EP1720427B1 - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush (1) including a handle (15) and a brushing head (2) with two brushing compartments (3, 4). The upper brushing compartment (3) is engageable by the teeth of the upper jaw and the lower brushing compartment (4) is simultaneously engageable by the teeth of the lower jaw. The handle of the invention can be pivotably mounted (16, 18) on an outer wall (17) of the brushing head.

Description

The invention relates to a toothbrush. More specifically, the invention relates to a toothbrush, a brushing head can simultaneously brush teeth located on a lower jaw of a user and teeth located on an upper jaw of said user. The invention also relates to a particular handle pivotally mounted on the brush head.

An object of the invention is to optimize a time necessary for a user to brush the teeth. Another object of the invention is to optimize a quality brushing teeth.

Known in the state of the art a toothbrush equipped with a handle and a simple brushing head. Brushing head means an end portion arranged at a free end of the handle of the toothbrush, and which comprises flexible brushing elements, such as bristles. The brushing head is simple in that it allows brushing at a time that teeth of the same jaw, upper or lower. For example, the simple brushing head comprises a base, an upper face of which has a plurality of flexible brushing elements extending radially on said base. Such a toothbrush requires a user to perform a long and laborious brushing. Indeed, the brushing head can only brush one face of the teeth at a time. Thus, the user must proceed in stages to clean the inner, outer and flat faces of the teeth, and this for each of the jaws. Thus, for each jaw, lower and upper, it is necessary to make three movements back and forth to ensure proper brushing teeth on their three faces.

Also known in the state of the art, a simple brushing head for simultaneously brushing the three faces of the teeth of a jaw. Such a brush head is provided with a brushing compartment in which the user can insert teeth of the upper or lower jaw. An inner face of the walls forming the brushing compartment is provided with flexible brushing elements. Thus, the teeth are surrounded on their three faces by flexible elements of brushing. However, with such a toothbrush, it is still necessary to proceed in several steps, that is to say the brushing of the teeth of the upper jaw and then the lower jaw, or vice versa.

Moreover, in all cases, it is often necessary to remove the toothbrush from the inside of the oral cavity during brushing. For example, to move the toothbrush from a left portion of the oral cavity to a straight portion, at least partially emerges the toothbrush from within the oral cavity. Often, when removing the toothbrush from the oral cavity, foam from a toothpaste with which the teeth are brushed may flow out of said oral cavity. Such a flow can cause stains. Moreover, the brushed teeth thereafter undergo a brushing quality less, since the amount of toothpaste used for brushing is lower. The document GB 2 377 167 A shows a toothbrush as described in the preamble of claim 1.

In the invention it seeks to solve the problems stated above by providing a brushing head capable of simultaneously brushing teeth located on a lower jaw and teeth located on a upper jaw of a user. For this, the brushing head of the invention is provided with two brushing compartments attached to a handle of the toothbrush of the invention. Each compartment is adapted to receive teeth located respectively on an upper jaw and a lower jaw of the user. The compartments are provided on their internal faces, that is to say directed towards the teeth, flexible brushing elements. The teeth housed in the compartments are brushed on their three faces, namely inner face, outer face and flat face, at the same time. The two compartments are for example integral with each other at the location of a base, so that an opening of each of the compartments is directed respectively upwards and downwards. Thus, the user can brush at the same time teeth located on the lower jaw and teeth located vis-à-vis on the upper jaw. Furthermore, in a particular embodiment of the invention, the handle can be pivotally mounted on an outer wall of the brush head. When a first side, left or right, of the oral cavity is brushed, it suffices for the user to tilt by simply pivoting the handle from a first position, left or right on the brushing head, to a second opposite position on said brushing head. It is then possible for the user to brush teeth located on the opposite part of the oral cavity, not yet brushed, and this without having to get out and reenter the toothbrush of the oral cavity. The user imposes on the toothbrush of the invention a semicircular movement following a curvature of his teeth, so as to pass the toothbrush from one side of the other to the oral cavity. In order to optimize contact between the brushing elements and the teeth, it can be provided that the brushing head is curved so as to follow the curvature of the dentition. With the toothbrush of the invention, it is therefore possible to brush all at once all the teeth of the upper and lower jaws of the user.

The invention therefore relates to a toothbrush comprising a handle and a brushing head, characterized in that the brush head has two brushing compartments, an upper brushing compartment being adapted to receive teeth of an upper jaw , and a lower brush compartment being adapted to simultaneously receive teeth of a lower jaw.

In a particular example of the invention, the handle is pivotally mounted on an outer wall of the brush head.

