WO2006079122A1

WO2006079122A1 - A toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2006079122A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2006/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Duncan
Original assignee: Malcolm Duncan
Priority date: 2005-01-21
Filing date: 2006-01-20
Publication date: 2006-07-27

Abstract

A manual, non-motorised toothbrush [10] which has a handle [14], a neck [16] extending from the handle, a head [18] which is attached to the neck and a first scrub member [22] and a second scrub member [24] which are movably engaged to the head [18].

Description

A TOOTHBRUSH

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a toothbrush and more specifically a non-motorised toothbrush.

[0002] The term "toothbrush" is used in this specification with reference to a manual, non-motorised toothbrush used for the brushing of teeth.

[0003] The removal of plaque from a user's teeth by way of a motorised toothbrush is known and the movement of the bristles of a motorised toothbrush relative to the motorised toothbrush body on which they are situated improves the effectiveness of the motorised toothbrush. Motorised toothbrushes are expensive and require a power source such as a rechargeable battery for operation. A motorised toothbrush consists of various spare parts and mechanical failure of motorised toothbrushes is common.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention aims to provide a toothbrush which has bristles which move relatively to the body of the toothbrush to which the bristles are attached.

[0005] The invention provides a toothbrush which includes a body which has a handle, a neck extending from the handle and a head attached to the neck, and at least a first scrub member which is movably engaged with the head and which has a base and a plurality of bristles which extend from the base. [0006] The bristles may vary in length.

[0007] The toothbrush may include a pivot point between the head and the scrub member around which the scrub member can at least partially rotate. The pivot point may include a post formation extending from the head and a recess in the scrub 5 member with which the post is engageable. The post and the recess may be engageable with one another by way of a snap action and the post may include a hook formation which is engageable with a catch formation on the recess.

[0008] The head may include a support surface and the base may include an abutment surface which support surface and abutment surface abut. The support surface and the 0 abutment surface may each be profiled. Preferably the support surface and the abutment surface are complementary profiled to allow the abutment surface and support surface to move in and out of register when the scrub member is moved relatively to the head.

[0009] In one form of the invention the base is circular in outline and the pivot point is 5 located on a position on the base which is off-centre.

[0010] In another form of the invention the base is Y-shaped and the pivot point is situated at a centre of the base.

[0011] The toothbrush may include a second scrub member which is movably engaged with the head. [0012] In one form of the invention the second scrub member may be spaced from the first scrub member and in another form of the invention the first and second scrub members may be meshed.

[0013] The second scrub member may be movably engaged with the head at a second 5 pivot point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush according to the invention; 1 0 Figure 2 is a plan view of a neck and a head section of the toothbrush of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with scrub members on the head removed for clarity;

Figure 4 is a sectioned side view of a portion of the head and a first scrub member of the toothbrush of Figure 1 ; ' 15 Figure 5 is a plan view of a neck and a head section of a toothbrush according to another form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a neck and a head section of another toothbrush according to the invention; and

Figures 7A and 7B are cross-sectional side views of a portion of a head and a first scrub : 20 member of a toothbrush according to yet another form of the invention. DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a toothbrush 10 which has an elongate body 12 with a handle 14, a neck 16 extending from the handle 14 and a head 18 which is attached to the neck 16.

I 5 [0016] The body 12 is moulded from appropriate plastics materials.

[0017] The head 18 has a support surface 20 with which a first scrub member 22 and a second scrub member 24 are movably engaged by way of respective first and second pivot points 26, 28.

[0018] The first pivot point 26 is located towards a leading end 30 of the head 18 and K D the second pivot point 28 is located on the head 18 at a position which is spaced from the first pivot point 22 and between the first pivot point 26 and the neck 16.

[0019] The first and second scrub members 22, 24 and first and second pivot points 26, 28 are identical and only the first scrub member 22 and first pivot point 26 are described.

V- 5 [0020] The first scrub member 22 has a circular base 32 and a plurality of bristles 34 of varying length which extends from the base 32.

[0021] The first pivot point 26 is formed on the base 32 at a position 36 which is off- centre from the base 32. In other words the position 36 is spaced away from a centre of the circular base 32. This off-centre position is illustrated in Figure 3 where the base 32 2 0 is shown in dotted outlines. [0022] The base 32 has an abutment surface 38 which faces towards the support surface 20 and the abutment surface 38 and the support surface 20 abut.

[0023] The first pivot point 26 is formed by a post formation 40 which extends from the support surface 20 and a recess 42 which is formed in the abutment surface 38 of the base 32.

[0024] The post 40 is circular in plan and has a hook formation 44. The recess 42 is complementary shaped to the post 40 and has a catch 46 with which the hook formation 44 is engageable with a snap action. The first pivot point 26 locks the first scrub member 22 to the head 18 but allows rotational movement of the first scrub member 22 around the post 40 and relatively to the head 18.

[0025] The first and second scrub members 22, 24 are spaced apart and are independently movable relatively to the head 18 and each other.

[0026] The toothbrush 10 is used by a user (not shown) to clean teeth (not shown) in a normal manner. Toothpaste is applied to the bristles 34 and the toothbrush 10 is gripped by the handle 14. The teeth are brushed by the bristles 34 through the user imparting a to and fro motion to the toothbrush 10 and head 18 relatively to the teeth. The bristles 34 contact the teeth and the to and fro motion results in different areas of the bristles 34 of the first and second scrub members 22, 24 contacting the teeth. The off-centre positioning of the first and second pivot points 26, 28 and the to and fro motion of the head 18 results in a cam action type rotation, to at least a limited extent, of the respective first and second scrub members 22, 24 around the respective pivot points 26, 28. In this manner each of the respective scrub members 22, 24 moves around or orbits the respective pivot points 26, 28. The rotational movement of the first and second scrub members 22, 24 causes rotational movement of the bristles 34 relatively to the teeth which rotational movement is in different directions than the to and fro motion of the head 18.

