Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a toothbrush according
to the preamble of patent claim 1.
It is a deplorable fact that oral hygiene, as the most
effective precaution against tooth decay, does not occur to the
extent required by physicians. The reason for this problem is
not only that the teeth are brushed too infrequently or for too
9hort a time, but often also becuase the toothbrush is used over
too long a period of time de~pite diligent oral hygiene. It has
been a~certained that the bri~tles are affected by brushing and
their tips are roughened or even split. However, the gums are
in~ured by ~uch roughened brushes, thu~ thwarting the effect of
looklng after one's teeth.
German OS 31 40 903 disclo~es a toothbru~h having an in-
dicatlng element in it~ handle with which, for exampler the month
in whlch the toothbrush was purchased or is to be replaced can be
~et. It may be possible to lock this indicating element, but it
can al~o be accidently reset 80 that the particulars that were
once ~et are po~sibly fal~ified. In addition, dirt can become em-
bedded ln the gap between the indicating element and the tooth-
bru~h handle which is not only unslightly but also unhygienic.
A toothbrush is known from European patent application
EP 0 199 158 A2 which has a battery-operated device in the handle
giving off acoustic or visual signals. This device is switched on
inductively or capacitively as soon as the toothbrush is picked up
~o that a melody or spoken text sounds or visual signals are given
off while brushing one's teeth for a period of, for example, two
minutes. A sensitive, pleasing component is herewith offered to
the user while brushing hi~ teeth which should at the same time
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encourage regular brushing. If the toothbrush is used twice daily,
the battery lasts for approximately three months, thus also
letting the user know indirectly that the toothbrush should be
replaced.
The manufacture and design of such toothbrushes is
. ..
more expensive than for conventional types of toothbrushes. In
.
addition, for reasons of environmental protection it must be -
remembered that toothbrushes containing batteries cannot simply
be thrown away when they are no longer being used, rather they
mu t either be collected at special garbage dumps or be recycled.
The present invention is based on the object of pro- ;
vlding a toothbrush of the conventional type which is simple to ;
manufacture and whlch draws the user's attention directly to the
fact that the maxlmum allowable period of use has expired and that
the toothbrush must be replaced.
Accordlng to the present invention there is provided
a toothbrush having a handle and a bristle support and a mechanism
, .
which indicates the end of the toothbrush's serviceable life,
whereln the mechanism is formed whereby at least part of the
toothbrush consists of material that gradually decomposes, dis-
integrates or changes colour. :~
Accordingly, at least part of the toothbrush is
manufactured from or is provided with a material that gradually
., ~ j,. .
decomposes, disintegrates or changes colour during use. This -~
process can occur by means of air, water or light. A plurality
of plastics are known for this purpose, for example polymers with
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acid or amino groups, for example a polymer with methacrylic acid
as the copolymer. Such plastics are soluble in water or in
slightly acidic or basic liquids. Dyes and coloured plastics that
are not lightproof are suitable for the change in colour.
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The transition region between the bristle support and
the handle is thereby preferably manufactured at least in part
from a plastic that decomposes or dissolves in water. Since this
transition region regularly comes into contact with water during
brushlng, the material dissolves 80 that after a while the bristle
support le no longer stable rather is only soft and thus improper-
ly connected to the handle for cleaning teeth.
Another possibility lies in providing an indicator panel
covered with a decomposing or disintegrating material on the bris-
tle support and/or the handle. This material, for example the
aforenamed plastlc, has dissolved when the possible perlod of use
o~ the toothbru~h ends 80 that the indicator panel i~ vislble and
khe end o the perlod of use i8 effectively indicated.
Furthermore, the entire body of the toothbrush or only
an lndlcator panel can be manufactured from a material that grad-
ually changes colour.
Two sxemplary embodiments of the present invention are
. . ~,.,, ,.:~ :,
explained in greater detail on the basis of the drawings wherein:
Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a toothbru~h according ~ ~ i
to the present invention before the start of
use and at the end of the maximum useful life;
Figures 3 and 4 show a second exemplary embodiment of a
toothbrush according to the present invention
likewise before the start of use and at the
end of the allowable useful life;
Figures 5 and 6 show a third exemplary embodiment of a
toothbrush according to the present invention
likewise before the start of use and at the
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':
end of the allowable useful life.
Figure 1 illustrates a toothbrush 1 having a handle 2, a
slightly bent transition region 3 and a bristle support 4 for
bristles 5. The transition region 3 between the handle 2 and the
bristle support 4 i8 manufactured from a water-soluble plastic,
or example a polymer with acrylic acid as the copolymer. When
cleaning teeth, this transition region comeæ into contact with
water whereby it gradually disintegrates and becomes soft. The
appropriate composition of the material can influence the length
o time required for the plastic to soften or disintegrate. When
the thickness of the transition region 3 is no longer sufficient
or a stable connection between the handle 2 and the bristle sup-
port, then the toothbrush is no longer to be used. This condition
i~ illu~trated in Figure 2. It is important hereby that the plas-
tic used does not break on account of brittleness which could re-
~ult in injuries during brushing, rather that it gradually disin-
tegrates or softens to such an extent that the bristle support
bends during brushing and appropriate pressure can no longer be
applied to the teeth.
Figure 3 shows a toothbrush 1 having a handle 2, again
a slightly bent transition region 3' and a bristle support 4 for
bristles 5. The transition region 3' to begin with has a slightly
lowered indicator panel 6, as shown in Figure 4, which i8 8UbBe-
quently covered with a water-soluble plastic 7. During use of the
toothbrush this plastic is gradually dissolved by the water, thus
exposing the indicator panel 6. Through this an inscription or -
other warning symbol becomes visible which reminds the user to
replace the toothbrush.
".',~'~,
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The toothbru~h according to Figure 5 again has a handle : '
2, a bent tran~ition region 3" and a bri~tle support 4 for bris-
tle~ 5. The bent transition region 3" of thi~ toothbru~h i8 manu-
~actured from a material that changes colour in the cour~e of
time, for example by mean~ of light or moisture, this material
contalnlng, for example, dye~ that are not lightproof, their col-
our changing markedly after a certain period of time, as i~ indi-
cated by the cro3~hatching in Figure 6. Thi~ al~o indicates to
the u~er that the toothbru~h is no longer to be u~ed, rather a new -~
one 1~ to be used.
In the exemplary embodiments the indication and arrange-
ment of the dl~lntegrating, decompo~ing or discolouring plastlc .;
material~ i~ given by way of example. The invention can in the ,
~ame way be u~ed not only in con~unction wlth regular toothbru~h-
e~, but also with attachments suitable for electric toothbru~he~
:
