GB2475489A - A shield member for a toothbrush - Google Patents

A shield member for a toothbrush Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2475489A
GB2475489A GB0920217A GB0920217A GB2475489A GB 2475489 A GB2475489 A GB 2475489A GB 0920217 A GB0920217 A GB 0920217A GB 0920217 A GB0920217 A GB 0920217A GB 2475489 A GB2475489 A GB 2475489A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
toothbrush
shield member
handle
head
shield
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0920217A
Other versions
GB2475489B (en
GB0920217D0 (en
Inventor
Michael Doman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0920217.7A priority Critical patent/GB2475489B/en
Publication of GB0920217D0 publication Critical patent/GB0920217D0/en
Publication of GB2475489A publication Critical patent/GB2475489A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2475489B publication Critical patent/GB2475489B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A46B15/0048—Drip collector, e.g. collecting the liquids dripping from the brush during a brushing process
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B17/00—Accessories for brushes
    • A46B17/08—Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like

Landscapes

  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

A shield member 14 for positioning on a toothbrush handle at a location between a grip portion 11 of the handle and the head 13 of the toothbrush is shaped such that, in use, it prevents liquid from flowing down the toothbrush from the head to the grip portion. The shield member may be integrally moulded with the handle of a toothbrush during manufacture. The shield member preferably comprises a pair of facing frusto-conical portions, the first frusto-conical portion may be positioned closest to the brush head to provide a first shielding means and the second frusto-conical portion may provide a back-up shielding means. When used with a toothbrush having a head portion that is detachable from a body portion, the shield member (24, figure 5) may be positioned at the base of the head portion and a further shield member (25) may be provided on the body portion.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS Q.&BJINQTO TOOTH ES the present invention relates to toothbrushes, whether manual or electric, and is intended to make toothbrushes easier and more comfortable to use.
At present, when using a toothbrush to brush one's teeth, a common problem is that, during brushing, the toothpaste mixes with saliva in the mouth and such mixture tends to flow down the toothbrush handle and may drip therefrom, or cause the toothbrush handle to become shppery and difficult to hold. This problem applies to both manual and electric toothbrushes and it is the object of the invention to seek to prevent the toothpaste/saRva mixture from reaching the handle portion of the toothbrush According to the present invention there is provided a shield member for a toothbrush handle, said shield member being positionable on the toothbrush handle at location between a grip portion of the handle and the brush-head, said shield member being shaped and orientated to prevent fluid flowing down the toothbrush from the head portion to the grip portion.
The shield member is preferably integrally moulded with the handle of the toothbrush during manufacture, but, alternatively, may be supplied, with suitable adaptation, as a retro4it to existing toothbrush designs Similarly in the case of an electric toothbrush, which have a removable head portion and a powered body/grip portion, the shield member can be provided at the base of the removable head portion, either being provided integrally formed on the body portion or being provided as a removable adapter therefore Additionally, a further shield member can be provided on the body of an electric toothbrush to collect and prevent any fluid, which may pass the first shield reaching the handLe portion of the body of the toothbrush.
The present invention wiH now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a toothbrush incorporating a shield of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a top view of a toothbrush of Figure 1; Figure 3 iUustrates a section through the toothbrush and shield of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a portion of a toothbrush showing the shield moulded therewith; Figure 5 illustrates a version of the shield adapted for an electric toothbrush; and Figure 6 shows a toothbrush of Figure 5 from the reverse side.
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a manual toothbrush having a gripping handle portion 11, a neck portion 12 and a brushhead 13. Additionally, toothbrush 10 includes a shield member 14, which is preferably integrally moulded with the toothbrush 10. The shield member is preferably shaped, as shown, namely a pair of facing frusto-conical portions, the first of which, nearest the brush-head, providing a first shield member, whilst the rear portion of the shield provides a backup shield, designed to divert any overflow fluid which may pass the front shield portion.
Referring to Figure 3, this shows a section through the shield member and illustrates the core 15 of the portion of a toothbrush between the neck portion 12 and the grip portion 11, upon which the shield member 14 is positioned and the. outside diameter d of the shield member should be at least 125 inches, (3.2 centimetres). Although the shield diameter can be increased, it has been found, through experimental use, that the preferred diameter is 1 25 inches (3.2 centimetres). The core portion 15 ideally has a diameter c of 0.25 inches, or 0.64 centimetres, so that the distance from the tore to the respective perimeters of the front and rear shield members is approximately half an inch (1.27 centimetres).
Referring now to Figure 4, this iflustrates the sohd construction of a portion of a toothbrush having the shield member integrally moulded therewith, which provides for ease of manufacture.
It will be appreciated that,. in use, toothpaste and saliva mixture being generated at the brush-head 13 during brushing can flow down the neck portion 12, but is prevented from reaching the grip portion 11 by the shield member 14 so as to prevent such saliva and toothpaste mixture fiom causing the handle portion to become slippery and messy. This is useful for any user, but is particularly useful for young children learning to brush their teeth, or for etderly or disabled persons, who may find difficulty in grasping the brush, particularly when such is wet and slippery. A further advantage of the position of such shield is that it removes the need for providing rubber or plastic grips in the handle portion, thereby removing the additional costs thereof.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, a version of the shield member is shown for use with an electric toothbrush 20,. which comprises a body portion 21 a removable head portion 22, incorporating a brush-head.23. In this embodiment, at the base of the neck of the head portion 22., a first shield member 24 is provided which is preferably of a frusto-conical shape with the widest diameter portion of such facing the brush-head 23 The shield member 24 acts in a similar manner to that in. the first embodiment,., preventing a saliva/toothpaste mixture from travelling down the neck from the brush-head 23 onto the body portion 21 of the electric toothbrush. Ideally, a second shield member 25 is provided on the body of the toothbrush 20 to prevent any overflow from the first shield member 24 from reaching the handle portion 21 of the electric toothbrush 20, which provides the gripping portion of the toothbrush and also accommodates the control switches 26 for the electric toothbrush 20. Drain holes 27 provided in the brush-head and the body portion.
As with the manual version of the toothbrush, shield members can be integrally moulded to the body 21 of the electric toothbrush 20 or can be provided as electro-fitted shields for existing toothbrushes.

