Toothbrush

Details Toothbrush Toothbrush

1999-06-10

2000-08-15

Chin, Randall E.

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Implements

Brush or broom

15172, A46B 904

Patent

active

061016594

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toothbrushes of the type having a flexible link between their head and their handle.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toothbrushes generally consist of a head, from a bristle face of which extend bristles, integrally linked at the base end of the head to the head end of a grip handle, with a neck region between the head and the grip handle, the head, handle and neck being disposed longitudinally.
Toothbrushes are known having a flexible link between the head and the neck region, e.g. in PCT/EP 92/00645. Such toothbrushes are two component toothbrushes comprised of plastics and elastomeric materials, and one such toothbrush is the known Aquafresh Flex `n Direct.TM. toothbrush marketed by SmithKline Beecham plc, with a composite plastics material-elastomeric material link between the base end of its head and the immediately adjacent part of its neck. In the Aquafresh Flex `n Direct.TM. toothbrush the said link uses a relatively long thin spine to cross a chasm of a complex multiple convex-concave curved shape in the toothbrush. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved type of flexible link between the head and handle of a toothbrush.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, a toothbrush comprises a head, from a bristle face of which extend bristles, integrally linked at the base end of the head to the head end of a grip handle, with a neck region between the head and the grip handle, all being disposed along a longitudinal axis and made integrally of plastics material, characterised in that in the neck region there is an integral thinned part which is of thinned cross section relative to the longitudinally adjacent parts of the neck and/or the head to which it is connected, the said part being laterally surrounded by a mass of elastomeric material bonded to the plastics material, the mass being of a shape which bulges laterally beyond the line of the surface of the longitudinally adjacent parts of the neck or the head to which it is connected.
The novel construction of the toothbrush provides a link of improved flexibility between the head and the handle compared with known toothbrushes.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferably the thinned part is located at or immediately longitudinally adjacent to the base of the head, and links the head to the neck. Alternatively the thinned part may be located in the neck and may link longitudinally adjacent parts of the neck, for example lying either closer to the head than to the handle, which is preferred, or closer to the handle than to the head.
Typically the thinned part may be in the form of a thin spine of the plastics material extending longitudinally between facing surfaces of the said longitudinally adjacent parts of the toothbrush. The thinned part may be of any suitable cross section or overall shape to provide a desired degree or type of flexibility in the neck of the toothbrush. The thinned part may have sides which in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush are substantially parallel to the said longitudinal axis. For example the thinned part may be of circular cross section and overall cylindrical shape. Alternatively the thinned part may be of oval, rectangular or capsule-shaped cross section with the long axis of such oval, rectangular or capsule-shape aligned in the same direction as the bristles or perpendicular to the bristles.
Typically the part of the head, e.g. the base end of the head, or of the neck to which the head end of the thinned part is connected may be of a concave shape, particularly as viewed in plan (i.e. generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and generally parallel to the bristle direction) to the deepest part of which the thinned part connects, or alternatively the part of the head or neck to which the head end of the thinned part is connected may be a surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In such constructions the part of the head or neck to which the handle end of the thinned pa

REFERENCES:
patent: 4763375 (1988-08-01), Vieten
patent: 5052071 (1991-10-01), Halm
patent: 5054154 (1991-10-01), Schiffer
patent: 5630244 (1997-05-01), Chang
patent: 5673452 (1997-10-01), Chang

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