Improvements in hand aiding handle grips for tooth brushes and hair brushes

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a handle grip for a toothbrush or hairbrush. The grip 1,2 has a substantially rounded fitting which is applied to a brush as either a single or two pieces. The gri

Description

The present invention relates to handle grips on toothbrushes and hair brushes which aid a person to hold them. Background The use of handles which aid the gripping of household objects is known and have been developed for persons who have some difficulty holding an item, such as a toothbrush or hair brush. People who suffer from various complaints including as arthritis, cerebral palsy or who may have had a stroke, can find that their hands are affected afterwards. These conditions can cause damage to a person’s nerves or internal muscles and guides in the hand and wrist or even extending from the whole arm, which disables their grip. This makes it very difficult for them to hold a toothbrush, for example, because the handle of the brush is too narrow and the hand cannot close tightly around it. If the person is able to grip the item using excessive force or unnatural positioning of their hand and fingers, this is likely to cause stress and cramping. Products the aid the grip of items such as these can be cited in the art, examples of which follow: This is shown in patent US20090007359 (HOHLBEIN, VAISMAN) wherein a toothbrush includes a hollow handle which has an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material which can be expanded or contracted to provide an adjustable diameter grip. Patent US6049936 (HOLLEY) discloses 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. Patent US6647582 (RECHELBACHER) discloses a hairbrush comprising a head region and a handle region, the handle region comprising a stem, the stem having a deformable grip located thereon. The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective hand aiding grip for a toothbrush or hairbrush which is much wider and rounder in form, with a soft touch that is able to fill the hand more completely to assist with hands that are more severely affected. The present invention aims to provide an improved hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes which is fixed to the handle of a custom corresponding brush via tab inserts which press into slots or holes in the handle to secure them in place. The hand aiding handle grip is more rounded and full and is filled with a cooling gel for comfort and heat reduction of the hand and skin when in use. Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes creating a specialized toothbrush or hairbrush when combined with fittings provided on the brush handle. This is intended mainly for people who have conditions such as arthritis, cerebral palsy or other conditions such as a stroke, which affects their ability to grip objects and lead more independent lives. The handle grip is a substantially rounded fitting which is applied to the brush as either a single or two pieces, by inserting fitting tabs into a hole or grooves in the brush handle, to be explained. The handle grip is a flexible smooth plastic or rubber rounded form which is filled with a cooling gel, the gel remains inside the handle grip because the handle grip is a sealed unit. The cooling gel, as described, creates a cool feeling to the hand and fingers when pressed during use, to aid further comfort. The flexible plastic or rubber handle grip has a thickness wall of at least 2mm, to hold said gel inside but provide a resilient and tough surface for use which remains soft and comfortable to the touch. When the two-piece handle grip is installed, as in Figure 1. The inner face of the handle grip, which locates and faces onto the outer surface of the toothbrush (in this example) is provided with a large oval tab fixed to it which is flexible enough to be compressed and inserted into an oval hole in the brush handle, as shown. Once the oval tabs edges are inside the edges of the oval hole in the toothbrush handle, the tab expands back to its usual shape (pre-fitted) and the tab is then trapped behind the edge I rim of the hole, inside the hollow of the handle, holding the handle grip in place tightly onto the brush handle thereto. This can be further held with an adhesive during manufacture around the contacting inner edge of the tab. When installing the handle grip as a single piece the rounded handle grip is also filled with a cooling gel and has a through hole passing from a round top opening to a bottom opening, of equal diameter. The round profile of the toothbrush or hairbrush handle passes through this through hole when being fitted. To the inner surface of the through hole are two equally disposed fitting tabs. These are round flexible fitting tabs which are moulded inside the through hole on manufacture in the plastic or rubber and they extend into the inner opening of the through hole, partially. As shown in Figure 6. On fitting, the bottom of the brush handle is inserted into the top opening of the handle grip and passes down inside the through hole until its flexible tabs locate with round grooves located in the handle itself. As shown in Figure 5. There are two round flexible tabs an upper and a lower, with the upper being at the top when the brush is vertical. The lower flexible tab locates and flexes into the round groove provided in the brush handle first, when the handle is pushed downward and a moment later the upper tab, inside the through hole of the handle grip also flexes and locates into the upper round groove of the handle, securing the handle grip in place, being held by the two tabs inserted into the round grooves on the brush handle. Because the flexible round tabs are of sufficient depth inside the grooves, and the width of each groove is close enough to the width of each tab, the handle grip is held firmly in place. The cooling gel fills the large round oval of the single piece handle grip providing cooling to the hands and finger as aforementioned. The large rounded shape of the handle grips fulfil the need of the persons hand requiring a larger and fuller grip to enable them to use the brushes more easily, with the hands not be able to grasp or close correctly, as aforementioned. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes which has all the advantages of the prior art hand grips and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new coupling device for fences which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes which is of durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Brief description of figures Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the hand aiding handle grip applied to a toothbrush. Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the hand aiding handle grip applied to a hairbrush. Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the hand aiding handle grip on a tooth brush with insert holes for the handle shown. Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of a hair brush with the hand aiding handle grip. Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of the grooved fittings on the toothbrush and cooling gel inside the handle grip. Figure 6 shows a dimensional view of the handle grip and its through hole and internally disposed fitting tabs for fitting into the grooved fittings. Figure 7 shows an end elevation view of the handle grip with its through hole and fitting tabs. Detailed description of figures A typical embodiment of the hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the a substantially rounded fitting which is applied to the brush as either a single or two pieces. Figure 1 shows the handle grips fitted as two pieces 1 and 2 to the handle 4 of the brush 3. The inner face of the handle grip 1 and 2, which locates and faces onto the outer surface of the toothbrush handle 4 (in this example) is provided with a large oval tab 5 fixed to it which is flexible enough to be compressed and inserted into an oval hole 6 in the brush handle 4, as shown. Once the oval tab 5 edges are inside the edges of the oval hole 6 in the toothbrush handle 4, the tab 5 expands back to its usual shape (pre-fitted) and the tab 5 is then trapped behind the edge I rim of the hole 6, inside the hollow of the handle 4, holding the handle grips 1 and 2 in place tightly onto the brush handle 4 thereto. Figure 2 shows this fitting on the handle 4A of a hairbrush 7 with handle grips 1 and 2 fitted. The single handle grip 2B is shown in Figure 3 fitted to a toothbrush 3B, having the said through hole 10 passing from a round top opening 8 to an equally sized bottom opening 8, the handle 4B is moulded to suitably accommodate these openings correctly when fitted. This is shown fitted to a hairbrush 7C with the handle 4C and the lower handle tip 11 shown, having been inserted through the handle grip 2C. The handle grip 2D is a flexible smooth plastic or rubber rounded form which is filled with a cooling gel 14, the gel 14 remains inside the handle grip 2D because the handle grip is a sealed unit. The cooling gel 14, as described, creates a cool feeling to the hand and fingers when pressed during use, to aid further comfort. The flexible plastic or rubber handle grip 2D has a thickness wall 15 of at least 2mm, to hold said gel 14 inside but provide a resilient and tough surface for use which remains soft and comfortable to the touch. On fitting to the brush 3D, the lower handle tip 11D is inserted into the top opening 8D of the handle grip 2D and passes down inside the through hole 10D until its flexible tabs (Not Shown) locate with round grooves 12 and 13 located in the handle itself 4D. As shown in Figure 5. To the inner surface of the through hole 10E are two equally disposed rounded fitting tabs 16 and 17. These are round flexible fitting tabs which are moulded inside the through hole 10E on manufacture in the plastic or rubber and they extend into the opening of the through hole partially. The lower brush handle (Not shown in this Figure) passes into the round top opening 8E and into the through hole 10E squeezing through the smaller diameter tab hole 19, compressing the tab as the lower brush handle continues to pass down through the through hole 10E passing through the second smaller diameter tab hole 18. The lower flexible tab 17 locates and flexes into the round groove 13 provided in the brush handle 4D first (grooves as shown in Figure 5) when the handle is pushed downward and a moment later the upper tab 16, inside the through hole of the handle grip, also flexes and locates into the upper round groove 12 of the handle (grooves as shown in Figure 5), securing the handle grip 2D in place, being held by the two tabs inserted into the round grooves on the toothbrush 3D handle 4D. Figure 7 shows a view from the end of the handle grip 2F showing the smaller diameter tab hole 19F surrounded by the upper tab 16F. The cooling gel 14F is shown fulling the interior of the handle grip 2F held within the thickness wall 15F. Because the flexible round tabs are of sufficient depth inside the grooves, and the width of each groove is close enough to the width of each tab, the handle grip is held firmly in place. The cooling gel fills the large round oval of the single piece handle grip providing cooling to the hands and finger as aforementioned. The large rounded shape of the handle grips fulfil the need of the persons hand requiring a larger and fuller grip to enable them to use the brushes more easily, with the hands not be able to grasp or close correctly, as aforementioned.