• le compartiment supérieur de brossage et le compartiment inférieur de brossage sont solidaires l'un de l'autre ;
• la tête de brossage a une forme générale en H, le compartiment supérieur de brossage formant une partie supérieure de la forme en H et le compartiment inférieur de brossage formant une partie inférieure de la forme enH;
• des parois internes des compartiments supérieur et inférieur de brossage sont munies d'éléments souples de brossage s'étendant radialement sur les parois internes ;
• la tête de brossage est incurvée ;
• la tête de brossage est amovible ;
• la paroi externe de la tête de brossage est munie d'au moins un moyen de fixation du manche sur ladite paroi externe ;
• la paroi externe de la tête de brossage est munie de deux moyens de fixation aptes à maintenir le manche dans deux positions stables opposées ;
• la brosse à dents est électrique.

The toothbrush of the invention may also include all or some of the following features:

• the upper brushing compartment and the lower brushing compartment are integral with each other;
• the brush head is generally H-shaped with the upper brush compartment forming an upper portion of the H-shape and the lower brushing compartment forming a bottom portion of the H-shape;
• inner walls of the upper and lower brush compartments are provided with flexible brushing elements extending radially on the inner walls;
• the brushing head is curved;
• the brushing head is removable;
• the outer wall of the brush head is provided with at least one means for fixing the handle on said outer wall;
• the outer wall of the brush head is provided with two fixing means able to hold the handle in two opposite stable positions;
• the toothbrush is electric.

• Figure 1 : une vue de profil d'une brosse à dents selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Figure 2 : une vue de haut d'une tête de brossage de l'invention ;
• Figure 3 : une coupe transversale d'une tête de brossage selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Figure 4 : une coupe transversale d'une tête de brossage selon un autre exemple de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. These are presented as an indication and in no way limitative of the invention. The figures represent:

• Figure 1 : a side view of a toothbrush according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 : a top view of a brush head of the invention;
• Figure 3 : a cross section of a brush head according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 4 : a cross section of a brushing head according to another embodiment of the invention.

On the figure 1 a view of an exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush 1 of the invention can be seen. A brush head 2 of the toothbrush 1 is provided with a first compartment 3, or upper compartment, and a second compartment 4, or lower compartment. The upper compartment 3 is adapted to receive teeth located on a upper jaw of a user. The lower compartment 4 is adapted to receive teeth located on a lower jaw of the user and disposed opposite the teeth housed in the upper compartment 3.

On the figure 3 a cross-section of the brush head 2 can be seen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The brush head 2 has a general shape H. The brush head 2 is provided with a base 5, forming a horizontal bar of the H, an upper face 6 is provided with flexible brushing elements 7 extending radially. on top of said upper face 6. Likewise, a lower face 8 of the base 5 is provided with flexible brushing elements 7 extending radially on said lower face 8. The base 5 is provided with two walls 9 and 10 extending radially on two flanges 11 and 12 of the base 5 ( figure 2 ) and forming two vertical bars of H. The walls 9 and 10 are parallel to each other. The wall 9 and the wall 10 extend projecting upwards and downwards relative to the base 5. Thus, the base 5 and the walls 9 and 10 form the upper and lower compartments 3 and 4 of the brush head. 2. The brushing elements 7 arranged on the inner faces of the walls 9 and 10 and the base 5 make it possible to simultaneously brush the three faces of the teeth housed in the upper and lower compartments 3 of the brushing head 2.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. figure 4 , upper and lower compartments 3 and 4 each form a V, respectively at the place and upside down. The two compartments are connected to each other at their common base. Such brush head 2 may be particularly suitable for brushing the teeth of a young child. Indeed, young children are devoid of molars which have a rectangular section. The teeth of young children, mainly canines and incisors, have a triangular section for which the brush head 2 as shown in FIG. figure 4 may be more suitable.

As shown on the Figures 3 and 4 , each wall 9 and 10 is provided on an inner face, respectively 13 and 14, of flexible brushing elements 7 extending radially on said inner face 13 or 14.

In the invention, the toothbrush 1 also comprises a handle 15 for gripping and manipulation. The handle 15 is pivotally mounted, by means of a pivot 16, on an outer face 17 of one or the other of the walls 9 or 10 of the brush head 2 ( figure 1 ). For example, the pivot 16 is housed in a housing 18 formed on the outer face 17 of the wall 9 of the brush head 2, the housing 18 being substantially centered on the outer face 17 of the wall 9. Thus, the handle 15 can switch between two opposite stable positions, handle 15 to the right or left on the figure 1 , in which said handle extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the wall 9.