5 [0027] The fact that the first and second pivot points 26, 28 are located at positions on the base 32 which is off-centre improves the rotational movement of the first and second scrub members 22, 24 relatively to head 18.

[0028] The fact that the bristles 34 are of varying length improves contact between sections of the first and second scrub members 22, 24 and the teeth and assists in the 0 rotation of the first and second scrub members 22, 24.

[0029] Figure 5 shows a toothbrush 1OA made according to the invention. Similar reference numerals to those used in respect of the toothbrush 10 are used in respect of the toothbrush 10A to illustrate similar components and only the differences between the toothbrush 10 and the toothbrush 10A are described.

5 [0030] The toothbrush 10A has a single scrub member 22A which is identical to the first scrub member 22 which is attached to the head 18 by way of a single pivot point 26A which is identical to the first pivot point 26.

[0031] The toothbrush 10A functions in a similar manner as the toothbrush 10 except that a single scrub member 22A is used to clean the teeth.

0 [0032] Figure 6 illustrates a toothbrush 10B according to yet another form of the invention. Again similar reference numerals to those used in respect of the toothbrush 10 are used to illustrate similar components and only the differences between the toothbrush 10 and the toothbrush 1OB are described.

[0033] The toothbrush 10B has a first scrub member 22B and a second scrub member 24B which scrub members are meshed.

[0034] The first scrub member 22B and the second scrub member 24B are identical and only the first scrub member 22B is described.

[0035] The first scrub member 22B has a Y-shaped base 32B with radially extending legs 5OA, B, C from which the bristles 34 extend. The recess 42 is formed in a centre of the base 32B in order for the legs 5OA, B, C to extend radially away from a pivot point 26B formed at the recess 42.

[0036] In combination the first scrub member 22B and the second scrub member 24B are meshed by way of the respective legs 5OA, B, C of the respective first and second scrub members 22B, 24B which interengage.

[0037] In use rotation of either the first or second scrub member 22B, 24B takes place in the manner described when the teeth are brushed with the toothbrush 10B by way of to and fro motion of the head 18. Rotational movement of any one of the first or second scrub members 22B, 24B in a first direction will result in rotational movement of the other scrub member 22B, 24B in the opposite rotational direction. For example if the first scrub member 22B is rotated in a clockwise direction 52 the second scrub member 24B will be rotated in an anticlockwise direction 54.

[0038] Figures 7A and 7B show a head 18C and base 32C of a toothbrush 10C according to yet another example of the invention. Similar reference numerals used in the toothbrushes 10, 1OA and 1OB are used to indicate similar components and only the differences between the toothbrushes 10, 10A, 10B and the toothbrush 10C are described.

[0039] In the toothbrush 10C the support surface 2OC of the head 18C is shaped and the abutment surface 38C of the base 32C is shaped to have a complementary shape to that of the support surface 2OC. A recess 42C formed in the base 32C is deeper than the recess 42 to allow the post 40 to extend further into the base 32C than what the post 40 extends into the base 32. The hook formation 44 on the post 40C and the catch

46 on the recess 42 are spaced apart to allow the base 32C, at least to a limited extent, to move away and towards the head 18C.

[0040] During use and the rotation of the scrub member 22C the corrugated profiles of the support surface 2OC and the abutment surface 38C move in and out of register, as are respectively illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B, resulting in the scrub member 22C moving away and towards the head 18C in a pulsating motion.

[0041] The head 18C and scrub member 22C combination illustrated in Figures 7A and

7B can be used on any one of the toothbrushes 10, 10A and 10B.

[0042] It is important to understand that the toothbrushes 10, 10A, 10B and 10C allow the bristles 34 of the respective toothbrushes to rotate relatively to the heads 18, 18C while the respective heads 18, 18C are moved to and fro. Additionally, and by using the pivot point 26C shown in Figures 7A and 7B movement of the bristles 34 towards and away from the teeth which are being cleaned can be obtained. The additional rotational and pulsating motion of the bristles 34 might assist in the cleaning of the teeth when the respective toothbrushes 10, 1OA, 1OB, 1OC are moved to and fro over the teeth.

Claims

1. A toothbrush which includes a body which has a handle, a neck extending from the handle and a head attached to the neck, and at least a first scrub member which is movably engaged with the head and which has a base and a plurality of bristles which extend from the base.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the bristles vary in length.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2 which includes a pivot point between the head and the scrub member around which the scrub member can at least partially rotate.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 3 wherein the pivot point includes a post formation extending from the head and a recess in the scrub member with which the post is engageable.

5. A toothbrush according to claim 4 wherein the post and the recess are engageable with one another by way of a snap action.

6. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the head includes a support surface and the base includes an abutment surface which support surface and abutment surface abut.

7. A toothbrush according to claim 6 wherein the support surface and the abutment surface are complementally profiled to allow the abutment surface and support surface to move in and out of register when the scrub member is moved relatively to the head.

8. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the base is circular in outline and the pivot point is located on a position on the base which is off-centre.

9. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the base is Y-shaped and the pivot point is situated at a centre of the base.

10. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 9 which includes a second scrub member which is movably engaged with the head.

11. A toothbrush according to claim 10 wherein the second scrub member is spaced from the first scrub member.

12. A toothbrush according to claim 10 wherein the first and second scrub members are meshed.

13. A toothbrush according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the second scrub member is movably engaged with the head at a second pivot point.