Manual toothbrush

Abstract

A manual toothbrush, including a disposable head comprising a thermoplastic material and a reusable handle comprising an aluminum material, has a center of gravity, a longitudinal axis, and mutually opposite front and back sides. The handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite thereto. The center of gravity lies within the handle even when the brush head is loaded with toothpaste, wherein the center of gravity is arranged at or in close proximity to the pivot point of a wrist joint of a user brushing teeth, which arrangement facilitates precise and accurate brushing movements by the user. The handle's proximal end terminates with a chamfered surface, wherein the chamfered surface and a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the axis form therebetween an angle α from about 15° to about 30° such that one of the front side and the back side of the handle is shorter than the other.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present disclosure is concerned with a manual toothbrush comprising a handle, a head, and a connector, the head being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle via the connector.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Heads and handles for oral-care implements, such as manual toothbrushes, are well known in the art. Generally, tufts of bristles or other cleaning elements for cleaning teeth and soft tissue in the mouth are attached to a bristle carrier or mounting surface of the brush head intended for insertion into a user's oral cavity. The handle is usually attached to the head, which handle is held by a user during brushing. Usually, heads of manual toothbrushes are permanently connected to the handle, e.g., by injection molding the bristle carrier, the handle, a neck connecting the head and the handle, in one injection molding step. After the usual lifetime of a toothbrush, i.e., after about three months of usage, the toothbrush is discarde...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The manual toothbrush described in this patent has a disposable head made of thermoplastic material and a reusable handle made of aluminum. The brush has a unique design that allows for precise and accurate brushing movements. The handle has a chamfered surface at the front, which forms an angle with the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the axial direction. This design ensures that the front and back sides of the handle are not symmetrically long or short. The technical effect of this design is better control and comfort during brushing, leading to improved oral health.

Problems solved by technology

However, such anchor / engaging mechanism has a relatively complex outer geometry which is not easy to clean after usage of the toothbrush.

Toothpaste and slurry may accumulate in recesses of the anchor / engaging mechanism and may prevent the brush head to be accurately attachable to the handle.

No guidance element is provided facilitating correct and precise adjustment of the head on the handle, in particular if recesses are blocked by accumulated slurry.

Further, such engaging mechanism does not provide the toothbrush with sufficient anti-twist protection for the brush head on the handle during brushing.

If the head is not accurately attached / fixed on the handle, for example because the connector is not sufficiently clean as slurry and toothpaste accumulated in small recesses, and / or if the brush head twists away during brushing, the maneuverability of the toothbrush during brushing is poor, impeding the user reaching all areas in the oral cavity.

Consequently, maneuverability of the overall brush may not be sufficient.

Further, gaps between teeth and periodontium, the so called gingival groove has to be thoroughly cleaned which requires a good and well-coordinated brushing technique, which may not be achievable by using the above-mentioned manual toothbrushes.

Images