Force regulating apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method for using said apparatus are disclosed. Said apparatus is a tool having the advantage of being able to regulate the amount of force exerted through said tool on to a work surface. In a preferred embodiment, said tool is a tooth brush and the force threshold is 150 grams.

1 . A force regulating apparatus comprised of:
 a handle;   a head hingedly connected to said handle; and   means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle in a first direction unless a force threshold has been exceeded.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said handle portion further comprises at least one arm. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising one or more protrusions. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising one or more concavities. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle is the engagement of said protrusions with said concavities. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle comprises one or more frangible obstructions. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said head further comprises a means for rotating said head in relation to said handle in a second direction. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in a first direction is operatively associated with said means for rotating said head in a second direction. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle in a first direction further comprises a means for increasing said force threshold. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said means for increasing said force threshold is movable between a first position and a second position, where in said first position said force threshold is increased and in said second position said force threshold is not increased. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least 100 grams of force is required to overcome said force threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least 150 grams of force is required to overcome said force threshold. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning surface fixedly attached to said head. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising at least one concavity and at least one protrusion wherein said head is movable between a first position and a second position, where in said first position there is engagement of said protrusion with said concavity. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle is an elastic structure which maintains a first position until a force threshold is overcome and returns to a first position when said force is removed. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said elastic structure creates an auditory signal when said force threshold is overcome. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle creates an auditory signal when said force threshold is overcome. 
   
   
       18 . A tooth brush comprising:
 a handle;   a head rotatably attached to said handle;   bristles fixedly attached to said head; and   means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle in a first direction unless a force threshold has been exceeded.   
   
   
       19 . The tooth brush of  claim 18  further comprising one or more concavities and one or more protrusions, wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle is the engagement of said concavities and said protrusions. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle comprises one or more frangible obstructions. 
   
   
       21 . The tooth brush of  claim 19  wherein said handle includes a first end suitable for gripping and a second end having a forked configuration with first and second forks. 
   
   
       22 . The tooth brush of  claim 21  further comprising a pivot and wherein said first and second forks define a space in which said head may rotate about said pivot. 
   
   
       23 . The tooth brush of  claim 22  wherein at least 100 grams of force is required to overcome said engagement of said protrusions with said concavities. 
   
   
       24 . The tooth brush of  claim 22  wherein at least 150 grams of force is required to overcome said engagement of said protrusions with said concavities. 
   
   
       25 . The tooth brush of  claim 22  wherein said head further comprises a means for rotating said head in relation to said handle in a second direction. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in a first direction is operatively associated with said means for rotating said head in a second direction. 
   
   
       27 . The tooth brush of  claim 18  wherein said handle includes a first end suitable for gripping and a second end having an arm. 
   
   
       28 . The tooth brush of  claim 27  further comprising a pivot fixedly mounted to said arm, wherein said head may rotate about said pivot, and means to retain said head on said pivot. 
   
   
       29 . The tooth brush of  claim 27  wherein at least 100 grams of force is required to overcome said force threshold. 
   
   
       30 . The tooth brush of  claim 27  wherein at least 150 grams of force is required to overcome said force threshold. 
   
   
       31 . The tooth brush of  claim 28  wherein said head further comprises a means for rotating said head in relation to said handle in a second direction. 
   
   
       32 . The tooth brush of  claim 31  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in a first direction is operatively associated with said means for rotating said head in a second direction. 
   
   
       33 . The tooth brush of  claim 18  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle in a first direction further comprises a means for increasing said force threshold. 
   
   
       34 . The tooth brush of  claim 33  wherein said means for increasing said force threshold is movable between a first position and a second position, where in said first position said force threshold is increased and in said second position said force threshold is not increased. 
   
   
       35 . The tooth brush of  claim 18  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle is an elastic structure which maintains a first position until a force threshold is overcome and returns to a first position when said force is removed. 
   
   
       36 . The tooth brush of  claim 35  wherein said elastic structure creates an auditory signal when said force threshold is overcome. 
   
   
       37 . The tooth brush of  claim 18  wherein said means for preventing said head from rotating in relation to said handle creates an auditory signal when said force threshold is overcome. 
   
   
       38 . A method of using a tool comprising the steps of:
 selecting a tool comprising a head rotatably mounted to a handle wherein said head may rotate in a first direction about said handle only after a force threshold has been overcome; and   applying said tool to a work surface.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising the step of rotating said head in a second direction which is opposite said first direction after said force threshold has been overcome. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said tool further comprises one or more concavities and one or more protrusions, the additional step of rotating said head in a second direction which is opposite said first direction after said force threshold has been overcome such that said protrusions and said concavities engage. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said tool further comprises one or more concavities and one or more protrusions engaged with each other, further comprising the step of increasing said amount of force until said concavities and said protrusions no longer engage and said head rotates in relation to said handle. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising the step of rotating said head in a second direction which is opposite said first direction after said force threshold has been overcome such that said protrusions and said concavities engage. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said tool is a toothbrush. 
   
   
       44 . A method of brushing teeth comprising the steps of:
 selecting a tooth brush comprising a bead rotatably mounted to a handle wherein said head may rotate in a first direction about said handle only after a force threshold has been overcome; and   applying said head to a tooth surface with an amount of force.