GB2203636A

GB2203636A - Portable dental hygiene device

Info

Publication number: GB2203636A
Application number: GB08709545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Walter Jelinek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-22
Filing date: 1987-04-22
Publication date: 1988-10-26
Also published as: GB8709545D0

Abstract

A hollow container 10, eg a hollow tube, has a clip-on or screw-on nozzle connection for a flexible toothpaste or gel in a tube housed inside said hollow container, the tube being connected to a hollow handled tubular toothbrush 22, 23. The brush elements can be an integral part of the hollow container or detachable and interchangeable or replaceable. The brush part is protected by means of a slide-off cover 16 with a clip 17 for carrying and has ventilation holes 18 at the top. To use the device one applies mild pressure on the pad 12, which releases the dentifrice via the hollow brush handle 22 onto the brush head 23. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a pressurized foam or liquid dentifrice may be used and this may be fed to the hollow handled toothbrush by pressing on a release trigger of a suitable pressure container, contained within the hollow container 10. <IMAGE>

Description

A PORTABLE DENTAL HYGIENE DEVICE INTRODUCTION This invention relates to a concept in dental hygiene equipment. It comprises a container with a toothbrush and/or interproctal brush either fixed or exchangeable, both having a hollow handle, containing a tube of toothpaste, gel or semi-liquid dentifrice for version A, , or pressurized container for either foam or liquid dentifrice. Both versions have a squeezing mechanism or push release, which impels the dentifrice through the hollow tubular handle of the brush elements and into the brush head.

The container is small and fitted with a clip for carrying about during the day rather like a fountain pen.

BACKGROUND AND CONCEPT The carrying of a toothbrush and dentifrice is usually effected by means of a toilet bag, which is generally cumbersome and not commonly one of the articles people carry with them during the day. The aim of this invention is to bring dental hygiene out of the bathroom and into everyday working life so that such a container may be carried about rather as one does a fountain pen.

The recommendations of dental hygiene experts, based on the latest research on the causes of dental decay, demonstrate the need for a portable cleaning device for brushing the teeth after meals. This portable, easily rechargeable device would answer this need.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL FEATURES According to this present invention there is provided a container with a removeable top, held by friction , containing an interchangeable or fixed hollow handled toothbrush or interproctal brush , with a flexible toothpaste or dentifrice tube which is placed into the hollow container and either screwed or clipped into it, making connection with the hollow tooth brush handle. By applying mild pressure to a flexible pressure pad on the side of the container, the dentifrice, which should be of a nonsetting nature, is squeezed up the hollow handle and onto the head of the toooth brush. The tooth brush is now ready for use. The protecting cover of the brush element can be used as additional lengthening of the handle by clipping onto the bottom of the container.This cover has ventilation holes at the top to dry out the wet brush and prevent mold.

The hollow brush element and cover can also be used with a pressurised dentifrice foam container onto which it clips and the the foam is squeezed through the hollow tube onto the head of the brush.

EXAXPLE A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : Figure 1 shows in perspective the container with the protecting cover in position for version A using toothpaste tube; Figure 2 shows a section through the container with the toothpaste tube and the hollow toothbrush clipped in position for version A Figure 3 shows a section through the container and the pressure activating mechanism for the toothpaste version A Figure 4 shows in perspective the alternative/interchangeable brush elements which apply for versions A and B Figure 5 shows in perspective the pressurized dentifrice container with the protecting cover in position over the hollow toothbrush, for version B Figure 6 shows a section through the container using a pressurized container for supplying dentifrice foam through the hollow handle with a pressure release for version B Referring to the drawing the invention comprises a hollow container 10 with a release mechanism 12 or 13, containing dentifrice either in the form of paste or gel in a flexible tube 14 or in the form of foam or liquid inside a pressurized container 15, a protective cover 16 with a carrying clip 17 and several ventilation holes 18, over exchangeable brush elements 19 or 20 with a hollow handle 22 through which the dentifrice is supplied to the brush head 23 or 24.

To use the device the protective cover is removed by sliding in the direction of the arrow 25 and clipped to the removable clip-in base 26 of the hollow container holding the dentifrice tube , or alternatively it is clipped to the underside of the pressurized foam container 27.

The aim is to provide a long handle to hold the device easily and to make it more nianoeverable.

Next pressure is applied manually to either of the release mechanisms 12 or 13 thereby releasing dentifrice onto the brush head through the hollow handle. The device can be used with paste, gel or semi-liquid dentifrice, version A, or with foam and liquid mouth freshener under pressure, version B. The gel or semi-liquid would be transferred to the brush head through the handle by the same method as described for toothpaste above; whereas the liquid dentifrice would require the same transference method as that described for foam.

Claims

1 A portable dental hygiene device comprising a hollow container, for carrying dentifrice in form of paste or gel in a tube, means for releasibly securing such to the container, the container having the suitable means for making such connection, and the transferring of this dentifrice onto the toothbrush or inter-proctal brush head by means of the hollow handle of the brush elements which are integrally connected to the container . The brush part is protected by a cover with air holes and a clip.

2 A portable dental hygiene device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a pressurized foam dentifrice is supplied and released suitably via the hollow handle to the toothbrush or inter-proctal brush head as in Claim 1 3 A portable dental hygiene device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a pressurized liquid dentrifice is supplied to the toothbrush or interproctal brush head by means of a hollow handle as in Claim 1 4 A portable dental hygiene device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the brush elements are independent of the hollow container and are screw-on or clip-on and interchangeable or replaceable and having the hollow handle of the toothbrush or inter-proctal brush elements being used to transfer dentifrice in the manner of supply as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 5 A portable dental hygiene device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the hollow container has a hollow air filled flexible tube with a curved pressure pad attached by means of which pressure can be applied manually to a fexible tube of toothpaste or dental gel inside said hollow container and to which the tube is manually attached either by screwing or clipping 6 A portable dental hygiene device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawing