Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K5/00—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
  • A47K5/18—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like for both soap and toothpaste or the like; in combination with holders for drinking glasses, toothbrushes, or the like ; Toothpaste dispensers; Dental care centers

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to an electric toothpaste dispenser and, more particularly, is concerned with a toothpaste dispenser which is operated by depressing a button with a toothbrush. When the dispenser is empty a user merely replaces the toothpaste container.
• the typical toothpaste tube in use today has been in use for many years after gaining wide acceptance.
• This typical toothpaste tube is relatively easy to use although it has a few shortcomings.
• Some of the shortcomings include leakage from the tube due to cracks and tears forming in the walls of the tube, leakage between the mouth and the cap of the tube due to the combination of failing to properly tighten the cap onto the tube and the placement of improper pressure upon the tube, wasted toothpaste remaining in the tube due to uneven squeezing or rolling of the tube, the inconvenience of unscrewing and replacing a cap every time toothpaste is to be used and problems related to the application of too much pressure to the tube resulting in additional wasted toothpaste and toothpaste spillage onto the counter and sink. All of these problems are compounded when the toothpaste tube is used by children. installation of an electrically driven toothpaste dispenser to be pleasing.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,198, 389 to Dunning discloses a toothpaste dispensing cabinet which uses two rollers to roll down a tube of toothpaste.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,234,104 to Apuzzo et al describes a toothpaste dispenser having a motor for driving two rollers down a tube of toothpaste. The outlet from the dispenser includes a closure and a manually operated switch is included to reverse the motor.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,258,864 to Karamanolis et al describes a toothpaste dispenser with a motor which drives a roller down a tube of toothpaste. A manually operated switch is used to retract the roller and a gate is used to close off the outlet.
• 4,403,714 to Kane describes a toothpaste dispenser with a motor driven roller which compresses paste out of a horizontally mounted tube of paste.
• the tube is threaded into an adapter and the outlet is covered by a lever 21.
• the motor is reversed by a manual switch.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,629,095 to Smith describes a toothpaste dispenser which is carried by a wheel for driving the tube through a pair of pinch rollers.
• the tube of paste is inverted and threaded into an aperture which is closed off by a flap closer.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the toothpaste dispenser.
• Fig. 2 is a front elevational view taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 to show the interior of the housing.
• Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispenser taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 is a detail view of the drive assembly taken along section line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a detail view of the drive assembly taken along section line
• Fig. 6 is a detail view partially broken along section line 6-6 of Fig. 3.
• Fig. 7 is a detail view partially broken along section line 7-7 of Fig. 6.
• Fig. 8 is a detail view partially broken along section line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
• Fig. 9 is a detail view taken along section line 9-9 of Fig. 3 showing one grasping assembly in cross-section.
• Fig. 10 is a detail view partially broken along section line 10-10 of
• Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit employed for controlling the toothpaste dispenser of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the d/c converter employed in the toothpaste dispenser of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the dispenser showing such embodiment from the interior of the housing.
• Fig. 14 is a front elevational view the embodiment of Fig. 13 showing such embodiment from the interior of the housing.
• Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Fig. 14.
• Fig. 16 is an assembly view showing the grasping assembly and the nozzle assembly of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 13 - 15.
• Fig. 17 is a view of the grasping assembly shown in the "grasping" position.
• Fig. 18 is a view of the grasping assembly shown in the "open" position.
• Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 14 showing details of the nozzle assembly.
• the present invention provides an electric toothpaste dispenser designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs.
• the most important feature of this invention is the combination of a fixed rack and a long screw to provide an even and properly controlled squeeze on the toothpaste container.
• the dispenser includes pliable rollers to apply a balanced and even squeeze across the toothpaste tube. When the rollers have reached the top of the tube, the control system will automatically reverse the motor so that the rollers roll back down below the tube.
• the outlet nozzle is adaptable to the mouth of the tube and the tube is adjustably held.
• the present invention includes additional important accessories including an easily accessible activation button, a wall mount, a removable toothbrush holder and a d/c converter.
• the present invention relates to a toothpaste dispensing apparatus which includes a housing having a nozzle clearing and automatic activating assembly and an adaptable grasping assembly located within the housing for holding the toothpaste container.
• a drive assembly is mounted within the housing and drives a carriage for squeezing along the length of the toothpaste container.
• a control system is also included for activating the drive assembly and for automatic reversal of the drive assembly.
