US20100125962A1 - Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it - Google Patents

Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100125962A1
US20100125962A1 US12/594,946 US59494608A US2010125962A1 US 20100125962 A1 US20100125962 A1 US 20100125962A1 US 59494608 A US59494608 A US 59494608A US 2010125962 A1 US2010125962 A1 US 2010125962A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
toothbrush
skeleton
head
plastic body
neck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/594,946
Inventor
Richard Huw Davies
Giorgia Deplano
Derek Savill
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Conopco Inc
Original Assignee
Conopco Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Conopco Inc filed Critical Conopco Inc
Assigned to CONOPCO, INC. D/B/A UNILEVER reassignment CONOPCO, INC. D/B/A UNILEVER ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DAVIES, RICHARD HUW, DEPLANO, GIORGIA, SAVILL, DEREK GUY
Publication of US20100125962A1 publication Critical patent/US20100125962A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A46B15/0016—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0062—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being flexible or resilient during use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0062—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being flexible or resilient during use
    • A46B5/007—Inserts made of different material, e.g. springs, plates
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a toothbrush having a moulded plastic body and a metal skeleton.
  • the present invention provides a toothbrush according to claim 1 .
  • the metal skeleton extends from the handle, through the neck and into the head of the toothbrush.
  • the metal skeleton provides the necessary strength to the toothbrush neck without significantly contributing to the neck's volume such that it is now possible to brush the back teeth efficiently since the oral cavity is less likely to be filled with the toothbrush. This allows the user to properly manipulate the toothbrush as he would when brushing the front teeth.
  • the skeleton comprises no more than 30% by area, more preferably no more than 25% and especially no more than 20% by area of the toothbrush in any cross section in a 0.5 cm long section of the neck of the toothbrush and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush.
  • the 0.5 cm long section must begin and end in the neck of the toothbrush.
  • the neck is considered to begin at the junction with the head and end at the beginning of the thumb grip of the toothbrush.
  • the metal skeleton is wholly contained within the plastic body.
  • the metal skeleton extends for at least 50% of the length of the toothbrush, more preferably at least 75% and most preferably at least 90% of the length of the toothbrush.
  • the plastic body comprises transparent or translucent material.
  • transparent or translucent material By this is meant that at least part of the skeleton is discernable through the plastic body. More preferably, at least 50% and especially preferably at least 80% of the surface of the skeleton is visually discernable through the plastic body.
  • the head comprises a plastic body part, a head skeleton part and a bristle bearing part.
  • the head comprises a plastic body part, a head skeleton part and a bristle bearing part.
  • at least one, more preferably two and more preferably all three parts are layered.
  • the head skeleton part comprises a flattened portion in the head of the toothbrush. More preferably, the external dimensions of the flattened portion mirror the external dimensions of the head of the toothbrush.
  • Such a structure offers improved support to the toothbrush head by presenting a greater surface area on which to bear pressure during toothbrushing.
  • the skeleton in the head is shaped to correspond to the external dimensions of the outer shape of the head. This provides improved support to the neck during brushing since the pressure applied to the head is borne by a relatively large surface area and not by a mere wire or prong into the neck.
  • the skeleton in the head is apertured. An apertured skeleton in the head part of the toothbrush provides improved bonding between the plastic body and the remainder of the head.
  • the head comprises a plate which supports the bristles.
  • the plate is distinct from the remainder of the head. More preferably, the bristles are fixed through holes in and pass through the plate.
  • the bristles are welded together into tufts at their base ends.
  • the bristles are gathered into tufts, passed through holes in the plate and welded at their base ends thus fixing them into the plate.
  • the plate is then moulded onto the remainder of the brush.
  • the skeleton comprises a receiving means for receiving and maintaining the plate in position.
  • the receiving means is a groove or channel.
  • the skeleton comprises a groove running along part of its length.
  • the groove provides a channel along which the plastic forming the plastic body courses during injection moulding. This reduces the need for multiple injection points on the brush.
  • the groove runs on the underside of the toothbrush.
  • the underside of the brush is the opposite side to the bristle bearing side.
  • the toothbrush according to the invention comprises a metal skeleton.
  • the metal comprises a zinc alloy.
  • the zinc alloy is zama alloy.
  • the plastic body comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or BR.
  • ABS and BR provide the optimum strength with flexibility when surrounding a metal skeleton.
  • the toothbrush according to the invention has a transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3, preferably from 1:4 to 1:6 along at least a 1 cm length of the neck. More preferably the transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3, preferably from 1:4 to 1:6 along at least a 2 cm length of the neck, most preferably a 3 cm length of the neck.
  • the level of metal in the neck of the toothbrush is beneficial in achieving the objective of improved reach to the back teeth of the brush.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a skeleton for a toothbrush according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 at section A-A;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section of the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 at section B-B;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the skeleton of FIG. 1 in a toothbrush according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the head of a toothbrush according to the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a bristle plate.
  • FIG. 1 shows a skeleton ( 1 ) for a toothbrush according to the invention.
  • the skeleton ( 1 ) has a handle part ( 2 ), a neck part ( 3 ) and a head part ( 4 ).
  • the head part has a perimeter ( 5 ) which corresponds to the shape of the toothbrush head (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along A-A of FIG. 1 and shows a groove ( 6 ) on the underside of the skeleton.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along B-B of FIG. 1 and shows a groove ( 6 ) on the underside of the skeleton.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the toothbrush in which the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 is employed.
  • the toothbrush has a handle ( 8 ) which extends from the distal end of the brush towards the head up to the end of the thumb grip, a neck portion ( 9 ) which extends from the end of the thumb grip ( 11 ) to the beginning of the head and a head portion ( 10 ) which extends from the neck portion to the tip of the brush.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of a brush head (bristles not shown).
  • the head shows the plastic body ( 12 ) which provides the underside surface of the toothbrush head, the skeleton ( 4 ), upon which is mounted the plate ( 13 ) for bearing bristles.
  • FIG. 6 shows a plate with bristles mounted therein and projecting through the plate to an underside thereof where the bristles are held in place by welding their ends together.

