Toothbrush with tongue cleaner

Abstract

A manual toothbrush has a handle with a head at one end of the handle having first and second opposing sides, the handle and head made of a first polymeric material. Nylon bristles are fixed to and extend from a first side of the head. A U shaped auxiliary member is made of a second polymeric material that is more flexible than the first polymeric material. The auxiliary member is co-molded with the head and extends partially around a periphery of the head with a first side of the auxiliary member adjacent the first side of the head. The auxiliary member includes a U shaped tongue cleaner projecting away from the second side of the head with an open side of the U facing the handle, and a plurality of projections projecting from the first side of the auxiliary member spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the nylon bristles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manual toothbrush comprising:
 (a) a handle with a head at one end of the handle having first and second opposing sides, the handle and head comprising a first polymeric material;   (b) nylon bristles fixed to and extending from a first side of the head;   (c) a U shaped auxiliary member comprising a second polymeric material that is more flexible than the first polymeric material, the auxiliary member being co-molded with the head, the auxiliary member extending partially around a periphery of the head with a first side of the auxiliary member adjacent the first side of the head, the auxiliary member comprises:
 (i) a U shaped tongue cleaner projecting away from the second side of the head with an open side of the U facing the handle; and 
 (ii) a plurality of projections projecting from the first side of the auxiliary member spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the nylon bristles. 
   
     
     
         2 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein the projections project from the first side of the auxiliary member a distance less than a distance the nylon bristles extend from the first side of the head. 
     
     
         3 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein there are two rows of projections projecting from the first side of the auxiliary member and the nylon bristles extending from the head are at least in part located between the rows of projections projecting from the first side of the auxiliary member. 
     
     
         4 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 3  wherein the projections project from the first side of the auxiliary member a distance less than a distance the nylon bristles extend from the first side of the head.