AU614884B2

AU614884B2 - A toothbrush

Info

Publication number: AU614884B2
Application number: AU44261/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Erwin Roth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-25
Filing date: 1989-10-24
Publication date: 1991-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-24
Also published as: EP0366100A1; JPH04500324A; KR900701197A; DE3836232C1; WO1990004342A1; CA2001331A1; AU4426189A

Description

I. OPI DATE 14/05/q0 1 8t 8 4 AOJP DATE 21/06/90 APPLN. I D L4261 89 PCT NUMBER PCT/DE99/00683

PCT

INTERNATIONALE ANMELDUNG VERa FFENTLICHT NACH W1 ,ERTRAG UBER DI E INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEITAUF DEM GEBIET DI i'ENTWESENS (PCT) (51) Internationale Patentkiasslflkation 5 A46B 15/00, 5/001 (11) Internationale Verb fcentlichungsnuininer: Al (43) Internatioiiales Veriiffentlichungsclaturn: WO 90/04342 3. Mai 1990 (03.0.90) (21) Internationales Aktenzeichen: PCT,'DE89,'00683 (22) Internationales Anmneldedatumn: 24. Oktober 1989 (24.10.89) Verbffentlicht AM i internationlent Recherc/wnberic/:t.

Mor Ablauf der Mf~r ;fndcrangen der Anspn~che zuglasvcnen Frisi. Ver1dffenichung wird wiederholt fals 4nderungen eintreifen.

Prioritfitsdaten: P 38 36 232.5 25. Oktober 1988 (25,10,88) DEi (7lX72) Anmclder und Erfinder: ROTH, Erwin [AT/DE], Drygalskiallee 33, D-8000 M~nchen 70 (DE), (74) Anwalt: HAFT, BERNGRUBER, CZYBULKA; Postfach 14 02 46, Hans-Sachs-Strage 5, D-8000 M(Inchen 5 (DE).

(81) Bestimmungsstaaten: AU, DK, Fl, JP, KR, NO, SU, UIS.

(54)Title: A TOOTHBRUSH (54) Bezeichnung: ZAHNBCRSTE (57) Abstract7 The invention relates to a4 toothbrush with a handle 2 3 and a head In order tc remind the user of the right time to change the toothbrush, at least one part of the toothbrush is to be made of a material which gradually decomposes, dissolves or discolours The preferred substance for use here is a watersoluble plastic.

(57) Zusamnmenfassung 2 3 Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Zahnb~rste mit einem Stiel und einem Bllrstentrilger Um den Benutzer an das rechtzeitige Auswvechseln der Zahnb~rste zu erinnern, wird vorgeschlagen, zumindest einen Tell der Zahnbilrste aus einem sich alim~ihlich zersetzenden, auflbscnden oder verftlrbenden Material (3, 7) auszubilden. Vorzugsweise wird hierzu emn wasserl6slicher Kunststoff vetwendet.

_m-or- 3. -70093-11 The present invention relates to a toothbrush according to the preamble of patent claim l.

it is a deplorable fact that oral hygiene, as the most effective precaution against tooth decay, does not occur to the extent required by physicians. The reason Ror this problem is not only that the teeth are brushed too infrequently or for too short a time, but often also because the toothbrush is used over too long a period of time despite diligent oral hygiene. It has been ascertained that the bristles are affected by brushing and their tips are roughened or even split. However, the gums are injured by such roughened brushes, thus thwarting the effect of looking after one's teeth.

German OS 31 40 903 discloses a toothbrush having an indicating element in its handle with which, for example, the month in which the toothbrush was purchased or is to be replaced can be set. It may be possible to lock thin indicating element, but it can also be accidently reset so that the particulars that were once set are possibly falsified. In addition, dirt can become embedded in the gap between the indicating element and the toothbrush handle which is not only unslightly but also unhygienic.

A toothbrush is known from European patent application EP' 0 199 158 A2 which has a battery-operated device in the handle giving off acoustic or visual signals. *This device is switched on inductively or capacitively as soon as the toothbrush is picked up so that ai melody or spoken text sounds or visual signals are given off while brushing one's teeth for a period of, for example, two minutes. A sensitive, pleasing component is hetewith offered to (he user while brushing his teeth which should at the same time 1?

I\&

I I 2 70893-11 encourage regular brushing. If the toothbrush is used twice daily, the battery lasts for approximately three months, thus also letting the user know indirectly that the toothbrush should be replaced.

The manufacture and design of such toothbrushes is more expensive than for conventional types of toothbrushes. In addition, for reasons of environmental protection it must be remembered that toothbrushes containing batteries cannot simply be thrown away when they are no longer being used, rather they must either be collected at special garbage dumps or be recycled.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a toothbrush of the conventional type which is simple to manufacture and which draws the user's attention directly to the fact that the maximum allowable period of use has expired and that the toothbrush must be replaced.

