Abstract: The elongated handle of the device has L-shaped first and second arms thereon which project in a horizontal plane from the distal end thereof, and the laterals of which depend from the main portions thereof. Interposed in a slot between the first and second arms is a third arm which projects in substantially a vertical plane coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the handle. An inverted U-shaped cowling with bristle arrayed about the inside thereof, is suspended from the third arm and supported on the laterals of the first and second arms, so that the inside surfaces of the skirts of the cowling are disposed to oppose the inside and outside faces of the teeth in a row of the same when the cowling is straddled about the row with the vertical plane of the handle and the three arms generally parallel thereto.

Abstract: The monolith includes a base of plastic resin material having elongated bristles of the same resin material monolithically relatively upstanding on one side thereof so that the monolith can be used as a brush. The base of the monolith is molded in a cavity having branches thereof in which the bristles are formed. The bristles are formed to have shank portions relatively upstanding from the one side of the base to points on the longitudinal axes of the bristles relatively intermediate between the one side of the base and the tips of the bristles, and tip portions extending relatively outwardly along the axes of the bristles from the intermediate points to the tips of the bristles.

Abstract: The device is a straddle-type device in which the handle thereof has a pair of elongated arms and a cowling on the distal end thereof. The arms extend from the handle in generally parallel relationship to one another, with a slot therebetween, and the cowling is made of plastic resin material and supported on the arms at the distal end portions thereof. The cowling also bridges the slot and has an inverted U-shaped body, which in turn has endmost sections and a midsection therebetween. The endmost sections are encircled about the distal end portions of the arms in intimate contact with the opposing relatively inwardly directed surfaces thereof, as well as the relatively outwardly directed surfaces thereof and the relatively upper, lower and forward peripheral edges thereof.

Abstract: Brushes are shown in preferred forms which have a series of bristle panels mounted upon a shaft. Each bristle panel has a plurality of bristles. The bristle panels are preferably formed by integrally molding a concatenated series connected by flexible webs. The series is pleated and mounted upon the shaft. An anchor is connected to keep the bristle panels upon the shaft. The bristle panels can be provided with various bristle configurations to vary the brushing action. This construction allows sterilization of the brush and components using economical ultraviolet sterilization techniques.

Abstract: The device and method employ a pair of spaced jaws which have a tooth cleaning implement connected therewith, in the gap therebetween. In use, the jaws are straddled about a row of teeth, transverse thereof, and translated along the row opposite the inside and outside faces of the teeth. Various features enable the user to locate and "steer" the device, even when the jaws and implement are out-of-sight to him. Other features enable the user to count on the device itself to provide the "dynamics" with which we commonly use a conventional "tooth brush" when we manipulate it in our mouths from a point thereoutside. Still others enable the user to program or predetermine the "grip." of the device, transverse of the row, and to do so, moreover, in the context of having an interchangeable or replaceable tooth cleaning implement thereon which is adjustable in "grip" each time a new implement is substituted for an old.

Abstract: The device and method employ a pair of spaced jaws which have a tooth cleaning implement connected therewith, in the gap therebetween. In use, the jaws are straddled about a row of teeth, transverse thereof, and translated along the row opposite the inside and outside faces of the teeth. Various features enable the user to locate and "steer" the device, even when the jaws and implement are out-of-sight to him. Other features enable the user to count on the device itself to provide the "dynamics" with which we commonly use a conventional "tooth brush" when we manipulate it in our mouths from a point thereoutside. Still others enable the user to program or predetermine the "grip" of the device, transverse of the row, and to do so, moreover, in the context of having an interchangeable or replaceable tooth cleaning implement thereon which is adjustable in "grip" each time a new implement is substituted for an old.

Abstract: Earlier devices of the genre, had a yoke-like head for brushing the teeth, and a cowling of reentrantly folded flexible material interconnected with the arms of the head so as to straddle the slot between the arms. The midsection at the bight of the cowling had pleats between it and the wings of the cowling, and together they formed an articulated linkage between the wings for preserving the bias on the wings during the tooth brushing operation. In the present device, the arms 12 have only brackets 34 on the terminal end portions thereof, the relatively outboard portions 38 of which elbow out in front of the arms, like cowcatchers, below the terminal ends 20 of the arms. The portions 38 in turn have mitt-like brushes 50 thereon comprised of fields of spaced individual bristle of 0.

Abstract: The device and method employ a pair of spaced jaws which have a tooth cleaning implement connected therewith, in the gap therebetween. In use, the jaws are straddled about a row of teeth, transverse thereof, and translated along the row opposite the inside and outside faces of the teeth. Various features enable the user to locate and "steer" the device, even when the jaws and implement are out-of-sight to him. Other features enable the user to count on the device itself to provide the "dynamics" with which we commonly use a conventional "tooth brush" when we manipulate it in our mouths from a point thereoutside. Still others enable the user to program or predetermine the "grip" of the device, transverse of the row, and to do so, moreover, in the context of having an interchangeable or replaceable tooth cleaning implement thereon which is adjustable in "grip" each time a new implement is substituted for an old.

Abstract: The brush 2' in FIGS. 8-11 is rod-like and a monolith of semi-rigid but resiliently flexible plastic material. It comprises elongated spaced parallel handle forming members 34 which are discrete from one another, but hingedly interconnected so as to be rotatable about axes 18' lying in a plane substantially coincident with the hinged connection 48 therebetween. Arms 40 project from the members, with the slot 50 therebetween, and wings 30' at the head 74 thereof. Bias inherent in the plastic, crosswise of the members 34 at the hinged connection, tends to flatten the device, as in FIGS. 9 and 10. But the bias is resiliently yieldable to the user's thumb and fingers so that the head 74 (or 30', 46, 48, 46, 30') can be pinched into the condition of FIG. 11 wherein the user must relatively forcibly wedge the tops of the teeth between the tooth cleaning sides 6' of the wings when the head is straddled about a row of teeth.

Abstract: The device is improved over earlier versions in providing for the wings of the device maintaining the angular relationship therebetween when the reciprocate crosswise of the space between the arms to accommodate to variance in the diameter of the teeth. It is also improved in providing an implement which is cast about the arms to enwrap them in more sanitary fashion; and in providing a technique for casting the implement in a way which injects a harder casting material into the cores of the bristle.

Abstract: Disclosed are new brush constructions having at least one receptable formed into a brush piece. The receptacles receive integrally formed bristle clusters which each have a plurality of bristles or tines. The receptacles include a central cavity preferably surrounded by deflection flutes. The flutes receive the tines and force them together and into upstanding orientations. The central cavity extends below the flutes to provide a stabilizer receptacle which receives a stabilizer portion of the bristle cluster core. The bristle clusters are comprised of a plurality of tines which are connected at a central juncture and extend outwardly when the bristle cluster is in the relaxed uninstalled condition. The invention further discloses an apparatus and method for making the brushes by simultaneously ejecting the bristle clusters from a mold and into the receptacles in the brush piece.

Abstract: The device is improved over earlier versions in providing for the wings of the device maintaining the angular relationship therebetween when they reciprocate crosswise of the space between the arms to accommodate to variance in the diameter of the teeth. It is also improved in providing an implement which is cast about the arms to enwrap them in more sanitary fashion; and in providing a technique for casting the implement in a way which injects a harder casting material into the cores of the bristle.

Abstract: The device and method employ a pair of spaced jaws which have a tooth cleaning implement connected therewith, in the gap therebetween. In use, the jaws are straddled about a row of teeth, transverse thereof, and translated along the row opposite the inside and outside faces of the teeth. Various features enable the user to locate and "steer" the device, even when the jaws and implement are out-of-sight to him. Other features enable the user to count on the device itself to provide the "dynamics" with which we commonly use a conventional "tooth brush" when we manipulate it in our mouths from a point thereoutside. Still others enable the user to program or predetermine the "grip" of the device, transverse of the row, and to do so, moreover, in the context of having an interchangeable or replaceable tooth cleaning implement thereon which is adjustable in "grip" each time a new implement is substituted for an old.