FR2591083A1 - Toothbrush with incorporated toothpaste reservoirs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a toothbrush comprising a reservoir of toothpaste provided in the handle and a protective cap. The injection mechanism of this toothbrush is that of a piston pump actuated manually by simply exerting pressure on the head of the brush. The displacement of this piston pump causes the aspiration of a small quantity of dentifrice product contained in the handle and its expulsion through the ejection orifice located on the bristle support.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a toothbrush, the handle of which is arranged so as to contain its own reserve of toothpaste.

 Toothbrushes containing a reservoir for toothpaste incorporated in the handle are known.

 Generally, the handle containing the toothpaste consists of a soft and flexible wall, and it is the compress.

manual sion of said tank which distributes the product.

 Toothbrushes of the above type have several drawbacks: the handle deformable by simple pressure can bend excessively during use or give way to involuntary losses.

 Another type of toothbrush with known reservoir has a movable piston or air intake valve, capable of being actuated at the rear end of the handle.

 In this type of brush, the reservoir is provided with two openings, one to ensure the supply of the distributor channel connected directly to the discharge orifices, the other to allow the presence of the air intake valve at the end of the handle. The presence of these two openings poses a problem of sealing the reservoir containing the toothpaste.

 The present invention aims to overcome these difficulties, it relates to a toothbrush whose handle containing its own reserve of toothpaste is in the form of a rigid tube thus ensuring good grip of said handle.

 The injection mechanism consisting of a piston pump resides at the lower end of the brush head and forms with it a homogeneous whole, allowing the autonomy of the reservoir containing the toothpaste and therefore the possibility of ineffective refills.

 The tightness is ensured thanks to the snap-in system which allows by simple screwing, the fixing of the pump body on the container containing the toothpaste.

 The toothbrush according to the invention thus comprises in combination a reservoir containing the toothpaste, arranged in the handle, a piston pump which provides the injection mechanism, a dip tube having a central distribution passage, a coil spring. occupying the interior of the pump body, which is extended by a tube in which is housed a retaining ball.

 According to the invention, it is the displacement of the manually actuated piston pump which causes the suction of a small quantity of toothpaste contained in the reservoir handle, and its expulsion through the distribution channel directly connected to the ejection port.

 The invention will however be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows and on examining the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting examples, an embodiment of the invention.

 Figure 1 is an external schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the reservoir toothbrush according to the invention, the main elements which compose it being dissociated from each other.

 Figure 2 is an external view in longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the protective cap and the reservoir being removed.

 Figure 3 is an axial section of the injection device, the piston pump being in its rest position.

 The embodiment of the reservoir toothbrush shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a cylindrical body (1) of elongated shape, made of rigid plastic, thus ensuring good grip of the handle.

 This cylindrical body containing its own reserve of toothpaste is surmounted by a neck (2) whose side wall carries an external thread (3) which cooperates with a corresponding thread (4) provided on the internal wall of an assembly plug. (5) which is integral with an assembly formed by the pump body (6) and the dip tube (7).

 The assembly of the reservoir (1) containing the toothpaste and of the associated pump (6) is carried out by simple screwing to the cap (5) made of plastic material and designed in such a way that it hermetically closes the container of the toothpaste on which it is screwed, thus ensuring a perfect seal.

 At its upper part, the assembly plug (5) is surmounted by a handle (8) at the end of which is the head of the brush (9), the bristles (10) being enchased on the base ( 11) of said head (9).

 The head of the toothbrush is provided with a protective cap (11) which comes to bear on the end (13) of the assembly plug (5). This cap (12) with a diameter substantially equal to its mount (13) is fixed to it by a slightly forced interlocking.

 The injection device of the toothbrush shown as a whole in FIG. 3 reproduces that of a piston pump.

 The assembly shown comprises a pressure cylinder (14) at the base of which there is provided the housing of a valve (15) which is provided with a connection channel (16) with the dip tube (7). In this tubular housing (15) is engaged a retaining ball (17) urged to bear on a frustoconical seat (18) by the action of a spiral spring (19).

