Manual toothbrush having replaceable head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12245685-B2
Application number	US-202117354027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2021
Priority date	Feb 9, 2018
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

A replaceable head for removeable connection with a manual toothbrush handle, the head comprising: a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a neck having a hollow portion therein and extending between the first end and the second end, and a bristle carrier disposed adjacent to the first end. The second end comprises a second-end opening leading into the hollow portion of the neck and terminates with a second-end edge comprising a chamfered surface structured and configured to mate with a corresponding chamfered surface of the handle when the head is connected thereto. The neck's hollow portion is defined by an inner wall comprising a recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball associated with a connector of the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A replaceable head for removeable connection with a manual toothbrush handle, the head comprising:
a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a neck having a hollow portion therein and extending between the first end and the second end, and a bristle carrier disposed adjacent to the first end;
wherein the second end comprises a second-end opening leading into the hollow portion of the neck;
wherein the second end terminates with a second-end edge comprising a chamfered surface structured and configured to mate with a corresponding chamfered surface of the handle when the head is connected thereto;
wherein an inner wall is defined within the hollow portion;
wherein the inner wall comprises a recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball associated with a connector of the handle, and
wherein the head comprises at least one rib for precisely adjusting the head on the connector of the handle, the at least one rib extending from the inner wall within the hollow portion to the recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball.

2. The head of claim 1 , wherein the recess does not extend all the way through the inner wall.

3. The head of claim 1 , wherein the head comprises a front side and a rear side opposite to the front side, wherein the bristle carrier is disposed on the front side, and wherein the recess is situated proximate to the front side.

4. The head of claim 1 , wherein the recess is not visible when the head is attached to the connector.

5. The head of claim 1 , wherein the recess is visible only through the second-end opening.

6. The replaceable head of claim 3 , wherein the chamfered surface of the second end is oriented such that a portion of the second-end edge located on the front side of the head extends further from the first end than a portion of the second-end edge located on the rear side of the head.

7. The head of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib comprises two mutually opposite ribs.

8. A replaceable head for removeable connection with a manual toothbrush handle, the replaceable head comprising:
a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a neck extending between the first end and the second end, and a bristle carrier disposed adjacent to the first end;
wherein the second end comprises a second-end opening leading into a hollow portion of the neck, the hollow portion being defined by an inner wall of the neck;
wherein the second end comprises a chamfered surface structured and configured to mate with a corresponding chamfered surface of the manual-toothbrush handle;
wherein the inner wall comprises a recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball associated with a connector of a toothbrush handle,
wherein the head comprises at least one rib for precisely adjusting the head on the connector of the handle, the at least one rib extending from the inner wall within the hollow portion to the recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball; and
wherein a distinct haptic feedback is provided to a user upon an engagement interaction between the recess and the spring-loaded ball as the spring-loaded ball snaps into the recess, to alert a user that the head is securely connected to the toothbrush handle as the engagement interaction between the recess and the spring-loaded ball becomes invisible when the head and the handle are connected together.

9. A replaceable head for removeable connection to a manual toothbrush handle, the head comprising:
a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a neck extending between the first end and the second end, and a bristle carrier disposed adjacent to the first end;
wherein the second end comprises an opening leading into a hollow portion of the neck, the hollow portion being defined by an inner wall of the neck, wherein the inner wall comprises a recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball associated with a connector of a toothbrush handle, wherein the recess is visible only through the opening;
wherein the second end comprises a chamfered surface structured and configured to mate with a corresponding chamfered surface of the handle;
wherein the opening and the hollow portion are structured and configured for the recess to receive a connector associated with the handle and comprising a spring-loaded ball, to displace the spring-loaded ball from a first position to a second position upon partial connection of the head with the handle, and then permit the spring-loaded ball to return to the first position upon a complete connection of the head with the handle, along with a distinct haptic feedback to alert a user that the head is securely connected to the handle, and
wherein the head comprises at least one rib for precisely adjusting the head on the connector of the handle, the at least one rib extending from the inner wall within the hollow portion to the recess for receiving a spring-loaded ball.

Assignees

• Gillette Co Llc

Inventors

• Jungnickel Uwe
• Alinski Jens

Classifications

• A61C17/225

  Handles or details thereof · CPC title

• A61C17/222

  Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle · CPC title

• A46B9/04

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• H01R2201/12

  for medicine and surgery · CPC title

• H01R13/6276

  comprising one or more balls engaging in a hole or a groove · CPC title