This object is solved in accordance with the invention by the features set forth in the characterizing portion of patent claim 1.

Accordingly, at least part of the toothbrush is manufactured from or is provided with a material that gradually decomposes, disintegrates or changes colour during use. This proecess can occur by means of air, water or light. A plurality of plastics are known for this purpose, for example polymers with acid or amino groups, for example a polymer wtih methacrylic acid as the copolymer. Such plastics are soluble in water or in slightly acidic or basic liquids. Dyes and colour plastics that a-e not lightproof are suitable for the change in colour.

/V 3 12 3 70893-11 The transition region between the bristle support and the handle is thereby preferably manufactured at least in part from a plastic that decomposes or dissolves in water. Since this transition region regularly comes into contact with water during brushing, the material dissolves so that after a while the bristle support is no longer stable rather is only soft and thus imprqperly connected to the handle for cleaning teeth.

Another possibility lies in providing an indicator panel covered with a decomposing or disintegrating material on the bristle support and/or the handle. This material, for example the aforenamed plastic, has dissolved when the possible period of use of the toothbrush ends so that the indicator panel is visible and the end of the period of use is effectively indicated.

Furthermore, the entire body of the toothbrush or only an indicator panel can be manufactured from a material that gradually changes colour.

Two exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in greater detail on the basis of the drawings wherein: Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a toothbrush according to the present invention before the start of use and at the end of the maximum useful life; Figures 3 and 4 show a second exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention likewise before the sta 4 t of use and at the end of the allowable useful life; Figures 5 and 6 show a third exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention likewise before the start of use and at the .r[ 4 70893-11 end of the allowable useful life, Figure I illustrates a toothbrush I having a handle 2, a slightly bent transition region 3 and a bristle support 4 for bristles 5. The transition region 3 between the handle 2 and the bristle support 4 is manufactured from a water-soluble plastic, for example a polymer with acrylic acid as the copolymer. When qleaning teeth, this transition region comes into contact with water whereby it gradually disintegrates and becomes soft. The appropriate composition of the material can influence the length of time required for the plastic to soften or disintegrate. When the thickness of the transition region 3 is no longer sufficient for a stable connection between the handle 2 and the bristle support, then the toothbrush is no longer to be used. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2. It is important hereby that the plastic used does not break on account of brittleness which could result in injuries during brushing, rather that it gradually disintegrates ar softens to such an extent that the bristle support bends during brushing and app.ropriate pressure can no longer be applied to the teeth.

Figure 3 shows a toothbrush 1 having a handle 2, again a slightly bent transition region 3' and a bristle support 4 for bristles 5. The transition region 30 to begin with has a slightly lowered indicator panel 6, as shown in Figure 4, which is subsequently covered with a water-soluble plastic 7. During use of the toothbrush this plastic is gradually dissolved by the water, thus exposing the indicator panel 6. Through this an inscription or other warning symbol becomes visible which reminds the user to replace the toothbrush.

/4%v 70893-11 The toothbrush according to Figure 5 again has a handle 2, a bent transition region 3" and a bristle support 4 for bristles 5. The bent transition region 3" of this toothbrush is manufactured from a material that changes colour in the course of time, for example by means of light or moisture, this material containing, for example, dyes that are not lightproof, their colpur changing markedly after a certain period of time, as is indicated by the crosshatching in Figure 6. This also indicates to the user that the toothbrush is no longer to be used, rather a new one is to be used.

In the exemplary embodiments the indication and arrangement of the disintegrating, decomposing or discolouring plastic materials is given by way of example. The invention can in the same way be used not only in conjunction with regular toothbrushes, but also with attachments suitable for electric toothbrushes.

A V

Claims

1. A toothbrush having a handle and a bristle support and a mechanism which indicates the end of the toothbrush's ser- viceable life, wherein the mechanism is thereby formed that at least part 7) of the toothbrush consists of material that gradually decomposes, disintegrates or changes colour.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mate- rial 7, is a plastic that gradually decomposes, disinte- grates or changes colour by means of air, light and/or water.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material is a polymer with acid or amino groups, preferably a polymer with acrylic acid as the copolymer.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material is not lightproof.

A toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the mate- rial that is not lightproof is a plastic with dyes that are not lightproof.

6. A toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transition region between the handle and the bristle support of the toothbrush consists of the material that decomposes, disintegrates or changes colour. M VS 7 70893-11

7. A toothbrush according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the toothbrush has an indicator panel which is covered with the material that decomposes, disintegrates or changes colour.