Manual toothbrush

Abstract

A manual toothbrush, including a disposable head comprising a thermoplastic material and a reusable handle comprising an aluminum material, has a center of gravity, a longitudinal axis, and mutually opposite front and back sides. The handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite thereto. The center of gravity lies within the handle even when the brush head is loaded with toothpaste, wherein the center of gravity is arranged at or in close proximity to the pivot point of a wrist joint of a user brushing teeth, which arrangement facilitates precise and accurate brushing movements by the user. The handle's proximal end terminates with a chamfered surface, wherein the chamfered surface and a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the axis form therebetween an angle α from about 15° to about 30° such that one of the front side and the back side of the handle is shorter than the other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manual toothbrush having a center of gravity, a longitudinal axis, a front side, and a back side opposite to the front side,
 wherein the toothbrush includes a disposable head comprising a thermoplastic material and a reusable handle comprising an aluminum material,   wherein the head is structured and configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle by being moved relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the head having a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the front side of the toothbrush when the head is attached to the handle,   wherein the handle has a proximal end, which is adjacent to the head when the head is attached to the handle, and a distal end opposite to the proximal end,   wherein the handle has a cross-sectional area extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein the proximal end is chamfered to form a chamfered surface,   wherein the chamfered surface and the cross-sectional area form therebetween an angle α from about 15° to about 30° such that one of the front side and the back side of the handle is shorter than the other,   wherein the handle is devoid of a power source, and   wherein the toothbrush is structured and configured so that the center of gravity lies within the handle even when the brush head is loaded with toothpaste, wherein the center of gravity is arranged at or in close proximity to the pivot point of a wrist joint of a user brushing teeth, which arrangement facilitates precise and accurate brushing movements by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a metal layer in the form of a ring. 
     
     
         3 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein the ring is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the handle comprises a concave portion defining a part of the handle suitable for a thumb rest that is positioned on the front side of the toothbrush and adjacent to the proximal end of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity is arranged in the center of the handle, which arrangement causes the toothbrush to be well balanced and does not tip over when toothpaste is applied onto the brush head. 
     
     
         6 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material of the head has a density of from about 0.5 g/cm 3  to about 1.2 g/cm 3,  and the aluminum material of the handle has a density of from about 2.1 g/cm 3  to about 3.1 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The manual toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a distal end and a proximal end opposite to the distal end and adjacent to the handle when the head is attached to the handle, wherein the proximal end of the head terminates with a chamfered surface, wherein the head has a cross-sectional area extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein said cross-sectional area and said chamfered surface form therebetween an angle β from about 15° to about 30°.