Device for assembling separable toothbrush elements

• US 6,709,185 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dupont Industries
• Original Assignee: Dupont Industries
• Inventors: Lefevre, Jean-Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/203,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 403/289, 403/290, 403/321, 403/322.1, 403/322.3, 403/322.4, 403/324, 403/326, 403/327, 151/766
• US Class Current: 403/289
• 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 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/18 comprising catches or pawls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/53 Split end with laterally movable opposed portions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/593 Remotely actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring

Abstract

The invention concerns a toothbrush whereof the neck is provided with a centering spindle having a snap-on tab at its end secured in a hole of the handle. The handle is hollowed out over its entire length with a cylindrical orifice for housing a push element whereof the stem is provided with unlocking wedges to disengage the snap-on tab and the handle. The invention is applicable to toothbrushes produced in several separable parts.

Claims

1. Device for assembling separable members of a toothbrush, comprising a head, a neck and a handle, the neck of the brush has a centering pin ending in a snap fastening tab for fastening in a well of the handle, and in that said handle presents, over its entire length, a cylindrical opening, a pusher housed in said opening and projecting out of the handle, and comprising releasing wedges for detaching the snap fastening tab from the handle.

2. Assembling device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the snap fastening tab has chamfers converging towards the axis of the well and said tab fastens onto shoulders of the well.

3. Assembling device according to claim 1, wherein the pusher includes a button at the end of a shank, the opposite end of the shank bearing anti-rotation studs.

4. Assembling device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the releasing wedges envelop a central recess and are mounted on the opposite end of the shank of the pusher, in the vicinity of the chamfers of the snap fastening tab.

5. A toothbrush having separable parts comprising:

a head having at its distal end a neck with a snap-fastener;

a handle including an end well at its proximal end for receiving said snap-fastener for rigidly fastening the head and handle, said handle having an opening, including said end well, extending through its interior;

a pusher housed in said opening, said pusher having a distal end that protrudes from the distal end of the handle, and a proximal end incorporating releasing wedges for unfastening the snap fastener from the handle in response to a thrust upon the distal end of the pusher; and

said detaching of the snap fastener being achieved without the need for relative rotation between the pusher and snap fastener.

6. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said well includes internal shoulders and said snap fastener includes a tab which fastens onto said shoulders upon insertion of the snap fastener into said well to achieve said fastening of the head and handle.

7. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said tab includes wings with external chamfers, and said releasing wedges have internal surfaces that, upon a thrust exerted on the distal end of the pusher, ride up over said chamfers to arch the wings inwardly causing the tab to be released from said shoulders and thereby said snap fastener to be unfastened from the handle.