TOOTHBRUSH WITH GRIPPING AREA - COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

Title:

TOOTHBRUSH WITH GRIPPING AREA

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO2004026162

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A toothbrush (10) having a handle (12) and a head (14) secured to the handle includes a gripping section (18) on the handle. A through hole (20) is formed completely through the gripping section from one outer gripping surface to the other. The through hole contains a yieldable material (22) which is preferably a soft elastomeric mass which shifts in response to the application of force. The yieldable material may be air within an air pocket (38) in the through hole where the through hole is covered by thin skins. The yieldable material may be a low hardness elastomer which is adhered to a higher hardness elastomer (64) in the through hole with the higher hardness elastomer adhered to the rigid or semi-rigid handle material (62).

Inventors:

HOHLBEIN DOUGLAS J (US)
ROONEY MICHAEL CHARLES (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2003/029497

Publication Date:

June 24, 2004

Filing Date:

September 17, 2003

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (US)
HOHLBEIN DOUGLAS J (US)
ROONEY MICHAEL CHARLES (US)

International Classes:

A46B5/02; A46B9/04; A46B17/08; A61C17/22; (IPC1-7): A46B5/02; A46B9/04

Foreign References:

US6298516B1	2001-10-09
US5735012A	1998-04-07
US5781958A	1998-07-21
US5860183A	1999-01-19
US5673454A	1997-10-07
US6049936A	2000-04-18
US5926901A	1999-07-27
US5339482A	1994-08-23
US3185001A	1965-05-25

Other References: