Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-07-31
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S143100, C015S145000, C015S176100, C016S430000, C016SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hand-held oral hygiene devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush having a handle with improved grip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The process of brushing one's teeth generally results in the toothbrush coming into contact with water. Frequently, when rinsing the toothpaste from the head of the toothbrush, the toothbrush handle is exposed to water. Often, the user will tightly grasp the toothbrush between her thumb and her forefinger to control the brushing motion. When the toothbrush handle is wet, it is difficult to grip and may slip out of the user's hands. Dental professionals agree that this can result in inadequate and uneven cleaning of the teeth.
There are several toothbrushes available on the market that include handles with grip enhancing features. For example, a toothbrush available from the Colgate-Palmolive Company under the tradename PRECISION has a handle bearing a pair of ridges and having a rubber strip coated on its surface. The rubber strip is placed on the handle to make it easy to grip, however, there is no provision for increased drainage.
Another commercially available toothbrush is distributed by DeMoulas & market Basket of Tewksbury, Mass. under the trade name MARKETBASKET. This toothbrush has small rubber strip segments placed on the outer surface at the extreme ends of the handle. However, the surface area of the handle between the extreme ends does not include the rubber surface. Like the previously described toothbrush, there is no provision for enhanced drainage.
Yet another commercially available toothbrush is described in U.S Pat. No. 5,052,071. This patent discloses a toothbrush having a handle with embossed grip mats. The embossing is in the form of a multitude of dimples arranged on the grip mat.
While the above described commercially available toothbrushes focus on improving the grip, they do not provide any mechanism for increasing drainage. Accordingly, there is a need for a toothbrush that provides rapid and efficient drainage of water from the handle to enhance the user's grip and to facilitate even and thorough teeth cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush with an improved handle that reduces slippage of the user's fingers when the toothbrush is in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush having a handle with superior drainage characteristics.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush having a handle with superior drainage characteristics and having a replaceable head.
These and other objects may be realized by the toothbrush of the present invention. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the toothbrush comprises a head including a plurality of bristles. A neck portion interconnects the head with a handle. The handle includes a plurality of inverted V-shaped protrusions for enhancing a user's grip.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the toothbrush includes a head having a plurality of bristles. A neck portion is integrally formed with the head and a handle is integrally formed with the neck portion. The handle includes a plurality of inverted V-shaped protrusions where the inverted V-shaped protrusions include a flattened vertex. The handle further includes a plurality of drainage grooves, wherein each drainage groove intersects a corresponding protrusion and extends towards an edge of the handle. In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the toothbrush comprises a head including a plurality of bristles. A neck portion is interconnected with the head. The neck portion includes a forked attachment member, the forked attachment member having first and second tines, the first tine including a stub. Preferably, the second tine includes a slanted end and is about ¼″ or more shorter than the first tine. A handle is provided and is defined by a housing including a plurality of inverted V-shaped protrusions, the inverted V-shaped protrusions preferably having a substantially flattened vertex. The handle further includes a plurality of drainage grooves, each drainage groove intersecting a corresponding protrusion and extending towards an edge of said handle. The handle is also provided with first and second opposing apertures, one of the opposing apertures engaging the stub to releasably interconnect the head and neck to the handle thus locking the brush in position to be used.
REFERENCES:
patent: 99161 (1870-01-01), Chandler
patent: D. 227825 (1973-07-01), Runckel
patent: D. 345256 (1994-03-01), Khin
patent: 1859425 (1932-04-01), Bell
patent: 2360745 (1944-10-01), Vogel
patent: 3181189 (1965-05-01), Leyden
patent: 4780924 (1988-11-01), Hansen et al.
patent: 4809389 (1989-03-01), Breitschmid
patent: 4951533 (1990-08-01), Hillinger
patent: 5097566 (1992-03-01), Decker et al.
patent: 23643 (1905-12-01), None
Cahn & Samuels LLP
Spisich Mark
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