US3177509A

US3177509A - Toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US3177509A
Application number: US349724A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cyzer Bernard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-05
Filing date: 1964-03-05
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13

Description

April 13, 1965 B. CYZER 3,177,509

TOOTHBRUSH Filed March 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1EE.

INVENTOR. EEA /VH/QO (YZEE Jar/M15405 595:1; 5219a 5.1km!

A ril 13, 1965 B. CYZER 3,177,509

Filed March 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I! l """I INVENTOR. Eff/V480 CYZZZQ 3,177,509 TOUTHBRUSH Bernard Cyzer, Arnidar 10, Hadar Joseph,

' Tel Aviv, Israel Filed Mar. 5, 1964', Ser. No. 349,724 10 Claims. (Cl. 1528) ing application Serial No. 137,169, filed September 11,

1961, now US. Patent No. 3,129,449.

The object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush of the aforesaid type which provides increased efficiency of cleaning while being easy to manufacture.

The tooth brush according to the present invention comprises a handle and an elongated bristle-carrying head forming an extension thereof. The head is constructed of an elongated top half-shell and a conjugated elongated bottom half-shell assembledtogether along a longitudinal common surface of separation. The head contains at least one bristle assembly set, comprising a cooperatively associated central bristle assembly and a planetary bristle assembly; the latter being mounted for free rotation'about the axis of the central bristle assembly. The central bristle assembly is in turn mounted for rotation in the bottom half-shell on its own axis which is substantially at right angles to the common separation surface of the half-shells forming the tooth brush head.

This particular structure provides for various relative movements of the bristle assemblies during use and, therefore, thorough cleaning in the interstices between the teeth, as well as efficient massaging of the gums.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the course of the following description, wherein by way of example two embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a first embodiment of a tooth brush according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate the progressive steps of assemblying to the tooth brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the tooth brush of FIG. 1.

The tooth brush illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a handle 1 shown only partially and an elongated bristlecarrying head generally designated by the reference numeral 2 and forming an extension of the handle 1.

The head 2 is formed of two elongated half-shells, namely a top half-shell 3 and a bottom half-shell 4 assembled together along a longitudinal common surface of separation 5.

The inner ends of the two half-shells are externally screw-threaded at 5' and pressed together by their engagement in the corresponding internally screw threaded end 5" of the handle 1. The outer end of one of the half-shells, namely the bottom half-shell 4, is suitably set in a slanting recess 6 provided in the outer end of the other half-shell 3.

A set of two associated bristle assemblies generally designated by the reference numeral 9 comprises a socalled central bristle assembly 11 and a so-called planetary bristle assembly 12.

The planetary bristle assembly 12 is formed of a number of individual bristles 14 secured in a cup 15 of generally cylindrical shape. Cup 15 is secured laterally to a substantially cylindrical bushing 16 mounted for rotary United States Patent 0 movement in a bore 17 provided in the bottom halfshell 4 in a direction at right angles to the surface of separation 5. In the example, the cup 15 and the bushing 16 are cast integral as a single part and together form a sort of crank rotatably mounted in the bottom halfshell 4. The inner end of the bushing 16 is provided with an annular retaining flange 19 adapted to bear against the edge of the bore 17 on the inner face of the bottom half-shell 4 so as to prevent said bushing from moving axially out of its seat.

The central bristle assembly 11 is formed of a number of individual bristles 22 anchored in a cylindrical cup 23, adapted to rotate freely in the bore of the bushing 16. The outer face of the cup bottom 23 is convex and adapted to bear against a corresponding mating portion of the top half-shell 3 in order to position the bristle assembly 11 in axial direction. The bottom of the cup 23 is, in turn, provided with an outer annular flange 23 adapted to bear against the inner end face of the bushing 16 in order to position said bristle assembly in axial direction and to prevent it from moving out of the bottom half-shell 4.

In the example represented, the bristle assemblies 11 and 12 are not only capable of rotating on and about the axis 26 of the bore 17 in the bottom half-shell 4, but also of slightly oscillating in any direction about said axis. For this purpose, sufi'icient play or clearance is provided between the outer surface of the cup 23 and the bore of the bushing 16 and also between the outer surface of said bushing and the bore 17 in the bottom half-shell 4. If need be, some of the surfaces involved may be conical to a certain extent.

In use, when the user manipulates the tooth brush so that the ends of the bristles engage his teeth and gums, frictional forces created by such engagement cause the bristles to oscillate and to rotate. Thus, the axis of the central bristle assembly 11 may oscillate laterally on any side of the axis 26 of the bore 17 by an angle indicated a, with respect to its middle position wherein it is positioned at right angles with respect to the general direction of the handle 1. In a similar manner, the planetary bristle assembly 12 may oscillate on any side by an angle indicated b, with respect to its middle position 27, also at right angles with respect to the general direction of the handle 1.

Furthermore, according to the amplitude of the movement being imparted to the head of the tooth brush by the user and also according to the direction of such movement, the planetary bristle assembly 12 may effect complete or partial circular movement about the central bristle assembly 11. This is achieved by bushing 16 rotating in the bore 17 of the bottom half shell 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the central bristle assembly 11 is able to rotate on its axis 26 independently of the movement of rotation of the planetary bristle assembly.

The combined oscillatory and rotary movements of both bristle assemblies provide for efiicient cleaning action in the narrow interstices between the teeth and also efficient massaging of the gums.

In a modification, the cup 23 in which the bristles 22 are secured could be made fast or integral with the bushing 16 which carries the other bristles 14.

