Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a head and a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head. The head is divided into at least two portions which can be moved independent of each other. The tooth cleaning element is rotatable relative to that portion of the head from which it extends. A vibrator vibrates the head and tooth cleaning element.

1 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head, the tooth cleaning element being rotatable relative to that portion of the head from which it extends; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator includes an electric motor.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein the electric motor has an eccentric weight secured to an output shaft of the motor which causes vibration when the motor is energized to rotate the output shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , further comprising a battery for providing electrical power to the motor.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the battery is a non-rechargeable, disposable battery.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , further comprising a switch for controlling a flow of electricity to the electric motor.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is a tuft of bristles.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is a fin made of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic, rubber and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element has a range of rotation of up to about 30 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element can rotate up to about 15 degrees to either side of a vertical position in which the element is perpendicular to a top surface of the portion of the head from which it extends.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further including one or more stationary tooth cleaning elements which substantially cannot be rotated.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the head limits rotation of the tooth cleaning element.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein there is no portion of the toothbrush itself which rotates the tooth cleaning element.  
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is supported for rotation primarily about only one axis.  
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the element.  
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is rotatable independent of any other tooth cleaning elements on the head.  
   
   
       17 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head which is divided into at least two portions which can be moved independent of each other; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head.    
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , further including one or more stationary tooth cleaning elements which substantially cannot be rotated.  
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein the two portions of the head define an opening in an interior portion of the head such that water can flow through this opening.  
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein each head portion includes alternating projections and recesses, the projections of each head portion fitting at least partially into the recesses of the other head portion.  
   
   
       21 . The toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein one of the projections on one of the head portions has at least one tooth cleaning element extending therefrom and is surrounded on three sides by the other head portion.  
   
   
       22 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein the vibrator includes an electric motor.  
   
   
       23 . The toothbrush of  claim 22 , wherein the electric motor has an eccentric weight secured to an output shaft of the motor which causes vibration when the motor is energized to rotate the output shaft.  
   
   
       24 . The toothbrush of  claim 22 , further comprising a battery for providing electrical power to the motor.  
   
   
       25 . The toothbrush of  claim 24 , wherein the battery is a non-rechargeable, disposable battery.  
   
   
       26 . The toothbrush of  claim 22 , further comprising a switch for controlling a flow of electricity to the electric motor.  
   
   
       27 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head, the head being divided into at least two portions which can be moved independent of each other, the tooth cleaning element being rotatable relative to that portion of the head from which it extends; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       28 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the vibrator includes an electric motor.  
   
   
       29 . The toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein the electric motor has an eccentric weight secured to an output shaft of the motor which causes vibration when the motor is energized to rotate the output shaft.  
   
   
       30 . The toothbrush of  claim 28 , further comprising a battery for providing electrical power to the motor.  
   
   
       31 . The toothbrush of  claim 30 , wherein the battery is a non-rechargeable, disposable battery.  
   
   
       32 . The toothbrush of  claim 28 , further comprising a switch for controlling a flow of electricity to the electric motor.  
   
   
       33 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is a tuft of bristles.  
   
   
       34 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is a fin made of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of plastic, rubber and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element has a range of rotation of up to about 30 degrees.  
   
   
       36 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element can rotate up to about 15 degrees to either side of a vertical position in which the element is perpendicular to a top surface of the portion of the head from which it extends.  
   
   
       37 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , further including one or more stationary tooth cleaning elements which substantially cannot be rotated.  
   
   
       38 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of the head limits rotation of the tooth cleaning element.  
   
   
       39 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein there is no portion of the toothbrush itself which rotates the tooth cleaning element.  
   
   
       40 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is supported for rotation primarily about only one axis.  
   
   
       41 . The toothbrush of  claim 40 , wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the element.  
   
   
       42 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is rotatable independent of any other tooth cleaning elements on the head.  
   
   
       43 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the two portions of the head define an opening in an interior portion of the head such that water can flow through this opening.  
   
   
       44 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , further comprising a second tooth cleaning element, wherein one of the two tooth cleaning elements is located on one of the two head portions, and the other of the two tooth cleaning elements is located on the other of the two head portions.  
   
   
       45 . The toothbrush of  claim 44 , wherein both of the tooth cleaning elements are located on the same head portion.  
   
   
       46 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein each head portion includes alternating projections and recesses, the projections of each head portion fitting at least partially into the recesses of the other head portion.  
   
   
       47 . The toothbrush of  claim 46 , wherein one of the projections on one of the head portions has at least one tuft extending therefrom and is surrounded on three sides by the other head portion.  
   
   
       48 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head, the tooth cleaning element being oriented at an acute angle relative to that portion of the top surface of the head from which it projects; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       49 . The toothbrush of  claim 48 , further including one or more additional tooth cleaning elements which extend from the top surface of the head at one or more acute angles, each of the tooth cleaning elements extending at an acute angle which differs from the acute angle of the other tooth cleaning element(s).  
   
   
       50 . The toothbrush of  claim 48 , further including one or more additional tooth cleaning elements each at an acute angle to the top surface of the head, each tooth cleaning element extending in a direction which differs from the direction of the other tooth cleaning element(s).  
   
   
       51 . The toothbrush of  claim 48 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is at an angle of between about 65 to about 85 degrees from the top surface of the head.  
   
   
       52 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head, the tooth cleaning element having a cross-section which is non-circular in shape; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       53 . The toothbrush of  claim 52 , wherein the tooth cleaning element has a cross-section of a prolate ellipsoid with flattened long sides.  
   
   
       54 . The toothbrush of  claim 52 , wherein the tooth cleaning element has a free end that defines a plane which is non-perpendicular to a direction in which the element extends away from head.  
   
   
       55 . The toothbrush of  claim 52 , wherein the tooth cleaning element has a free end that is other than flat in shape.  
   
   
       56 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a top surface of the head, the tooth cleaning elements extending different heights above the top surface of the head; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning elements.    
   
   
       57 . The toothbrush of  claim 56 , wherein the tooth cleaning elements have different cross-sections.  
   
   
       58 . The toothbrush of  claim 56 , wherein the tooth cleaning elements are oriented at different acute angles from each other relative to a top surface of the head.  
   
   
       59 . The toothbrush of  claim 56 , wherein the tooth cleaning elements have different cross-sections, and wherein the tooth cleaning elements are oriented at different acute angles from each other relative to a top surface of the head.  
   
   
       60 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head, the tooth cleaning element being comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       61 . The toothbrush of  claim 60 , wherein the tooth cleaning element is in a form selected from a group of forms consisting of a nub, tuft of bristles, fin, cup and wall.  
   
   
       62 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tuft of bristles extending from a top surface of the head, the bristles being selected from a group of bristles which (a) are tapered at their free ends, (b) are flagged at their free ends, (c) are hollow, (d) are crimped, (e) have a cross-shaped cross-section, (f) have a triangular cross-section, (g) are flocked, and (h) are notched; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       63 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head;    a tuft of bristles extending from a top surface of the head, the bristles having different characteristics from each other selected from the group of characteristics consisting of material composition and diameter; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.    
   
   
       64 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 a head made of two or more different materials;    a tooth cleaning element extending from a top surface of the head; and    a vibrator for vibrating the head and tooth cleaning element.