In order to maintain the handle 15 in one or other of these two opposite stable positions, it is possible to provide the outer face 17 of the wall 9 with fastening means 19 of the handle 15. For example, the fastening means 19 are formed by a circlip for snapping a distal end 20 of the handle 15 on the wall 17. The outer face 17 is then provided with two circlips located at opposite edges of said outer face, each circlip to maintain in one or the other of the stable positions the handle 15, according to the needs of the user.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the fixing means 19 are for example formed by a recess and two protuberances. It is thus possible to produce a cylindrical recess on the distal portion 20 of the handle 15 and two cylindrical protuberances extending projecting on the outer face 17. Each protuberance is situated on an opposite edge of the outer face 17, and is suitable for being housed in the cylindrical recess formed on the distal portion 20 of the handle 15.

It is also possible to provide fixing means for maintaining the handle 15 in a plane perpendicular to the plane containing the brush head 2. Such a third stable position may for example allow easier storage of the toothbrush 1 in a glass. Indeed, the brush head 2 is not likely to be in abutment against an inner wall of the glass. Similarly, provision may be made to provide a proximal end 21 of the handle 15 of a base (not shown). The base allows the user to rest the toothbrush 1 on a flat surface after use. When the handle 15 is held in its third stable position, it is not likely to tip, because of gravity, unlike what could happen if the handle 15 was held in a plane parallel to the plane containing the brush head 2 .

The handle 15 may also be fixedly mounted on the brushing head 2. In this case, the handle 15 extends in a plane parallel to the plane containing the brushing head 2. The user must then, to brush both sides of the brush in its oral cavity, removing the first cleaned teeth from the compartments 3 and 4, in order to impose a rocking motion on the toothbrush 1, so as to bring the brushing head 2 to the opposite side of the oral cavity and proceed to brushing the teeth on this opposite side.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is possible to make the brush head 2 so that it is removable. That is to say, it is possible to separate the brush head 2 from the handle 15. For example, it simply removes the pivot 16 housing 18, to make independent the brush head 2 of the handle 15. Such a solution makes it possible to change only the brushing head 2 when, for example, the brushing elements 7 are damaged and render the brushing head 2 unusable. even, such a solution allows to use the same handle 15 for different brush heads 2.

In another embodiment, it is possible to produce two independent lower compartments 3 and 4. The handle 15 carrying the brush head 2 is then split into two rods at the distal end 20. Each rod is secured to a compartment 3 or 4 of the brush head 2. A spacing between the two rods is calculated to allow brushing of the teeth without the user having to spread the jaws too far. It is also possible to make the handle 15 so that the rods are flexible. Thus, the spacing between the two rods, and therefore between the two compartments 3 and 4, can vary. Such a handle 15 makes it possible to make a toothbrush 1 adapted to all dimensions of oral cavities.

The brush heads 2 may also vary according to the dimensions of the oral cavity of the users. Indeed, the oral cavity of an adult is larger than the oral cavity of a child, especially because of the number of teeth that increases. Also, the base 5 and the walls 9 and 10 of the brush head 2 of a toothbrush 1 for an adult and for a child may be of different sizes, so as to adapt to the user in question.

Claims (10)

1. Toothbrush (1) comprising a handle (15) and a brushing head (2), comprising two brushing compartments (3, 4), an upper brushing compartment (3) being able to receive the teeth of an upper jaw, and a lower brushing compartment (4) being able to simultaneously receive the teeth of a lower jaw, characterized in that the handle is pivotally mounted (16, 18) on an external wall (17) of the brushing head, said external wall being provided with means for fastening the handle to the said external wall and which are able to maintain the handle in two stable and opposite positions for which the handle (15) extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the external wall of the brushing head.
2. Brush according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper brushing compartment and the lower brushing compartment are integral one with the other.
3. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the brushing head is generally H-shaped, with the upper brushing compartment forming an upper part of the H-shape and the lower brushing compartment forming a lower part of the H-shape.
4. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that internal walls (6, 8, 13, 14) of the upper and lower brushing compartments are provided with flexible brushing elements (7) extending radially over the internal walls.
5. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the brushing head is curved.
6. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the brushing head is detachable.
7. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the brushing head is provided with at least one means (19) for fastening the handle onto the said external wall.
8. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the external wall of the brushing head is provided with two fastening means (19) which are able to maintain the handle in two stable and opposite positions.
9. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it is able to have a third stable position in which the handle is maintained in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the external wall of the brushing head.
10. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it is electric.

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