Topper for power toothbrush and method for forming the same
US7636977B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C17/225
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A decorative piece in the form of a topper designed to seat at the base of the shaft and extending from the handle body of a powered toothbrush is provided. The topper is formed as a single molded piece on top of a base ring having a central hole that fits over the shaft and a lower skirt that mates with the handle. The base ring includes grooves or other indentations about the central hole that receive inflow from the topper when it is molded. According to one embodiment, to construct the topper, the base ring is held in place with respect to the topper mold and molten or otherwise-liquid plastic is injected into the mold so that it fills the mold cavity and thereby flows into the indentations in the base ring, thereby securing the topper to the base ring when the decorative feature hardens sufficiently. The base ring and topper can then be slid over the shaft into a final mounted position on the assembled brush.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.