Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush having a body, a brush head, and a neck extending between the body and the brush head is described. The brush head having a forward face and a rear face, and a massaging element disposed on the rear face of the brush head. The massaging element has a base surface which is non-coplanar with the rear face, and the massaging element comprising a plurality of protrusions. A plurality of bristles extends from the forward face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush having a body, a brush head, and a neck extending between the body and the brush head, the brush head having a forward face and a rear face, the toothbrush further comprising:
 a massaging element disposed on the rear face of the brush head the massaging element having a base surface which is non-coplanar with the rear face, the massaging element comprising a plurality of protrusions; and   a plurality of bristles extending from the forward face.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush head comprises a first material and the massaging element comprises a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein the massaging element comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of elatomeric elements extending from the forward face. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the massaging element comprise a plurality of outwardly extending ridges. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extending ridges are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the massaging element comprises a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the massaging element comprises a plurality of outwardly extending members which are capable of providing massaging. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric elements are disposed adjacent to sides of the brush head. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric elements have a height which is less than the height of the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush further comprises an outwardly extending region which contacts an underside of the massaging element. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of bristles extend in a direction which forms an acute angle with the front face of the brush head. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 12 , further comprising another portion of the plurality of bristles which extend in the rearward direction thereby forming an acute angle with respect to the front face of the brush head. 
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush having a body, a brush head, and a neck extending between the body and the brush head, the brush head having a forward face and a rear face, the toothbrush further comprising:
 a massaging element disposed on the rear face of the brush head, wherein the massaging element having a base surface which is non-coplanar with the rear face, the massaging element further comprising a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions, and wherein the massaging element is made from an elastomeric material;   a plurality of bristles extending from the forward face and having a first height; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the forward face and having a second height, wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements are disposed adjacent to sides of the brush head, and wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements are made from a thermoplastic elastomer, and wherein the first height is greater than the second height.   
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the plurality of bristles extend in a direction which forms an acute angle with the front face of the brush head. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the plurality of bristles extend in a forward direction. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the plurality of bristles extend in a rearward direction. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , further comprising another portion of the plurality of bristles which extend in the rearward direction thereby forming an acute angle with respect to the front face of the brush head.