TOOTHBRUSH WITH TONGUE CLEANER
A manual toothbrush has a handle, a head at one end of the handle, and bristles extending from one side of the head. A U shaped tongue cleaner extends outwardly from an opposing side of the head. The tongue cleaner has the open side of the U facing the handle and the U shaped tongue cleaner having a periphery that is complementary to a periphery of the head of the toothbrush.
This is a non provisional application claiming priority of provisional application Ser. No. 62/161,819 filed May 14, 2015.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a toothbrush with an integral tongue cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFor years, dentists have recommended that persons brush at least twice a day and floss once a day to maintain healthy teeth and gums, and to prevent bad breath. However, many oral care experts do not mention that a very high percentage of odor causing bacteria are found on the surface of the tongue. Some dentists recommend that their patients simply brush their tongue, as they do their teeth. However, this practice is very harsh and aggressive to the tongue, and can be very uncomfortable and unproductive.
Other inventions have attempted to solve this problem, however most have been very unsuccessful due to an array of reasons including for example: some prior art tongue cleaners, due to their irregular shape, can cause the user to experience a gagging-reflex and an abrasive feeling on the tongue's surface; and most tongue cleaners are expensive and difficult to manufacture, thus they are very uneconomical.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ARTExamples of toothbrushes equipped with tongue cleaners are disclosed in the following U.S. patent publications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,891,864; 4,455,704; 5,915,433; 6,647,581 B1; 8,955,190 B2; 20120167319 A1; 20140325778 A1; D 162941; D 246878; D 377417; D 265270; D 284528; D 285389; D 295695; D 423785; D 423786; and D 727626 S.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere is provided in accordance with one aspect of the present invention a manual toothbrush having a handle with a head at one end of the handle, bristles extending from one side of the head, and a U shaped tongue cleaner extending outwardly from an opposing side of the head, the tongue cleaner having an open side of the U facing the handle and the U shaped tongue cleaner having a periphery that is complementary to a periphery of the head of the toothbrush.
There is provided in accordance with another aspect of the present invention manual toothbrush having a handle with a head at one end of the handle, bristles extending from one side of the head, and a U shaped tongue cleaner extending outwardly from an opposing side of the head, the tongue cleaner having an open side of the U facing the handle and the U shaped tongue cleaner having a periphery that is complementary to a periphery of the head of the toothbrush, and the tongue cleaner and head being molded together.
Referring first to
The exemplary tongue cleaner 20 comprises a polymer that is relatively rigid. The polymer may be any suitable polymer selected in accordance with good engineering practices that does not have any adverse effects on the oral health of a user of the toothbrush. In the exemplary prototype illustrated in
Referring next to
It is understood that a tongue cleaner of the present invention may be combined with a manual toothbrush having a handle of any suitable shape and a head of any suitable shape, including rectangular, square or round.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, obvious modifications and alterations are possible by those skilled in the related art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention include all such modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A manual toothbrush comprising a handle with a head at one end of the handle, bristles fixed to and extending from a first side of the head and a U shaped tongue cleaner fixed to the head and extending from second side of the head with an open side of the U facing the handle.
2. The manual toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the U shaped tongue cleaner is fixed to the head of the toothbrush by an adhesive.
3. The manual toothbrush of claim 2 wherein the head is provided with a groove for receiving the tongue cleaner.
4. The manual toothbrush of claim 2 wherein a surface of the head is provided with a ledge for receiving the tongue cleaner.
5. The manual toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the U shaped tongue cleaner is molded with the head.
6. A manual toothbrush comprising a handle with a head at one end of the handle, bristles fixed to and extending from one side of the head, and a U shaped tongue cleaner extending outwardly from an opposing side of the head, the U shaped tongue cleaner having an open side of the U facing the handle and the U shaped tongue cleaner having a periphery that is complementary to a periphery of the head of the toothbrush.
7. The manual toothbrush of claim 6 wherein the U shaped tongue cleaner is fixed to the head of the toothbrush by an adhesive.
8. The manual toothbrush of claim 7 wherein the head is provided with a groove for receiving the tongue cleaner.
9. The manual toothbrush of claim 7 wherein a surface of the head is provided with a ledge for receiving the tongue cleaner.
10. The manual toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the U shaped tongue cleaner is molded with the head.
11. A manual toothbrush comprising a handle with a head at one end of the handle the toothbrush being molded with a U shaped tongue cleaner that projects from the head with an open side of the U facing the handle on a side of the head opposite a side of the head that has bristles fixed to and extending therefrom.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 16, 2015
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2016
Inventor: TOMMY JUBEI KNIGHT (Tampa, FL)
Application Number: 14/801,196