GB2286333A

GB2286333A - Reservoir toothbrush

Info

Publication number: GB2286333A
Application number: GB9402456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip John Schatzberger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-09
Filing date: 1994-02-09
Publication date: 1995-08-16
Also published as: GB9402456D0

Abstract

A toothbrush (10) comprises a cavity (28) for receiving toothpaste and means (50) eg. a plunger displaceable by screw, pump, slide, pneumatic, trigger action, for supplying toothpaste contained in the cavity (28) to the bristles (26) of the toothbrush. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOOTHBRUSH The present invention relates to a toothbrush.

The standard toothbrush has been in widespread use for many years. It usually comprises a shank/handle to which a brush head, bearing bristles is connected. Toothpaste from a tube is conventionally applied to the ends of the bristles.

One disadvantage of the known toothbrush is that as the toothpaste is applied to the ends of the bristles, it is common for significant quantities of toothpaste to fall from the bristles without being applied to the teeth during the initial stages of brushing.

The present invention is based on the general concept that toothpaste need not be stored in a container which is separate from the toothbrush but may be stored within the toothbrush itself. This is in direct contrast to the prior art practice.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a toothbrush including a cavity for receiving toothpaste and means for supplying toothpaste contained in the cavity to the bristles of the toothbrush.

The toothbrush may be constructed of two or more component parts. Preferably, the toothbrush includes a toothbrush element comprising a shank and a brush head disposed at one end of the shank, the brush head having the cavity and the bristles projecting therefrom, the toothbrush also including a toothpaste storage compartment having an outlet in communication with the cavity, the storage compartment including means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet to the cavity.

The toothbrush element and the storage compartment can be integrally formed with one another, or are conveniently adapted to be separable, so that either can be readily replaced.

In one embodiment, the storage compartment is disposed at the other end of the shank to the brush head, and the toothbrush comprises a channel portion extending from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity, the channel portion thereby affording passage for toothpaste from the storage compartment to the cavity. The channel portion can be formed within the shank or exterior to the shank.

The means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity may include a plunger displaceable from one end of the storage compartment to the end having the outlet, toothpaste being expelled from the outlet as the plunger approaches the outlet. The plunger can be displaced by screw, pump, slide, pneumatic, trigger action or by other means.

Preferably, the means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity by its operation also serves to provide the means for supplying the toothpaste in the cavity to the bristles.

The present invention also provides a toothbrush element comprising a shank and a brush head disposed at one end of the shank, the brush head including bristles and a cavity for receiving toothpaste from which toothpaste can be supplied to the bristles of the toothbrush element, the toothbrush element including means for connection to a toothpaste storage compartment. The toothbrush element may include a channel portion extending from the cavity to the end of the shank opposite the brush head.

The present invention also provides a toothpaste storage compartment having an outlet having means for connection to a toothbrush element, the storage compartment including means for supplying toothpaste to the outlet.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a toothbrush in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the view of Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the invention; Figures 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) show different views of the toothbrush element of Figure 1; Figures 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) show different views of a toothbrush element which is suitable for use with the storage compartment shown in Figures 1; Figures 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) show different views of another toothbrush element which is suitable for use with the storage compartment shown in Figure 1; Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show different views of another toothbrush element which is suitable for use with the storage compartment shown in Figure 1;; Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show a view of a toothbrush in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) show transverse cross-sectional views through toothbrush elements of the present invention; Figures 9 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a toothbrush element of the present invention; Figure 10 shows a view of another toothbrush element of the present invention; and Figure 11 shows a transverse cross-sectional view through another toothbrush element of the present invention.

Whenever possible, similar parts have been given the same reference numeral throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, a first toothbrush 10 comprises a toothbrush element 20 and a toothpaste storage compartment 40. The toothbrush element 20 comprises a shank 22 having a brush head 24 disposed at one end thereof. The brush head includes bristles 26 and a cavity 28 for receiving toothpaste. The cavity 28 opens onto the face of the brush head 24, from which the bristles 26 project, via a series of discrete apertures 30. Disposed at the end of the shank 22 opposite the brush head 24, means 32 is provided for connection to a toothpaste storage compartment 40. As shown, the means 32 is in the form of a screw portion, but in other embodiments, the means 32 could be in the form of, for example, snap-fit jaws, a hinge, bayonet, clamp, or '0' - ring arrangement.The toothbrush element 20 also comprises a channel portion 34 which runs internally of the shank 22 from the cavity 28 to the means 32. Figures 3(a-c) show the toothbrush element 20 from different views.

The storage compartment 40 is in the form of an elongate tubular member having an outlet 41 which is provided with a means 42, which in this embodiment is a threaded portion, which is adapted to cooperate with the means 32 on the toothbrush element 20, and thereby connect the toothbrush element 20 and the storage compartment 40 together.

The storage compartment 40 also comprises a plunger 44, which on rotation of a base element 46, travels along a screw member 48 towards the outlet 41.

In use, the toothbrush element 20 is screwed onto a toothpaste storage compartment 40 which is filled with toothpaste. In order to apply toothpaste to the bristles 26, the base element 46 is rotated such that the plunger 44 travels up the screw member 48. The displacement of the plunger 44 towards the outlet 41 causes toothpaste to be propelled from the storage compartment 40 along the channel portion 34, into the cavity 28 and eventually out of the openings 30 and onto the bristles 26.

Figure 2 shows a second toothbrush in accordance with the invention. This toothbrush 10 is similar to that shown in Figure 1, except that (i) its storage compartment 40 and its toothbrush element 20 are integrally formed with one another; and (ii) a plunger 50, which slides up the storage compartment 40, is used to propel the toothpaste onto the bristles 26. In other respects the operation of the toothbrush 10 is the same as that shown in Figure 1.

Figures 4(a-c) show different views of a toothbrush element 20 which is suitable for use with the storage compartment 40 shown in Figure 1. This toothbrush element 20 differs from that shown in Figures 3(a-c) in that, instead of the toothpaste exiting the cavity 28 via a series of discrete apertures 30, a single large, centrally positioned aperture 52 (see Figure 4(b)) is provided.

Figures 5(a-c) show different views of another toothbrush element 20 which is suitable for use with the storage compartment 40 shown in Figure 1. This toothbrush element 20 differs from the one shown in Figures 3(a-c) in that the channel portion 34 is not centrally disposed along the shank 22, but extends along one lateral extreme thereof.

Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show different views of another toothbrush element 20 which is suitable for use with the storage compartment 40 shown in Figure 1. This toothbrush element differs from the toothbrush element 20 shown in Figures 4(a-c) in that the channel portion 34 is exterior to the shank 22.

Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show a third toothbrush in accordance with the present invention. This toothbrush differs, notably, from the one in Figure 2 in that (i) it is provided with a protective cover 60 which protects the toothbrush against dirt when the toothbrush is not in use; and (ii) the toothpaste storage compartment 40 is provided with a transparent portion 64 adjacent the opening of the storage compartment 40 through which the user can make a visual estimation of the amount of toothpaste which remains in the storage compartment 40. As is apparent from Figure 7(b), the protective cover 60 is preferably sized so as to enable it to extend into the storage compartment 40 so that it can be used to displace the plunger as illustrated.

Figures 8 (a-c) and Figure 9 illustrate how the shape of the cavity 28 and the way in which the cavity 28 opens onto the brush head can be substantially varied.

Figure 10 shows a brush element 20 provided with bristles 26 (only some of which are shown) which are staggered so as to militate against the toothpaste, which is expelled from the cavity 28, from seeping off the sides of the toothbrush head 24.

Figure 11 shows a toothbrush element 20 which has bristles 26 adjacent an opening 30 which are angled towards one another, as shown, so as to allow for a larger opening 30.

In other unillustrated embodiments, the opening from the cavity can be provided with a non-return valve through which toothpaste can be expelled, but through which water cannot ingress. The non-return valve may be in the form of a resilient membrane. Other embodiments may include shut-off buttons which can serve to seal the cavity 28 from the storage compartment 40 when the toothbrush 10 is not in use. Further, the storage compartment 40 can be refillable and the toothbrush element 20 can be used with an electric toothbrush.

It will have been appreciated that the illustrated embodiments at least partly overcome the disadvantage mentioned in the opening paragraphs of the specification by applying the toothpaste to the base of the bristles whereby it is less likely that substantial quantities of toothpaste will be wasted.

It is envisaged that the present invention will find widespread use in the "travel" and "courtesy" markets.

Claims

1. A toothbrush including a cavity for receiving toothpaste and means for supplying toothpaste contained in the cavity to the bristles of the toothbrush.

2. A toothbrush as in Claim 1, wherein the toothbrush includes a toothbrush element comprising a shank and a brush head disposed at one end of the shank, the cavity being formed in the brush head and the bristles projecting from the head, the toothbrush also including a toothpaste storage compartment having an outlet in communication with the cavity, the storage compartment including means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet to the cavity.

3. A toothbrush as in Claim 2, wherein the toothbrush element and the storage compartment are adapted to be separable.

4. A toothbrush as in Claims 2 or 3, wherein the storage compartment is disposed at the other end of the shank to the brush head, and the toothbrush comprises a channel portion extending from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity.

5. A toothbrush as in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity includes a plunger displaceable from one end of the storage compartment to the end having the outlet, toothpaste being expelled from the outlet as the plunger approaches the outlet.

6. A toothbrush as in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the means for supplying toothpaste from the outlet of the storage compartment to the cavity by its operation also serves to provide the means for supplying the toothpaste in the cavity to the bristles.

7. A toothbrush element comprising a shank; a brush head disposed at one end of the shank, the brush head including bristles and a cavity for receiving toothpaste form which toothpaste can be supplied to the bristles of the toothbrush element; and means for connection to a toothpaste storage compartment.

8. A toothbrush element as in Claim 7 and further including a channel portion extending from the cavity to the end of the shank opposite the brush head.

9. A toothpaste storage compartment including an outlet having means for connection to a toothbrush element, the storage compartment including means for supplying toothpaste to the outlet.

10. A toothbrush constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A toothbrush element constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A toothpaste storage compartment constructed, arranged and adapted to operated substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.