FlexibleToothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush comprises a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion has a base member and first and second lateral walls extending upwardly therefrom to define a space. The base member and first and second lateral walls have bristles arranged thereon extending into the space. At least one, and preferably both, of the first and second lateral walls are pivotable relative to the base member to permit the side walls to move into and out of the space in response to forces.

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle portion; and   a head portion having a base member and first and second lateral walls extending upwardly therefrom to define a space, the base member and first and second lateral walls having bristles arranged thereon extending into the space, at least one of the first and second lateral walls being pivotable relative to the base member to permit the side walls to move into and out of the space in response to forces.   
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base member and first and second lateral walls define a generally U-shaped structure, the space being formed thereby. 
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second lateral walls are connected to the base member such that the first and/or second lateral walls pivot into and out of the space in response to the forces. 
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein  3  further comprising a point of connection between the base member and the first and second lateral walls. 
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the point of connection comprises a reduced size connection constituting a point of weakness to allow the pivoting of the first and/or second lateral walls relative to the base member. 
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein both the first and the second lateral walls are pivotable relative to the base member. 
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a rubber ring formed about the point of connection. 
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second lateral walls are comprised of two or more wall portions, each of the wall portions being separately connected to the base member so that each of the wall portions is pivotable relative to the base member independently of other wall portions. 
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8  wherein both the first and second lateral walls are comprised of two or more wall portions. 
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 8  wherein first or second lateral walls are comprised of three wall portions. 
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and the second lateral walls are each comprised of three wall portions. 
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the base member has mounted thereon traditional nylon bristles selectively arranged thereon to clean an occlusal surface of a tooth being brushed. 
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of the lateral walls has a combination of traditional nylon bristles and rubber bristles interspersedly mounted thereon and selectively arranged thereon to clean and polish a smooth side surface of a tooth being brushed. 
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the traditional and rubber bristles are mounted so as to extend into the space at an angle which is approximately 45 degrees to the first and second lateral walls respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the first and second lateral walls have a set of top bristles and a set of lower bristles, the top bristles being slightly longer than the lower bristles, the top bristles being configured to clean the sulcus or below the gum area. 
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 12  wherein traditional bristles mounted on the base member have a contoured upper surface designed to reach and clean fissures and crevices in the tooth. 
     
     
         17 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the contoured upper surface comprises a substantially central peak, a pair of median valleys and a pair of end peaks. 
     
     
         18 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one opening formed between the first and second lateral walls and the base member to facilitate flow of liquid and debris away from the toothbrush. 
     
     
         19 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a tongue cleaner formed on the head of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle portion; and   a head portion having a base member and first and second lateral walls extending upwardly therefrom to define a space, the base member and first and second lateral walls having bristles arranged thereon extending into the space, the bristles of the base member comprising nylon traditional bristles, and the bristles of the first and second lateral walls comprising a combination of traditional nylon bristles and rubber bristles.   
     
     
         21 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the traditional and rubber bristles on the first and second lateral walls are mounted so as to extend into the space at an angle which is approximately 45 degrees to the first and second lateral walls respectively. 
     
     
         22 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 20  wherein bristles on the first and second lateral walls comprise a set of top bristles and a set of lower bristles, the top bristles being slightly longer than the lower bristles, the top bristles being configured to clean the sulcus or below the gum area. 
     
     
         23 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 20  wherein at least one of the first and second lateral walls is pivotable relative to the base member to permit the side walls to move into and out of the space in response to forces. 
     
     
         24 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 23  wherein both of the first and second lateral walls are pivotable relative to the base member. 
     
     
         25 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a first bristle for brushing the teeth and a second bristle for polishing the teeth, the first and second bristles being differently configured to achieve their purpose. 
     
     
         26 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the first resource is generally circular in section, and the second bristle is generally square in section. 
     
     
         27 . A toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bristles on the lateral walls comprise a lower set of bristles extending upwardly at about 45° relative to the sidewalk and a higher set of bristles extending outwardly from the side wall at about 90° relative thereto.