Claims

1) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes comprising; a substantially rounded fitting which is applied to corresponding brushes as either single or two pieces, all having a thickness wall which forms a sealed unit filled with a cooling gel, the brushes having an oval hole or round grooves in their handle section to enable the insertion of fitting tabs disposed on the handle grip, a through hole in the single piece handle grip provides passage for the brush handle through its centre when fitting.2) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle grip is a flexible smooth plastic or rubber rounded form.3) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle grip has a thickness wall of at least 2mm.4) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner face of the handle grip, which locates and faces onto the outer surface of the brush, has a large oval tab fixed to it which is compressed and inserted into an oval hole in the brush handle.5) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 4 wherein when the oval tabs edges are inside the edges of the oval hole the oval tab expands back to its usual pre-fitted shape and the tab is then trapped behind the edge I rim of the hole.6) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the through hole of the single piece handle grip passes from a round top opening to a bottom opening, of equal diameter.7) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 6 wherein to the inner surface of the through hole are two equally disposed fitting tabs, being round flexible fitting tabs, which are moulded inside the through hole on manufacture in the plastic or rubber.8) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fitting tabs partially extend into the inner opening of the through hole.9) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bottom of the brush handle is inserted into the top openingof the handle grip and passes down inside the through hole until said fitting tabs locate with round grooves located in the handle.10) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 9 wherein lower flexible tab locates and flexes into the round groove provided in the brush handle first, when the handle is pushed downward and further to this the upper tab also flexes and locates into the upper round groove of the handle.11) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flexible round tabs are of sufficient depth and width inside the grooves to secure the handle grip in place.12) A hand aiding handle grip for tooth brushes and hair brushes as claimed wherein the large rounded shape of the handle grips fulfil the need of the persons hand requiring a larger and fuller handle grip, due to their hands not being able to grasp or close correctly.A

Images