• the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 generally includes a housing 12, a toothpaste container 20, a drive assembly 30, a carriage assembly 60, a nozzle assembly 80 and first and second grasping assemblies 90a and 90b.
• the dispenser 10 includes a housing 12 with a door 14.
• the dispenser 10 also includes a toothbrush holder 16, a d/c converter 17 with a/c wall socket plug-in prongs 18 and electrical cord 19, a nozzle assembly 80 and a push button 100.
• Access to the interior region of the housing 12 is made through the door 14 which is large enough to allow the convenient insertion by hand of a toothpaste container or tube 20.
• the door 14 has two hinges 140 and 141 and a latch 142 which snaps into a groove in the housing 12 for holding the door 14 in a closed position.
• the door 14 also includes a window 143 for viewing the toothpaste container 20 so that a user can determine the brand and amount of toothpaste which has been used.
• the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 is activated by depressing the push button 100 with a toothbrush 22 or other device. This causes toothpaste 24 to be dispensed out of the nozzle assembly 80.
• Lights 15a and 15b are located on the housing 12. Light 15a is preferably blue and turns on when toothpaste 24 is being dispensed through the nozzle assembly 80. Light 15b is preferably red and turns on when the toothpaste container 20 is empty.
• Drive assembly 30 generally includes motor 32 and gear train 40.
• Gear train 40 transfers drive or torque to carriage assembly 60.
• the rack 57 is attached to the housing 12 with screws 122a, 122b, 122c and 122d which are threaded through rack mounting supports 57a, 57b, 57c and 57d and into casings 123a, 123b, 123c and 123d which are affixed to the housing 12.
• the pinion 59 transfers torque or drive to the carriage assembly 60. As the carriage assembly 60 rides up the length of the long screw 58 it will squeeze toothpaste out of the toothpaste container 20. When the carriage assembly 60 approaches the top of the toothpaste container 20 it will force toggle bar 110 to strike or close reverse switch or second switch S2.
• the reverse switch S2 will turn on light 15a and automatically activate the motor 32 in the reverse direction such that the carriage assembly 60 will ride downward until a prong 68 strikes or opens a third switch S3. In this position the carriage assembly 60 will rest below the lower end of the tube of toothpaste 20 so that the empty tube or container may be removed for disposal and a new container may be installed.
• the toothpaste container 20 is held around the neck 26 of the container 20 by a first and a second grasping assembly 90a and 90b.
• the nozzle assembly 80 includes a lever 88 for the lowering of a tube fitting 86 into the mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20. Once the tube fitting 86 is in place within or against the mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20, toothpaste 24 can flow through the tube fitting 86 and out spout 82.
• the toothbrush holder 16 could be mounted on either side of the housing 12 by any suitable means of attachment such as a hole and channel formed in the side of the toothbrush holder 16 for sliding over a projecting rivet head 16a.
• the toothbrush holder 16 has receptacles 16b for receiving toothbrushes 22.
• the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 also includes a wall mount plate 130 which may be screwed or attached by other suitable means of attachment to a wall 131 or other structure.
• the mounting plate 130 has openings which receive prongs 132a, 132b, 132c (not snown) and 132d (not shown ) fixed on housing 12.
• the prongs 132a, 132b, 132c and 132d are slid into the openings on mounting plate 130 and the housing 12 is lowered until the prongs 132a,
• Housing 12 may include other accessories.
• Frame 34 is attached by a screw 36 to the motor 32.
• the drive shaft 38 driven by the motor 32 transmits torque to gear train 40 through a pinion gear 42 located at the other end of the drive shaft 38.
• Gear train 40 ends with long screw 58.
• the pinion gear 42 meshes with three idle gears 44a, 44b and 44c
• the revolution disc 52 has a keyed opening in the center for engaging a notch 54a in worm gear 54.
• the worm gear 54 is supported at the other end by a worm bush 54b.
• the worm gear 54 transmits torque to a worm wheel 56.
• Worm wheel 56 is pinned or attached by other suitable means over the end of the long screw 58.
• a gear box
• the gear box 50 is attached to the planetary gear 48 for enclosing the worm gear 54 and the worm wheel 56 and holding the worm bush 54b in place.
• a washer 54c is placed between the worm bush 54b and the worm gear 54.
• the gear box 50 also contains two long screw bushes 58a and 58b for support of long screw 58. Wave washers 58c and 58d are placed between the long screw bushes 58a and 58b and the worm wheel 56.
• the carriage assembly 60 generally includes an upper bracket 61, a lower bracket 65, a first roller 70, a second roller 74, a roller gear box 69, roller padding 70a and 74a and first and second guide plates 78a and 78b.
• the lower bracket 65 has a vertical neck 66 having a threaded aperture for engaging the long screw 58 and has lower bearing cavities 67a and 67b for supporting and guiding both the first roller 70 and the second roller 74.
• a prong 67e on lower bracket 65 rides in guide channel
• the upper bracket 61 has a vertical bore therethrough which seats over the outer circumference of the neck 66 of the lower bracket 65, upper bearing cavities 62a and 62b for supporting and guiding both the first and the second rollers 70 and 74 and bearing walls 63a and 63b having holes for support of both the first and second guide plates 78a and 78b.
• both brackets 61 and 67a and 67b are supported within the bearing cavities 62a and 62b and 67a and 67b of the upper and lower brackets 61 and 65 when the brackets are attached together by screws or other suitable means of attachment.
• both brackets 61 and 67b are supported within the bearing cavities 62a and 62b and 67a and 67b of the upper and lower brackets 61 and 65 when the brackets are attached together by screws or other suitable means of attachment.
• 65 include a continuous cavity 62a and 67a therethrough to accommodate first roller 70 and a partial cavity 62b and 67b to support the roller wheel
• a pinion 59 is attached to the first roller 70 at one end.
• a first roller drive gear 72 is pinned or attached by other suitable means to the other end of the first roller 70.
• a second roller drive gear 76 is pinned or attached by other suitable means to the other end of the second roller
• the first roller drive gear 72 meshes with a second roller drive gear
• each roller 70 and 74 is coupled to its respective drive gear 72 and 76, preferably by a hex shaped bore (not shown ) in each drive gear 72 and 76 which engages a hex shaped shaft section (not shown ) on each roller 70 and 74.
• a roller gear box 69 is pinned over the ends of the first and second rollers 70 and 74 between two washers 73a and 73b and 77a and 77b and retained by clips 73c and 77c.
• the roller gear box 69 has two lower holes for support of the first and second rollers
• brackets 61 and 65 will move together in either an upward or downward direction depending upon the respective forward or reverse drive beins provided by the motor 32.
• contact between the rack 57 and pinion 59 will impart motion to the first roller 70.
• the first roller 70 drives the second roller 74.
• rollers 70 and 74 are covered with roller padding 70a and 74a which is made of a pliable material such as rubber, foam or foam rubber.
• the pliable material is useful for guiding the toothpaste container 20 between the rollers 70 and 74 when the carriage assembly 60 begins at the bottom 21 of the toothpaste container 20, for obtaining a better squeeze on the toothpaste container 20 and for rolling over creases and other obstructions on toothpaste containers 20 of various sizes.
• the distance between the rollers 70 and 74 and the thickness of the padding 70a and 74a creates a sufficient squeeze upon the toothpaste container 20 to remove the toothpaste while not impeding the motion of the rollers 70 and 74 and the carriage assembly 60.
• the open space between the rollers 70 and 74 when covered with padding 70a and 74a is preferably
• the thickness of the pads is preferably 2.5 millimeters.
• Both the first guide plate 78a and the second guide plate 78b are attached to pins 79a and 79b which ride and are clamped within the holes on the upper bracket 61 and the roller gear box 69.
• 79d, 79e and 79f are seated at both ends of the guide plates 78a and 78b to urge the guide plates 78a and 78b to an angle of approximately 45 ° from the horizontal.
• Washers 79g, 79h, 79i and 79j are located on pins 79a and 79b which are retained by clips 79k, 79l, 79m and 79n.
• the guide plates 78a and 78b may be rotated against the force of the leaf springs
• the guide plates 78a and 78b function to direct a toothpaste container 20 which is not installed parallel to the axial direction of the first and second rollers 70 and 74 to the open space between such rollers when the carriage assembly 60 begins at the bottom 21 of a new container of toothpaste 20.
• a toothpaste container 20 may be installed such that the major cross-sectional axis of the container is anywhere within a 360 range of the axial direction of the first and second rollers 70 and 74.
• the guide plates will force the toothpaste container to rotate so that the major cross- sectional axis will be parallel to the axial directions of rollers 70 and 74 except in one situation.
