GB2282959A

GB2282959A - Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes

Info

Publication number: GB2282959A
Application number: GB9321540A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gursharan Singh Matharu
Original assignee: Addis Ltd
Current assignee: Addis Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-19
Filing date: 1993-10-19
Publication date: 1995-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-19
Also published as: WO1995010959A1; GB9321540D0; GB2282959B

Abstract

A toothbrush is described comprising a handle 1, a tooth cleaning head 3 and a neck 2 between the cleaning head 3 and handle 1 the cleaning head 3 is flexible in all directions relative to the handle 1. The flexibility is facilitated by a resilient means which may take various forms such as grooves 8 formed in the neck 2 a slot (14, 15 Fig. 2) formed in the neck (2, Fig. 2) and/or handle 1 (1, Fig. 2). A member (20, Fig. 6) (24, Fig. 8) slideable axially of the slotted handle of the toothbrush can alter the flexibility of the slotted handle. In a modified construction, the handle can be formed separately from the head and neck by an insert (26, Fig. 10) (34, Fig. 11) of resilient plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TOOTHBRUSHES This invention relates to improvements in toothbrushes.

Various toothbrushes are available which have mechanical means to allow flexing of the toothbrush handle to vary the pressure applied to the teeth and gums of the user.

Although many of these are effective in the flexing of the handle in the direction of the bristle tufts they have the disadvantage that they do not allow for a sideways flexing which is required to prevent harsh pressure against the gums in an up and down direction of the brushing stroke.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantage and to provide an improved toothbrush which allows flexing in all directions.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle, a tooth cleaning head and a neck between the cleaning head and handle, wherein the cleaning head can flex in all directions relative to the handle.

Preferably, the handle has resilient means between the handle and cleaning head to facilitate flexing of the head relative to the handle.

The resilient means may be formed integrally with the handle.

Conveniently, the handle may be formed with at least one elongated slot, the flexibility of which can be adjustable by a slideable sleeve.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle a cleaning head and a neck between the cleaning head and handle wherein the cleaning head is made of multiple materials.

Conveniently, the multiple materials comprise bristles and foam plastics material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle, a cleaning head, and a neck between the cleaning head and handle, wherein the cleaning head bristles have a shaped cleaning surface to enhance the cleaning of the teeth of the user.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a second embodiment of a toothbrush; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a toothbrush; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the toothbrush; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of a fifth embodiment of the toothbrush;; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of a sixth embodiment of a toothbrush; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a seventh embodiment of the toothbrush; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the toothbrush shown in Figure 12 with the head portion rotated through 1800, and Fig 14 is fragmentary side elevation of a toothbrush cleaning head having a different shaped surface trim.

The first embodiment of the improved toothbrush shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an ergonomically shaped handle 1 with a slim neck 2 leading into a cleaning head 3. The handle is assymetric in shape so that it is offset at 5 from the centre line 6 (see Fig. 2). To facilitate the flexing of the handle relative to the head 3 in the direction of the axis of bristles 7, the neck is integrally formed with grooves 8.

The ergonomically shaped handle permits a comfortable and positive grip to apply pressure in all directions to flex the neck 2. The long slim neck 2 and the relatively narrow shape of the cleaning head 3, which is rounded at the corners, allow access to all parts of the user's mouth to reach the rear teeth without harming sensitive gums.

In the second embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the handle 1 has an integrally formed three pronged portion enabling the neck 2 to flex in all directions. The three-pronged portion has two sections 9 in the lateral plane whilst the third prong 10 spans the gap along the handle's centre line 6. This structure allows for pronounced flexibility in lateral plane of the neck 2 and head 3.

The third embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 comprises a plastics handle 1 divided into two parts 11 and 12 by a knuckle portion 3 forming a thumb grip, each part 11 and 12 has longitudinal slots 14 and 15 moulded to make it a light weight and flexible at the handle and neck.

In this embodiment the cleaning head 3 has a multiple material cleaning surface which may be made up of a central area 16 of bristles with inset areas 17 of foam plastics material to enhance the cleaning action by massaging the gums of the user. These two pronged handle and neck sections leading to a slim tapered head 3 allow the head and neck to flex relative to the handle in all directions but primarily in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The fourth embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 comprises a slotted handle 1 and neck 2 portions separated by a securing element 18 which secures a replaceable head and neck section to a separate handle section 1. The two sections each have releasable means to connect them as, for example, hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 10. The end of the handle 1 has a dial indicator 19 to rotate, indicating the length of use, i.e. marked in three monthly divisions which can be set by the user to remind him/her of the time to replace the cleaning head section 2. The handle section 1 has a modification of a two-part slideable finger grip 20 to reinforce and alter the flexibility of the handle section as required by the user.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified embodiment of the toothbrush shown and described in Figs. 6 and 7. In this modification the handle 1 is moulded with two limbs 21 and 22 separated by a longitudinal slot 23. A twopart slide 24 is snap-fitted on the limbs of the handle which are also moulded with side ribs 25 to locate and lock the slide 24 along the handle as shown in chaindotted line in Fig. 9. The action of moving the slide along the length of the handle will adjust the flexibility of the head 3 and neck 2 as required by the user.

Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a releasable connection between the handle 1 and the neck 2 and head 3 sections. The handle is made with a threaded spigot 26 which is slotted with an axial hole 27 for receiving a pin 28 formed integral with the neck 2. Surrounding the threaded spigot 26 is a threaded sleeve 29 which closes on the slotted spigot 26 which acts as a collet and grips the pin 28.

In a sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the handle 1 has a central hole 30 with a circular socket 31 for receiving the dome-shaped end 32 of a spigot 33 formed integral with the neck 2. Interposed between the handle and spigot 33 is an elastomeric sleeve 34 with a double collar 35. This construction is used with an interchangeable head design.

To assemble the toothbrush the sleeve 34 is fed over the dome 32 and is snap fitted into the socket 31 in the handle. The double collar 35 on the sleeve can then act as a cushion to allow the neck and head to flex in all directions relative to the handle.

The seventh embodiment of the toothbrush illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 comprises an ergonomically shaped handle 1 which receives a replaceable head 3 and neck 2 section which fits with a friction grip in the handle.

The head 3 and neck 2 may be rotated through 1800 to the position shown in Figure 13 to change the angle of the head relative to the handle enabling different parts of the mouth to be reached. The join between the handle 1 and neck 2 may be constructed in accordance with either of the embodiments shown in Figures 10 or 11.

Various shaped toothbrush bristles have been proposed with a combination of stiff and soft bristles to reach the crevices between the teeth.

Figure 14 illustrates a fragmentary view of the head of sculptured trimming of the bristles 36 formed with three sculptured sections 37 with two intermediate and two end points 38.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a tooth cleaning head and a neck between the cleaning head and handle, wherein the cleaning head can flex in all directions relative to the handle.

2. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the handle has resilient means between the handle and cleaning head to facilitate flexing of the head relative to the handle.

3. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient means is integrally formed with the handle.

4. A toothbrush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient means is an elastomeric sleeve encircling the handle.

5. A toothbrush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is made in two parts.

6. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a resilient sleeve is inserted between the two parts.

7. A toothbrush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle has at least one elongated slot formed in the handle between the head and the part of the handle gripped by the thumb and fore finger.

8. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the flexbility of the handle is adjustable by a sleeve slideable in the at least one slot.

9. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the sleeve can be held in one of a number of selected positions to adjust the flexibility of the handle.

10. A toothbrush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle has adjustable indicator means to register the length of use of the toothbrush.

11. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a cleaning head and a neck between the cleaning head and handle wherein the cleaning head is made of multiple materials.

12. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the multiple materials comprise bristles and foam plastics material.

13. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the multiple materials are arranged in selected areas of the cleaning head.

14. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a cleaning head and a neck between the cleaning head and handle, wherein the cleaning head bristles have a shaped cleaning surface to enhance the cleaning of the teeth of the user.

15. A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the shaped cleaning surface is curved inwardly.

16. A toothbrush substantially as hereinbf ore described and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 5; Figs. 6 and 7; Figs. 8 and 9; Fig. 10; Fig. 11; Figs. 12 and 13 or Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.

17. Each and every novel feature or novel combination of features herein disclosed.