AU717677B2 - A self-application toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT *r Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Noel Gary SMITH Address for Service: CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: A SELF-APPLICATION TOOTHBRUSH Details of Associated Provisional Application: No. P03069 filed 18 October 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to a self-pasting or self-application toothbrush and particularly relates to a toothbrush which is easy to use and which is particularly useful for travellers.

Toothbrushes and similar oral hygiene devices have a bristle head on which toothpaste and other oral treatment compositions can be added. It is difficult to add the correct amount, and occasionally the toothpaste falls off the bristles before use. It is therefore much more effective to have the toothpaste or similar composition trapped between the bristles. Current toothbrushes are also incapable of supporting liquid oral compositions such as mouth wash and anti- 10 plaque washes. To date, these washes are added to the person's mouth, rinsed and then the toothbrush is inserted to brush the wash around the person's teeth.

**The present invention is directed to a toothbrush where the oral treatment composition, for instance toothpaste, liquid mouth wash, and the like, can be stored in the toothbrush handle and can be made to flow to the base of 15 the toothbrush bristles to allow the toothbrush to be used more effectively both with toothpastes or liquid washes.

*o It is an object of the invention to provide a toothbrush which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

20 In one form, the invention resides in a self-application toothbrush comprising a brush head portion, a neck portion, and a handle portion, the handle portion having an internal chamber adapted to contain a flowable oral treatment composition, a passageway extending from the chamber through the neck portion and to the brush head portion to allow the composition to pass from the chamber to the brush head portion and into the brush bristles, and actuating means to selectively pass the composition to the brush head portion.

In another form, the invention resides in a self-application toothbrush comprising a brush head portion, and a handle portion, the handle portion having an internal chamber, the handle portion being formed from two parts, at least one said part defining part of the chamber, one said part having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall and a spring, the spring having one end acting against the bottom wall and the other end extending into the chamber, one of the parts being slidable into the other of the parts to a preset distance after which the parts are secured together, a disposable cartridge containing a charge of toothpaste and which is positioned within the chamber, the cartridge having a lower open end which is closed by a sliding end wall, the spring in the one said part biasing the end wall to compress the toothpaste in the cartridge, the cartridge having an upper end which is openable to allow toothpaste to pass into the brush head portion, the construction and arrangement being such that the spring is substantially uncompressed when the disposable cartridge is placed in the chamber and 10 the two said parts are aligned, but upon sliding of one of the parts into the other of the parts to the preset distance, the spring becomes compressed against the sliding end wall in the disposable cartridge.

By having the oral treatment composition in the internal chamber and being able to move it to the base of the bristles, the oral treatment 15 composition can be a paste or gel and can also be a liquid or even a flowable powder. The toothbrush can be used efficiently and effectively with no risk lel oof the oral treatment composition falling off the toothbrush bristles.

The toothbrush can itself be of virtually any design as long as the above components are present. For instance, the tooth brush may have different p size bristles, bristles of different lengths, and gum massages instead of bristles.

The brush body can be of any suitable length, shape and diameter and can be curved or otherwise configured to provide a better reach of the toothbrush in the person's mouth.

The brush head portion can be as described above and need not be limited to bristles and can include hard or soft sponge or other types of teeth or gum contact material. It is preferred that the brush head is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and this can be achieved by a simple type of swivel joint. The brush head can be made removable.

The neck portion of the toothbrush extends between the brush head portion and the handle portion and again can be of any length or configuration to suit. The neck portion may be angled relative to the handle portion, may include some form of spring mechanism to prevent over- vigorous brushing of the person's teeth.

The handle portion contains the internal chamber in which the oral treatment composition can be stored. It is preferred that the handle portion is formed separately from the brush head portion and that the brush head portion, or the brush head and neck portion, can be fitted to the handle portion.

In another form, the invention resides in a handle for a selfapplication toothbrush, the handle having an internal chamber adapted to contain a flowable oral treatment composition, the chamber having an open end adjacent which the remainder of the toothbrush can be attached, the open end being 10 closed by a rupturable closure member which can be pierced by a point on the toothbrush as the toothbrush is attached to provide an opening, a moveable piston in the chamber to push the composition through the opening, and biasing means in the handle to push the piston.

