Interdental brush

• US 5,896,615 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Zaksenberg, Issac
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US08/847,899
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 15/143.1, 15/172, 15/176.1, 15/176.3, 15/176.4, 15/176.5, 15/176.6, 15/167.1
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers

Abstract

The interdental brush has a quadrangular shaped handle portion with an angled brush head portion with a brush head cartridge attached at one end and a removable brush head holder at the other end. The brush head can fit in a contra-angle arrangement or co-directional arrangement to the angle of the handle and the brush head support. In addition, there is a positive grip handle with a projecting thumb finger grip. The removable brush head holder into which the brush head can fit provides a smaller interdental brush and one that can be used away from home.

Claims

1. An interdental brush comprising an elongated handle portion having an angled brush head support portion at one end to support a brush head cartridge and a removable portion at another end, the angled brush head support portion extending from said elongated handle portion terminating in a means for attaching said brush head cartridge, said brush head cartridge and said means for attaching said brush head cartridge cooperating for the attachment of said brush head cartridge in a direction that is one of co-directional and contra-directional to the angle of said handle portion and said angled brush head support portion.

2. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching attaches said brush head in said co-directional orientation.

3. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching attaches said brush head in said contra-directional orientation.

4. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said cooperating attachment means on said angled brush head support portion comprises a channel.

5. An interdental brush as in claim 4 wherein said cooperating attachment means on said brush head cartridge comprises a rod.

6. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said brush head cartridge comprises an attachment means at one end and a brush head on an other end, said brush head being at an angle of about 60°

to 120°

to said attachment means.

7. An interdental brush as in claim 6 wherein said brush head is at an angle of about 90°

to said attachment means.

8. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said angled brush head support portion is at an angle of about 145°

to about 175°

to said elongated handle portion.

9. An interdental brush as in claim 8 wherein said angled portion is at an angle of about 160°

to about 170°

to said elongated handle portion.

10. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein said removable portion has an attachment means for attaching said removable portion to said elongated handle portion, said attachment means comprising a cooperating channel adapted to attach to an interfitting rod arrangement on said elongated handle portion.

11. An interdental brush as in claim 10 wherein said brush head cartridge attaches to the attachment means of said removable portion.

12. An interdental brush as in claim 1 wherein at the end of said elongated handle adjacent said angled portion, a cross-section of said elongated handle is quadrangular.

13. An interdental brush comprising an elongated handle portion having an angled brush head support portion at one end to support a brush head cartridge, the angled brush head support portion extending from said elongated handle portion and terminating in a means for attaching said brush head cartridge, said brush head cartridge and said means for attaching said brush head cartridge cooperating for the attachment of said brush head cartridge in a direction that is one of co-directional and contra-directional to the angle of said handle portion and said angled brush head support portion, said elongated handle portion having a grip structure at a junction of said elongated handle portion and said angled brush head support portion and being essentially quadrangular in the area of said grip structure, said grip structure comprising a raised thumb grip projection on one side thereof and a plurality of grip projections for at least one finger on an opposite side thereof.

14. An interdental brush as in claim 13 wherein said means for attaching attaches said brush head in said co-directional orientation.

15. An interdental brush as in claim 13 wherein said means for attaching attaches said brush head in said contra-directional orientation.

16. An interdental brush as in claim 13 wherein said cooperating attachment means on said angled brush head support portion comprises a channel.

17. An interdental brush as in claim 16 wherein said cooperating attachment means on said brush head cartridge comprises a rod.

18. An interdental brush as in claim 13 wherein said brush head cartridge comprises an attachment means for attaching said brush head cartridge to said brush head support portion at one end and a brush head on an other end, said brush head being at an angle of about 60°

to 120°

to said attachment means.

19. An interdental brush as in claim 13 wherein said angled brush head support portion is at an angle of about 145°

to about 175°

to said elongated handle portion.

20. An interdental brush as in claim 19 wherein said angled portion is at an angle of about 160°

to about 170°

to said elongated handle portion.