Toothbrush with metal skeleton and plastic body moulded around it

Abstract

Toothbrush having a head, a neck and a handle, the toothbrush comprising a plastic body and a metal skeleton, the plastic body being moulded around the metal skeleton, the metal skeleton extending from the handle through the neck and into the head of the toothbrush.

1 . Toothbrush having a head ( 10 ), a neck ( 9 ) and a handle ( 8 ), the toothbrush comprising a plastic body and a metal skeleton ( 1 ), the plastic body being moulded around the metal skeleton ( 1 ), the metal skeleton ( 1 ) extending from the handle ( 8 ) through the neck ( 9 ) and into the head ( 10 ) of the toothbrush, wherein the transverse cross sectional area ratio between the skeleton and the total brush ranges from 1:7 to 1:3 along at least a 1 cm length of the neck. 
   
   
       2 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the metal skeleton is wholly contained within the plastic body. 
   
   
       3 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the metal skeleton extends for at least 50% of the length of the toothbrush. 
   
   
       4 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the plastic body comprises transparent or translucent material. 
   
   
       5 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the metal skeleton comprises a flattened portion in the head of the toothbrush. 
   
   
       6 . Toothbrush according to  claim 5  wherein the flattened portion is apertured. 
   
   
       7 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the skeleton comprises a groove running along part of its length. 
   
   
       8 . Toothbrush according to  claim 7  wherein the groove is on the underside of the skeleton. 
   
   
       9 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein the skeleton comprises a zinc alloy. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled)