Abstract:
The present invention, in one aspect is directed to a toothbrush comprising an elongate handle and a brushing head. The elongate handle has first and second portions. The first portion includes a generally rectangular shaped body with grip means for facilitating holding the toothbrush during use. The second portion includes an elongate body having a securing means for retaining the brushing head in a fixed position relative to the elongate handle. An axis extends between the first and second portions of the elongate handle such that the brushing head is angularly tilted relative to the axis.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention is related to a toothbrush, particularly an interdental massaging brush adapted for the purpose of traveling.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Oral hygiene is an everyday requirement for all individuals. The build up of bacterial plaque which can ultimately lead to gingivitis and other gum diseases can be over come by a proactive oral hygiene program. Regular brushing with a suitable toothbrush allows for the removal of plaque and massage and stimulation around the gingival margin gumline and interproximal regions of the teeth. Consequently, a toothbrush device of suitable design is necessary for accessing the interproximal regions of the teeth as well the front and back regions of the teeth, and these functions are not always provided by conventional toothbrushes.  
           [0003]    Another aspect of oral hygiene relates to the consistency and regularity requirement associated with brushing one&#39;s teeth and massaging, stimulating and exercising one&#39;s gums. For this reason, a brushing device should be easy to use and easy to carry around, such as in a person&#39;s pocket for instance. One toothbrush which is found to be useful in helping individuals improve oral hygiene is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,272 by the patent assignee (Sulcabrush Inc.) of the proposed present invention, and is specifically intended to act as an interdental gumline brush that provides massage and stimulation around the gumline, interproximal regions of the teeth and behind the back teeth. However, this type of toothbrush does not allow for easy portability as it does not provide a means for storing the brushing heads after use. The size of the toothbrush is also a limiting factor for portability purposes.  
           [0004]    The present inventor has now realized that it is desirable to provide for storage of the brushing head or for each brushing head after use, once the individual has finished brushing his or her teeth. This would allow the individual to carry the toothbrush in a coat or jacket pocket for example. Whilst travelling, it would be desirable to store the brushing heads to keep them clean, once the individual has finished brushing his or her teeth. This is particularly desirable in the case when the individual carries the toothbrush in a coat or jacket pocket for example.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a toothbrush, particularly an interdental massaging brush, which enables effective brushing and the removal of bacterial plaque, more particularly along the gumline, between the teeth and behind the back teeth, as well as providing a means for storing and maintaining the brushing heads.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a toothbrush comprising an elongate handle means moulded from a plastic material, which includes a first and second end portion. The elongate handle has a hollow inner volume and surfaces of a generally waved shape to facilitate gripping of the toothbrush whilst in use. The elongate handle also comprises at least one hole located on its surfaces, wherein the at least one hole allows air flow access to the hollow inner volume of the elongate handle. The toothbrush also includes a removable lid means, wherein the lid means attaches to the first end portion of the elongate handle means and provides access to the hollow inner volume. An angled securing means is located at the second end portion of the elongate handle, whereby the securing means secures the brushing head in place.  
           [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of maintaining brushing heads of a toothbrush having a body, the method comprising: providing a hollow region within the body of the tooth brush for storing the brushing heads, and providing a lid means for confining the brushing heads within the hollow region; and providing at least one hole in the body for promoting drying of brushing heads.  
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the side of a toothbrush according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the toothbrush showing of a hollow region of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows a perspective side view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1, with an opened lid;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from the side for the toothbrush of FIG. 1 without the brushing head attached; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 shows a perspective bottom view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 with the lid being closed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a toothbrush  10  comprising an elongate body or handle  12 , which includes first and second portions denoted by reference characters  14  and  16  respectively. The first portion  14  of the elongate handle includes a body  18 , which has a hollow region inside, as indicated by  20  (as illustrated in FIG. 2). It will be appreciated that body  18  can be of any geometrical shape, which incorporates an inner hollow region inside. For example, body  18  may be cylindrical as opposed to the generally rectangular shape shown in FIG. 1. The surfaces of the rectangular shaped body  18  are wave shaped as a result of a series of inwardly arched, concaved regions  22   a,    22   b,    22   c  extending longitudinally across its length. Regions  22   a,    22   b  and  22   c  facilitate gripping the toothbrush during brushing. Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the frequency and depth of the regions  22   a,    22   b,    22   c  are selected to comfortably accommodate the fingertip regions  26  and  28  of a person&#39;s thumb and fingers respectively. Regions  22   a,    22   b,    22   c  preferably extend around the entire perimeter of body  18 . Alternatively, however, regions  22   a,    22   b,    22   c  may extend only partially around body  18 . It will be appreciated that body  18  may alternatively have another shape, as long as it includes a hollow region within and a surface profile facilitating gripping thereof.  
         [0016]    The first portion  14  of the body  18  includes an arched region  31  having a plurality of holes  30 . The arched region  31  is located on the body  18 , where the cross section of the body  18  reduces to form the cross section of the second portion  16  of the elongate handle  12 . Holes  30  in the body  18  are described in further detail below.  
         [0017]    Portion  18  has an end  34  which opens into the hollow region  20 . A lid  38  is included which fits on end  34 . Lid  38  is used to close hollow region  20  for the storage of items therein. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that lid  38  includes a rectangular base  64  and a smaller rectangular protrusion  62  extending concentrically therefrom. The cross-section of the rectangular protrusion  62  is approximately the same as the cross-section at the mouth of the hollow region  20 . In fact, the cross-section of the rectangular protrusion  62  is slightly smaller than the cross-section at the mouth of the hollow region so that the protrusion  62  may be pushed into the mouth to provide a snug fit, to retain the lid  38  in position. Once the protrusion  62  is forced into the mouth of the hollow region  20 , an outer edge  66  of the rectangular base  62  abuts against a rim  68  (see FIG. 2) of the rectangular body  18 . Preferably, both the handle  12  and the lid  38  are moulded from a plastic material. It will be understood that the protrusion  62  and wide surfaces at the mouth of region  20  can be provided with one or more complementary projections and recesses to provide a snap fit to the lid  38 .  
         [0018]    To prevent the lid  38  from being lost, it is connected to the handle  12  by a living hinge  15  or the like. The living hinge  15  is integrally connected to the body  18  and lid  38 . It will be appreciated that if the body  18  were to be made from a material other than plastic, the living hinge  15  can still be manufactured as an integral part of body  18 . The lid  38 , includes a hole  32  therethrough, which is described in further detail below.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, the second portion  16  of elongate handle  12  includes an elongate generally rectangular body with a substantially reduced cross section relative to rectangular shaped body  18 . The end portion of the elongate handle  12  includes an annular shaped securing means  40 , which has a threaded bore  42  for securing a brushing head  50  in place. The securing means  40  is angularly tilted relative to elongate handle  12  and has a first surface  46  (see FIG. 5) and a second surface  48  (see FIG. 1). A brushing head  50  has a threaded shaft  52  which screws into the threaded bore  42  of the securing means  40 . The brushing head  50  also includes a body  54  to which the threaded shaft  52  is moulded. The body  54  also holds and secures in place a plurality of bristle elements  56 . The brushing head  50  is screwed into the threaded bore  42  until the end portion of the body  54  tightens against the second surface  48  of securing means  40 . In this position, a brush axis  45  of the brushing head  50  is at an acute angle, defined by Θ 1 , relative to a handle axis  44  which runs along the length of the elongate handle  12 . The brush axis  45  then lies on an axis of the threaded bore  42  that is perpendicular to the first and second surfaces  46 ,  48 . Referring to FIG. 4, the brushing head  50  can similarly be attached to the first surface  46  of securing means  40 , such that the brushing head  50  and axis  44  form an obtuse angle, as defined by Θ 2 . By altering the position (acute or obtuse) of the brushing head  50  in this way, the toothbrush can be adapted to remove plaque, massage and stimulate either the lingual or inside surfaces of the teeth and gums and behind the back teeth, or the outer or buccal surfaces. The acute angle that the brushing head forms with axis  44  is in the range of approximately 65-70°. Also, the obtuse angle that the brushing head forms with axis  44  is in the range of approximately 120-125°.  
         [0020]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, a replacement brushing head  60  can be stored in the hollow region  20  of the body  18 . The inner volume of the hollow region, indicated by  20 , is such that more than one replacement brushing head  60  can be stored in the body  18 . Also, for travel purposes, the existing brushing head  50  can be removed from the securing means  40  and stored in the hollow region  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 6, once the existing brushing head  50  or replacement brushing heads  60  are stored in the rectangular shaped body  18 , the lid  38  is placed on the end  34 , to cover the hollow region  20  in order to retain the brushing heads inside.  
         [0021]    With all brushing heads, including the brushing head  50  placed in the hollow region  20 , there is then no need to provide a protective cap or the like. The handle  12 , by itself, is then small and compact, and can be readily carried in a user&#39;s pocket, for example.  
         [0022]    Hinge  15  has been shown to be a living hinge that is integral with both the body  18  and the lid  38 . Alternatively, however, hinge  15  can be any suitable type of hinge, and may by a separate piece that is attached to body  18  and lid  38 . As a further alternative, hinge  15  may be omitted entirely, so that the lid  38  is a completely separate piece that is removably attachable to the end  34  of the body  18 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the holes  30  on the body  18  and hole  32  on the lid  38  allow air to circulate in the hollow region  20  (see FIG. 2), which serves as a means for drying brushing heads which are moist or wet from use and generally drying the hollow region  20 .  
         [0024]    In the embodiments described, body  18  includes a plurality of holes  30  and lid  38  includes a hole  32 . By having two or more holes in total, air can enter and exit hollow region  20  by separate holes. It is alternatively possible, however, for a single hole to be included to permit airflow into and out of hollow region  20 . The hole may be on either the body  18  or alternatively on the lid  38 . Furthermore, more or fewer holes  30  and  32  may be included and they may be of any suitable shape while permitting airflow into and out of hollow region  20 . Holes  30  and  32  may be positioned anywhere on the body  18  or lid  38  and may be in any orientation while permitting airflow into and out of hollow region  20 .  
         [0025]    Body  18  and lid  38  have been shown to be rectangular in cross section. Alternatively, however, body  18  and lid  38  may have any suitable cross sectional shape. For example, body  18  may be cylindrical having an annular end  34 , and lid  38  may have a circular portion for inserting into end  34 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1, the acute angle of the brushing head  50  relative to the elongate handle  12  is preferably used for cleaning the lingual or inside surfaces of the teeth and gums and behind the back teeth. Also, the buccal or outer surfaces of the teeth are preferably cleaned when the brushing head and elongate handle form an obtuse angle, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Consequently, in accordance with the present invention, in use, the toothbrush invigorates the gums, massages the gingival margin and cleans and removes plaque from the surfaces and interproximal areas of the teeth and behind the back teeth. It will also be appreciated that the brushing head  50  shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the brushing head shown in the patent assignee&#39;s earlier patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,272. Although the embodiment of the present invention illustrates a rectangular shaped body  18 , the body  18  can be of any shape which comprises a wave shaped profile for facilitating gripping the toothbrush  10 .  
         [0027]    It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the preferred and alternative embodiments described and illustrated herein, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. In particular, while the invention is, in general, applicable to any toothbrush configuration, it is particularly intended for an interdental brush having small, compact brushing heads as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,272, or other small stimulating and cleaning devices. Compared to the size of conventional toothbrush heads, such small brushing heads can be readily stored in the small handle of a portable toothbrush.