Tongue brush with powered roller

Abstract

A tongue cleaner tool comprises a handle with an actuator therein and a rotatable roller or brush near one end of the handle that is driven by the actuator. The rotatable brush has soft protrusions, as knobs or bristles, to gently massage and clean the tongue as the brush is rotated inside a user's mouth and in contact with the surface of the tongue. The brush roller can have its axis normal to the length of the handle or parallel with it. Liquid, as water or mouthwash, is advantageously provided in a reservoir in the handle or in the roller, to be dispensed onto the tongue through the handle or via the roller directly. One or more rollers can be used, and a shield can be provided over part of each roller to direct the liquid and to protect other parts of the mouth of the user.

I claim as my invention: 
     
         1 . A tool for cleaning the tongue of a human or animal, the tool comprising:
 an elongated handle including a powered actuator; and   a cylindrical roller rotatably driven by said actuator,   the roller being positioned on said tool to be engageable with an upper surface of said tongue, and   the roller having a plurality of soft projections from its outer surface for kneading or brushing said surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         2 . A tool as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid storage container for receiving and holding a selected liquid for assisting in cleaning of the tongue, and a passage formed in at least one of the tool and the roller for releasing said liquid from said container onto the tongue as the roller rotates in contact with the tongue. 
     
     
         3 . A tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the roller is mounted transversely to the elongated tool. 
     
     
         4 . A tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the roller is mounted substantially axially of the elongated tool. 
     
     
         5 . A tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the roller is mounted together with a shield attached to the handle extension over the roller and opposite the tongue surface. 
     
     
         6 . A tool for cleaning the tongue of a human or animal, the tool comprising a handle with a powered actuator therein and an elongated portion carrying a rotating brush suited for insertion into the mouth of said human or animal and into engagement with a surface of said tongue for cleaning same. 
     
     
         7 . A tool as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the brush rotates on an axis normal to the elongated length of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . A tool as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the brush rotates on an axis generally parallel with the elongated length of the handle. 
     
     
         9 . A tool as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a liquid reservoir in one of the handle and roller and at least one passage from the reservoir to the exterior of the roller brush and handle. 
     
     
         10 . A method of massaging and cleaning a tongue in the mouth of a person or animal, the method using a powered, rotatable roller on a handle, the roller having radially extending soft knobs or bristles, and the handle assisting the user in holding the roller against a surface of the tongue, the method comprising the steps of holding the rotating roller gently against the surface of the tongue and moving the roller across substantially all of said surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of applying a selected liquid from one of the handle and the roller onto the tongue for lubricating and cleaning the surface of the tongue for enhancing the action of the roller and its knobs or bristles.