US1392285A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

S. SPRAGUE.

TOOTHBRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED Auw?. 1920.

Pandsept. 27, 1921.

//V l/E N 70H A TTOR/VEY .of Fig kUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY SPRAG'UE, OF OSSIN'ING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF-ONE-HALF TO WALTER V,

` SCOTT, OF OSSINING, NEW YORK.

TOOTHBRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 27 1921.

Application led August 17, 1920. Serial No. 404,283.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l', SIDNEY SPRAGUE, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Ossining, in the county of lVestchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toothbrushes,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brushes and refers more particularly to a folding collapsible brush.

The primary object of the present inven tion is to provide a toothbrush which includes a plurality of separable bristle carrying sections to permit of the thorough.

cleansing of the same after use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible brush which may be folded into' a small compact article to permit of the carrying of the saine in the pocket or pocket book of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush of the character described which includes handle sections constituting a housing for the bristle carrying sections when folded to prevent the contact of the bristles with foreign substances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding and collapsible tooth brush which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and highly efficient for the purpose for which it is intended.

With the above recited and other objects in view, some of which will be more apparent hereafter, reference is made to the following detailed description, appended claims and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of the brush in its extended position..

Fig. 2, is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 3, is asimilar view illustrating the bristle carrying sections in folded position-y and ready for use. s

Fig. 4, is aside view thereof- Fig. 5, is a similar view illustrating the bristle carrying sections housed in the han-k dle sections. l

Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail cross sectional View taken approximately on'the line 6-6 5. v Re erring to the drawings byI characters of reference which denote like parts throughout theseveral views thereof, 10 and 11 designate reversely formed handle sections each of which comprise a side wall 12 and an end wall 13 formed at la right angle to the side wall. The bristle carrying sections comprise the inner links 14 and outer links 15, the former being pivotally secured together as at 16 and the latter pivotally secured as at 17, to the free end of the inner links 14. The outer free extremities of the outer links l5 are pivotally secured as at 18 to the handle sections adjacent their inner o en ends. The pivots 18 are disposed at a rig t angle to the axial'center of the pivots 16 and 17 whereby the links 14 and 15 will fold upon themselves at right angles to the direction of the folding of the handle sections. Each of the links carries a single line of bristles 19 whichl are adapted when the links are folded in parallel relation to each other to constitute a brush. lVhen the links are brought into parallel relation thel handle sections will be arranged parallel to each other with the end walls 13 in confronting engagement to provide a housing for the folded bristle sections so that the same'may be swung upon their pivots 18 to completely house the bristles and` the links constituting the bristle Carrying sections. The outer end portion of the wall 13 of each handle section is provided with an apertured lug 20 which constitutes a means for hanging the brush from a hook or other supporting element when not in use. The side walls, 12 of the handle members are rovided with a cutaway portion 21 to Za ord means to permit of the opening of the bristle sections from the handle after the same have been folded therein. The pivots 18 which secure the links 15 to the handle are disposed a sufficient distance from the end of the handle to cause the portion 22 of the end wall 13 to function as a stop to limit the swinging movement of the handle sectionsin one direction whereby to aline the links with the handle sections.

In use of the brush when it is desired to thoroughlyI cleanse the bristlesthe links are extended as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thus permitting each row of bristles to be independently washed and thoroughly cleansed of any foreign matter adhering thereto. Whenit is desired to use the brush, the links 14 are folded upon themselves to a parallel position and the outer links 15 folded inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3, of the drawings alon side of the inner links thus positioning eac line or row ofbristles 19 in parallel relation to form a unitary brush. In this position the walls 13 of the handle sections are brought into confronting engagement to constitute a housing into which the folded bristle carrying sections or links may be swung upon their pivots 18 which are now in axial alinement, thus providing a folding and collapsible brush which may be conveniently carried on the person of the user.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a single and preferred yembodiment of the invention has been illustrated as one practical example of the invention but it is understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims are expressed and to variations in the phraseology of the same.

What I claim as my invention is l. A tooth brush comprising a plurality of pivotally connected bristle carrying sections adapted to be folded into parallel relation with respect to each other and handle sections pivoted to the free outer end of the outermost bristle sections at a right angle to the axis of the pivotal connection between the bristle carrying sections.

2. A tooth brush comprising aplurality of pivotally connected bristle carrying sections adapted to be folded into parallel relation with respect to each other and handle sections pivoted `to the free outer end of the outermost bristle sections ata right angle to the axis of the pivotal connection between the bristle carrying sections, the confronting faces of said handle sections having right angularly disposed flanges at one edge thereof which constitute means for housing the bristle carrying sections when the same are folded into the handle sections.

3. A tooth brush including a plurality of brush elements, each comprising bristles and a bristle supporting member having hinged connection at the opposite ends thereof whereby to permit of an end to end or side by side arrangement thereof, and recessed handle members hingedly connected to the outer free ends of the outermost bristle supporting members for respectively housing said brush elements when arranged side by side and to constitute a handle therefor when open with respect thereto.

4. A tooth brush comprising a plurality lof pivotally connected links each provided with a single row of bristles, said sections being adapted when folded into parallel relation with each other to constitute a multiple row bristle brush and recessed handle sections pivotally secured to the outer free extremities 0f the outer links adapted when the links are folded to provide a foldable housing for said bristle carrying links.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

SIDNEY SPRAGUE.

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