Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6793432
-
Patent Number
6,793,432
-
Date Filed
Monday, June 2, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 21, 200420 years ago
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 401 183
- 401 189
- 401 185
- 401 186
- 401 268
- 401 270
- 401 282
- 401 152
- 401 156
-
International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (8)