Tongue brush device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tongue brush device comprising: a replaceable head assembly comprising: a brush head assembly at a proximal end of and substantially transverse to an upper housing, the brush head assembly comprising a drum roller with an application area having a predetermined surface profile effective to clean a tongue surface, the drum roller configured to be rotated about an axis using a drive source, and the upper housing comprising: a guard piece housing the brush head assembly, and a tongue guard oriented below the brush head assembly effective to prevent the drum roller from driving a tongue of a user between the guard piece housing and the brush head assembly when in use; and a base assembly configured to detachably couple with a distal end of the head assembly, the base assembly comprising a lower housing containing at least a portion of the drive source.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tongue brush device comprising:
 a replaceable head assembly comprising:
 a brush head assembly at a proximal end of and substantially transverse to an upper housing, the brush head assembly comprising a drum roller with an application area having a predetermined surface profile effective to clean a tongue surface, the drum roller configured to be rotated about an axis using a drive source, and 
 the upper housing comprising:
 a guard piece housing the brush head assembly, and 
 a tongue guard oriented below the brush head assembly effective to prevent the drum roller from driving a tongue of a user between the guard piece housing and the brush head assembly when in use; and 
 
   a base assembly configured to detachably couple with a distal end of the replaceable head assembly, the base assembly comprising a lower housing containing at least a portion of the drive source.   
     
     
         2 . The tongue brush device of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue guard is made from a softer material than the guard piece. 
     
     
         3 . The tongue brush device of  claim 2 , wherein the guard piece is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         4 . The tongue brush device of  claim 1 , the predetermined surface profile comprises:
 a plurality of bristles, and   two or more rigid scraper portions.   
     
     
         5 . The tongue brush device of  claim 4 , wherein the two or more rigid scraper portions are more rigid than the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The tongue brush device of  claim 5 , wherein the two or more rigid scraper portions are concave in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The tongue brush device of  claim 1 , wherein the brush head assembly is gear driven. 
     
     
         8 . The tongue brush device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive source comprises one or more gears disposed within the brush head assembly, the one or more gears coupled to a drive shaft and axle configured to rotate the drum roller. 
     
     
         9 . The tongue brush device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive source comprises a motor disposed in the base assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A replaceable brush head attachment for a tongue brush, comprising:
 an upper housing comprising:
 a gear system, 
 a guard piece housing a brush head assembly, the brush head assembly being substantially transverse to the upper housing, and 
 a tongue guard oriented below the brush head assembly effective to prevent a tongue of a user from entering a space between the guard piece housing and the brush head assembly; and 
   a drive shaft coupled to the gear system and the brush head assembly,   wherein the drive shaft is operable to effect movement of the brush head assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The replaceable brush head attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the brush head assembly comprises a drum roller with a plurality of bristles thereon, the drum roller being rotatable about a spindle. 
     
     
         12 . The replaceable brush head attachment of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a length greater than about 5 mm and less than about 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The replaceable brush head attachment of  claim 12 , wherein the drum roller has a substantially cylindrical shape arranged at a constant distance of a cylindrical outer surface of the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         14 . The replaceable brush head attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the tongue guard is made from a softer material than the guard piece. 
     
     
         15 . The replaceable brush head attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the gear system, the brush head assembly, and the drive shaft are formed as a single unitary component formed from a single material by an injection molding process. 
     
     
         16 . An electric, motorized tongue brush device, comprising:
 a replaceable top head assembly, comprising:
 an upper housing comprising:
 a gear system, 
 a brush head assembly extending substantially transverse to the upper housing assembly, the brush head assembly comprising a drum roller and a first gear disposed at a proximal end of the brush head assembly, 
 a guard piece at least partially surrounding the brush head assembly; and 
 a tongue guard oriented below the brush head assembly effective to prevent disposing a tongue of a user between the guard piece housing and the brush head assembly; 
 
 a friction drive shaft contained within the upper housing and coupled to the brush head assembly,
 wherein the gear system comprises a second gear and a third gear configured to couple the friction drive shaft to the first gear of the brush head assembly, 
 wherein the friction drive shaft is operable to transmit motion to the brush head assembly; and 
 
   a bottom assembly, comprising:
 a motor coupled to the friction drive shaft; and 
 a handle on a surface of the bottom assembly. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electric, motorized tongue brush device of  claim 16 , wherein the motor is operable to drive the friction drive shaft which can drive the third gear which can drive the second gear, and wherein the second gear can drive the first gear so that the first gear can drive a motion of the drum roller. 
     
     
         18 . The electric, motorized tongue brush device of  claim 16 , further comprising finger grips disposed on the handle of the bottom assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The electric, motorized tongue brush device of  claim 16 , further comprising a slip-differential mechanism configured to prevent tongue tissue damage when force above a predetermined threshold is applied. 
     
     
         20 . The electric, motorized tongue brush device of  claim 19 , wherein the slip-differential mechanism is configured to limit or eliminate power to the drum roller upon detecting or sensing force above a predetermined threshold.