EP0683995A1

EP0683995A1 - Toothbrush personalizing element, toothbrush featuring such an element, and toothbrush package

Info

Publication number: EP0683995A1
Application number: EP95107924A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Ceretto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-24
Filing date: 1995-05-23
Publication date: 1995-11-29
Also published as: ITTO940114U1; IT232411Y1; ITTO940114V0

Abstract

A toothbrush (1) presenting a handle (3) and a brush (2) fitted to the handle (3) is personalized by means of a personalizing element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) which presents a body (7; 20; 25; 31) fitted to and at least partly surrounding the handle (3), and is defined laterally by an outer surface (8) presenting a distinguishing mark (10, 10a).

Description

The present invention relates to an element for personalising toothbrushes.
For health reasons, an increasing need is felt, even within the home, for personalising even the most commonly used items and products for personal hygiene, especially those relative to oral hygiene such as toothbrushes.
One of the ways currently adopted to distinguish one toothbrush from another is on the basis of colour. Though apparently effective, using different coloured toothbrushes does not always provide a solution to the problem on account of their being replaced relatively frequently and the possibility of not being able to acquire a new toothbrush of the same colour as the old one. The problem is further compounded if, for any reason, the toothbrush is replaced with one of a different make.
This obviously results, in time, in a certain amount of confusion and, inevitably, in one toothbrush being mistaken for another, especially if large numbers are kept in the same holder.
Toothbrushes are also marketed which feature distinguishing marks such as writing and/or drawings silk-screen printed or hot stamped directly on to the handle.
In this case also, the same drawback applies as for colour coding, owing to the difficulty in acquiring a new toothbrush with the same writing or drawings as the old one.
The latter method also presents the additional drawback of being more expensive, due to the cost of printing or stamping the distinguishing marks directly on to the handle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a straightforward, low-cost personalizing element for toothbrushes, designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
According to the present invention, there is provided an element for personalizing toothbrushes comprising a handle and a brush fitted to the handle; characterized in that it comprises a body designed to fit on to and at least partly surround the handle; and in that it is defined laterally by an outer surface, and presents at least one distinguishing mark on said outer surface.
The present invention also relates to a toothbrush.
According to the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle, and a brush fitted to the handle; characterized in that it also comprises a personalizing element fitted to said handle; the personalizing element in turn comprising a body fitted to and at least partly surrounding the handle, and being defined laterally by an outer surface; and at least one distinguishing mark being formed on said outer surface.
A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of a detail in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a view in perspective of a tubular body defined by a number of the Figure 2 details connected together;
Figures 4 to 9 show six variations of the Figure 2 detail;
Figure 10 shows three different sections along line X-X in Figure 9;
Figures 11 and 12 show two variations of the Figure 9 detail;
Figures 13 and 14 show two preferred embodiments of the Figure 1 detail according to the present invention;
Figure 15 shows a further preferred embodiment of the Figure 1 detail according to the present invention;
Figure 16 shows a variation of the Figure 15 detail;
Figures 17, 18 and 19 show three preferred embodiments of a toothbrush package according to the present invention.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a toothbrush comprising a brush 2; and a handle 3 in turn comprising a grip 4, and a portion 5 connecting grip 4 to brush 2.
The portion of grip 4 adjacent to portion 5 is fitted with an element 6 for personalizing toothbrush 1.
With reference to Figure 1 and particularly Figure 2, element 6 comprises an elongated cylindrical tubular body 7 of less than half the length of grip 4 - and preferably about thirty millimeters long - and made of elastomeric material - preferably transparent or of one or different colours. Body 7 is defined laterally by an outer surface 8 presenting a distinguishing mark 10 and comprising a knurled or grooved (Figures 4 and 5) portion 9 adjacent to one end of body 7. In the example shown, distinguishing mark 10 is defined by silk-screen printed, stamped or hot transfer printed writing.
Figure 3 shows an elongated cylindrical tubular body 11 made of elastomeric material and which may be cut transversely along lines 12 into a number of elements 6 differing solely as regards distinguishing mark 10, which may be raised (Figures 4, 5, 7, 8) or recessed (Figure 6) in relation to surface 8, and may be in the form of writing or distinguishable by touch. More specifically, distinguishing mark 10 is defined by a number of substantially semispherical bodies 15 (Figure 4), by a number of prismatic bodies 15 (Figure 5), by two circumferential end ribs 16 (Figure 8), or by a number of adjacent circumferential ribs 17 (Figure 7). According to a first further variation (not shown), ribs 16 or 17 only extend about a portion of the periphery of body 7; and, according to a second variation (not shown), each of ribs 16 or 17 comprises a number of adjacent portions.
With reference to Figure 6, distinguishing mark 10 is defined by a number of adjacent cavities 18 which, in the example shown, are substantially semispherical. Alternatively, according to a variation not shown, distinguishing mark 10 is defined by one or more grooves in surface 8.