• the guide plates 78a and 78b are also useful for guiding a slightly bent toothpaste container to the open space between the padded rollers 70 and 74 as well as guiding a toothpaste container which is partially empty before being inserted within the electric toothpaste dispenser 10. Since the guide plates 78a and 78b are allowed to rotate toward a horizontal position against the force of the leaf springs 79c, 79d, 79e and 79f, the guide plates 78a and 78b will not obstruct the approach of the carriage assembly 60 to the top of the housing 12. This allows the rollers 70 and
• a toggle bar 110 is seated within a toggle bar holder 111 which is attached by screws or other suitable means of attachment to the housing 12.
• the upper bracket 61 will drive the toggle bar 110 up to close the second switch S2.
• the second switch S2 automatically reverses the drive assembly 30 causing the carriage assembly 60 to ascend or ride back down the length of toothpaste container 20 until the prong 68 on the lower bracket 65 strikes the third switch S3 which turns the motor 30 off.
• light 15b will be activated to inform a user that a new toothpaste container 20 should be installed.
• Fig. 9 the details of the grasping assemblies 90a and 90b are shown.
• Both grasping assemblies 90a and 90b include an assembly housings 96a and 96b, respectively, which are attached by screws or other suitable means of attachment to the housing 20.
• Both grasping assemblies 90a and 90b include upper and lower clamps 92a and 92b and
• Both the upper clamps 92a and 92b and the lower clamps 94a and 94b are held together within the assembly housings
• Ends 94c and 94d on the lower clamps 94a and 94b, respectively, are concave to grasp under the threads and around the neck 26 located on typical American toothpaste containers. In some situations depending upon the design of the toothpaste container 20, only either the upper or the lower clamps 92a and 92b or 94a and 94b will be needed.
• the user of the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 is able to operate the grasping assemblies 90a and 90b merely by reaching within the housing and pulling the upper and lower clamps 92a and 92b and 94a and 94b apart and either removing or inserting a toothpaste container 20. Since the grasping assemblies 90a and 90b are spring loaded they will adjust or adapt to the neck size of the toothpaste container 20 installed.
• Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the nozzle assembly 80 and the push button 100.
• the push button 100 has a cap 102 and a downwardly extending prong 104.
• a compression spring 106 is seated over the prong
• the first switch SI will be open.
• the prong 104 will close the first switch S1. This will activate the motor 32 in the forward direction to drive the carriage assembly 60 up the toothpaste container 20.
• the nozzle assembly 80 includes a cup cover 84, a nozzle adjustment lever 88, a spout 82, a tube fitting 86 and a spring 85.
• a cup 81 is threaded at its upper end for attachment of the cup cover 84 and has an opening at the lower end to allow the tube fitting 86 to pass therethrough.
• the cup 81 is affixed to the top of the housing 12.
• the spout 82 has an elbow 82a to deliver the toothpaste 24 to an area over or above the push button 100.
• a shoulder 83 is located just below the elbow 82a.
• the nozzle adjustment lever 88, cup cover 84 and spring 85 are seated over the lower end of spout 82 and held in place between shoulder 83 and tube fitting 86 which is threaded to the lower end of spout 82.
• the tube fitting 86 has a conical neck portion 87 for lowering, adapting or connecting to the mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20 mounted within the housing 12.
• the upper end of the tube fitting 86 includes a flange 88.
• This flange 88 limits the downward motion of the tube fitting 86 when the flange 88 contacts the bottom of the cup 81.
• Spring 85 forces the tube fitting 86 downward to maintain contact with the mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20 while toothpaste 24 is being dispensed from the container 20.
• the nozzle adjustment lever 88 has a collar 88a which fits around the spout 82.
• a portion of the collar 88a has an inclined surface 88b which wedges against the inclined surface 82b on the spout 82.
• the spout 82 will adjust or move in an axial direction either to lower or raise the tube fitting 86 from the mouth 24 of the toothpaste container 20.
• nozzle assembly 80 may be removed for soaking in warm water or for dislodging in some other manner.
• Nozzle assembly 80 is removed by unscrewing cup cover 84 from cup 81.
• the present invention overcomes as the carriage assembly 60 ascends or descends along the toothpaste container 20.
• the first problem occurs when the toothpaste container 20 collapses either diagonally or toward the nozzle assembly 80.
• the second problem occurs when the neck 26 of the toothpaste container 20 is pulled out of the first and second grasping assemblies 90a and 90b. Both problems are affected by vibration and non-vertical forces exerted by the rollers 70 and 74.
• the first problem is primarily created by the exertion of too much vertical force in the upward direction
• the second problem is primarily created by the exertion of too much vertical force in the downward direction.
• the upward and downward forces on the toothpaste container 20 are created by rollers 70 and 74 as carriage assembly 60 ascends or descends along the toothpaste container 20 and created by frictional contact between the padded rollers 70 and 74 and the toothpaste container 20. In the present invention these forces tend to balance each other out. However, the resilient mounting of the tube fitting 86 in nozzle assembly 80 will maintain contact with the mouth of the toothpaste container 20 and the holding and stabilization abilities of grasping assemblies 90a and 90b will hold the neck 26 regardless of any net force exerted by rollers 70 and 74 due to the ascending or descending motion of carriage assembly 60 and friction.
• the present invention is also designed so that the rate of ascension or descension of the carriage assembly 60 and the rotational speed of rollers 70 and 74 will squeeze or compress the toothpaste container 20 to obtain a desirable flow rate of the toothpaste 24 out of the nozzle assembly
• the drive assembly or motor 30 operates at a speed of 5000 rotations per minute. Through the motor 32 and gear system 40 the long screw 58 is driven at 34.5 rotations per minute. The carriage assembly 60 either ascends or descends 1 millimeter per revolution of the long screw 58 depending upon the direction that motor 32 is driven. This results in the carriage assembly 60 moving at a rate of 34.5 millimeters per minute or
• circuitry for the control system of the present invention is shown.
• the circuit When the first switch S1 is closed the circuit is completed and the motor 32 will start running in the forward direction to squeeze toothpaste out of the toothpaste container 20.
• activating pulse signal generating device Q sends a signal which turns on the third transistor TR 3 and the third transistor TR 3 in turn puts the relay RL into motion. This reverses the direction of the motor 32 which causes the carriage assembly 60 to descend.
• the amount of time that the third transistor TR 3 sends the signal to the relay RL in order to reverse the motor 32 is predetermined and adjustable. It is preferred that this amount of time be set at 0.5 seconds or approximately thereabout.
• This automatic reversal feature whicn operates for a set predetermined amount of time once the push button 100 is released is designed to release any pressure on the toothpaste container 20 to prevent excess ieakage of the toothpaste
• the relay RL When the toggle bar 110 closes the second switch S2, the relay RL will be set into operation through the contact point of the transistor TR and the third switch S3. In this position the motor 32 will run in the reverse direction.
• the transistor TR 3 stays in the "on” position by its self-maintaining circuit until it is restored to the original position.
• the third switch S3 When the carriage assembly 60 " bottoms” the third switch S3 is opened. This turns the second transistor TR 3 off and the RL is restored to its normal condition. Consequently, the original state of the circuit system is recovered.
• a fourth switch S4 (shown oniy in Fig. 11 ) could be added to the exterior of the housing 12 in order to manually reverse the motor 32.
• Fig. 12 illustrates tne preferred circuitry for the d/c converter.
• Figs. 13 and 14 another embodiment of the invention is shown.
• This electric toothpaste dispenser 210 consists of a nousing 212, a toothpaste container 220, a drive assembly 230, a carriage assembly 260, a nozzle assembly 280 and a grasping assembly 290.
• the toothpaste container 220 is held in an inverted position.
• the first switch S1 is located at the bottom of the housing 212 for activating the drive assembly 230 in a forward direction.
• switch S2 will be activated by a prong 276 to reverse the direction of the drive assembly 230.
• Carriage assembly 260 will then retract until switch S3 is activated by a prong 274.
• Switch S3 will stop the drive assembly 230.
• the drive assembly 230 includes a motor 232 which is operated by a/c or d/c electricity which drives a worm gear 234.
• Worm gear 234 drives worm wheel 236 and worm wheel 236 drives gear 238 which in turn drives gear 239 to rotate long screw 240.
• a rack 242 is fixed within housing 212 parallel and adjacent to long screw 240. The combination of the long screw
• Carriage assembly 260 includes a carriage block 262 which has a vertically threaded aperture for engaging long screw 240, two squeezing rollers 263 and 264, and pinion gears 265 and 266 which are extended to the rollers 263 and 264 through the carriage block 262.
• a guide assembly 270 attached to the other end of the carriage assembly 260 holds carriage assembly 260 between two walls 213 and 214 within housing 212.
• the guide assembly 270 includes a guide channel 272 which fits around walls 213 and 214. As the carriage assembly 260 moves, guide assembly 270 will move along walls 213 and 214 to prevent the vibration or the incline of the carriage assembly 260.
• Carriage assembly 260 also includes prongs 274 and 276 for activating switches S3 and S2.
• the tube grasping assembly 290 is fixed within the housing. It generally includes a round plate or cam 291, a holder plate 295 and grasping wings 299a, 299b and 299c.
• Holder plate 295 which has a hole in the center and three prongs 296a, 296b and 296c which are equiangulariy spaced to engage grooves 292a, 292b and 292c in cam 291 and three holes located in grasping wings 299a, 299b and 299c.
• the holder plate 295 also includes a small hole 297 to hold one end of spring 298.
• the cam 291 has a small hole 293 to hold the other end of spring 298, three holes 294a, 294b and 294c at the margin to engage the prongs of the grasping wings 299 and a hole through the center.
• a release lever 300 is fixed by a pin (not shown) to an arm 301 of cam 291.
• Figs. 17 and 18 show the assembled toothpaste grasping assembly 290.
• a user pushes the lever 300 to let the grasping wings 299 spread out ( Fig. 18), then inserts the mouth of the toothpaste tube into the holes through the center of holding plate 295 and cam 291 and then releases lever 300.
• Tne tnree grasping wings 29b will then be biased to their orisina. position ( Fig. 17 ) by spring 298 to grasp the mouth or neck ⁇ f the toothpaste container.
• the grasping assembly is adaptable to the diameter and threading of the mouth of the tootnpast e container and when used in combination with nozzle assembh 280 is ⁇ iso adaptable to the heig ht or depth of the mouth of the toot hpaste container.
• the nozzle assembly 280 generally includes a nozzle plate 281 and a cover plate 285.
• Nozzle plate 281 includes a nozzle 282 and a threaded casing 283 for the securing of a partially threaded screw 284.
• Cover plate 285 includes a holy 286 at one corner which houses a smooth portion of partially threaded screw 284. A wall 287 biases against a spring 288. The other end of spring 288 is biased against a wall 216 located on housing 212. Housing 212 also includes walls 217 and 218 which define a channel 219 leading into the interior of housing 212 allowing the passage of a tooth brush to push cover plate 285.
• cover plate 285 When a user desires toothpaste a toothbrush will be inserted through channel 219 and pressed against cover plate 285 which pivots around partially threaded screw 284 to automatically activate switch S1. Simultaneously, cover plate 285 will clear nozzle 282 allowing toothpaste to flow therethrough. Cover plate 285 is flush with nozzle 281 such that when cover plate 285 is biased over nozzle 282 the nozzle will be sealed or covered and such that when cover plate 285 is pivoted across nozzle 282 excess toothpaste which could dry and clog over nozzle 282 will be swept, cleared or cleaned away.
• Fig. 20 shows the electric circuit system for the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 13 - 19.
• the motor turns on and the toothpaste is squeezed.
• switch 1 is off by removing the toothbrush, the motor turns “off” which creates a clog pulse for a moment (about 0.5 seconds ) at clog circuit Q (a counterclockwise rotational clog pulse circuit) to turn the transistor (TR3 ) "on” for a moment (about 0.5 seconds) and "on/off” relay RL turns “on” simultaneously and causes relays RL1 and RL2 to shift from point (a) to point (b) at the contact point to reverse the motor fox: the clog pulse moment and to stop the toothpaste's natural flow.
• Resistance for limited current R is connected directly to S1 between point (a) and the motor so that it reduces the clockwise speed of the motor when the rollers squeeze the toothpaste tube and accelerate the counterclockwise speed.
• Manual switch SF is parallel with the resistance

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Tubes (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=27348624

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1990
  • 1990-12-06 JP JP3501961A patent/JP2608218B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1990-12-06 AU AU69793/91A patent/AU650437B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-12-06 EP EP91901626A patent/EP0504299A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1990-12-06 WO PCT/US1990/007161 patent/WO1991008144A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1992
  • 1992-06-05 NO NO92922245A patent/NO922245L/no unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events