Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Particular handle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-10-09
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Particular handle
C015S167100, C433S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298516
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to toothbrushes.
It is well known that frequent and thorough toothbrushing is important in order to keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy. Therefore, it is desirable that a toothbrush be as comfortable to use as possible. Due to differences in hand size and shape and brushing style, a toothbrush design that seems comfortable to one user may not seem comfortable to another user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features toothbrushes that provide good comfort to users having a wide variety of hand shapes and sizes and brushing styles. The toothbrushes provide a user with a secure, comfortable grip as the user moves the toothbrush around in his hand, and have a relatively soft end that cushions the user's palm from uncomfortable contact with the end of the toothbrush handle. This toothbrush design is particularly helpful in increasing the comfort of toothbrush users whose palms frequently contact the end of the toothbrush handle during brushing, for example users who grip their toothbrush as if it were a spoon. These comfortable toothbrush designs may lead to increased brushing times, and/or more frequent brushing, and an associated health benefit. Preferred toothbrushes of the invention are durable and relatively simple to manufacture, and are aesthetically attractive.
In one aspect, the invention features a toothbrush that includes a body and a brush head extending from the body, the body including a handle having a distal end, and a resilient element mounted on the handle, a tapered distal tip of the resilient element extending beyond the distal end of the handle. In preferred brushes, the tapered distal tip provides a cushioning contact with a user's hand when the toothbrush is in use.
Preferred implementations include one or more of the following features. The body is contoured to provide a finger-gripping region, and a palm-gripping region having a relatively larger diameter than the finger-gripping region. The resilient element comprises a resilient material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomers, closed cell foams, resilient urethanes and silicones. The resilient element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanates (rubber polyolefin blends), polyetheramides, polyesters, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, partially or fully hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, partially or fully hydrogenated styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyolefin elastomers, polyolefin plastomers, styrenic based polyolefin elastomers, and compatible mixtures thereof. The thermoplastic elastomer includes a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer. The length of the distal tip is about 0.025 to 2.0 inches. The resilient member comprises a resilient material having a hardness of from about 3 to 90 Shore A. The resilient member comprises a resilient material having a tensile modulus of at least 50 psi (measured using ASTM D-412, tensile modulus at 300% elongation). The resilient member comprises a resilient material having a tear strength of at least 50 pli (measured using ASTM D 624, Die C). The distal tip is generally oval or elliptical in cross-section. The circumference of the body is largest at the approximate midpoint between the finger-gripping region and the distal end of the handle. The largest thickness of the body is about 0.5 to 1.0 inches. The largest thickness of the body is located about 1.5 to 3 inches from the approximate midpoint of the finger-gripping region. The body is generally bulbous shaped, or, alternatively, the body is generally hour-glass shaped. The body is shaped and dimensioned to fit into a user's unstrained, natural grip, i.e., the shapes of the opening defined by the fingers when the hand is held in a loosely closed position. The resilient element provides a gripping surface for the palm of the user's hand during use. The toothbrush further includes a second resilient element constructed to provide a grip for the user's thumb and index finger during use.
In another aspect, the invention features a toothbrush that includes a body and a brush head extending from the body, the body including a handle having a distal end, and a resilient element mounted on the handle, a distal tip of the resilient element extending beyond the distal end of the handle to provide a cushioning contact with a user's hand when the toothbrush is in use, the resilient member having a tensile modulus of from about 50 to 1500 psi.
In a further aspect, the invention features a toothbrush that includes a body, a brush head extending from the body, and a neck between the body and brush head, the body including a handle having a distal end, and a resilient element mounted on the handle, a distal tip of the resilient element extending beyond the distal end of the handle to provide a cushioning contact with a user's hand when the toothbrush is in use, the circumference of the body being greatest at a location intermediate the neck and the distal end, and tapering to a relatively smaller circumference at the neck and distal end.
The invention also features methods of brushing the teeth using toothbrushes of the invention.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment, and from the claims.
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Beals Donna
Bredall William A.
Masterman Thomas Craig
Salazar Jeffrey Allen
Yoshimoto Max
Chin Randall E.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Gillette Canada Company
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