AN IMPROVED TOOTH BRUSH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED TOOTH BRUSH." -A communication from abroad by
William O'Donoghue and James Dennis O'Donoghue, both of the
1
and Stato of Now Vank πnited States of America.

page_text: for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been
communicated to me from abroad by William O'Donoghue and James
Dennis O'Donoghue, both of the City, County, and State of New York,
⚫United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my
hand and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of a small convex brush adapted in form to
the inner walls of the teeth attached to the handle, so that the bristles
will be applied to the said inner walls in the manner most suitable for
brushing them effectively, when the handle is introduced between the
upper and lower teeth at the middle or thereabout.
The invention also consists of a brush of this character and a brush of
the ordinary kind for brushing the outer walls of the teeth combined in
one instrument, one being attached to one end of the handle, and the
other to the other end.
With the ordinary tooth brush it is impossible to brush the front teeth
at the inside as well and as easily as it is desirable to do owing to the
form of the brush and the shape of the jaws, which are entirely unsuited
to each other in this respect, hence it is proposed to provide a brush
specially adapted in form and construction for this purpose, and for
greater convenience it is attached to the ordinary brush for brushing
the outside of the teeth, but it may be used separately also if desired.
The Drawing represents the improved brush in connection with the
ordinary brush in two different side elevations.
:
A is the convex brush of this Invention, B is the handle, and C the
brush of the ordinary kind. The brush A is attached so that the face
fronts in the direction of the handle, that is to say, towards the brush
end C, and it is arranged in a different plane a little to one side of the
plane of the handle, so that while the handle enters the mouth between
the teeth the brush will come against the teeth either upper or lower,
according to which way the handle is turned.

page_text: The brush face may be more or less convex and of any approved
length. The superiority of a brush of this form for inside cleaning as
well as the convenience of having it attached to the handle of a brush
of the common kind will be readily appreciated.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. A convex brush A adapted in form for application to the inside
wall of the teeth, and relatively arranged with the handle, substantially
as specified.
2ndly. The new article of manufacture, a tooth brush, arranged and
adapted for application to the inside of the teeth, as herein described,
and an ordinary tooth brush combined in one instrument, substantially
as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.