U.S. patent application number 10/560035 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Lai Joo Koi.
Application Number | 20060236483 10/560035 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33509729 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060236483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koi; Lai Joo |
October 26, 2006 |
Toothbrush
Abstract
The improved toothbrush has a brush head which may be engaged on
to and disengaged from its elongated handle. This is achieve by
means of a brush head that has a partially or fully elastic casing
disposed on top of the bristle pad. The handle head of the
elongated handle is inserted into the casing through its access
which is preferably an opening on a second end wall located at the
second end of the brush head. The brush head may also include a
locking means. Two of the many possible embodiments of the locking
means using extended pins and corresponding holes are described
herein. The modular brush head and modular handle allows handles
with different designs to be fitted with brush head that has
different bristle arrays to fit individual brushing needs. The
invention is gum friendly and may function as a gum massager and
environmental friendly since worn out brush heads are disengaged
and thrown away. Such an engageable and disengageable brush head
may be incorporated in an electrical toothbrush.
Inventors: |
Koi; Lai Joo; (Kuala Lumpur,
MY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
33509729 |
Appl. No.: |
10/560035 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
June 10, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SG04/00178 |
371 Date: |
June 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 ;
15/176.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 7/04 20130101; A46B
2200/1066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/167.1 ;
015/176.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 7/04 20060101
A46B007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2003 |
MY |
PI20032158 |
Claims
1. A toothbrush comprising: an elongated handle with handle grip on
first end joined to handle head on second end via neck of said
elongated handle; and a brush head having a bristle pad with array
of bristles projecting from bottom side of said bristle pad and an
elastic casing with its access disposed on top side of said bristle
pad, characterized by said elongated handle being engaged with said
brush head by means of inserting the handle head into the casing
through its access, said access is at least one through hole, and
said elongated handle can be disengaged from the brush head after
engagement of the brush head with the elongated handle by the
handle head taken out of said through hole of the access, said
brush head secured to said handle head by a locking means, said
locking means is a toolless locking means formed by at least one
pair of fitting extended pin and through hole, where said extended
pin is located on said handle head and said through hole on said
brush head, and location of said extended pin and said through hole
must be in such a manner that said extended pin will securely fit
in said through hole after said handle head has been fully inserted
into said brush head.
2. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing is
formed by a base portion, opposing side walls and a bristle pad,
where said base portion is joined to said bristle pad by means of
said opposing side walls.
3. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein said casing having
an opening to a cavity of said casing is located at first end of
said brush head, where said cavity is defined by interior surfaces
of said base portion, said opposing side walls and top side of said
bristle pad.
4. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brush head
has its second end enclosed by a second end wall which is joined to
both of said bristle pad and said base portion to form part of said
casing.
5. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 4, wherein a first end wall
opposing second end wall, having said opening is joined to said
base portion and said bristle pad to form part of said casing,
where first embodiment of said base portion and said second end
wall are made of elastic material.
6. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 5, wherein said opening
having the shape corresponds to cross-section of said neck of said
handle when said handle head is fully inserted into said
casing.
7. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opposing side
walls and first end wall are made of said elastic material.
8. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cavity is
also defined by interior surfaces of both first end wall and second
end wall where the second embodiment shape of said cavity conforms
to shape of said handle head or said cavity having its thickness
slightly thinner than the thickness of said handle head, so that
said brush head encloses said handle head entirely except the part
where said neck leads out of said brush head.
9. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toothbrush
having adhesion and suction force that holds said brush head and
said handle head together when there is no air in between surfaces
of said handle head and surfaces of said cavity.
10. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toothbrush
having thicker handle head than the height of said cavity will
cause gripping tension of the elastic base to enhance better
holding onto the interior surfaces of the casing.
11. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brush head
can be formed with its exterior surfaces of said base portion, said
opposing side walls and second end wall have textured surfaces in
order that they act as a gum massager.
12. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 7, wherein said elastic
material enables permanent drawings to be imprinted, formed or
molded on said casing.
13. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 12, wherein said elastic
material is an elastomeric material such as (Thermo Plastic
Elastomer) TPE resin and said bristle pad is made of rigid material
such as polypropylene or any other cohesive materials that is
suitable for planting or tufting arrays of bristles and said
elastic material and said rigid material are easily cohered to form
said brush head.
14. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said neck of said
handle can be in the shapes of laterally at an angle to one side so
that said brush head is at an angle to said handle grip when the
toothbrush is viewed with end-on of said bristles in view; at an
angle to one side so that said brush head is at a larger angle to
said handle grip when the toothbrush is viewed with side-on of said
bristles in view; or any other different angles to cater for
different modular handles for different brushing needs.
15. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle head
of said toothbrush is flat, streamlined, symmetrical about its
centre and thicker or equivalent in height to the cavity of said
casing.
16. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extended pin
and hole of the pair of locking means can be in any suitable shapes
to secure said brush head to said elongated handle.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The toothbrush described herein relates to changeable or
disposable brush heads and locking means for securing such brush
heads to the toothbrush handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Teeth brushing has been improved on either in the
formulation of toothpaste or the brush that is used. Some of these
improvements are also expanded in scope to benefit the gum as
well.
[0003] The present invention is a toothbrush contributing to
improvements in teeth brushing which is an indispensable hygiene
care. Its main feature is that it is a toothbrush with a detachable
brush head. This allows the user to choose from a variety of pad
design with different bristles configuration to suit the user's
brushing needs. Besides the variety of brush head to choose from,
the handle comes in different shapes that are ergonomically
designed. This allows the user to mix and match the brush head with
the handle not only to suit his or her brushing needs but also to
have a toothbrush that is comfortable to use.
[0004] Since the brush head is interchangeable, only the brush head
needs to be disposed off while the handle may be retained. This
cuts down a high percentage of waste material contributed from
thrown away toothbrush and makes this toothbrush environmental
friendly.
[0005] The toothbrush is also simultaneously meant to be gum
friendly since the bulk of its modular brush head is made of soft
elastomeric material. It not only absorb the impact of the brush
head knocking on to the gum but the back and the side of the brush
head which is made of this soft yet elastic material can be used a
gum massager, thus extending the function of this invention.
[0006] Therefore, it is the general objective of the invention to
provide effective teeth brushing using a toothbrush which is
user-friendly and environmental friendly. This is achieved by
providing a means to change the brush head or the handle of the
invention.
[0007] It is furthermore the objective of the invention to provide
a means for changing the brush head or the handle of a
toothbrush.
[0008] Specifically such a brush head is not only securely held to
its handle but it also securely locked in place through a locking
means, which said locking means is preferably applied without need
of tools.
[0009] It is also intended that said locking means allows the brush
head to be removed easily from the handle at user's will but not
when the toothbrush is in used.
[0010] It is also the intention of the invention to gum-friendly as
part of its user-friendly feature, with the brush head acting as a
gum massager as well.
[0011] The invention also allows permanent drawings to be
imprinted, formed or molded onto the brush head as desired.
[0012] The locking means to lock the brush head to its handle can
also be incorporated in electrical toothbrush after suitable
modifications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention is a toothbrush that is made up of a brush
head engaged on to an elongated handle. The modularity of the brush
head and elongated handle allows the user to mix and match brush
head from different bristle configurations and elongated handle
from different handle design to suit individual brushing needs. The
brush head has a casing disposed on reverse side of bristles. The
casing is partially or fully elastic so that the handle head can be
inserted entirely into the brush head. The brush head may further
include locking means using extended pins and corresponding holes
which may have more than one embodiments. Since the casing is
partially or fully elastic the toothbrush can be used as a gum
massager. Worn out toothbrush can be disengaged for disposal which
makes this invention environmental friendly. The brush head may be
incorporated into an electrical toothbrush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the entire toothbrush in one of its
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 2a and 2b shows the top view and side view of first
embodiment of the elongated handle.
[0016] FIG. 3a and 3b shows the top view and side view of second
embodiment of the elongated handle.
