The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush, and more particularly to a toothbrush having self-contained toothpaste.
Toothbrushes are generally well known. A conventional toothbrush includes a handle and an integral toothbrush head, with bristles supported by and extending from the toothbrush head for brushing a user's teeth.
In use, toothpaste from a tube is applied to the head of the toothbrush in order to use the toothbrush. When travelling or otherwise using the toothbrush away from home, both the toothbrush and the tube of toothpaste must be transported. This can make portability of the toothbrush cumbersome and inconvenient.
It is an object of the invention to provide a portable toothbrush provided with its own supply of toothpaste, thus not requiring a separate tube of toothpaste and making it ideal for travel.
It is another object of the invention to provide a re-usable portable toothbrush, able to refill its self-contained supply of toothpaste.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes an opening for receiving a toothpaste packet, a cavity for housing the toothpaste packet, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes a lateral face having an opening, a cavity for housing toothpaste, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force for extruding the toothpaste.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes a cavity for housing a toothpaste packet, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force.
As illustrated in
The body is provided with a hollow cavity 20 for receiving and containing a toothpaste packet, describe below. The cavity is accessed from an opening 21 in the handle portion, as shown in
A toothpaste packet 30 in accordance with the invention is shown in
The toothpaste packet itself can be made of conventional materials, e.g., sheets of plastic laminate and aluminum laminate pressed together in a film. A high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, could also be used. The toothpaste packet should also be pliable and collapsible, allowing for the toothpaste, which is preferably a viscous liquid, to be extruded by squeezing the tube.
The body of the toothbrush also includes a compression section 40, shown generally in
As illustrated, the lever is pivotably-connected at its proximal end 43 to the handle 12 and can be raised and lowered relative to the opening. In its raised position (unshown), access to the opening 21 is readily available, making it possible to insert or remove the toothpaste packet 30.
By applying a lateral force to the lever, such as by the thumb of the user, in the direction of Arrow F, the lever rotates about the pivoting end 43. With this movement, a lateral compression force is applied to the toothpaste packet, and toothpaste is forced through the extended neck portion 14 by way of the channel 24 and into the toothbrush head 16 through the orifice 26. As the lever pivots downward, the lateral compression force moves axially along the handle portion.
As will be appreciated, in a modified arrangement the lever can be designed to pivot from its distal end, as illustrated in
The shape of the operable element is also such that compression of the toothpaste packet is optimized, so as much toothpaste as possible can be extruded from the toothpaste packet as the lever is depressed. For example, the distal end of the lever 42 can be thicker (top to bottom) than the proximal end for earlier contact of the toothpaste packet as the lever pivots from its proximal end. By providing such a ‘wedge-shaped’ lever, toothpaste extrusion can be improved.
The pad is also preferably removable to readily allow access to the opening for inserting/replacing the toothpaste packet. As will be appreciated, however, a pad that is not removable is also within the scope of the invention
With this configuration, a toothpaste packet can be loaded through the opening and into the cavity, with the extended neck 34 being fed though the channel. In use, a lateral compression force is applied by the user, for example by the user's thumb pressing against the pad, to compress the toothpaste packet. This forces toothpaste through the extended neck and through the orifice, thus entering the toothbrush head. By moving the thumb axially along the pad and pressing against the pad, the lateral compression force can be applied axially along the handle portion, optimizing toothpaste extrusion.
As a further alternative, as shown in
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
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ZiTong Zhou et al., “Portable (Disposable) Toothbrush”, Hubei University of Technology, undated. |
Henry Hughes, “Tooth-O-Matic”, Inventors Project, undated. |