Toothbrush with contoured head

Abstract

A toothbrush is described having a contoured head that is suitable for cleaning teeth with orthodontic brackets. The toothbrush head has a ridge located a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. Bristles may be attached to the surface of the contoured head and ridge to extend outwardly therefrom. The bristles target the gingival margin, interproximal areas and the surfaces of the orthodontic bracket base as well as the remaining exposed surfaces of the tooth for cleaning.

1 . A toothbrush having an elongated body with a longitudinal axis running lengthwise through the toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising: 
 a toothbrush head located towards a lateral end of said elongated body; and    a ridge extending upwardly from an undersurface of said head, the ridge being transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transverse to said longitudinal axis, said second ridge being in spaced relationship with said ridge and having a second set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , further comprising a third ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transversely of said ridge, said third ridge located on one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and extending generally along said longitudinal axis, said third ridge having a first lateral end located near a lateral end of said ridge located on said one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and a second lateral end located near a lateral end of said second ridge located on said one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis, said third ridge having a third set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transversely of said ridge, said fourth ridge located on another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and extending generally along said longitudinal axis, said fourth ridge having a first lateral end located near another lateral end of said ridge located on said another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and a second lateral end located near another lateral end of said second ridge located on said another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis, said fourth ridge having a fourth set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein said undersurface has a fifth set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 5 , wherein said ridge, second ridge, third ridge and fourth ridge are spaced to form a continuous rim around said undersurface.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 6 , wherein said undersurface is concave.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said undersurface is smoothly curved.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 8 , wherein each of said ridge, second ridge, third ridge and fourth ridge are smoothly curved.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said rim is oval in shape.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said rim is circular in shape.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said ridge, second ridge, third ridge, fourth ridge and undersurface are mounted on a rotatable body for rotating in an angular direction about said rim.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 12 , wherein said fifth set of bristles project orthogonally from said undersurface.  
   
   
       14 . A replaceable toothbrush head for attachment to a toothbrush, said toothbrush having a longitudinal axis running lengthwise through the toothbrush, said toothbrush head comprising: 
 a ridge extending upwardly from an undersurface of said head, said ridge being transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.    
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush head of  claim 14 , further comprising a second ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transverse to said longitudinal axis, said second ridge being in spaced relationship with said ridge and having a second set of bristles projecting outwardly thereform.  
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush head of  claim 14 , further comprising a third ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transversely of said ridge, said third ridge located on one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and extending generally along said longitudinal axis, said third ridge having a first lateral end located near a lateral end of said ridge located on said one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and a second lateral end located near a lateral end of said second ridge located on said one longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis, said third ridge having a third set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush head of  claim 16 , further comprising a fourth ridge extending upwardly from said undersurface transversely of said ridge, said fourth ridge located on another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and extending generally along said longitudinal axis, said fourth ridge having a first lateral end located near another lateral end of said ridge located on said another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis and a second lateral end located near another lateral end of said second ridge located on said another longitudinal side of said longitudinal axis, said fourth ridge having a fourth set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush head of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said undersurface has a fifth set of bristles projecting outwardly therefrom;    said ridge, second ridge, third ridge and fourth ridge are spaced to form a continuous rim around said undersurface; and    said undersurface is concave.    
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush head of  claim 19 , wherein said rim is cicular in shape.  
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush head of  claim 19 , wherein said ridge, second ridge, third ridge, fourth ridge and undersurface are mounted on a rotatable body for rotating in an angular direction about said rim.