The Figure 9 variation relates to an element 19 which differs from elements 6 solely by comprising a tubular body 20 in the form of a parallelepipedon with a rectangular base and rounded edges. In the example shown, body 20 is defined laterally by a first and second pair of flat surfaces 21 and 22. Alternatively, and as shown in Figure 10, surface 21 on which knurled portion 9 is formed is convex (Figure 10a) or concave (Figure 10b); and, according to a further variation, surfaces 22 are both convex (Figure 10b) or concave (Figure 10c).
In the Figure 11 variation, body 20 is substantially in the form of a truncated pyramid with a rectangular base, and surface 21 on which knurled portion 9 is formed is curved and outwardly concave.
As shown in Figure 12, in addition to body 20, element 19 also comprises an appendix 23 integral with body 20, extending beyond the end edge of body 20 and, in use, towards brush 2 in a direction B inclined at an angle A in relation to the axis of body 20, and defining, in use, a rest for the user's finger.
The Figure 13 embodiment relates to a personalizing element 24 which differs from element 19 by being made of plastic material, and by being clicked on to a portion of grip 4 of toothbrush 1. More specifically, element 24 comprises a tubular quadrangular-section body 25 presenting a substantially C-shaped cross section and defining an inner cavity defined by a surface complementary to the outer lateral surface of the respective portion of grip 4. Body 25 presents a longitudinal slot 26 defined by a pair of longitudinal retaining teeth 27 facing each other and extending, in use, outside grip 4.
According to a variation not shown, at least body 25 is made of a relatively rigid base material - e.g. polypropylene or nylon - and a layer of cover material defined, for example, by styrene rubber combined with thermoplastic polymers and synthetic rubber.
In the Figure 14 variation, body 25 surrounds only part of the respective portion of grip 4, and teeth 27, as opposed to surrounding the whole of said portion of grip 4, click inside respective longitudinal seats 28 formed on opposite lateral sides of grip 4.
Figure 15 shows a personalizing element 29 which differs from element 6 by presenting a longer tubular body 7, and more specifically of such a length as to cover the whole of grip 4 when element 29 is fitted to toothbrush 1. Element 29 also differs from element 6 by distinguishing mark 10 also comprising, in addition to writing, a drawing 10a which, in this case, is etched on to surface 8 but which, according to a variation not shown, is raised in relation to surface 8.
Figure 16 shows a personalizing element 30 which differs from element 6 by being fitted to a free end portion of grip 4, and by comprising a tubular, preferably cylindrical, body 31 substantially similar to body 7 of element 6, and an end portion 32 closing the opening of body 31 and presenting a through hole 33 substantially perpendicular to grip 4.
Number 35 in Figure 18 indicates a semirigid toothbrush package comprising a base plate 36 preferably made of paper or plastic material, and an outer wrapping 37 of transparent material. Wrapping 37 is connected integral with plate 36 with which it defines a first compartment 38 for housing toothbrush 1 fitted with a personalizing element 6; and a second compartment 40 separate from first compartment 38 and formed adjacent to brush 2 for housing a further personalizing element 6 with a different distinguishing mark 10 from that of element 6 fitted to toothbrush 1. According to a first variation not shown, toothbrush 1 is not fitted with element 6, and second compartment 40 is so formed as to house two or more different elements 6; and, according to a further variation not shown, compartments 38 and 40 communicate with each other.
The Figure 19 variation relates to a package 41 which differs from package 35 by comprising, in addition to compartments 38 and 40, a separate third compartment 42 for a toothbrush 43; and compartment 40 of package 41 is so sized as to house four separate elements 6 with different distinguishing marks 10, or an elongated tubular body similar to body 11 in Figure 3. Compartments 38, 40 and 42 of package 41 may also communicate with one another.
The Figure 17 embodiment relates to a known rigid package 44 defined by two hollow bodies 44a and 44b connected to each other to define a cavity housing a conventional toothbrush 45 and an elongated body 46 similar to body 11. Alternatively, body 46 may be replaced by a single element 6, or by two or more personalizing elements differing in shape and/or with different distinguishing marks 10.
Elements 6, 19, 24, 29, 30 therefore provide for personalizing toothbrushes in an extremely straightforward manner and on a permanent basis by enabling the user, whenever the toothbrush is changed and regardless of the new type purchased, to simply transfer the selected personalizing element to the new one.
In addition to personalizing the toothbrush, elements 6, 19, 24, 29, 30 obviously also provide for handling and retaining it more easily by virtue of knurled or grooved portions 9, and the raised or recessed design of the distinguishing marks enables immediate recognition, even by the blind.
Clearly, changes may be made to elements 6, 19, 24, 29, 30 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
In particular, each element 6, 19, 24, 29, 30 may present a distinguishing mark differing from that described by way of example, or may present a number of distinguishing marks.
Elements 6, 19, 24, 29, 30 may be made of materials other than those described, in particular relatively soft, e.g. spongy, materials; and may be of a different shape from those described, in particular of such a shape as to enable the toothbrush to be distinguished immediately among several kept for example in the same holder.
Elements 6, 24, 29, 30 may present one or more appendixes similar to or differing from appendix 23 of element 19.
Finally, element 24 may be made of elastomeric material, and, in addition to body 25, may also comprise a portion, e.g. an axial portion, for covering at least some of the portion of handle 3 left exposed by body 25.
Clearly, changes may also be made to packages 35, 41, 44 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, each package 35, 41, 44 may present a different number of toothbrushes or personalizing elements as compared with those described, and may be made of different, e.g. partially transparent, materials.

