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Gum massaging device with internal dispenser    

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United States Patent4608968   
Link to this pagehttp://www.wikipatents.com/4608968.html
Inventor(s)Rosofsky; Paul M. (Willingboro, NJ)
AbstractA toothbrush assembly having a handle, a brush assembly releaseably interconnected with one end of the handle, and a massaging device connected with a second end of the handle. The brush assembly has a cylindrical base shaped to be received in a recess in the end of the handle and has an array of bristles arranged to provide a concave brushing surface. The massaging device includes a carrier having a container of liquid positioned in an internal cavity of the carrier. The container is positioned so as to be broken and dispense its contents when an end of a toothbrush is inserted into the carrier. A porous, absorbent material forms an outer surface of the device and absorbs the liquid for application to the gums of a user.
   














 Title Information Submit all comments and votes
 
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Drawing from US Patent 4608968
Gum massaging device with internal dispenser - US Patent 4608968 Drawing
Gum massaging device with internal dispenser
Inventor     Rosofsky; Paul M. (Willingboro, NJ)
Owner/Assignee     Oral Ease Inc. (Willingboro, NJ)
Patent assignment
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Company News
Publication Date     September 2, 1986
Application Number     06/652,303
PAIR File History     Application Data   Transaction History
Image File Wrapper   Patent Term   Fees
Litigation
Filing Date     September 19, 1984
US Classification     601/141 401/37 401/132 401/134 401/196 601/162 604/1
Int'l Classification     A61H 013/00
Examiner     Swiatek; Robert P.
Assistant Examiner    
Attorney/Law Firm     Seeber; Joseph G.
Address
Parent Case     This application is a division, of application Ser. No. 350,198, filed Feb. 19, 1982 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,109.
Priority Data    
USPTO Field of Search     128/62 A 128/304 128/359 401/134 401/262 401/266 604/1 604/2 604/411
Patent Tags     gum massaging internal dispenser
   
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 Technical Review Submit all comments and votes
 Claims Submit all comments and votes
 


What is claimed is:

1. A device for massaging gums of a user, said device being connectable to an end of a handle, said device comprising:

a carrier having an internal cavity shaped to mate with and releaseably engage an end of a handle, the carrier having at least one wall with a plurality of openings formed therein;

a container of liquid disposed in said internal cavity;

retaining means for retaining the container in the internal cavity of the carrier so that the liquid in the container is dispensed when the end of the handle is inserted into the internal cavity of the carrier; and

a material covering the openings in said at least one wall for absorbing liquid being dispensed and for massaging the gums of the user.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the material is porous.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the material is cellulose that is compressed prior to absorbing the liquid and is expanded by absorption of the liquid.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the openings are provided in a lower half of said at least one wall only.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the openings are provided in a lower half of said at least one wall only.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the openings are provided in a lower half of said at least one wall only.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising projection means projecting into said internal cavity for puncturing said container of liquid when the end of the handle is inserted into the internal cavity.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising O-ring means positioned in said internal cavity for frictionally engaging the end of the handle when the end of the handle is inserted into the internal cavity.

9. A device according to claim 1, further comprising spider means protruding inwardly from said at least one wall of the internal cavity for holding the container of liquid and for preventing movement of the container of liquid when the end of the handle is inserted into the internal cavity.

10. A device for massaging gums of a user, said device being connectable to an end of a handle, said device comprising:

a carrier having an internal cavity shaped to receive an end of a handle, said carrier having an exterior peripheral surface;

at least one strip of material capable of being impregnated with a substance suitable for treating the gums of the user; and

holding means for releasably holding said at least one strip on the exterior peripheral surface of said carrier in a position suitable for massaging the gums of the user;

wherein said carrier has a surface surrounding said internal cavity, said surface having perforations formed therein, said device further comprising dispensing means positioned in said internal cavity for dispensing said substance suitable for treating the gums of the user through said perforations, whereby to impregnate said at least one strip of material releasably held on the exterior peripheral surface of said carrier.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one strip of material is porous.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said at least one strip of material is cellulose that is compressed prior to being impregnated with the substance suitable for treating the gums of the user, and is expanded by impregnation with the substance suitable for treating the gums of the user.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein said dispensing means comprises a rupturable container of liquid which is retained in the internal cavity when the end of the handle is received by the internal cavity of the carrier.

14. A device according to claim 13, further comprising projection means disposed within said internal cavity for rupturing said container of liquid when the end of the handle is received by the internal cavity of the carrier.

15. A device according to claim 13, further comprising O-ring means positioned in said internal cavity for frictionally engaging the end of the handle when the end of the handle is received by the internal cavity of the carrier.

16. A device according to claim 13, further comprising spider means positioned in said internal cavity for holding the rupturable container of liquid and for preventing movement of the rupturable container of liquid when the end of the handle is received in the internal cavity.

17. A device according to claim 10, further comprising O-ring means positioned in said internal cavity for frictionally engaging the end of the handle when the end of the handle is received by the internal cavity of the carrier.
 Description Submit all comments and votes
 


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to toothbrushes. More particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush having a generally circular brush at one end of a handle and a massaging device at the other end of the handle. Preferably, both the brush and the massaging device are replaceable.

2. Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an improved toothbrush assembly having a handle, a brush assembly releaseably connected to one end of the handle, and a device for massaging gums connected to the other end of the handle.

Preferably, the brush assembly has a threaded cylindrical base that is received in a threaded recess formed in one end of the handle. The base carries an array of bristles, with bristles closest to the center of the base having axes extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of an upper surface of the base. The angles between the bristle axes and the plane of the upper surface decrease in a progressive manner radially outwardly from the center toward the periphery of the base. Also, the height of the bristles increases in a direction radially outwardly from the center of the base. Thus, the ends of the bristles form a concave contact surface that is complementary to the outer surface of a tooth.

In another embodiment, the concave contact surface is provided by bristles having axes perpendicular to the base. The height of the bristles increases progressively radially outwardly from the center of the base.

The massaging device has an internal cavity that is complementary shaped to the end of the handle so that there is a friction fit therebetween. The outer surface of the device is designed for massaging gums of a user. Preferably, the material that contacts the gums is porous so that an absorbed solution can be applied to the gums. In one embodiment, a container of liquid is disposed within the interior of the carrier in such a manner that the container is opened when the handle of a toothbrush is inserted into the device. Opening of the container results in dispensing of its contents onto the material of the carrier for application to the gums.

In another embodiment, the massaging device is provided as a cap that fits over the tail end of the brush and is shaped so as to frictionally grip the tail end. Strips of a compressed material, such as cellulose, that have been previously impregnated with small flavor beads of dehydrated or freeze dried liquid are attached to the cap by double stick adhesive. The strips are removed from the cap and disposed after use. The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments hereinafter presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention hereinafter presented, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, partially exploded, of one embodiment of a toothbrush assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the bristle end of the toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the bristle end of the toothbrush assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a modification of the bristle end of the toothbrush assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of one embodiment of a massaging device usable with the toothbrush assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of another embodiment of a massaging device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are end views illustrating different configurations of massaging devices provided by the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective, partially exploded, of another embodiment of a massaging device usable with the toothbrush assembly of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, preferred embodiments of the present invention. Elements not specifically shown or described herein are understood to be selectable from those known in the art.

Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular, one