In this pressure cylinder (14) is engaged a piston (20) which is extended at its upper part by an axial distribution channel (21) at the end of which is the discharge orifice (22) of where the toothpaste is ejected. The piston (20) is engaged in a rubber washer (23) of a diameter such that a sort of anchoring of the edges occurs against the internal wall of the pressure cylinder (14). The pump body (6) ends at its upper part with a flange (24) intended to bear on the end of the neck. This flange functions as a seal.

 The operation of the device takes place as follows, assuming that the pump has not yet operated and is therefore not primed.

 The hand holding the handle of the toothbrush vertically, one exerts with the index finger a push on the head of the toothbrush (9) which serves as actuator of actuation. This thrust allows the piston (20) to slide down the bore (14) against the action of the spring (19) which then acts to strongly apply the ball (17) to its seat (18). The air contained in the bore (14) escapes through the conduit (25) the channel (21) and finally through the discharge orifice (22).

 By ceasing to press on the head (9) the piston (20) urged by the spring (19) returns to its rest position and causes a vacuum in the bore (14) and consequently a suction of the liquid, including a part enters the bore by lifting the ball (17) forming a valve.

 By repeating this reciprocating movement of the piston, the bore is completely filled, that is to say the priming of the pump.

 From this moment, by pressing on the head (9), one causes the expulsion by the distribution channel (21) then by the evacuation orifice (22) of a certain quantity of liquid on the base of the bristles. the brush (10).

 The object of the present invention has been in terms of use to design a simple and effective method of ejection which fits on a reservoir toothbrush, while allowing convenient handling.

 From the manufacturing point of view, this invention aimed to produce a reduced number of parts, of simple configuration, easy to mold from plastic material and requiring easy assembly.

 It goes without saying that modifications can be made to the embodiment which has just been described, in particular by replacing equivalent technical means, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1) Toothbrush with incorporated toothpaste reservoir characterized in that it consists of an elongated, cylindrical handle, rigid plastic material, containing its own reserve of toothpaste. 2) Toothbrush characterized according to the preceding claim, in that the reservoir carries at its upper end a neck whose side wall carries an external thread intended to be associated with a corresponding thread provided on the internal wall of a assembly plug. 3) Toothbrush according to claim 2 characterized in that the sealed association of the pump on the reservoir is effected by simple screwing of the assembly plug integral with said pump, on the neck of the container, containing the toothpaste. 4) Toothbrush characterized according to claims 1, 2 and 3 in that the assembly plug is surmounted at its end by the head of the brush, which forms a bristle support. 5) Toothbrush according to claim 4 in that the bristle support has a perforation on its base, having the function of evacuation orifice and communicating with the axial distribution channel. 6) Toothbrush according to claims 4 and 5 characterized in that the head of the brush is provided with a cap capable of being fixed on its frame by a slightly forced interlocking.  5) Toothbrush characterized according to the preceding claims taken as a whole in that it comprises an injection device consisting of a piston pump resi aant at the lower end of the brush head, which piston pump includes in combination  a) a pressure cylinder at the base of which a tubular housing has been provided in which is engaged a retaining ball, intended to rest on a frustoconical seat by the action of a spiral spring.  b) a hollow piston extended at its upper part by an axial distribution channel at the end of which is the evacuation orifice from which the ejection of the toothpaste product takes place.  c) a dip tube having a central distribution passage and communicating with the pump body, via the tube specified in a), to which it is connected by a connection channel.  d) a flange forming a seal provided at the upper end of the pump body and intended to bear on the end of the neck. 8) Toothbrush according to claim 7 characterized in that the head of the toothbrush serves as an actuator for actuating said injection mechanism. 9) Toothbrush according to claims 7 and 8 characterized in that the displacement of the piston pump causes the suction of a certain amount of toothpaste contained in the reservoir, its expulsion through the distribution channel and its ejection from the exhaust port.