Claims

1. An element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) for personalizing toothbrushes (1) comprising a handle (3) and a brush (2) fitted to the handle (3); characterized in that it comprises a body (7; 20; 25; 31) designed to fit on to and at least partly surround the handle (3); and in that it is defined laterally by an outer surface (8), and presents at least one distinguishing mark (10; 10a) on said outer surface (8).

2. An element as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an appendix (23) projecting from said body (7; 20; 25; 31); said appendix (23) defining a rest for at least one finger of the user.

3. An element as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said outer surface (8) comprises at least one rough portion (9).

4. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said distinguishing mark (10) comprises at least writing.

5. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said distinguishing mark (10a) comprises at least a drawing.

6. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said distinguishing mark (10) comprises at least one portion (15; 16; 17) raised in relation to said outer surface (8).

7. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said distinguishing mark (10) comprises at least one portion (18) recessed in relation to said outer surface (8).

8. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said body (7; 20; 31) is an elastically deformable tubular body fittable to said handle (3).

9. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that said body comprises at least one substantially C-shaped portion (25) fittable to said handle (3).

10. An element as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that it comprises first fastening means (27) for clicking said C-shaped portion on to said handle (3).

11. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that said body (31) is a tubular body fittable to a free end portion of said handle (3); and in that it comprises an end portion (32) closing said tubular body (31).

12. An element as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said body (7; 20; 25; 31) is made of elastomeric material.

13. A toothbrush (1) comprising a handle (3), and a brush (2) fitted to the handle (3); characterized in that it also comprises a personalizing element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) fitted to said handle (3); the personalizing element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) in turn comprising a body (7; 20; 25; 31) fitted to and at least partly surrounding the handle (3), and being defined laterally by an outer surface (8); and at least one distinguishing mark (10; 10a) being formed on said outer surface (8).

14. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 13, characterized in that said handle (3) comprises a grip (4); and said personalizing element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) is fitted to the grip (4).

15. A toothbrush package (35; 41; 44) comprising an outer wrapping (36, 37) defining a first compartment (38; 42) for housing at least one toothbrush; characterized in that said outer wrapping (36, 37) also defines at least a second compartment (40) for housing at least one element (6; 19; 24; 29; 30) for personalizing the toothbrush.

16. A package as claimed in Claim 15, characterized in that said first compartment (38; 42) and said second compartment (40) are separate from each other.