The internal chamber can be of any suitable size and shape to fit 15 within the handle portion of the toothbrush. It is preferred that the internal chamber takes up more or less the entire internal area of the handle portion.

Inside the internal chamber can be stored oral treatment compositions such as toothpaste, oral gels, liquid compositions, such as mouth washes, anti-plaque washes, anti-bacterial washes, tooth whitening 20 compositions, and the like.

The internal chamber preferably has an open end and a closed end. The open end can be covered by a thin pierceable member such that the handle portion can be supplied to the consumer as a replacement unit already pre-packaged with the oral treatment composition.

The oral treatment composition can be urged out of the chamber by a moveable piston which is typically in sealing engagement with the walls of the chamber. Behind the piston can be a biasing means which can be in the form of a spring, resilient rubber block, an air pump, and the like.

It is preferred that the oral treatment composition, the moveable piston and the biasing means are all pre-packaged within the handle portion and can be sold as such to the consumer.

In another form, the invention resides in a handle assembly for a self-application toothbrush, the handle assembly having an internal chamber, a disposable cartridge or container located within the chamber, the disposable container containing a charge of flowable oral treatment composition, the disposable container having a pierceable closure which allows the composition to flow out from the container when the closure is pierced, the handle assembly further having urging means to urge the composition from the container.

In this form of the invention, a separate pre-charged disposable cartridge or container can be inserted into the handle and when empty, the disposable container can be replaced.

10 In this arrangement, it is preferred that the disposable cartridge or container has an internal piston which can be pushed to urge the composition out from the container. The piston can be urged by a biasing means for instance a spring and the spring can be part of the handle assembly. Thus, in this form of the invention, the spring remains within the handle assembly and the only 15 disposable item is the pre-charged disposable container.

It is preferred that the handle assembly is formed from two parts which can be opened to allow the disposable container to be inserted into the internal chamber. In this arrangement, the disposable container can be made of fairly flimsy material with the outer handle assembly protecting the disposable a 20 container against being inadvertently ruptured or broken.

It is preferred that the brush head portion and the neck portion are formed together, and can be fitted, for instance, by a push-fit, twist-fit, or snaplock to the handle portion. It is further preferred that upon this attachment occurring, the thin pierceable member on the open end of the handle portion is pierced such that the oral composition can be made to flow towards the brush head.

An internal passageway is present to allow the oral composition to flow towards the brush head.

The toothbrush further includes an actuating means to selectively pass the composition to the brush head. In one form, the actuating means may comprise a valve which can be actuated between an on and off position and when in the on position, the oral composition can flow through the valve and towards the brush head. Preferably, the valve is a simple thumb-depressible button which when depressed has an internal bore which aligns with the passageway to allow the oral composition to flow to the brush head. The button can be spring-loaded to naturally be biased to an external off position and which requires to be depressed or otherwise manipulated to the on position.

A cap may be supplied to overlie the brush head and possibly some of the neck portion. The cap may be a simple push-fit or snap-fit cap similar to that found on many pens and biros and when attached, completely covers the brush head and preferably also the actuating means such that the 10 actuating means cannot be inadvertently actuated when the cap is in place.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the invention; 15 Figure 2 is a toothbrush of Figure 1 with an external cap fitted; Figure 3 is a section view of toothbrush of Figure 1 showing the internal components; Figure 4 is a part section view of the toothbrush of Figure 3 showing the separability of the handle portion on the remainder of the toothbrush; Figure 5 shows the mechanism by which the brush head can swivel relative to the neck portion; Figure 6 shows in detail the actuating means.

Figures 7 10 illustrate a toothbrush according to a second embodiment.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a self-application toothbrush 10. The toothbrush has a brush head portion 11, a neck portion 12, and a handle portion 13.

