Toothbrush

Application filed February 27, 1931, Serial No. 518,815, and in Switzerland May 12, 1930.

It is known that the toothbrushes hitherto known are still imperfect since their formation does not permit of thoroughly cleansing the gaps between the teeth. Dental hygiene, 5 however, requires these gaps, where particles of food are usually trapped, and where therefore decay first starts, to be in particular thoroughly cleaned.

The toothbrush according to the present 10 invention fulfills this purpose by providing a short toothpick for cleaning the gaps between the teeth, which is displaceably mounted transversely to the brush head, and between the bristles, in such a way that it is 15 able to penetrate into the gaps between the teeth, and, in conjunction with the bristles, release the food particles trapped in the gaps between the teeth so that they can be removed. The action is thus a double one, 20 since with the toothpick the trapped food particles are loosened whilst the bristles penetrating subsequently the gaps between the teeth complete the cleaning operation.

The drawings show by way of example ²⁵ three constructional forms of a combined toothbrush and toothpick made according to the invention, Fig. 1 being a sectional elevation of one form, and Figs. 2 and 3 a back elevation and elevation partly in section re³⁰ spectively of a modification, Figs. 4 and 5 represent a third example in side elevation partly in section with the toothpick in two different positions, Fig. 6 is a detail view of this example, and, Fig. 7 is a front elevation ³³ of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

In the example according to Fig. 1 a twoarmed. lever 2 is mounted on the head of the brush 1 opposite ths bristles by means of a pin 4 on which it is pivotally mounted. The ⁴⁰ long forward arm of the lever 2 carries a short toothpick 3. macle for example of celluloid, whilst the short rear arm carries a pin 5 provided with a pressure knob 6. The pin 5 penetrates and projects beyond the brush ⁴⁵ handle 1. Between the latter and the knob 6 there is arranged a coil spring 7. In order to clean the gaps between the teeth pressure is applied to the knob 6 with the result that the toothpick is pressed into the gaps be⁵⁰ tween the teeth. On releasing the knob 6 the toothpick 3. is withdrawn, by means of the spring 7, so far into the bristles that during the usual brushing of the teeth injury to the gums by the toothpick is avoided.

A stop 5¹ limits the movement of the pin 55 5 under the pressure of the spring 7.

The. manipulation of this toothbrush for cleansing the gaps between the teeth is extremely simple and comfortable and the cleansing is very thorough; 60

In the example according to Figs. 2 and 3 one end of a gut string 8 is fixed in the brush handle 1. The string 8 carries a pressure knob 9 and the other end, penetrating the brush head, carries the cylindrical foot 65 3¹ of the pick 3². A recess 10 is provided in the brush head for receiving the foot of the pick together with a small helical spring 11 which tends to press the foot out of the brush head. 70

In ordinary brushing of the teeth the foot of the pick 3² projects out from the brush head so that it can bend with the bristles without acting. If, however, the pressure knob 9 is pressed towards one side with the 7® thumb, of the hand holding the toothbrush the foot of the pick is drawn into the recess 10 anti made immovable so that it can penetrate into a gap and loosen food particles which are then swept away by the bristles. 80 On releasing the pressure on the knob 9 the foot of the pick is again pressed by the spring 11 out of the brush head so that the pick 3²can again bend with the bristles.

The example according to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 85 permits still a more deep and sure penetrating of the pick in the gaps between the teeth and a greater free mobility of the pick when cleaning the teeth by the bristles, in order to avoid hurting of the gums. This example ⁹⁰also has the advantage, that the handle and the head of the toothbrush are perfectly smooth as a usual tooth-brush and have no projections. By means of this preferred example, due to the increased protruding of ⁹⁵the pick out of the bristles and to the more sure location of the pick in working position, not only food particles may be removed from the inner and outer gaps, but also crusts of tartar of the teeth which mostly deposit in ¹⁰⁰

1,852,480 these gaps, may be removed and so the teeth maintained hale much longer. On the other hand the pick retired into the bristles works as a bristle.

⁵ Two angular pins 20 are screwed oppositely one to the other into the head of the handle 1 and overlap the lateral arms of a frame-like cradle 21 and serve as a pivot therefor. Tire back end. of this cradle serves ¹⁰ as a thumb-latch to move the cradle against the action of a spring 7¹ embedded in a hole of the handle 1. The front end of the cradle forms a bridge having a bore 22 adapted to receive the cylindrical hollow base 3³ of the ¹⁵ pick 3⁴. The entering of the base 3³ into the bore 22 of the cradle is limited by a small shoulder 3⁵ at the top of the base 3³. .The pick 3⁴ is arranged laterally to the axis of the base 3³ which has a bore to receive a gut²⁰ string 8¹ fixed to the handle head and having a knot 8² resting on the outer face of the shoulder 3³. The bore of the foot 3³ further receives a compression spring 11¹ one end of which is secured to the bottom of the bore ²⁵ of the foot 3³ and the other end of which is guided in a bore of the cradle 21. The pick is preferably made of buffalo horn.

The function of this example is as follows:

If it is desired to remove food particles ³⁰ from the inner or outer gaps between the teeth or to remove tartar of the teeth deposited in the said gaps, the thumb latch of the cradle 21 is pressed down by the thumb of the hand carrying the tooth-brush so that ³⁵ the cradle is tilted and the pick 3⁴ lifted out of the bristles (see Fig. 4). This motion is limited by the knot 8² of the gut string 8¹which pulls the base 3³ of the pick into the bore 22 of the cradle 21. The pick is now ⁴⁰ positioned in its working position and the gaps now may be thoroughly free of foocl particles and tartar of the teeth. If it is now desired to brush the teeth, the cradle 21 is released and the spring 7¹ tilts it back ⁴⁵ in its initial position in which the pick 3⁴is embedded in the bristles (see Fig. 2). When the pick 3⁴ is being retracted, the spring 11¹ projecting over the base 3³ of the pick abuts the handle head, is compressed ⁵⁰ and pushes the base 3³ out of the bore 22, so that the pick is fully free and follows the flexions of the bristles as being a bristle. The spring 11¹ is tensioned when the pick is bent laterally and brings it back in its upright position, so that the pick acts as a yielding bristle. Any hurting of the gums thereby is avoided.

It is evident that the hand carrying the tooth-brush has not to change its position O'J to bring the pick in and out of operative position, pressure of the thumb upon the thumb-latch and releasing this latch is sufficient.

The means for displacing the pick can also be otherwise than those illustrated.