Brushes

Abstract

A brush is provided with a selectively rotatable brush head. The brush can advantageously be a toothbrush, and the selective rotation of the head gives advantages in reaching teeth and areas of the mouth which are hard to brush properly with a standard brush, thus increasing oral hygiene.

1 . A brush comprising a brush head and a handle portion, the brush head being selectively rotatable with respect to the handle portion. 
   
   
       2 . The brush of  claim 1 , comprising selectively engageable indexing means operable to provide the selective rotation. 
   
   
       3 . The brush of  claim 2 , wherein the indexing means comprises a rotatable connector assembly attached to the brush head and the handle portion. 
   
   
       4 . The brush of  claim 3 , wherein the rotatable connector assembly comprises a plug member and a socket 
   
   
       5 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein the plug member and the socket are substantially circular in cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein one of the plug member and the socket includes at least one tab and the other of the plug member and the socket includes at least one groove, the tabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tab may be located within a groove to impede rotational movement of the rotatable connector assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The brush of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of grooves are provided to enable the rotatable connector assembly to be arranged such that a plurality of predetermined angles of the brush head relative to the handle portion may be selected in use. 
   
   
       8 . The brush of  claim 6 , wherein a displacement of the plug member relative to the socket is provided for to allow disengagement of a tab from a groove without disconnecting the brush head from the handle portion. 
   
   
       9 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein the plug member includes a radially extending lip portion co-operable with a corresponding radially indented groove extending at least partially around an inner surface of the socket. 
   
   
       10 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein the plug member includes around its lower edge a radially extending plug flange co-operable with a corresponding radially extending socket flange extending around the upper surface of the socket. 
   
   
       11 . The brush of  claim 4 , wherein the plug member and socket are engageable with a snap-fit connection. 
   
   
       12 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the handle portion is provided with a plug member receiving aperture. 
   
   
       13 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the socket is provided on an inner surface of an aperture in the brush head. 
   
   
       14 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein a bristle head is fixed to the handle portion, comprising bristles for protrusion through the aperture in the brush head. 
   
   
       15 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the brush head is provided with side bristles which are selectively rotatable about the bristle head bristles. 
   
   
       16 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the brush comprises a motor for rotating the bristle head bristles around their central axis. 
   
   
       17 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the indexing means is provided on the brush at a location spaced from the brush head. 
   
   
       18 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein an actuator means is provided for operation of the indexing means. 
   
   
       19 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein the handle portion comprises slidably movable halves with corresponding corrugations. 
   
   
       20 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein, the corrugations define a number of selectable relative positions of the two halves. 
   
   
       21 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein upper portions of each half are fixed to opposing sides of a rotatable brush head, such that each selectable relative position of the two halves corresponds to an angle of orientation of the brush head relative to the handle portion. 
   
   
       22 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein a snap fit runner is provided for the sliding motion of the two halves. 
   
   
       23 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator means comprises an actuator arm and a drive means for moving the actuator arm. 
   
   
       24 . The brush of  claim 23 , wherein the drive means comprises a scroll wheel connected to the actuator arm. 
   
   
       25 . The brush of  claim 24 , wherein one of the scroll wheel and the body of the handle portion is provided with at least one tab and the other of the scroll wheel and the body of the handle portion is provided with at least one groove, the tabs and grooves being arranged such that in use a tab may be located within a groove to impede motion of the actuator arm. 
   
   
       26 . The brush of  claim 23 , wherein the actuator arm is connected at an upper end to the brush head and is shaped such that linear motion of the actuator arm causes a rotational motion of the brush head. 
   
   
       27 . The brush of  claim 23 , wherein the actuator arm runs along a track provided in the shaft of the handle portion. 
   
   
       28 . The brush of  claim 23 , wherein the actuator arm is formed from a rubber material. 
   
   
       29 . The brush of  claim 17 , wherein a belt member is provided within the body of the brush, said belt member being drivable in a longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       30 . The brush of  claim 29 , wherein an upper portion of the belt member is provided with teeth for engagement with corresponding teeth provided on the brush head. 
   
   
       31 . The brush of  claim 29 , wherein the belt member is provided with interlockable protrusions provided on opposing inner belt surfaces. 
   
   
       32 . The brush of  claim 29 , wherein the belt member is provided with a push-pad for operation to drive the belt member. 
   
   
       33 . The brush of  claim 32 , wherein the push-pad is provided at the surface of the brush for operation by a user. 
   
   
       34 . The brush of  claim 29 , wherein the belt member is formed from a rubber material. 
   
   
       35 . The brush of  claim 1 , being a toothbrush. 
   
   
       36 . A brush comprising a mechanical drive means for rotation of the brush head. 
   
   
       37 . The brush of  claim 36 , wherein said mechanical drive means is comprised in a handle portion of the brush. 
   
   
       38 . The brush of  claim 36 , wherein said mechanical drive means comprises a head connector and torque application means for applying a rotational torque to the head connector. 
   
   
       39 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein said torque application means comprises a spring. 
   
   
       40 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein said torque application means comprises a rubber band. 
   
   
       41 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein a gear train is interposed between the torque application means and the head connector. 
   
   
       42 . The brush of  claim 41 , wherein the gear train is an epicyclical gear train. 
   
   
       43 . The brush of  claim 41 , wherein an oscillator is provided at the gear train, which comprises a peripheral projection for engagement with an outer portion of a base of the head connector. 
   
   
       44 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein a drive member is provided for tensioning the torque application means. 
   
   
       45 . The brush of  claim 44 , wherein the drive member comprises an internal fluting for engagement with a ratchet on the handle portion to hold the drive member in place once it has been activated to tension the torque application means. 
   
   
       46 . The brush of  claim 44 , wherein the drive member forms a lower portion of the handle portion. 
   
   
       47 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein a brake means is selectively engageable to hold the torque application means in tension, thus preventing rotation of the head connector. 
   
   
       48 . The brush of  claim 47 , wherein said brake means comprises a clamp member for selective engagement with a shaft provided at the gear train. 
   
   
       49 . The brush of  claim 47 , wherein said brake means is operable by external pressure applied to the outer surface of the handle portion. 
   
   
       50 . The brush of  claim 38 , wherein a brush is provided with a head portion, engageable with the head connector for the rotation of bristles provided on the head portion. 
   
   
       51 . The brush of  claim 36 , being a toothbrush.