Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03136731 2021-10-13
TOOTHBRUSH AND DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AND/OR DEMOUNTING A TOOTHBRUSH HEAD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toothbrush and a device for attaching
and/or detaching a
toothbrush head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to dentists' recommendations, people should brush their teeth at
least twice a day
and replace their toothbrushes at least every three months. Thus, the
consumption of
toothbrushes worldwide is extremely high. When replacing a toothbrush, people
usually replace
the old one with a new one and dispose of the old toothbrush as waste.
However, only the
bristles on the head of the old toothbrush are not suitable for further use in
brushing the teeth
while the handle can continue to be used. Discarding the entire old toothbrush
would result in
a large waste of resources and a significant increase in the amount of waste
to be treated.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the existing toothbrush.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least one defect of
above-mentioned
existing toothbrushes and to provide an improved toothbrush that allows the
handle to be
reused when the bristles on the head are not suitable for further use in
cleaning the teeth, in
order to improve resource utilization and reduce the amount of waste to be
treated.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching
and/or detaching a
toothbrush head. This device enables a head to be easily attached to a handle
and/or enables a
head to be easily detached from a handle.
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According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
toothbrush comprising:
a handle comprising a grip portion and a head attaching portion connected to
the grip portion;
a head comprising a body and bristles mounted to a first side of the body, the
body further
having a second side opposite to the first side;
wherein a first hole is formed in one of the head attaching portion and the
second side of the
body, and a corresponding protruding plug is formed on the other of the head
attaching portion
and the second side of the body, the head is removably attached to the head
attaching portion
by inserting the protruding plug into the first hole.
In one embodiment, the first hole is a through hole formed in the head
attaching portion and
the protruding plug is formed on the second side of the body.
In one embodiment, four first holes are symmetrically distributed with respect
to a longitudinal
axis of the handle.
In one embodiment, the protruding plug comprises a root portion extending from
the body and
an end portion integral with the root portion but having an increased size,
and an excised
portion is formed in the protruding plug.
In one embodiment, the protruding plug comprises a root portion extending from
the body and
an end portion integral with the root portion but having an increased size, an
excised portion is
formed in the protruding plug, the first hole comprises a first portion
corresponding to the root
portion and a second portion corresponding to the end portion and having a
larger size than the
first portion.
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In one embodiment, a radial size of the root portion is selected to be the
same as or slightly
smaller than a radial size of the first portion, and a radial size of the end
portion is selected to
be the same as or slightly smaller than a radial size of the second portion.
In one embodiment, a flange is formed around the periphery of the head
attaching portion to
define a concave space for accommodating the body, and the concave space has a
size
corresponding to the sizes of the body.
In one embodiment, the bristles comprise a first group of bristles arranged at
the center of the
body, a second group of bristles and a third group of bristles arranged
symmetrically on either
side of the first group of bristles along a longitudinal direction of the
body, each group of bristles
comprises a plurality of bristle clusters comprising a plurality of bristles
combined together, the
bristle clusters in the first group of bristles are arranged in a plurality of
columns along the
longitudinal direction of the body and separately apart from each other, each
bristle cluster in
the first group of bristles is arranged to be parallel to a plane passing
through the longitudinal
axis of the body and perpendicular to the first side, the bristle clusters in
the second group of
bristles and the third group of bristles are arranged in columns along the
longitudinal axis of the
body and separately from each other, each bristle cluster in the second group
of bristles and the
third group of bristles is arranged to be tilted outwardly with respect to the
plane so that the
gaps between the second group of bristles as well as the third group of
bristles and the first
group of bristles gradually increase in a direction along the plane away from
the body.
In one embodiment, the second group of bristles and the third group of
bristles each comprise
at least two columns of bristle clusters, the column of bristle clusters in
the at least two columns
of bristle clusters away from the first group of bristles is tilted outwardly
at a greater angle than
the column of bristle clusters close to the first group of bristles.
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In one embodiment, the bristles further comprise a fourth group of bristles
arranged at the end
of the body away from the handle, the fourth group of bristles comprises at
least one column
of bristle clusters arranged in an arc.
In one embodiment, each bristle cluster in the fourth group of bristles is
arranged to be tilted
outwardly with respect to the center of the arc.
In one embodiment, a second hole is further formed in and extends through the
head attaching
portion.
