Toothbrush

Abstract

A unique ornamental and utilitarian toothbrush characterized by a bristle-carrying head part and a handle, wherein the handle includes transparent or translucent portions and is further provided with a closed cavity extending in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, and wherein an article is received within the cavity and is visible through the transparent or translucent handle portion. The handle cavity has a closure and the toothbrush is formed from plastic materials. The enclosed article may be decorative, of plural or single parts, and wherein further liquid may be in the cavity.

Patent claims  
     
         1 . A toothbrush which has a bristle-carrying front head part ( 2 ) and a handle ( 3 ) and is produced by conventional or multi-component injection molding, wherein the handle ( 3 ), over at least part of its length, has an essentially cylindrical and closed cavity ( 7 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, at least that part of the handle ( 3 ) which encloses the cavity ( 7 ) consisting of an at least partially transparent material.  
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein means with an aesthetic effect are accommodated in the closed cavity ( 7 ).  
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cavity ( 7 ) is kept closed from the rear by means of a closure part ( 8 ;  8 ′;  22 ;  27 ) which can be connected non-releasably to the handle ( 3 ) at the rear end of the latter.  
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein, for optionally filling the cavity ( 7 ), the cavity ( 7 ) can be closed from the rear by means of a closure part ( 8 ;  8 ′;  22 ;  27 ;  37 ) which can be connected releasably to the handle ( 3 ) at the rear end of the latter.  
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 2  and  claim 4 , wherein the means are accommodated in an ampoule ( 16 ;  17 ;  18 ;  19 ;  20 ) which can be inserted into the cavity ( 7 ).  
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 2  and  claim 4 , wherein the means are formed by a roll ( 14 ;  15 ), preferably made of plastic or cardboard, which has printing on it or has a film adhesively bonded to it.  
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by an at least partially transparent or translucent section of film which butts against the inner wall of the cavity and has printing on it.  
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by loose articles.  
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by a liquid.  
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by a liquid containing floating articles.  
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by sand or powder.  
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by luminescent parts.  
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by hologram foils.  
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the means are formed by a gas.  
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  and  claim 3 , wherein the means are formed by an ampoule ( 20 ) which has printing on it or has a film adhesively bonded to it.  
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , wherein the closure part ( 22 ;  27 ;  37 ) is provided with a positioning part ( 23 ;  24 ;  25 ;  28 ;  38 ) for positioning the toothbrush ( 1 ) on an underlying surface.  
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the positioning part ( 38 ) has a planar standing surface ( 39 ) at right angles to the longitudinal axis (L) of the toothbrush and closure part.  
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush as claimed in one of claims  3 ,  4 ,  16  and  17 , wherein the closure part is produced from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).  
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 4  and either of claims  5  and  15 , wherein the ampoule ( 16 ;  17 ;  18 ;  19 ;  20 ) is kept in its position in the cavity ( 7 ) by a securing means ( 31 ,  35 ).  
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the securing means ( 31 ,  35 ) comprises rearwardly directed tongues ( 31   b ) which are arranged in the front region of the handle cavity ( 7 ), extend in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, are made of an elastically compliant material and are arranged in the form of a circle, it being the case that, when the cavity ( 7 ) is closed by the closure part ( 8 ′;  38 ), the ampoule ( 16 ;  17 ;  18 ;  19 ;  20 ) is kept in its position between said tongues ( 31   b ) and forwardly directed tongues ( 35 ) of the closure part ( 8 ′;  38 ), which are likewise arranged in the form of a circle, extend in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush and consist of an elastically compliant material.  
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the closure part ( 8 ;  8 ′;  22 ;  27 ) is connected to the handle ( 3 ) by welding, preferably high-frequency welding, or adhesive bonding or a non-releasable snap-in connection.  
     
     
         22 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the closure part ( 8 ;  8 ′;  22 ;  27 ;  37 ) is connected to the handle ( 3 ) by a releasable snap-in connection or a screw connection or a bayonet connection.  
     
     
         23 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  and as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein useful articles such as toothpicks or an ampoule with mouthwash or toothpaste are accommodated in the closed cavity ( 7 ).