Patent Application
20110286784
Exploded perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention
Components of
Cross section of brush head assembly of
Partially cutaway view of canister of
Partial cross section of cover and lid of alternative embodiment.
Cross section and partial cut-away view of joined configuration of alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in
Cross section and partial cut-away view of joined configuration of head and canister shown in
The present invention relates generally to a dental care apparatus and, in particular, to a self-contained toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush with dental floss dispenser.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste dispensers and dental floss dispensers are well known. Occasionally, the multiple steps of retrieving a toothbrush, and separate toothpaste dispenser, placing toothpaste from the toothpaste dispenser onto the brushes of the toothbrush, then later finding a separate dental floss dispenser become time-consuming and tedious. At other times, one or more of the three items cannot be located, causing frustration.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a toothbrush having a toothpaste dispenser and dental floss dispenser integrated within a single unit in order to overcome the disadvantages noted above. It is also desirable to provide a toothpaste dispenser that is reusable and/or includes replaceable components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,789 by Gordon describes a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss dispenser combination having a spring biased cartridge 12 in a canister 11 that feeds toothpaste from the open top end of the cartridge through a passage 18 in brush head stem 19 to exit through aperture 20 in the brush head 13. Optional check valves 27 at the brush head prevent back flow of the toothpaste. A button 21 actuates valve 30, which controls the start/stop flow of toothpaste from the cartridge into the passage. The bottom end of the brush head stem and the top end of cartridge 12 are connected by releasable means such as threaded connection or bayonet type releasable connection.
Disadvantages: Gordon's cartridge is open-ended at the top and bottom so when an expended cartridge is removed and discarded, toothpaste residue is left at the rear end of the brush head and at the top of the Piston, which is messy; also handling the open-ended cartridge that is inherently messy. Also the parts count and cost of the Piston, spring control valve and button are problematic. In addition, Gordon doesn't show or describe what the check valve is. Additionally, the floss spool that 22a projects from the bottom of the canister 11 prohibits one from standing the brush 10 upright to minimize counter space when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,460 by Thompson, et al, shows
a portable combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser device 12 within a casing 15. The casing includes a toothbrush 12, a toothpaste dispenser, and includes a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end has a ribbed circular dispensing wheel 26 connected to an internal plunger assembly 28. The plunger assembly has a circular platform 25 which pushes toothpaste upwardly and a funnel cap 32 which dispenses the toothpaste outwardly onto the toothbrush 12. The toothbrush has bristles 20 and the handle 17 that extends upwardly and downwardly from within the casing. A cap 34 fits onto the bottom end of the casing in an open position ready for use and onto the top end of the casing in a closed position for storage.
Disadvantages: single dispensing funnel 32 concentrates toothpaste in one location on the bristles; when the receptacle 14 is empty and discarded, the brush is discarded along with it. Thompson doesn't show or describe how to avoid interference between the circular platform 25 and the handle 17 when the platform is moved above the bottom end of the handle
The unitary dental care device of the present invention includes a toothbrush component, a manually controlled toothpaste dispenser component, a detachable protective cover and a dental floss dispenser component all integrated into one hand held unit. The toothbrush component has a stem with brush head at its free end and is detachably connected at its base at the other end to the top of the toothpaste dispenser component. The toothpaste dispenser component is formed as a longitudinal body formed to be easily grasped by one's hand when using the toothbrush.
The detachable cover for protecting the brush head has two sections: a longitudinal body section with separable lid at one end and an open bottom at the other end. The cover body receives the toothbrush component through its open-end and detachably connects to the outside of the stem base with the brush head and stem inside.
The dental floss dispenser is mounted to the cover body section inside the cup-shaped lid section at the top of the cover. The lid is mounted on the cover body by a hinge so it can be rotated from a closed position, protecting the floss dispenser, to an open position where the floss dispenser is exposed for use. The cover and the cap keep the other components of the unit clean and shielded from contamination during transport or storage.
The base of the toothbrush component forms a receiving cavity to make detachable connection with the dispenser component. A flow channel is formed in the stem for delivering toothpaste to the brush head. The channel leads from an open channel end at a coupling connection in the stem cavity to the brush head. When the canister and the stem base are joined, the channel delivers toothpaste from the canister to the brush head. Toothpaste is received from the canister by the coupling connection in the stem base from an open-ended dispenser tip projecting from the top end of the canister
The stem of the brush head component is preferably angled with respect to its base end providing enhanced effectiveness to the user.
A coupling connection gasket between the outside of the dispenser tip and the inside of the cavity blocks toothpaste flowing out of the tip from flowing anywhere in the cavity other than into the channel end at the connection. This prevents build-up of toothpaste residue in the cavity, keeping it clean and fresh so it doesn't have to be cleaned when the canister is empty and is replaced by a new canister.
The coupling connection allows the toothpaste canister to be separated from the brush head when the canister is empty, so a new one can replace it.
The brush head has an array of bristles on its face. The brush head face defines a distributed orifice among the bristles that connects the channel in the brush head into multiple locations along the array. The distributed orifice enables the flow of toothpaste to spread along the array. Openings in the orifice are covered by cantilever sealing members with free ends. the sealing members close off the orifice openings when in a closed rest position. the sealing members are made from a resilient material that allow the free ends to flex open, from the closed rest condition, and permits toothpaste to flow from the brush head to the bristles when it is forced from the channel. When toothpaste is no longer being forced from the channel, the resilient members relax to the closed rest condition, and inhibit backflow of toothpaste or other external material into the channel. The self-sealing orifice in the brush head helps to keep the channel clean.
Toothpaste is forced to flow from the canister into the connected channel by a forcing mechanism disposed in the canister. A preferred forcing mechanism is a movable plunger in the canister body with the stored toothpaste between the plunger and the connected channel. A threaded rod that passes through mating threads at its center manually advances the plunger when it is rotated by a rotatable knob fixed at its distal end. The rotatable knob forms part of the base of the dispenser body section. Rotating the base knob relative to the canister body advances the plunger and forces toothpaste to flow from the canister toward the bristles on the brush head.
Advantages of the present invention include:
Referring to
The canister 11 stores a source of toothpaste to be delivered to the brush head assembly 12.
The sanitary cover 30 is a removable shield over the brush head assembly 12 (indicated by dashed lines 44) to keep it clean when not in use.
Brush Head Assembly; External View
The head assembly 12 has a longitudinal stem 14 extending proximally from its distal end to a brush head 16 at its proximal end. The brush head 16 presents an embedded array of lateral projecting bristles 18 for brushing one's teeth.
The lower end of head assembly 12 is flared distally outward from the stem 14 to define open-ended barrel section 19 provided with a outward projecting circumferential ridge 33. The open end of barrel 19 receives the proximal end 28 of the canister 11 and engages with the canister threads 25 as described further below.
Canister Assembly; External View
A major central portion of the canister assembly 11 has a body section 9 sized for grasping by human hand. Adjacent to the upper end of the canister assembly 11 are male threads 25 removably received into the proximal lower end of toothbrush head assembly 12.
The proximal end 28 of canister 11 narrows, to an open-ended tubular dispenser tip 20. Toothpaste stored within canister 11 is transferred to the brush head assembly 12 and subsequently to the bristles 18 of the brush head 16.
The distal end of canister 11 terminates in a supporting base member 22. The base member 22 has a truncated conical section serrated with a set of notches and ridges 24 distributed around its periphery to enhance gripping by fingers of one's hand while the canister's upper body 9 is grasped by one's opposite hand.
The base 22 terminates with a flat bottom face perpendicular to the longitudinal body 9 providing stability for supporting the invention 10 in an upright orientation on a counter or sink top.
Cover 30 External View
The hollow sanitary cover 30 extends longitudinally between an open bottom end 32 and a closed upper end 34.
The open bottom end of the cover 32 removably receives the brush head assembly
The cover 30 is divided into two sections, a longitudinal lower body shell 36 and a contiguous upper lid section 38. The lid section 38 is rotatably separable from the lower section 36 by a hinge 42 at an intermediate peripheral joint 40 extending around the body of the cover 30.
In
Lid 38 is rotatable about hinge 42 with respect to shell 36 so that, when closed, the cover 30 to expose the interior of lid 38 and the proximal interior of lower section 36.
A releasable latch 46 holds the lid 38 and body 36 together when the lid 38 is closed.
When the lid 38 is open, the proximal interior of the body 36 exposes a floss dispenser 48. The floss dispenser 48 is supported on a retainer 50 mounted in the body 36. Floss 49 from floss dispenser 48 protrudes through a cutting aperture 41 defined in the lid 38. Aperture 41 includes a cutter 43 for cutting off a segment of floss. The dispenser 48 and the retainer 50 can be any one of a number of configurations, such as a headed-post 54 fitted through and frictionally snapped into the center of cylindrical spool or bobbin 48.
Canisters of different capacity and types of contents may be interchangeably joined with a brush head assembly. For example, a separate canister with a small amount of toothpaste 28 limited to that required for carriage on an airplane can be attached for travel and carried conveniently in carry-on luggage.
The flared end of barrel section 19 has internal female threads 23 that engage with threaded upper section 25 of canister 11. The canister 11 stores a quantity of toothpaste 13 to be delivered through dispenser tip 20 when assembled in flowing communication with the brush head assembly 12 as described further below.
as described below. 16 through a channel 21 defined in stem 14 for delivery to bristle array
The lower shell section 36 and the interior of the bottom end 32 are sized and shaped to form a detachable connection with the outer surface of barrel 19 so that the brush head assembly 12 may be fully enclosed within the lower section 36 (indicated by dashed line 44) for storage or transport,
The lower outer surface of barrel section 19 and inner surface of cover 36 are formed with complementary separable fittings, e.g., circular ridge 33 on barrel 19 and circular receiving groove 35 within cover 36, for example, which allow them to be removably joined together so that the brush head 16, stem 14 and at least a portion of barrel 19 are fully enclosed within the cover 30, for storage or transport and then can be easily separated by hand for use.
Near the lower end of canister body 9, an inward projecting interior lip 66 extends circumferentially around the interior of the canister wall. A matching groove 68 is disposed between upper and lower faces of the base 22, and defined around its outer circumference. The lip 66 is slidably received within the groove 68 so that the base 22 rotatable within the body 9 but is longitudinally fixed within the canister by the lip 66.
A circular disc member 70 acts as a plunger to press toothpaste out of the canister. The disc 70 is extends laterally across the interior of the canister body 9 and is longitudinally slidable therein. The disc is longitudinally positioned within the canister 11 by a helically threaded rod 72 fixed at its lower end to the top center of base member 22. The rod is centrally disposed within canister 11, and extends longitudinally between its lower fixed end its opposite end disposed adjacent to, but separated from, the dispenser tip 20 near the upper end of the canister.
With a full canister, the disc is positioned at the lower end of the rod adjacent to the top of the base with toothpaste filling the remaining interior of the canister. As the base is rotated with respect to the canister, toothpaste is dispensed out of the tip into the channel. Further rotation of the base forces toothpaste up in to the channel into the brush head and out into the bristles as discussed further below.
Referring to now to
The interior wall of the channel 21 near the distal end of the stem 14 is stepped outward to form a peripheral rim 60. The proximal end of dispenser tip 20 protrudes beyond rim 60 and is received into the distal end of channel 21. Adjacent to the end of tip 20 the body of the tip widens to form a shoulder 62 distal from the channel rim 60. A sealing gasket 64 is compressed between the rim 60 and shoulder 62 and provides a seal preventing toothpaste flowing from the canister 9 into the channel 21 from escaping into any space between the adjacent inner wall of barrel 19 and the adjacent outer wall of canister 9
Disposed within the bristle array 18 there is a distributed self-sealing orifice 17. orifice 17 flowingly communicates between the proximal end of channel 21a and the bristles 18 at the end of the brush head 16. The brush head receives toothpaste from canister 11 delivered through the proximal end of channel 21, and delivers toothpaste through the distributed self-sealing orifice 17 to the brush head bristle array 18.
There is shown a magnified frontal view of the face of brush head 16 with array of bristles 18 distributed thereon.
In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in
This permits each sector to resiliently deflect under pressure of toothpaste that comes through the channel 21 under pressure from the canister 11.
Additionally, after the flow of toothpaste from the channel is ended, the resilient nature of the sheet member causes the sectors to relax and tends to inhibit the reverse flow of toothpaste from the bristles into the channel 21.
The distributed apertures provide a more uniform delivery of toothpaste across the bristle array than a single aperture.
The slot aperture 112 is covered by two resilient cantilever sheet sections 114 extending inward from opposite ends fixed at the two longest opposite edges of the slot 112 to abutting adjacent free ends in the middle of the slot. The cantilever sections 114 extend laterally to opposite free edges adjacent to the lateral shortest dimensions of the slot aperture 112.
The cross section in
a longitudinally slidable, circular plunger disc 128 extends laterally across the inside of canister body 11.
When the canister is filled with toothpaste, the disc 128 is positioned longitudinally within the body 11 with its proximal face in contact with the distal extent of the stored toothpaste.
Spaced between the disc's distal face and the bottom of the canister, there is disposed a pressurized cylindrical aerosol container 122 mounted closely fitting within the body 11. The container 122 is disposed with its bottom end adjacent to the base 22. The bottom of the container 122 is restrained within the body 11 by a rigid inward projecting rim 132 disposed around the inside of body 11 at its distal end. The bottom of the container is accessible through the distal end of the canister's base inside the rim 132.
The pressure container has a pressure release valve 124 centered on the containers upper end and faces toward the plunger disc 128. The valve 123 is spaced away from the distal face of the disc 128.
A rigid valve release actuator member 126 is disposed between the valve 124 and the spaced away disc's distal face. The actuator 126 has one end fixed to the inside of canister body 11. The actuator extends inward from its fixed end toward its opposite actuating end disposed at the center of canister body 11. The actuator has its opposite end angled distally and disposed longitudinally so that it points directly toward and adjacent to the valve 124 when the bottom of the container is adjacent to the restraining rim 132.
The pressure container 122 is urged distally toward the restraining rim 132 by a longitudinally resilient ring member 130 in overlapping contact with the containers upper end. The ring member 130 is fixed longitudinally and circumferentially within the body 11 between the disc's distal face and the container's upper end. The ring extends inwardly around the inside of body 11 and spaced away from the central release valve 124. The ring 130 extends inward to overlap and contact an outermost portion of the containers upper end without contacting or interfering with the actuator member 126 or the containers release valve 124.
When the bottom of the container 122 is pressed, indicated by the finger in
Referring to
The canister body encompasses a conventional toothpaste tube 148 (without its cap), containing toothpaste 13 to be dispensed through the dispenser tip 20 into the brush head assembly 12 of
A thumb-operated slide actuator 142 is disposed on the outside of the canister wall and rigidly connects to an axle 143 inside the canister body 9. A roller 144 is rotatably mounted on the axle 143 and extends transverse to the tube 148 and between the tube and the actuator slider 142. The slider 142 rides in a recessed longitudinal slot 146 formed in the canister wall at the bottom of a longitudinal groove 147 extending along the canister body 9. The outside surface of slider 142 is preferably flush with the canister wall at the top of groove 147.
The axle-mounted roller is rotatably disposed on the axle 143 between the adjacent tube body and the actuator slider so that it compressively contacts the tube body, tending to flatten the tube and force toothpaste to flow out of the proximal tube end and subsequently out of the dispenser tip 20.
Continued movement of the slider toward the dispenser tip 20 (
With reference to
As in
Knowledgeable practitioners of the art will appreciate that the scope of the IVR invention is not limited to the embodiments, form factors, interfaces, connections, and operating functions described above, but are limited only by the claims herein. The present invention has been described in what is considered as preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
