Toothbrush

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush with a handle, at least one cleaning zone and at least one deformable element, where the deformable element has a first flexible arm arranged relatively towards the cleaning zone and a second flexible arm arranged relatively away from the cleaning zone. The deformable element can move from a resting position in which the first arm is substantially flat and aligned to the handle, to a cleaning position in which the first arm and the cleaning zone adopt a curvature of a surface of a dentition, where the arms form a wedge being connected together at one end of the deformable element and distanced from each other at the other end of the deformable element. The first and second arms are linked by at least two bridges which are tiltable with respect to the first and second arms when pressure is applied to the cleaning zone, wherein the arms and bridges enclose a void space.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush with a handle, at least one cleaning zone and at least one deformable element, where the deformable element has a first flexible arm arranged relatively towards the cleaning zone and a second flexible arm arranged relatively away from the cleaning zone, where the deformable element can move from a resting position in which the first arm is substantially flat and aligned to the handle, to a cleaning position in which the first arm and the cleaning zone adopt a curvature of a surface of a dentition, where the arms form a wedge being connected together at one end of the deformable element and distanced from each other at the other end of the deformable element, where the first and second arms are linked by at least two bridges which are tiltable with respect to the first and second arms when pressure is applied to the cleaning zone, wherein the arms and bridges enclose a void space. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the arms and the bridges are formed integrally by injection moulding. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the arms and the bridges are made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein the TPE material has a Shore D hardness of about 50 to 66, preferably about 54 to 62, more preferably about 56 to 60, most preferably about 58. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the bridges have hinges flexibly connecting the bridges to the arms. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein the hinges are integral hinges. 
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein the integral hinges have a thickness in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush of about 0.2 to 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the distance between the arms at a proximal end of the deformable element is between about 3 mm to 5 mm, preferably 3.5 to 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein a longitudinal distance between adjacent bridges is between about 5 to 9 mm, preferably between 7 to 8 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the deformable element is not longer than 150% of the length of the cleaning zone, preferably not longer than 130% of the length of the cleaning zone. 
     
     
         25 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the deformable element has 2-7 bridges, preferably 3-5 bridges, most preferably 3 bridges. 
     
     
         26 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a polypropylene skeleton and is formed integrally in one piece with the deformable element by injection moulding. 
     
     
         27 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the deformable element consists of a material having an elongation at break of 500 to 800%, preferably 600 to 750%, more preferably 650 to 700%. 
     
     
         28 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein an angle (α) between the bridges and the arms is around 90° in the resting position, and around 95° to 110°, preferably around 97° to 105° when pressure is applied to the cleaning zone.