Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Oct., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 7th Jan.. 1887.
I JOSEPH WILLIS, Schoolmaster, of Bleak Villa near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is a contrivance for cleansing the teeth in a more thorough manner
than is possible with an ordinary tooth-brush. It consists of two parts frequently
made independently of each other, so that they can be used separately, and each of
various form and constructed of various materials, but whose combination constitutes
the complete apparatus.
One part (which I call the orisipho) is a syringe, simple or compound, specially.
adapted to the purpose of cleansing the teeth. Like an ordinary syringe water is
ejected from it either by means of a piston or by pressure exerted on a rubber
receptacle; but the peculiarities which specially adapt it to its purpose as a tooth-
cleansing instrument are as follows:-
Either in its own tube or capable of being easily attached to its tube, is an orifice or
combination of orifices, so arranged that from the syringe water is ejected upon the
teeth from various directions and towards any particular point or points, either at the
same time or separately.
Also from the same syringe different effects can be produced because different
orifices or combinations of orifices can be used. Moreover when the piston action is
adopted, by a peculiar adaptation of the pistons and a special arrangement of the
means of ingress and egress of the water, when two, or more, orifices are used through
one, or more of them water is ejected upon or between the teeth on one side whilst at
the same time on the opposite side of the tooth, or teeth a suction orifice (or more than
one) acts; and thus they operate alternately, so that by their combined and repeated
action, especially of the interstices are swept at the same time or previously by the
rotary brush it is difficult to see how any extraneous matter can exist between the
teeth and not be dislodged.
In these peculiar arrangements and adaptations of the orifice or orifices, and the
consequent action upon the teeth of the water issuing therefrom consists the chief
feature of novelty of this part of the apparatus.

page_text: The second part of the apparatus consists of a brush generally so constructed that
being used it rotates in such a manner that the 'sweep or action of the bristles. is
perpendicular instead of horizontal. The difficulty of imparting a rotary motion to an
ordinary toothbrush and the drawbacks incidental to its horizontal sweep, especially
that of not only failing easily to cleanse the interstices but even of brushing extraneous
matter into them, are thus obviated; because the perpendicular motion resulting from
the rotary action causes the bristles to sweep between as well as upon the teeth and
this motion is so regulated that the 'sweep' is alternately in an upward and downward
direction, and can be made horizontal as well as perpendicular.
Motion is communicated to the brush and action to the syringe in various ways, and
I sometimes make a triple and even a quadruple syringe. I also sometimes so combine
the two parts of the apparatus that the tube of the syringe becomes unnecessary.
The chief parts of the apparatus the rotary brush in its various shapes, and the
simple or compound syringe with its various combinations of orifices and varieties of
form, are constructed separately, as well as together, in order to suit the tastes or
requirements of different people: e.g. if a person's teeth are too tender to bear the
action of a brush, the syringe alone can be used: if any one desires or finds it
expedient to use the brush alone, he can do so without the encumbrance of the
syringe yet, nevertheless, the whole device is intended to be used in its entirety as a
complete tooth-cleansing instrument and, so used, by reason of the action of the
rotary brush with its alternate upward and downward 'sweep,' together with the
forcible ejection of water between the teeth and suction of water therefrom, whether
simultaneously or alternately it can scarely fail to cleanse the interstices or 'between
the teeth and so by rendering the mouth as pure as possible, to remove a cause of
unpleasantness and decay.

page_text: I, JOSEPH WILLIS, of Cherbourg House Great Malvern, do hereby declare the nature
of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention is a contrivance for cleansing the teeth in a more thorough manner
than is possible with an ordinary tooth-brush.
The apparatus consists of two parts, frequently made independently of each other, so
that they can be used separately, each of various form and constructed of various
material, but whose combination constitutes the complete apparatus.
The essential part of the apparatus consists of a brush so constructed that being used
it rotates in such a manner that the 'sweep' or action of the bristles is perpendicular
instead of horizontal. The difficulty of imparting a rotary motion to an ordinary
tooth-brush and the drawbacks incidental to its horizontal sweep, especially that of not
only failing easily to cleanse the interstices but even of brushing extraneous matter
into them, are thus obviated, because the perpendicular motion resulting from the
rotary action causes the bristles to 'sweep' between as well as upon the teeth and this
motion is so regulated that the 'sweep' can be alternately in an upward and
downward direction.
Motion is communicated to the brush in various ways. In the accompanying
drawings I have shown that form in which the motion is communicated from the end.
In figure A. 'a' is a knob to which is attached two small rods connected with a
nut '' constructed to fit the fluted rod 'c' 'c' and which moving up and down on
this fluted rod 'c''c' causes it to revolve when the knob 'a' is pulled backwards and
forwards. Instead of the rods which I have shown affixed to the knob 'a' I often
substitute a small cylinder attaching the nut 'b' to one end and the knob a' or a
similar contrivance, to the other.
I also very often so construct the apparatus that the nut 'b' can be moved backwards
and forwards along 'c'e' by means of a knob fastened to it through a slit in the
case, and which moved along the slit, or slits, on the outside of the case carries the
nut along with it and so causes the rod 'e 'c' to revolve. This rod 'c' 'c,' continued
as shown in the drawing A, revolving, carries the rotary brush round with it.
Obviously various other methods of communicating the rotary motion to the brush
are equally practicable but these are enough to illustrate the device.
The second part of the apparatus (which part I call the orisipho) is a syringe simple
or compound, specially adapted to the purpose of cleansing the teeth. Like an ordinary
syringe water is ejected from it either by means of a piston or by pressure exerted on a
rubber receptacle, but the peculiarities which specially adapt it to its purpose as a tooth-
cleansing instrument are as follows:-
Either in its own tube or capable of being easily attached to its tube is an orifice or
combination of orifices so arranged that from the syringe water is ejected upon the
teeth from various directions and towards any particular point or points; also from
the same syringe different effects can be produced because different orifices or
combinations of orifices can be used.

page_text: In the drawing, figure Crepresents a simple syringe. D. E. F. G. represent
nozzles containing various orifices which are attached as required to the tube of the
syringe at 'x.'
In double or compound syringes I sometimes so arrange the pistons that whilst
water is ejected upon or between the teeth on one side, on the other side of the tooth a
suction orifice acts.
Figure B represents a section of one form of the complete apparatus. The knob 'a,'
being pulled, causes the brush to rotate and at the same time works the piston of the
syringe.
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 :-
The Rotary Tooth-brush.
The adaptation of the syringe to the purpose of cleansing the teeth as herein
described.
The combination of the Rotary brush with the syringe as herein described and for
the purpose specified.