Toothbrush with Palmar Grip Handle

Abstract

A toothbrush with a palmar grip handle for dexterity assistance, dexterity rehabilitation and over-brushing prevention is provided. The toothbrush may provide the palmar grip along a portion of the handle. The palmar grip may be substantially spherical in shape, and sized and adapted to stimulate the central nervous system for improving muscle memory, thereby aiding in the rehabilitation of users suffering from central nervous system trauma. The palmar grip may also be sized and adapted to prevent over-brushing for all users, as well as providing a more comfortable grip for those suffering from hand and join pain disorders, hand-weakness, manual dexterity ailments or fine motor impairments.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip comprising,
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end,   a toothbrush head affixed to the first end of the longitudinal member, and   a handle adapted for a palmar grip disposed on the longitudinal member between   the first end and the second end of the longitudinal member, where the distance between the first end and the handle is greater than the distance between the handle and the second end.   
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  where the handle is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 2  where the handle is disposed on the longitudinal member through antipodal points of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 2  where the handle has a circumference of at least five inches. 
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  where the distance between the toothbrush head and the center point of the handle is at least four inches. 
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  where a gripping surface is disposed on the handle. 
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  where the toothbrush head, the longitudinal member and the handle are of a unitary construction. 
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  where the second end of the longitudinal member extends from the palmar grip such that the second end is adapted to be received in a toothbrush holder. 
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 8  further comprising a toothbrush holder adapted to receive the second end of the longitudinal member. 
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 1  further comprising a toothbrush holder adapted to receive the toothbrush such that the toothbrush is held substantially upright. 
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip comprising,
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end,   a toothbrush head disposed on the first end of the longitudinal member, and   a handle adapted for a palmar grip affixed to the longitudinal member where the longitudinal member, the toothbrush head and the handle adapted for a palmar grip are of a unitary construction.   
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 11  where the handle adapted for a palmar grip is disposed on the longitudinal member between the first end and the second end, where the distance between the first end and the center point of the handle is greater than the distance between the handle and the second end. 
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 11  where the handle is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 13  where the handle is disposed on the longitudinal member through antipodal points of the handle. 
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 13  where the handle has a circumference of at least five inches. 
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 12  where the distance between the toothbrush head and the handle is at least four inches. 
     
     
         17 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 11  where a gripping surface is disposed on the handle. 
     
     
         18 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 11  where the second end of the longitudinal member extends from the palmar grip such that the second end is adapted to be received in a toothbrush holder. 
     
     
         19 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 18  further comprising a toothbrush holder adapted to receive the second end of the longitudinal member. 
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush adapted for a palmar grip of  claim 11  further comprising a toothbrush holder adapted to receive the toothbrush such that the toothbrush is held substantially upright. 
     
     
         21 . A toothbrush adapted to prevent over-brushing comprising,
 a longitudinal member having a first end and a second end,   a toothbrush head affixed to the first end of the longitudinal member, and   a handle-hold indicia disposed on the longitudinal member between the first end and the second end of the longitudinal member, where the distance between the first end and the handle-hold is greater than the distance between the handle-hold and the second end.