Toothbrush with elastomer filled flexible head

Abstract

The invention relates to a toothbrush comprising: i) an elongated handle having distal and proximal ends and one or more elastomeric handle regions therein; and ii) a resiliently flexible head attached to the proximal end of the handle, the head including a pair of opposing faces, one of the pair being a bristle-bearing face with bristles attached to and extending from the face, wherein at least one of the pair has one or more elastomer-containing, transverse grooves therein; and iii) one or more elastomer supply channels extending between the elastomeric handle regions and the transverse grooves, whereby at least one of the elastomeric handle regions and the transverse grooves can be filled with elastomer from a single injection point. The elastomeric regions in the head can be used to make the head flexible and the whole brush can conveniently be made on conventional machines.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toothbrush, comprising: 
 i) an elongated handle having distal and proximal ends and one or more elastomeric handle regions therein; and    ii) a resiliently flexible head attached to the proximal end of the handle, the head including a pair of opposing faces, one of the pair being a bristle-bearing face with bristles attached to and extending from the face, wherein at least one of the pair has one or more elastomer-containing, transverse grooves therein; and    iii) one or more elastomer supply channels extending between the elastomeric handle regions and the transverse grooves,    whereby at least one of the elastomeric handle regions and the transverse grooves can be filled with elastomer from a single injection point.    
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein all of the elastomeric handle regions and the transverse grooves can be filled with elastomer from a single injection point.  
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush according to  claim 2  wherein at least one supply channel extends to the distal end of the handle.  
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush according to  claim 3  wherein the elastomer injection point is located at the distal end of the handle.  
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush according to  claim 4  wherein both the bristle-bearing face and the opposing face include transverse grooves therein.  
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush according to  claim 5  wherein the transverse grooves divide the head into segments which are flexibly connected by hinges, wherein each hinge is located between the opposing faces and at a distance of at least about 10% of the depth of the head from each of the faces, the hinges being less than the full width of the head.  
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush according to  claim 6  wherein handle is made from an opaque material and the supply channel passes from one face of the handle to its opposite face so that, when filled with elastomer, the supply channel appears to be discontinuous.  
     
     
         8 . A method for making the toothbrush of any of the preceding claims comprising the step of injecting molten elastomer, under pressure, into the injection point and causing it to flow along the supply channel and into the grooves.