Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B7/00—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body
  • A46B7/04—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
  • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
  • A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
  • A46B9/045—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
  • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
  • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
  • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

• a toothbrush for daily tooth cleaning.
• This usually consists of a straight, angled or curved handle, one end of which is designed as a brush.
• This brush can be provided with bristles of different hardness and shape, which can also be arranged in different variants.
• a replaceable bristle head has recently been proposed which has many advantages from the standpoint of hygiene. Since it not only has to be attached to the handle in a detachable manner, but also has to be fixed so firmly on the handle that it can immovably take part in all brush movements during tooth cleaning, an inexpensive embodiment should have some problems.
• a cleaning device in the form of an extended thimble which can be plugged onto a finger and has a textile or other rough surface, which may or may not be impregnated with a tooth cleaning agent, has been proposed on various occasions.
• This embodiment which is based on the primitive method of cleaning the teeth by rubbing with a finger in the absence of a toothbrush, is rejected by dentists as inefficient.
• the object of the present invention was therefore to create a simple, bristle-free cleaning device which is simple and inexpensive to produce, so that it makes sense for the consumer to throw it away as a whole after one or more uses, but not only after months in the case of an embodiment with a replaceable head, to replace it after each or little use.
• Another task was to use the device in this way shape so that it does not cause any injury to the tooth surface and gums.
• the invention touches on the elasticity of the cleaning device, which permits a construction which at the same time fully encompasses at least one tooth on three sides, namely the occlusal surface, outside and inside, a constant contact between the tooth surface and the cleaning surface of the device during the Cleaning movement ensures and automatic adaptation to the different tooth shapes of the bit, eg at the transition from incisors to molars.
• the device is placed on the teeth with the help of the existing opening, which is placed on an incisor, whereupon the device or the head is pressed in until it surrounds the tooth at its entire height and slightly below grips the edge of the gums.
• friction is generated on the entire tooth surface (with the exception of the interdental spaces), which gently wipes away plaque and other deposits without damaging the enamel.
• the block has a continuous longitudinal opening on one side, which is placed on the teeth. Due to the flexibility of the material, the block, which covers several teeth at the same time, follows the curvature of the palate and constantly adapts to the shape of the jaw and teeth during the cleaning back and forth movement.
• a particularly suitable material for this embodiment is integral foam.
• A. cleaning head which is detachably connected to a holder.
• the elasticity is ensured either by the nature of the head material and / or by the spring force of the holder.
• the head is advantageously round or angular and generally covers one or two teeth.
• the head is attached to or on the holder by known means, e.g. Snap system, screw system, snap system, etc.
• the head consists, for example, of foam, integral foam, rubber, silicone rubber and the like.
• it consists of a multilayer material, for example a resilient outer layer, a very elastic middle layer and an inner inner layer to be brought into contact with the tooth surface, for example made of foam with a rough surface, of textiles such as Manchester, velvet, terrycloth or other loop fabrics, felt or flock and the like or from a Wirrfaser ⁇ fleece, crimped dental floss, etc.
• La shows an embodiment of a block according to the above category A
• Fig. Lb the block of Fig. La, placed on several teeth
• FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a holder with a rotatable cleaning head made of elastic material
• FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a holder with a resilient fork and a more or less elastic cleaning head placed on the tine ends
• FIG. 4a shows a cross section through the cleaning head from FIG. 2, placed on an incisor
• FIG. 4b shows a cross section through the same cleaning head as in FIG. 4a after its further movement onto a molar tooth
• FIG. 6 shows the cross section through a cleaning head corresponding to that according to FIG. 3.
• a cleaning block 1 made of integral foam is provided with a side opening 2 and an opening 3 at one end.
• the opposite End is in the form of a wedge or mandrel 4, with which the interdental spaces can be cleaned.
• the opening 2 is used to place the cleaning block on the teeth, several teeth in the lower jaw being covered from above or in the upper jaw from below at the same time.
• the opening 3 is used to place the device on at least one tooth. To achieve particularly good cleaning, these openings 2, 3 have a rough surface, for example ribbed, serrated or nubbed.
• the device is placed on the teeth 6, if desired after introducing a cleaning agent into the opening, and moved back and forth by hand.