The successive steps of assembling the tooth brush are illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5. In a first step, the planetary bristle assembly 12 is placed through the bore 17 of the bottom half-shell 4, with the bristles 14 as shown in FIG. 2; in the second step, the bristle-carrying cup 15 is brought to a slanting position as shown in FIG. 3; in a third step, the bushing 16 is located as shown in FIG. 4, and the central bristle assembly 11 with its cup 23 is then placed into the bore of the bushing 16, from the inner end thereof;'-t-he bristles extend in the same general' direction as the bristles 14 as shown'in FIG. 4. 'Fmal-ly the top half-shell 3 is placed against the bottomrhalf-sh ell 4 as shown in FIG. 5 and'tlle handle 1 is screwthreaded about up the mating screwlthreadecl endsrSf ot the halh. 5

shells; a

mit unobstructed. circular movement of "the planetary asv.

sembly 12 between the. central bristle assembly; 1'1: ,-andi V said additional bristle assembly 31.1

Y The additional bristle assembly 31isformedzwof ali 15 beriof" individual (bristles .32 anchored in a cup 33,=alsoj rotatably mounted inabore 214, of the; bottomlhalf-shell 4 and having a. convex bottom face, adapted to. bear against a corresponding. bearingpontion of the top half-shell .This additional bristle. assembly 31"is alsoiabletorotateh:

on-its own axis ,35 and to.-.oscillate sli'ghtlyin any diff/C". 1

tion,. provided the cup 33 is mounted withsuflicient; I clearance in the bore 3,4-and/or the corresponding guiding surfaces of; these two parts are,slightlyqconicalb i v In the embodiments shown and described, provi ion-is I made for single combination central and;planetary bristlfi assembly 9, but a'plurality of similar bristle assemblies might beaarranged; in any desired manner in the head of: the toothbrush. Furthermore, any number of additional bristle assemblies such as-31=may be combined accordingh 'h of, wh r i t ei s f to any desired arrangement with-the aforesaid combine tion central and planetary: bristle assemblyor assemblies;, As many changes, could be made in the above construction: and-many widely different embodiments of this invention couldbe made without departing from the spirit. 35

bristle; carrying head forming an; extensionithereof, said head being formed of, an elongated fiOP h llf-SMH"flnda Q J' EHQdT IQM ha h em e tog the o g; I a longitudinal m n su fac of separation, at least one set' of twoassociated bristle assemblies, each comprisinga central bristle assembly and'a planetary bristle assembly, m ue edtm e tat o bou the ax s; c ai cen k bristle assembly, said central bristle assembly beingmount-g edfor rotation in said bottom half-shell on-its; own axis substantially atright-angles to said; surface-of separation: V

of said half-sheila: I I V V V r V ,2. The tooth brush of claim 1, wherein-said central bristle assembly andsaid planetary bristle assemblyqare mounted for free rotation abouttheaxis-of said-central" bristle assembly independent of each other,

' 3. The can baseman 1, vvlierein said central dependent of its said rotary movement.

4. The tooth brush of'claim'l wherein said planetary bristle assembly is mountedjgr gscillatingmovement independent of its said rotary movement.

5. The. tooth brush of claim -1; wherein said planetary cylindrical bushing; the other end: of which, is provided with an outer retaining liangeQsaid bottom half-shell having abore with its axis at right "angles to said surface of p ra n, t idth: f said o ewbeing substantia y equalto-theouter diameter of said bushing,,said bushing, being atab v meunted in aid bore wlthitslre a ninga fla i en gementi h t e inner Vi ce i s id: bo t m: h 7 sa d; q nt a r' st e as emh ybei s oun d axially ins -id bush n 6. The tooth 'br ush of claim 5 whereiizi said central bristle assembly comprisesacylindrical cup and a set. of

itsopen end, said vflange being inengagement with the inner end of said bushing, and saidfrernote end of. said. cup being in.engagementwiththe inner face of said top;

half-shell.

somewhat greater in width than the dia rneterof said brushing in'order topermit oscillating movement of said bristle assemblies. 7 a a of the innerclosed end of said cup is-convex.

- 9. The tooth rushlof claim 5 wherein the bristles pfn a P ne a b s e as emb wm ecu ed t .at a boss of said bushinghaving a width smaller; than the-bore in said bottom half-shell thereby permitt-ing saidrboss and saidbushingto be passed through said borefrom the inner "of said-bottom half-shell.

10. to; ,th brush according to claim l, furlth er comprising at least; .one additional .;bris-t1e assembly mountedin said bottom half-shell beside said c entr albr istleas semf bly at a distance therefrom sufficiently great f or permitting unobstructed, rotary motion of saidlplanetary bristle assen t bl? fliermm mast-ms Cited ma mas UNITED STATES PATENTS;

CHARLES A; ma aiter.

bristle assembly is mounted for oscillating movernentin-v ,bristle'assembl'yis securedec centrically torone end of a bristleshaving one end thereof secured in said cup, said. 'cup havinga retaining outer flange at its end remote from.

. 7. The tooth. brushof claim 5, "wherein:saidtbore is

Claims

1. A TOOTH BRUSH COMPRISING A HANDLE AND AN ELONGATED BRISTLE CARRYING HEAD FORMING AN EXTENSION THEREOF, SAID HEAD BEING FORMED OF AN ELONGATED TOP HALF-SHELL AND A CONJUGATED BOTTOM HALF-SHELL ESSEMBLED TOGETHER ALONG A LONGITUDINAL COMMON SURFACE OF SEPARATION, AT LEAST ONE SET OF TWO ASSOCIATED BRISTLE ASSEMBLIES, EACH COMPRISING A CENTRAL BRISTLE ASSEMBLY AND A PLANETARY BRISTLE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID CENTRAL BRISTLE ASSEMBLY, SAID CENTRAL BRISTLE ASSEMBLY BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID BOTTOM HALF-SHEEL ON ITS OWN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SURFACE OF SEPARATION OF SAID HALF-SHELLS.