CN1678213A

CN1678213A - Toothbrush assembly

Info

Publication number: CN1678213A
Application number: CN 03812659
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·坎普; A·斯普罗斯塔; B·特拉菲坎特; T·戴; E·斯门尼斯; N·W·M·白
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 2002-04-01
Filing date: 2003-03-31
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: MXPA04009474A; EP1489939A1; CA2479902A1; NZ535824A; TW200402275A; TWI269644B; AU2003224795A1; PL371627A1; BR0308887A; WO2003084363A1; NO20044687L; RU2004131843A

Abstract

A child's toothbrush includes a handle in the form of a toy, such as a rocket ship or a vehicle, and wherein a toothbrush head and neck easily connects and disconnects from the handle. The handle may also contain a hollow compartment for holding stationary a removable vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product therein.

Description

Toothbrush assembly

Technical field

Present invention relates in general to a kind of toothbrush, particularly a kind of toothbrush assembly with toy shape brush holder, its brush holder have a chamber and are used for removably storing independently figurine or other toy.

Background technology

Now, various types of toothbrushes with body form brush holder are known, cause that thereby they are so designed children's interest strengthens oral hygiene to encourage them to brush teeth.The example of the toothbrush of this children's of causing interest comprises U.S.'s design patent 237659,443765,452381 and 452382, its disclosed toothbrush have the picture vehicle shape brush holder (such as, racing car, rocket ship, jet plane etc.).U.S.'s design patent 329948,347146,347147,347148,363166,402119,434907 and 452 380 and U.S. Pat 5353464 and US6026532 the toothbrush with the animals shaped brush holder of picture is disclosed.Toothbrush handles with other shape also is possible, referring to U.S.'s design patent 113744,155668,175198 and 209574.

Many children's toy has handle, particularly has the toy of type of vehicle handle, includes a chamber with cover, is used for holding therein figurine, such as the action figure.Such as, the LEGO  company of Denmark provides several toys with type of vehicle handle, and they have a chamber, and this chamber has a transparent lid so that a LEGO  figurine is positioned over wherein such as the driver.The toy of this band handle does not also find to be used as toothbrush handles.

Can find immediate existing toothbrush in U.S. Pat 5353464 and US5590436, it is for the toothbrush handles based on toy is provided, and toothbrush handles has chamber and is used to place additional statue.US5353464 discloses a kind of toothbrush, and its toothbrush handles is roughly animals shaped.If desired, toothbrush handles can comprise the chamber of a hollow, is used to store a knock-down/head toothbrushes that can add.This chamber can be equipped with suitable lid, plug or a cap so that whole head toothbrushes is encapsulated in the toothbrush handles.Yet the disclosed chamber of US5353464 is only applicable to keep a knock-down head toothbrushes, does not install figurine and refer in toothbrush handles.

U.S. Pat 5590436 discloses a kind of toothbrush, and it has a toothbrush handles, and this toothbrush handles carries a figurine that separates with toothbrush handles but be attached thereto.Figurine can directly be appended on the handle of toothbrush or can be appended to earlier on the carrier then that this carrier is affixed on the toothbrush handles.With cover or the cap of the toothbrush handles neither one of US5590436 is in order to the chamber of storage figurine.

Although be not the part of toothbrush art, US5713664 discloses a kind of beverage stirring stick, and it has a protrusion such as figurine, logo or product duplicate.This protrusion can be installed to an end of a slide mechanism and be shaped as that it can stretch out from an openend of a shell when stirring drink.Regrettably, the US5713664 this protrusion structure of not advising can be used to toothbrush handles.

Therefore, just need at present to use a kind of toothbrush handles to cause children's interest with toy shape, this toothbrush handles has a chamber and one lid or cap is used for a removable therein figurine of storage or other toy for children of turning up the soil, when having or do not have knock-down head toothbrushes, toothbrush handles can play the effect of toy, thereby excitation children oneself brush teeth.

Summary of the invention

The problem of the present invention by providing a kind of toothbrush to solve related art, this toothbrush have a head and neck, and they can be connected on the brush holder of a toy shape by removable turning up the soil, such as rocket or vehicle or statue.This brush holder comprises a chamber that has a lid or cap, is used for removably storing therein independently vehicle, statue, other toy or article miscellaneous, such as the miniature tube of candy or toothpaste.No matter whether preferably a kind of handheld toy configuration of this brush holder split with head toothbrushes, and it can both play the effect of a toy.The present inventor has been found that, this handheld toy configuration comprises a chamber, accommodate an additional toy or article miscellaneous in this chamber, make a kind of desirable toothbrush handles, it provides a kind of interesting brushing teeth to impel them with infusive mode to children.This excited stimulation children often oneself brush teeth, to make it forming good oral sanitary habit throughout one's life.

As here concrete (example) and the description of rough property (widely), the present invention illustrates a kind of toothbrush assembly, comprising: one is connected to a head on the neck, and described head has the outer surface of an exposure; Be installed to a plurality of bristles on the described head, described bristle forms bristle tuft in groups, and its outer surface from described exposure stretches out; A brush holder that is connected to described neck, described brush holder have a chamber located therein and an opening, and this opening provides passage to chamber; And the interior vehicle, statue, other toy or the article of all kinds that are removably disposed in described brush holder chamber, by being located at the described opening on the described brush holder, described vehicle, statue, other toy or article of all kinds by removably and can be arranged in the described chamber with storing.

In different instances of the present invention, toothbrush handles adopts the form on rocket naval vessel, it has a chamber and one lid or cap, be used for storing therein a figurine, such as action figure (actionfigure), the perhaps toy of a vehicle or other type or article miscellaneous (hereinafter being referred to as " statue "); Described chamber has the parts that a lid or cap or other can opening and closing, such as forming two parts or part, two parts can be threaded togather, be force-fitted in together, buckle lumps together or hinged, to be formed for keeping the described chamber of statue.Preferably, described lid is transparent, so that can see the figurine in the rocket naval vessel shape brush holder.This lid preferably can be unlocked and close, and perhaps is moved and replaces, so that figurine can be moved out of and be stored in the chamber of brush holder.

According to a further aspect in the invention, described toothbrush handles be not rocket naval vessel form but (such as, a kind of relief car) of vehicle form, it has a chamber and a transparency cover in order to preserve a figurine therein, such as a toy driver.The transparency cover of vehicle-shaped handle can play a kind of effect of vehicle windscreen, and as discussed above, it preferably can be unlocked and close, and perhaps is moved and replaces, so that figurine can be moved out of and be stored in the chamber of brush holder.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, described toothbrush handles can have a kind of more traditional toothbrush shape, rather than toy shape, but still can be used as a storage and show container, is used for figurine is contained in its chamber that provides.A complete transparent or semitransparent brush holder or an opaque brush holder can be provided, it has a transparent or translucent lid, so that figurine can be shown, and it preferably can be unlocked and close, figurine perhaps is moved and replaces, so that can be moved out of and be stored in the chamber of brush holder.

According to detailed description given below, wider applicability of the present invention will become clearer.Yet, should know, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and instantiation just as an illustration purpose provide, because detailed description according to this specification, can carry out various variants and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention, this is conspicuous for a person skilled in the art.Should be known in that above describe, in general terms and detailed description hereinafter all are exemplary with illustrative, should not be that protection scope of the present invention is defined by the claims to limitation of the present invention.

Description of drawings

According to detailed description that hereinafter provides and accompanying drawing, it is clearer that the present invention will become, its only be as illustrative examples provide because of rather than to limitation of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a kind of front view of toothbrush according to an embodiment of the invention, this toothbrush has the brush holder of a head and a rocket shipform, this brush holder has a detachable and removable lid, to allow to enter a chamber that is used to store a figurine;

Fig. 2 is the side view of toothbrush shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is the rearview of toothbrush shown in Fig. 1-2;

Fig. 4 is the vertical view of toothbrush shown in Fig. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is the upward view of toothbrush shown in Fig. 1-4;

Fig. 6 is the front view of toothbrush handles shown in Fig. 1-5, and a detachable and removable lid is shown, and it keeps the location by a snap-in latch (snap-in latch);

Fig. 7 is the cross-sectional elevational view of toothbrush handles shown in Fig. 1-6, along the intercepting of the section line of Fig. 6, and shows one and is arranged on a snap-in latch in the receiving slit;

Fig. 8 is the front view of toothbrush handles shown in Fig. 1-5, and a preferred embodiment is shown, and it has a hinged full lid that has a snap-in latch;

Fig. 9 is the front view of toothbrush handles shown in Fig. 1-5, and another preferred embodiment is shown, and it has a vertical hinged two-piece cover that has snap-in latch, and snap-in latch is used for each detachable and removable lid;

Figure 10 is the front view of toothbrush handles shown in Fig. 1-5, and another preferred embodiment is shown, it has a horizontally hinged two-piece cover that has snap-in latch, and snap-in latch is used for each detachable and removable lid, also has a figurine that shifts out from the chamber of toothbrush handles;

Figure 11 is the side view of a kind of toothbrush of another embodiment according to the present invention, this toothbrush has a dismountable head and neck (illustrating with phantom outline) and a vehicle-shaped handle, this brush holder has a detachable and removable lid, and this lid is used to show a chamber of storing a figurine removably therein;

Figure 12 is the front view of toothbrush shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is the rearview fragment of toothbrush shown in Figure 11 and 12, and the hold button that toothbrush stem is shown is how to be formed at maintenance groove engagement on the brush holder with one;

Figure 14 is a side view of going back a kind of toothbrush of an embodiment according to the present invention, and this toothbrush has a dismountable head and neck and a brush holder, and this brush holder has a lid, and this lid can show a chamber that is used for storing therein a figurine;

Figure 15 is a kind of side view of toothbrush in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and this toothbrush has a dismountable head and neck and a brush holder, and this brush holder has a lid, and this lid can show a chamber that is used for storing therein a figurine.

The specific embodiment

Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing the present invention is described in detail.Identical reference marker identifies same or analogous element in different accompanying drawings.And following detailed does not constitute limitation of the present invention.In fact, protection scope of the present invention is limited by appending claims and equivalent thereof.

Fig. 1-5 shows an example of the present invention, and wherein, toothbrush 10 comprises a neck 12, and this neck is set between a head 14 and the hand-held handle 16.Preferably, neck 12 is connected to integral body with head 14, and be connected on the brush holder 16 by removable turning up the soil together, can change head 14 when being worn, and when neck 12 and head 14 are pulled down, can be played the effect of a toy separately when brush holder 16 with convenient bristle.Of the present invention one optionally, seldom among the embodiment of cost, head 14 and neck 12 are whole and for good and all are connected on the brush holder 16.

Fig. 1-5 further illustrates, and brush holder 16 preferably includes a hollow chamber 22 that has a lid, window or cap 24 and is used to store a figurine 28, such as an action figure; Yet the substitute that should be known in above-mentioned statue can be a vehicle, and such as submarine, aircraft or other toy or article miscellaneous, such as candy or miniature dentifrice tube, they will cause children's interest.Lid 24 can be hinged or otherwise be fixedly connected to, such as by on the main part 17 that is removably snapped to brush holder 16, perhaps the main part 17 with brush holder 16 forms an integral body, and can be transparent to be contained in figurine 28 in the chamber 22 in order to demonstration.Can be constituted as dismountablely though cover 24, be fixedly joined on the brush holder 16 if cover 24, then the position that should be connected with brush holder 16 at neck 12 is that chamber 22 is provided with an opening (this will be described in more detail in conjunction with Figure 11).Can also be provided with an indicia band (indicia band) 30 in addition and be used to show a toy sign.Because the brush holder 16 of Fig. 1-5 illustrated embodiment is to be shaped as the rocket shipform, it preferably includes fin keel 32, and the fin keel on its imitation rocket naval vessel is used for toothbrush 10 is remained on a upright position so that storage or displaying but also can be used as feet.

Fig. 6-10 illustrates different modes, and is opposite with the lid 24 of the connection that is fixed shown in Fig. 1-5, on set on the main part 17 of brush holder 16 opening an openable lid can be set.Fig. 6 illustrates a handle body portion 17, which is provided with an opening 34 and is used to receive a detachable and removable lid 36, and lid keeps going up in place by two snap-in latch 38.Snap-in latch 38 is received and remains in the socket separately 40 on the main part 17 that is formed at brush holder 16, as best the illustrating of Fig. 7.Latch 38 can be engaged will cover 36 and shift out from opening 34, allows to insert figurine 28 in the chamber 22 of brush holders 16 or therefrom take out.

Fig. 8 illustrates a handle body portion 17, which is provided with an opening 34 and is used to receive one and adopts a hinge 44 to be connected to lid 42 on this main part 17 with being hinged.On a limit relative of lid 42, be provided with a snap-in latch 38 with the edge that hinge 44 is installed.This snap-in latch 38 can be received and remain in the socket 40 that is formed on the main part 17.Latch 38 can be engaged so that cover 42 pivots and leave opening 34, allows figurine 28 is inserted the chamber 22 interior or therefrom taking-ups of brush holders 16.

Fig. 9 illustrates a handle body portion 17, which is provided with an opening 34, and this opening is used to receive and adopts two pairs of hinges 44 and be connected to a two-piece cover 46 on this main part 17 with being hinged in vertical direction.On a relative limit of the limit with hinge 44 is installed of each lid 46, be provided with snap-in latch 38.Snap-in latch 38 can be received and remain in the socket separately 40 that is formed on the main part 17.Latch 38 can be engaged so that two-piece cover 46 pivots and leave opening 34, allows figurine 28 is inserted the chamber 22 interior or therefrom taking-ups of brush holder 16.

Figure 10 illustrates a handle body portion 17, which is provided with an opening 48, and this opening is used to receive and adopts two pairs of hinges 44 and be connected to a two-piece cover 50 on this main part 17 with being hinged in the horizontal direction.On a relative limit of the limit with hinge 44 is installed of each lid 50, be provided with snap-in latch 38.Snap-in latch 38 can be received and remain in the socket separately 40 that is formed on the main part 17.Latch 38 can be engaged so that two-piece cover 50 pivots and leave opening 34, allows figurine 28 is inserted the chamber 22 interior or therefrom taking-ups of brush holder 16.

Though the clear and definite quantity and the particular location of hinge 40 and latch 38 have been shown in Fig. 6-10,, the wideer enlightenment according to the present invention can be provided with more or less hinge 40 and latch 38 on the more multiposition of brush holder 16.Equally, the wideer enlightenment according to the present invention, the lid shown in Fig. 6-10 can have and various shapes different shown in Fig. 6-10.And the mechanism that also can adopt other connects lid and is pivoted on the brush holder of the present invention.

Figure 11-13 shows a kind of form on the neck 12 of toothbrush 10 and the brush holder that head 14 can be detachably connected to toothbrush 10.A kind of optional form of brush holder 16A has been shown in Figure 11-13.Shown in brush holder 16A can be shaped as vehicle, these vehicles can comprise racing car, submarine or all surface cars, and comprise that a main part 17A, this main part are fixedly joined to that a transparency cover or window 24A go up or form whole with it.Window 24A demonstrates a figurine 28, and such as an action figure, it can be set on the chamber 22A on the brush holder 16A.

Figure 11-13 further illustrates, and the bottom of neck 12 is provided with one and integrally is connected to a hold button 52 on the elastic arm 54, and a rigid arm 56.By on direction as shown in arrow 53, depressing hold button 52, on direction as shown in arrow 55, shift out neck,

rigid arm

56 and 54 combinations of button 52/ elastic arm are slided in the last set opening 60 of main part 17A of brush holder 16A, and release hold button 52, neck 12 and head 14 just can be detachably connected on the brush holder 16A.Hold button 52 extends through a maintenance groove 58 of being located on the main part 17A, and the elastic force that is provided because of elastic arm 54 remains in the groove 58.By depressing hold button 52, and neck 12 and head 14 are extracted from brush holder 16A, just can from brush holder 16A, be shifted out neck 12 and head 14.

Shown in Figure 14 and 15, brush holder of the present invention is unnecessary to be configured as a toy, but can be shaped as a kind of traditional columniform toothbrush handles that is as general as, to play the effect of the statue 28 that demonstration wherein comprised.As shown in figure 14, toothbrush 10 comprises a neck 12, and this neck is set between a head 14 and the hand-held demonstration brush holder 62.Brush holder 62 preferably includes a hollow chamber 64 with a transparent window 66, and this chamber is used for a figurine 28 (such as an action figure) is remained on wherein.In this embodiment, brush holder 62 comprises two that be hinged or discerptible and parts that can reconnect, a top 62A and a bottom 62B, described separate and the part that can reconnect by be threaded, buckle closes, interference fit or alternate manner connect, preferably this connection comprise an indicia band 68 (being similar to indicia band 30) with one by being located at indicia band 68 and part 62A and being connected that thread engagement 70 on the 62B can be threaded.When top 62A or bottom 62B unscrew when being separated from indicia band 70 by above-mentioned optimal way, figurine 28 can be inserted in the chamber 64 of brush holder 62 or therefrom take out.

As shown in figure 15, toothbrush 10 comprises a neck 12, and this neck is set between a head 14 and the hand-held demonstration brush holder 72.Brush holder 72 preferably includes a hollow chamber 74 with a transparent window 76, and this chamber is used for a figurine 28 (such as a motion images) is remained on wherein.In this embodiment, brush holder 72 can adopt one to screw off 78 (neck 12 is connected thereon) and be threaded by thread engagement 80, adopt one to screw off seat 82 and be threaded, perhaps adopt to screw off 78 and screw off seat 82 and be threaded by thread engagement 84.When screwing off 78 or screw off seat 82 when brush holder 72 is outwarded winding, figurine 28 can be inserted in the chamber 74 of brush holder 72 or therefrom take out.

Toothbrush handles 16 among any embodiment of the present invention, 16A, 62,72 can for good and all be connected on neck 12 and the head 14, perhaps can adopt any syndeton shown in Figure 11-15 to be detachably connected on neck 12 and the head 14.Yet preferably, toothbrush handles of the present invention is detachably connected on neck 12 and the head 14, so that brush holder can more easily be used as an independent toy.

Head 14 of the present invention can have a plane 18 roughly, and it is equipped with plurality of bristles 20.Head 14 can have different shape, including, but not limited to circular, oval, square, rectangle and various regular or irregular shape, or the like.

18 extended bristles 20 coplane mutually from the plane is so that the outer surface of bristle 20 is positioned at a single plane.Yet the present invention can be according to actual some of bristle 20 or all protruding with the distance different with other bristle 20 that make, and the result makes the outer surface of bristle form a species stage effect.In embodiment as shown in Figure 2, bristle 20 14 outer surface 26 from the head extends outward roughly the same distance, repairs face so that receive toothpaste thereby form a plane or a flat bristle roughly.

Although Fig. 2,4,11,14 and 15 show the bristle of traditional fibers form, and terminology used here " bristle " is defined as on the common meaning and uses, such as cleaning element or massage elements, and can comprise, such as, with elastomeric fingers or the wall that a kind of circular cross sectional shape or required Any shape are provided with, comprise straight line portion or positive string section.

Bristle 20 can be installed into bristle tuft or become the district by extending through the hole of surface on 18, thereby the root of bristle 20 is installed in the surface 18 or down, only needs to adopt traditional bind or molded bunchy technology is loaded on bristle wherein.If desired, bristle can an implanted elastomeric material in, this will allow bristle to have an independently motion.These various forms of bristle thereby can be applicable to bristle on any section of head 14.

Should be known in the specific descriptions of bristle for example purpose just.Yet, the present invention can carry out various combinations to identical or different bristle form according to actual conditions, as US5609890, US5390984 and US5533791 are disclosed, their disclosed full contents at this as a reference, and/or have identical or different bristle material, such as nylon brush hair, spiralled bristles, rubber bristles or the like.Similarly, though the shown bristle of Fig. 1-7 is substantially perpendicular to the surface 18 of head 14, the outer surface of some or all bristles with respect to the bristle head can be obliquely installed with various angles.Thereby the combination that just might select bristle form, bristle material and bristle orientation is to obtain required particular result, such as the motion that forms a kind of bristle by the vibration of bristle tuft head, so that obtain the benefit of additional oral hygiene, image intensifying cleaning, tooth polishing, dental whitening and/or massage gum.

Should be known in that the present invention can be positioned at bristle tuft any other open region of toothbrush head 14 according to reality.That such bristle tuft can be installed perpendicular to the exposed outer surface 26 of the toothbrush head 14 or fasten bristles of angled installation with it, perhaps can be the bristle that is installed on the elastic body base of its Shore hardnes figure in about 0 to 90 scope, thereby when being applied in pressure, can move independently.Such bristle can be perpendicular to the surface 18 of head 14 or with it at angle under its normal condition.

The present invention can also make different bristle pack have different colors according to actual needs.Yet, should be known in that bristle 20 can adopt and comprise only a kind of color combination of color.Equally, neck 12 and brush holder 16 can have shades of colour, and can be opaque, transparent, translucent, pure color.

Claims

1. toothbrush assembly comprises:

One is connected to a head on the neck, and described head has outward extending from it plurality of bristles;

A brush holder that is connected on the described neck, described brush holder have a chamber located therein;

Vehicle, statue, other toy or article miscellaneous are set in the described chamber.

2. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described chamber has a lid that can be unlocked and close, and described vehicle, statue, other toy or article miscellaneous can be disassembled and change in this chamber.

3. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described brush holder be shaped as a rocket naval vessel.

4. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described brush holder be shaped as a vehicle.

5. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described brush holder be shaped as a display box.

6. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described neck is detachably connected on the described brush holder.

7. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: described brush holder comprises the top and the bottom away from described neck that are connected on the described neck, the upper and lower can be hinged or mode separable and that can reconnect connects with a kind of, and described upper and lower is formed for keeping the described chamber of described statue.

8. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 6, it is characterized in that: the bottom of described neck comprises a rigid arm and a whole hold button that is connected on the elastic arm, and hold button, elastic arm and rigid arm are detachably connected in the opening of described brush holder.

9. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that: described hold button extends through a maintenance groove of being located on the described brush holder, and remains in this maintenance groove by means of the elastic force that described elastic arm provides.

10. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that: described lid is transparent, so that the described statue in the chamber of described brush holder is visible.

11. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that: described lid for good and all is connected on the main part of described brush holder.

12. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that: described lid is detachably connected on the main part of described brush holder by at least one snap-in latch.

13. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that: described lid is connected on the main part of described brush holder by at least one hinge and at least one snap-in latch.

14. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that: described lid comprises two elements, and each cap member is connected on the main part of described brush holder by at least one hinge and at least one snap-in latch.

15. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described brush holder comprises two parts, and both link together with an indicia band.

16. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 15 is characterized in that: described indicia band has screw thread, it and the threaded engagement of being located on each part of described brush holder.

17. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that: described top is connected by a threaded connector with described bottom.

18. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that: described top is connected by a connector that can reconnect with described bottom, and this connector is selected from the group that comprises a fastening and an interference fit connector.

19. toothbrush assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described brush holder is transparent, so that described vehicle, statue, other toy or article miscellaneous in the described brush holder chamber are visible.