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WO1993010688A1 - Ustensile destine aux enfants - Google Patents

Ustensile destine aux enfants Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1993010688A1
WO1993010688A1 PCT/US1992/010067 US9210067W WO9310688A1 WO 1993010688 A1 WO1993010688 A1 WO 1993010688A1 US 9210067 W US9210067 W US 9210067W WO 9310688 A1 WO9310688 A1 WO 9310688A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
utensil
shaft
set forth
handle
child
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/010067
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Susan Harrison
Original Assignee
Zooth, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zooth, Inc. filed Critical Zooth, Inc.
Publication of WO1993010688A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993010688A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/0095—Removable or interchangeable brush heads
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0089—Brushes with figurines such as animals on the handle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0097—Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G21/00—Table-ware
    • A47G21/02—Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a utensil, such as a toothbrush for use by a small child.
  • utensils and toothbrushes have included small figurehead designs upon a small portion of the handle or brushhead. While these designs may have entertained the child, they also increased the child's risk of injury.
  • the utensils and their decorative ornamentation often included small shapes that could break off and be swallowed causing choking.
  • the decorative shape as a whole, may also attract a child to swallow the brush. Since the designs were somewhat small, the child could easily choke upon the brush.
  • many of the designs, while small enough to become lodged in a child's throat were too large to fit through a conventional brush holder. Thus, the unsupported brushhead would be prone to contact an unsanitary countertop or similar flat surface, causing soiling of the utensil and/or brushhead.
  • a child's utensil such as a toothbrush
  • the figure carries either a forwardly extending or rearwardly extending limb that is aligned symmetrically relative to the animal's longitudinal axis and is a limb of a type that is usually singular such as a tail, horn or trunk.
  • the limb is shaped and sized similarly to the neck or handle of a conventional utensil, such as a toothbrush. At the end of this limb is positioned an operative utensil end such as a toothbrush head.
  • the limb should be long enough to allow complete entry of the utensil into the child's mouth but not so long as to allow the child to choke upon the operative end of the utensil.
  • the handle should be large enough in diameter to prevent further entry of the utensil into the child's mouth.
  • the figure includes a set of legs or similar appendages that are sized and positioned so that when the figure is rested upon its legs on a substantially flat surface, the operative end of the utensil is suspended above the level of the flat surface preventing contact therewith.
  • the utensil can be removable from the animal figure handle.
  • Fig. 1 is an elevational side view of a child's toothbrush according to one embodiment of this invention
  • Fig. 2 is a top view of the child's toothbrush of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a rear view of the child's toothbrush of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child's toothbrush according to this invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a child's toothbrush according to this invention.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a removable toothbrush according to another embodiment of this invention
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a child's knife according to this invention
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a child's fork according to this invention.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a child's spoon according to this invention.
  • Figs. 1-3 illustrate various views of a child's toothbrush according to this invention. While the following description relates specifically to a toothbrush, as will be described further below, a variety of other utensils can be adapted for use with the figure handle according to this invention.
  • the toothbrush 10 includes a brushhead 12 of substantially conventional design.
  • the head 12 may be sized so that it fits easily within a small child's mouth.
  • the bristles 14 may be specifically adapted to the needs of small children's and toddler's teeth and, thus, may be smaller and softer than the bristles of adult toothbrushes.
  • the head 12 of the toothbrush 10 is attached to a somewhat conventional narrow and elongated neck 16 having a length sufficient to extend out of the child's mouth when the brushhead 12 is positioned relative to the child's deepest teeth. In this manner, the toothbrush 10 may be inserted into the mouth to reach all of the child's teeth.
  • the end of the elongated neck 16 opposite the head 12 terminates in a large stylized figure 18 that acts as a gripping handle for the child to hold while brushing.
  • the figure 18 may be molded integrally with or otherwise fastened to the elongated neck 16 and brushhead 12.
  • the overall toothbrush according to this invention therefore, comprises a brushhead, rod-like neck that is sized to allow the head to enter the child's mouth, and an enlarged handle in the shape of a toy-like figure.
  • the handle figure 18 comprises a decorative animal shape having ornamental clothing.
  • the animal in this embodiment is a horse that, while stylized, is substantially to scale.
  • the figure includes limbs and other appendages that are not grotesquely misproportioned with the remainder of its body.
  • the toothbrush neck 16 comprises the tail of the horse with the brushhead 12 at its tip according to this embodiment.
  • the tail is a natural element for the positioning of a brush according to this invention since it is an appendage that is symmetrical relative to the animal's longitudinal axis and it is singular, unlike the pairs of front and rear legs, 20 and 22 respectively. Due to the axial positioning of the brush 10, the body of the figure 18 may easily serve as a centrally disposed enlarged diameter handle.
  • the tail of an animal is usually long, and thus, the elongated tooth brush 10 does not depart substantially from the overall scaled appearance of the animal figure according to this embodiment.
  • the tail location provides a natural and desirable position for the brush.
  • appendage locations such as the tail shall be referred to as limbs that are "singular and symmetrically positioned”.
  • the animal figure handle 18 according to this invention is sufficiently sized so that it cannot pass into the mouth of the child. In this manner, the toothbrush 10 can only extend into the child's mouth as far as its elongated neck 16, thus largely eliminating the possibility of choking by the child.
  • the handle 18 in addition, includes a somewhat cylindrically proportioned body portion between the figure's head and the brush neck 16 that is sized in length and diameter such that it is easily held by a small child with no sharp protrusions to break free or otherwise cut the child's hands or mouth.
  • a notable structural feature of the figure 18 is the set of four legs 20, 22 disposed along the bottom of the body.
  • the four legs 20, 22 are located in conventional positions for a four legged animal and are depicted as bent into a crouched pose to retain the handle-like configuration of the figure.
  • the legs 20, 22 are also flattened along their bottoms 26 so that the handle may be rested upon a substantially flat surface such as a countertop.
  • the brushhead 12 when the handle 18 rests upon a flat surface 28, the brushhead 12 is positioned so that it is suspended substantially above the flat surface. In this manner, the brush may remain clean and free from contact with a dirty countertop. While the depicted brush 12 is disposed with its bristles 14 facing downwardly relative to the body of the figure 18, it is egually possible to dispose the bristles to the side or upwardly. Downward facing bristles are generally preferred since this allows the brushhead to drain properly. It is desirable primarily that the bristles remain suspended above the flat surface 28 when the figure 18 is placed with its legs 20, 22 upon the surface 28.
  • the figure 18 generally comprises a large stable four legged platform having substantial weight relative to the neck and brushhead, it resists tilting that would place the brushhead 12 into contact with the surface. Additional weight may be added to the interior of the figure 18 if desired, however.
  • FIG. 4 An alternative embodiment of a handle figure according to this invention is depicted in Fig. 4.
  • This figure 30 represents a stylized dog shape.
  • the dog figure 30 includes four conventionally positioned bent legs 32, 34 that support the handle figure 30 stably upon a flat surface.
  • the brushhead 36 and brush neck 38 which again comprise the figure's tail, are suspended above the surface.
  • the brush of this embodiment comprises a natural appendage or limb (tail) of the animal figure 30 that is singular and symmetrically positioned relative to the animal's body.
  • FIG. 5 An additional alternative embodiment, depicted in Fig. 5, reveals another possible natural animal appendage that may comprise a toothbrush according to this invention.
  • the animal figure 40 of this embodiment is an elephant. While the figure's tail 42 is a small asymmetric curl exiting the elephant's posterior body, the toothbrush 44 corresponds to the elephant's trunk and exits from its head 46.
  • the elongated neck 48 of the brush 44 carries a somewhat trunk-like shape rather than the more conventional square shapes shown for the necks in Figs. 1-4.
  • the brushhead 50 remains relatively conventional, however. As in other embodiments, the brushhead 50 is suspended above a countertop or other substantially flat surface with the figure's four legs 52, 54 stably engaging the surface.
  • the trunk of the elephant comprises a singular axially symmetrically positioned appendage of the animal that provides a natural point of positioning for the toothbrush 44 according to this invention.
  • the toothbrush may correspond to a central horn on a rhinoceros styled handle, a unicorn styled handle or various dinosaur styled handles.
  • the brush may project outwardly from the figure in axial alignment with the body's longitudinal axis or it may be angled relative thereto (as in a unicorn).
  • the brush neck is often depicted as a conventional squared rod projecting from the figure, it may comprise a shaped animal limb extending out to the brushhead.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a child's toothbrush 60 and handle 62 according to an alternative embodiment of this invention.
  • the handle is similar to that described in Figs. 1-3. While a horse is illustrated, any figure can be utilized according to this embodiment for the handle shape including the elephant figure of Fig. 5 in which the toothbrush extends from the trunk of the elephant.
  • the brush 60 according to this embodiment includes an handle 62 having an end 64 opposite the brushhead 66 that is detachable from the handle 62.
  • a conforming slot 68 is formed in the posterior end of the figure 62 in order to receive the handle end 64. In this manner, the handle 62 can be retained when the toothbrush bristles 70 become too worn for further use and the brush is discarded. The user need only purchase a new brush after removing and disposing of the old brush 60.
  • the brush end 64 can be held in the slot 68 by a simple press fit or can be more elaborately retained by means of, for example, spring loaded detents.
  • the handle can include nipples 72 (shown in phantom) that are received by the detents 74 (shown in phantom) in the slot 68. Since the handle 62 can be constructed of a somewhat flexible material, the nipples 72 deform during insertion of the handle 62 into the slot 68 and subsequently snap into the detents 74 resulting in a relatively firm interengagement between the brush 60 and handle 62.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a figure 76 having a tail that comprises a utensil element in the form of a table knife 78.
  • the knife 78 is essentially to scale in width, length and thickness with a normal tail of the animal figure 76.
  • the knife 78 includes a shaft portion 80 extending directly from the posterior end of the animal in the general anatomical location of a tail.
  • the knife widens to a blade portion 82 (the "operative end") used for cutting food.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates another animal handle 88 having a fork 90 in the position of the tail.
  • the fork includes a shaft 92 extending form the posterior end of the animal figure 88 and also includes a fork end 94. Again, the fork is essentially to scale with a normal tail of the animal and positioned in the same location as a normal tail.
  • the thickness of the shaft 92 is similar to that of a tail.
  • the shaft 92 can be formed as an actual tail shape with only the fork end retaining the functional appearance of a table fork.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a similar animal handle 96 having a tail in the form of a spoon 98.
  • the spoon includes a shaft 100 that, in this embodiment, is somewhat conventional in shape, but can also mirror the shape of a normal tail.
  • the spoon end 102 is of conventional shape and is sized, like the fork, to enter into the mouth of a small child.
  • each utensil element comprises a tail in the above-described embodiment, it can also comprise an elephant trunk or similar head mounted limb or appendage.

Landscapes

  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

Une brosse à dents, spécifiquement conçue pour les jeunes enfants, comporte une poignée en forme d'animal (30) dont le corps est pratiquement à l'échelle. Cette poignée porte soit la queue de l'animal vers l'arrière, soit une trompe vers l'avant, ou tout autre membre unique. Une tête de brosse à dents (38) de forme assez conventionnelle se fixe à cette queue, cette trompe ou ce membre. Le corps (30) comporte des appendices tels que des pattes (32, 34) permettant de le faire reposer de manière stable sur une surface plane avec laquelle la tête de brosse à dents (38) n'entre ainsi pas en contact.
PCT/US1992/010067 1991-11-25 1992-11-20 Ustensile destine aux enfants WO1993010688A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79702991A 1991-11-25 1991-11-25
US797,029 1991-11-25

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US79702991A Continuation-In-Part 1991-11-25 1991-11-25

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08244473 A-371-Of-International 1994-09-16
US08/652,855 Continuation-In-Part US5774921A (en) 1991-11-25 1996-05-23 Child's utensil

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993010688A1 true WO1993010688A1 (fr) 1993-06-10

Family

ID=25169714

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1992/010067 WO1993010688A1 (fr) 1991-11-25 1992-11-20 Ustensile destine aux enfants

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3145193A (fr)
WO (1) WO1993010688A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994010887A1 (fr) * 1992-11-14 1994-05-26 Wolfgang Held Piece de couvert
GB2299499A (en) * 1995-04-07 1996-10-09 Prelude Uk Ltd Toothbrush
FR2737399A1 (fr) * 1995-07-31 1997-02-07 Mekhalfia Lakhdar Couvert ergonomique
GB2308053A (en) * 1995-12-15 1997-06-18 Little People Ltd Cutlery for children
WO2001035792A3 (fr) * 1999-11-17 2001-12-06 Smithkline Beecham Gmbh & Co Brosse a dents
GB2434968A (en) * 2006-02-11 2007-08-15 Heather Hoskin Child feeding utensil with mouth guard
US10244856B1 (en) * 2015-11-23 2019-04-02 Casie Marie Horsky Universal phalangi grip system for toothbrush and utensils
US20230112026A1 (en) * 2021-10-07 2023-04-13 Douglas Scott Polack Animal massager

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968591A (en) * 1971-12-06 1976-07-13 Pearson Jr Karl Henry Combined spoon and toy
WO1985003629A1 (fr) * 1984-02-23 1985-08-29 Hal Brody Dispositif d'aide de prehension pour personnes handicapees manuellement
US4779344A (en) * 1987-08-17 1988-10-25 Kate Panisch Manipulatable utensil figure
GB2207038A (en) * 1987-07-01 1989-01-25 Buj Elena Maria Del Mar Di Gil Set of food utensils
DE8912819U1 (de) * 1989-10-30 1990-02-01 M + C Schiffer GmbH, 5466 Neustadt Zahnbürste, insbesondere Kinderzahnbürste
US4976646A (en) * 1989-10-23 1990-12-11 Hull Vickie D Medicine pal apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968591A (en) * 1971-12-06 1976-07-13 Pearson Jr Karl Henry Combined spoon and toy
WO1985003629A1 (fr) * 1984-02-23 1985-08-29 Hal Brody Dispositif d'aide de prehension pour personnes handicapees manuellement
GB2207038A (en) * 1987-07-01 1989-01-25 Buj Elena Maria Del Mar Di Gil Set of food utensils
US4779344A (en) * 1987-08-17 1988-10-25 Kate Panisch Manipulatable utensil figure
US4976646A (en) * 1989-10-23 1990-12-11 Hull Vickie D Medicine pal apparatus
DE8912819U1 (de) * 1989-10-30 1990-02-01 M + C Schiffer GmbH, 5466 Neustadt Zahnbürste, insbesondere Kinderzahnbürste

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994010887A1 (fr) * 1992-11-14 1994-05-26 Wolfgang Held Piece de couvert
GB2299499A (en) * 1995-04-07 1996-10-09 Prelude Uk Ltd Toothbrush
US5590436A (en) * 1995-04-07 1997-01-07 Prelude Uk Limited Toothbrush
GB2299499B (en) * 1995-04-07 1999-01-20 Prelude Uk Ltd Toothbrush
FR2737399A1 (fr) * 1995-07-31 1997-02-07 Mekhalfia Lakhdar Couvert ergonomique
GB2308053A (en) * 1995-12-15 1997-06-18 Little People Ltd Cutlery for children
WO2001035792A3 (fr) * 1999-11-17 2001-12-06 Smithkline Beecham Gmbh & Co Brosse a dents
US7137166B1 (en) 1999-11-17 2006-11-21 Smithkline Beecham Gmbh & Co Kg Toothbrush
GB2434968A (en) * 2006-02-11 2007-08-15 Heather Hoskin Child feeding utensil with mouth guard
US10244856B1 (en) * 2015-11-23 2019-04-02 Casie Marie Horsky Universal phalangi grip system for toothbrush and utensils
US20230112026A1 (en) * 2021-10-07 2023-04-13 Douglas Scott Polack Animal massager

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3145193A (en) 1993-06-28

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