Abstract:
The invention comprises a toothbrush having improved manipulative and aesthetic features. The toothbrush includes a joined two-piece construction having a hollow or tubular interior cavity, and wherein the two pieces may be of differing configurations, differing plastic material, differing colors, partially or wholly translucent, and wherein ornamental objects may occupy the cavity when the toothbrush includes transparent portions. The handle also may include soft protuberances to facilitate gripping the toothbrush.

Description:
The invention relates to a toothbrush having unique manipulative and aesthetic features. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toothbrushes are known in a wide range of different configurations. Conventional toothbrush handles are often difficult to handle, particular when one&#39;s hands are wet. In particular, users who have trouble with their joints often find it difficult to execute reliably and correctly the movements which are necessary for teeth cleaning. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an aesthetically pleasing toothbrush which allows improved handling and can be produced cost-effectively. 
     This object is achieved according to the invention by a toothbrush having the features set forth hereinafter and as illustrated. 
     Since the toothbrush handle is subdivided, over at least part of its length, into two parts which extend in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, are connected to one another and, together, enclose a cavity, the handle may be of relatively wide configuration, which results in a better grip without the toothbrush becoming too unwieldy. 
     Preferred further configurations of the toothbrush according to the invention in which the grip is additionally improved and/or a particularly aesthetically pleasing effect is achieved from the provision of transparent and internally decorative portion of the toothbrush, among other aspects. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the several drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush; 
     FIG. 2 shows the toothbrush according to FIG. 1 in elevation; 
     FIG. 3 shows, in elevation, two toothbrush parts separated from one another; 
     FIG. 4 shows a handle cross section of the toothbrush along plane A according to FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 shows a handle cross section of the toothbrush along plane B according to FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 shows a handle cross section of the toothbrush along plane C according to FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush; 
     FIG. 8 shows the toothbrush according to FIG. 7 in elevation; 
     FIG. 9 shows, in elevation, two toothbrush parts separated from one another; 
     FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of the toothbrush according to FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 shows a further possible handle cross section of the toothbrush along plane B according to FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 12 shows a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a toothbrush; 
     FIG. 13 shows the toothbrush according to FIG. 12 in elevation; 
     FIG. 14 shows, in elevation, two toothbrush parts separated from one another; and 
     FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of the toothbrush according to FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a manual toothbrush  1 , of which the longitudinal axis is designated L in FIG. 1, has a front bristle-carrying head part  2  and a rear handle  3 . Of the head part  2 , FIGS. 1 and 2 merely show a bristle carrier  4 , which is provided with a number of indentations  5  which are provided for anchoring clusters of bristles in a manner known per se. 
     The handle  3  is subdivided, over at least part of its length, into two parts  6 ,  7  which extend in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush. The bottom part  6  of the handle  3  is connected, if appropriate, to the head part  2  or formed integrally with the bristle carrier  4 . The second part of the handle  3  is formed by a top cover part  7 . However, instead of the bottom part  6 , it would also be possible for the top handle part  7  to be configured integrally with the bristle carrier. 
     The top cover part  7  is preferably provided with an indentation  9  which forms a thumb rest. The two handle parts  6 ,  7 , which are illustrated individually in FIG. 3, are connected, preferably welded, to one another, the two parts  6 ,  7  enclosing a cavity  8  which extends in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush  1  (see FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 ). For this purpose, at least one of the two parts  6 ,  7  has a shell-like cross section. 
     FIGS. 1 to  6  illustrate a possible, aesthetically pleasing configuration of the handle  3  in which the cavity  8  extends virtually over the entire handle length. Some other form would, however, be just as possible. 
     The handle  3  according to the invention, which is subdivided, over at least part of its length, into two parts  6 ,  7  which enclose a cavity  8 , may be of relatively wide configuration, which results in a better grip without the toothbrush becoming too unwieldy. The grip may additionally be improved by the selection of a suitable material for the two parts  6 ,  7 . It is also possible for the bottom part  6  and the cover part  7  to be produced from different materials. For example, the bottom part  6  may be made of a harder material than the cover part  7 . For better handling, the cover part  7  or the bottom part  6  may be produced wholly or partially from an elastically compliant material. In this case, it is also possible for the cavity  8  to be filled with an elastic material. 
     It is also possible for the two handle parts  6 ,  7  to be produced from materials which look different (for example different colors for the two parts, it being possible for the materials to be the same or different). It is also possible for one or both parts to be partially or wholly transparent or translucent. 
     If at least one of the two handle parts  6 ,  7  is produced from a transparent material, then the cavity  8  may be filled with decorative objects or playthings, e.g. snowflakes or figures. It is also possible, however, for the cavity  8  to be filled with a liquid which may also contain, for example, floating objects (of course, sealing of the cavity  8  is then imperative, this taking place in a manner described hereinbelow). 
     The cavity  8  may also be filled with a gas. 
     It is also possible for the cover part  7  to be of transparent design and for that surface of the bottom part  6  which is visible from above to be provided, e.g. printed, with an image or text. 
     In order to increase the weight of the handle  3 , it is also possible for the cavity  8  to contain a metal filling. 
     The cover part  7 , but also the bottom part  6 , may advantageously be produced from a multi-component material, for example by injecting molding. This solution, rather than just providing possible decorative means in order to improve the aesthetics, also makes it possible to optimize the elasticity properties which are important for a better grip. 
