Toothbrush

• US 6,374,448 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: M+C Schiffer GmbH (Schiffer Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: M+C Schiffer GmbH (Schiffer Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Seifert, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/832,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 151/10, 151/671, 151/69, 151/72, 151/761-176, 151/88, 152/01, 152/02, 151/84, 601/141
• US Class Current: 15/110
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/08 as a rotating disc

Abstract

The present invention relates to a brush, in particular a toothbrush, comprising a brush body carrying cleaning elements and a perforated plate through which the cleaning elements are projecting. A brush which is improved in terms of hygiene is created by the present invention in that the cleaning elements are arranged on a bristle carrier which is in threaded engagement with the brush body, and that the perforated plate is rotatably held on the brush body. Furthermore, the present invention suggests a bristle insert as a replacement part for said brush.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

(a) a brush body (2, 4, 6) including an elongated handle part (2) having a longitudinal dimension extending between a pair of ends;

(b) a brush head (4) connected to one end of said handle part and having an upper surface and a lower surface, said brush head (4) supporting a plurality of longitudinal cleaning elements (26, 54) projecting from said upper surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of said elongated handle part (2);

(c) a bristle carrier (16) supporting said cleaning elements (26;

54) and being threadably mounted within a recess (13) formed in said brush head (4), said recess (13) being open to said lower surface of said brush head (4) opposite said upper surface; and

(d) a perforated plate (38) through which said cleaning elements (26;

54) extend to project from said upper surface, said perforated plate (38) being rotatably supported on said brush head (4) to permit rotation of said bristle carrier relative to said brush body, said perforated plate ending flush with the upper surface of said brush head (4).

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that said brush body (2, 4, 6) has provided thereon an annular groove (24) in which said perforated plate (38) is detachably and rotatably held.

3. By The toothbrush according to claim 2, characterized in that said perforated plate (38) is locked onto said brush body (4).

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that said bristle carrier (16) together with said perforated plate (38) is detachably connected to said brush body (4).

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that said bristle carrier (16) comprises at least two thread webs (18) distributed over the circumference thereof, and that insertion grooves (20) are provided for said thread webs (18) between said perforated plate (38) and a thread (14) formed on said brush body (2, 4, 6).

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5, characterized in that the respective insertion grooves (20) are in alignment with the end of the thread turns for said thread webs (18).

7. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that indicia defining a hardness scale (34) is provided on the face of said bristle carrier (16) that faces away from the cleaning elements (26).

8. The toothbrush according to claim 1, and further including a bristle carrier tool (8) detachably connected to said brush body (2, 4, 6).

9. The toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein said bristle carrier (16) has on a face on the side thereof remote from said cleaning elements at least one engagement portion (28, 32) for receiving a corresponding operating end portion of said bristle carrier tool.

10. A toothbrush according to claim 9, characterized in that a centering means (28) for said bristle carrier tool (8) is provided on the face of said bristle carrier (16) that faces away from said cleaning elements (26;

54).

11. The toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein the face of said bristle carrier (16) that faces away from said cleaning elements (26) contains a centering means (28) for engagement by a corresponding end portion of said bristle carrier tool.

12. The toothbrush according to claim 8, characterized in that said bristle carrier tool (8) is connectable by means of a plug-type connection to said brush body (2).

13. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that said brush body (4) has provided thereon at least one outwardly opening flushing opening which communicates with a gap formed between said brush body (4) and said bristle carrier (16).

14. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that a cleaning element is formed by a non-rigid rod-shape massage element (54).

15. The toothbrush according to claim 1, and further including bristle tuft cleaning elements mounted on said brush body.

16. The toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that said perforated plate (38) comprises at least one locking edge.

17. The toothbrush according to claim 16, characterized in that said locking edge is formed by an annular bead (40) formed on the circumferential surface of said perforated plate (38).

18. The toothbrush according to claim 16, wherein said bristle carrier (16) includes a face remote from said cleaning elements (26;

54) that contains engagement means (28, 32) operably engageable by a bristle carrier tool (8).

19. A toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one cleaning element is formed by a non-rigid rod-shape massage element (54).

20. A toothbrush according to claim 19, characterized in that said rod-shaped massage element (54) is made from TPE.