Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-26
2001-08-21
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S143100, C264S243000, C264S247000, C264S260000, C264S328800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a toothbrush with a toothbrush body, comprising a shaft-like handle, a neck section joining said handle and headpiece for toothbrush bristles, said body being made of a first plastic material through injection moulding, and said body being provided with two or more portions made of a second material, e.g. elastic and/or non slip material such as rubber-like material, or material having a colour different from that of said first material.
Further, the invention relates to a method for making a toothbrush of the type having a shaft-like handle, a neck-section joining said handle and headpiece for toothbrush bristles, said body being made of a first plastic material through an injection moulding step, and said body being provided with two or more portions made of a second material, e.g. elastic and/or non-slip material, or a material having a colour different from that of said first material, through a further injection moulding step.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most of the various shapes of toothbrushes are already known. When used, the brush is rotated between the fingers holding it, according to the various positions for the dental areas to be cleaned, and then held securely for the cleaning process itself. Location of position essentially takes place at the front end of the handle in front of the neck section joining the head of the brush, as the toothbrush is held between the thumb and index fingers. This holding area customarily has shapings, possibly provided with a profiled portion, which favour advantages holding of the brush only in a “preferred” position or possibly also in a position rotated 180 degrees to this. Intermediate positions require the hand or arm to be twisted, making it uncomfortable, however, to carry out the cleaning movement which is intended.
In the art, it is known to have a toothbrush with one or more non-slip portions applied to the toothbrush body. Such portions are provided by a single point injection moulding of elastic and/or non-slip material, e.g. rubber-like material, to fill recesses on the toothbrush body, thus forming said portions. However, single point injection moulding implies that when having two or more areas of recesses to be filled in order to create such portions, there must be a material flow channel or channels available between such areas or recesses on said body in order to enable said material to flow into said areas or recesses in such a single shot, single point injection moulding step. However, such channels will in most cases be aesthetically non-satisfactory, and more than often a matter of design trade-off. Further, especially on toothbrush handles made of transparent material and in cases of desiring a more flexible approach in toothbrush design, such channels will in some cases cause the toothbrush body at the location of such channels, or adjacent thereto to be structurally weaker, in particular at the neck region of the toothbrush body. In particular, if both the head and handle of the toothbrush are to have such elastic and/or non-slip material, the prior art method of using single point injection moulding of such material will result in a toothbrush having a structurally weakened neck because of the material flow channels to be located in said neck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To avoid said deficiencies related to both the toothbrush itself and the method for making such toothbrush, it is proposed for such toothbrush that said portions made of said second material are physically spaced apart and isolated by means of said first material. Such toothbrush will have an aesthetically improved appearance, as well as being structurally stronger than any prior art toothbrush of such type.
In order to make such toothbrush with the said properties, it is proposed that the method, according to the invention, provides that said second material is ejected through a single step, multi-point injection process into spaced apart recesses on said body to form said portions, said recesses being physically isolated from each other by said first material. Thereby, a single step injection moulding of said second material will be provided without the deficiencies of the prior art material flow channel or channels on said body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3914081 (1975-10-01), Aoki
patent: 5014383 (1991-05-01), Costar
patent: 5052071 (1991-10-01), Halm
patent: 5054154 (1991-10-01), Schiffer et al.
patent: 5305489 (1994-04-01), Lage
patent: 5339482 (1994-08-01), Desimone et al.
patent: 91 03 553 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 3628722 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 0001044 (1979-03-01), None
patent: 0611533 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 1542567 (1968-10-01), None
patent: 9409675 (1994-05-01), None
Andresen Knut
Leversby Knut Olaf
Vestheim Nils Terje
Chin Randall E.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
SmithKline Beecham plc
LandOfFree
Toothbrush and method for making such toothbrush does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Toothbrush and method for making such toothbrush, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Toothbrush and method for making such toothbrush will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2532146