According to other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device
for attaching a
toothbrush head which is used for attaching a head to a handle of a toothbrush
as above-
mentioned comprising:
a lower housing;
an upper housing pivotally mounted to the lower housing; and
a lining component disposed in the lower housing;
wherein a head attaching cavity is formed in the lining component, a step for
supporting an edge
portion of the body is formed on an inner wall of the head attaching cavity, a
protruding pressing
portion is formed on a surface of the upper housing facing the lining
component at a location
corresponding to the head attaching cavity, the pressing portion can apply a
force onto the head
attaching portion to insert the protruding plug into the first hole when the
head is supported in
the head attaching cavity by the step and the protruding plug aligns with the
first hole.
In one embodiment, the lining component is further formed with a recess
opening to the head
attaching cavity and for accommodating a portion of the handle.
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In one embodiment, the lining component is further formed with a cleaning
brush
accommodating cavity.
In one embodiment, the lining component is further formed with a head
accommodating cavity
for accommodating a spare head.
In one embodiment, the lining component is formed separately from the lower
housing and is
mounted to the lower housing.
According to other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device
for detaching a
toothbrush head which is used for detaching a head from a handle of a
toothbrush as above-
mentioned, a second hole being formed in and extending through the head
attaching portion,
the device comprising:
a lower housing;
an upper housing pivotally mounted to the lower housing; and
a lining component disposed in the lower housing;
wherein a head detaching cavity is formed in the lining component, a step for
supporting the
handle is formed on the inner wall of the head detaching cavity, a protruding
pushing post is
formed on a surface of the upper housing facing the lining component at a
location
corresponding to the head detaching cavity, the pushing post passing through
the second hole
can apply a force onto the body to disengage the protruding plug from the
first hole when the
head attached to the handle is placed in the head detaching cavity and the
handle is supported
by the step.
In one embodiment, the lining component is further formed with a recess
opening to the head
detaching cavity and for accommodating a portion of the handle.
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According to further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
device for attaching
and detaching a toothbrush head which is used for attaching a head to a handle
or detaching
the head from the handle of a toothbrush as above-mentioned, a second hole
being formed in
and extending through the head attaching portion, the device comprising:
a lower housing;
an upper housing pivotally mounted to the lower housing; and
a lining component disposed in the lower housing;
wherein a head attaching cavity is formed in the lining component, a step for
supporting an edge
portion of the body is formed on an inner wall of the head attaching cavity, a
protruding pressing
portion is formed on a surface of the upper housing facing the lining
component at a location
corresponding to the head attaching cavity, the pressing portion can apply a
force onto the head
attaching portion to insert the protruding plug into the first hole when the
head is supported in
the head attaching cavity by the step and the protruding plug aligns with the
first hole; and
a head detaching cavity is formed in the lining component, a step for
supporting the handle is
formed on the inner wall of the head detaching cavity, a protruding pushing
post is formed on
the surface of the upper housing facing the lining component at a location
corresponding to the
head detaching cavity, the pushing post passing through the second hole can
apply a force onto
the body to disengage the protruding plug from the first hole when the head
attached to the
handle is placed in the head detaching cavity and the handle is supported by
the step.
The toothbrush according to the present invention makes it possible to reuse
the handle in order
to improve resource utilization and reduce the amount of waste to be treated.
