Cylindrical Electric Toothbrush

Abstract

An electric toothbrush having bristles that extend radially from the distal end of an exposed driveshaft. when driven, the driveshaft rotates continually in one direction. Preferably a switch located

Description

TITLE A new design of cylindrical electric toothbrush, intended to overcome the inherent problems associated with the original manual toothbrush, and also the inherent problems associated with the existing ubiquitous rotating electric toothbrush that is publicised as being an improvement. The word cylindrical is used to describe the orientation and position of the moving mechanical component, in the same way the description of a cylinder lawn-mower distinguishes it from the rotary design of lawn-mower. . . the same rotary description that is used in association with the design of the existing ubiquitous electric toothbrush. OBJECTIVE It is understood that when using an original manual toothbrush: 1. an up-and-down motion (from chin-to-nose), is undesirable, as the action of the bristles can cause the gums to recede. 2. a side-to-side motion (from ear-to-ear), is undesirable, as the action of the bristles can “saw” away at the exposed softer part of the tooth (above the enamel) exposed by the up-and-down motion which causes the gums to recede. The alternating rotating circular motion of the ubiquitous electric toothbrush design, exacerbates the above with every rapid cycle of its alternating rotating circular action: 3. Whilst pressed against the teeth, the bristles at “3 O’clock” and at “9 O’clock”, mimic the manual up-and-down motion (from chin-to-nose), which is undesirable as the action of the bristles can cause the gums to recede. 4. Whilst pressed against the teeth, the bristles at “12 O’clock” and at “6 O’clock”, mimic the manual a side-to-side motion (from ear-to-ear), which is undesirable, as the action of the bristles can “saw” away at the exposed softer part of the tooth (above the enamel) exposed by the up-and-down motion which causes the gums to recede. NEW DESIGN SOLUTION A recommended, approved, action when using a brush to clean teeth, is to press the brush against the teeth near the gum, and stroke the bristles along the neck of the teeth, towards the crown which does the biting. It is recommended that this action be monotonously repeated many times, lifting the brush from the teeth between each action, so as to avoid the “return” movement, towards the gums, to prevent the bristles causing the gums to recede. The new design of cylindrical electric toothbrush will use a design of head similar in concept to the orientation of the original manual toothbrush, except that instead of the bristles only protruding (radiating outwards) from part of the shaft at the end of the handle, the bristles will protrude (radiate outwards) from around the whole circumference of the shaft at the end of the handle . . . similar in concept (if not in size) to what might be associated with a “bottle brush”, or on a smaller scale what might be associated with some brushes used for the application of eye mascara. The new design of electric toothbrush will significantly be more mechanically efficient: 5. as the drive motion (from the batteries and electric motor in the handle) along the shaft will NOT turn through 90 degrees, as with the existing ubiquitous rotating electric toothbrush design, and 6. as the drive motion will NOT be required to oscillate, alternate, in its direction of movement, as with the existing ubiquitous rotating electric toothbrush design. The new design of electric toothbrush will be significantly more mechanically efficient: 7. as the bristles which protrude (radiate outwards) from around the whole circumference of the shaft at the end of the handle, will NOT be required to oscillate, alternate, in the direction of movement. The bristles which protrude (radiate outwards) from around the whole circumference of the shaft, will turn in a continuous direction of movement. This will also alleviate the user from having to lift the brush from the teeth - as would be required with the action of a manual toothbrush, as there will be no need to avoid the “return” movement, towards the gums. 8. instead of the ON / OFF switch on the handle associated with the existing ubiquitous rotating electric toothbrush design, there will be a simple CLOCKWISE-OFF-ANTICLOCKWISE switch. It will change the polarity of the electric motor, and consequently change the direction of the continuous movement. This will ensure that the motion of the bristles can always be AWAY from the gums, whether the new design of electric toothbrush is being used on the upper or lower teeth, on the inside or outside surface of the teeth, and on the teeth on the left or right side of the mouth. 9. the head of the new design of electric toothbrush will include an extension of the drive shaft cover, which will provide a fixed “shroud” or cover, for that half of the bristles not facing the teeth, and so protect the inside of the cheek from the movement of the bristles in the opposite direction of the bristles in contact with the teeth.