Toothbrush provided with an articulated arm bearing a protective cap

1. 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 )

2. The toothbrush ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the arm ( 30 ) has a stop element ( 70 ) which, when the arm ( 30 ) is in the protective position (P av ), extends toward an upper portion ( 22 ) of the handle ( 12 ), so as to prevent the brushing elements ( 20 ) from being crushed by the cover ( 36 ).

3. The toothbrush ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the flexible brushing elements ( 20 ) consist of brushing filaments, or bristles.

4. The toothbrush ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the arm ( 30 ) is articulated on an upper portion ( 22 ) of the handle ( 12 ) via a ball-type connection ( 34 ).

5. The toothbrush ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the articulation end ( 34 ) of the arm ( 30 ) comprises a ball ( 38 ), and in that the ball ( 38 ) is force-fitted in a recess ( 40 ) of complementary shape made in the upper portion ( 22 ) of the handle ( 12 ).

6. The toothbrush ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the ball ( 38 ) is integral, by molding as a single piece, with the arm ( 30 ) and the cover ( 36 ).