Toothbrush

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toothbrush with a handle having a bristle-bearing head at one end thereof, a handle and a bristle-bearing head made of plastic, the head being resiliently and movably connected to the handle and this integral connection between the head and handle allows the head to swing in relation to the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When brushing teeth, especially with traditional rigid head brushes, it can be difficult to reach all parts of the teeth and clean them satisfactorily. With such brushes, it is also difficult to set the optimum angle for effective brushing between the teeth and the brush head, which constantly forces the brush to be moved in the hand during brushing. As a result, some teeth are under pressure and others are under pressure. Combination of excessive pressure and poor cleaning or poor cleaning techniques can result in tooth and gum damage.

Although the rotating toothbrush heads have already been designed and have been able to overcome some of these difficulties, they do not satisfactorily address all the requirements.

Toothbrush designs with resilient handles or resilient zones on handles have also been provided to allow the bristle brush head to be oriented to the shape of the user's teeth and gums. Such toothbrushes are described, for example, in EP-A-0336641, US-4520526, DE-OL-3640898, DE-OL-36121 08, CH-0155730 and IT-485723.

In some circumstances it is desirable to further improve the flexibility of the head relative to the direction of the toothbrush handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush with a handle having at one end thereof a bristle-bearing head, a handle and a bristle-bearing head made of plastic, the head being resiliently and movably integral with the handle and this integral connection between the head and the handle allows the head to swing in relation to the handle. At the boundary between the handle and the head is a cavity, at least partially filled with elastomeric material.

Preferably, the handle is integral with the head by means of a resilient spine.

Preferably, the cavity is formed in the form of a cutout from the outer surface of the handle and the head into their interior.

Preferably, the cutout is filled with elastomeric material to its full depth.

Preferably, the slash cuts over the entire width of the toothbrush handle at least in part of its length.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle and head material is plastic and the elastomeric material in the cavity is a natural or synthetic latex elastomer.

In a preferred embodiment of the toothbrush of the invention, the handle has a protruding portion at one end, the bristle head being resiliently and movably connected to the protruding portion of the handle,

Wherein the head at least partially surrounds the protruding portion and the cavity which is at the boundary between the head and the handle and which comprises the elastomeric material extends between the head and the protruding portion.

Preferably, the head has an opening or cavity into which the projecting portion fits.

Preferably, the head has a generally U, V, or C-shaped frame to allow the projecting portion to fit into a cavity formed or positioned between the U, V, or C arms.

Preferably, the protruding portion itself has the shape of a thin, flexible and resilient back between the handle and the head, generally oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush that connects the head to the handle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the handle is integrally formed into a protruding portion in the form of a flexible and resilient back between the handle and the head extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush that extends into the head cavity and integral with the head at the bottom of the head cavity with handle.

Preferably, the bristles are mounted on the projecting portion.

The toothbrush head according to the invention can be moved, in particular by a rocking motion, relative to the handle and can therefore be better adapted to the shape of the teeth than in the case of a completely stiff toothbrush. In addition, the ability of the head to swim relative to the handle allows for a much finer cleaning and reduces the likelihood of injury to the user's gums.

The flexibility and resilience of the backs depends on the material from which they are made and on their dimensions, such as length and width. The overall mobility of the head relative to the protruding portion will also depend on the amount of these ridges and their distribution around the space between the head and the protruding portion. Coupling the head to the protruding portion by the methods described above allows the head to swing relative to the handle along many axes. Preferably, the head is able to rock at least in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The spines may be made in one piece with a protruding portion and / or head, or as separate portions. For example, if the protruding portion and / or head is made of plastic, the membrane or ridges may be made in the same forming operation as the frame and / or head. If the membrane is made of an elastomeric material, it may be necessary to form and mount it separately.

The toothbrush handle, head and bristles of the present invention may be made of materials that are conventional in the manufacture of toothbrushes, particularly plastics. Suitable plastics include, for example, polyamides and polypropylenes. An example of a suitable polyamide is Ultramid B3 (trade mark BASF, Federal Republic of Germany) with a modulus of elasticity (DIN 53452) 3000. An example of a suitable polypropylene is Novolene 1100 HX (trade mark BASF, Federal Republic of Germany), which is a homopolymer and has a modulus of elasticity (DIN 53457) 1400. Such a polypropylene homopolymer may optionally be used with admixture of a polypropylene sequence copolymer such as Novolene 2500 HX (trade mark BASF, Federal Republic of Germany), for example in a weight ratio of 80:20 (1100 HX: 2500 HX). Suitable elastomeric materials include natural or synthetic latex-type elastomers, especially polychloroprene, natural rubber and silicones.

The handle may be of a shape that is common in the manufacture of toothbrushes. It can advantageously be manufactured in the form described in EP-0336641-A, in particular in paragraph 1 / lines 36-49 thereof.

-2GB 282998 B6

The toothbrush according to the invention can be used for brushing teeth in a completely conventional manual manner, preferably according to the recommendations of dental hygiene authorities. The toothbrush of the invention can also be used in electric toothbrushes.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Overview of the drawings

Giant. 1 shows a toothbrush according to the invention with a frame-shaped head partially surrounding the protruding portion.

Giant. IA top view.

Giant. 1B is a bottom view.

Giant. IC side view.

Giant. ID longitudinal section AA.

Giant. 1E section B-B.

Giant. 1F longitudinal section AA.

Giant. 2 is an illustration of a toothbrush according to the invention with a frame-shaped head partially surrounding a projecting portion that supports the bristles.

Giant. 2A is a top view.

Giant. 2B is a bottom view.

Giant. 2C is a side elevational view.

Giant. 2D longitudinal section AA.

Giant. 2E section BB.

Giant. 2F longitudinal section AA.

Giant. 3 shows a toothbrush according to the invention with a frame-shaped head which is connected to the handle by a protruding spine-shaped part .

Giant. 3A is a top view.

Giant. 3B is a bottom view.

Giant. 3C is an overall side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the handle 41 passes into a projecting portion 42 that is tapered. The protruding portion 42 fits into the cavity 43 in the generally U-shaped frame head 44. On the upper surface of the head 44 are the head bristles 45, distributed in separate bundles. The relative sizes of the protruding portion 42 and the cavity 43 are such that there is a narrow gap between the protruding portion 42 and the head 44. The cavity 43 is open at the bottom, but its top is closed by a membrane of elastomeric material 46 of such a thickness that it is flexible and resilient. 1E and 1F show the rocking movement of the head 44 relative to the handle 41 when pressure is applied to the head bristles 45 in the direction of the arrow. The dimensions of the gap between the head 44 and the protruding portion 42 are such that it allows this rocking movement.

In Fig. 2, the configuration of the shaped head 51 and the tapered protruding portion 52 of the handle 53 is similar to Figure 1. The shape of the tapered protruding portion 52 relative to the handle 53 is such that it fits into the cavity 54 of the generally V-shaped head 51. Again, the tapered protruding portions 52 and the cavities 54 are such that a narrow gap exists between the tapered protruding portion 52 and the shaped head 5L. The toothbrush of FIG. 2 differs from the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in that it has, like the shaped head 51, bristles 55 on the tapered protruding portion 52. The bristles 55 on the tapered protruding portion 52 are shorter than the bristles 56 on the shaped head 51. In FIG. 2E and FIG. 2F, a rocking motion is shown. the shaped head 51 relative to the handle 53 under pressure

The bristles 56 in the direction of the arrow.

In Fig. 3, there is a toothbrush with a handle 71, the end of which passes smoothly into a protruding ridge-shaped portion 72 that is thin, flexible and resilient. The spine extends into the cavity 73 in the head 74 and is inseparably attached to the head 74 at the bottom of the cavity 73 to connect the handle 71 and the head 74. The spine is thin enough to allow the head 74 to swing in relation to the handle 71. distributed in separate volumes.

The space between the back and the head 74, i.e. including the cavity 73, is filled with an elastomeric material 76. The elastomeric material 76 alters the rocking characteristics of the head 74 relative to the handle 71 and also has a different color from the material of the handle 71 and head 74 for aesthetic appeal and enhancement design of toothbrush.