Patent ID: 7310848

Claim:
A toothbrush ( 10 ) comprising a head ( 14 ) placed at a front longitudinal (X-X) end of a handle ( 12 ) made overall as a single piece, of the type in which the head ( 14 ) has flexible brushing elements ( 20 ) on its upper surface ( 16 ), of the type which is equipped with an arm ( 30 ) one end of which is articulated in a longitudinal region midway ( 32 ) along the handle ( 12 ), and provided at the opposite free end with a protective cover ( 36 ) for the brushing elements ( 20 ), such that the articulated arm ( 30 ) can assume: a forward protective position (P av ) in which the arm ( 30 ) is adjacent a front portion ( 26 ) of the handle ( 12 ) and in which the cover ( 36 ) covers the brushing elements ( 20 ); and a rear gripping position (P ar ) in which the arm ( 30 ) is adjacent a rear portion ( 28 ) of the handle ( 12 ); of the type in which the general thickness of the arm ( 3 ) gradually increases from its articulation end ( 34 ) to the cover ( 36 ) so as to form a profile projecting from a longitudinal surface ( 22 ) of the rear portion ( 28 ) of the handle ( 12 ), when the arm ( 30 ) is in the gripping position (P ar ), by virtue of which the gripping surface of the handle ( 12 ) is increased, and in which the articulation ( 34 ) of the arm ( 30 ) on the handle ( 12 ) is designed to allow the arm ( 30 ) to describe at least two different rotations: a first rotation about a first geometric axis (A 1 ), substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal plane (P 1 ) defined by the upper surface of the head ( 14 ); and a second rotation about a second geometric axis (A 2 ), substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation (A 1 ), and in which the arm ( 30 ) comprises means ( 48 ) for locking via elastic fitting-together of complementary shapes, so as to lock the arm ( 30 ) at least in its protective position (P av ), and in which the arm ( 30 ) comprises two longitudinal wings ( 50 , 52 ) which, when the arm ( 30 ) is in the protective position (P av ) or the gripping position (P ar ), extend vertically downward on either side of the handle ( 12 ), and which each have, on their inside face ( 54 , 56 ), a boss ( 58 , 60 ) designed to cooperate with a complementary relief ( 62 , 64 ) on the side surface ( 66 , 68 ) of the handle ( 12 ), as to lock the arm ( 30 ) in the relevant position (P av , P ar )