Claims (4)

  1. Claims 1 A shield member for a toothbrush said shield member being positionable on the toothbrush handle at a location between a qiip portion of the handle and th brush-head said shield member being shaped and orientated to prevent fluid flowing down the toothbrush from the head pOrtion to the grip portion.
  2. 2. A shield member for a toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 in which the shield member is integrally moulded with the handle of the toothbrush during manufacture.
  3. 3 A shield member for a toothbrush as claimed in claim I or 2 in which the shield member comprises a pair of facing frusto-conical portions, the first of which, nearest the brush-head, providing a first shield member, r whilst the rear portion of the shield provides a back-up shield to divert any r overflow fluid which may pass the front shield portion. r
  4. 4. A shield member for a toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, in which the brush head portion is detachable from the handle body portion, said shield member being positionable on either of the handle body portion, or the brush head portion, or both.
    A shield member for a toothbrush as claimed in claim 3 in which the shield member or members is/are integrally formed with the detachable brush head and/or the handle portion.
    6 A shield member for a toothbrush substantially as herein desciibed with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0920217.7A 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes Expired - Fee Related GB2475489B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0920217.7A GB2475489B (en) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0920217.7A GB2475489B (en) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0920217D0 GB0920217D0 (en) 2010-01-06
GB2475489A true GB2475489A (en) 2011-05-25
GB2475489B GB2475489B (en) 2013-06-26

Family

ID=41565495

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0920217.7A Expired - Fee Related GB2475489B (en) 2009-11-19 2009-11-19 Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2475489B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8978189B1 (en) * 2014-07-11 2015-03-17 Curtis Bernard Sexton Omnibrush

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US860527A (en) * 1905-12-21 1907-07-16 James Anson Cochrane Tooth-brush.
US1501020A (en) * 1923-09-22 1924-07-08 Nancy Maria Small Toothbrush shield attachment
FR2310723A1 (en) * 1975-05-15 1976-12-10 Lepelley Robert Toothbrush with water drip preventer - has cup fitted to handle just below head
US20080244850A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 Yu-Cheng Kuo Toothbrush with safety device
CN201182328Y (en) * 2008-02-20 2009-01-21 臧姝慧 Toothbrush
CN101449875A (en) * 2007-12-04 2009-06-10 梁鸿翔 Timing toothbrush
CN201299258Y (en) * 2008-11-07 2009-09-02 王瑞 Convenient toothbrush
DE202009001189U1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2009-11-05 Xxd Produktdesign Gmbh Marking mechanism and drip protection for preferably electric toothbrushes

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US860527A (en) * 1905-12-21 1907-07-16 James Anson Cochrane Tooth-brush.
US1501020A (en) * 1923-09-22 1924-07-08 Nancy Maria Small Toothbrush shield attachment
FR2310723A1 (en) * 1975-05-15 1976-12-10 Lepelley Robert Toothbrush with water drip preventer - has cup fitted to handle just below head
US20080244850A1 (en) * 2007-04-06 2008-10-09 Yu-Cheng Kuo Toothbrush with safety device
CN101449875A (en) * 2007-12-04 2009-06-10 梁鸿翔 Timing toothbrush
CN201182328Y (en) * 2008-02-20 2009-01-21 臧姝慧 Toothbrush
CN201299258Y (en) * 2008-11-07 2009-09-02 王瑞 Convenient toothbrush
DE202009001189U1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2009-11-05 Xxd Produktdesign Gmbh Marking mechanism and drip protection for preferably electric toothbrushes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8978189B1 (en) * 2014-07-11 2015-03-17 Curtis Bernard Sexton Omnibrush

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2475489B (en) 2013-06-26
GB0920217D0 (en) 2010-01-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20171119