbrush when they are older.  
         [0096]    Each of the “clip tips” from stage two through four have a similar internal construction as the stage two tip  10  shown in FIG. 9. The foam cleaning member  24  is molded or bonded to the more rigid sleeve member  25  which is designed with an inwardly protruding securing means  26  which clips into the tip locking mechanism  42  of the universal handle  5  as illustrated in FIG. 13. Many different securing means are anticipated by the inventor. A safety feature of the present invention of this preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 9 where the foam cleaning member  24  is molded around the sleeve member  25  to produce a dependable mechanical retention  27  of the foam member  24  instead of relying on an adhesive bond between the two members. Another safety feature of the present invention is the air passage  28  at the top end of each of the “clip tips”. The purpose of this hole  28  is to prevent suffocation of the child if the handle  5  is accidentally pushed too far into the child&#39;s mouth by the child or the caregiver, or if one of the tips  10 ,  12 ,  14  were to become accidentally detached from the handle  5 .  
         [0097]    In stage two, the caregiver will begin to train the child to manage a toothbrush with a handle and to begin the process of teaching the child to clean their own teeth. The universal handle  5  is shown in detail in FIGS. 10 through 15. The unique shape of the hand held portion  29  of the handle  5  is designed to “grow” with the child by virtue of the hand held portion of the handle  29  being smaller in diameter in the middle  30  where the child will first hold it when they are in stage one, and it becomes increasingly larger  31 ,  32  toward each distal end to become progressively larger as the child&#39;s hand grows in stages three and four. In addition, the handle is large enough at both distal ends  33 ,  34  for the caregiver to comfortably and practically hold the handle with their hand over top of the child&#39;s hand during the beginning of each stage when the caregiver is teaching the child how to use each new tip.  
         [0098]    Furthermore, the handle  5  is wide enough at the base  35  to stand on it&#39;s own to allow the tips to dry after use. The circle-line pattern  36  provides a functional grip surface and is specifically designed as one piece on each handle half  37 ,  38  in FIG. 11 to be injection molded of a resilient material into the rigid handle members  37 ,  38  in FIG. 11 using a “double shot” molding process. The handle is preferably molded of a colored translucent material to add interest to the design and to be complementary with the storage case. The handle is generally wider when viewed from the front than it is when viewed from the side and has an elliptical or oval or oblong shape  39  (FIG. 15) when viewed from the top or bottom to provide a comfortable and convenient grip as well as to visually compliment the shape of the tips.  
         [0099]    The mechanical construction of the handle  5  is shown in FIGS. 12 through 14. FIG. 12 shows one of the two halves  38  of the handle which snapped together with the other half along the male and female protrusion and slots  40 ,  41  and mechanically secure the tip locking mechanism  42  between the two halves  37 ,  38 . In the preferred embodiment, each of the two handle halves has a male protruding ridge  40  on one side and a female receiving slot or shoulder  41  on the other side. In this way, the production cost of the parts can be reduced by making both halves  37 ,  38  identical. A bonding agent may also be used to secure and possibly to seal the assembly. The tip locking mechanism  42  is held open by the transverse hollow cam follower  43  at the top end of the rod  44  which extends along the center axis of the handle  5  from the base  35  of the handle  5  where it is secured inside the “bubble button”  45 . The “bubble button”  45  is a semi-flexible injection molded part with a bellows  46  construction which allows it to flex primarily in the axial direction. The button  45  is flexible enough to be depressed by the adult caregiver with their thumb as they hold the flared distal end  33  of the handle  5  between their first and second finger like a syringe. The button  45  is preferably too stiff to be depressed by a child and must have enough elastic force in the deformed position to cause the cam follower  43  to expand the tip locking mechanism  42  into the locked position. The “bubble button”  45  is located at the bottom of the handle  5  as prevention measure against accidental depression by the child or caregiver during use.  
         [0100]    [0100]FIGS. 13 and 14 show the handle  5  in the locked and unlocked positions. When the button  41  in FIG. 14 is depressed, the rod  44  is moved axially toward the tip locking mechanism  42  where it moves through the seal  47  and causes the cam follower  43  to slide along the expanding cam slot  48  allowing the two halves of the tip locking mechanism  42  to move radially together and release the inwardly protruding securing means  26  (shown in FIG. 12) of the clip tip  10  which protrude into the tip locking slot  49  of the tip locking mechanism  42 . The tip locking mechanism  42  is molded as one piece in the retracted position shown in FIG. 14 so that it must be elastically deformed while in the locked position in FIG. 13. The tip locking mechanism is a rigid plastic material which is designed to deform elastically in the area near the base  50  where the transverse generally round through-hole  51  reduces the cross section of the material to create a “living hinge” in this area. This allows the cam follower  43  to activate the locking and unlocking function from the inside of the tip locking mechanism  42  where it is compact and protected. The cam follower  43  in this preferred embodiment is hollow for esthetic reasons to compliment the other round features of the design. An actual hinge or pivot on one half of the tip locking mechanism  42  could also be used in place of the reduced cross section area  50  but would likely be more complicated and costly. Lateral retaining guide flanges  52  (shown in FIG. 13) prevent the cam follower from dislodging sideways.  
         [0101]    The reliefs  53  shown in FIG. 10 are designed for tooth clearance during cleaning, but if the elastic preload of the tip locking mechanism  42  is not sufficient to bring the two halves together when in the unlocked position, these slots  53  or similar slots could be used to retain an extensible o-ring made of urethane or other resilient material which could be used as an additional spring load to bring the two halves of the tip securing member  42  together to allow easy removal of the clip tips  10 ,  12 ,  14 .  
         [0102]    The tip locking mechanism is also designed to maintain an unrestricted air passage which is similar in total cross section to the air passage  28  in the top end of the clip tips so the child will still be able to breath if the handle is accidentally pushed too far into his or her mouth by themselves or by the caregiver.  
         [0103]    In another variation of the preferred embodiment, the handle could be filled with balls or bells or rattles to add additional interest to the infant or child. A removable plug could be designed into the handle so these objects could be removed at some point as another positive reinforcement of the child “growing up”.  
         [0104]    In another variation of the preferred embodiment, the handle could be filled with a fluid or combination of fluids that turn different colors or change phase or appearance after prolonged and/or rigorous agitation during brushing to give the child a visual goal and/or reward for how long and how thoroughly they have brushed. This feedback to the user could also be electronically controlled but it is preferred by the inventor to use a non-electronic indicator such as a foaming colored fluid or two different non-emulsifying fluids such as one color of oil or silicone fluid and a different color of water or other non-emulsifying fluid which could mix together with a small amount of air and/or with one or more agitator objects such as one or more plastic spheres or one or more small teddy bear shapes etc. The two or more dissimilar non-emulsifying fluids are preferably of a low enough viscosity to mix together during thorough tooth and gum cleaning and to separate while the toothbrush is sitting for several hours between uses, but high enough in viscosity to remain in a mixed state for at least several minutes after use. This will create a colorful and interesting mixture when the toothbrush is used thoroughly enough and/or long enough which will encourage and reward the child and which will give the caregiver an indication of how thoroughly and how long the child has brushed.  
         [0105]    Other variations of the preferred embodiment of the invention include a portable travel case with storage cavities for the universal handle, a regular size or reduced size tube of cleaning gel, one or more extra tips, and at least one drying peg. The drying peg and the case being preferably constructed so a stage one tip can be placed on a drying peg to dry inside the case where it is protected and kept clean while the case is closed. stage two, three, and four tips could dry on the handle. The portable travel case would be constructed with air vents so all wet components will dry when the case is closed. In another variation, an even more portable travel case for stage one only, would have storage cavities for one or more stage one finger tips, a tube or container of cleaning gel, and one or more drying pegs with air vents so the tips can dry while the travel case is closed.  
