# US 9,038,229 B2 · Toothbrush > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,229 B2 - Document ID: US9038229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/252,911 - Filed: 2014-04-15 - Published: 2014-08-14 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2002-08-09 - Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Inventors: Robert A. Moskovich; Joachim Storz; Tanja Langgner; Thomas Kuchler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038229B2 ## CPC - A46B 5/0029: {Head made of soft plastics, rubber or rubber inserts in plastics matrix} - A46B 5/026: {Grips or handles having a nonslip section} - A46B 7/06: movably during use {, i.e. the normal brushing action causing movement (driven brush bodies A46B13/00)} - A46B 9/04: {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract A toothbrush includes a handle and a head mounted to the handle. At least one of the head and the handle may generally include an open area partially enclosed with elastomeric material, said elastomeric material being readily deflectable from an original orientation during use of said toothbrush and configured to recover to the original orientation after use of said toothbrush. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toothbrush comprising: a handle; and a head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the head including a base portion and a flexible portion, an open area formed between the base portion and the flexible portion, the open area forming a transverse passageway through the head from a first side of the head to a second side of the head, said flexible portion being readily deflectable from an original orientation during use of said toothbrush and configured to recover to the original orientation after use of said toothbrush; wherein the flexible portion of the head is coupled to the base portion of the head only at the proximal and distal ends so that the flexible portion is spaced apart from the base portion at the first and second sides of the head; wherein the flexible portion of the head has an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, cleaning elements extending from the upper surface, and wherein the upper surface of the flexible portion is substantially planar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the cleaning elements are secured to the flexible portion of the head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said cleaning elements are secured to the flexible portion of the head by one of the group consisting of in-molded technology, staples, and anchor free tufting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the cleaning elements are selected from the group consisting of nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein at least some of the cleaning elements are generally perpendicular to the flexible portion of the head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein at least some of the cleaning elements extend from the flexible portion of the head at various angles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the handle comprises a rigid plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the handle comprises an open area at least partially enclosed by elastomeric material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric material is disposed on a top side of the handle, wherein when under pressure of a user's finger the elastomeric material is configured to yield to a depressed state, and wherein when the pressure of the user's finger is released the elastomeric material returns to its original shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a section of the toothbrush includes powered cleaning elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the head is formed of a rigid material and the flexible portion of the head is formed of an elastomeric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The toothbrush of claim 11 wherein the lower surface of the flexible portion is substantially planar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the transverse passageway terminates in a first opening on the first side of the head and a second opening on the second side of the head. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The toothbrush of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second sides of the head extends between the proximal and distal ends of the head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The toothbrush of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second openings is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis intersects both of the first and second openings and the transverse passageway without intersecting the flexible portion of the head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the transverse passageway is visible from the first and second sides of the head. ### Claim 17 A toothbrush comprising: a handle; and a head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the head including a base portion and a flexible portion that are coupled together at the proximal and distal ends of the head, the base portion and the flexible portion being spaced apart from one another between the proximal and distal ends of the head thereby forming an open area between the base portion and the flexible portion, the open area forming a passageway through the head from a first opening in a first side of the head to a second opening in a second side of the head; wherein the flexible portion of the head is coupled to the base portion of the head only at the proximal and distal ends so that the flexible portion is spaced apart from the base portion at the first and second sides of the head; wherein the flexible portion of the head has an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, cleaning elements extending from the upper surface, and wherein the upper surface of the flexible portion is substantially planar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The toothbrush of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second openings is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis and extends between the proximal and distal ends of the head, and wherein a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis intersects both of the first and second openings and the passageway without intersecting the flexible portion of the head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The toothbrush of claim 17 wherein the passageway is visible from the first and second sides of the head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The toothbrush of claim 17 wherein the base portion of the head is formed of a rigid material and the flexible portion of the head is formed of an elastomeric material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The toothbrush of claim 20 wherein the cleaning elements are selected from the group consisting of nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The toothbrush of claim 20 wherein the lower surface of the flexible portion is substantially planar. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The toothbrush of claim 20 wherein when under pressure of a user's finger the elastomeric material is configured to yield to a depressed state, and wherein when the pressure of the user's finger is released the elastomeric material returns to its original shape. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The toothbrush of claim 23 wherein the original shape is substantially planar and the depressed state is substantially concave. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The toothbrush of claim 24 wherein each of the first and second openings is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis intersects both of the first and second openings and the transverse passageway without intersecting the flexible portion of the head. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The toothbrush of claim 25 wherein the cleaning elements are secured to the flexible portion of the head by one of the group consisting of in-molded technology, staples, and anchor free tufting. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The toothbrush of claim 26 wherein the cleaning elements are secured to the flexible portion of the head by in-molded technology. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The toothbrush of claim 27 wherein the base portion of the head has an arcuately curved shape.