Abstract

Toothbrush having a head, a neck and a handle, the toothbrush comprising a plastic body and a metal skeleton, the plastic body being moulded around the metal skeleton, the metal skeleton extending from the handle through the neck and into the head of the toothbrush.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a toothbrush having a moulded plastic body and a metal skeleton.
  • Despite the prior art there remains a need for toothbrushes which are capable of providing improved cleaning.
  • Accordingly, the present invention provides a toothbrush according to claim 1.
  • The metal skeleton extends from the handle, through the neck and into the head of the toothbrush. The metal skeleton provides the necessary strength to the toothbrush neck without significantly contributing to the neck's volume such that it is now possible to brush the back teeth efficiently since the oral cavity is less likely to be filled with the toothbrush. This allows the user to properly manipulate the toothbrush as he would when brushing the front teeth.
  • Preferably, the skeleton comprises no more than 30% by area, more preferably no more than 25% and especially no more than 20% by area of the toothbrush in any cross section in a 0.5 cm long section of the neck of the toothbrush and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. The 0.5 cm long section must begin and end in the neck of the toothbrush. The neck is considered to begin at the junction with the head and end at the beginning of the thumb grip of the toothbrush.
  • Preferably, the metal skeleton is wholly contained within the plastic body.
  • Preferably, the metal skeleton extends for at least 50% of the length of the toothbrush, more preferably at least 75% and most preferably at least 90% of the length of the toothbrush.
  • Preferably, the plastic body comprises transparent or translucent material. By this is meant that at least part of the skeleton is discernable through the plastic body. More preferably, at least 50% and especially preferably at least 80% of the surface of the skeleton is visually discernable through the plastic body.
  • Preferably, the head comprises a plastic body part, a head skeleton part and a bristle bearing part. Preferably, at least one, more preferably two and more preferably all three parts are layered.
  • Preferably, the head skeleton part comprises a flattened portion in the head of the toothbrush. More preferably, the external dimensions of the flattened portion mirror the external dimensions of the head of the toothbrush. Such a structure offers improved support to the toothbrush head by presenting a greater surface area on which to bear pressure during toothbrushing.
  • Preferably, the skeleton in the head is shaped to correspond to the external dimensions of the outer shape of the head. This provides improved support to the neck during brushing since the pressure applied to the head is borne by a relatively large surface area and not by a mere wire or prong into the neck. Preferably the skeleton in the head is apertured. An apertured skeleton in the head part of the toothbrush provides improved bonding between the plastic body and the remainder of the head.
  • Preferably, the head comprises a plate which supports the bristles. Preferably, the plate is distinct from the remainder of the head. More preferably, the bristles are fixed through holes in and pass through the plate.
  • Preferably, the bristles are welded together into tufts at their base ends.
  • Preferably, the bristles are gathered into tufts, passed through holes in the plate and welded at their base ends thus fixing them into the plate. The plate is then moulded onto the remainder of the brush.
  • Preferably, the skeleton comprises a receiving means for receiving and maintaining the plate in position. This improves the overall structural integrity of the toothbrush head since it minimizes the chances of the plate rocking during moulding the plastic body around the plate and skeleton. Preferably, the receiving means is a groove or channel.
  • Preferably, the skeleton comprises a groove running along part of its length. The groove provides a channel along which the plastic forming the plastic body courses during injection moulding. This reduces the need for multiple injection points on the brush. Preferably, the groove runs on the underside of the toothbrush. The underside of the brush is the opposite side to the bristle bearing side.
  • Preferably, the toothbrush according to the invention comprises a metal skeleton. Preferably the metal comprises a zinc alloy. Preferably, the zinc alloy is zama alloy.
