Improvements in and relating to Tooth Brushes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tooth Brushes.
I, CHARLES WESTLEY RICHARDS, of No. 47, Post Street, in the City and County
of San Francisco, State of California, U.S.A., Dentist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to a brush for cleansing the teeth, and to a novel con-
struction and mounting of the same. It consists essentially of a flexible tubular
tip having peculiarly shaped and angularly pointed flexible teeth, a handle with
a concavo-convex curvature of the end adapted to fit the interior of the tip, and
means for securing the tip to the handle.
The tip may also be fitted directly to the end of the finger of the person using
it, if desired.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,--Figure 1 shows the removable
tip fitled upon the handle of the brush. Figure 2 shows the tip having the side
from which the teeth project carried out in a straight line, and the outer end
of the teeth forming a concaved surface. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one
of the teeth showing the formation of the point.
The object of my invention is to provide a convenient device for cleansing
the teeth, with means for applying it to the finger, or to any desired handle.
A represents the body portion of the tip which is formed preferably of rubber,
gutta percha, or any suitable soft material, but it may also be made of aluminium,
celluloid, or other material, if preferred.
This tip is closed at the outer end, and is of a size dependent upon the manner
of its use. If intended to be used upon the finger, it forms a sort of cot which
may be slipped on or off the end of the finger at will.
If it is to be used upon a handle, such as is shown at C, the handle is prefer-
ably made with a concavo-convex curve at the end, and the tip A may be
slipped upon this portion which is preferably so made that the teeth will' appear
upon the inner concave surface so as to more particularly fit tho mouth when
used upon the teeth.
Around the handle C is a projecting ridge or collar D at such a point that
when the tube has been forced on to the handle, the inner end will pass a short
distance beyond the collar and will contract into the smaller portion of the
handle which is behind this collar, leaving the collar projecting into and dis-
tending the tube just inside the inner end, so that it serves to bind and hold
the tube firmly in place upon the handle.
I preferably make the handle flat so that the ends of the teeth will form a
comparatively flat or concaved surface.
When the device is fitted to slip upon the finger, it is preferable to make the
side of the tube with a flattened surface extending out even with the end as shown
at a, and the teeth are preferably made longer at the outer end 6 curving thence
to form a concave form from this point to the inner end as shown at 62; this
provides a more flattened surface to contact with the teeth, which is much
superior for the purposes desired.

page_text: In order to make the brush teeth particularly effective and allow the ends to
enter the cracks and concavities between and in the teeth and to perfectly
cleanse them, I have shewn the points as made with angular flat surfaces con-
verging from the round bodies of the teeth to a point as shown at 6. The tooth-
brush being made in this way will enter all the irregularities and concavities
of the teeth within the mouth of the person using it, and is more particularly
serviceable in cleansing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A tooth brush comprising a tube or cot, a handle to which the tube is fitted
having a collar or enlargement over which the inner end of the tube is clasped,
the flattened concaved side of the tube having teeth integral therewith and pro-
jecting outwardly therefrom
Dated this Fourth day of July 1899.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C..