Toothbrush with moving bristle

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush having moving bristle driven by motor means, to be maneuvered by adult's finger so that adults can more effectively message the gum and brush the teeth of infant or young children, resulting in better oral hygiene for youngsters.

[0002] It's generally not disputed that a parent's finger has the best sensitivity when used to brush children's teeth. Prior art patent, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,172 (Oscar A. Arce) teaches the use of bristle at the of the finger-tip portion and reflects the value of using adult's finger as the mechanism upon which the brushing motion originates, instead of a run-of-the-mill stick-type toothbrush held in the palm.

[0003] However, because an adult's finger has limited small-scale mobility, such brushing may not be as effective as using an electric brush having enhanced bristle motion that helps to brush off food remnants stuck to children's teeth and in between gaps.

[0004] Present invention teaches to have the enhanced bristle motion of an electric brush and the sensitivity of an adult's finger and greatly promote the oral hygiene for children.

[0005] Regular run-of-the-mill electric brush, though having enhanced bristle motion for cleaning effectiveness, is limited in its maneuverability inside children's mouth. Present invention provides a simple and effective brush having moving bristle to be placed on an adult's finger tip and thus will have the benefits of good bristle motion and good maneuverability.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a finger capping piece 3 having some bristle around a hole, in the tip portion of said finger capping piece 3, to be worn over a person's finger. A bristle piece M is rotatably located into the hole, and is connected to a cord C, which is ultimately connected and driven by means D, which typically consists of an electrical motor and gear reduction means.

[0012] Depending on implementation, means D can also be a manual power mechanism such as the rack-and-pinion rotating shaft used on an ice cream scoop.

[0013] In FIG. 1, said cord C is rotatably placed inside a tube-like space formed along the side of said finger capping piece 3.

[0014] Driving means D can be implemented to be a cylindrical shape held in a person's palm or even strapped onto a person's wrist/arm, while the person can move his/her finger about inside a child's mouth to brush the child's teeth.

[0015] Finger capping piece 3 can be constructed of rubber or other suitable material, with reinforced portion built around the hole receiving bristle piece M and the wall behind the tube-like space touching adult's finger, so that bristle piece M can rotate when driven by cord C.

[0016] Cord C can be made from relatively stiff material, such as steel or other suitable material, so that it will carry the rotational movement from means D to the bristle piece M.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows the bristle piece M can be driven by cord C using bevel gears 10 and 20, securedly held in place by holding piece 5.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the bristle piece M can also move in a non-circular fashion when a cam piece 30 is used at end of cord C to push and jam the receptacle piece 40 at back end of bristle piece M. Cord C is connected to an off-center axial position of cam piece 30, so that when cord C is rotating, cam piece 30 generates a linear up-and-down motion to push and jam the bristle piece M around, and thus is effective in producing brushing motion. The center of receptacle piece 40 can be raised up a little bit, increasing the sliding-around motion of bristle piece M when the linear up-and-down motion is being exerted.

[0019] Children's edible tooth paste serves as natural lubricant for the motion of the bristle piece, whether the connection is made by cam piece 30, or bevel gears 10 and 20, or the direct linkage type as shown in FIG. 1.