Suction cup toothbrush with improved characteristics

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a brush portion, a handle, a suction cup pedestal and a flexible transition portion connecting a lower end of the handle to the suction cup pedestal. The handle, suction cup pedestal and flexible transition portion are constructed and arranged so that the toothbrush will normally be oriented in a substantially upright position when the suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface. Advantageously, though, the flexible transition portion is sufficiently flexible so as to permit the toothbrush to be deflected when the suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that the central longitudinal axis of the handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical. A novel packaging assembly for such a toothbrush is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;    a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;    a suction cup pedestal; and    a flexible transition portion connecting said lower end of said handle to said suction cup pedestal, said handle, suction cup pedestal and flexible transition portion being constructed and arranged so that said toothbrush will normally be oriented in a substantially upright position when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface, said flexible transition portion being sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical.    
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible transition portion is sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 30 degrees from vertical.  
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexible transition portion is sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said suction cup pedestal is affixed to a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 45 degrees from vertical.  
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is constructed and arranged to have a suction force that is sufficient to remain affixed to a smooth, nonporous horizontal surface when said toothbrush is deflected so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical.  
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal has a maximum outer diameter and said flexible transition portion has a minimum outer diameter, and wherein said minimum outer diameter of said flexible transition portion is no more than 80 percent of said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal.  
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein said minimum outer diameter of said flexible transition portion is no more than 55 percent of said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal.  
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein said minimum outer diameter of said flexible transition portion is axially separated from said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal by a distance of at least 0.15 in.  
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal has a maximum outer diameter, and wherein said flexible transition portion and said handle are constructed so that said toothbrush has a maximum outer dimension that is sufficiently less than said maximum outer diameter for an axial distance away from said suction cup pedestal so that said suction cup pedestal may operate as a stop abutting a user's finger so as to secure a user's grip on said toothbrush.  
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush according to  claim 8 , wherein said axial distance is at least 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush according to  claim 9 , wherein said axial distance is at least 0.75 inches.  
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush according to  claim 10 , wherein said axial distance is at least one inch.  
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush according to  claim 8 , wherein said maximum outer dimension of said toothbrush is no more than approximately 75 percent of said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal for an axial distance away from said suction cup pedestal, and wherein said axial distance is at least 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush according to  claim 8 , wherein said maximum outer dimension of said toothbrush is no more than approximately 0.2 in. less than said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal for an axial distance away from said suction cup pedestal, and wherein said axial distance is at least 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush according to  claim 13 , wherein said maximum outer dimension of said toothbrush is no more than approximately 0.4 in. less than said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal for an axial distance away from said suction cup pedestal, and wherein said axial distance is at least 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal has a maximum outer diameter, and wherein said maximum outer diameter of said suction cup pedestal is also a maximum outer dimension of said toothbrush.  
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle, said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are fabricated from a hard plastic material and a soft plastic material that is softer than said hard plastic material and that is integrally molded with said hard plastic material, said soft plastic material forming said suction cup pedestal.  
     
     
         17 . A toothbrush according to  claim 16 , wherein said soft plastic material is bonded to said hard plastic material in at least the area of interface between said materials that is closest to said suction cup pedestal, whereby forces generated by deflecting or twisting said suction cup pedestal with respect to said handle will be more efficiently transmitted to and absorbed by said hard plastic material.  
     
     
         18 . A toothbrush according to  claim 16 , whereby an area of interface between said soft plastic material and said hard plastic material that is closest to said suction cup pedestal is constructed without sharp edges, whereby points of stress concentration are avoided that might contribute to crack initiation in said soft plastic material when said suction cup pedestal is deflected or twisted with respect to said handle.  
     
     
         19 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure twisting of at least 2.0 lbf-in.  
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush according to  claim 19 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure twisting of at least 3.0 lbf-in.  
     
     
         21 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1  ,wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure axial tension of at least 10.0 lbf.  
     
     
         22 . A toothbrush according to  claim 21 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure axial tension of at least 15.0 lbf-in.  
     
     
         23 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure a bite test of at least 25 lbf.  
     
     
         24 . A toothbrush according to  claim 23 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand without failure a bite test of at least 50 lbf.  
     
     
         25 . A toothbrush according to  claim 2 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand a deflection to 30 degrees for at least 5000 repetitions without failure.  
     
     
         26 . A toothbrush according to  claim 25 , wherein both said flexible transition portion and said suction cup pedestal are constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand a deflection to 30 degrees for at least 10,000 repetitions without failure.  
     
