Composite Head Safety Toothbrush and Methods of Making Same

Abstract

A composite safety toothbrush is disclosed, and in particular, one that provides safety features for a prison environment and one that performs in longevity and bristle retention. Methods are also disclosed for making and forming the composite. The toothbrush apparatus detailed herein employs a composite head made from a rigid inner polymer material and a softer thermoplastic material surrounding the inner material. The softer material provides safety for prison toothbrush applications as well as elderly and patient care where care givers may brush the teeth of a patient. Innovative pin connectors in the inner toothbrush head assist in the composite formation. The toothbrush solution herein further importantly provides for a toothbrush having a flexible handle, also providing safety in a prison environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush having a composite head, the composite head comprising:
 a rigid polymer inner core having a plurality of bristle holes for retention and holding a plurality of toothbrush bristles, the rigid polymer inner core made from a 1 st  material;   a pliable flexible material substantially surrounding the rigid polymer inner core on a left and a right side in a bottom plan view underside aspect, the pliable flexible material being made from a 2 nd  material; and   a flexible handle, the flexible handle at least partially made from the 2 nd  material, the toothbrush thereby being a safety toothbrush.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush having a composite head of  claim 1 , the flexible handle further comprising an enlarged curvilinear flat rear end portion. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush having a composite head of  claim 1 , the composite head further comprising:
 a tip of the rigid polymer inner core being covered with the pliable flexible material;   an end of the rigid polymer inner core opposite the tip further having the pliable flexible material adjacent thereto, the end of the rigid polymer inner core opposite the tip transitioning to the handle of the toothbrush;   an opposite side of the rigid polymer inner core, the opposite side opposing a side having the plurality of bristle holes, the opposite side substantially covered by the pliable flexible material; and   a pair of pin connectors extending from the opposite side of the rigid polymer inner core, the rigid polymer inner core thereby being substantially encased by the pliable flexible material with an exception of the pin connectors and the side having the plurality of bristles not being fully encased in the pliable flexible material.