Toothbrush with Adjustable Bristle Firmness
A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness is a device that is used to brush teeth and allows the user to select a desired bristle firmness. The device includes a brush handle that is grasped during use. A brush head is connected to the brush handle and include a plurality of stationary bristles and a plurality of bristle platforms. A plurality of adjustable bristles is distributed on the plurality of bristle platforms. The plurality of bristle platforms is retractably mounted into the brush head, enabling a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles to be extended from and retracted into the brush head as desired by the user. The desired bristle firmness is selected by actuating a firmness selection switch that is mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through a bristle adjustment mechanism.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/386,547 filed on Dec. 7, 2015.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a toothbrush. More specifically, the present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness that allows the user to select a desired bristle firmness while brushing his or her teeth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToothbrushes are one of the most commonly used oral hygiene instruments used to clean the teeth, gums, and tongue. Toothbrushes are available in a wide variety with various different types of bristle textures, sizes, and forms available. Bristles are generally available in soft, medium, and firm options. Firm bristles are more efficient in breaking down and reducing plaque. However, excessive brushing with firm bristles may cause damage to tooth enamel and irritate the gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are considered suitable for those with sensitive teeth or enamel erosion. However, dentists generally recommend the use of a toothbrush with medium bristles as a compromise between soft bristles and hard bristles. Alternatively, it is possible to brush for longer periods of time with a soft bristled toothbrush.
The present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness that provides multiple levels of bristle firmness that the user may select when brushing his or her teeth. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention includes three different levels of bristle firmness including soft, medium, and firm. The user is able to manually select the desired level of firmness from the three different levels of bristle firmness.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness. The present invention is shown in
The brush handle 1 is the portion of the present invention that is grasped by the user during use of the present invention. The brush head 2 is the portion of the present invention that cleans the user's teeth during brushing. The brush head 2 is terminally connected to the brush handle 1 as shown in
The bristle adjustment mechanism 3 enables the user to switch between brushing with bristles of varying firmness by extending or retracting the plurality of bristle platforms 5. The firmness selection switch 4 is utilized to manually select the desired firmness level. The firmness selection switch 4 is mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms 5 through the bristle adjustment mechanism 3 as shown in
The plurality of stationary bristles 14 is distributed about the brush head 2, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms 5 as shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of adjustable bristles 15 comprises a plurality of medium bristles 16 and a plurality of firm bristles 17. The plurality of stationary bristles 14, the plurality of medium bristles 16, and the plurality of firm bristles 17 provide three different levels of bristle firmness. As shown in
The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 is encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16. The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 is thus positioned within the selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16. The selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles 17 and the selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles 16 are thus able to extend from and retract into the brush head 2 independently of each other.
With continued reference to
With further reference to
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of ring platforms 10 comprises a first ring platform 11, a second ring platform 12, and a third ring platform 13. The first ring platform 11 is positioned adjacent to the brush handle 1 while the third ring platform 13 is positioned opposite to the brush handle 1. The second ring platform 12 is positioned in between the first ring platform 11 and the third ring platform 13, forming a linear arrangement for the first ring platform 11, the second ring platform 12, and the third ring platform 13. The first ring platform 11, the second ring platform 12, and the third ring platform 13 extend from and retract into the brush head 2 simultaneously, ensuring even extension and retraction of the plurality medium bristles 16.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness comprises:
- a brush handle;
- a brush head;
- a plurality of bristle platforms;
- a bristle adjustment mechanism;
- a firmness selection switch;
- a plurality of stationary bristles;
- a plurality of adjustable bristles;
- the brush head being terminally connected to the brush handle;
- the plurality of bristle platforms being retractably mounted into the brush head;
- the firmness selection switch being mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through the bristle adjustment mechanism;
- the plurality of stationary bristles being distributed about the brush head, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms; and
- the plurality of adjustable bristles being distributed about the plurality of bristle platforms.
2. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles;
- a selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles being centrally positioned on a corresponding platform from the plurality of bristle platforms; and
- the selected quantity of firm bristles being encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles.
3. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the plurality of bristle platforms comprises a plurality of circular platforms and a plurality of ring platforms; and
- each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned centrally within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
4. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises:
- the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles;
- the plurality of medium bristles being positioned on the plurality of ring platforms; and
- the plurality of firm bristles being positioned on the plurality of circular platforms.
5. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises:
- the plurality of circular platforms comprises a first circular platform, a second circular platform, and a third circular platform;
- the first circular platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle;
- the third circular platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and
- the second circular platform being positioned in between the first circular platform and the third circular platform.
6. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises:
- the plurality of ring platforms comprises a first ring platform, a second ring platform, and a third ring platform;
- the first ring platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle;
- the third ring platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and
- the second ring platform being positioned in between the first ring platform and the third ring platform.
7. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 3 further comprises:
- each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned through a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
8. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the firmness selection switch being slidably engaged to the brush handle.
9. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stationary bristles is a plurality of soft bristles.
10. A toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness comprises:
- a brush handle;
- a brush head;
- a plurality of bristle platforms;
- a bristle adjustment mechanism;
- a firmness selection switch;
- a plurality of stationary bristles;
- a plurality of adjustable bristles;
- the plurality of bristle platforms comprises a plurality of circular platforms and a plurality of ring platforms;
- the brush head being terminally connected to the brush handle;
- the plurality of bristle platforms being retractably mounted into the brush head;
- the firmness selection switch being mechanically coupled to the plurality of bristle platforms through the bristle adjustment mechanism;
- the plurality of stationary bristles being distributed about the brush head, adjacent to the plurality of bristle platforms;
- the plurality of adjustable bristles being distributed about the plurality of bristle platforms; and
- each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned centrally within a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
11. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles;
- a selected quantity of firm bristles from the plurality of firm bristles being centrally positioned on a corresponding platform from the plurality of bristle platforms; and
- the selected quantity of firm bristles being encircled by a selected quantity of medium bristles from the plurality of medium bristles.
12. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- the plurality of adjustable bristles comprises a plurality of medium bristles and a plurality of firm bristles;
- the plurality of medium bristles being positioned on the plurality of ring platforms; and
- the plurality of firm bristles being positioned on the plurality of circular platforms.
13. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- the plurality of circular platforms comprises a first circular platform, a second circular platform, and a third circular platform;
- the first circular platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle;
- the third circular platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and
- the second circular platform being positioned in between the first circular platform and the third circular platform.
14. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- the plurality of ring platforms comprises a first ring platform, a second ring platform, and a third ring platform;
- the first ring platform being positioned adjacent to the brush handle;
- the third ring platform being positioned opposite to the brush handle; and
- the second ring platform being positioned in between the first ring platform and the third ring platform.
15. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- each circular platform from the plurality of circular platforms being positioned through a corresponding ring platform from the plurality of ring platforms.
16. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:
- the firmness selection switch being slidably engaged to the brush handle.
17. The toothbrush with adjustable bristle firmness as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of stationary bristles is a plurality of soft bristles.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 5, 2016
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2017
Inventor: Rodney Henderson (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 15/369,066