Toothbrush with visual and/or other sensory effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10070715-B2
Application number	US-201514639848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 20, 2008
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.

First claim

We claim:

1. A toothbrush comprising:
a handle and a head, the handle comprising:
a first component;
a second component covering at least a portion of the first component, wherein the first and second components are chemically compatible and comprise a hard polyolefin, the first and second components having different transparencies; and
a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the first component comprises an opaque material and the second component comprises a transparent or semi-transparent material.

3. The toothbrush of claim 2 wherein the second component comprises a transparent material.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the third component is overmolded onto the second component.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the third component covers at least one additional portion of the first component in a gripping region and a portion of the first component in an oral engaging region.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second components comprises polypropylene.

7. A toothbrush comprising:
a handle and a head, the handle comprising:
a first component comprising an opaque material and having an outer surface, at least one projection extending outwardly from the outer surface;
a second component comprising a transparent material and covering at least a portion of the first component;
wherein each of the first and second components is formed of a hard plastic material; and
wherein the first component has a longitudinal axis, the at least one projection extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and covered by the second component.

8. The toothbrush of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of the projections extending outwardly from the outer surface of the first component.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein a first one of the plurality of projections extends to a first height above the outer surface of the first component and a second one of the plurality of projections extends to a second height above the outer surface of the first component, the second height being greater than the first height.

10. The toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second one of the plurality of projections comprises a top surface that is exposed through the second component, and wherein the first one of the plurality of projections comprises a top surface that is covered by the second component.

11. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the plurality of projections are arranged on the outer surface of the first component in a spaced apart manner.

12. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of projections has a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape.

13. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the second component covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the first component and the plurality of projections.

14. The toothbrush of claim 7 further comprising a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer overmolded onto the second component.

15. The toothbrush of claim 7 wherein the first and second components are chemically compatible.

16. The toothbrush of claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the first component comprises a front surface and an opposing rear surface, wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections, and wherein the plurality of projections extend outwardly from the front surface.

17. The toothbrush of claim 16 wherein one or more of the plurality of projections are covered by the second component.

18. The toothbrush of claim 7 further comprising tooth cleaning elements extending from the head.

19. A toothbrush comprising:
a handle and a head, the handle comprising:
a first component;
a second component covering at least a portion of the first component, wherein the first and second components are chemically compatible and comprise a hard plastic, the first and second components having different transparencies; and
a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.

20. The toothbrush of claim 19 wherein the third component is overmolded onto the second component.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Wong Chi Shing
• Hohlbein Douglas J
• Waguespack Kenneth
• Sprosta Al
• Xi Wen Jin
• Ding Xiangji

Classifications

• A46B15/0016

  with enhancing means · CPC title

• A46B9/04

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• A46B5/02 Primary

  specially shaped for holding by the hand · CPC title

• A46B5/026 Primary

  Grips or handles having a nonslip section · CPC title

• A46B2200/1066

  Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) · CPC title