[0017] FIG. 4a and 4b shows the top view and side view of third
embodiment of the elongated handle.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows the cross-section view of the first and second
embodiment of the brush head.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows the cross-section view of the third embodiment
of the brush head.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows the cross-section view of the fourth embodiment
of the brush head.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows the cross-section view of part of the
toothbrush.
[0022] FIG. 9 shows the first embodiment of the locking means.
[0023] FIG. 10 shows the second embodiment of the locking
means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The entire invention (000) in one of its embodiment is as
exemplified in FIG. 1. It is composed of two main parts: a brush
head (200) and an elongated handle (100). The handle grip (102) is
disposed at the first end (101) of the handle (100), which is
joined to a handle head (110) at the second end (104) of the handle
(100) by means of a neck (103) as shown in FIG. 2a and 2b. The
shape of the neck (103) is preferably as follow. The neck (103)
looks like an elongated "S", like the shape of a human spine or
cubic spline shape when the toothbrush is viewed from the side.
When viewed from the top, that is with end of the bristles (202) in
view, the neck (103) tapers off to a minimum cross section and
slightly widens again as it extends up from the handle grip (101)
toward the handle head (110) as shown in FIG. 2a. This however does
not mean that the cross-section of the neck (103) must be smaller
than the width of the handle head (110) to be described below. The
cross-section of the neck (103) may be of any size in relation the
width of the handle head (110).
[0025] The first end (111) of the handle head (110) is preferably
wider than the adjacent portion (103') of the neck (103) that is
joined to it. As the first end (111) of the handle head (110)
extends toward the second end (113) of the handle head (110), the
middle section (112) has the same width as the second end (113) of
the handle head (110). The second end (113) of the handle head
(110) that is joined to the middle section (112) is streamlined so
that the handle head (110) can be easily inserted into brush head
(200) to be exemplified later. When viewed from the side the entire
brush head (100) is preferably flat as shown in FIG. 2b, except
where there may be extended pins which will be described later.
[0026] The handle may have still another second embodiment as shown
in FIG. 3a and 3b wherein the neck (103a) is inclinely molded at an
angle (105) to one side when view from the top as shown in FIG. 3a.
In the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 4a and 4b, the neck (103b)
is inclinely molded in such a manner that the curve (106) of the
elongated "S" that is nearer to the handle head (110) will have a
smaller curvature. As a result, the elongated "S" will not be as
elongated as before but curved in much more toward the top side of
the toothbrush as seen from side of toothbrush as shown in FIG. 4b.
The necks (103, 103a, 103b) have various type of inclination at
different angles are to cater for different brushing needs of
different users. It is clear that these examples (FIG. 2a, 2b, 3a,
3b, 4a, 4b) of the elongated handle are by no means exhaustive.
Furthermore different shapes of handle head (110) can be
incorporated with necks having different curvature to obtain other
embodiments.
[0027] Meanwhile the general construction of the brush head (200)
as shown in FIG. 8, is composed of a casing (203) disposed on top
(201a) of a bristle pad (201). This can be achieved by using either
insert molding, over molding or other existing production method in
the art. The bristle pad (201) is preferably rigid, made of
material such as polypropylene resin or other resins or modified
elastomeric materials which are not elastic but resilient and
slightly stiffer that is suitable for planting or tufting arrays of
bristles (202). The bottom side (201b) of the bristle pad (201) is
planted or tufted with arrays of bristles (202). Bristles (202) of
any material, height, design and configuration of bristles can be
mounted on the bristle pad (201). The casing (203) can be partly or
entirely made of soft materials, such as another kind of
elastomeric material which is elastic and soft towards user's gum.
Various specific embodiments of such a brush head (200) will given
as follows.
