IP Library Granted Patent US 7,526,828
Granted Patent B2
US 7,526,828 · App. 11/815,991 · Granted May 5, 2009

Toothbrush

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,526,828
App. No.
11/815,991
Granted
May 5, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toothbrush with a cleaning zone on which tooth-cleaning elements are arranged, which are pressed against the teeth during cleaning with a cleaning force, and with a deformable element by which the cleaning zone is can be adapted to the shape of the tooth surface by the cleaning force, where the deformable element has at least a first flexible wing facing towards the cleaning zone and a second such wing facing away from the cleaning zone, and also at least one guide element, and where the first and second wings are held together moveably by the guide element. In order to provide an improved toothbrush which cleans the teeth more effectively and at the same time more gently, it is provided according to the invention that the wings form a wedge, by being connected together at one end and distanced from each other at the other end.

Claims (20)

1. A toothbrush with at least one cleaning zone on which tooth-cleaning elements are arranged, which are pressed against the teeth during cleaning with a cleaning force, and with at least one deformable element by which the cleaning zone can be adapted to the shape of the tooth surface by the cleaning force, where the deformable element has at least a first flexible wing arranged relatively towards the cleaning zone and a second such wing arranged relatively away from the cleaning zone, and also at least one guide element, and where the first and second wings are held together moveably by the guide element, characterized in that the wings form a wedge, being connected together at one end and distanced from each other at the other end, and the wings hold a wedge space at least partially filled with an elastic material.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the wings are provided as a tension wing arranged relatively towards the cleaning zone and a compression wing arranged relatively away from the cleaning zone and the toothbrush can be moved from a resting position to a cleaning position by the cleaning force exerted on the cleaning zone, whereby in the cleaning position the cleaning zone curves towards the cleaning force compared with the resting position.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the wings form a wedge in which they are joined together at a point further from the handle, and are at a distance from each other at a point closer to the handle.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deformable element is housed inside the toothbrush.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the wedge space contains a gel or fluid.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5 , characterized in that the wedge space is at least partially transparent and the deformable element can be seen from the outside.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deformable element extends at least partially into the cleaning zone.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that in at least one of the wings there is at least one spring element which is elastic in the longitudinal direction which absorbs tension or compression forces.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that in the guide element there is at least one elastic spring element.

10. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is essentially resistant to tension.

11. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is essentially resistant to compression.

12. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is formed as one piece with the tension and/or compression wing.

13. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is connected to the wings in an articulated form manner.

14. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is rib-shaped and divides the wedge space into at least two sections separated from each other and which can be filled with gel or liquid.

15. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element is essentially linear and the tension and compression wing at maximum distance is arranged essentially at right angle to an axis, which runs equidistantly between the tension wing and the compression wing.

16. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the guide element loops the wings together alternately at several connection points at a distance from each other.

17. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the toothbrush has several deformable elements which mould independently to the profile of the teeth.

18. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deformable element has two tension wings and one compression wing, whereby the guide element connects the compression wing to the two tension wings.

19. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deformable element has two tension wings and one compression wing and at least two guide elements which each connect the compression wing to one of the two tension wings.

20. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , characterized in that there are cleaning tongues in the cleaning zone which protrude tangentially when the cleaning zone is curved.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE (UK) IP LIMITED
To: HALEON UK IP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 066591/0748 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE GMBH & CO. KG
To: GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE (UK) IP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051838/0408 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2007
From: KNIESE, LEIF
To: GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE GMBH & CO KG
Reel/Frame 019678/0503 →