  • Preferably, the plastic body comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or BR. ABS and BR provide the optimum strength with flexibility when surrounding a metal skeleton.
  • Preferably, the toothbrush according to the invention has a transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3, preferably from 1:4 to 1:6 along at least a 1 cm length of the neck. More preferably the transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3, preferably from 1:4 to 1:6 along at least a 2 cm length of the neck, most preferably a 3 cm length of the neck. The level of metal in the neck of the toothbrush is beneficial in achieving the objective of improved reach to the back teeth of the brush.
  • Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting figures in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a skeleton for a toothbrush according to the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 at section A-A;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section of the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 at section B-B;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the skeleton of FIG. 1 in a toothbrush according to the invention;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the head of a toothbrush according to the invention; and
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a bristle plate.
    •
  • In detail, FIG. 1 shows a skeleton (1) for a toothbrush according to the invention. The skeleton (1) has a handle part (2), a neck part (3) and a head part (4). The head part has a perimeter (5) which corresponds to the shape of the toothbrush head (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along A-A of FIG. 1 and shows a groove (6) on the underside of the skeleton.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along B-B of FIG. 1 and shows a groove (6) on the underside of the skeleton.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the toothbrush in which the skeleton depicted in FIG. 1 is employed. The toothbrush has a handle (8) which extends from the distal end of the brush towards the head up to the end of the thumb grip, a neck portion (9) which extends from the end of the thumb grip (11) to the beginning of the head and a head portion (10) which extends from the neck portion to the tip of the brush.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of a brush head (bristles not shown). The head shows the plastic body (12) which provides the underside surface of the toothbrush head, the skeleton (4), upon which is mounted the plate (13) for bearing bristles.
  • FIG. 6 shows a plate with bristles mounted therein and projecting through the plate to an underside thereof where the bristles are held in place by welding their ends together.

Claims (10)

1. Toothbrush having a head (10), a neck (9) and a handle (8), the toothbrush comprising a plastic body and a metal skeleton (1), the plastic body being moulded around the metal skeleton (1), the metal skeleton (1) extending from the handle (8) through the neck (9) and into the head (10) of the toothbrush, wherein the transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3 along at least a 1 cm length of the neck.
2. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the metal skeleton is wholly contained within the plastic body.
3. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the metal skeleton extends for at least 50% of the length of the toothbrush.
4. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the plastic body comprises transparent or translucent material.
5. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the metal skeleton comprises a flattened portion in the head of the toothbrush.
6. Toothbrush according to claim 5 wherein the flattened portion is apertured.
7. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the skeleton comprises a groove running along part of its length.
8. Toothbrush according to claim 7 wherein the groove is on the underside of the skeleton.
9. Toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the skeleton comprises a zinc alloy.
10. (canceled)
US12/594,946 2007-04-12 2008-03-07 Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it Abandoned US20100125962A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07106067 2007-04-12
EP07106067.7 2007-04-12
PCT/EP2008/052769 WO2008125393A1 (en) 2007-04-12 2008-03-07 Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100125962A1 true US20100125962A1 (en) 2010-05-27

