US20240090656A1

US20240090656A1 - Toothbrush with syringe technology system for fluid dispensing and suction

Info

Publication number: US20240090656A1
Application number: US18/370,109
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory R. Baker
Original assignee: Gregory R Baker Dental Services Pllc
Current assignee: Gregory R Baker Dental Services Pllc
Priority date: 2022-09-19
Filing date: 2023-09-19
Publication date: 2024-03-21

Abstract

A toothbrush for brushing an individual's mouth and teeth is provided. The toothbrush includes a head having a plurality of bristles, a handle portion connected to the head, and a syringe having a plunger positioned within the handle portion. The syringe is configured to dispense fluid through the nozzle by applying a pushing force to the plunger and extract fluid and debris by applying an opposite pulling force on the plunger.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/407,912, filed on Sep. 19, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to oral health devices and, more particularly, to a toothbrush having a syringe technology system embedded therein to provide better dental care outside of the conventional dental office.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that practicing good dental health is important to maintaining a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. However, obtaining and maintaining optimum oral health is one of the most important parts contributing to an individual's overall health, including both physical and mental health. According to evidence-based dentistry, the oral cavity is the gateway to one's overall system and is paramount in understanding its role in living a lifestyle free of illnesses and sickness that is otherwise preventable.
There are a number of common dental diseases that consistently and predictably arise when one does not take care of their own oral health, including but not limited to gum disease and tooth decay. Studies have shown that inflammation caused by chronic gum disease is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. These common dental diseases are often preventable if individuals strive to follow certain strategies, such as regular brushing (at least twice a day), daily flossing, eating a healthy diet by limiting food with added sugars and regular dentist visits.
Unfortunately, these daily tasks are often avoided by a large segment of the population for various reasons, such as inconvenience or not being feasible due to social, environmental, economic or physical issues. For example, nursing home residents, persons living in assisting-living facilities or psychiatric centers, home-bound individuals and the elderly that struggle with swallowing are particularly susceptible to not receiving optimum dental care either because of the challenges unique to the individual or sub-standard caregivers. In addition to the elderly and disabled, young children are notorious for not taking optimum dental care measures whether it is due to laziness, poor technique and education about dental care or being adverse to the taste of toothpaste. While some of these issues may be addressed by utilizing an electric toothbrush, electric toothbrushes are more expensive and require a power source, which is not always practical in settings discussed below.
In addition to the individuals discussed above, a number of settings are not ideal for one taking optimum dental health measures, including but not limited to hospitals, schools, businesses, restaurant and bars, vacations, military, NASA and sporting events are not ideal places to brush your teeth. Each of these places suffer from certain limitations that lead to less than optimal dental hygiene practices. For example, an active duty person in the military may lack access to a sink and running water, while an astronaut may not have anywhere to spit or otherwise dispose of toothpaste after use.
Accordingly, there is a need for a disposable, manual toothbrush that features a superior ergonomic design, is highly portable, and is easily usable by individuals in all age groups or a caregiver on a patient or resident to provide optimal teeth and mouth cleaning by including an embedded syringe technology to dispense water into the mouth of the user to all their teeth and gums to be brushed comfortably and to collect fluid and debris in order to avoid requiring spitting of toothpaste and saliva during brushing of teeth.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a toothbrush is provided. The toothbrush includes a head having a plurality of bristles, a handle portion connected to the head, and a syringe having a plunger positioned within the handle portion. The syringe is configured to dispense fluid through the nozzle by applying a pushing force to the plunger and extract fluid and debris by applying an opposite pulling force on the plunger.
In one embodiment, the toothbrush is made from a plastic material. The syringe is made from a plastic material. The plurality of bristles are made from nylon. The handle includes a recess for receiving the plunger. The recess is substantially X-shaped in cross-section. The toothbrush may also include an interior compartment. The interior compartment is accessible via a removable component. The interior compartment houses a flossing attachment.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a portable toothbrush is provided. The portable toothbrush includes a head having a plurality of bristles, a handle, and a body connecting the handle to the head. The portable toothbrush also includes a syringe system having a pre-determined amount of fluid embedded within an interior portion of the toothbrush. The syringe system is configured to dispense the pre-determined amount of fluid to facilitate brushing and extract debris from a user's mouth after brushing.
In one embodiment, the plurality of bristles are impregnated with toothpaste. The head includes a tongue scraper opposite the plurality of bristles. The handle portion has a tapered distal end. The handle portion has at least two grooves for gripping the toothbrush. The body has a plurality of cylindrical rings around an entirety of a circumference of the body. The body is substantially cylindrical. The body has a clear window to view at least a portion of the syringe system.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a manual toothbrush for cleaning an individual's mouth and teeth is provided. The manual toothbrush includes a brushing end having a nozzle, an opposite handle end, and a body connecting the handle end to the brushing end. The manual toothbrush also includes a syringe system having a pre-loaded syringe with fluid connected to a plunger and an outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle embedded within an interior portion of the toothbrush. The syringe system is configured to dispense the fluid into the mouth when the plunger is depressed in a first direction and to extract the fluid and debris from the mouth when plunger is extended in a second, opposite direction.
In one embodiment, the nozzle includes a removable seal. The nozzle is positioned behind a plurality of bristles on the brushing end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of this disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a toothbrush with a syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 6 an opposite side view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along Section 9-9 of FIG. 3 of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system wherein a syringe body is within a body of the toothbrush forming one aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of the toothbrush with the syringe technology system wherein the syringe body is outside the body of the toothbrush forming one aspect of this disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a partial exploded view of the toothbrush including a plunger and a handle portion forming one aspect of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and photographs that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and like numerals represent like details in the various figures. Also, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process or other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents. In accordance with the disclosure, a toothbrush with a syringe technology system embedded therein is hereinafter described.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-12 , which illustrate a toothbrush 10 with a syringe technology system embedded therein that may be used by all age groups. It should be appreciated that the toothbrush 10 may be disposable and biodegradable. The disposable nature of the toothbrush may vary, i.e., it may be a single one-time use or it may be used for a specific number of brushings before it is discarded. Preferably, the toothbrush 10 may be made from a plastic material, such as the common thermoplastic polymer Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or the thermoplastic polyester polylactic acid (PLA). Alternatively, the toothbrush may be made of a different material that is intended to be non-disposable, i.e., designed for multiple uses (although any toothbrush should be changed when the bristles become worn and lose their efficiency). For the disposable toothbrushes, they may be accessed via vending machines located in convenience stores, restrooms or break rooms at businesses and hospitals. The toothbrush 10 may be available in multiple different colors and sizes. In one particular embodiment, the dimensions of the toothbrush 10 are 150 mm×30 mm. Of course, it should be appreciated that the toothbrush may come in different sizes.
In the illustrated embodiment, the toothbrush 10 is a manual toothbrush that is highly portable and may be used in a variety of settings wherein a power source is neither available nor feasible. Alternatively, the toothbrush may be an electric toothbrush with a rechargeable battery. The battery may be powered by inductive charging technology, which includes electromagnetic induction and a wireless feature. The power may be generated by a conventional electrical outlet attached to an electrical cord that leads to a charging base of the toothbrush. Power could also be generated from a solar panel that sends through a transmitter circuit and is received by a receiver circuit that recharges the battery.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the toothbrush 10 including a brush head 20 having a plurality of bristles 30 for cleaning the teeth on a first side and tongue scraper 180 on a second opposite side. The head size of the toothbrush 10 may range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches in order to provide the individual with the option to choose a comfortable size to fit their mouth. The American Dental Association (ADA) guidance for head size recommends 1.25 inches in length, 2-4 rows of bristles, 5/16 to ⅜ inches in width, and 5-12 tufts/row. The plurality of bristles 30 may be made of nylon. The plurality of bristles 30 would have a bristle stiffness value less than or equal to 6 N/cm². In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of bristles 30 may be impregnated or infused with fluoride toothpaste. This embodiment would be particularly advantageous in a school, work or military setting wherein it may be difficult or impracticable to have easy access to a tube of toothpaste. In other embodiments, the toothbrush 10 may be used with conventional toothpaste, i.e., toothpaste is applied to the plurality of bristles 30 from a tube before each use.
The head 20 of the toothbrush is connected to a body portion 50 by a neck 40. Both the body portion 50 and the neck 40 are substantially cylindrical in shape with the neck having roughly half the diameter of the body portion. The lower portion of the body portion includes a plurality of cylindrical rings 100 around an entirety of a circumference of the body to facilitate one-handed operation of the syringe 60. Within the body portion 50, a syringe 60 is positioned or embedded therein. The syringe 60 builds the core of the body portion 50. The syringe 60 is the driving mechanism for the dispensing of water or fluid as the toothbrush 10 is pre-filled with a specified amount of water or fluid toothpaste to facilitate the brushing experience with a proper amount of moisture. The syringe 60 includes a plastic housing 70 having a base 230 that houses or encapsulates a plunger 80 having a head 220. Once the fluid excreted by applying a force to actuate or depress the plunger 80 (as detailed below) and brushing is complete, the syringe 60 may be used to create a suction force by applying a force to pull the plunger 80 down and sucking out all the debris that is brushed out by the user and accumulated in the mouth during brushing. The forces to actuate or depress the plunger and to pull the plunger are opposite in direction. The capacity of the syringe 60 is approximately 10-15 milliliters (mL). Certain sections of the syringe body may be amputated to house it properly within the body portion of the toothbrush 10.
The nozzle 90 for suction is positioned directly behind the bristles 30 near the top of the brush head 20. The nozzle 90 may have a window 120 to allow the user to see the level of suction capability left. Furthermore, the body houses an ergonomic grip ling or concentric rings 100 along the entirety of the circumference at the base of the brush to facilitate one-handed operation of the suction feature of the brush. A seal 240 is located near the tip of the brush head, which may be uncapped or removed to allow a fluid connection between an exterior of the brush and the outlet area 110 of the syringe such that the fluid dispensing and suction function may be performed.
The lower section of the toothbrush 10 has a handle portion 130 with grooves 140 for gripping the toothbrush. The handle portion 130 is connectable to the body portion 50. The handle portion receives the plunger 80 via a recess 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 150 is substantially X-shaped to receive the plunger 80. The handle potion 130 hugs the syringe plunger 80 with an ergonomic finger groove design to enhance the grip of the user on the toothbrush 10 while activating the suction force. A flosser attachment 160 may be positioned in an interior chamber within a removable component 170 that may be easily removed from the handle portion 130 such that the flosser attachment may be accessed. In other words, the flosser component 160 is hidden from exterior view of the toothbrush, but the user may easily remove the removable component 170 for flossing teeth either before or after brushing. For example, the removable component 170 may be attached to handle portion via a hinged arrangement such that a user can hinge it out to access the flossing component 160. Since the flossing component 160 is not exposed, it reduces the chance of any contamination from any external sources. As illustrated, the flossing component 160 may have a C-shaped head 190 with a piece of floss 200 on one end and a toothpick 210 at a second, opposite end.
In use, a user uncaps the seal from the tip of the brush head such that the outlet area of the syringe is in fluid communication with the external environment. The user may press the syringe plunger to release fluid/water into the mouth of the user. Then, the user may thoroughly brush his/her teeth and gums for an appropriate amount of time, i.e., 2-3 minutes. Once brushing is complete, the plunger is pulled by one or more of user's fingers while the user's other fingers hold the lower body of the toothbrush. In other words, it is clear that the toothbrush is designed to be operable by a single hand. Thereafter the seal may be placed back on the nozzle of the brush head after sufficiently extracting all the debris from the mouth.
Advantageously, this toothbrush with embedded syringe technology system allows a user to dispense water into the mouth of the user to brush their teeth and gums comfortably with the help of soft or medium bristles and then remove the debris/fluid from the mouth by sucking it out with the help of the superior ergonomic design. It is a highly portable and compact unit that may fit in a user's pocket and designed to be easily used by individuals in all age groups. The water dispensing feature of the toothbrush promotes moisture control for comfortable brushing, while the mechanical gunk suction of debris is especially beneficial when water is not readily available for rinsing. Other features that may be particularly beneficial to users are impregnated toothpaste on bristles, measured debris collection, ergonomic design for one-handed use, leakage proof seal, toothpick, flossing component, tongue scraper, and light emitting diode (LED) lights.
The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. The embodiments described provide the best illustration of the inventive principles and their practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A toothbrush, comprising:

a head having a plurality of bristles;

a handle portion connected to the head; and

a syringe having a plunger positioned within the handle portion,

whereby the syringe is configured to dispense fluid through the nozzle by applying a pushing force to the plunger and extract fluid and debris by applying an opposite pulling force on the plunger.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the toothbrush is made from a plastic material.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the syringe is made from a plastic material.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles are made from nylon.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the handle includes a recess for receiving the plunger.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the recess is substantially X-shaped in cross-section.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising an interior compartment.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the interior compartment is accessible via a removable component.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein the interior compartment houses a flossing attachment.

10. A portable toothbrush, comprising:

a head having a plurality of bristles;

a handle;

a body connecting the handle to the head;

a syringe system including a pre-determined amount of fluid embedded within an interior portion of the toothbrush, wherein the syringe system is configured to dispense the pre-determined amount of fluid to facilitate brushing and extract debris from a user's mouth after brushing.

11. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of bristles are impregnated with toothpaste.

12. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the head includes a tongue scraper opposite the plurality of bristles.

13. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the handle portion has a tapered distal end.

14. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the handle portion has at least two grooves for gripping the toothbrush.

15. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the body has a plurality of cylindrical rings around an entirety of a circumference of the body.

16. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the body is substantially cylindrical.

17. The portable toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the body has a clear window to view at least a portion of the syringe system.

18. A manual toothbrush for cleaning an individual's mouth and teeth, comprising:

a brushing end having a nozzle;

an opposite handle end;

a body connecting the handle end to the brushing end; and

a syringe system including a pre-loaded syringe with fluid connected to a plunger and an outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle embedded within an interior portion of the toothbrush,

whereby the syringe system is configured to dispense the fluid into the mouth when the plunger is depressed in a first direction and to extract the fluid and debris from the mouth when plunger is extended in a second, opposite direction.

19. The manual toothbrush according to claim 18, wherein the nozzle includes a removable seal.

20. The manual toothbrush according to claim 18, wherein the nozzle is positioned behind a plurality of bristles on the brushing end.