     FIGS. 7 to  10  illustrate a further exemplary embodiment of a manual toothbrush  1 ′ of which the handle  3 , in turn, comprises a bottom part  6  and a top cover part  7 . In this variant, the indentation  9  provided for the thumb rest is preferably filled with a soft thermoplastic elastomer. At the same time, in this region, the top cover part  7  is provided with one or more, preferably with six, downwardly directed protuberances  11  which, when the two handle parts  6 ,  7  are joined together, are pressed into corresponding openings  12  of the bottom part  6 , project through the latter with sealing action in the end position according to FIG. 8, and project to a slight extent on the bottom outer side. The protuberances  11 , which preferably consist of rubber-like, soft elastomer, serve, together with the soft thumb rest, for improving the grip. 
     Instead of a plurality of protuberances  11  on one of the two handles  7  or  6  and a plurality of openings  12  in the other part  6  or  7 , it would be possible to provide on one part  7  or  6 , for example in the region of the thumb rest, a single protuberance or peg, of which the cross section is, for example, in the droplet form of the indentation  9  according to FIG.  7  and projects into a hole of the same cross section in the other part  7  or  6  and extends to the outer side of the same. 
     It is also possible, however, for at least one of the two handle parts  6 ,  7  to be provided with a hole (for example of the droplet cross section in the form of the indentation  9  according to FIG. 7) which opens out into the cavity  8  and is preferably sealed off by a membrane made of rubber-like material. In this case, the handle, in the plane designated B in FIG. 2, is, for example, of the cross-sectional form illustrated in FIG.  11 . In this exemplary embodiment, a hole  10  is provided in the top cover part  7 , and the cavity  8  is closed off by a membrane  13  which—in a manner similar to the abovedescribed protuberances or pegs—contributes to the ease of handling. The membrane  13  also gives rise to improved elasticity. The material of the membrane and the dimensions of the latter have a critical effect on the flexibility of the handle. 
     As can be seen from FIGS. 7 to  9 , the elasticity of the top cover part  7  can be improved in that a wedge-shaped recess  14  running transversely to the longitudinal axis L is formed in said part  7  and is filled with a rubber-like material, for example a thermoplastic elastomer, as a result of which a type of joint is produced (designated  15  in FIGS. 7 to  9 ). 
     As has already been mentioned, the two handle parts  6 ,  7  are preferably welded to one another along the lines of contact, the cavity  8  being sealed along the welding lines. The outer edge produced by overlapping during the welding operation may be covered over by a rubber skin, which not only provides additional sealing, but also improves hygiene since impurities cannot accumulate along the welding lines. It is also possible, however, for the two handle parts  6 ,  7  to be joined together in the manner of a snap-in connection which preferably cannot be detached by hand, the snap-in connection likewise having a sealing action. It is thus possible, for example, for the top cover part  7  to be provided with a sealing edge  17  made of thermoplastic elastomer, as is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is also possible, however, for the two handle parts  6 ,  7  to be connected by adhesive bonding. 
     FIGS. 12 to  15  show a variant in which the cavity  8  can be reliably sealed at all locations by welding, even if one of the two handle parts  6 ,  7  has provided on it the protuberances  11  or pegs which project through the cavity  8  and the other handle part  7 ,  6  and are made of soft material, for example an elastically compliant thermoplastic elastomer. 
     In this variant, the top cover part  7  is provided, in its rear region, with a downwardly directed, sleeve-like protrusion  20  which extends in the longitudinal direction of the handle  3 , has an outer wall  21  and an inner wall  22  and is of oval design in cross section. The inner wall  22  encloses an inner space which projects through the cover part  7  at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the latter and is filled with the elastically compliant material, which forms a grip pad  24 . The cover part  7 , which is provided with the protrusion  20 , and the grip pad  24  are produced, for example, by multi-component injection molding. The grip pad  24  has a top grip surface  25  and a bottom grip surface  26 . 
     The bottom part  6  is provided with an opening  27  which corresponds, in cross section, to the outer form or the outer wall  21  of the protrusion  20 . 
     When the two handle parts  6 ,  7  are welded together, the protrusion  20 , which is introduced into the opening  27  and is filled with the grip pad  24  made of softer material, is also welded to the bottom part  6 , as a result of which the cavity  8  is also sealed at this location. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 13, the two grip surfaces  25 ,  26  are adapted in aesthetic terms to the outer form of the handle  3 . 
     In a similar manner to the grip pad  24 , it is also possible for the protuberances  11 , which are already known from FIGS. 8 and 9 and are made of soft material, to be accommodated in corresponding sleeve-like protusions  30  (see FIG. 14) of one handle part  7 , said protrusions being inserted into associated openings  12  of the other handle part  6  and being welded to the latter, as a result of which sealing of the cavity  8  is also ensured here. 
     The toothbrush according to the invention is straightforward and cost-effective to produce. The hollow form of the handle  3  means that the amount of material used is reduced. The top cover part  7  and/or the bottom part  6  may be injection molded with one, two or more components. Since the two handle parts  6 ,  7  are thin-walled parts, it is possible, during production by injection molding, for the time taken for the injection-molding process to be reduced. 
     Of course, it is also possible for the handle according to the invention to be used for types of toothbrush other than those illustrated in the drawing, e.g. for toothbrushes of which the head part is provided with one or two exchangeable brush heads.