Family

ID=38442619

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/594,946 Abandoned US20100125962A1 (en) 2007-04-12 2008-03-07 Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20100125962A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2134212A1 (en)
CN (1) CN101674750A (en)
BR (1) BRPI0809817A2 (en)
MX (1) MX2009010971A (en)
WO (1) WO2008125393A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2015207892B2 (en) * 2012-05-17 2016-02-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and method of manufacturing an oral care implement
USD777446S1 (en) 2015-07-23 2017-01-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement handle
US9802347B2 (en) 2015-02-02 2017-10-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Method of forming an oral care implement
US10561229B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2020-02-18 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5613262A (en) * 1994-07-27 1997-03-25 Choy-Maldonado; Gina N. Lingual brush
US20090193603A1 (en) * 2008-01-07 2009-08-06 Ponzini S.P.A. Method for manufacturing a toothbrush and a bristle head thereof, toothbrush obtained by said method and mould for such method

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB304459A (en) * 1928-01-12 1929-01-24 Joseph Bernard Butler Improvements in and relating to articles manufactured from plastic compounds
US4263691A (en) * 1979-03-07 1981-04-28 Seree Pakarnseree Brush
GB2050156B (en) * 1979-04-27 1983-05-18 Pakarnseree S Toothbrush
US4499627A (en) * 1983-03-17 1985-02-19 Gruns James H Flexible surface cleaning and coatings applicator tool
DE3345605A1 (en) * 1983-12-16 1985-06-20 Mathias Otto 1000 Berlin Barth Novel toothbrush
GB9608019D0 (en) * 1996-04-18 1996-06-19 Segal Sheema Disposable article

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5613262A (en) * 1994-07-27 1997-03-25 Choy-Maldonado; Gina N. Lingual brush
US20090193603A1 (en) * 2008-01-07 2009-08-06 Ponzini S.P.A. Method for manufacturing a toothbrush and a bristle head thereof, toothbrush obtained by said method and mould for such method

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2015207892B2 (en) * 2012-05-17 2016-02-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and method of manufacturing an oral care implement
US9554640B2 (en) 2012-05-17 2017-01-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and method of manufacturing an oral care implement
US10278484B2 (en) 2012-05-17 2019-05-07 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US11577435B2 (en) 2015-02-02 2023-02-14 Colgate-Palmolive Company System and method for forming an oral care implement
US9802347B2 (en) 2015-02-02 2017-10-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Method of forming an oral care implement
US10723052B2 (en) 2015-02-02 2020-07-28 Colgate-Palmolive Company System and method for forming an oral care implement
US10561229B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2020-02-18 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
USD887144S1 (en) 2015-07-23 2020-06-16 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
USD840691S1 (en) 2015-07-23 2019-02-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US11013313B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2021-05-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
USD777446S1 (en) 2015-07-23 2017-01-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement handle
USD987298S1 (en) 2015-07-23 2023-05-30 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US11771210B2 (en) 2015-07-23 2023-10-03 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MX2009010971A (en) 2009-10-30
BRPI0809817A2 (en) 2014-10-07
CN101674750A (en) 2010-03-17
EP2134212A1 (en) 2009-12-23
WO2008125393A1 (en) 2008-10-23

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CONOPCO, INC. D/B/A UNILEVER, NEW JERSEY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DAVIES, RICHARD HUW;DEPLANO, GIORGIA;SAVILL, DEREK GUY;SIGNING DATES FROM 20091110 TO 20091223;REEL/FRAME:023947/0506

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION