MASINI, Roberta (Via di Coselli 14/16, Guamo, I-55060, IT)
| CLAIMS
1. A brushing construction, particularly for oral or dental hygiene , characterized in that said brushing construction comprises a brushing head adapted to be removably coupled to a brushing handle by threaded coupling means, said brushing head including a brushing head body having a threaded seat and a lug thereon are engaged a plurality of brushing bristles arranged with a spiral or spoke arrangement either in a cylindric or conic configuration, said brushing head being adapted to be applied to an end portion of said handle by screwing the brushing head body on said handle end portion which is provided with a thread adapted to be threadably engaged by the threaded seat of the brushing head body.
2. A brushing construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread of the brushing handle and the thread of said threaded seat are of a quick type, that is they are so made that it would be sufficient , a portion of the turn for locking the brushing elements, for example a half br a fourth of turn, thereby allowing the brushing head to be quickly and easily applied to the brushing handle.
3. A brushing construction, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said brushing head is so designed that it can be coupled to the brushing handle by gripping by two fingers the brushing head body, without contacting the brushing bristles.
4. A brushing construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said brushing construction comprises one or more of the disclosed and/or illustrated characteristics. |
DENTAL HYGYENE-BRUSHING CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a brushing construction, specifically designed for oral or dental hygiene.
As is known, the so called inter-tooth brushing element, is a specifically designed brush used for cleaning in the inter-tooth spaces, and more specifically in other large inter-tooth spaces.
In addition to being used for cleaning the inter-tooth spaces, said brushing element can also be used for cleaning fixed prostheses, for removing bacteric plaque depositing under tooth bridge elements, and in the presence of recessed gums, where large spaces are formed at the bases or bottoms of the teeth.
Also known is the fact that a conventional type of ' brushing construction comprises a metal core, in which'- a plurality of synthetic bristles, arranged with a spiral or spoke arrangement, either in a cylindric or conic configuration are engaged.
Said core is coupled to an end portion of a supporting element, operating as a handle.
The above ' brushing construction can be used
for a long time, but it must be anyhow replaced as the central portion of the bristles has worn away.
Thus, a conventional brushing element has a comparatively short useful life, and accordingly must be rather frequently changed.
To that end, engagement means are usually provided, to facilitate the replacement of the brushing element proper on its handle.
Conventional engagement means used for clamping the core of the brushing element to its handle generally comprise a slot or hole formed in the handle, therewithin is engaged the brushing core which is essentially constituted by a metal wire.
The clamping of the core in the above mentioned slot or hole is usually performed through a clamping element including either a threaded member or a lever, said clamping element so bending the metal wire as to prevent the latter from disengaging from the respective hole.
However, prior clamping or locking systems for locking a brushing element on a handle therefor are affected by two main drawbacks.
A first drawback is constituted by ' the fact that in bending the metal wire, the latter can be broken, for example as the user screws on the threaded
element with an excessive torque.
The second main drawback is that, in order to properly apply the brushing element on its handle, it is necessary to grip the brushing element at its bristles, with a consequent loss of the bristle sterilizing properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a' brushing construction overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks affecting the prior art.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a brushing construction allowing the brushing member or head to be applied to the brushing handle without contacting the brushing bristles by the user fingers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a brushing construction allowing the brushing head to be perfectly and fixedly clamped on the brushing handle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a brushing construction in which the brushing head can be quickly and easily applied to the brushing handle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a brushing construction which can be
easily made and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a dental or oral hygiene brushing construction, characterized in that said brushing construction comprises a brushing head adapted .to be removably coupled to a brushing handle by threaded engagement means, said brushing head including a brushing head body having a threaded seat and a lug thereon are engaged a plurality of brushing bristles arranged with a spiral or spoke arrangement either in a cylindric or conic configuration, said brushing head being adapted to be applied to an end portion of said handle by screwing the brushing head body on said handle end portion which is provided with a thread adapted to be threadably engaged by the threaded seat of the brushing head body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further .characteristics and advantages of the present ■ invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an
indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:
■ Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brushing construction according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a further perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the head portion of the brushing construction, mounted on a brushing handle, in a ready for use condition;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the brushing head and of the top end portion of the brushing handle;
Figure 4 is yet another perspective view of ■ the brushing head of the brushing construction according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a front view of the brushing head of the brushing construction according to the invention; and
Figure 6 is a side view of the brushing head of the. brushing construction according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OP THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the brushing construction, according to the present invention, which has been
generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a brushing head 2 which is removably coupled to . a brushing handle 3, by screw or threaded engagement or coupling means .
More specifically, the brushing head 2 comprises a brushing head body 4 including a threaded seat or recess 5 and a lug 6 thereon are engaged a plurality of brushing bristles 7 which are arranged in a spiral or spoke arrangement, with either a cylindric or conic configuration.
According to the present invention, the brushing head 2 can be applied to the end portion of the brushing handle 3, by screwing the brushing head body 4 -on the end portion of said handle which, to that end, comprises a corresponding thread 8.
In particular, said thread 8 formed on the end portion of the handle 3 is adapted to be threadably engaged in the threaded seat or recess 5 of the brushing head 2 body 4.
In particular, the connection of the brushing head 2 to the handle can be performed by gripping by two fingers the brushing head body 4, without contacting the bristles 7.
The thread 8 of the handle and that of the threaded seat or recess 5 may be of the so-called
quick type, that is they are so made that a single reduced turn will be sufficient to properly latch or lock the elements, for example even a half turn or a fourth of turn, thereby allowing the brushing head to be applied to the handle in a very quick and easy manner.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the above mentioned aim and objects.
In. fact, the invention provides a locking system ' allowing to clamp the brushing head to the handle by a very quick, easy and hygienic operation.
Actually, the clamping operation for clamping the brushing head to its handle, according to the present invention, is much more simple than that of prior brushing elements, in which it is necessary to thread the wire forming the brushing element core into a hole or slot of a comparatively small size, and then screw on a locking nut and, in doing this, being necessary not to excessively clamp the nut to prevent the wire from being cut through.
Thus, the brushing construction according to the present invention overcomes all the above mentioned problems affecting the prior art, while providing a very simple and safe locking system.
.In this connection it should be apparent that
the brushing • head of the inventive brushing construction can be made in several dimensions, to allow a user to choose the brushing head suitable for fitting his/her inter-tooth spaces.
Actually, the inventive brushing element is used by introducing it into the inter-tooth spaces with a slight inclination, from the bottom to the top for the bottom tooth arch and from the top to the bottom for the top arch, while performing reciprocating horizontal movements, to hold the brushing well adhering to the surfaces of the teeth.
Moreover, the specifically designed brushing head according to the present invention allows the brushing bristles to easily enter the inter-tooth spaces under a slight pushing force, thereby also overcoming the drawback, which sometimes occurs in a conventional brushing element, of a possible pressure between the metal wire and the tooth.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.