Flexible tip toothbrush handle

Details Flexible tip toothbrush handle Flexible tip toothbrush handle

1999-10-28

2001-05-22

Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)

Dentistry

Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...

Cleaning

C015S143100, C015S167100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06234798

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Invention relates to toothbrushes and, in particular, to toothbrushes having an ergonomically designed handle.
There is an ongoing endeavor in the art to design toothbrushes which are more effective, easier to use, or more comfortable. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,706 which discloses a handle of rectangular cross section twisted about its longitudinal axis to fit into the palm of a person's hand. However, the handle is essentially straight and made of a hard material.
In PCT application WO 96/21400, published Jan. 10, 1995, there is disclosed a toothbrush having a curved end which is separately rotatable with respect to the portion of the handle accommodating the brush.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved toothbrush having a handle which is advantageous in providing good comfort to the palm of the hand when applying force at the end of the toothbrush.
In one aspect, the invention features a toothbrush comprising a handle member and a head member fixed to the proximal end of the handle member. The handle member is rigid at the proximal end that terminates with a head member comprising flexible bristles. The handle member is grippable by the user so that the flexible distal end in contact with the heel of the palm of the user may flex when force is applied by the user to the head member. The distal end is made of a flexible material, such as rubber, so that it will flex when pressure is applied. The flexible distal end is also easily gripped when made of a rubber material.
In another aspect, there are inserts on the handle member which are also made of a rubber material to facilitate the gripping of the handle between the thumb and index finger. Thus, the important areas of contact of the hand with the brush, which comprise the thumb, index finger and heel of the palm, are all in contact with a corresponding rubber portion on the brush handle member.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment and from the claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: D. 142917 (1945-11-01), Strieby
patent: 1421098 (1922-06-01), Phillips
patent: 1657450 (1928-11-01), Barnes
patent: 1899242 (1933-02-01), McNab
patent: 2263885 (1941-11-01), McGauley
patent: 2267670 (1941-12-01), Rosenwasser
patent: 5630244 (1997-05-01), Chang
patent: 5781958 (1998-07-01), Messmann
patent: 2840429 (1980-03-01), None
patent: 2050156 (1981-01-01), None
patent: 2167995 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 226526 (1969-05-01), None

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