Toothbrush assembly

Abstract

A toothbrush assembly includes a shaft, a toothbrush head, and a handle. The shaft extends along an axis between and to a first shaft end and a second shaft end. The shaft includes a shaft sidewall. The toothbrush head is disposed at the first shaft end. The toothbrush head includes a head portion and a plurality of bristles attached to the head portion. The handle extends about the shaft and along the axis between and to a first handle end and a second handle end. The first handle end is disposed at the brush head. The handle includes an outer radial side. The outer radial side forms a grip surface for the toothbrush assembly. The handle further includes a plurality of grip members forming the outer radial side. The plurality of grip members are axially arranged along the shaft sidewall to form the outer radial side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush assembly comprising:
 a shaft, the shaft extends along an axis between and to a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and the shaft includes a shaft sidewall extending between and to the first shaft end and the second shaft end;   a toothbrush head disposed at the first shaft end, the toothbrush head includes a head portion and a plurality of bristles attached to the head portion; and   a handle, the handle extends about the shaft and along the axis between and to a first handle end and a second handle end, the first handle end is disposed at the brush head, the handle includes an outer radial side extending between and to the first handle end and the second handle end, the outer radial side forms a grip surface for the toothbrush assembly, the handle further includes a plurality of grip members forming the outer radial side, and the plurality of grip members are axially arranged along the shaft sidewall to form the outer radial side between the first handle end and the second handle end.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shaft sidewall includes a shaft thread; and   each grip member of the plurality of grip members includes a grip member body, the grip member body includes an inner grip member sidewall, the inner grip member sidewall includes a grip member thread configured to engage the shaft thread, and the inner grip member sidewall forms a mounting aperture extending through the grip member body along the axis.   
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft sidewall forms a shaft mating feature, each grip member of the plurality of grip members includes a grip member body, the grip member body includes an inner grip member sidewall, the inner grip member sidewall forms a grip member mating feature, and the grip member mating feature is engaged with the shaft mating feature. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft mating feature and the grip member mating feature have a same polygonal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grip members includes an end grip member, and the end grip member is fixedly attachable to the shaft at the second shaft end. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shaft sidewall includes a shaft thread; and   the toothbrush head further includes a base portion, the base portion includes a toothbrush head sidewall forming a shaft cavity of the toothbrush head, the toothbrush head sidewall includes a toothbrush head thread configured for engagement with the shaft thread.   
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grip members includes a first grip member and a second grip member, and the first grip member is different than the second grip member. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grip members are axially movable along and engaged with the shaft sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration subassembly disposed within the shaft, the vibration subassembly includes a vibration module, a battery module, and a control module, the vibration module is electrically connected to the battery module and the control module, and the vibration module is configured to effect vibration of the toothbrush head. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the control module includes an actuating pushbutton at the second shaft end. 
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush assembly comprising:
 a shaft, the shaft extends along an axis between and to a first shaft end and a second shaft end, the shaft includes a shaft sidewall extending between and to the first shaft end and the second shaft end, and the shaft sidewall includes a shaft thread; and   a toothbrush head disposed at the first shaft end, the toothbrush head extends along the axis between and to a first head end and a second head end, the toothbrush head includes a toothbrush head body and a plurality of bristles, the toothbrush head body includes a head portion and a base portion, the head portion is disposed at the first head end, the base portion is disposed at the second head end, the base portion includes a toothbrush head sidewall forming a shaft cavity of the toothbrush head at the second head side, the toothbrush head sidewall includes a toothbrush head thread configured for engagement with the shaft thread with the first shaft end positioned within the shaft cavity, and the plurality of bristles are attached to the head portion.   
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a handle, the handle includes a plurality of grip members positionable on the shaft sidewall to form an outer radial side of the handle, and the plurality of grip members are axially movable along and engaged with the shaft sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each grip member of the plurality of grip members includes a grip member body, the grip member body includes an inner grip member sidewall, the inner grip member sidewall includes a grip member thread configured to engage the shaft thread, and the inner grip member sidewall forms a mounting aperture extending through the grip member body. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of grip members includes a first grip member and a second grip member, and the first grip member is different than the second grip member. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a vibration subassembly disposed within the shaft, the vibration subassembly includes a vibration module, a battery module, and a control module, the vibration module is electrically connected to the battery module and the control module, and the vibration module is configured to effect vibration of the toothbrush head. 
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush assembly comprising:
 a shaft, the shaft extends along an axis between and to a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and the shaft includes a shaft sidewall between the first shaft end and the second shaft end;   a toothbrush head disposed at the first shaft end, the toothbrush head includes a toothbrush head body and a plurality of bristles, the toothbrush head body includes a head portion and a base portion, the base portion is selectively fixedly attachable to the shaft at the first shaft end, and the plurality of bristles are attached to the head portion; and   a handle, the handle extends about the shaft and along the axis, the handle forms a grip surface for the toothbrush assembly, the handle includes a plurality of grip members, and the plurality of grip members are axially arranged along the shaft sidewall to form the grip surface.   
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the shaft sidewall includes a shaft thread; and   each grip member of the plurality of grip members includes a grip member body, the grip member body includes an inner grip member sidewall, the inner grip member sidewall includes a grip member thread configured to engage the shaft thread, and the inner grip member sidewall forms a mounting aperture extending through the grip member body along the axis.   
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of grip members are axially movable along and engaged with the shaft sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of grip members includes a first grip member and a second grip member, and the first grip member is different than the second grip member. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a vibration subassembly disposed within the shaft, the vibration subassembly includes a vibration module, a battery module, and a control module, the vibration module is electrically connected to the battery module and the control module, and the vibration module is configured to effect vibration of the toothbrush head.