US3280417A

US3280417A - Toothbrush and cover

Info

Publication number: US3280417A
Application number: US512677A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wexler Seymour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-12-09
Filing date: 1965-12-09
Publication date: 1966-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-25
Also published as: GB1100450A; DK118552B

Description

Oct. 25, 1966 s. WEXLER 3,280,417

TOOTHBRUSH AND COVER Filed Dec. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wex [er Filed Dec. 9, 1965 Oct. 25, 1966 s. WEXLER 3,280,417

IOOTHBHUSH AND COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nexler United States Patent Q 3,280,417 TOOTHBRUSH AND COVER Seymour Wexler, 45 Fifth Ave., New York, N .1. Filed Dec. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 512,677 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-184) This invention concerns an improved toothbrush cover.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a snapon removable cover for the head of a toothbrush.

A further object is to provide a toothbrush cover which is molded from plastic material in a one-piece integral structure,

Other objects are to provide a toothbrush cover: which is provided with means for thorough ventilation of the bristles of the brush while the cover is mounted on the brush; which is so constructed that its flexible walls do not lose their flexibility in spite of repeated flexing; which has a quickly engageable and disengageable construction; which keeps the head of a brush clean and sanitary; which can be manufactured at low cost by mass production plastic working methods and machinery; which is neat and attractive in appearance; and which can be made up in various colors.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a toothbrush cover embodying the invention, with the head of a toothbrush shown engaged therein.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the toothbrush cover with an end portion of a toothbrush head shown being inserted in the cover.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another toothbrush cover.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the cover of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the toothbrush cover of FIGS. 6 and 7 with a toothbrush head shown engaged therein.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a toothbrush cover 10 having an elongated box-like structure. The cover has a generally rectangular imperforate bottom wall 12 and two flexible

parallel side walls

14, 16 extending upright from lateral edges of bottom wall 12. The

cover has a cylindrically curved end wall 18. The

walls

14, 16 and 18 are integral with each other and with the periphery of the bottom wall 12 which is rounded at its forward end to conform with the cylindrical end wall 18. The

walls

14, 16 and 18 define a generally U-shaped structure in plan view. The

walls

14, 16 and 18 are formed with an inner groove 20 which extends downwardly from the upper flat U-shaped surface 22 of the cover. This groove is cylindrically curved in cross section and it snugly receives the convex side edges 25 and end edge 26 of the flat back 28 of toothbrush head 30. It will be noted that the edges of the generally rectangular flat back 28 are cylindrically curved so that they conform with and are frictionally engaged in the groove 20 all around the head 30.

Toothbrush 31 has a flexible tapered neck 32 integrally connecting the back 28 and handle 34 of the toothbrush. Spaced bunches of bristles 36 are secured at one end in the underside of the back 28 and extend downwardly to ice,

terminate just short of the upper flat side 37 of the cover bottom wall 12 of the cover. The cover is open at its rear end 39 so that an air passage P exists longitudinally through the cover from open end 39 through holes 40 centrally located in the end wall 18. The back 28 forms one side of passage P opposite wall 12.

A particularly important feature of the invention is the different thicknesses of the flexible wal1s14 and 16. Wall 14 is thinner and more flexible than wall 16. A rib 42 extends all around the top of the cover outside of the groove to reinforce the cover structure. By the arrangement shown wall 14 will flex more than wall 16 when the head of the toothbrush is inserted into the cover and is removed from the cover. The

walls

14 and 16 frictionally engage the edges under slight spring tension due to the flexibility of the walls which are supported only at their lower edges where they join the bottom wall 12, and at their ends where they are integral with end wall 18. The

walls

14 and 16 flex slightly because the internal transverse dimension or width D of the cover at the central horizontal plane of groove 20 parallel to wall 12 is slightly less than the width of the back 28 of the head; see FIG. 3.

The cover 10 will not fall off the head of its own weight nor will it come loose even if the toothbrush is held by the handle 34 and shaken rather vigorously. To remove the cover, it must be manually grasped at the

walls

14, 16 and pulled forcefully until the periphery of the back 28 snaps out of engagement with the groove 20. The cover will withstand repeated engagement and disengagement of the head of the toothbrush without loss of flexibility.

The cover when in place protects the bristles from contact with other objects, when the covered toothbrush is carried in a pocket or purse. The cover is easily put on and taken off. It is attractive in appearance. It will outlast the useful life of the toothbrush bristles.

FIGS. 68 show another toothbrush cover 10A for head 30' of toothbrush 3-1. Parts of the cover 10A corresponding to those of cover 10 are identically numbered. Cover 10A is provided with a pair of

teeth

44, 45 at front ends of

walls

14, 16. These teeth extend inwardly toward each other for engaging at the tapered end of neck 32' where it joins head 30'.

These teeth improve the grip of the cover on the head of the toothbrush. The teeth are rounded at their free ends to permit the toothbrush back 28' to be pushed into engagement with groove 20. This cover has the same basic flexible construction as cover 10 with a thinner more flexible wall 14 and thicker less flexible wall 16. Both covers 10 and 10A will serve as useful toothbrush accessories.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A cover for a toothbrush having a head, a tapered neck and a handle defining a unitary structure, said head comprising a flat, elongated back with bunches of bristles extending outwardly of one side of said back, said back being generally rectangular and having cylindrically curved lateral and end edges, said cover comprising a generally rectangular flat bottom wall with rounded and straight ends, a pair of -fla-t, flexible side walls extending upwardly from lateral edges of the vflat bottom wall, and a cylindrically curved end -wall extending upwardly from the rounded end of the bottom wall, said side walls, end wall and bottom wall being integrally joined and forming a box-like, U-shaped structure open at its top and one end thereof, said side and end walls having a groove extending completely around inner surfaces thereof, said groove being located at upper edges of said side and end Walls and being cylindrically curved in cross section to define a generally U-shaped concavity for frictionally receiving and gripping the curved lateral and end edges of the back of the toothbrush head, said flexible side Walls of the cover having difierent thicknesses respectively with the thinner Wall being more flexible than the thicker Wall to resist loss of elasticity due to repeated fiexure when the head of the toothbrush is repeatedly inserted into the cover and removed therefrom, rounded teeth formed at free ends of the top curved edges of the groove in the side walls of the cover, said teeth extending inwardly to- Ward each other for engaging the tapered neck of the 15 toothbrush handle when the head of the toothbrush is engaged in the cover, said curved end wall of the cover having a plurality of apertures therein so that the cover 4 has a passage open at opposite ends for passing air therethrough to dry the bristles when the head of the toothbrush is frictionally engaged inside of the cover while the back of the toothbrush head defines one side of said 5 passage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,540 12/1927 Bigoney 15 1s4 10 2,651,070 9/1953 Zimmerman 15 1s4 X 2,947,412 8/1960 Tupper 15 -1-s4x FOREIGN PATENTS 21,288 1905 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

P. FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner.