Toothbrush

#This invention relates to a novel finger toothbrush. More particularly, this invention pertains to a unique toothbrush which can fit on a finger of a user for brushing the teeth of the user or the teeth of another human being or animal.

#Traditional toothbrushes have a head with bristles adjoining a rigid handle which is held by the hand of the user while the user brushes his or her teeth with the bristles. Such toothbrushes have a number of recognized disadvantages including an inability to effectively clean the surfaces of all teeth, particularly those at the rear of the mouth, and a tendency to injure the gums by sharp contacting of the gums by the rigid handle. These conventional toothbrushes are not suitable for use by persons such as arthritics who cannot grip the toothbrush.

#In other situations, such as cleaning the teeth of pets, it is more convenient to have the brush mounted on the finger of the person brushing the pets' teeth in order to access tight regions. A finger held toothbrush also permits the user to "feel" the toothbrush and its effects better than in the case where a handle toothbrush is used. Pets have been found by veterinarians and the like to resist a large toothbrush with a handle. However, they do not mind the veterinarian's finger.

#In drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention, but which drawings should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope of the invention in any way:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an end view of the toothbrush.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the toothbrush.

#Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the toothbrush 2. The toothbrush is formed of a base 4 which firmly holds the bristles 6, which protrude upwardly from the base 4 in a vertical cluster. The base 4 has protruding downwardly from either side thereof a first finger fitting curved finger grip 8 and a second curved finger grip 10. The first grip 8 and second grip 10 are resilient so that they tend to curve inwardly and downwardly toward one another and grip the user's finger (not shown). There is a gap 12 between the ends of first finger grip 8 and second finger grip 10 opposite the base 4. The bristles 6 are less dense than in an ordinary toothbrush which results in greater softness. This is important in order to prevent gum damage, particularly when brushing the teeth of another human being or animal. The bristles 6 are also shorter in length than in an ordinary toothbrush.

#To prevent or deter the curved first and second finger grips 8 and 10 from sliding around the finger, the interior sides of each of first and second finger grips 8 and 10 are equipped with a series of spaced splines 14 which protrude from the interior surfaces of the first and second finger grips 8 and 10 and provide traction on the user's finger. The gap 12 also deters sliding of the ring around the finger because the edges of the first and second finger grips 8 and 10 on each side of the gap 12 dig into the finger.

#FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate respectively, top and side views of the toothbrush 2. As seen in FIG. 2, the bristles 6 are arranged in a clustered pattern on the base 4. The total number of bristles 6 is about 70 to 80 percent of the number of bristles on a conventional toothbrush with handle. This lower number of bristles provides a softer brushing action. The bristles 6 may be long or short to suit specific needs. As seen in FIG. 3, the crown-shaped base 4 has cut-away corners so that a large clumsy square bristle base 4 is not presented. This design permits the toothbrush 2 to access regions in the mouth of the human being or animal that are normally hard to reach.