Toothbrush
The object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush which has a structure such that deformed bristles may easily be replaced with new ones. The toothbrush includes a handle having a predetermined length to allow a user to hold the toothbrush, with an insert hole formed in an end of the handle. The toothbrush further includes a bristle support head, with a protrusion provided on the bristle support head, and a plurality of front bristles made of hard material set in the bristle support head. The toothbrush further includes a removable bristle support unit which is provided in the bristle support head, with a plurality of rear bristles made of soft material set in the removable bristle support unit.
The present invention relates, in general, to toothbrushes and, more particularly, to a toothbrush which has a structure such that the bristles may be replaced with new ones.
BACKGROUND ARTGenerally, toothbrushes are used along with toothpaste for cleaning teeth, thus keeping the teeth clean. Such a toothbrush includes a handle part to allow a user to hold the toothbrush, and a head part which is provided on an end of the handle part to support therein a plurality of bristles which is in direct contact with the user's teeth. Three or four rows of bristles are set in the head part in a longitudinal direction.
However, when a toothbrush is used over a long period, bristles placed near an outside edge of the head part of the toothbrush become bent outwards. The bent bristles stimulate the user's gums while brushing the teeth. If this stimulation is repeated over a long period, the user's gums are seriously injured and, as well, the teeth may be damaged.
Furthermore, when toothbrushes that have become useless alter being used for a long period are buried in the ground, serious environmental pollution results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush which has a structure such that deformed bristles may easily be replaced with new ones, and which is made of biodegradable material, thus preventing environment pollution.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a toothbrush, including: a handle having a predetermined length to allow a user to hold the toothbrush, with an insert hole formed in an end of the handle; a bristle support head, with a protrusion provided on the bristle support head to engage with the insert hole, and a plurality of front bristles made of hard material and set in the bristle support head; and a removable bristle support unit provided in the bristle support head at a predetermined position adjacent to the front bristles, with a plurality of rear bristles made of soft material and set in the removable bristle support unit.
The handle may be made of resin, and both the bristle support head and the removable bristle support unit may be made of biodegradable resin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Hereinafter, a toothbrush according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in
The handle 1 has an appropriate length so that the user can easily hold the handle 1. An insert hole 5 is formed in an end of the handle 1. Furthermore, the handle 1 is streamlined so that the user is able to stably hold the toothbrush when brushing the teeth.
The bristle support head 3 has a protrusion 7 which engages with the insert hole 5. A plurality of front bristles 9, made of relatively hard material, is set in a front end of the bristle support head 3 opposite the protrusion 7. The number of bundles of front bristles 9 is ⅕ to ⅓ of the total number of bundles of bristles.
As shown in
Meanwhile, in consideration of the protection of the environment, because both the bristle support head 3 and the removable bristle support unit 12 are replaced with new ones after being used for a long period, they are made of biodegradable resin which is decomposed in general soil within a relatively short period. On the other hand, because the handle 1 is used semi-permanently, the handle 1 is made of general resin.
As such, in the toothbrush of the present invention, both the bristle support head 3 and the removable bristle support unit 12 can be replaced with new ones after use over a long period, while the handle 1 can be used semi-permanently. Furthermore, they are made of biodegradable material, thus being easily decomposed by the self-purifying power of the environment. In addition, because the front bristles 9 are made of hard material, the toothbrush of the present invention can easily clean even areas deep inside the mouth.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYAs described above, the present invention provides a toothbrush which has a structure such that deformed bristles may easily be replaced with new ones, thus being usable semi-permanently, and which is made of biodegradable material, thus preventing environmental pollution.
Claims
1. A toothbrush, comprising:
- a handle having a predetermined length to allow a user to hold the toothbrush, with an insert hole formed in an end of the handle;
- a bristle support head, with a protrusion provided on the bristle support head to engage with the insert hole, and a plurality of front bristles made of hard material and set in the bristle support head; and
- a removable bristle support unit provided in the bristle support head at a predetermined position adjacent to the front bristles, with a plurality of rear bristles made of soft material and set in the removable bristle support unit.
2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the handle is made of resin, and both the bristle support head and the removable bristle support unit are made of biodegradable resin.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2007
Inventor: Sang Lee (Gyeonggi-do)
Application Number: 10/592,764
International Classification: A46B 9/04 (20060101);