The present relates to hygiene, and more particularly, oral hygiene. The invention extends to items used in a bathroom to increase oral hygiene. Moreover, the invention relates to a toothbrush handgrip; and a kit, comprising said handgrip and items associated therewith.
It is well known that a toothbrush body comprises a handle portion and a head portion, which portions are mainly manufactured as a single unit that is of unitary construction and integrally formed. Bristles are ubiquitously formed on the head portion and may be attached thereto after manufacturing of the toothbrush body.
Toothbrushes that are not properly cared for and stored after use may present a harbouring area for germs. Although it is known that foul bristles or an inadequately cleaned toothbrush body may lead to unhygienic conditions when the toothbrush is used again after being left foul, people often neglect the fact that during the toothbrushing process, unhygienic conditions may also occur.
A person's hands are always in contact with some part of the toothbrush handle during the brushing process and, as such, a mixture of saliva, water and toothpaste inevitably flows, because of gravity, from the bristles towards the handle and onto the hand during brushing.
The above-described scenario is not ideal, and therefore this specification aims to address, at least in part, the above-described shortcomings by providing a toothbrush handgrip; and a kit, comprising said handgrip and items associated therewith.
In accordance with the broadest aspect of this invention there is provided a handgrip for holding a toothbrush, the handgrip comprising a body defining a hollow interior in which a handle portion of the toothbrush can be seated.
In accordance with another broad aspect of this invention there is provided a handgrip for holding a toothbrush, the handgrip comprising a body defining toothbrush gripping means and a channel into which, or a passage through which, a handle portion of the toothbrush can extend.
In an embodiment of the invention the passage may resemble the shape and configuration of any known toothbrush handle.
The invention further provides for the internal gripping means to comprise a yieldable rubber or plastics member provided on an internal sidewall of the tubular body adapted to establish a friction fit between at least part of the toothbrush handgrip and at least part of the toothbrush handle portion.
In a further embodiment of the invention the generally tubular body may be symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the passage; alternatively, the generally tubular body may be asymmetrical.
In an embodiment of the invention the passage may be flanked by a rectilinear or irregularly shaped longitudinally extending underside and a rectilinear or irregularly shaped longitudinally extending upper side. The upper side and underside may be equidistantly spaced apart throughout their length or may differ in spatial orientation relative to an axis of the passage.
In an embodiment of the invention the generally tubular body may comprise a convexly arcuate underside and a concavely arcuate upper side; alternatively, the generally tubular body may comprise a concavely arcuate underside and a concavely arcuate upper side; further alternatively, both the upper side and underside may comprise convexly arcuate and concavely arcuate portions.
Both the upper side and the underside may comprise a raised, arcuate finger gripping portion integral with said generally tubular body and extending in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the width of said body.
The handgrip may in another embodiment of this invention be integrally formed with a toothbrush to form part of a shaft thereof. Accordingly, the invention extends to a toothbrush including a handgrip as herein above described.
The invention extends to a stand for the toothbrush handgrip described herein above, the stand comprising at least one upright extending from a base, the upright providing contact points against which the body of the toothbrush handgrip can be supported in a suspended position.
A first contact point may be provided by an upper edge of the at least one upright. A second contact point may be provided by an outward facing side of the at least one upright.
The base may be extended in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the at least one upright to provide locating space for additional oral hygiene care items on said base.
The invention further extends to an oral hygiene care kit comprising: a toothbrush handgrip and a stand as described herein above. Alternatively, the kit may comprise: a toothbrush handgrip and a stand as described herein above; and any one or more items selected from the group consisting of at least one: toothbrush, glass, cup, mouthwash, dental floss container.
Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying non-limiting diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Referring to
Importantly, the toothbrush handgrip (10) is shaped to minimise physical contact between a hand (4), as best shown in
Referring to
As best shown in
As shown in
In a non-shown embodiment of the invention, the base (54) may be extended in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the upright (52) to provide locating space for additional oral hygiene care items on the base (54).
It is envisaged that the invention extends to an oral hygiene care kit (100), as shown in
While preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the extent of the invention, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate methods, including: methods, for manufacturing/moulding and/or putting together the kit (100) and toothbrush handgrip (10), as well as the stand (50) falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The applicants believe that the kit (100) and toothbrush handgrip (10), as well as the stand (50) of the present invention, at least in part, addresses shortcomings in existing oral hygiene products and provide comfort of use by all and sundry.
The invention for which patent protection is sought is defined in the set of claims which follows.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020/03431 | Jun 2020 | ZA | national |