         [0106]    The function of the “clip tips” for stages two through four will now be discussed.  
         [0107]    A perspective view of the universal handle  5  with the stage two tip  10  is shown in FIG. 15. Due to the age and limited motor skills of the child in at this age, the cleaning procedure in stage two is similar to the cleaning procedure in stage one. The child holds the toothbrush but the caregiver applies the tooth cleaning gel  6  to the tip  10  and guides the child&#39;s hand to place the tip  10  in the child&#39;s mouth.  
         [0108]    The child sucks down on the tip, just as he or she did in stage one, to clean their tongue and the roof of their mouth and then, with the help of the caregiver sweeps the tip  10  from side to side over the bottom and top of their teeth. The caregiver guides the child&#39;s hand to rinse the toothbrush under running water, squeeze excess water out by hand, and stand the handle  5  on its base  35  to allow the tip to dry. This procedure will take only a short time in consideration of the child&#39;s limited attention span, and at the same time will reward the child with the feeling of using a more adult style toothbrush and brushing their own teeth  
         [0109]    In stage two, there is very little change in the shape of the tip from stage one so it will still be familiar to the child even though there is a significant change in the procedure and the securing means for the tip. In stage two, the child will begin, in a gradual way, which is appropriate to the child&#39;s motor skills and attention span, to learn to clean his or her teeth for him or herself and to begin to develop the “healthy habit” of cleaning their entire mouth on a regular basis.  
         [0110]    Elements of familiarity from stage one to stage two include the foam material and the basic shape. Elements of progression include the use of the universal handle and may also include a slight increase in size and a slight change in color.  
         [0111]    The stage three tip  12  is shown in FIGS. 16 through 18. The elements of familiarity for stage three include the same internal sleeve  25  and the same safety air passage  28  (shown in FIG. 18) as the stage two tip  10  and the same universal handle, the same foam material  53  the generally elliptical or oval or oblong shape when viewed from the top, which is indicated by the narrower side view in FIG. 16, the wider front view in FIG. 17 and the elliptical top view in FIG. 18, as well as the generally tapered shape  55  toward the top end  56  of the tip  12 .  
         [0112]    It should be noted that a slight progression in the color of the foam from stage to stage is considered by the inventor to be a positive progression to reinforce the “growing up” reward, for the child. Ideally, the preferred embodiment would use a progression of colors or shades or hues of color which do not change drastically from stage to stage such as from lighter to darker.  
         [0113]    The elements of progression of the stage three tip  12  from the stage two tip  10  include a slight increase in the overall size and raised ridges or rings  54  which are one step closer to an actual toothbrush and will clean both front and back of the front teeth while preparing the child for the next step. The raised rings or ridges shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are in the 2-6 mm range radially in consideration of the size of teeth of children this age. The raised rings or ridges  54  may be greater or shallower in depth, greater or fewer in number, and thicker or thinner in thickness then the rings or ridges  54  illustrated here and still be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0114]    The ridges or rings  54  have a specific purpose to clean the inside and outside of the child&#39;s front teeth when they bite down on the tip. This is important because the average child&#39;s natural hand movement at this age is not a front and back reciprocating motion along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush as an adult would move, but rather a rotating of their wrist from side to side around their wrist axis generally parallel to the center axis of the toothbrush handle, or a circular motion of their hand and forearm generally on a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the toothbrush handle. The average child at this age will also be able to randomly move their hand from side to side at the same time, thus cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of their front teeth by virtue of the raised foam rings or ridges  54  instead of by the skill of the child. Closing their mouth on the stage three tip  16  should be a habitual action by this time and will clean their tongue and the roof of their mouth simultaneously. The instructional card and CD will also teach the caregiver to clean the outside of the back teeth which, by virtue of the omni directional cleaning surface of all of the tips  8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  14  in the kit, will clean the outside of the back teeth and the inside of the cheek simultaneously.  
