Electronic toothbrush

Abstract

An electric toothbrush comprising a cylindrical casing; at least one disposable cylinder within the casing to hold; a hollow neck affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat, said tooth implement comprising a brush, flosser or scraper.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of power toothbrushes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The invention is directed toward an electronic toothbrush which utilizes a push platform mechanism that forces toothpaste up through the interior of the toothbrush onto the toothbrush head. The toothbrush uses a replaceable tooth gel cylinder. A removable toothpaste container allows the user to replace the toothpaste cylinder once it is emptied. An outside view indicator allows the user to view the contents of the toothpaste cylinder and monitor toothpaste level.

There have been a number of patents directed to electric toothbrushes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,803, to Kuo, has an issue date of May 18, 2004. The patent is directed toward an electrical dentifrice dispensing toothbrush using a replaceable bristle unit with a permanent drive head and handle. The replaceable bristle unit consists of a rotary bristle element and a stationary bristle element that has an opening for the flow of dentifrice material through the drive head. The bristle unit is snap-on latched to the side walls of the drive head. Opposing tabs which also function as pressure sensors on the bristle unit are pressed toward each other to release the bristle unit. A linkage is used to convert the rotation of the drive shaft to a planar oscillation that enables a compact drive head configuration. The dentifrice dispensing is accomplished by using a rotary solenoid for actuating an internal button that applies pumping pressure to the dentifrice material. As a benefit to arthritis suffers, no external squeezing action is involved.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,866 to Klupt has an issue date of Jun. 21, 1994. The patent is directed toward a toothbrush system which includes a handle member (14) which defines an internal handle chamber (22) for containment therein of a cleansing liquid container (28). The handle member (14) is coupled to a head housing (24) which has bristles (20) extending from it. The bristles (20) are displaceably oscillated about a central axis (16) and simultaneously are rotated about an axis which extends in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction (18) and is responsive to the oscillating displacement of the bristles (20). A mechanism is provided for delivering a liquid from the handle (14) through the head member (12) and external the toothbrush system adjacent the bristles (20). In this manner, there is provided pulsating liquid flow from the toothbrush system with a combined rotation and oscillation of the toothbrush bristles (20) in a plurality of planes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,022, to Boatcallie, has an issue date of Aug. 29, 1989. The patent is directed toward a toothbrush system using a combination of mechanical force and fluid dynamics to increase the efficiency of plaque removal from the teeth and gums. The toothbrush includes a head unit with an irrigator nozzle and a hydraulically actuated and continuously variable bristle platform which negotiates the complex surface geometry found in the mouth of a user. The irrigation nozzle is powered by the pulsing of an anti-microbial irrigant which gives the toothbrush head unit the distinguishing ability of being able to “feel” the contour of the teeth and to “find” the spaces between them. Once the sensing irrigator nozzle finds the spaces between the teeth, it extends into the area, and releases the anti-microbial liquid directly into the space. The configured bristle tufts of the head unit automatically adjust their position for cleaning under the gum line, between the teeth, as well as flat surfaces.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,203, to Hall et al., has an issue date of Jun. 10, 2003. The patent is directed toward a fluid delivery/refilling system which includes a unit-of-use fluid reservoir for dentifrice or medication within a head portion of a power toothbrush, which is removable from the remainder thereof. A pump element is located in the brushhead and is configured so that the back and forth movement of the brushhead in operation results in fluid moving from the reservoir to a dispensing valve located in the brushhead. The dispensing valve has an end portion which is normally closed, opening under pressure of fluid from the pump. The refilling assembly is separate from the toothbrush and is configured to fit over the top of the toothbrush. Upward pressure exerted on the toothbrush when the toothbrush is within the refilling assembly results in movement of a core element in the refilling assembly, which in turn results in a hollow needle in the refilling assembly extending into a refiller valve in the head portion of the toothbrush. This results in a fluid path between the refilling assembly and the reservoir in the toothbrush. A selected sequence of movement of the toothbrush relative to the refilling results in fluid being moved from the external reservoir through the needle into the on-board unit-of-use reservoir in the toothbrush

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,967 to Sale et al., has an issue date of Dec. 26, 2000. The patent is directed toward a fluid delivery powered toothbrush which utilizes a removable/disposable neck assembly that contains a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery system and a fluid path therein leading to a brush receptacle. No fluid is used in or passes through the toothbrush handle. Preferably a pump is located in the neck assembly and activated at the same time as the brush drive such that fluid is delivered during brushing. In one embodiment of the invention, the brush is replaced with a nozzle for providing fluid prior to or after brushing. The components for the neck assembly are disposable to minimize cross-contamination while enhancing fluid delivery to the teeth during brushing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for an electric toothbrush which has a replaceable tooth gel cylinder.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric toothbrush with a rotatable brush head which can hold a variety of implements such as a scraper, a brush and a flosser.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a novel electric brush.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a timesaving and space saving electric toothbrush device that has the toothpaste in a cylinder which pushes up through the head of the brush when utilized. The invention has a receptacle for a replaceable gel insert, along with the capability to hold a number of different heads including a brush, a tongue scraper and a flosser. This device will replace a number of other brushes and brush accessories currently on the market.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush comprising of a cylindrical casing; at least one disposable cylinder within the casing to hold; a hollow neck member affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat.

In a further embodiment, the present invention is an electric toothbrush comprising a cylindrical casing; at least one disposable cylinder within the casing to hold a gel; a hollow neck affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat, said tooth implement comprising a brush, flosser or scraper.

In yet a further embodiment, the present invention is n electric toothbrush comprising a cylindrical casing; a plurality of disposable cylinders within the casing to hold a gel; a hollow neck affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat, said tooth implement comprising a brush, flosser or scraper

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the invention which illustrates the end of the pump.

FIG. 4 illustrates the invention with glass view and a brush control.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the system for replacing cylinders.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotatable brushes.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pump mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the rotatable implement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed Figures wherein the same numbers are utilized where applicable. Referring to the Figures, in a most preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a novel electric toothbrush. In a most preferred embodiment, the brush comprises an electric toothbrush comprising a hard grip 12, battery charger 14, power motor 16, and on-off button 18. The toothbrush has a substantially cylindrical casing and is shaped for ergonomic comfort. The casing may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastic and metal.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the toothbrush includes a small pump mechanism 20 located at the bottom of the toothbrush. The pump includes a push rod pump 22 which pumps one of three rechargeable gel cartridges.

A button 28 located at the bottom of the system activates the pump mechanism. The toothbrush also includes an on-off switch 30 which controls the power to the system.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the pump 20 is activated and pushes upwardly from the bottom to the top. Referring to FIG. 4, the system will preferably include a lock clip 32 for holding the cylinders. The lock clip rotates 33 and places the appropriate cylinder in a chamber 35 associated with the casing.

The outer covering_of the toothbrush includes a glass viewer window 34 which enables the user to see the amount of gel in the cylinder. The top of the toothbrush includes a neck 40 which has an axially extending channel 42 to permit gel to flow to the toothbrush. As shown in FIG. 5, these cartridges 23 are loaded into the bottom of the system.

Referring to FIG. 6, the toothbrush comprises an implement which may have a plurality of replaceable brush heads. The brush heads may include a variety of devices including a tongue cleaner 44, a flosser 46, and a conventional brush 48. As shown in FIG. 6, a novel feature of the invention is the inclusion of a switch blade mechanism for moving the toothbrush into a non-active position shown at position 50. FIG. 8 illustrates the full 360 degree rotatability of the dental implements.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising: a cylindrical casing; at least one disposable cylinder within the casing to hold; a hollow neck member affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising a viewer on the casing for visualizing the level of gel.

3. An electric toothbrush comprising: a cylindrical casing; at least one disposable cylinder within the casing to hold a gel; a hollow neck affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat, said tooth implement comprising a brush, flosser or scraper.

4. An electric toothbrush comprising: a cylindrical casing; a plurality of disposable cylinders within the casing to hold a gel; a hollow neck affixed to the casing for permitting the flow of gel there through; and a hollow tooth implement rotatably affixed to the throat, said tooth implement comprising a brush, flosser or scraper.