Toothbrush

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment, a toothbrush having one or two heads for use in a variety of humans and animals may be shown and described. The toothbrush can have offset heads and bristle areas, include multiple curves of (a) neck/head portion(s) to provide improved access and cleaning ability, and may be separable or combined with other toothbrush elements or components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush for cleaning gums, teeth, dental implants and fixed prostheses, comprising:
 a handle having a gripping section;   a curved neck, with proximal and distal portions, attached to one end of the handle, said end of the handle tapering towards said neck, said neck having a cylindrical shape and substantially circular cross section, the proximal neck portion extending outward from the handle in a direction collinear with a longitudinal axis of the handle and then curving into a distal neck portion;   a brush head attached to the distal neck portion, said brush head having a substantially circular cross section and a substantially dome-shaped end, said brush head being coplanar with the longitudinal plane of the handle and neck and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle; and   at least one bristle tuft extending from said brush head, said at least one bristle tuft is oriented perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle and brush head, and coplanar with the handle, neck, and brush head; and   said at least one bristle tuft comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristles having a length 5 to 10 mm or longer and extending from said brush head in a common direction and parallel with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle has a square cross section, and said bristle tuft is oriented at 45 degrees, relative to two surfaces of the handle that form the square cross section and at 135 degrees, relative to the other two surfaces of the handle that form the square cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle has a circular cross section and curved surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bristle tuft comprises three or more bristle tufts disposed in a single row. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said neck comprises a proximal neck and a distal neck, wherein said distal neck is coplanar with the proximal neck and handle and extends away from the longitudinal axis of said handle and proximal neck at an angle between 75 degrees and 105 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the neck and brush head may be configured to releasably attach to a manual or motorized handle. 
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush for cleaning gums, teeth, dental implants and fixed prostheses, comprising:
 a handle having a gripping section with two ends;   a curved neck, with proximal and distal portions, attached to each end of the handle, said ends of the handle tapering towards said necks, said necks having a cylindrical shape and substantially circular cross section, each proximal neck portion extending outward from the handle in a direction collinear with a longitudinal axis of the handle and then curving into a distal neck portion;   a brush head attached to each distal neck portion, said brush heads having a substantially circular cross section and a substantially dome-shaped end, said brush heads being coplanar with the longitudinal plane of the handle and necks and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle; and   at least one bristle tuft extending from each brush head, each said bristle tuft being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each brush head, and relative to the longitudinal plane of the handle, necks and brush heads; and   said at least one bristle tuft comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristles having a length 5 to 10 mm or longer and extending from each brush head in a common direction and parallel with each other.   
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein each distal neck portion extends away from the longitudinal axis of said handle and proximal neck portion, at an angle between 75 degrees and 105 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one bristle tuft of each brush head comprises a plurality of bristle tufts, said bristle tufts are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one bristle tuft of each brush head is oriented relative to the longitudinal plane of said handle, necks, and heads at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one bristle tuft of each brush head comprises three or more bristle tufts all disposed in a single row aligned with the longitudinal axis of the brush head. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein each neck distal neck portion extends in the same direction and at the same angle away from the longitudinal axis of the handle and proximal neck portion. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said handle comprises a rectangular cross section and is linear, and each brush head comprises a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section and a substantially dome-shaped end. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said bristle tufts are oriented at an oblique angle, relative to the plane of the handle, necks, and brush heads. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein the necks and brush heads may be configured to releasably attach to a manual or motorized handle.