GB2167995A - Toothbrushes - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush (1) having bristles (2) at one end has a handle the major portion of which takes the form of a slightly tapering prong (3) which is considerably smaller in cross-section than the remainder of the toothbrush. The prong (3) is covered by a sleeve (4) of relatively soft material which is designed to be bitten. Biting such a soft material has a beneficial effect on the tooth and gums. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in toothbrushes This invention relates to toothbrushes.

It has been found that biting a relatively soft material has a beneficial effect on the teeth and gums. However, the material from which conventional toothbrushes is made has been found to be too hard for biting purposes. The material should be much softer and preferably slightly resilient. However, a toothbrush cannot be made of such material because the handle would then be too flexible when the toothbrush was being used for brushing the teeth in a conventional manner. On the other hand, a totally independent article intended solely for biting is likely to encounter consumer resistance.

The present invention aims to provide a toothbrush which overcomes these problems.

According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush having bristles at one end and a handle at the other end wherein at least a portion of the handle is provided with a layer of relatively soft material which is adapted to be bitten.

Preferably, the portion of the handle which is provided with said layer of relatively soft material is substantially narrower in cross-section than that of a conventional toothbrush and said layer of relatively soft material takes the form of a sleeve fitted over said portion of the handle. This portion of the handle thus provides a stiffening core for the sleeve enabling the bristles of the toothbrush to be used in a conventional manner for brushing the teeth.

The sleeve may, if desired, be detachable so that it can be replaced if it should be worn out before the bristles are worn. This also permits sleeves of different degrees of hardness to be fitted on the toothbrush so that a user can progress, for example, from a very soft material to progressively harder materials as his teeth become stronger from biting.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing which is a perspective view of one embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the toothbrush 1 is provided with a series of bristles 2 at one end as on a conventional toothbrush. The major portion of the handle of the toothbrush takes the form of a slightly tapering prong 3 which is considerably smaller in cross-section than the remainder of the toothbrush.

The prong 3 is covered by a sleeve 4 of relatively soft material which is designed to be bitten.

The sleeve 4 may simply be a force-fit over the prong 3 or it may be secured on the prong by means of a suitable adhesive.

The soft material of the sleeve may consist of any material which is suitable for biting but relatively flexible, slightly resilient synthetic plastics materials are preferred.

The invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of taking the form of a sleeve surrounding a portion of the handle of the toothbrush, the relatively soft material may take the form of one or more strips secured to the handle. Preferably, two such strips are provided on opposite sides of the handle which may have substantially the same width as that of a conventional toothbrush but be slightly thinner to receive said strips of relatively soft material for biting.

1. A toothbrush having bristles at one end and a handle at its other end wherein at least a portion of the handle is provided with a layer of relatively soft material which is adapted to be bitten.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the handle which is provided with said layer of relatively soft material is of reduced crosssection compared to the remainder of the handle and wherein said layer of relatively soft material takes the form of a sleeve fitted over said portion of the handle.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the said portion of the handle provided with the sleeve of relatively soft material takes the form of a tapered prong which extends over a major portion of the axial length of the handle.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sleeve is detachably fitted on said portion of the handle.

5. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sleeve is a force-fit over said portion of the handle.

6. A toothbrush according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sleeve is secured to said portion of the handle by an adhesive.

7. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the layer of relatively soft material comprises a number of strips secured to said portion of the handle.

8. Atoothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the handle is oval or substantially rectangular in cross-section and wherein two strips of relatively soft material are provided, said strips being located on opposite sides of said portion of the handle.

9. Atoothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein said layer of relatively soft material is made of a relatively flexible, slightly resilient, synthetic plastics material.

10. Atoothbrush substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in toothbrushes This invention relates to toothbrushes. It has been found that biting a relatively soft material has a beneficial effect on the teeth and gums. However, the material from which conventional toothbrushes is made has been found to be too hard for biting purposes. The material should be much softer and preferably slightly resilient. However, a toothbrush cannot be made of such material because the handle would then be too flexible when the toothbrush was being used for brushing the teeth in a conventional manner. On the other hand, a totally independent article intended solely for biting is likely to encounter consumer resistance. The present invention aims to provide a toothbrush which overcomes these problems. According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush having bristles at one end and a handle at the other end wherein at least a portion of the handle is provided with a layer of relatively soft material which is adapted to be bitten. Preferably, the portion of the handle which is provided with said layer of relatively soft material is substantially narrower in cross-section than that of a conventional toothbrush and said layer of relatively soft material takes the form of a sleeve fitted over said portion of the handle. This portion of the handle thus provides a stiffening core for the sleeve enabling the bristles of the toothbrush to be used in a conventional manner for brushing the teeth. The sleeve may, if desired, be detachable so that it can be replaced if it should be worn out before the bristles are worn. This also permits sleeves of different degrees of hardness to be fitted on the toothbrush so that a user can progress, for example, from a very soft material to progressively harder materials as his teeth become stronger from biting. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing which is a perspective view of one embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention. Referring to the drawing, the toothbrush 1 is provided with a series of bristles 2 at one end as on a conventional toothbrush. The major portion of the handle of the toothbrush takes the form of a slightly tapering prong 3 which is considerably smaller in cross-section than the remainder of the toothbrush. The prong 3 is covered by a sleeve 4 of relatively soft material which is designed to be bitten. The sleeve 4 may simply be a force-fit over the prong 3 or it may be secured on the prong by means of a suitable adhesive. The soft material of the sleeve may consist of any material which is suitable for biting but relatively flexible, slightly resilient synthetic plastics materials are preferred. The invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of taking the form of a sleeve surrounding a portion of the handle of the toothbrush, the relatively soft material may take the form of one or more strips secured to the handle. Preferably, two such strips are provided on opposite sides of the handle which may have substantially the same width as that of a conventional toothbrush but be slightly thinner to receive said strips of relatively soft material for biting. CLAIMS

1. A toothbrush having bristles at one end and a handle at its other end wherein at least a portion of the handle is provided with a layer of relatively soft material which is adapted to be bitten.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the handle which is provided with said layer of relatively soft material is of reduced crosssection compared to the remainder of the handle and wherein said layer of relatively soft material takes the form of a sleeve fitted over said portion of the handle.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the said portion of the handle provided with the sleeve of relatively soft material takes the form of a tapered prong which extends over a major portion of the axial length of the handle.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sleeve is detachably fitted on said portion of the handle.

5. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sleeve is a force-fit over said portion of the handle.

6. A toothbrush according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sleeve is secured to said portion of the handle by an adhesive.

7. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the layer of relatively soft material comprises a number of strips secured to said portion of the handle.

8. Atoothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the handle is oval or substantially rectangular in cross-section and wherein two strips of relatively soft material are provided, said strips being located on opposite sides of said portion of the handle.

9. Atoothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein said layer of relatively soft material is made of a relatively flexible, slightly resilient, synthetic plastics material.

10. Atoothbrush substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.