Handle portion 13, as better illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, has an internal chamber 14 which is adapted to contain a flowable oral treatment composition. The oral treatment composition can include toothpaste, flowable tooth powder, tooth gel, liquid or gel mouth wash, liquid or gel anti-bacterial wash, plaque removing washes and gels, tooth whitening compositions, and the like.

An internal passageway 15 (see Figure 3) extends from chamber 14, through neck portion 12, and through brush head portion 11 and terminates at the base 16 of the brush bristles. A number of openings 17 are provided to allow the oral treatment composition inside chamber 14 to be applied to the brush head over a large area and not just at a single point.

Brush head 11 in the embodiment can swivel or rotate relative to neck portion 12 through a swivel joint 18 shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 illustrates 10 in better detail the swivel joint between neck portion 12 and brush head portion 18 and it can be seen that the swivel joint is a simple push-fit type arrangement.

A cap 19 fits over the brush head portion 11 and neck portion 12 and can snap-fit or friction-fit onto handle portion 13 as illustrated in Figure 2. A convenient pocket clip 20 can be provided to allow the toothbrush to be carried 15 by a traveller. Cap 19 extends over an actuating means 21 such that when the cap is pressed in place the brush head 11 and the actuating means 21 is covered.

Handle portion 13 is formed as a separate unit better shown in Figure 4. This allows the handle portion to be sold separately to customers. The 20 handle portion is pre-loaded with the required type of oral treatment composition such as toothpaste, gels, washes, and the like, and can be sold as such with the type of composition being predominantly displayed on the outside of the handle portion or on the packaging in which the handle portion is displayed or sold.

Chamber 14, as illustrated in Figure 4, has an open end 22 through which the composition can pass. Open end 22 is initially closed off by a thin sheet material 23, such as an aluminium, plastic, or strong paper disc. The sheet material is strong enough to prevent the oral treatment composition from bursting through sheet material 23 before the sheet is pierced.

Inside chamber 14 is a moveable piston 24 which can be in the from of a rear piston body 25 and a forward piston sealing cup 26. Behind piston 24 is a biasing means which in the embodiment is in the from of a helical spring 27. Of course, other biasing means can be envisaged although a helical spring 8 is preferred as it has a good ability to be compressed into a relatively small size, thereby minimising the non-useable space inside the internal chamber.

In use, an oral treatment composition is packed inside internal chamber 14 which causes spring 27 to be compressed and piston 24 to be moved to the closed end 28 of handle portion 13. Sheet member 23 is then applied to maintain the integrity of the component.

Handle portion 13 can then be attached to neck portion 12 and in the embodiment this is achieved by a simple snap-lock arrangement where neck portion 12 is formed with an annular rib 29 which press-locks into an annular 10 grove 30 extending about the internal wall of internal chamber 14 and adjacent opening 22.

Furthermore, intemrnal passageway 15 terminates at one end with a piercing point 31, best illustrated in Figure 3. Thus, as the brush is snap-fitted to handle portion 13, piercing point 31 pierces sheet member 23 and therefore 15 allows the oral treatment composition inside chamber 14 to pass through passageway Actuating means 21 is provided on neck portion 12 to selectively allow the oral treatment composition to pass through passageway 15. Figure 6 shows the actuating means in greater detail. Actuating means 21 comprises a 20 depressible button valve member 32. Valve member 32 has an external button 33, an internal passageway 34 which is of the same diameter as internal passageway 15, and an annular skirt portion 35 in which a biasing means such as a helical spring 36 can locate. Spring 36 pushes button 33 to a naturally projecting position as illustrated in Figure 6 and in this position passageway 34 is out of alignment with passageway 15 such that the button is in the off position.

Depressing button 33 will cause passageway 34 to align with passageway and therefore the button is now in the depressed on position to allow toothpaste or the like to pass through internal passageway 15 to brush head 11. Spring 36 causes the button to naturally adopt the off position. A sealing ring 37 is provided to seal the arrangement.

Once the toothbrush is assembled, depressing of actuating means 21 will allow spring 27 to push the oral treatment composition inside chamber 14 through passageway 15 and to brush head 11.

Referring to Figures 7 10, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, like numbers have been used to identify like parts. Thus, in the embodiment of Figures 7 10 there is shown a selfapplication toothbrush 40 which has a brush head portion 11, a neck portion 12, and a handle portion 13.

Handle portion 13 in this embodiment (and as better illustrated in Figure 10), is formed from two parts being an inner part 41 and an outer part 42.

The two parts mate together to define an internal chamber. Inner part 41 and 10 outer part 42 can be press fitted together by having small locking clips or the like provided on one or both of the parts which lock or engage with appropriately configured recesses on the other of the parts. Thus, the inner part and the outer part are press fitted or clipped together but can be opened to allow access to the internal chamber.

15 The internal chamber houses a disposable container 43 which contains a charge or oral hygiene composition such as toothpaste, toothgel, mouthwash and the like. Disposable container 43 has a moveable end wall or piston 44 which is moved by a urging means in the form of a spring 45. The other end of disposable container 43 has a sheet member 23 which can be pierced by a piercing point 31 on neck portion 12 of toothbrush.

Thus, disposable container 43 can be purchased, inner part and outer part 41, 42 can be opened up and the disposable container can be inserted inside the handle portion 13. When the inner part and the outer part are pushed together, disposable container 43 is pushed towards piercing point 31 which pierces sheet member 23. As well, connecting together inner parts and outer parts 41, 42 causes spring 45 to now bias against piston 44 to urge the contents of the disposable container into internal passageway 15. An actuating button 21 is provided to regulate passage of the material through internal passageway and to opening 17 in the brush head portion 11.

This arrangement has a number of advantages. Firstly, the inner part and outer part 41, 42 are reusable as is spring 45 and the only disposable portion is the relatively inexpensive disposable container 43. If the handle portion is opened up, the compression of spring 45 is released and therefore there is little likelihood of the contents of disposable container 43 messing up the toothbrush when the handle portion is opened up (this is particularly relevant with children and their fiddly fingers).

The brush head portion 11 can be made easily detachable and disposable as the brush head wears out. There is little likelihood of the toothpaste accidentally spraying from the toothbrush because as soon as the handle portion is opened up, the spring tension is released thus making it safe for children. The disposable container 43, by being located entirely within the 10 handle portion 13 is safe from being inadvertently ruptured or squeezed. The handle portion can be opened up by pressing the locking clips (not illustrated).

There is also a safety clip which prevents the spring holder from becoming a projectile. Piercing point 31 is shrouded inside inner part 41 and therefore .:*•cannot prick a person's finger or cause damage. Before there is any spring 15 tension, the back portion is guided into position by the front section. By having brush head portion 11 able to swivel via swivelled point 18, the toothbrush can be used for left or right handed persons.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from 20 the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed

Claims (4)

1. A self-application toothbrush comprising a brush head portion, and a handle portion, the handle portion having an internal chamber, the handle portion being formed from two parts, at least one said part defining part of the chamber, one said part having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall and a spring, the spring having one end acting against the bottom wall and the other end extending into the chamber, one of the parts being slidable into the other of the parts to a preset distance after which the parts are secured together, a disposable cartridge containing a charge of toothpaste lo and which is positioned within the chamber, the cartridge having a lower open end which is closed by a sliding end wall, the spring in the one said part biasing the end wall to compress the toothpaste in the cartridge, the cartridge having an upper end which is openable to allow toothpaste to pass into the brush head portion, the construction and arrangement being such that the 15 spring is substantially uncompressed when the disposable cartridge is placed in the chamber and the two said parts are aligned, but upon sliding of one of the parts into the other of the parts to the preset distance, the spring becomes compressed against the sliding end wall in the disposable cartridge.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the disposable cartridge has a pierceable closure.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 and

4. A toothbrush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 and DATED this 5 t day of January 2000 Noel Gary SMITH and Dennis Warren BARTLETT By their Patent Attomrneys CULLEN CO.