Toothbrush

• US 6,049,936 A
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Holley
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Holley
• Inventors: Holley, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/184,996
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 15/143.1, 15/145, 15/167.1, 15/176.1, 16/422, 16/430, 16/436, 16/DIG. 19
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand

Abstract

A toothbrush comprises a brush portion and a handle portion. The brush portion has an elongated portion having brush bristles extending laterally from one end thereof. The handle portion has a top cap which is mounted to the other end of the elongated portion opposite the brush bristles and a base cap positioned opposite the top cap. A spine extends between the base cap and the top cap. A sack is mounted on the spine between the base cap and the top cap, the sack being a readily deformable material. The width of the handle portion decreases from the top cap to the base cap.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a brush portion, the brush portion having an elongated portion having brush bristles extending laterally from one end thereof;

a handle portion having a top cap which is mounted to the other end of the elongated portion opposite the brush bristles, a base cap positioned opposite the top cap, a spine extending between the base cap and the top cap, a sack being mounted on the spine between the base cap and the top cap, the sack being a readily deformable material, the width of the handle portion decreasing from the top cap to the base cap.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the spine, the base cap, the top cap and the elongated portion are integrally formed.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the top cap is a upwardly extending flattened conical shape and the base cap is a smaller downwardly extending flattened conical shape centered on the top cap.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the spine includes a rear edge opposite the laterally extending brush bristles and a body extending inwardly from the rear edge towards the center of the handle portion.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the body extends inwardly about two thirds of the width of the handle portion.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the body presents an trapezoidal cross section.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the sack presents a thick walled U-shape in a horizontal cross section, the sack further having a cavity formed by the walls of the U-shape, the cavity mating with the body.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the sack is permanently attached to the caps and the spine with glue.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the sack includes interior spaces which are filled with a gel material.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the sack has a non-slip outer surface.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the brush portion is detachable from the handle portion.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the handle portion is provided with a channel and the elongated portion is a standard toothbrush handle, the channel receiving the handle.

13. A toothbrush comprising:

a brush portion, the brush portion having an elongated portion having brush bristles extending laterally from one end thereof;

a handle portion having a top cap which is mounted to the other end of the elongated portion opposite the brush bristles, a base cap positioned opposite the top cap, a spine extending between the base cap and the top cap, the spine including a rear edge opposite the laterally extending brush bristles and a body extending inwardly from the rear edge about two thirds of the width of the handle portion, a sack having a cavity, the cavity mating with the body, the sack extending between the base cap and the top cap, the sack being a readily deformable material, the width of the handle portion decreasing from the top cap to the base cap, the top cap being a upwardly extending flattened conical shape and the base cap being a smaller downwardly extending flattened conical shape centered on the top cap.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the brush portion is detachable from the handle portion.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the body is provided with a channel and the elongated portion is a standard toothbrush handle, the channel receiving the handle.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the spine, the base cap, the top cap and the elongated portion are integrally formed.