Flexible Finger Toothbrush

Abstract

This invention is a flexible finger toothbrush that provides traditional toothbrush bristles and is intended to be used by caregivers providing oral care to patients at bedside. Due to the difficulty in brushing another's teeth from bedside, this device allows for the caregiver to place the flexible toothbrush on her or his finger and assist the caregiver in understanding the placement of the bristles relative to the patient's teeth. Accordingly, this device enables a caregiver to consistently brush a patient's teeth at the recommended 45-degree angle, thereby providing better oral care to patients.

Claims

1. A toothbrush, which is comprised of: a. a sleeve; wherein the sleeve has a first end and second end; wherein the sleeve provides an interior surface and an exterior surface; wherein the sleeve is closed at the first end; wherein the sleeve provides an opening at the second end; b. a bristle holder; wherein the bristle holder is affixed to the exterior surface of the sleeve; wherein the bristle holder is provided substantially at the first end of the sleeve; c. a plurality of bristles; wherein the plurality of bristles is attached to the bristle holder; d. a plurality of indicators; wherein at least one indicator of the plurality of indicators is provided substantially 45-degrees from the center of the plurality of bristles.

2. The toothbrush as described in claim 1, wherein a grip is provided on the interior surface of the sleeve.

3. The toothbrush as described in claim 2, wherein the grip is provided substantially at the first end of the sleeve.

4. The toothbrush as described in claim 2, wherein the grip is integral to the sleeve.

5. The toothbrush as described in claim 1, wherein each indicator provides a first surface and a second surface.

6. The toothbrush as described in claim 1, wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators are substantially 90-degrees from one another.

7. The toothbrush as described in claim 5, wherein the first surface is substantially concentrically provided within the second surface.

8. A toothbrush, which is comprised of: a. a sleeve; wherein the sleeve has a first end and second end; wherein the sleeve provides an interior surface and an exterior surface; wherein the sleeve is closed at the first end; wherein the sleeve provides an opening at the second end; b. a grip; wherein the grip is provided on the interior surface of the sleeve; c. a bristle holder; wherein the bristle holder is affixed to the exterior surface of the sleeve; wherein the bristle holder is provided substantially at the first end of the sleeve; d. a plurality of bristles; wherein the plurality of bristles is attached to the bristle holder; e. a plurality of indicators; wherein at least one indicator of the plurality of indicators is provided 45 degrees from the center of the plurality of bristles.

9. The toothbrush as described in claim 8, wherein each indicator provides a first surface and a second surface.

10. The toothbrush as described in claim 9, wherein the first surface is substantially concentrically provided within the second surface.

11. The toothbrush as described in claim 8, wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators are substantially 90-degrees from one another.

12. The toothbrush as described in claim 8, wherein the grip is provided substantially at the first end of the sleeve.

13. The claim as described in claim 8, wherein the grip is integral to the sleeve.

14. A toothbrush, which is comprised of: a. a sleeve; wherein the sleeve has a first end and second end; wherein the sleeve provides an interior surface and an exterior surface; wherein the sleeve is closed at the first end; wherein the sleeve provides an opening at the second end; b. a grip; wherein the grip is provided on the interior surface of the sleeve; wherein the grip is provided at the first end of the sleeve; c. a bristle holder; wherein the bristle holder is affixed to the exterior surface of the sleeve; d. a plurality of bristles; wherein the plurality of bristles is attached to the bristle holder; e. a plurality of indicators; wherein the plurality of indicators are provided on the sleeve; wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators is provided substantially 90 degrees from one another; wherein at least one indicator of the plurality of indicators is provided 45 degrees from the center of the plurality of bristles; wherein each indicator of the plurality of indicators provides a first surface and a second surface.

15. The toothbrush as described in claim 14, wherein the grip is integral to the sleeve.

16. The toothbrush as described in claim 14, wherein the first surface is substantially concentrically provided within the second surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the device, which shows the sleeve, a plurality of indicators, a first indicator surface, a second indicator surface, a bristle holder, and a plurality of bristles attached to the bristle holder.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the device showing the sleeve, the plurality of indicators, the bristle holder, and the plurality of bristles attached to the bristle holder.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view of the device showing the sleeve, the plurality of indicators, the bristle holder, and the plurality of bristles attached to the bristle holder.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the sleeve, two indicators, the bristle holder, and the plurality of bristles attached to the bristle holder.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 which shows the sleeve, the bristle holder, the plurality of bristles attached to the bristle holder, and a grip surface located on the interior of the sleeve.

[0013] FIG. 6 is an in-use view, which shows the device placed on the finger of a user.

NUMBER REFERENCES

[0014] 5 Device [0015] 10 Sleeve [0016] 15 Indicator [0017] 15a First surface [0018] 5b Second surface [0019] 20 Plurality of bristles [0020] 25 Bristle holder [0021] 30 Grip

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] This device 5 is a finger toothbrush comprised of a sleeve 10, at least one indicator 15, a plurality of bristles 20, a bristle holder 25, and a grip 30. The sleeve 10 provides a first end, a second end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The bristle holder 25 is attached at the first end of the sleeve 10 and the second end of the sleeve provides an opening. Also, at least one indicator is provided at the second end of the sleeve 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening in the sleeve 10 is to be large enough to fit the end of a person's finger into it. The sleeve 10 is made of a flexible material, which allows for an individual to still move his or her finger while it is placed in the sleeve 10 and ensure the sleeve 10 friction fits onto the user's finger. It is anticipated that the sleeve 10 can be made from a flexible material, such as silicone. It is further anticipated that the plurality of bristles 20 may also be made of silicone and provided as an integral component of the sleeve 10.

[0023] Because the sleeve 10 is flexible, the bristle holder 25 is attached to the sleeve 10, which provides an area for the plurality of bristles 20 to be attached to. The plurality of bristles 20 is anticipated to be made from a coarse material such as a plurality of nylon strands. Connecting the bristle holder 25 to the plurality of bristles 20 ensures the plurality of bristles 20 stay attached to the device 5 while the device 5 is in use.

[0024] In the present device, it is anticipated that one or more indicators may be provided on the sleeve 10. However, the present invention is described as providing a plurality of indicators 15, where each indicator of the plurality of indicators are provided substantially 90-degrees from one another. Each indicator of the plurality of indicators 15 is further comprised of a first surface 15a and a second surface 15b. The first surface 15a is substantially concentrically located relative to the position of the second surface 15b. At least one indicator of the plurality of indicators 15 is provided substantially 45-degrees from the center of the plurality of bristles 20 as shown in FIG. 3. The plurality of indicators 15 protrude outward from the sleeve thereby allowing the user to have a visual and tactile indicator showing where the plurality of bristles 20 is in relation to the patient's gumline. To assist the user in being precisely accurate with using the device 5, the user can view the first surface 15a of an indicator being centered within the second surfaces 15b.

[0025] Brushing the patient's teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gumline is recommended because it allows the bristles to clean the sides and top of the teeth as well as between the teeth and the gums of the patient. Accordingly, the caregiver may place the plurality of bristles 20 on the patient's teeth and rotate her or his finger accordingly such that an indicator is perpendicular to the side of patient's gumline. Thus, when the caregiver begins brushing, the plurality of bristles would be contacting the respective teeth at a 45-degree angle. Consequently, the caregiver is provided with a visual indicator which assists to ensure consistent brushing of the patient's teeth at a 45-degree angle.

[0026] The presently described device provides a plurality of indicators 15 so the user may have a visual indicator to view when she or he brushes both the top teeth and the bottom teeth. Also, providing a providing a plurality of indicators 15 allows the indicators to be viewed when the toothbrush is used by right hand dominate individuals and left hand dominate individuals.

[0027] As FIG. 5 shows, the toothbrush provides a grip 25 on the interior surface of the sleeve 10. Because the sleeve 10 is made from a flexible material and the plurality of bristles are applied at a 45-degree angle, the toothbrush may be prone to torsion during use. The grip 25 allows the caregiver to have greater control over the first end of the sleeve 10, thereby increasing the torsional resistance of the sleeve 10 while it is in use. In other words, the grip 25, enables the caregiver to apply the plurality of bristles 20 at a 45-degree angle, while also maintaining the ability to use the appropriate force for brushing the patient's teeth.

[0028] While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.