Toothbrush and method of manufacturing and using the same

Abstract

A toothbrush is provided, including an elongated handle and a brush head supported by the handle. The brush head has a base and a plurality of bristles that extend from the base to form a contact surface elevated from the base. The handle includes a thumb press section that include ridges and flat sections. The toothbrush may include a skeletal structure with an overmoulding encasing the skeletal structure. The overmoulding may form the outer surface of portions of the toothbrush, including the thumb press section.

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 an elongated handle;   a brush head supported by the handle, the brush head having a base and a plurality of bristles that extend from the base to form a contact surface elevated from the base; and   the handle including a thumb press section.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprises a stem coupled between the handle and the brush head. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb press section comprises a plurality of thumb presses. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the thumb press section comprises a plurality of ridges interposed between the thumb presses. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the thumb presses are generally flat surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein each thumb press comprises spaced-apart dimples protruding from a surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein each ridge comprises a plurality of spaced apart ribs protruding from a surface thereof. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes a palm grip section and a valley interface section, the valley interface section positioned between the thumb press section and the palm grip section. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said handle and said brush are positioned about a longitudinal centerline. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said ribs include a series of longitudinally spaced apart ribs. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein each sequential pair of said pluralities of ribs are spaced apart by one of said thumb press sections. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein at least one thumb press is provided at an angle corresponding to a predetermined orientation of the brush head, said angled thumb press being part of a brush head orientation guide. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the thumb press section includes a plurality of angularly spaced-apart thumb presses providing a predetermined orientation guide. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the ribs are of varying height along a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         22 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein said ribs are disposed on distal portion of said thumb press section proximal to a palm grip section of said handle, such that a forward part of said thumb press section extending forwardly of said distal portion is free of said ribs. 
     
     
         23 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein said ridges extend a full length of said thumb press section. 
     
     
         24 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein said ridges include a forward portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being equipped with a series of circumferentially-directed spaced apart ribs and the forward portion being free of ribs. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein said ribs are hollow. 
     
     
         28 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a skeletal structure including a skeletal structure of a brush head, a skeletal structure of a handle, and a skeletal structure of a stem coupled between the skeletal structure of the handle and the skeletal structure of the brush head.   
     
     
         29 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of manufacturing a toothbrush comprising:
 providing a skeletal structure including a skeletal structure of a brush head, a skeletal structure of a handle, and a skeletal structure of a stem coupled between the skeletal structure of the handle and the skeletal structure of the brush head;   coupling bristles to the brush head of the skeletal structure; and   overmoulding a thermoplastic onto the skeletal structure, encasing at least a portion of the skeletal structure.