Tooth Care Implement

Abstract

A combination tooth care implement comprising a handle unit and a pivoting arm having first and second ends at which respective ends a tooth brush head and a single-use dental floss head are releasably mounted. The arm can be pivoted between first and second positions with respect to the handle unit. In the first position, a portion of the arm containing the tooth brush head extends away from the handle such that the implement can be used as a toothbrush, and the remaining portion containing the dental floss head is concealed in a cavity provided in the handle unit such that the dental floss head does not interfere with the function of the tooth brush. In the second position, the arm is pivoted such that the tooth brush head and the dental floss head switch positions and the implement can be used as a dental floss. A lock means is provided for locking the arm in the first or second position with respect to the handle.

1 . A tooth care implement comprising:
 a handle unit comprising a grippable base portion and shaft portion extending therefrom, the shaft portion having a free end remote from the grippable base portion; and   an arm having first and second ends, and a tooth care attachment mounted at each end; the arm being pivotally coupled with the handle unit adjacent the free end of the shaft portion such that the arm can be moved between first and second positions with respect to the shaft portion of the handle unit, such that   in the first position a portion of the arm containing the first tooth care attachment extends away from the shaft portion of the handle unit such that the first tooth care attachment can be used, and the remaining portion containing the second tooth care attachment is positioned adjacent the shaft portion of the handle unit; and   in the second position a portion of the arm containing the second tooth care attachment extends away from the shaft portion of the handle unit such that the second tooth care attachment can be used, and the remaining portion containing the first tooth care attachment is positioned adjacent the shaft portion of the handle unit.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is pivotally coupled with the handle unit at a location intermediate the first and second ends of the arm, such that the arm can pivot between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         4 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle unit defines a cavity for accommodating the portion of the arm positioned adjacent the handle unit together with the tooth care attachment attached thereto, such that said portion of the arm is recessed with regard to outer surfaces of the handle unit thereby concealing the unemployed tooth care attachment when the other tooth care attachment is in a ready to use position. 
     
     
         5 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion of the handle unit comprises a pair of prongs, each prong having a free end, wherein the space between a pair of opposing inner faces of the pair of prongs defines a cavity for accommodating the portion of the arm positioned adjacent the handle unit together with the tooth care attachment attached thereto, such that said portion of the arm is recessed with regard to outer surfaces of the handle unit thereby concealing the unemployed tooth care attachment when the other tooth care attachment is in a ready to use position. 
     
     
         6 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle unit comprises a lock means configured for releasably locking the arm in the first or the second position with respect to the handle unit. 
     
     
         7 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is coupled with the handle unit via interengageable fastening means provided on the arm and on the handle unit. 
     
     
         8 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is coupled with a pair of prongs provided on the shaft portion of the handle unit via interengageable fastening means, the fastening means comprising an axle selected from any one of a screw, pin or rod, which is inserted through suitably sized and shaped bores formed through each prong and the arm. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is coupled with the handle unit via interengageable fastening means provided on the arm and on the handle unit, the fastening means comprising a pair of pins provided on a pair of opposing outer faces of the arm, the pins being engageable with corresponding through bores formed in a pair of prongs provided on the shaft portion of the handle unit, wherein a slot is formed between the interior of the through bore and outer surface of a prong transversely in relation to the bore, thereby defining a pair of resiliently deformable flaps, such that the pin of the arm can access the through bore laterally through the slot, and wherein a cap is provided for placing over a free end of each pin for securing the pin in engagement with the corresponding prong. 
     
     
         11 . The tooth_care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is coupled with the handle unit via interengageable fastening means provided on the arm and on the handle unit, the fastening means comprising a pair of projecting members provided on a pair of opposing outer faces of the arm, wherein the projecting members seat at the base of a U-shaped channel formed at the free end of each prong, wherein a tapered member is formed on each of the opposing inner faces of each prong extending from the free end of each prong towards the grippable base portion such that the distance between the opposing inner faces of the prongs diminishes from the free end of each prong to the grippable base portion, wherein the arm and tapered member are complimentary shaped such that the projecting members seat correctly at the base of U-shaped channel when the arm and prongs are in correct alignment. 
     
     
         12 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is coupled with the handle unit via interengageable fastening means provided on the arm and on the handle unit, the fastening means comprising a key member provided at each of the opposing outer faces of the arm, wherein each key member is engageable with a corresponding slot formed in a rotating receiver rotatably mounted in a seat defined at the free end of each prong, wherein another slot is formed extending between the seat of the receiver and outer surface of the prong such that when the slot of the receiver is aligned with the slot in the prong, the key can be engaged with the slot of the receiver by passing it through the second slot, wherein the keys are located on the arm in such orientation that when the keys engage with the aligned slots in the prongs and in the receiver, the arm is positioned with respect to the handle unit in a third position, intermediate the first and second positions of the arm, and wherein on rotation of the arm from this intermediate position towards the first or the second position, the slots of the receiver misalign with the slots of the prongs and thereby secure the arm in the engagement with the prongs in any position of the arm with respect to the prongs, other than the intermediate position of the arm. 
     
     
         13 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is releasably secured to the handle unit via lock means provided on the arm and on the handle unit, the lock means comprising a catch arrangement configured for releasably fastening the portion of the arm positioned adjacent the handle unit. 
     
     
         14 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is releasably secured to the handle unit via lock means provided on the arm and on the handle unit, the lock means comprising a catch arrangement in the form of a snap fit and release mechanism comprising a resiliently deformable member formed on each of the inner opposing faces of a pair of prongs provided on the shaft portion of the handle unit such that when the arm enters the cavity the two resiliently deformable members deform and resiliently engage the arm thereby locking the arm with respect to the handle unit. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle unit defines an internal chamber adapted for storage of one or more tooth care attachments. 
     
     
         17 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grippable base portion of the handle unit comprises a tubular wall and an internal chamber adapted for storage of one or more tooth care attachments is defined by the tubular wall. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle unit defines an internal chamber adapted for storage of one or more tooth care attachments comprising a rack shaft extending along the internal chamber, the rack shaft comprising a plurality of positions for holding tooth care attachments. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle unit defines an internal chamber adapted for storage of one or more tooth care attachments comprising a rack shaft extending along the internal chamber, the rack shaft comprising a plurality of positions for holding tooth care attachments, the rack shaft comprising a removable insert. 
     
     
         22 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is releasably coupled with the handle unit. 
     
     
         23 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second ends of the arm comprises a means for releasably engaging with a tooth care attachment. 
     
     
         24 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth care attachment at the first end of the arm comprises a tooth brush head and the tooth care attachment at the second end of the arm comprises a disposable dental floss head. 
     
     
         25 . The tooth care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth care attachment at the first end of the arm comprises a tooth brush head and the tooth care attachment at the second end of the arm comprises a disposable dental floss head, the dental floss head comprising a bracket member having a length of dental floss taught thereacross. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)