Disposable toothbrush

Abstract

A disposable toothbrush includes a handle member produced from a pre-selected biodegradable material. The handle member has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. There are a predetermined number of rows of bristles attached to and extending above a top surface of the handle member closely adjacent one end thereof. Such bristles have a predetermined length. A pouch containing toothpaste is disposed beneath the rows of bristles such that the toothpaste will be in fluid communication with the bristles when the pouch is punctured and compressed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/957,365 filed Aug. 22, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to dental hygiene and, more particularly, this invention relates to a disposable toothbrush for use in such dental hygiene.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, dental hygiene is of utmost importance for a number of reasons. It is well established that poor dental hygiene can lead to poor health as well as bad breath.

Because brushing one's teeth is a time consuming task, it is often the case that people who are running late for whatever reason will forego brushing their teeth in order to conserve as much time as possible.

The applicant is aware of the following U.S. Patents dealing with disposable toothbrushes:

1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,762;

2) U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,420;

3) U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,129;

4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,481; and

5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,126.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a disposable toothbrush. The disposable toothbrush includes a handle member produced from a pre-selected biodegradable material. Such handle member having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A predetermined number of rows of bristles are attached to and extend above a top surface of the handle member closely adjacent one end thereof. Such bristles have a predetermined length. Further, there is a pouch containing toothpaste disposed beneath the rows of bristles. The toothpaste will be in fluid communication with the bristles when the pouch is both punctured and compressed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a disposable toothbrush which is easy to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush which is environmentally friendly by being produced from biodegradable materials.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush which is relatively small compared to normal toothbrushes.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush which is has a built in toothpaste holder.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of disposable toothbrush illustrated in FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to drawing FIGS. 1 and 2. Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of a disposable toothbrush, generally designated 10. The disposable toothbrush 10 includes a handle member 12 produced from a pre-selected biodegradable material. The handle member is has each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape.

Such pre-selected biodegradable material is preferably selected from the group consisting of wood, cardboard and plastic. Most preferably such pre-selected biodegradable material is wood. Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the predetermined shape of the handle member 12 is generally rectangular. Furthermore, the presently preferred predetermined size of the handle member 12 is generally between about 3.0 to about 4.0 inches long and about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch in height. Most preferably the predetermined height of the handle member 12 is about 0.25 inch.

The disposable toothbrush further includes a predetermined number of rows of bristles 14 attached to and extending above the top surface 16 of the handle member 12 closely adjacent one end thereof. The bristles 14 have a predetermined length. Preferably, the bristles 14 will extend about handle member 12 for about 0.25 inch. Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention the predetermined number of rows of bristles 14 is five. Further, in this embodiment bristles 14 will extend above the top surface 16 of the handle member 12 for between about 0.2 and about 0.3 inch. Preferably, about 0.25 inch. The predetermined number of rows of bristles 14 preferably will have alternating rows of bristles with different heights.

The final element of the disposable toothbrush 10 is a pouch 18 containing toothpaste therein. Pouch 18 is disposed beneath the rows of bristles 14. Such toothpaste will be in fluid communication with the bristles 14 when the pouch 18 is punctured and compressed.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A disposable toothbrush, said disposable toothbrush comprising:

(a) a handle member produced from a pre-selected biodegradable material, said handle having a predetermined size and a predetermined shape;

(b) a predetermined number of rows of bristles attached to and extending above a top surface of said handle member closely adjacent one end thereof, said bristles having a predetermined length; and

(c) a pouch, containing toothpaste, disposed beneath said rows of bristles, said toothpaste being in fluid communication with said bristles when said pouch is punctured and compressed.

2. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 1, wherein said pre-selected biodegradable material is selected from the group consisting of wood, cardboard and plastic.

3. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said pre-selected biodegradable material is wood.

4. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape of said handle member is generally rectangular.

5. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined size of said handle member is generally between about 3.0 to about 4.0 inches long and between about 0.25 to about 0.38 inch wide and about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch in height.

6. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 5, wherein said height of said handle member is about 0.25 inch in height.

7. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 6, wherein said bristles extend above said handle member for about 0.2 and about 0.3 inch.

8. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 7, wherein said bristles extend above said handle member for about 0.25 inch.

9. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined number of rows of bristles five.

10. A disposable toothbrush, according to claim 9, wherein said wherein alternating rows of bristles have different heights.