• the surfaces 5 not in contact with teeth and jaws may be uneven, e.g. roughened, ribbed or the like to provide a firmer grip on the fingers.
• FIG. 2 an embodiment of a rigid, optionally angled holder 7 can be seen, similar to the handle of a toothbrush, which is provided at one end with a ball 8, on which the elastic head 9 is rotatably and interchangeably attached.
• a ball 8 on which the elastic head 9 is rotatably and interchangeably attached.
• another releasable Berestriens can edium, for example, a screw, a ball joint, a push button. etc. - be used.
• the cleaning head 9 is preferably round, but can also have a different shape.
• the fastening means 8 on the holder the fastening means can also be attached to the head. In this case (not shown) the head end of the holder must of course be provided with a corresponding receiving opening.
• FIG. 4a and 4b show a head 9 placed on an incisor 15 (FIG. 4a) or on a molar tooth 16 (FIG. 4b).
• the round head 9 is surrounded by a resilient outer shell 10, for example made of integral foam, to which an intermediate layer 11 made of elastic foam, rubber, silicone rubber or the like is attached.
• an inner cleaning layer 12 is connected, which consists of velvet, Manchester, flock, loop fabric, random fiber fleece or the like and can optionally be impregnated with a tooth cleaning agent.
• the intermediate layer 11 can also be provided with a dental treatment agent by providing the device with such before use, a certain depot being formed which is slowly emptied.
• a single layer head can also be used.
• the surface coming into contact with the tooth must be such that it mechanically cleans the tooth surface on all three contact sides (occlusal surface, lip and tongue-side surface of the tooth) when the head moves back and forth on the tooth without damaging the tooth.
• the dimensions of the head are chosen such that the end portions 14 of the cleaning head extend on both sides to a little below or above the gums. In order to prevent injury to the gums, care must be taken to make these end parts soft, which can be done with a special coating if necessary.
• the head 9 placed on the holder 7 is first placed on a cutting tooth for tooth cleaning, the thin cutting surface of which can be easily inserted into the opening 13.
• the head is pressed onto the tooth with slight pressure until the end portions 14 have reached the desired depth.
• cleaning takes place quickly and effortlessly with great efficiency.
• the head with the holder is pushed onto the next tooth, which in turn is cleaned in the same way, etc.
• the device is removed taken and reintroduced to clean the other or the upper half of the mouth.
• 4a shows the head placed on an incisor tooth 15, FIG. 4b on a molar tooth 16.
• the substantially wider and deeper molar tooth 16 compresses the elastic middle layer 11 and expands the resilient outer shell 10 accordingly.
• the holder 7 is equipped with a resilient clamping fork 17.
• the tines of the fork 17 are designed in such a way that they can be guided through the holes 19 provided in the cleaning head 18.
• An exemplary embodiment of this fork can be seen in FIG. 5.
• the thickening 21 prevents the head from sliding further, which is fixed by the barbed ends 22 of the prongs. A slight pull is sufficient to replace the head in order to overcome the fixation.
• the head 18 is compressed by the prongs of the fork 17 in the direction of the arrows. After placing on the tooth, there is a corresponding pressure on the tooth.
• the connection between the head and the fork can also be a snap connection.
• the carrier can also be designed in the form of pliers or tweezers. Such an embodiment allows the pressure exerted by the head to be regulated and, for example, enables an almost pressure-free massage of the gums.
• the cleaning heads 18 provided for attachment to such fork, pliers or tweezer-shaped carriers and provided with two holes 19 and an opening 20 can again consist of the same materials as mentioned above and can also be multi-layered. Since the suspension is already carried out by the holder, its elasticity can be lower than in the embodiment according to FIG. 4.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=4243386

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (27)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 1990
  • 1990-09-03 CH CH2868/90A patent/CH681596A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1991
  • 1991-09-02 EP EP91914775A patent/EP0500839A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1991-09-02 WO PCT/CH1991/000186 patent/WO1992003947A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-09-02 US US07/854,679 patent/US5337436A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-09-02 AU AU83386/91A patent/AU8338691A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-09-02 JP JP3513523A patent/JPH05502401A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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