The device for attaching and/or detaching the toothbrush head according to the
present
invention enables the attachment and/or detachment of the head to be labor-
savingly, easily
and efficiently conducted.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a toothbrush according to a first
preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. la is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a direction parallel
to a longitudinal axis
of the toothbrush in FIG. 1 and through protruding plugs on the head;
FIG. lb is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a direction
perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of the toothbrush in FIG. 1 and through protruding plugs on
the head;
FIG. 2 is another schematic perspective of the toothbrush according to the
first preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the toothbrush according to the first
preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 3a is an enlarged view similar to FIG. la;
FIG. 3b is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3a, wherein the head is detached
from the handle;
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective of the handle according to the first
preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is another schematic perspective of the handle according to the first
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
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FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective of the head according to the first preferred
embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 7 is another schematic perspective of the head according to the first
preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the head according to the first preferred
embodiment of the
present invention;
.. FIG. 9 is a schematic end view of the head according to the first preferred
embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 10 is a schematic bottom view of the head according to the first
preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic top view of the head according to the first preferred
embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective of a toothbrush according to a second
preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 12a is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a direction parallel
to a longitudinal axis
of the toothbrush in FIG. 12 and through protruding plugs on the head;
.. FIG. 12b is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a direction
perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of the toothbrush in FIG. 12 and through protruding plugs on
the head;
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FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective of the head according to the second
preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is another schematic perspective of the head according to the second
preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a schematic front view of the head according to the second
preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a schematic end view of the head according to the second preferred
embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a schematic bottom view of the head according to the second
preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of the head according to the second preferred
embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective of a device for attaching and detaching a
head according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a front view of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is an end view of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is a top view of the device for attaching and detaching the head shown
in FIG. 19;
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FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 24 is a perspective of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIG. 19 in
the open state;
FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective of the device for attaching and detaching
the head shown in
FIG. 19;
FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective of a lining component of the device for
attaching and detaching
the head shown in FIG. 19;
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing the lining component of the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19 mounted to the lower housing;
FIG. 28 is a perspective showing the attachment of the head using the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the head is placed in a head
attachment cavity;
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment of the head using the
device for
attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the handle is
placed on the head;
FIG. 30 is a perspective showing the attachment of the head using the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the upper housing is rotated into
a closed state;
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment of the head using the
device for
attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the head has been
attached to the
handle;
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FIG. 32 is a perspective showing the attachment of the head using the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the toothbrush whose head has
been attached
to the handle is removed;
FIGS. 33 and 34 are perspective and cross-sectional views showing respectively
the detachment
of the head using the device for attaching and detaching the head shown in
FIG. 19, wherein
the head attached to the handle is placed in the head detachment cavity;
FIG. 35 is a perspective showing the detachment of the head using the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the upper housing is rotated into
a closed state;
FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing the detachment of the head using the
device for
attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the head has been
detached from
the handle;
FIG. 37 is a perspective showing the detachment of the head using the device
for attaching and
detaching the head shown in FIG. 19, wherein the handle and the head have been
removed
separately;
FIG. 38 is a variant of the device for attaching and detaching the head shown
in FIGS. 19-27;
FIG. 39 is another variant of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIGS. 19-
27; and
FIG. 40 is further variant of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIGS. 19-
27.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below
in connection
with examples. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these
exemplary
embodiments are not meant to form any limit to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a toothbrush according to a first
preferred embodiment of
the present invention and FIG. 2 is another schematic perspective of the
toothbrush according
to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, a
toothbrush 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention comprises a
handle 3 and a head 5 detachably mounted to the handle 3.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective of the handle according to the first
preferred embodiment of
the present invention and FIG. 5 is another schematic perspective of the
handle according to
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4
and 5, the handle
3 comprises a grip portion 3a to be grasped by a user and a head attaching
portion 3b connected
to the grip portion 3a. Although the grip portion 3a and the head attaching
portion 3b may be
formed separately and subsequently assembled together, the grip portion 3a and
the head
attaching portion 3b are preferably formed integrally. First holes 7 are
formed in and extend
through the head attaching portion 3b. Although in the preferred embodiment
the first holes 7
are shown to be four and are symmetrically distributed with respect to a
longitudinal axis AA of
the handle, it should be understood that the number of first holes 7 may be
less than four, e.g.,
three, two, or even one. Of course, the number of first holes 7 may be more
than four. As
required, the first holes may be distributed in other ways. Furthermore,
although the first holes
7 are shown as through holes, it should be understood that the first holes can
also be blind holes.
Second holes 9 may be further formed in and extend through the head attaching
portion 3b.
Although in the preferred embodiment the second holes 9 are shown to be three
and are
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distributed along the longitudinal axis AA of the toothbrush, it should be
understood that the
number of second holes 9 may be less than three, e.g., two or even one. Of
course, the number
of the second holes 9 may be more than three. As required, the second holes
may be distributed
in other ways.
Figures 6-11 schematically show a head of the toothbrush according to the
first preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6-11, the head 5 of the
toothbrush
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes
a body 11 and
bristles 13 mounted on a first side 11a of the body 11. According to the
present invention, the
head 5 further includes protruding plugs 15 formed on a second side 11b of the
body 11
opposite to the first side 11a. The number and distribution of the protruding
plugs 15 on the
head 5 correspond to the number and distribution of the first holes 7 on the
head attaching
portion 3b of the handle 3 so that each protruding plug 15 on the head 5 can
be inserted into
the corresponding first hole 7 in the head attaching portion 3b of the handle
3. As a result, the
head 5 can be reliably attached to the head attaching portion 3b of the handle
3, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2.
