Tongue scraper adapted for engagement with a toothbrush

Abstract

A dental hygiene device formed of a toothbrush component having an elongated handle and bristles extending from a first surface and a scraper component with a scraping edge positioned on a first side a body portion. The scraper component is employable in an as-used position to scrape the tongue surface of a user and engageable in a cavity in the toothbrush handle to a stored position. In the stored position, the scraping edge is positioned away from possible contact with the user's hand or storage surfaces which the device may occupy to prevent contamination by germs and bacteria.

1 . A dental hygiene apparatus, comprising:
 a toothbrush component having an elongated handle extending between distal and proximal ends;   bristles extending from a first surface of said handle at said distal end, said first surface opposite a second surface of said handle;   a scraper component, said scraper component having an elongated body extending between a first end and second end;   a scraping edge positioned on a first side of said body, at or adjacent to said first end of said body;   a cavity formed in said handle, said cavity configured for removable engagement of said scraper component therein to a stored position;   said scraping edge in said stored position positioned adjacent to, or in contact with, a mating surface formed on said handle; and   said scraping edge in said stored position prevented from a contact with a hand of a user gripping said elongated handle while operatively employing said toothbrush to clean teeth, whereby germs or bacteria on one of said hand or said scraping edge are not communicable to the other of said hand or said scraping edge by a said contact.   
     
     
         2 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said cavity being an axial passage formed in said handle communicating with an aperture at said proximal end; 
 said scraper body positionable to said stored position by an insertion of said second end of said scraper body through said aperture and a sliding of said scraper body into said axial passage to said stored position. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said cavity being an a recess formed into said first surface of said handle; and 
 said scraper body positionable to said stored position by an insertion of said first side of said body into said recess. 
 
     
     
         4 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 a rotational engagement between said proximal end of said handle and said second end of said scraper body; and 
 said scraper body positionable between said stored position, and an as-used position for scraping said tongue by a rotation of said scraper body in a direction away from said first surface of said handle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body having a second side, opposite said first side; 
 means for removable engagement of said second side of said scraper body to said second surface of said handle; and 
 said scraper body held in said as-used position, by said removable engagement, whereby said scraper body is rotatable between said stored position and said as used position where it may be held in a contact with said handle by said removable engagement. 
 
     
     
         6 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 opposing side surface areas of said scraper body in said stored position being contactable by opposing fingers of a user's hand for a compressive engagement; and 
 said scraper body removable from and positionable to said stored engagement while in said compressive engagement. 
 
     
     
         7 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 said opposing side surface areas located proximate to said first end of said scraper body. 
 
     
     
         8 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         9 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         10 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         11 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         12 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         13 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         14 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 7  additionally comprising:
 a recess formed in said scraper body immediately adjacent to said scraping edge, said recess providing a reservoir for storage of material scraped from said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         15 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         16 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         17 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         18 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 12  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         19 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 13  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user. 
 
     
     
         20 . The dental hygiene apparatus of  claim 14  additionally comprising:
 said scraper body formed of a flexible polymeric material; and 
 flexation of said body providing means to prevent an injury from excess pressure of said scraper on said tongue of a user.