Toothbrush assembly

• US 7,389,781 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Traficant, Brett, Pak, Nancy Won Mee, Jimenez, Eduardo, Kemp, James, Sprosta, Al, Dai, Tau
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, ROBYN KIEU
• Application Number:
  US10/442,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 132308-311, 151/671, D4104-112, 220/371, 220/913
• US Class Current: 132/311
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/00 Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0061 with a container for accessories, e.g. pills, polish, condoms, cells A46B11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0089 Brushes with figurines such as animals on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0097 Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways
• 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 5/00 Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers

Abstract

A child'"'"'s toothbrush includes a handle in the form of a child-safe, ventilated toy, such as a rocket or a vehicle, and contains a removable child-safe vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product therein, and wherein a toothbrush head may be detachable from the handle.

Claims

1. A toothbrush assembly, comprising:

a head connected to a neck, said head having a plurality of bristles extending outwardly therefrom;

a handle connected to said neck, said handle having a ventilated compartment provided therein; and

a vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product being provided in the compartment;

wherein at least one breathable membrane is provided in the handle to ventilate the compartment, the breathable membrane configured such that a first side of the membrane forms an interior surface of the ventilated compartment and a second side of the membrane forms an exterior surface of the ventilated compartment thereby enabling the ventilated compartment to be ventilated by an environment external to the toothbrush assembly;

wherein the compartment has a cover being articulated in which the cover may be opened and re-closed whereby said vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product may be removed and replaced in the compartment;

wherein the handle includes a plurality of supports positioned so as to surround the breathable membrane of the handle and to hold the toothbrush in an upright position, and an opaque portion;

wherein the cover is transparent to permit viewing of the vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product, the cover being disposed in an opening in the opaque portion along a longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one opening is provided in the handle to ventilate the compartment.

3. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one opening is provided in the cover to ventilate the compartment.

4. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one breathable membrane is provided in the cover to ventilate the compartment.

5. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one opening and at least one breathable membrane are provided in the cover to ventilate the compartment.

6. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle is in the shape of a rocket ship.

7. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle is in the shape of a vehicle.

8. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle is in the shape of a display case.

9. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said neck removably connects to said handle.

10. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said neck retains said figurine within the compartment.

11. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein a lower portion of said neck includes a stiffener arm and a retainer button integrally connected to a spring arm, the retainer button, spring arm, and stiffener arm removably connected to the opening of said handle.

12. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the retainer button extends through a retainer slot provided in said handle, and remains in the retainer slot due to a spring force provided by the spring arm.

13. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover permanently connects to said handle.

14. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover removably connects to said handle via at least one snap-in latch.

15. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cover connects to said handle with at least one hinge and at least one snap-in latch.

16. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the cover comprises two pieces, each cover piece connecting to said handle via at least one hinge and at least one snap-in latch.

17. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises two sections connected together with an indicia band.

18. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 17, the indicia band has threads that mate with threads provided on each section of said handle.

19. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a top end of said handle threadably connects to a screw off top integrally connected to said neck, the screw off top providing access to the opening of said handle.

20. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein a bottom end of said handle threadably connects to a screw off base, the screw off base providing access to another opening of said handle.

21. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a bottom end of said handle threadably connects to a screw off base, the screw off base providing access to the opening of said handle.