Toothbrush and toothpaste tube holder combination

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6793432
  • Patent Number
    6,793,432
  • Date Filed
    Monday, June 2, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 21, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A toothbrush and toothpaste tube holder combination includes a container including a first end wall, a second end wall and a peripheral comprising a resiliently elastic material. A threaded depression adapted for receiving a threaded male end of a toothpaste tube is positioned in an inner surface of the first end wall. An elongated and hollow shaft has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to and outer surface of the first end wall and is fluidly coupled to the threaded depression. The shaft has plurality of openings therein positioned adjacent to the second end. The openings are fluidly coupled to the threaded depression. A plurality of bristles is attached to the shaft and extends away therefrom. The tube may be selectively coupled to the threaded depression such that pressure on the tube forces toothpaste therein through the shaft and outward through the openings.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to toothbrush and toothpaste combinations and more particularly pertains to a new toothbrush and toothpaste combination for holding a tube of toothpaste and delivering toothpaste to a toothbrush.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of toothbrush and toothpaste combinations is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that contains a tube of toothpaste in such a manner as to make it easy to use while ensuring that toothpaste spillage does not occur.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention meets the needs presented above by including a container comprising a first end wall, a second end wall and a peripheral. The peripheral wall comprises a resiliently elastic material. A threaded depression adapted for receiving a threaded male end of a toothpaste tube is positioned in an inner surface of the first end wall. An elongated and hollow shaft has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to and outer surface of the first end wall and is fluidly coupled to the threaded depression. The shaft has plurality of openings therein positioned adjacent to the second end of the shaft. The openings are fluidly coupled to the threaded depression. A plurality of bristles is attached to the shaft and extends away therefrom. The bristles are disposed generally adjacent to the openings. Wherein the tube may be selectively fluidly coupled to the threaded depression such that pressure on the tube forces toothpaste therein through the shaft and outward through the openings.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a schematic side view of a toothbrush and toothpaste tube holder combination according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a schematic cross-sectional view of third embodiment of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 5

thereof, a new toothbrush and toothpaste combination embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 5

, the toothbrush and toothpaste tube holder combination


10


generally comprises a device for receiving a tube of toothpaste


12


having a threaded male end


14


. The device comprises a container


16


including a first end wall


17


, a second end wall


18


and a peripheral wall


20


. The peripheral wall


20


comprises a resiliently elastic material such as a plastic or elastomeric material. The peripheral wall


20


has an aperture


22


extending therethrough and into an interior of the container


16


. A threaded depression


24


adapted for receiving the threaded male


14


end is positioned in an inner surface


26


of the first end wall


17


. The container


16


preferably has a shape of a bird. The bird includes a beak


28


. The aperture


22


extends into a free end of the beak


28


. A pair of legs


30


, having feet thereon, is attached to and extends away from the second end wall


18


. The container


16


has a break therein such that a first portion


32


and a second portion


34


of the container


16


are defined. The first portion


32


is selectively couplable to the second portion


34


by frictional coupling, through a screw type coupling system may also be employed.




An elongated and hollow shaft


36


has a first end


38


and a second end


40


. The first end


38


is attached to an outer surface


42


of the first end wall


17


and is fluidly coupled to the threaded depression


24


. The shaft


36


has plurality of openings


44


therein positioned adjacent to the second end


40


of the shaft


36


. The openings


44


are fluidly coupled to the threaded depression


24


. A plurality of bristles


46


is attached to the shaft


36


and extends away therefrom. The bristles


46


are disposed generally adjacent to the openings


44


. The shaft


36


and bristles


46


form the outer appearance of a conventional toothbrush and function as such.




In use, the tube


12


may be selectively fluidly coupled to the threaded depression


24


as shown in FIG.


2


. Pressure may be placed on the peripheral wall


20


as depicted in

FIG. 3

such that the tube of toothpaste


12


is squeezed. This forces toothpaste in the tube


12


to travel through the shaft


36


and outward through the openings


44


. This places the toothpaste on the bristles


46


. Because the tube


12


is contained within the container, there is little opportunity for spillage of the toothpaste so that the device


10


is easy to use for children.




Alternate embodiments of the device are shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. In both cases, the shaft


36


is attached directly to the threaded male end


14


of the tube


12


such that toothpaste therein may be forced to travel outwardly through the shaft


36


.

FIG. 5

utilizes a rotatable rod


48


threadably coupled to a disc


50


for forcing the toothpaste outwards through the shaft


36


.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles 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 shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A toothbrush holder and toothpaste tube receiver combination device for receiving a tube of toothpaste having a threaded male end, said device comprising:a container including a first end wall, a second end wall and a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall comprising a resiliently elastic material, a threaded depression adapted for receiving said threaded male end being positioned in an inner surface of said first end wall, said container having a shape of a bird, said bird including a beak, an aperture extending into a free end of said beak and into an interior of said container; an elongated and hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an outer surface of said first end wall and being fluidly coupled to said threaded depression, said shaft having plurality of openings therein positioned adjacent to said second end of said shaft, said openings being fluidly coupled to said threaded depression, a plurality of bristles being attached to said shaft and extending away therefrom, said bristles being disposed generally adjacent to said openings; and wherein the tube may be selectively fluidly coupled to said threaded depression such that pressure on the tube forces toothpaste therein through said shaft and outward through said openings.
  • 2. The toothbrush holder of claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall includes an aperture extending therethrough and into an interior of said container.
  • 3. The toothbrush holder of claim 1, further including a pair of legs being attached to and extending away from said second end wall.
  • 4. The toothbrush holder of claim 1, wherein said container has a break therein such that a first portion and a second portion of said container are defined, said first portion being selectively couplable to said second portion.
  • 5. A toothbrush holder and toothpaste tube receiver combination device for receiving a tube of toothpaste having a threaded male end, said device comprising:a container including a first end wall, a second end wall and a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall comprising a resiliently elastic material, said peripheral wall having an aperture extending therethrough and into an interior of said container, a threaded depression adapted for receiving said threaded male end being positioned in an inner surface of said first end wall, said container having a shape of a bird, said bird including a beak, said aperture extending into a free end of said beak, a pair of legs being attached to and extending away from said second end wall, said container having a break therein such that a first portion and a second portion of said container are defined, said first portion being selectively couplable to said second portion; an elongated and hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an outer surface of said first end wall and being fluidly coupled to said threaded depression, said shaft having plurality of openings therein positioned adjacent to said second end of said shaft, said openings being fluidly coupled to said threaded depression, a plurality of bristles being attached to said shaft and extending away therefrom, said bristles being disposed generally adjacent to said openings; and wherein the tube may be selectively fluidly coupled to said threaded depression such that pressure on the tube forces toothpaste therein through said shaft and outward through said openings.
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Number Name Date Kind
1504143 Roberts Aug 1924 A
4155663 Cerquozzi May 1979 A
5028158 Fey Jul 1991 A
5572762 Scheiner Nov 1996 A
5846010 Barbalich Dec 1998 A
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5924159 Haitin Jul 1999 A
5974616 Dreyfus Nov 1999 A