The head 5 can be reliably attached to the head attaching portion 3b of the
handle 3 by forming
a tight fit between the protruding plug 15 and the first hole 7. However, in
order to facilitate
easier attachment of the head 5 to and detachment from the handle 3, as shown
in FIG. 3b, the
protruding plugs 15 on the head 5 each comprise a root portion 15a extending
from the body
11 and an end portion 15b integral with the root portion 15a but having an
increased size, and
a excised portion 15c extending from the end portion 15b to the body 11 is
formed in the
protruding plug 15. Correspondingly, the first hole 7 includes a first portion
7a corresponding to
the root portion 15a of the protruding insert 15 and a second portion 7b
corresponding to the
end portion 15b of the protruding insert 15 and having a larger size than the
first portion 7a.
The radial size of the root portion 15a of the protruding plug 15 is selected
to be substantially
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the same as or slightly smaller than the radial size of the first portion 7a
of the first hole 7, and
the radial size of the end portion 15b of the protruding plug 15 is selected
to be substantially
the same as or slightly smaller than the radial size of the second portion 7b
of the first hole 7.
The body 11 and the protruding plug 15 and/or the handle 3 are typically
injection molded from
a plastic material. When the protruding insert 15 is inserted into the
corresponding first hole 7
in the head attaching portion 3b of the handle 3, the end portion 15b of the
protruding insert
is in contact with the side wall of the first hole 7 and squeezed, and the
excised portion 15c
allows two parts of the end portion 15b to come closer to each other and have
a smaller radial
size to pass through the first portion 7a of the first hole 7. Once the end
15b of the protruding
10 plug 15 passes through the first portion 7a of the first hole 7, the end
15b of the protruding plug
15 enters the second portion 7b of the first hole 7 and returns to its
original size so that the
head 5 and the handle 3 can be reliably locked together, as shown in Figure
3a. Although in the
preferred embodiment the excised portion 15c is shown as a transverse cutout
through the side
wall of the protruding plug 15, the excised portion 15c may also be formed in
a cross shape, a
15 petal shape, a hollow shape, or any other suitable shape capable of
reducing the radial size of
the end portion 15b of the protruding plug 15 when subjected to compression.
In order to easily align the protruding plugs 15 on the head 5 with the
corresponding first holes
7 in the head attaching portion 3b when the head 5 is attached to the handle
3, a flange 3c is
.. formed around the periphery of the head attaching portion 3b of the handle
3 to define a
concave space 3d for accommodating the body 11. The size of the concave space
3d corresponds
substantially to the size of the body 11. In this way, the protruding plugs 15
on the head 5 align
with the corresponding first holes 7 in the head attaching portion 3b when the
body 11 is
positioned in the concave space 3d. Furthermore, the size of the concave space
3d
corresponding substantially to the size of the body 11 makes a gap between the
head attaching
portion 3b and the body 11 as small as possible to prevent or minimize dirt or
moisture trapped
between the head attaching portion 3b and the body 11.
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Figures 6-11 also show in detail the distribution of the bristles 13 on the
head 5 according to the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bristles 13 can be
substantially divided
into three groups, a first group of bristles 13a arranged at the center of the
body 11, a second
group of bristles 13b and a third group of bristles 13c arranged symmetrically
on either side of
the first group of bristles along the longitudinal direction of the body 11.
Each group of bristles
comprises a plurality of bristle clusters comprising a plurality of bristles
combined together. The
bristle clusters in the first group of bristles 13a are arranged in a
plurality of linear columns along
the longitudinal direction of the body 11 and separately apart from each
other. In the preferred
embodiment, the bristle clusters in the first group of bristles 13a are shown
to be arranged in
four columns, but it should be understood that they may be arranged in fewer
or more than
four columns. Each bristle cluster in the first group of bristles 13a is also
arranged substantially
parallel to a plane P passing through the longitudinal axis BB of the body 11
and substantially
perpendicular to the first side 11a of the body 11. The bristle clusters in
the second group of
bristles 13b and the third group of bristles 13c are arranged in a plurality
of linear columns along
the longitudinal axis of the body 11 and separately apart from each other. In
the preferred
embodiment, the bristle clusters in the second group of bristles 13b and the
third group of
bristles 13c are arranged in two columns respectively, but it should be
understood that they may
be arranged in fewer or more than two columns. Each bristle cluster in the
second group of
bristles 13b and the third group of bristles 13c is also arranged to be tilted
substantially
outwardly with respect to the plane P so that the gaps between the second
group of bristles
13b as well as the third group of bristles 13c and the first group of bristles
13a gradually increase
in a direction along the plane P away from the body 11, as shown in FIG. 9.
Although in the
preferred embodiment the column of bristle clusters in the second group of
bristles 13b and the
third group of bristles 13c away from the first group of bristles 13a is
tilted outwardly at a greater
angle than the column of bristle clusters close to the first group of bristles
13a, it is also feasible
that the column of bristle clusters in the second group of bristles 13b and
the third group of
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bristles 13c away from the first group of bristles 13a is tilted outwardly at
the same angle as the
column of bristle clusters close to the first group of bristles 13a. The
bristles arranged in this
way allow the first group of bristles 13a to penetrate deeper into the gaps
between the teeth
during brushing to remove debris in the gaps between the teeth to improve the
cleaning effect
on the teeth. At the same time, the second group of bristles 13b and the third
group of bristles
13c can provide a massaging effect on the gums. More preferably, when viewed
from the end
side of the head 5, the ends of the bristle clusters in the first group of
bristles 13a, the second
group of bristles 13b and the third group of bristles 13c away from the body
11 are located
substantially on a concave arcuate surface C so that the bristles fit the
teeth and gums better to
further improve the cleaning and massaging effect.
FIGS. 12-18 show a toothbrush according to a second preferred embodiment of
the present
invention. The toothbrush according to the second preferred embodiment shown
in FIGS. 12-
18 is substantially the same as the toothbrush according to the first
preferred embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1-11 except for a slight difference in arrangement of the
bristles. For the sake of
simplicity, only the differences between the second preferred embodiment and
the first
preferred embodiment are described below, and the detailed description for the
other portions
is omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 12-18, in addition to the first group of bristles 13a, the
second group of bristles
13b and the third group of bristles 13c, the head 5 according to the second
preferred
embodiment of the present invention further includes a fourth group of
bristles 13d arranged
at the end of the body 11 away from the handle 3. In the preferred embodiment,
the fourth
group of bristles 13d includes two arced columns of bristle clusters but it
should be understood
that one or more arced columns of bristle clusters can be provided. More
preferably, each bristle
cluster in the fourth group of bristles 13d is arranged to be tilted outwardly
with respect to the
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center of the arc. By providing the fourth group of bristles 13d, the cleaning
effect on the teeth
and the massaging effect on the gums can be further improved.
Although the head can be detached from the handle by means of a tool passing
directly through
the second holes 9 in the handle, a specific device 20 for attaching and
detaching the head is
proposed in the present invention. As shown in Figures 19-27, the device 20
for attaching and
detaching the head comprises a lower housing 21 and an upper housing 23
pivotally mounted
to the lower housing 21. The upper housing 23 is pivoted relative to the lower
housing to open
or close the device 20 for attaching and detaching the head. The device 20 for
attaching and
detaching the head further includes a lining component 25 mounted to the lower
housing 21. A
head attaching cavity 27 is formed in the lining component 25 to accommodate
the head 5 to
be attached. Steps 27a are formed on the inner wall of the head attaching
cavity 27. In the
preferred embodiment, the steps 27a are formed at the longitudinal ends of the
head attaching
cavity 27, but it should be understood that it is also feasible that the steps
27a are formed at
the longitudinal sides of the head attaching cavity 27. As shown in FIG. 29,
when the head 5 is
placed in the head attaching cavity 27, the edge portion of the body 11 of the
head 5 is
supported on the steps 27a, thereby holding the head 5 in the head attaching
cavity 27 in place.
Preferably, the lining component 25 may also be formed with a first recess 29
opening to the
head attaching cavity 27 and for accommodating a portion of the handle 3.