[0028] In a first embodiment of the brush head (200) as shown in
FIG. 5, the minimal construction of the casing (203) has a bristle
pad (201), opposing side walls (205a, 205b) and a base portion
(204). The opposing side walls (205a, 205b) are molded along both
opposing sides of the bristle pad (201) and the base portion (204)
joins the side walls (205a, 205b) together to form a passage way
(206). In this embodiment, minimally the base portion (204) is made
of said soft material which is elastic. In a second embodiment
modified from the first embodiment, the side walls (205a, 205b) can
also be made of same soft material. In a third embodiment modified
from the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the second end (207)
of the brush head (200) can be closed up by a second end wall
(207a) which may be or may not be made of the soft material.
However, the second end wall (207a) is preferably made of the soft
material since the invention is meant to be gum-friendly. In the
first two embodiments, the brush head (200) is engaged onto the
handle head (110) by simply inserting the handle head (110) into
the passage way (206) through an access (210a) at first end (210)
of the brush head (200) as shown in FIG. 6.
[0029] In the fourth embodiment of the brush head (200) as shown in
FIG. 7, the first end (210) of the brush head (200) can be closed
up by a first end wall (209) made of similar soft material which
has an opening (209a) on it. Preferably, this opening (209a)
matches the cross-section of that portion (103') of the neck (103)
that will go through it when the handle head (110) is inserted into
the brush head (200). However, the invention (000) still works with
different sizes of the opening (209a) or the access (210a).
[0030] As exemplified earlier, a major part of the handle head
(110) is equivalent or wider than the neck (103) except for the
second end (104) of the handle head (110). The handle head (110) is
thicker or equivalent in height to the passage way (206). This
necessitates that different parts of or the entire casing (203) be
made with soft material that are elastic. For instance, the fourth
embodiment of the brush head (200) as shown in FIG. 7 may be
modified to have only the first end wall (209) and base portion
(204) be made of elastic materials; or the first end wall (209) and
the second end wall (207a) and side walls (205a, 205b) be made of
elastic materials, while the rest are rigid materials. These
combinations of elastic and rigid materials in the fourth
embodiment of the brush head (200) as shown in FIG. 7 allows the
larger handle head (110) to be pushed through a smaller or same
size opening (209a) and the entire casing (203) to enclose the
handle head (110) once it is inside the cavity (203a) of the casing
(203). When the handle head (110) is pushed through the opening
(209a), the first end wall (209) will be stretched so that the
opening (209a) becomes wider. Due to the elasticity of the wall,
the opening (209a) will be restored to its original size once the
entire handle head (110) is inserted into the brush head (200).
[0031] The bristle pad (201) may be entirely rigid or must at least
be semi-rigid so that bristles (202) may be mounted on it.
Therefore in principle, the invention is a brush head (200) that
can be engaged on to the handle head (110) of an elongated handle
(100) by means of inserting the handle head (110) into a casing
(203) of the brush head (200) which is partly or entirely elastic.
The invention must also allow the brush head (200) to be disengaged
from the elongated handle (100). This can be achieved by the cavity
(203a) having the exact shape conforming to the handle head (100)
or by the cavity (203a) slightly under sized. Slightly undersized
cavity (203a) is composed of elastic parts that are slight
undersized, not the rigid parts, so that these elastic parts will
be slightly stretched when the handle head (110) is completely
inserted into the cavity (203a). In this way the casing (203) of
the brush head (200) will grip on to the handle head (110).
[0032] In all the embodiments of the brush head (200), preferably
the interior surfaces (203b) of the casing (203) may or may not
thinner in height to the shape of the handle head (110). In other
words, cavity (203a) formed by the interior surface (203b) of the
casing (203) would be in the shape of the handle head (110). In the
presence of water as a lubricating medium, the handle head (110)
can be easily inserted into the brush head (200). The elastic
material of the brush head (200) will then squeeze out the water
and air in between the surfaces (114) of the handle head (110) and
the interior surfaces (203b) of the casing (203). When there is no
air, the two surfaces would be held together by a suction force,
just as in two similar wet plastic cups that are stacked together
is difficult to separate. This feature further enhance the engaging
of the brush head (200) on to the handle head (110). While for the
thicker handle head (110), it will cause gripping tension of the
elastic base (204) to enhance better holding onto the interior
surfaces (203b) of the casing (203).
