Toothbrush with adjustable hand grip

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a hollow handle which has an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material which can be expanded or contracted to provide an adjustable diameter grip.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head connected to said handle, said head having cleaning elements extending outwardly therefrom, said handle being hollow, said handle having an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material, characterized in that said sleeve having a first end disposed toward said head and a second end disposed remote from said head, said sleeve having a central portion between said first end and said second end, said central portion is expandable to selectively increase the diameter of said central portion, force applicating structure in said hollow handle for causing said central portion to expand from a first diameter to a selected larger second diameter, and said first end being anchored to remain at a constant distance from said head when said central portion is at said first diameter and is at said second diameter wherein said central portion expands in response to an axial force being applied along the longitudinal axis of said handle to bulge said sleeve outwardly. 
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush of  claim 16 , wherein said sleeve is made of a soft thick compressible material, said force applicating structure including a hollow tubular inner member within said sleeve, a shaft telescopically mounted in a longitudinal direction in said inner member and locking structure on said shaft and said inner member, to lock said shaft in position when said shaft has been pushed into said inner member. 
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein said locking structure includes longitudinally spaced locking members on said inner member, and at least one retaining pin on said shaft for selective engagement with said locking members. 
   
   
       19 . A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head connected to said handle, said head having cleaning elements extending outwardly therefrom, said handle being hollow, said handle having an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material, characterized in that said sleeve having a first end disposed toward said head and a second end disposed remote from said head, said sleeve having a central portion between said first end and said second end, said central portion is expandable to selectively increase the diameter of said central portion, force applicating structure in said hollow handle for causing said central portion to expand from a first diameter to a selected larger second diameter, and said first end being anchored to remain at a constant distance from said head when said central portion is at said first diameter and is at said second diameter wherein said sleeve is a thin expandable skin, and said skin expands in response to pressure applied to said skin. 
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein said central portion includes a chamber covered by said skin, and said force applicating structure including structure for applying a pressure creating medium into said chamber for causing said skin to expand. 
   
   
       21 . The toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein said structure for applying a pressure creating medium includes an air pump for pumping air into said chamber. 
   
   
       22 . The toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein said air pump includes a squeeze pump, an air intake passage communicating said squeeze pump with the atmosphere, and a passage communicating said squeeze pump with said chamber whereby air in said squeeze pump is forced into said chamber by the squeezing of said squeeze pump. 
   
   
       23 . The toothbrush of  claim 22 , wherein said air pump includes a bleed valve leading from said chamber to the atmosphere.