The lining component 25 is also formed with a head detaching cavity 31 to
accommodate the
head attached to the handle and a portion of the handle. Steps 31a are formed
on the inner
wall of the head detaching cavity 31. In the preferred embodiment, the steps
31a are formed at
the longitudinal ends of the head detaching cavity 31, but it should be
understood that it is also
feasible that the steps 31a are formed at both longitudinal sides of the head
detaching cavity
31. As shown in FIG. 34, when the head 5 attached to the handle is placed in
the head detaching
cavity 31, the handle 3 is supported on the steps 31a but the body 11 of the
head 5 is located in
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CA 03136731 2021-10-13
the inside of the steps 31a, thereby holding the head 5 attached to the handle
in the head
detaching cavity 31 in place. Preferably, the lining component 25 may also be
formed with a
second recess 33 opening to the head detaching cavity 31 and for accommodating
a portion of
the handle 3.
The lining component 25 may also formed with a cleaning brush accommodating
cavity 35 for
accommodating a cleaning brush 37. The cleaning brush 37 may be used to clean
the toothbrush,
in particular, to remove dirt that may be trapped between the head 5 and the
handle 3. In the
preferred embodiment, the cleaning brush accommodating cavity 35 is formed
between the
head attaching cavity 27 and the head detaching cavity 31, but it should be
understood that the
cleaning brush accommodating cavity 35 may be formed at other locations, for
example, at the
end side of the head attaching cavity 27 and the head detaching cavity 31, as
shown in Figure
38.
The lining component 25 may also formed with a head accommodating cavity 39
formed for
accommodating a spare head 5. Through holes 41 corresponding to the protruding
plugs 15 on
the body 11 may be formed in the bottom wall of the head accommodating cavity
39 to
accommodate the protruding plug 15 on the body 11 so that the spare head 5 is
securely placed
in the head accommodating cavity 39. In the preferred embodiment, there are
two head
accommodating cavities 39 arranged on either side of the head attaching cavity
27 and the head
detaching cavity 31 respectively, but it should be understood that the head
accommodating
cavity 39 may be more or less than two and may be arranged in other locations.
The lower housing 21 is formed with a boss 45 with a central cavity 43 and a
projection 49 with
a snap-in portion 47. A positioning post 51 and a projection 55 with an
opening 53 are formed
correspondingly on the bottom side of the lining component 25. By inserting
the positioning
post 51 on the bottom side of the lining component 25 into the central cavity
43 of the boss 45
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on the lower housing 21, the lining component 25 can be quickly positioned
relative to the lower
housing 21. By further pressing the lining component 25 downwardly, the snap-
in portion 47 of
the projection 49 on the lower housing 21 can be received in the opening 53 of
the projection
55 on the bottom side of the lining component 25, thereby reliably mounting
the lining
component 25 to the lower housing 21, as shown in FIG. 27. It should be
understood that the
lining component 25 may also be mounted to the lower housing 21 in other ways.
Further,
although in the preferred embodiment the lining component 25 is formed
separately from the
lower housing 21, it is also feasible that the lining component 25 is formed
integrally with the
lower housing 21.
A protruding pressing portion 57 is formed on a surface of the upper housing
23 facing the lower
housing 21 or the lining component 25 at a location corresponding to the head
attaching cavity
27. In the preferred embodiment, the pressing portion 57 is formed in a hollow
lattice shape,
but it may be in other shapes as long as pressure can be applied to the handle
by the pressing
portion. Protruding pushing posts 59 are formed on the surface of the upper
housing 23 facing
the lower housing 21 or the lining component 25 at a location corresponding to
the head
detaching cavity 31. The number and position of the pushing posts 59
correspond to the number
and position of the second holes 9 in the handle 3. The pushing posts 59 may
pass freely through
the second holes 9. In addition, locking means are formed on the lower housing
21 and the
upper housing 23, for example a protrusion 61 formed on the lower housing 21
and a notch
formed in the upper housing 23 to receive the protrusion 61, so as to reliably
lock the lower
housing 21 and the upper housing 23 together when the device 20 for attaching
and detaching
the head is not in use. The components of the device 20 for attaching and
detaching the head
may be substantially injection molded from a plastic material.
FIGS. 28-32 are schematic views showing the attachment of the head 5 using the
device 20 for
attaching and detaching the head. The process of attaching the head using the
device 20 for
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attaching and detaching the head will be described below in connection with
FIGS. 28-32. Firstly,
the upper housing 23 is pivoted relative to the lower housing 21 to open the
device 20 for
attaching and detaching the head, and then the head 5 is placed in the head
attaching cavity 27
with the protruding plug 15 on the body 11 facing upwardly, as shown in FIG.
