Gum massaging appliance

Sept. 6, 1938.

2,129,082

R. W. BYRER

GUM MASSAGING APPLIANCE

Filed Sept. 13, 1935

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Patented Sept 6, 1938

2,129,082

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,129,082 GUM MASSAGING APPLIANCE Ralph W. Byrer, Rockford, Ill. Application September 13, 1935, Serial No. 40,406

Claim.

My invention relates generally to appliances for massaging the gums, and more particularly to devices of this character which are, or may be, combined with a tooth brush.

It is highly desirable periodically to massage the gums so as to Increase the circulation therethrough, and to toughen and harden the gums so as to make them less susceptible to disease.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a 10 massaging appliance by which the gums may be massaged incidentally to brushing the teeth. The device, of course, may also be used independently of the brush whenever desired.

It is an object of my invention to provide an 15 improved gum massaging appliance which may be formed as a part of a tooth brush and used therewith so as to massage the gums incidental to the operation of brushing the teeth.

A further object is to provide an improved gum ²⁰ massaging appliance which may be readily attached to any standard tooth brush.

A further object is to provide an improved gum massaging appliance to which a tooth brush may be readily secured.

²⁵ A further object is to· provide an Improved gum massaging appliance having a metallic insert which will maintain the rubber massaging elements in position and enable the user to apply a sufficient massaging force thereto.

³⁰ Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth brush showing my improved massaging appliance se35 cured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the massaging appliance, a portion of a tooth brush being shown in dotted lines in the proper position relative to the appliance;

⁴⁰ Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the appliance;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the metallic insert;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5—5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a combination view showing a modified 45 form of my invention, in which form the tooth brush is in the form of a unit which may be secured to the massaging appliance;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the tooth brush and massaging appliance shown in Fig. 6, with their two parts in their proper relative positions.

My invention may be applied to a tooth brush of conventional form, as indicated in Fig. 1, and comprising a handle 10, a shank 12, and a head 55 portion 14, tufted bristles 16 being set in the head (CI. 128—62) in the usual manner. The massaging appliance, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a metallic member designated generally 18, and comprising a pair of opposed channel grooved portions 20 with side or bridge members 22 ex- g tending upwardly from the channel portions, the channel portions being joined by a bottom wall 24. The bridge members 22 form relatively large apertures 26 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. 10

The metallic insert 18 forms a frame to which the massaging elements illustrated as a pair of rows, each comprising three bulbous projections 28 formed of rubber or other suitable rubber substitute, are bonded. The projections 28 not only U extend upwardly beyond the bridge portion 22 of the frame, but extend sidewardly so as to be generally cylindrical in shape. The entire frame 18 is covered with a thin layer of rubber so that none of the metal will be exposed to contact with 60 the gums. The rubber is sufficiently soft that the projections 28 will have a suitable gentle rubbing action when the appliance is being used.

The frame 18 is made of resilient metal and the distance between the channel portions 20 is 25 such that the appliance may be readily pushed over the head 14 of a conventional tooth brush and firmly grip the side edges thereof. The rubber coating on the frame 18 increases the frictional grip of the appliance upon the head 14 80 of the tooth brush. The appliance may, however, be readily removed by slightly spreading the channel portions 20 outwardly, thus partially relieving the frictional grip. The projections 20 are of sufficient height to lie substantially at or 85 slightly above the ends of the bristles, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5.

In using the tooth brush having the massaging appliance of my invention attached thereto, it is not necessary to remove the appliance when 40 cleaning the tooth brush, since the relatively large apertures 26 formed between the side bridge portions 22 and the channel portions 20 of the frame permit the cleansing water to flow freely through the bristles and thus remove the residue 45 of tooth paste and foreign matter therefrom.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have illustrated a modified form of my invention, in which the massaging appliance is permanently secured to a head 30 which has a handle similar to the tooth brush 50 handle 10 formed integrally therewith. In this modified form the resilient frame 32 of the massaging appliance has a downwardly (Fig. 7) extending portion 34 which is embedded in the head 30, preferably by having the head molded BS

2,129,082 about said portion. In other respects, the massaging appliance is of substantially the same form as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and I have therefore applied the same reference 5 characters to parts which are identical in each construction. The opposed channel shaped portions 20 of the metallic frame are conformed to receive a brush member 36 which has bristles 38 set therein in the usual manner. The mem10 ber 36 is of such size and conformation that it may readily be slid into the opposed grooves formed by the channel portions 20 of the frame and be securedly gripped therein, due to the resiliency of the frame and due to the rubber coat15 ing which is applied to the exposed surfaces of the frame. Since the massaging appliance is relatively durable, the brush member 36 may be readily replaced as becomes necessary.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the following claim. 5