Contouring toothbrush head

• US 20060117508A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Hohlbein
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Hohlbein
• Inventors: Hohlbein, Douglas J.
• Application Number:
  US11/341,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/110
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0032 with protrusion for polishing teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/002 having articulations, joints or flexible portions
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0025 Brushes with elastically deformable heads that change shape during use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/06 movably during use , i.e. the normal brushing action causing movement driven brush bodies A46B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/045 specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

The present invention discloses a toothbrush having a handle and an articulated head coupled to the handle. The articulated head includes two sections and each of the head sections has a bottom surface and a side surface. Each of the head sections includes a plurality of bristles extending from the bottom surface of that head section and at least one of the head sections includes a plurality of elastomeric fingers partially defining the side surface of that head section and partially extending from the bottom surface of the head section. The head section most remote from the handle, in a normal configuration of the articulated head, is angled with respect to the other head section.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a handle; and

an articulated head coupled to the handle, the articulated head including two sections, each of the head sections having a bottom surface and a side surface, each of the head sections including a plurality of bristles extending from the respective bottom surface thereof, at least one of the head sections including a plurality of elastomeric fingers partially defining the side surface of that head section and partially extending from the bottom surface of that head section, wherein the head section most remote from the handle, in a normal configuration of the articulated head, is angled with respect to the other head section.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least some of the elastomeric fingers are of different lengths.

3. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tufts of bristles have differing lengths such that free ends of the plurality of tufts of bristles form a curved contour, and wherein the lengths of at least some of the elastomeric fingers follow the curved contour of the free ends of the plurality of tufts of bristles.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least some of the free ends of the plurality of bristles extending from one of the head sections forms a slant with respect to the bottom surface of the head section.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the Shore hardness value of the elastomeric fingers is below 30.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a side surface of each of the plurality of elastomeric fingers facing the plurality of bristles is substantially flat.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein each of the elastomeric fingers of the plurality of elastomeric fingers is substantially D-shaped.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein each of the elastomeric fingers of the plurality of elastomeric fingers is substantially C-shaped.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a flex area between facing ends of the two head sections.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle has an area that is composed of an elastomeric material, and wherein the plurality of elastomeric fingers are composed of the same elastomeric material as the elastomeric area in the handle.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the head section most remote from the handle has a side surface partially defined by the elastomeric fingers.

12. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush has a geometry such that if the toothbrush is in a resting position on a flat surface and the bottom surface of the head is facing the flat surface, the elastomeric fingers will not contact the flat surface.