ERGONOMIC TOOTHBRUSH

A toothbrush blank (10) comprising a handle (11), a head (12) and a neck (13). The handle (11) has an upper and lower surface (14, 15). The average spacing between the upper and lower surfaces (14, 15) being from 5 to 15 mm and the average spacing between the two side surfaces (16, 17) being from 10 to 16 mm. The handle (11) has a length of at least 100 mm and is provided at its end adjacent the neck (13) with a pair of digit abutments (19, 21). One digit abutment (19) extends upwardly from the upper surface (14) and the other downwardly from the lower surface (15). Each abutment presents an arcuate surface facing away from the neck and having a radius of curvature of from 10 to 15 mm. The upper digit abutment rising above the upper surface (14) by at least 3 mm. The head (12) has upper and lower surfaces (24, 25) and two side surfaces (26, 27) and an end surface (28) which is arcuate and smoothly merges into the side surfaces. A longitudinal axis of the neck is inclined to that of each of the handle and the head, the angle between the upper surface of the head and the upper surface of neck is less than 180 DEG . The dotted line (29) represents the partline of the blank from which the toothbrush (10) is formed. It can be seen that in respect of the handle (11) the partline (29) lies parallel to the plan of the handle (11) and just above its lower surface (15). This means that the part of the handle (11) moulded by a lower part of a suitable mould (not shown) is the lower surface (15) and the radiused edges of the sides (16 and 17). The head (12) by contrast lies with its upper surface (24) just above the plane (29) of the partline. In this case an upper mould part defines only the upper surface (24) and the radiused edges of sides (26 and 27) of the head (12). The neck (13) is inclined relative to the plane (29) of the partline. La présente invention concerne une ébauche de brosse à dents (10) comprenant un manche (11), une tête (12) et un col (13). Le manche (11) est caractérisé par une face supérieure (14), une face inférieure (15) et deux faces latérales (16, 17). La distance moyenne entre les faces supérieure et inférieure (14, 15) varie entre 5 mm et 15 mm, la distance moyenne entre les deux faces latérales (16, 17) variant entre 10 mm et 16 mm. Le manche qui a une longueur (11) d'au moins 100 mm présente à son extrémité un col (13) pourvu de repose-doigt (19, 21). Un repose-doigt (19) fait saillie vers le haut à partir de la face supérieure (14), l'a