Suction cup toothbrush with improved characteristics
First Claim
1. A toothbrush comprising:
- a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;
a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;
a suction cup pedestal; and
a flexible transition portion connecting said lower end of said handle to said suction cup pedestal, said handle, suction cup pedestal and flexible transition portion being constructed and arranged so that said toothbrush will normally be oriented in a substantially upright position when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface, said flexible transition portion being sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toothbrush includes a brush portion, a handle, a suction cup pedestal and a flexible transition portion connecting a lower end of the handle to the suction cup pedestal. The handle, suction cup pedestal and flexible transition portion are constructed and arranged so that the toothbrush will normally be oriented in a substantially upright position when the suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface. Advantageously, though, the flexible transition portion is sufficiently flexible so as to permit the toothbrush to be deflected when the suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that the central longitudinal axis of the handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical. A novel packaging assembly for such a toothbrush is also disclosed.
135 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A toothbrush comprising:
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a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;
a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;
a suction cup pedestal; and
a flexible transition portion connecting said lower end of said handle to said suction cup pedestal, said handle, suction cup pedestal and flexible transition portion being constructed and arranged so that said toothbrush will normally be oriented in a substantially upright position when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface, said flexible transition portion being sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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36. A toothbrush and packaging assembly comprising:
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a toothbrush including a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;
a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;
a suction cup pedestal; and
a flexible transition portion connecting said lower end of said handle to said suction cup pedestal; and
a package for said toothbrush, said package being constructed and arranged so that said toothbrush is held within said package so that said suction cup pedestal is isolated from any lateral contact with said package, whereby said suction cup pedestal will be protected against forces that could deform said suction cup pedestal and thereby degrade the performance of said toothbrush.
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39. A toothbrush comprising:
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a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;
a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;
a pedestal connected to said lower end of said handle, said pedestal having a maximum outer diameter and being constructed and arranged to support said toothbrush on a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle will be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, and wherein said handle is constructed to have a maximum outer dimension that is sufficiently less than said maximum outer diameter for an axial distance away from said pedestal so that said pedestal may operate as a stop abutting a users finger so as to secure a users grip on said toothbrush.
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Specification