Technical field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toothbrush shaft that is designed to carry . a polishing means that comprises an element of microfibre fabric . The toothbrush shaft according to the present invention may relate both to a manual toothbrush, i . e . a toothbrush where an operator manually performs the brushing motion, or to an electrical toothbrush, i . e . a toothbrush where the motion of the brush head is generated by an electrical power source . The invention relates also per se to a polishing means that is intended to be detachably mounted on the brush head.

Prior Art

There exist several different known methods to achieve whiter teeth . A toothpaste on the market promises whiter teeth in connection with regular use . Chemical treatments are also known where a paste or a gel is applied to the teeth in one or several steps .

It is also known toothbrushes that are especially designed to give the user whiter teeth . Thus , several manufacturers market toothbrushes that have rubber profiles that are integrated between the bristle bundles in the brush head, the obj ect of said rubber profiles being to provide polishing of the teeth simultaneously as the teeth are brushed. These rubber profiles may be designed in several different ways . In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose S-shape , H-shape or zig zag shape may be mentioned. As regards electrical toothbrushes' it is previously known to have the brush head equipped with a cup shaped rubber portion that is located in the centre of the brush head .

In connection with polishing means made out of rubber it is a general disadvantage that the polishing effect of such polishing means is not too good. In connection with polishing of the teeth by rubber material it is common that one pushes too hard and with bristle straws located beside the rubber profile the pressure on the gums will be too hard. This will

eventually result in contracted gum and shooting/icing pain in the neck of the teeth.

It is also previously known a toothbrush where two "polishing cups" are created by dense bristle that is surrounded by longer, more spaced, angled bristle that holds the toothpaste . However, there is a risk that the surrounding, longer, more spaced bristle hurts the gums if the polishing is effective .

It is also previously known a toothbrush that has a serrated rubber surface on the portion of the brush head that faces away from the bristle bundles , said serrated rubber surface being intended for removing bacteria from the tongue .

Objects and Features of the Invention A primary obj ect of the present invention is to present a toothbrush shaft that enables polishing of the teeth of the user in an efficient but light way.

A further obj ect of the present invention is that the polishing function is limited to the teeth of the user, i . e . irritation of the gums is avoided .

Still an obj ect of the present invention is to achieve the polishing function without the use of chemical additives .

At least the primary obj ect of the present invention is realised by means of a toothbrush shaft and a polishing means that have been given the features of the appending claims . Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below embodiments of the invention will be described, reference being made to the enclosed drawings , where :

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a manual toothbrush, a cavity in the toothbrush shaft being shown for clarity reasons although it is not visible in side view; and Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of an electric toothbrush .

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The toothbrush shown in figure 1 comprises a shaft 1 and a brush head 3, said shaft 1 and brush head 3 being integral . The brush head 3 comprises bristle straws , preferably in the shape of a number of bristle bundles 5 that in a known way are fastened to the brush head 3.

On the side of the brush head 3 that faces away from the bristle bundles 5 the brush head 3 is equipped with a polishing means 7 that comprises a cup shaped portion 9 and a fastening portion 10 , by which the cup shaped portion 9 detachably may be fastened to the brush head 3. A waist 8 connects the cup shaped portion 9 with the fastening portion 10. The cup shaped portion 9, the waist 8 and the fastening portion 10 are manufactured from a flexible material, e . g . plastic . As is evident from figure 1 the fastening portion 10 is equipped with barbs 11 that are intended to cooperate with a cavity 12 of the brush head 3. The cavity 12 has a hole 13 that has a smaller across dimension than the cavity 12. This enables the barbs 11 to cooperate with the portion of the cavity 12 that adj oins the hole 13. Since the fastening portion 10 is manufactured from a flexible material the barbs 11 may be deformed in connection with the _^ removal of the fastening portion 10 from the brush head 3.

The polishing means 7 also comprises an element 15 that constitutes microfibre fabric, said element 15 being received in the cup shaped portion 9 and permanently connected to the cup shaped portion 9. In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose it may be mentioned that the element 15 of microfibre fabric may be embedded in the cup shaped portion 9. Microfibre is a fibre material that consists of polyester/polyamid, said fibre material being cut in radial direction in a number of sections that in cross-section is in the shape of circular segments . These sections have external corners that are sharp and these sharp portions give the material its characteristic to plane off/polish coatings on the teeth without damaging the enamel .

When the element 15 of microfibre fabric is worn out the polishing means 7 is removed from the brush head 3, this being effected by removing the fastening portion 10 from the cavity

12. In connection therewith the barbs 11 are deformed when the fastening portion 10 passes through the hole 13. A fresh polishing means 7 may now be mounted in the cavity 12 , the barbs 11 of the fastening portion 10 being deformed when passing through the hole 13.

The embodiment shown in figure 2 relates to an electric toothbrush, the shown embodiment having a detachable toothbrush shaft that normally carries a permanently mounted brush head (not shown) that performs oscillating or rotating motions .

In figure 2 a detachable toothbrush shaft 101 is shown, said shaft 101 being designed to be attached to a power unit 102 that comprises a power source . At its remote end the toothbrush shaft 101 is equipped with a coupling portion 104 for a polishing means 107 according to the present invention, said polishing means preferably being permanently mounted on the brush tooth shaft 101 via the coupling portion 104. The polishing means 107 comprises a cup shaped portion 109 and a flexible waist 108 , by which the cup shaped portion 109 is connected to the coupling portion 104. Also the cup shaped portion 109 is preferably manufactured from a flexible material, e . g . plastic .

The polishing means 107 comprises also an element 15 that is manufactured from microfibre fabric, said element 15 may in principle be identical with the element 15 in the embodiment according to figure 1. For that reason said elements have been given the same reference numeral . The element 15 of microfibre fabric is received in the cup shaped portion 109 and permanently connected to the cup shaped portion 109. When using the device shown in figure 2 the polishing means 107 will perform the corresponding motions as the not shown brush head, said motions being generated by the power source of the power unit 102.

In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose it may be mentioned that the element 15 of microfibre fabric may be embedded in the cup shaped portion 109. When the element 15 of microfibre fabric is worn out the toothbrush shaft 101 is exchanged and replaced by a new toothbrush shaft 101 having an unused polishing means 107.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

In connection with the embodiments described above the element 15 of microfibre fabric is embedded in the cup shaped portion 9 ; 109. Within the scope of the present invention it is also feasible that the element 15 of microfibre fabric is provided in the cup shaped portion 9 ; 109 in an alternative way . In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose gluing may be mentioned.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 the polishing means 7 is detachably provided on the brush head 3 of the toothbrush shaft 1. Within the scope of the present invention it is also feasible that the polishing means is permanently mounted on the brush head 3 , i . e . it has a life that to the highest possible extent corresponds to the life of the brush head. A further feasible alternative is that the polishing means is detachably mounted relative to the toothbrush shaft by some kind of thread coupling .

As regards an electric toothbrush the polishing means may be detachably mounted on the shaft as an alternative to the entire shaft 101 being detachable from the power unit 102. Generally the present invention relates to a toothbrush shaft that has a separate polishing means that may be provided adj acent to the brush head or at some other location of the toothbrush shaft . In connection therewith it is important that the polishing means is given such a location and such dimensions that the toothbrush shaft continues to be highly user-friendly .