Manual toothbrush with movable head

Abstract

A manual toothbrush including a handle that reciprocates into and out of a channel within a head of the toothbrush. The head includes a plurality of fixed first bristles and a first movable base that has a plurality of second bristles extending outwardly therefrom. A first end of the handle is non-releasably connected to the first movable base within the channel in the head. The first movable base is mounted for arcuate movement in response to the reciprocation of the handle when the first and second bristles frictionally engage the teeth of the user.

1 . A manual toothbrush comprising:
 a longitudinally elongated handle that has a gripping end; a first end and a longitudinal axis running through the gripping end and first end;   a head having an outer wall and an internal channel into which the first end of the handle is slidingly received; said first end of the handle being adapted to reciprocate into and out of said channel during the brushing motion;   a plurality of first bristles fixedly mounted to the outer wall of the head and extending outwardly away therefrom;   a first movable base rotatably mounted on the head; said first movable base being fixedly secured to the first end of the handle such that the handle extends over the first movable base; and wherein the first movable base is arcuately movable relative to the outer wall of the head in response to the reciprocal motion of the handle;   a plurality of second bristles mounted on the first movable base and extending outwardly away therefrom.   
   
   
       2 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 ; wherein the outer wall of the head defines at least one aperture therein, and wherein at least a portion of said first movable base is received through said aperture. 
   
   
       3 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first movable base has an internal surface and an external surface; and the plurality of second bristles extend outwardly from the external surface thereof; and wherein at least one first drive pin extends outwardly away from the internal surface of the first movable base and into the channel of the head. 
   
   
       4 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the first movable base includes side edges that extend between the internal and external surfaces thereof; and wherein the first drive pin is provided proximate a first side edge on the first movable base; whereby the first drive pin acts as a pivot point for the first movable base. 
   
   
       5 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a second drive pin provided proximate a second side edge on the first movable base, and wherein the first end of the handle is positioned over the first movable base and between the first and second drive pins. 
   
   
       6 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the handle includes a first pair of gripping fingers that non-releasably engage the first drive pin on the first movable base. 
   
   
       7 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a second movable base mounted within a second aperture on the outer wall of the head; said second movable base being fixedly secured to the first end of the handle a spaced distance from the first movable base; and wherein the second movable base is arcuately movable relative to the outer wall of the head in response to the reciprocal motion of the handle; and wherein the second movable base includes a second plurality of second bristles mounted thereon and extending outwardly away therefrom 
   
   
       8 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising a second drive pin extending outwardly away from an internal surface of the second movable base and into the channel of the head; and wherein the first end of the handle includes a second pair of gripping fingers that extend outwardly away from the first end of the handle in an opposite direction to the first pair of gripping fingers; and said second pair of gripping fingers non-releasably engage the second drive pin. 
   
   
       9 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first movable base is substantially rectangular in shape and the external surface of the first movable base includes a generally diamond shaped region that extends through the aperture and engages a portion of the outer wall when the first movable base pivots in response to reciprocal motion of the handle; and wherein the second bristles extend forwardly away from the diamond shaped region. 
   
   
       10 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first movable base is substantially circular in shape and the aperture in the outer wall of the head is substantially circular in shape; and the first movable base rotates about a central point within the circular aperture. 
   
   
       11 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises:
 a front cover; said outer wall of the head constituting a part of said front cover;   a back cover that is complementary shaped to the front cover and is securable thereto; said front cover and back cover defining the internal channel of the head therebetween.   
   
   
       12 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a bristle assembly that includes a skirt which is securable over the outer wall of the front cover; and wherein said first bristles are integrally formed with the skirt and extend outwardly away therefrom.   
   
   
       13 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the front cover is molded with at least one recess in a rear surface of the outer wall; and said aperture opens into said recess; and wherein said first movable base is seated within said recess. 
   
   
       14 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the channel extends through the recess and the rear surface of the outer wall is provided with a shoulder that limits the travel of the first end of the handle within the channel. 
   
   
       15 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate motion of the first movable base is activated by the frictional engagement of the first and second bristles with the teeth of an individual as the handle is reciprocated along a longitudinal axis thereof. 
   
   
       16 . A manual toothbrush comprising:
 a longitudinally elongated handle that has a gripping end; a first end and a longitudinal axis running through the gripping end and first end;   a first pair of gripping fingers extending outwardly away from said first end of the handle;   a head having an outer wall and an internal channel into which the first end of the handle is slidingly received; said first end of the handle being adapted to reciprocate into and out of said channel during the brushing motion;   a plurality of first bristles fixedly mounted to the outer wall of the head and extending outwardly away therefrom;   a first movable base rotatably mounted on the head; said first movable base having an interior surface that extends into the channel;   a first drive pin extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the first movable base and into the channel; said first drive pin being non-releasably captured by the first pair of gripping fingers; whereby the first movable base is arcuately movable relative to the outer wall of the head in response to reciprocation of the handle during brushing;   a plurality of second bristles mounted on an exterior surface of the first movable base and extending outwardly away from the outer wall of the head; whereby the arcuate movement of the first movable base during brushing causes the second bristles to move arcuately relative to the outer wall of the head.   
   
   
       17 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the gripping end and first end of the handle are unitary. 
   
   
       18 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the gripping end of the handle terminates in a leading end; and wherein the first end of the handle originates at the leading end of the collar. 
   
   
       19 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of gripping fingers are immovable relative to the first end of the handle. 
   
   
       20 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of gripping fingers extends outwardly at an angle from a first side edge of the first end of the handle; and that angle remains constant during reciprocation of the handle. 
   
   
       21 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the angle of the gripping fingers relative to the first side end of first end of the handle is ninety degrees. 
   
   
       22 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a second pair of gripping fingers extending outwardly away from said first end of the handle and a spaced distance away from the first pair of gripping fingers;   a second movable base rotatably mounted on the head; said second movable base having an interior surface that extends into the channel;   a second drive pin extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the second movable base and into the channel; said second drive pin being non-releasably captured by the second pair of gripping fingers; whereby the second movable base is arcuately movable relative to the outer wall of the head in response to reciprocation of the handle during brushing;   a second plurality of second bristles mounted on an exterior surface of the second movable base and extending outwardly away from the outer wall of the head; whereby the arcuate movement of the second movable base during brushing causes the second plurality of second bristles to move arcuately relative to the outer wall of the head.   
   
   
       23 . The manual toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the second pair of gripping fingers extend outwardly away from a second side edge of the first end of the handle and at a fixed angle thereto; whereby the first and second movable bases oscillate in opposite directions to each other upon reciprocation of the handle during brushing.