28. Next, the
handle 3 is placed on the head 5 so that the first holes 7 on the head
attaching portion 3b of the
handle 3 align with the protruding plugs 15 on the head 5, as shown in FIG.
29. Subsequently,
the upper housing 23 is pivoted to a position in which it is closed with the
lower housing 21, as
shown in FIG. 30. Next, the upper housing 23 is pressed downwardly so that the
pressing portion
57 on the upper housing 23 contacts the head attaching portion 3b of the
handle 3 and applies
a downward force to the head attaching portion 3b of the handle 3. Since the
body 11 is
supported on the steps 27a of the head attaching cavity 27, the protruding
plugs 15 on the head
5 pass through the first holes 7 in the head attaching portion 3b, thereby
attaching the head 5
to the handle 3 as shown in FIG. 31. Finally, the upper housing 23 is pivoted
again with respect
to the lower housing 21 to open the device 20 for attaching and detaching the
head, and the
assembled toothbrush 1 is removed and ready for use, as shown in FIG. 32.
FIGS. 33-38 are schematic views showing the detachment of the head 5 using the
device 20 for
attaching and detaching the head. The process of detaching the head using the
device 20 for
attaching and detaching the head will be described below in connection with
FIGS. 33-38. Firstly,
the upper housing 23 is pivoted relative to the lower housing 21 to open the
device 20 for
attaching and detaching the head, and then the head 5 attached to the handle 3
is placed in the
head detaching cavity 31 with the handle 3 facing upwardly, as shown in FIGS.
33 and 34. Next,
the upper housing 23 is pivoted to a position in which it is closed with the
lower housing 21 as
shown in FIG. 35. Next, the upper housing 23 is pressed downwardly so that the
pushing posts
59 on the upper housing 23 pass through the second holes 9 in the head
attaching portion 3b,
contact the body 11 and applies a downward force to the body 11. Since the
handle 3 is
supported on the steps 31a of the head detaching cavity 31, the pushing posts
59 on the upper
Date Recu/Date Received 2021-10-13
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housing 23 causes the protruding plugs 15 on the head 5 to disengage from the
first holes 7 on
the head attaching portion 3b, thereby detaching the head 5 from the handle 3,
as shown in FIG.
36. Finally, the upper housing 23 is pivoted again with respect to the lower
housing 21 to open
the device 20 for attaching and detaching the head and remove the handle 3 and
the head 5
that have been separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 37.
FIG. 38 is a variant of the device for attaching and detaching the head shown
in FIGS. 19-27. The
device for attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 38 differs from the
device for
attaching and detaching the head described in connection with FIGS. 19-27 only
in that the
cleaning brush accommodating cavity 35 is formed on the end side of the head
attaching cavity
27 and the head detaching cavity 31.
FIG. 39 is another variant of the device for attaching and detaching the head
shown in FIGS. 19-
27. The device for attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 39 differs
from the device for
attaching and detaching the head described in connection with FIGS. 19-27 only
in that it does
not include a head accommodating cavity for accommodating the spare head.
FIG. 40 is further variant of the device for attaching and detaching head
shown in FIGS. 19-27.
The device for attaching and detaching the head shown in FIG. 40 differs from
the device for
attaching and detaching the head described in connection with FIGS. 19-27 only
in that the
cleaning brush accommodating cavity 35 is formed on the end side of the head
attaching cavity
27 and the head detaching cavity 31 and that it does not include a head
accommodating cavity
for accommodating the spare head.
Further, it should be understood that the arrangement of bristles of the spare
head stored in
the head accommodating cavity is not limited to that shown in the preferred
embodiment.
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The device for attaching and detaching head according to the present invention
allows the
attachment and the detachment of the head to be labor-savingly, easily and
efficiently
conducted.
Although the present invention has been described in detail in connection with
preferred
embodiments, it should be understood that such detailed description is
intended only to
illustrate the present invention and does not constitute any limit to the
present invention. For
example, the protruding plugs may be formed on the handle and the holes for
receiving the
protruding plugs are formed in the body of the head. It is also feasible that
the device for
attaching and detaching the head do not include the head attaching cavity and
the
corresponding pressing portion or the head detaching cavity and the
corresponding pushing
posts. In this way, the device has only one function of the attachment and the
detachment. Thus,
the scope of the invention is defined by the technical solutions in the
claims.
20
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