         [0115]    As with stage two, once the cleaning procedure is complete, the tip  12  is rinsed under running water, squeezed out by hand and the handle  5  is placed upright so the tip can dry.  
         [0116]    It should be noted that although it may be possible for a skilled adult to achieve more effective cleaning of the child&#39;s teeth with a more conventional unidirectional bristle toothbrush, it is considered by the inventor to be significantly more practical and less time consuming for the child and the caregiver to use the present invention. Considering the human factors of the time and patience of the caregiver and the attention span and motor skill of the child, it is believed by the inventor that the present invention will provide significantly better overall oral hygiene in the long term than the use of a unidirectional bristle toothbrush in the hands of a child or in the hands of a caregiver as they try to clean the teeth of a potentially uncooperative child.  
         [0117]    A side view of the stage four tip  14  is shown in FIG. 19. The elements of familiarity of the stage four tip  14  with the stage three tip  12  include the universal handle  5 , the sleeve member  60 , the foam material  57 , the air vent  28 , the generally tapered shape  58  toward the top end  59 , and the generally elliptical or oval or oblong shape when viewed from the top or bottom as shown in the narrower side view in FIG. 19, the wider front view in FIG. 20 and the top view in FIG. 21.  
         [0118]    The elements of progression from the stage three tip  12  to the stage four tip  14  may include a slight increase in size and a slight change in the color but most noticeably, the stage four tip  14  is constructed with foam “bristles”  63  which will complete the preparation of the child for the transition to a more conventional toothbrush. The bristles  63  may be larger or smaller or longer or shorter or greater in number or fewer in number than the bristles  63  illustrated here and still be within the scope of the present invention. The diameter of the foam bristles  63  of the preferred embodiment are in the 2-6 mm range and the length of the bristles is in the 2-12 mm range.  
         [0119]    The foam bristles  63  reward the child for “growing up” to a stage which is more like an adult toothbrush, but it does not require them to have the skill of an adult to achieve effective cleaning. Any random movement of the brush by the child will provide cleaning of the teeth as well as the inside of the mouth.  
         [0120]    It should be noted that with tip stages three and four, the outer shape  61  in FIG. 21 can be generally elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top, with the inner shape  62  being generally round when viewed from the top. Or the inner shape  62  can be elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top or bottom, with the outer shape  61  being generally round when viewed from the top. Or both the inner shape  62  and the outer shape  61  can be elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top. The inner shape  62  and the outer shape  61  may both be generally round when viewed from the top with one or both of these being completely or partially tapered toward the top end  59 .  
         [0121]    [0121]FIGS. 22 through 25 show different schematic combinations of simplified inner and outer, round and non-round shapes of the present invention when viewed from the top. FIGS. 26 through 28 show different combinations of simplified inner and outer, cylindrical and non-cylindrical shapes of the present invention when viewed from the front or side. It should be noted that top-view shapes can be combined with front-view shapes.  
         [0122]    Other combinations anticipated by the inventor include shapes that are tapered or non-round for only a portion of their length or simple shapes with only an outer surface such as the stage one and two tips  8 ,  10  which could use any of the FIGS. 22 through 28 outer shapes  61  on their own or in combination for their full length or a portion of their length.  
         [0123]    It should also be noted that the simple shapes of the stages one and two tips  8 ,  10  and/or the rings or ridges  54  of the stage three tip  12  and/or the foam bristles  63  of stage four tip  14  could be used in various combinations on the same tip for various cleaning effects and/or to create stages with more elements of familiarity with the previous or subsequent stage. Foam rings or ridges  54  can also be tapered or pointed as shown in FIG. 29 and the foam bristles  63  can also be tapered or pointed as shown in FIG. 30. The ridges  54  can also run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tip as shown in FIG. 31, or the ridges or bristles can run at an angle as is shown in FIG. 32. Many other combinations of shapes and patterns are anticipated by the inventor to be within the scope of this patent including happy faces and other shapes that would be interesting to a child.  
         [0124]    [0124]FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate the progression in size and shape of the four tips as well as the elements of familiarity.  
         [0125]    All of these tips can be used with an edible cleaning gel  6  such is commonly available for infants and young children.  
         [0126]    [0126]FIGS. 35 through 39 show an alternative “swivel tip” embodiment with a potentially more cost effective replaceable tip system. The hand held portion of the handle  29  is substantially the same shape and configuration as the handle  5  of the first embodiment without the flexible tip locking mechanism and actuation means. The “swivel tip”  64  in FIG. 35 has an integral foam cleaning member  65  and rigid supporting member  66  with perpendicularly opposed securing protrusions  67 ,  68  and a safety air passage  69 . The protrusions  67 ,  68  slide and lock into the channels  70 ,  71  in the swivel tip securing means  72 . In FIG. 37 the “swivel tip”  64  is inserted into the securing means  72 . The lower perpendicularly opposed securing protrusion  67  is guided into position by the channel  70  which is only wide enough for the protrusion  67  to slide into position if the “swivel tip”  64  is held at a significant angle to the tip securing means  72 . The channel  70  only opens on one side of the securing means  72  and allows the protrusion  67  to act as a stop against the far inside wall of the circular through-hole  73  (best seen in FIG. 36) to prevent further movement of the swivel tip  64  along its longitudinal axis but still allowing it to swivel into the final position with the longitudinal axis of the swivel tip  64  aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tip securing means  72 . FIG. 38 shows the “swivel tip”  64  snapped into the final position. The upper protrusion  68  has tapered edges  74  which cause the two halves of the securing means  72  to deform elastically apart when the tip  64  is swiveled into position. Once the tip is near the upright position in FIG. 38, the circular through-hole  75  allows the two halves of the securing means  72  to return to a less deformed position which secures the “swivel tip”  64  rigid supporting member  66  in the upright position which is most clearly seen in FIG. 39. The upper channel  71  can be seen in FIGS. 36 and 39 to be narrower than the lower channel  70  and more importantly, narrower than the upper protruding member  68  so the two halves of the tip securing means  72  must be elastically deformed to “snap” the tip  64  into the secured position, and to “unsnap” the tip  64  when it needs to be replaced.  
         [0127]    Many different configurations of this embodiment are obviously possible. This present embodiment was chosen by the inventor for functional, manufacturing, and esthetic reasons.  
         [0128]    [0128]FIGS. 40 through 43 show a disposable handle and tip embodiment of the present invention. With this embodiment, many of the benefits of the first embodiment can be realized without purchasing the entire kit or the more expensive universal handle  5  at the same time. The foam tips  77 ,  78 ,  79  in this embodiment are of similar shape and dimensions to the foam tips  10 ,  12 ,  14  of the first embodiment but are molded or bonded permanently to the handles. The handle  80  is of a one piece construction and injection molded of an inexpensive plastic. The stratified design  81  and vertical cross beam internal member  82  provide a strong but lightweight part with a similar attractive shape and similar function to the first embodiment handle  5  but at a much lower production cost. FIG. 43 is a sectional view which shows the air passage  83  and horizontal air vents  84  which can be molded into the handle  80  with the addition of only one “pull” in the injection mold.  
         [0129]    [0129]FIGS. 44 through 46 show a progression of potentially lower cost head shapes which could be used with any of the different handle embodiments described in this patent. Instead of molding the foam parts to a finished shape, the parts are molded to a larger shape and then shaved down to the final shape with a cutting tool. FIG. 44 shows this production method as applied to a stage one or stage two shaped tip  85 . FIG. 45 shows this production method as applied to a stage three tip  86 . FIG. 46 shows this production method as applied to a stage four tip  87 . The square shape of the foam bristles  88  results from the intersection of the vertical cut lines  89  and horizontal cut lines  90  of the cutting wheel or bit or blade.  
         [0130]    The stage one and two shaped tip  85  and the stage three tip  86  could be machined with this method to look more like the tips of the first embodiment of the stage three tip  12  with rounded corners, but it is more consistent with the cohesive nature of this embodiment of the present invention if the tip shapes  85  and  86  have characteristic square edge shape  91 ,  92  similar to the square corners and edges of the stage four tip  93 .  
         [0131]    [0131]FIGS. 47 and 48 show a front and side view of an “omni-bristle” toothbrush which uses more conventional bristles but is still cohesive with the Children&#39;s Tooth and Gum Cleaning Kit. This tooth brush  93  is designed for adults and older children and takes advantage of a slenderized and elongated version of the flared oval, elliptical or oblong, when viewed from the top handle shape  94  (most clearly seen in FIG. 49) as well as the esthetically attractive and functional double shot molded circle-line grip pattern  95 . The toothbrush  93  may also be self standing. The advantages of this design include reduced requirement of hand-eye coordination and reduced requirement of concentration, as well as more effective cleaning of all mouth surfaces including the inner cheek, the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Other handle shapes can be used and still be within the scope of the present invention. The bristles  96  could be of a more conventional plastic filament design or a semi flexible foam design. The outer shape of the bristles  97  can be elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top, with the inner shape of the rigid head member  98  being generally round or cylindrical when viewed from the top. Or the inner shape  98  can be elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top or bottom, with the outer shape  97  being generally round or cylindrical when viewed from the top. Or both the inner shape  98  and the outer shape  97  can be elliptical or oval or an oblong shape when viewed from the top. The rigid head shape  98  and/or the outer bristle shape  97  are also preferably tapered toward the top end  99 . The inner rigid member  98  and the outer bristle shape  97  may both be generally round when viewed from the top with one or both of these being completely or partially tapered toward the top end  99 .  
         [0132]    [0132]FIGS. 50 and 51 show another embodiment of the omni-bristle toothbrush for older children and adults with a helical tip  100 . The helical tip  100  has a practical function as well as an esthetic appeal. The practical function is based on the flexibility of the coiled head which makes the head of the toothbrush somewhat conformable to the inside of the mouth. A close-up of the helical tip design is shown in FIG. 52 which is believed by the inventor to be unique and esthetically appealing. Apart from the helical shape of the rigid or semi-rigid inner member  100 , the inner member and the outer shape  101  of the bristles may be of any round or non-round shape when viewed from the top and any cylindrical or non-cylindrical shape when viewed from the front or side.  
         [0133]    [0133]FIGS. 53 through 56 show a simplified conceptual manufacturing method for the non round foam tips of the present invention. A round part can be more easily and inexpensively machined than a non-round part because a round part can be turned on a lathe at high speed. The manufacturing method of the present invention allows non-round cross-section parts of flexible material, such as foam, to be turned quickly and inexpensively on a lathe or similar rotating machine. FIG. 53 shows a round blank  102  of foam, or other flexible material before it is deformably secured onto the non-round mandrel  103 . FIG. 54 shows the foam blank  102  in a deformed shape before machining. FIG. 55 shows the mandrel  103  spinning around a longitudinal axis  106 , and the cutting tool  104  removing material  105  to give the deformed part  102  a round cross-section. FIG. 56 shows the foam part  102  removed from the mandrel  103  and returned to its non-deformed shape which is now non-round. This manufacturing method can be applied to foam blanks or other deformable materials with a round or non-round center hole. FIGS. 57 and 58 show how this manufacturing method can be used to produce various final shapes such as triangular by using various mandrel shapes. FIG. 57 shows the deformed foam part  107  on a triangular mandrel  108  before machining. The circular dashed line  109  represents the deformed shape of the part  107  after machining. FIG. 58 shows the machined part shape  110  after machining and removal from the mandrel  108 . It should be noted that a part with a non round center hole could be machined to a non-round final shape by deformably securing it onto a round mandrel for machining. It should also be noted that the outer shape can also be non-round before machining. It should also be noted that non-cylindrical final shapes can be achieved by using a tapered or partially tapered mandrel or by changing the radial distance of the cutter from the rotational axis of the mandrel as the cutter moves axially. It should also be noted that the mandrel may be designed with a cross-sectional shape that varies along its length to achieve various final part shapes.  
         [0134]    This manufacturing method has application to many other products such as foam grips for writing instruments, hand tools, kitchen utensils and many other applications and products.  
         [0135]    The electrically powered embodiment of the omni-bristle toothbrush for older children and adults is described schematically in FIGS. 59 through 61. With an omni-bristle electric toothbrush configuration of the present invention, the tip  111  could rotate around the longitudinal axis  112  of the handle  113  at a variable or constant or intermittent speed in either direction. This direction could be set by a reversing switch controlled by the user or the tip  111  could switch directions automatically, with the direction to be determined by a rotational/axial acceleration sensor in the form of an “inertia wheel” assembly  114  which would signal an electronic control unit  112  as to which way the user is rotationally accelerating the toothbrush  113  around the longitudinal axis of the handle  115 . The electronic control unit  115  then rotates the tip  111  via the electric motor and gear reducer  116  which spins the drive shaft  117  which is rotationally positioned by bearings  118 ,  119  around the longitudinal axis of the handle  112  in the same direction as the direction initiated by the user (or possibly the opposite direction, but it would be more intuitive to rotate the toothbrush in the same direction as the twisting motion of the user). For this embodiment, a rotational angle between 5 and 20 degrees would be adequate for sensing purposes but greater or lesser angles may work also.  
         [0136]    To use this embodiment, the tip  111  would be placed, for example, inside the mouth on the outside of the top row of teeth. A twisting motion around the center axis of the toothbrush  112  by the user which rotates the bristles  120  down away from the gums would initiate the spinning of the tip  111  in that same direction, causing the bristles  120  to brush away from the gums. When the user places the tip  111  against the outside of the bottom row of teeth, for example, and twists the handle in the opposite direction, the head reverses direction and brushes away from the gums again.  
         [0137]    To clean the chewing surface of the teeth with the present invention, the user could initiate a reciprocating motion along the longitudinal axis  112  of the toothbrush handle  113  much like a conventional tooth brushing motion. This axial acceleration would be sensed by the inertia wheel assembly  114  which would signal the electronic control unit  112  which would initiate a different spinning pattern such as a continuously high frequency reversing motion of between a fraction of a degree and 180 degrees or more. Alternatively, it could also respond to an axial acceleration of the handle by initiating a high frequency reciprocating motion of the drive shaft  117  and tip  111  by means of a linear excitation mechanism integrated into the motor and gear reducer assembly  116 .  
         [0138]    A close-up view of the rotational/axial inertia wheel assembly  114  of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 60. The inertia wheel  121  is mounted to a metallic shaft  122  and is rotationally positioned in low friction bearings  123 ,  124  which allow the inertia wheel  121  to rotate about the center axis of the shaft  122  as well as to slide axially. The bearings  123 ,  124  are also metallic and are used as electrical contacts to complete a circuit which will include at least one of the bearings  123 ,  124 , the shaft  122 , the contact arm  125 , one of the rotational motion contacts  126 ,  127  and/or the axial motion contact  128 . A combination coil/compression spring  129 ,  130  on either side of the wheel  121  elastically positions the wheel rotationally and axially. The two springs  129 ,  130  are identical (not symmetrical) so they can both be preloaded and still keep the wheel centered. When the user rotates the toothbrush handle  113  in one direction  133 , the inertia of the wheel  121  will cause it to resist rotation and essentially to rotate in the opposite direction  135  relative to the toothbrush handle  113 . The wheel  121 , shaft  122 , and contact arm  125  act as one unit and must be reasonably balanced rotationally so the toothbrush can be held in any position and still respond consistently to rotational accelerations applied by the user. When a rotational acceleration of greater than a predetermined rate is caused by the user, the contact arm  125  will contact one of the rotational motion contacts  126 ,  127  which will send a signal to the electronic control unit  112  which will initiate a predetermined output to the drive shaft  117 .  
         [0139]    When an axial acceleration of greater than a predetermined rate is caused by the user, the end of the shaft  122  will contact the axial motion contact  128  which will send a signal to the electronic control unit  112  which will initiate a predetermined output. This inertia wheel assembly should be designed with a strong enough compression spring to prevent the shaft  122  from contacting the axial motion contact  128  when the toothbrush is in any position except during axial accelerations.  
         [0140]    Some sort of mechanical damping and/or electronic control philosophy (such as a delay of a fraction of a second or more than a second) must be designed into the system to prevent the controller  112  from responding to axial or rotational decelerations or axial or rotational rebound accelerations which will often happen shortly after the first axial or rotational user initiated acceleration.  
         [0141]    Some experimentation will likely be required to determine the most appropriate combination of spring  129 ,  130  rates and inertia wheel  121  mass to be easily activated by the user but not over sensitive so unwanted activation can be avoided.  
         [0142]    Another variation of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 61. In this embodiment, the tip  111  would rotate away from the gums for a number of degrees  131  (such as approximately 60 degrees) or a certain period of time, and then counter-rotate the tip  111  for a lesser number of degrees  132  (such as approximately 15 degrees) or a shorter period of time, to simulate the action of using a non-powered toothbrush to work the bristle tips below the gum line and then brush away from the gums as some dentists recommend to clean the teeth.  
         [0143]    By combining a high frequency reciprocating motion and/or high frequency reversing rotating action to the rotationally biased staggered rotation motion described herein, the action of cleaning all surfaces of the teeth and working the bristle tips into the gum line could be accomplished very effectively with very little effort or concentration required by the user. The direction of the rotational bias and or the high frequency reciprocating motion and/or high frequency reversing rotation would be set by the user with a simple and intuitive action of rotational twisting  133  the handle  113  and/or axially moving  134  the handle  113  in a conventional “brushing” motion.  
         [0144]    The inventor believes that there may be an additional psychological benefit of this powered toothbrush embodiment for older children and adults as the control philosophy will interact with the user and make tooth and gum cleaning more interesting. In a more advanced embodiment of the powered toothbrush invention, the acceleration sensors could sense various levels of rotational and axial acceleration and the controller could respond with proportional output levels of speed and/or frequency and/or rotational angle and/or any number of variables which could be determined to be appropriate and beneficial through experimentation and testing.  
         [0145]    One example of a proportional control philosophy would increase the speed of the directionally biased rotation with increased rotational acceleration of the user, and would increased the frequency of the high frequency reversing rotation or reciprocating motion with increased axial input accelerations by the user. In this example, the more rigorously the user brushes, the faster the toothbrush tip  111  will rotate or reciprocate to assist them.  
         [0146]    It is anticipated by the inventor that the same inertia input activated control concept may have many applications in industrial and other applications including but not limited to deburring tools, cleaning brushes, powered screw drivers and hand drills.  
         [0147]    It is also anticipated by the inventor that the sensing mechanism could be made much smaller, but has been enlarged here for clarity. Also, miniature accelerometers have recently become available on microchips and could be used instead of the inertia wheel design.  
         [0148]    It is also anticipated by the inventor that there are many other types of powered motion which could be used in conjunction with the omni-bristle toothbrush head.  
         [0149]    All of the possible embodiments could be plugged into a power source with a cord or could be powered by replaceable or rechargeable batteries.