Manual toothbrush

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12048370-B2
Application number	US-202117218742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A manual toothbrush, having a front side and a back side, includes a disposable head comprising a head material and a reusable handle comprising a handle material that is different from the head material. The head is to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle by being moved relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis. The head includes a head material having a head-material density, and the handle includes a handle material having a handle-material density, wherein the handle-material density is greater than the head-material density. The toothbrush is structured and configured so that when the toothbrush is placed on its back side on a substantially planar surface, the toothbrush remains on its back side in a balanced position—and when the toothbrush is thereafter moved out of said balanced position, the toothbrush automatically returns to the balanced position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A manual toothbrush having a front side and a back side opposite to the front side and a longitudinal axis,
wherein the toothbrush includes a disposable head comprising a head material and a reusable handle comprising a handle material that is different from the head material,
wherein the head is structured and configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle by being moved relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the head having a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the front side of the toothbrush when the head is attached to the handle,
wherein the handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite to the proximal end,
wherein the head material has a head-material density, and the handle material has a handle-material density, wherein the handle-material density is from about 1.75 times to about 6.2 times greater than the head-material density, and
wherein the toothbrush is structured and configured so that when the toothbrush is placed on its back side on a substantially planar surface, the toothbrush remains on its back side in a balanced position, and when thereafter the toothbrush is moved out of said balanced position, the toothbrush automatically returns to said balanced position.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the handle-material density is from about 2.6 times to about 4.2 times greater than the head-material density.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush's ability to return to the balanced position prevents the toothbrush from tipping over when the toothbrush is loaded with toothpaste disposed on the plurality of cleaning elements, whereby the toothpaste remains spaced away from the substantially planar surface supporting the toothbrush in said balanced position.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the handle has a center point located intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, and a center of gravity disposed at or near the center point.

5. The toothbrush of claim 4 , wherein the center of gravity is positioned closer to the back side of the toothbrush than to the front side thereof.

6. The toothbrush of claim 5 , wherein the position of the center of gravity enables the toothbrush to (a) remain in the balanced position when the toothbrush is placed on its back side on the substantially planar surface and (b) automatically return to the balanced position after the toothbrush has been moved out of said balanced position while being on the substantially planar surface.

7. The toothbrush of claim 5 , wherein the center of gravity of the toothbrush is positioned below an axis of rotation when the brush is loaded with about 1.4 g of toothpaste and placed on a substantially planer surface.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush having about 1.4 gram of toothpaste deposited onto the plurality of cleaning elements (a) assumes the balanced position when the toothbrush is placed on its back side on a substantially planar surface, and (b) automatically returns to said balanced position after the toothbrush has been moved out of said balanced position while being on the substantially planar surface.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a concave portion defining a part of the handle suitable for being used as a thumb rest that is positioned on the front side of the toothbrush and adjacent to the proximal end of the handle.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to form at least one ring disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the handle.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the head material comprises thermoplastic resin, and the handle material comprises aluminum.

12. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the head is attachable to the handle via a snap-fit locking mechanism comprising a connector of the handle, the connector being insertable into a hollow portion of the head.

13. The manual toothbrush of claim 1 , the toothbrush having an overall length extension, the center of gravity being located at a distance measured from the distal end of the handle, wherein the ratio of the distance of the center of gravity measured from the distal end to the overall length extension of the toothbrush is from about 0.30 to about 0.45.

14. A manual toothbrush having a front side and a back side opposite to the front side and a longitudinal axis,
wherein the toothbrush includes a disposable head comprising a head material having a head-material density and a reusable handle comprising a handle material having a handle-material density that is from about 1.75 times to about 6.2 times greater than the head-material density,
wherein the head has a hollow portion therein and a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the front side of the toothbrush when the head is attached to the handle,
wherein the handle has a connector insertable into the hollow portion of the head for a snap-fit locking engagement therewith, whereby the head can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle,
wherein the handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite to the proximal end,
wherein the head material comprises a thermoplastic polymer and the handle material comprises aluminum,
wherein the handle has a center of gravity positioned closer to the back side of the toothbrush than to the front side thereof, and
wherein the position of the center of gravity causes the toothbrush to (a) remain on its back side in a balanced position when the toothbrush is placed on its back side on a substantially planar surface, and (b) automatically return to said balanced position when the toothbrush is moved out of said balanced position.

15. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein the head-material density is from about 0.5 g/cm 3 to about 1.2 g/cm 3 , and the handle-material density is from about 2.1 g/cm 3 to about 3.1 g/cm 3 .

16. The toothbrush of claim 15 , wherein the center of gravity of the toothbrush is positioned below an axis of rotation when the brush is loaded with about 1.4 g of toothpaste and placed on a substantially planer surface.

17. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein the handle is configured to form at least one ring therein.

18. The toothbrush of claim 17 , wherein the at least one ring is adjacent to the proximal end of the handle.

19. The toothbrush of claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises a concave portion suitable for a thumb rest positioned on the front side of the toothbrush and adjacent to the at least one ring.

20. A manual toothbrush having a front side and a back side opposite to the front side,
wherein the toothbrush includes a disposable head comprising a head material and a reusable handle comprising a handle material that is different from the head material,
wherein the head material has a head-material density, and the handle material has a handle-material density, wherein the handle-material density is from about 1.75 times to about 6.2 times greater than the head-material density,
the head material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and the handle material comprising aluminum,

wherein the head has a hollow portion at a proximal end of the head and a plurality of cleaning elements at a distal end of the head, the cleaning elements extending from the front side of the toothbrush when the head is attached to the handle,
wherein the handle has a connector at a proxi

Assignees

• Gillette Co Llc

Inventors

• Jungnickel Uwe

Classifications

• A46B15/0002

  Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process · CPC title

• A46B9/045

  specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously · CPC title

• A46B5/021

  Grips or handles specially adapted to conform to the hand · CPC title

• A46B17/02

  Devices for holding brushes in use · CPC title

• A46B9/04 Primary

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title