Toothbrush

Details Toothbrush Toothbrush

2002-02-27

2003-12-30

Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Implements

Brush or broom

C015S172000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06668416

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to toothbrushes, in particular to toothbrushes having a feature in their structure to modify flexibility.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toothbrushes are known which have a feature in their structure to modify their flexibility during use. For example EP 0 033 641A discloses a toothbrush having a series of ‘S’ bends in its handle, and DE 39 234 95A discloses a toothbrush having cut-outs in its handle which contain a flexible elastomer. Such features are included in a toothbrush to absorb excessive brushing forces.
It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative structure of toothbrush having a flexibility-modifying feature in its structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention a toothbrush is provided having a head and a handle being made of a hard plastic material and being disposed along a longitudinal axis, the head having bristles extending therefrom in a bristle direction which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the toothbrush having a width direction generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis direction and the bristle direction, the toothbrush having a resiliently flexible composite region between its head and handle characterised in that the composite region comprises one or more members which are generally triangular shape in section when cut in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the width direction, each of the triangular shapes having an apex which points in a direction either generally in the bristle direction or generally at a direction 180° to the bristle direction, the at least one triangular sectioned member comprising either at least one triangular sectioned member made of a resilient elastomeric material different to the hard plastic material of the toothbrush head and handle situated longitudinally between two adjacent regions of a hard plastic material, or at least one triangular sectioned member made of a hard plastic material situated longitudinally between two adjacent regions of elastomeric material different to the hard plastic material of the toothbrush head and handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION, OF THE INVENTION


REFERENCES:
patent: 5630244 (1997-05-01), Chang
patent: 5765254 (1998-06-01), O'Halloran
patent: 5903949 (1999-05-01), Halm
patent: 8814824 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 4222931 (1993-12-01), None
patent: WO 9315627 (1993-08-01), None
patent: WO 9628993 (1996-09-01), None

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