Hygienic toothbrush and method of using same

Abstract

A hygienic toothbrush comprises a bristle cover movably secured to the elongated body of the toothbrush to protect the bristles of the toothbrush when it is not being used. A storage compartment with a removable lid is provided in the handle of the toothbrush body for storing the cover when not in use.

1 . A toothbrush assembly, comprising:
 an elongated toothbrush body having a bristled head at one end and a handle at a second end, the handle comprising a storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising a lid, wherein the lid is operably coupled to the storage compartment;   a cover comprising an open side enabling the cover to be placed over the bristles; an elongated connector comprising a first end operably coupled to the toothbrush body between the bristled head and the storage compartment and a second end operably coupled to the cover, whereby the cover is movable between a first position wherein the open side of the cover faces the bristled head so that the cover is disposed over the bristles to protect them when not in use and a second position wherein the cover is protected within the storage compartment when the brush is in use; and means operable between the toothbrush body and the connector for selectively retaining the cover in the first and second positions.   
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush assembly, comprising:
 an elongated toothbrush body having a bristle head at one end and a handle at a second end, the handle comprising a storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising a lid, wherein the lid is operably coupled to the storage compartment;   a cover comprising an open side enabling the cover to be placed over the bristles, whereby the cover is movable between a first position wherein the open side of the cover faces the bristled head so that the cover is disposed over the bristles to protect them when not in use and a second position wherein the cover is protected within the storage compartment because the lid is operably coupled to the storage compartment when the brush is in use.   
     
     
         3 . A method for hygienically cleaning the teeth of a person, comprising:
 providing a toothbrush assembly wherein the toothbrush assembly comprises an elongated toothbrush body, having a bristle head at one end and a handle at a second end, the handle comprising a storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising a lid, wherein the lid is operably coupled to the storage compartment; and   covering the storage compartment, when the toothbrush is not in use, with a cover having an open side enabling the cover to be placed over the bristles to protect them from microbial, viral, or airborne contaminants, or sealing the cover in the storage compartment when the brush is in use, wherein the cover is cleaned to remove the microbial, the viral, or the airborne contaminants before sealing it in the storage compartment.   
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush assembly, comprising:
 an elongated toothbrush body having a bristle head at one end and a handle at a second end, the handle comprising:
 an opening extending from a first surface to an opposite surface, wherein both first and second surfaces are in parallel planes, and 
 a replacable lid over the opening and flush with the first surface; 
   a cover including an open face enabling the cover to be placed over the bristles and a closed face opposite the open face;   an elongated connector including a first end pivoted to the toothbrush body between the bristled head and the opening, and a second end operably coupled to the cover, whereby the cover is movable between a first position, wherein the open face of the cover faces the bristled head so that the cover is disposed over the bristles to protect them when not in use and a second position, wherein the open face faces a bottom of the opening, and the closed faces the replacable lid so that the cover may be protected from environmental contaminants within the storage compartment when the brush is in use; and means operable between the toothbrush body and the connector for selectively retaining the cover in the first and second positions.   
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated connector between the toothbrush body and the cover is non-flexibly attached to the cover and to the toothbrush body. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 4 , comprising arms and the means operable between the toothbrush body and the arms of the connector for selectively retaining the cover in the first and second positions comprising fitting grooves, such that the arms of the elongated connector for connecting said cover to the handle of toothbrush click into the grooves and lock the cover into place in the opening of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the cover, complete with arms, is attached to the handle via a C Clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sides of the cover that are orthogonal to the open face and run along a longitudinal axis of the cover, are porous. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the sides of the cover that are orthogonal to the open face and run along a horizontal axis of the cover, are open. 
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush, comprising:
 an elongated toothbrush body, having first and second ends, and a first surface, thereon, comprising:
 a bristle head operably coupled to the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body at the first end of the elongated toothbrush body; and 
 an opening in the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body at the second end of the elongated toothbrush body,
 wherein the opening is an entrance of a storage compartment in the second end of the elongated toothbrush body, 
 wherein a volume of the cavity of the storage compartment is defined by lateral walls and a bottom of the storage compartment, and 
 wherein the bottom of the storage compartment has a second surface thereon; 
 
 a protective bristle cover having an open face enabling the protective bristle cover to be placed over the bristles; 
 an elongated connector having a first end pivoted to the toothbrush body between the bristled head and the opening, and a second end operably coupled to the protective bristle cover, so that the protective bristle cover is movable between a first position and a second position,
 wherein in the first position, the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the bristled head and encloses the bristles to protect them when not in use, and 
 wherein in the second position, the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the second surface of the bottom of the storage compartment. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated connector comprises a male nub pivotably coupled between the first end and the second end and the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body has an expandable opening positioned so the male nub releasably fits into the opening when the protective bristle cover is in the first position, and the expandable opening has released the male nub when the protective bristle cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated toothbrush body comprises an expandable opening in the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body between the first end and the second end and the elongated connector has a male nub protruding from the surface of the elongated connector in the direction of the expandable opening so the male nub releasably fits into the expandable opening when the protective bristle cover is in the first position, and the expandable opening has released the male nub when the protective bristle cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated connector comprises an expandable opening between the first end and the second end and the elongated toothbrush body has a male nub protruding from the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body in the direction of the expandable opening so the male nub releasably fits into the expandable opening when the protective bristle cover is in the first position, and the expandable opening has released the male nub when the protective bristle cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated connector comprises a c-clamp for clamping the elongated connector to the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body so the operably coupled protective bristle cover encloses the bristles of the bristled head, wherein the c-clamp has flexible arm pieces that each wrap around respective sides of the elongated toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is in the first position, and the flexible arm pieces release the sides of the elongated toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , comprising a replacable lid pivotably coupled to the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body and essentially completely flush with the first surface when the lid covers the cavity of the storage compartment, so that the inside environment of the storage compartment does not communicate with the outside environment of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , comprising a replacable lid pivotably coupled to the side of the elongated toothbrush body and essentially completely flush with the first surface when the lid covers the cavity of the storage compartment, so that the inside environment of the storage compartment does not communicate with the outside environment of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated connector is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of low or high density polyethylene (PE), low or high density polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and sheet metal. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , comprising a replacable lid pivotably coupled to any portion of the end of the elongated toothbrush body and essentially completely flush with the first surface when the lid covers the cavity of the storage compartment, so that the inside environment of the storage compartment does not communicate with the outside environment of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , comprising compression fittings around a periphery of the replacable lid which have been compressibly inserted into a recess that runs along a perimeter of the cavity of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein the pivotable coupling is a hinge. 
     
     
         22 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral walls or the bottom of the storage compartment comprises an opening to the outside environment. 
     
     
         23 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the pivotable coupling is a male compression fitting and extends from a face of the first end of the elongated connector opposite the first surface of the elongated toothbrush into an expandable opening between the first and second ends of the toothbrush body, so the first end of the elongated connector is pivotable between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         24 . The toothbrush of  claim 23 , wherein the expandable opening between the first and second ends of the toothbrush body into which the male compression fitting compressibly fits essentially completely extends from the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body to the opposing surface of the elongated toothbrush body. 
     
     
         25 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the pivotable coupling extends from the end of the elongated connector and includes a spherically shaped compression fitting that compressibly fits into an expandable opening in the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body between the first and second ends of the toothbrush body, so the first end of the elongated connector is pivotable between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         26 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein the first end of the elongated connector pivots radially between about 0° and 360° about the hole between the first and second ends of the toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is moved from the first position to the second position and return the protective bristle cover to the first position. 
     
     
         27 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the second end of the elongated connector is operably coupled to the protective bristle cover using one piece construction. 
     
     
         28 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein only sides of the protective bristle cover that are parallel to the bristles of the bristle head are porous. 
     
     
         29 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein sides of the protective bristle cover that are parallel to the bristles of the bristle head are porous and a proximal end of the protective bristle head cover includes a opening. 
     
     
         30 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein a proximal end of the bristle protection protective bristle cover has at least one opening. 
     
     
         31 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the protective bristle cover and the elongated connector have been treated with an antibacterial solution. 
     
     
         32 . The toothbrush of  claim 31 , wherein the antibacterial solution is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight hydrogen peroxide or isopropanol. 
     
     
         33 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , comprising the toothbrush being treated with an antibacterial solution. 
     
     
         34 . The toothbrush of  claim 33 , wherein the antibacterial solution is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight hydrogen peroxide or isopropanol. 
     
     
         35 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body that faces the opening of the protective bristle cover forms at least one nub(s) that runs in the orthogonal direction with respect to the first surface, and an edge of the protective bristle cover that faces the first surface of the of the elongated toothbrush body is expandable so that the expandable cover forms a releasable compression fit over the at least one nub(s) when the protective bristle cover is in the first position. 
     
     
         36 . A method of protecting the bristles of a toothbrush, comprising:
 providing an elongated toothbrush body, having first and second ends, and a first surface, thereon, comprising:
 a bristle head operably coupled to the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body at the first end of the elongated toothbrush body; and 
 an opening in the first surface of the elongated toothbrush body at the second end of the elongated toothbrush body,
 wherein the opening is an entrance of a storage compartment in the second end of the elongated toothbrush body, 
 wherein a volume of the cavity of the storage compartment is defined by lateral walls and a bottom of the storage compartment, and 
 wherein the bottom of the storage compartment has a second surface thereon; 
 
 a protective bristle cover having an open face enabling the protective bristle cover to be placed over the bristles; 
 an elongated connector having a first end pivoted to the toothbrush body between the bristled head and the opening, and a second end operably coupled to the protective bristle cover, so that the protective bristle cover is movable between a first position and a second position,
 wherein in the first position, the open face of the protective bristle 
 cover faces the bristled head and encloses the bristles to protect them when not in use, and 
 wherein the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the second surface of the bottom of the storage compartment in the second position; and 
 
   pivoting the first end of the elongated connector radially to move the protective bristle cover from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising: a user of the toothbrush lifting the protective bristle cover away from the bristle head of the elongated toothbrush body by flexing the second end of the elongated connector and pivoting the second end of the elongated connector to the second position. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising treating only the protective bristle cover and the elongated connector with an antibacterial solution. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the antibacterial solution is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight hydrogen or isopropanol. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising treating the toothbrush with an antibacterial solution. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the antibacterial solution is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight hydrogen peroxide or isopropanol. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongated connector pivots radially between about 0° and 360° when the protective bristle cover is moved from the first position to the second position and returned to the first position. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongated connector pivots radially in a plane that is parallel with the first surface of the toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is moved from the first position to the second position and returned to the first position. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongated connector pivots radially in a plane that is orthogonal to the first surface of the toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is moved from the first position to the second position and returned to the first position and wherein the first end of the elongated connector rotates 180°, so that the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the bristled head and encloses the bristles to protect them when not in use, and wherein the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the second surface of the bottom of the storage compartment in the second position. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongated connector pivots radially 90° in a plane that is orthogonal to the first surface of the toothbrush body when the protective bristle cover is moved from the first position to the second position and returned to the first position and wherein the first end of the elongated connector rotates 180°, so that the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the bristled head and encloses the bristles to protect them when not in use, and wherein the open face of the protective bristle cover faces the second surface of the bottom of the storage compartment in the second position.