Collapsible toothbrush and case

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a novel toothbrush design and associated carrying case. In one embodiment the toothbrush may have a handle cylindrical in shape, and may break down into three separable sections, each joinable at threaded joints. One element may be configured to receive a removable bristle assembly. In one embodiment, the toothbrush elements may each be stored in separate compartments in the carrying case. The carrying case may also include a slidably extendible drawer configured to dispense floss. The carrying case may also include separate compartments for storing consumables such as toothpaste tablets and mouthwash tablets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible toothbrush comprising:
 a toothbrush head comprising a bristle assembly; and   a handle comprising one or more portions, wherein the tooth brushhead is removably attached to a first end of the handle via a first connection, and wherein the one or more portions are removably attached to each other via a second connection to form the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the toothbrush head and the handle are made a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a wood, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the toothbrush head and the handle are made of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, bamboo, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises one or more grip regions, wherein the one or more grip regions are made of a material selected from the group consisting of a knurled texture, a slip resistant overlay, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first connection and the second connection are selected from the group consisting of a press fit joint, a threaded connection, a twist and lock configuration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first connection and the second connection are a threaded connection. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the bristle assembly comprises:
 a rear portion having a front surface and a rear surface; and   bristles, wherein the bristles are fixedly attached to the front surface, and wherein the rear surface is disposed towards the toothbrush head.   
     
     
         8 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein the toothbrush head is shaped to snuggly receive and hold the rear portion of the bristle assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein the rear surface of the rear portion comprises a protrusion, and wherein the toothbrush head comprises an opening shaped to snuggly receive the protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . A carrying case comprising:
 a housing;   a handle compartment disposed in the housing;   a toothbrush head compartment disposed in the housing adjacent to the handle compartment; and   a first cover movably attached to the housing via a third connection, wherein the first cover forms a portion of the tooth brush head compartment and a portion of the toothbrush head compartment.   
     
     
         11 . The carrying case of  claim 10 , wherein the third connection is a hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying case of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a consumables compartment disposed in the housing adjacent to one or more of the handle compartment and the handle compartment; 
 a second cover movably attached to the housing via a fourth connection, wherein the second cover forms a portion of the consumables compartment. 
 
     
     
         13 . The carrying case of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the third connection and the fourth connection are a hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying case of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a dental floss drawer disposed in the housing adjacent to one or more of the handle compartment and the toothbrush head compartment, wherein the dental floss drawer is movably attached to the housing via a fifth connection such that the dental floss drawer if flush with the housing when not in use. 
 
     
     
         15 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the fifth connection is selected from the group consisting of an integral slotted track, a sliding mechanism, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the dental floss drawer comprises:
 a dental floss spool;   a dental floss port; and   a dental floss retainer/cutter.   
     
     
         17 . The carrying case of  claim 14 , wherein the dental floss drawer slidably extends outwardly from the housing when in use. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying case of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a toothbrush head comprising a bristle assembly disposed in the toothbrush head compartment; 
 a handle comprising one or more portions disposed in the handle compartment.