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US 6,266,840 B1Granted
Grip enhancing toothbrush
OwnerDavid Munroinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toothbrush is provided having an enhanced grip handle. The toothbrush includes a head, a neck portion and a handle, connected to the head via the neck portion. The handle may be provided with a multiplicity of small, inverted V-shaped protrusions. Each of these protrusions preferably have a substantially flattened vertex to promote easy and sure gripping by the user. In addition, drainage grooves may be disposed in the handle to drain water from the protrusions.
Claims14
A toothbrush comprising:
- a head including a plurality of bristles;
- a neck portion;
- and
- a handle, interconnected with said head by said neck portion, said handle including a plurality of inverted V-shaped annular protrusions, each of said plurality of protrusions including a substantially flattened vertex to facilitate enhanced grip wherein each protrusion includes a substantially flat top surface at the vertex thereof and a bottom surface adjacent the handle, the wall thickness of each protrusion at the top surface thereof defined by the inner and outer surfaces of the annular protrusions being about 0.005 inches and the wall thickness of each protrusion at the bottom surface defined by the inner and outer surfaces of the annular protrusions being greater than that at the top surface thereof such that the protrusions taper from the bottom surface to the top surface thereof.
1 more element
A toothbrush comprising:
- a head including a plurality of bristles;
- a neck portion integrally formed with said head;
- and
- a handle, integrally formed with said neck portion, said handle including a plurality of inverted V-shaped annular protrusions, each protrusion having a substantially flattened vertex, each protrusion including a substantially flat top surface at the vertex thereof and a bottom surface adjacent the handle, the wall thickness of each protrusion at the top surface thereof defined by the inner and outer surfaces of the annular protrusion and the wall thickness of each protrusion at the bottom surface defined by the inner and outer surfaces of the annular protrusions being greater than that at the top surface thereof such that the protrusions taper from the bottom surface to the top surface thereof, said handle further including a plurality of drainage grooves, each drainage groove intersecting a corresponding protrusion and extending towards an edge of said handle.
1 more element
A toothbrush assembly comprising:
- a head including a plurality of bristles;
- a neck portion interconnected with said head, said neck portion including a forked attachment member, the forked attachment member having first and second tines, the first tine including a stub;
- a handle defined by a housing including a plurality of inverted V-shaped protrusions, at least one of the inverted V-shaped protrusions having a substantially flattened vertex, said handle further including a plurality of drainage grooves, each drainage groove intersecting a corresponding protrusion and extending towards an edge of said handle, said handle further including first and second opposing apertures, one of the opposing apertures engaging the stub to releasably interconnect said head and neck portion to said handle;
- and
- a drip edge attached to said neck portion to deflect liquid from said handle and to limit insertion of the forked attachment member into said handle wherein the handle includes a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of vents and having a first diameter that is less than the width of the drip edge.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.