     
         27 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is constructed and arranged so as to adhere to a smooth, nonporous surface to which it has been affixed with at least 3 lbf.  
     
     
         28 . A toothbrush according to  claim 27 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is constructed and arranged so as to adhere to a smooth, nonporous surface to which it has been affixed with at least 6 lbf.  
     
     
         29 . A toothbrush according to  claim 27 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is further constructed and arranged so as to be able to withstand affixation and removal to and from a smooth, nonporous surface at least 1000 times without failure.  
     
     
         30 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush has a center of mass that is located toward said suction cup pedestal from a dimensional midpoint of said toothbrush, whereby when said toothbrush is dropped said suction cup pedestal will tend to strike an underlying surface first.  
     
     
         31 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , further comprising gripping means on said handle for aiding a consumer in transmitting the necessary axial force to said handle in order to effectively set said suction cup pedestal onto a smooth, nonporous surface and to remove said toothbrush from said surface.  
     
     
         32 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is capable of adhering to a smooth, nonporous surface with sufficient force and said flexible transition portion is sufficiently stiff as to permit said toothbrush to be affixed to a vertical smooth nonporous surface so that said toothbrush extends substantially horizontally away from said vertical surface.  
     
     
         33 . A toothbrush according to  claim 32 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is capable of adhering to a smooth, nonporous surface with sufficient force and said flexible transition portion is sufficiently stiff as to permit said toothbrush to remain affixed to said vertical smooth nonporous surface for at least one hour.  
     
     
         34 . A toothbrush according to  claim 33 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is capable of adhering to a smooth, nonporous surface with sufficient force and said flexible transition portion is sufficiently stiff as to permit said toothbrush to remain affixed to said vertical smooth nonporous surface for at least 12 hours.  
     
     
         35 . A toothbrush according to  claim 34 , wherein said suction cup pedestal is capable of adhering to a smooth, nonporous surface with sufficient force and said flexible transition portion is sufficiently stiff as to permit said toothbrush to remain affixed to said vertical smooth nonporous surface for at least 24 hours.  
     
     
         36 . A toothbrush and packaging assembly comprising: 
 a toothbrush including a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon; a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis; a suction cup pedestal; and a flexible transition portion connecting said lower end of said handle to said suction cup pedestal; and    a package for said toothbrush, said package being constructed and arranged so that said toothbrush is held within said package so that said suction cup pedestal is isolated from any lateral contact with said package, whereby said suction cup pedestal will be protected against forces that could deform said suction cup pedestal and thereby degrade the performance of said toothbrush.    
     
     
         37 . A toothbrush and packaging assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein said package is further constructed and arranged to isolate said suction cup pedestal against any axial contact with said package as well.  
     
     
         38 . A toothbrush and packaging assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein said package is constructed and arranged to be displayed on a marketing rack, and wherein said package bears against said handle of said toothbrush so as to suspend said suction cup pedestal within a volume that is defined within said package.  
     
     
         39 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a brush portion having a plurality of bristles thereon;    a handle having an upper end that is connected to said brush portion and a lower end, said handle having a central, longitudinal axis;    a pedestal connected to said lower end of said handle, said pedestal having a maximum outer diameter and being constructed and arranged to support said toothbrush on a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle will be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, and wherein    said handle is constructed to have a maximum outer dimension that is sufficiently less than said maximum outer diameter for an axial distance away from said pedestal so that said pedestal may operate as a stop abutting a users finger so as to secure a users grip on said toothbrush.    
     
     
         40 . A toothbrush according to  claim 39 , wherein said pedestal is fabricated from a soft elastomeric material, whereby it will feel comfortable against a users finger when operating as a stop.  
     
     
         41 . A toothbrush according to  claim 40 , wherein said pedestal is further fabricated to be relatively thin so as to flex when contacted by a users finger.  
     
     
         42 . A toothbrush according to  claim 39 , wherein said maximum outer dimension is no more than 55 percent of said maximum outer diameter.  
     
     
         43 . A toothbrush according to  claim 42 , wherein said maximum outer dimension is no more than 45 percent of said maximum outer diameter.  
     
     
         44 . A toothbrush according to  claim 42 , wherein said axial distance is at least 0.5 inches.  
     
     
         45 . A toothbrush according to  claim 44 , wherein said axial distance is at least one inch.  
     
     
         46 . A toothbrush according to  claim 39 , further comprising a flexible transition portion interposed between said handle and said pedestal, said flexible transition portion being sufficiently flexible so as to permit said toothbrush to be deflected when said pedestal is held against a horizontal surface so that said central longitudinal axis of said handle is at least 20 degrees from vertical.