FR2786676A1 - Oscillating head for tooth brush has handle with triangular cross section to produce oscillating action of brush head - Google Patents

Abstract

The oscillating head for a tooth brush has a handle (1) to produce oscillations in the brush. The head (2) has bristles (2a) on its lower face depending downwardly. It has an intermediate section (3) and a handle (4). The intermediate section has an upwardly extending ridge forming a triangular cross section, the lower face of this section being curved.

Description

HANDLE TOOTHBRUSH CAPABLE OF PRODUCING OSCILLATIONS OF

THE BRUSH

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush with

  handle capable of producing brush oscillations.

  The toothbrushes commonly used are generally ill-suited to the implementation of the techniques recommended by oral health professionals to obtain the best effectiveness.

brushing possible.

  Among the various brushing methods that have been recommended, that known as BASS proposes a rotational movement of the brush, in contact with the teeth, movement which is carried out from top to bottom for the upper teeth and from bottom to top for the lower teeth , in order to free the deposits and bacteria found in the inter-dental spaces and under the

gums.

  The present invention aims to provide a toothbrush whose handle has a shape which is particularly suitable for producing the oscillations of the brush, while ensuring optimal grip for a

tooth brushing.

  To this end, this toothbrush comprising a handle successively comprising, from front to rear, an end portion or anterior head (2) carrying, on its underside, the bristles of the brush extending downward , an intermediate part and an extreme posterior part, is remarkable in that its intermediate part has a cross section comprising an upper elementary section of triangular shape with point directed upwards and an elementary section

  lower curved side with convexity facing down.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush according to the invention , - Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the - 2 toothbrush of Figure 1, with cross sections of the intermediate part of the handle at different points thereof, - Figure 3 is a plan view of the toothbrush, - Figure 4 is a side view of the brush, taken from the side of its head carrying the bristles, Figures 5A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the oscillations of the brush produced by the movement of the two hands in opposite directions to each other, - Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the toothbrush, seen in profile, during its oscillations, - Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a variant of holding the brush, by brushing in

tooth surface.

  The toothbrush according to the invention which is shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a handle 1 consisting of three parts having distinct characteristics, namely an anterior end part 2, a

  intermediate part 3 and an extreme rear part 4.

  The anterior extreme part 2 constitutes the head of the brush which carries its bristles 5 extending perpendicularly downward from the lower surface 2a of the head 2. This head 2 has a planar shape as in the case

common toothbrushes.

  The intermediate part 3 of the toothbrush is the essential part of it in that its shape facilitates the oscillating movements of the brush, as will be explained below. More particularly, the intermediate part 3 of the toothbrush comprises an upper elementary part in the form of a dihedron, consisting of two inclined plane faces 3a, 3b intersecting along an upper edge 3_. In other words, this upper part has an elementary cross-section (FIG. 2) having a triangular shape with a point directed upwards. The cross section of the intermediate part 3 is variable depending on the length of the handle - 3 - starting from zero at both ends to a maximum value in the middle part. The edge 3c of the dihedral thus progressively connects to the front 2 and rear 4 parts of the handle. The cross section of the intermediate part 3 also includes a lower elementary section which is delimited by an arc 3_ with convexity facing downwards. This arc defines a surface

  convex extending along the intermediate part 3.

  Arc 3_ can be an arc centered on the vertex or on edge 3c, i.e. its radius of curvature can be equal to the width of the sides 3a, 3b, or even the radius curvature may be slightly different from such

arc.

  According to a complementary characteristic of the present invention, the rear posterior part 4 is advantageously curved upwards, that is to say in a direction opposite to that in which extend

the bristles 5 of the toothbrush.

  To perform lateral cleaning by oscillation of the head 2 of the brush, place its handle between the two hands, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B. As can best be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the edge 3c of the triangular upper part is placed in the distal interphalangeal space of the upper hand while the lower hand is in contact with the lower part at convex surface 3_. By carrying out simultaneous movements, in the opposite direction, with both hands, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B, oscillations of the handle are caused, the upper hand alternately receiving the two plane faces 3a, , 3k from the upper triangular part, while the lower hand, still in

  contact with the convex surface 3_, rolls the brush.

  The alternating oscillation movement of the brush handle also results in a vertical movement of both hands. During this oscillation movement, the posterior end portion 4 which is bent towards the

  high, prevents slipping between the hands.

  -4 - A similar brushing result can be obtained by oscillating the toothbrush between the thumb and the other four fingers of the hand. The edge 3c is always placed in the distal interphalangeal space of the hand and the thumb which ensures the rotation, is in contact with the

lower convex surface 3_.

  To perform a surface brushing, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the edge 3c of the part

  superior is always placed in the inter-

  phalangeal of the hand and the convex lower surface 3_ is housed in the palm, which ensures excellent

  grip adapted to all body shapes.

- 5 -

Claims (4)

  1 - Toothbrush comprising a handle (1) successively comprising, from front to rear, an end part or anterior head (2) carrying, on its lower face (2a), the bristles (5) of the brush extending downwards, an intermediate part (3) and a posterior end part (4), characterized in that its intermediate part (3) has a cross section comprising an upper elementary section (3a, 3b, 3C) with a point directed upwards and an elementary section lower to the sides   downwardly convex curves.   2 - Toothbrush according to claim 1 characterized in that the intermediate part (3) of the handle (1) comprises, over its entire length, an upper part in the form of a dihedron whose upper edge (3c) is gradually connected to extreme parts   anterior (2) and posterior (4).   3 - Toothbrush according to any one of   claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the side   curve (3_), with convexity facing down from the lower elementary section, of the intermediate part (3) is an arc centered on the upper vertex (3c) of the   upper triangular elementary section.   4 - Toothbrush according to any one of   claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the part   posterior end (4) of the handle (1) is curved upwards.