Attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush

Abstract

An attachable and detachable head section for a toothbrush is provided. A main advantage of this invention is to enable a user to keep the toothbrush handle but change only the bristle head. There is thus less material ending up in the landfills. The head section includes an attachment mechanism that is configured to be releasably attached to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/764,358, filed on Jul. 31, 2019 entitled “Eco-Responsible Toothbrush”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to hygienic implements but more particularly to an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush.

2. Description of Related Art

It is recommended that a person's toothbrush be replaced every three months, which creates a lot of plastic toothbrushes in our landfills. There are some “eco-brushes” having a handle made out of bamboo and with bristle made out of a biodegradable material but these are small scale operations and don't make much of an impact. Electric toothbrushes have removable heads so that a user can replace the bristle without the need to buy a new electric base. There is still a need for a practical easy to operate head changing system for non-electric toothbrushes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In one aspect of the invention, a toothbrush head replacement system is provided comprising a toothbrush handle having a tip portion, the tip portion having at least one opening; a head section having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises bristles and the bottom portion comprises a male connection member operable to be attachable and detachable to the at least one opening such that the head section may be releasably joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.

In one embodiment, the toothbrush handle is non-electric. In one embodiment, the male connection member is a bulb member having a stem member and bulbous member. In one embodiment, the bulbous member includes a split sphere forming a “V” shape configured to clasp together when the bulbous member passes through the at least one opening. In one embodiment, the at least one opening includes a first beveled seat portion. In one embodiment, the split sphere is configured to separate into the “V” shape after passing through the at least one opening and sit in the first beveled seat portion. In one embodiment, the at least one opening includes a second beveled seat portion. In one embodiment, the bulb member further comprises a base member, wherein the base member is configured to sit in the second beveled seat portion when the head section is joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle. In one embodiment, the male connection member is a pair of bulb members. In another embodiment, the male connection member is operable to be locked to the at least one opening via a 90 degree rotation. In another embodiment, the male connection member is a stub member having an upper section with a pair of tip members extending laterally therefrom. In another embodiment, the at least one opening includes a pair of ramps forming a portion of the at least one opening, wherein the pair of ramps enables progressive tightening of the pair of tip members as the head section is rotated in the at least one opening.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood and so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-B are top and bottom views of the head section of a toothbrush respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1C-D are side views of the head section prior to installation on the handle and installed on the handle respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-B are perspective views of the head section prior to installation on the handle and installed on the handle respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-C are top, bottom, and bottom detailed views of the head section respectively, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-C are perspective views of the head section prior to installation on the handle and installed on the handle respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-D and FIGS. 2A-B, one embodiment of an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush is illustrated. In this embodiment, a toothbrush handle 10 includes a tip portion 11 configured to receive a head section 12. In one embodiment, the head section is comprised of a base member 28 and bristles 30. In one embodiment, the bottom portion of the head section (best seen in FIG. 1B), includes at least one bulb member 14 configured to be releasably attached to at least one opening 22 positioned on the tip portion 11 of the toothbrush handle 10. In some embodiments, a pair of bulb members is provided. However, it should be understood that any number of bulb members may be provided. In one embodiment, the at least one bulb member comprises a stem member 16 and a bulbous member 18. In one embodiment, the bulbous member 18 comprises a split sphere 20 forming a “V” shape 23 enabling the bulbous member to reduce in size when pushed through opening 22. More specifically, the split sphere 20 comprised of two hemispheres are configured to clasp together so as to reduce the size of the split sphere 20 as it is pushed an opening 22 of the at least one opening positioned on the tip portion 11 of the handle 10.

When the bulb member, and corresponding split sphere is pushed through opening 22, the split sphere is configured to separate forming the “V” shape 23, wherein the “V” shape is configured and sized to perfectly fit in a beveled seat portions 24 in the opening 22.

In one embodiment, the bulb member 14 further comprises a base portion 26, wherein the base portion is wider than the stem member 16. In one embodiment, the base portion is wedged shaped such that the base portion is configured to fit in a second beveled portion of the opening (not shown). Both bevel portions on both sides of the tip portion ensure that the head section 12 is stable and secure when attached to the handle 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C and FIGS. 4A-C, an alternate embodiment of an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush is illustrated. This embodiment is a similar male/female attachment mechanism as the other embodiment previously discussed, however the engagement securement method is different. In this embodiment, the base member 28 of head section 12 comprises a stub member 32. The stub member having an upper section with a pair of tip members 34 extending laterally therefrom. In one embodiment, the stub member 32 is configured and sized to pass through a complementarily shaped opening 22′ positioned on the tip portion of the toothbrush handle. In one embodiment, opening 22′ allows the stub member 32 go through when the head 12 is perpendicularly oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle 10. Once the stub member 32 is engaged with opening 22′, the head section 12 may be twisted 90 degrees such that the pair of tip members 34 lock onto position on the tip portion of the toothbrush handle. To ensure adequate tightening between the base member 28 and the tip portion 11, a pair of ramps 36 forming part of the opening 22′ allows for a progressive tightening as the head is twisted (counterclockwise as per FIG. 4B).

Although one stub member 32 is illustrated and described, it should be understood that any number of stub members may be provided. Further, the embodiments described herein representing only two of many possibilities for an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush. Additionally, the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.

Claims

1. A toothbrush head replacement system comprising:

a toothbrush handle having a tip portion, the tip portion having at least one opening;

a head section having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises bristles and the bottom portion comprises a male connection member operable to be attachable and detachable to the at least one opening such that the head section may be releasably joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.

2. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush handle is non-electric.

3. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 1, wherein the male connection member is a bulb member having a stem member and bulbous member.

4. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 3, wherein the bulbous member includes a split sphere forming a “V” shape configured to clasp together when the bulbous member passes through the at least one opening.

5. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 4, wherein the at least one opening includes a first beveled seat portion.

6. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 5, wherein the split sphere is configured to separate into the “V” shape after passing through the at least one opening and sit in the first beveled seat portion.

7. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 6, wherein the at least one opening includes a second beveled seat portion.

8. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 7, wherein the bulb member further comprises a base member, wherein the base member is configured to sit in the second beveled seat portion when the head section is joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.

9. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 3, wherein the male connection member is a pair of bulb members.

10. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 1, wherein the male connection member is operable to be locked to the at least one opening via a 90 degree rotation.

11. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 10, wherein the male connection member is a stub member having an upper section with a pair of tip members extending laterally therefrom.

12. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening includes a pair of ramps forming a portion of the at least one opening, wherein the pair of ramps enables progressive tightening of the pair of tip members as the head section is rotated in the at least one opening.