Toothbrush with Integrated Tongue Scraper

Abstract

The present invention is a toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper is an all in one dental cleansing device that facilitates the cleaning of the teeth and tongue. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper contains a toothbrush body, a tongue scraper, and a scraper shuttle. The toothbrush body constitutes a scraper receiving channel. The scraper receiving channel contains a proximal end and a distal end. The scraper receiving channel traverses between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush body. The tongue scraper is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle. The scraper shuttle is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel, where the scraper shuttle traverses between the proximal end and the distal end in order to displace the tongue scraper between a retracted position and a deployed position.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/854,627 filed on May 30, 2019.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toothbrushes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a toothbrush with an integrated tongue scraper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, most existing toothbrushes lack an integrated tongue scraper for the convenience of cleaning tongues while brushing teeth. Without a tongue cleaning tool, users normally rely on brushing their tongues with the existing toothbrush bristles, which is unsuitable and ineffective in properly cleaning the tongue. Some toothbrushes employ tongue scraping bristles along the back of the toothbrush head to alleviate this, but these tongue scraping bristles usually wear out quickly, and are limited to light use. Dedicated tongue scrapers exist but are often a hassle for a user to carry around and handle. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a toothbrush that integrates a tongue scraper.

The present invention aims to solve these problems. The present invention offers a complete mouth cleaning system which employs an integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush of the present invention conceals and secures the tongue scraper such that the toothbrush is compact and non-intrusive during tooth brushing operation. The present invention can be easily cleaned and provides ample amounts of air-flow ventilation when drying and not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper comprises a toothbrush body, a tongue scraper, and a scraper shuttle. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper allows the user to clean their teeth and tongue using the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The user can deploy the integrated tongue scraper along the toothbrush body when in use or retract the tongue scraper along the toothbrush body when not in use or when storing the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper. The toothbrush body comprises a scraper receiving channel. The toothbrush body serves as the chassis of the toothbrush that facilitates the scraper receiving channel. The scraper receiving channel comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The scraper receiving channel traverses between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush body. The tongue scraper is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle. The scraper shuttle is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel, where the scraper shuttle traverses between the proximal end and the distal end in order to displace the tongue scraper between a retracted position and a deployed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention that shows a tongue scraper retracted within a toothbrush body.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present invention that shows the tongue scraper deployed along the toothbrush body.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the present invention taken along circle B in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the present invention taken along circle A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention that shows the tongue scraper deployed along the toothbrush body.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

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 to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.

In reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 6, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 comprises a toothbrush body 11, a tongue scraper 12, and a scraper shuttle 13. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 allows the user to clean their teeth and tongue using the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1. The user can deploy the integrated tongue scraper 12 along the toothbrush body 11 when in use or retract the tongue scraper 12 along the toothbrush body 11 when not in use or when storing the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 is made out of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 may take the form of any size, facilitating all ages or for any applicational use, such as, but not limited to travel, home, professional, or any other applicational use. The toothbrush body 11 comprises a scraper receiving channel 111, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The toothbrush body 11 serves as the chassis of the toothbrush that facilitates the scraper receiving channel 111. The scraper receiving channel 111 comprises a proximal end 1111 and a distal end 1112, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4. The scraper receiving channel 111 traverses between the proximal end 1111 and the distal end 1112 within the toothbrush body 11, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4. The tongue scraper 12 is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle 13, as shown in FIG. 5. The scraper shuttle 13 is slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel 111, where the scraper shuttle 13 traverses between the proximal end 1111 and the distal end 1112 in order to displace the tongue scraper 12 between a retracted position and a deployed position, as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 further comprises at least one vent aperture 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. The at least one vent aperture 14 is distributed about the scraper receiving channel 111. The at least one vent aperture 14 traverses through the toothbrush body 11 into the scraper receiving channel 111. The at least one vent aperture 14 allows ample aeration and water permeability of the scraper receiving channel 111. More specifically, the at least one vent aperture 14 facilitates easier drying, cleaning, and sterilizing of the scraper receiving channel 111.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush body 11 further comprises a toothbrush head 112 and a toothbrush handle 113, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, 4, and 6. The toothbrush head 112 is terminally connected to the toothbrush body 11 opposite to the scraper receiving channel 111. The toothbrush head 112 serves as the teeth cleaning member of the toothbrush body 11. In another embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush head 112 is removably connected to the toothbrush body 11, facilitating a replaceable toothbrush head 112. The scraper receiving channel 111 traverses between the proximal end 1111 and the distal end 1112 within the toothbrush handle 113. The toothbrush handle 113 serves as the grasping member of the toothbrush body 11.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 further comprises a cap 15, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, 4, and 6. The tongue scraper 12 comprises a shuttle connection end 121, a tongue scraping portion 122, and a cap connection end 123, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The shuttle connection end 121 and the cap connection end 123 are terminally positioned opposite to each other along the tongue scraper 12. The tongue scraper 12 portion is positioned between the shuttle connection end 121 and the cap connection end 123. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tongue scraper 12 may take the form of a copper infused band-style tongue scraper 12 but may take the form of any other suitable tongue scraper 12 with anti-septic properties. The scraper shuttle 13 is connected terminally adjacent to the shuttle connection end 121. The cap 15 is connected terminally adjacent to the cap connection end 123. The cap 15 allows the user to pull or push the tongue scraper 12 along the scraper receiving channel 111.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1 further comprises a detent mechanism 16, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The detent mechanism 16 comprises a detent arm 161 and a plurality of detent notches 162. The at plurality of detent notches 162 is positioned within the scraper receiving channel 111. The detent arm 161 is connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle 13. The detent arm 161 is selectably engaged with the plurality of detent notches 162. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detent mechanism 16 catches the scraper shuttle 13 along the scraper receiving channel 111, such that the tongue scraper 12 is held in place along one detent notch 162.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper receiving channel 111 further comprises a scraper receiving rail 1113, as shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 5. The tongue scraper 12 comprises a shuttle connection end 121, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. The scraper shuttle 13 comprises a scraper guide 131 and a scraper connection tab 132, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. The scraper receiving rail 1113 traverses along the scraper receiving channel 111. The scraper guide 131 is slidably engaged with the scraper receiving rail 1113. The shuttle connection end 121 is removably attached to the scraper guide 131 through the scraper connection tab 132. The removably attached components that constitutes the scraper shuttle 13 facilitates proper servicing, cleaning, and sterilization of the toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper 1.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper comprising:

a toothbrush body;

a scraper shuttle;

a tongue scraper;

the toothbrush body comprising a scraper receiving channel;

the scraper receiving channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

the scraper receiving channel traversing between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush body;

the tongue scraper being connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle; and

the scraper shuttle being slidably connected within the scraper receiving channel, wherein the scraper shuttle traverses between the proximal end and the distal end in order to displace the tongue scraper between a retracted position and a deployed position.

2. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

at least one vent aperture;

the at least one vent aperture is distributed about the scraper receiving channel; and

the at least one vent aperture traversing through the toothbrush body into the scraper receiving channel.

3. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the toothbrush body comprising a toothbrush head and a toothbrush handle; and

the toothbrush head being terminally connected to the toothbrush body opposite to the scraper receiving channel.

4. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 3 comprising:

the scraper receiving channel traversing between the proximal end and the distal end within the toothbrush handle.

5. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a cap;

the tongue scraper comprising a shuttle connection end, a tongue scraping portion, and a cap connection end;

the shuttle connection end and the cap connection end being terminally positioned opposite to each other along the tongue scraper;

the tongue scraper portion being positioned between the shuttle connection end and the cap connection end;

the scraper shuttle being connected terminally adjacent to the shuttle connection end; and

the cap being connected terminally adjacent to the cap connection end.

6. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a detent mechanism;

the detent mechanism comprising a detent arm, and a plurality of detent notches;

the at plurality of detent notches being positioned within the scraper receiving channel;

the detent arm being connected adjacent to the scraper shuttle; and

the detent arm being selectably engaged with the plurality of detent notches.

7. The toothbrush with integrated tongue scraper as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the scraper receiving channel comprising a scraper receiving rail;

the tongue scraper comprising a shuttle connection end;

the scraper shuttle comprising a scraper guide and a scraper connection tab;

the scraper receiving rail traversing along the scraper receiving channel;

the scraper guide being slidably engaged with the scraper receiving rail; and

the shuttle connection end being removably attached to the scraper guide through the scraper connection tab.