[0033] Additional locking means may also be included in the
invention to further ensure that brush head (200) is secured on to
the handle head (110) without use of any tools and would not come
out accidentally during brushing. Furthermore, the locking means
must allow the brush head to be removed at user's will without use
of any tools. All the locking means described as follow can be
applied in all the embodiments of a partly or entirely elastic
brush head (200) that were described above.
[0034] The first embodiment of the locking means (300) as shown in
FIG. 9, is a pair of extended pin (301) located on the handle head
(110) and its matching hole (302) on the brush head (200). The
location of the hole (302) may be anywhere on the brush head (200)
as long as it is not obstructive. The extended pin (302) on the
handle head (110) would then be appropriately located on the handle
head (110) so that when the entire handle head (110) is inserted
into the cavity (203a) of the casing (203), the extended pin (301)
would snapped into the hole (302). Preferably, the extended pin
(301) would be located on the first end (210) of the handle head
(110) adjacent to where the last portion (103') of the neck (103)
is, and the material of this extended pin (301) would be the same
as the elongated handle (100). Meanwhile, the hole (302) would be
on the bristle pad (201) in such a manner that the hole (302) would
be near the second end (207) of the brush head (200). There may be
more than one pair of extended pin and hole in this first
embodiment of the locking means (300).
[0035] The engaging and disengaging to the brush head (200) is as
follow. The brush head (200) is engaged on the elongated handle
(100) by inserting the streamlined handle head (110) into the
access (210a) or opening (209a) on the brush head (200). As the
handle head (110) is inserted into the brush head (200), the handle
(100) is rocked from side to side to help the handle head (110)
slips completely into place. The handle head (110) will locked in
position by easy alignment of extended pin (301) and corresponding
hole (302) in the bristle pad (201). The extended pin (301) will
snapped into the hole (302) when the corresponding area on the
casing (203) is pressed by user. The brush head (200) is disengaged
from the elongated handle (100) by reversing the engaging
procedure.
[0036] In the second embodiment of locking means (400) as shown in
FIG. 10, one or more extended pins (401a, 401b, 401c) are located
on the top side (201a) of the bristle pad (201), that is within the
cavity (203a) itself. In FIG. 10, the bristles (202) and the casing
(203) are removed so as to bare the bristle pad (201). The matching
holes (402a, 402b, 402c) would be located on the handle head (110).
The holes (402a, 402b, 402c) on the handle head (110) may be blind
or through-hole but it is preferably through-holes. This brush head
(200) with second locking means (400) is engaged to and disengaged
from the elongated handle (100) in the same procedure as with the
earlier brush head (200) using the first locking means (300). With
the second locking means (400), the brush head (200) may be engaged
to the elongated handle (100) with its bristle (202) facing upward
or downward since the handle head (110) is symmetrical about its
centre.
[0037] The invention (000) is also meant to be a gum massager since
part of the casing (203) is made of soft material. It is preferably
that the base portion (204), the first end wall (209) and the
second end wall (207a) and the opposing side walls (205a, 205b) of
the casing (203) be made of soft material for the invention (000)
to function as a gum massager as well. Furthermore as a gum
massager the exterior surface (203c) of the casing (203) may be
textured, i.e. that is having uneven patterns. Permanent drawings
may also be printed on the exterior surface (203c) of the casing
(203) to make the toothbrush looks more attractive.
[0038] The partially or fully elastic brush head (200) can also be
incorporated in an electrical toothbrush with suitable modification
to the handle of the electrical toothbrush so that brush head (200)
may engaged on to and disengaged from the electrical toothbrush as
described above.
[0039] It is clear by now that the invention (000) is an embodiment
of elongated handle (100) which may have various embodiments, and
brush head (200) with various embodiments of its casing (203) or
locking means (300, 400). Therefore the above descriptions of the
invention are by no means exhaustive and the invention may be
reproduced or modified by any person skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is
claimed as follows.
* * * * *