GB2175798A - Reservoir toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush comprises a hollow handle containing toothpaste, contained preferably in a separate container within the handle, and a piston arrangement for expelling the toothpaste from the container through a conduit to a discharge orifice located among the bristles of the head of the brush. The piston can either be operated by manual thrust (Fig. 1 or 4) or alternatively by a screw mechanism (Fig. 3, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to toothbrushes This invention relates to an improved toothbrush which is of special value to travellers.

Teeth are normally cleaned by a brushing process during which tooth paste is applied from a separate tube to the bristles of the brush prior to the brushing operation. Tubes for dispensing tooth paste are compressible and made usually from thin sheets of synthetic plastics material or aluminium.

Travellers especially those engaged on frequent but short journeys and others who are away from home for considerable periods generally prefer to keep to a minimum the number of articles they have to carry. There is an advantage if they can dispense with the need to carry a conventional tube of tooth paste because of its tendency to leak when subjected to excessive pressure when the brief case or suitcase in which the tube is being carried is subjected to rough handling during its passage between destinations. The present invention is directed to a toothbrush which avoids the disadvantages of conventional tubes of tooth paste.

Accordingly this invention provides a brush for cleaning teeth comprising a brush head to which are anchored a plurality of bristles and a handle incorporating a cavity for containing toothpaste and means for expelling toothpaste from the cavity through a conduit extending from the cavity into the brush head, the conduit having a discharge orifice among the bristles.

This invention is illustrated but not restricted by the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view taken in vertical section of invention brush.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the back of the brush.

Figures 3 and 4 are side views taken in vertical section of alternative forms of brushes according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a view, taken in plan, of the brush shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 a number of tufts of bristles (1) are anchored within a head of a brush head (2) which is connected to a handle (3) having a cylindrical cavity (4) terminating in a cone shaped orifice (6) communicating with a conduit (7) in the brush head. The discharge end of the conduit (8) is situated between the tufts of bristles (1). A part of the handle (3) is cut away and in effect converts a part of the cavity (4) into a trough (5).

The brush is filled with tooth paste utilising a prefilled cartridge similar to a hypodermic syringe. The cartridge comprises a barrel portion (9), filled with the paste, terminating in a conical discharge orifice (10) which fits the discharge orifice (6) of the cavity (4). The cartridge is provided with a piston (11) one end of which terminates in a piston head (12) and the other end is provided with a flange (13).

The cartridge is placed in the brush in a manner similar to loading a rifle in that the discharge end of the cartridge is presented to open end of cavity (4) and slid forward until orifices (6 and 10) are firmly engaged. At the same time the position portion (11) of the cartridge is lowered until it rests on the bottom of trough (5), in which position flange (7) protrudes from the surface of the handle. Prior to use of the brush flange (13) is pushed forward and tooth paste is forced out of the cartridge, through conduit (7) until it discharges from orifice (8) among the bristles.

In Fig. 3 a handle (3) is provided with a cylindrical bore (4). Located within the bore is a rotatable screw (5) which passes through an internally threaded piston and is secured to cap (7). The latter forms a push fit with the wall of handle (3) but is rotatable with respect to the wall. The end of bore (4) remote from the cap communicates with conduit (8) terminating in an orifice (9) situated among the roots of bristles (10).

In operation cap (7) is rotated in an anticlockwise direction causing the piston to be retracted towards the cap. When the piston is fully retracted cap (7) together with screw (5) to which the cap is attached is separated from the handle (3) which is then filled with tooth paste from a source Of supply. When the handle is filled the cap, screw and plunger are replaced. The cap is then turned in a clockwise direction. As a result piston (6) is urged along the bore of the handle and forces toothpaste through channel conduit (8) and out through orifice (9) among the bristles.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a handle (1) is provided with a cylindrical bore dimensioned to accommodate a tube of proprietary tooth paste of a size which is readily available on the market.

The cap of the tube has been removed and the threaded end (3) of the tube forms a push-fit with a cylindrical breech-like opening to conduit (4). Handle (1) is provided along its length with a slot (5) which permits forward and backward movement of handle (6) connected to piston (7) having an angled contacting surface (8) for engaging the closed end of the tube. Handle (1) is closed by cap (9) which can conveniently form a push-fit with the end of the handle.

In operation cap (9) is removed together with piston (7). The cap from a tube of tooth paste is unscrewed and the tube inserted into handle (1) until the threaded end (3) engages with the breech opening of conduit (4). Cap (9) and piston (7) are then both replaced whilst ensuring that handle (6) is located correctly in slot (5). The piston is then urged along the interior of handle (1) and in doing so the angled contacting surface (8) of the piston presses against the end of tube (2) resulting in the discharge of tooth paste from end (3) of the tube, through conduit (4) and finally the paste emerges from orifice (10) among the bristles forming the head of the brush.

The brush forming the subject of Figs. 4 and 5 has the advantage in that it can, if desired, be used as a conventional tooth brush. Under these circumstances the tube of tooth paste can be inserted into the handle together with its cap. When the brush is required to be used the tube is removed from the handle, the cap is unscrewed and tooth paste is squeezed onto the bristles according to conventional practice.

The brush can be made of any suitable constructional material although synthetic thermoplastics for example polythylene, polyacrylates and polycarbonates are to be preferred. The brush head may constitute an extension of the handle. Alternatively it can be secured detachably to the handle. Whilst the above description relates to a toothbrush it will be appreciated that the principles of this invention can be applied also to the application of other treating agents for different purposes.

Claims (8)

1. A brush for cleaning teeth comprising a brush head to which are anchored a plurality of bristles and a handle incorporating a cavity for containing tooth paste and means for expelling tooth paste from the cavity through a conduit extending from the cavity into the brush head the conduit having a discharge orifice located among the bristles.

2. A brush according to Claim 1 wherein the cavity is in the form of a cylindrical bore extending along the length of the handle.

3. A brush according to either of the preceding claims wherein the bore contains a piston for expelling tooth paste.

4. A brush according to Claim 3 wherein the piston is connected to a screw mechanism for effecting movement of the piston along the bore.

5. A brush according to Claim 3 wherein the piston is connected to a handle located slidably within a slot formed in the wall of the handle.

6. A brush according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tooth paste is connected in a separate container located within the handle.

7. Any brush for cleaning teeth as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. Any brush as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the drawings.