GB2298362A

GB2298362A - Toothbrush with external water supply

Info

Publication number: GB2298362A
Application number: GB9504327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsing-San Chu
Original assignee: CHU HSING SAN
Current assignee: CHU HSING SAN
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1995-03-03
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Also published as: GB9504327D0

Abstract

A toothbrush has a front barrel (1), a rear barrel (3), a connecting tube (2) connected between the front barrel (1) and the rear barrel (3), a brush (6), a brush holder (5) connected to the front barrel (1) remote from the rear barrel (3) to hold the brush (6), and a tube connector (4) connected to the rear barrel (3) remote from the connecting tube (2) for connection to a water intake tube (9) to guide water from the water intake tube (9) through the rear barrel (3), the connecting tube (2), the front barrel (1) and the brush holder (5) to the brush (6) for cleaning the teeth. Preferably, the tube connector (4) has a ball valve (44) for cutting off the water supply when the connector (4) is removed from the rear barrel (3).

Description

TOOTHBRUSH WITH WATER SUPPLY CONTROL MEANS The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and relates more particularly to a toothbrush with water supply control means which can be conveniently controlled to guide water from a water intake tube to the bristles for cleaning the teeth.

Toothbrushes with water guide means for guiding water from a water intake tube to the bristles are well known. However, these toothbrushes are commonly complicated and not easy to operate in controlling the water passage.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the toothbrush comprises a front barrel, a rear barrel, a connecting tube connected between the front barrel and the rear barrel, a brush, a brush holder connected to the front barrel remote from the rear barrel to hold the brush, and a tube connector connected to the rear barrel remote from the connecting tube for connection to a water intake tube to guide water from the water intake tube through the rear barrel, the connecting tube, the front barrel and the brush holder to the brush for cleaning the teeth.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the tube connector has a ball valve, which automatically blocks up the water passage of the tube connector when the tube connector is disconnected from the rear barrel and, which automatically opens the water passage of the tube connector when the rear barrel is connected to the water intake tube by the tube connector. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the connecting tube has a valve means, which automatically blocks up the water passage between the front barrel and the rear barrel when the connecting tube is moved backwards toward the rear barrel along a longitudinal slot on the front barrel and, which automatically opens the water passage between the front barrel and the rear barrel when the connecting tube is moved forwards toward the front barrel.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a toothbrush according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view in section of the toothbrush shown in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is another exploded view of the toothbrush shown in Figure 1; Fig. 4 is similar to Figure 2 but showing the flowing direction of water; Fig. 5 is a partial view in section of the toothbrush shown in Figure 1, showing the rear barrel disconnected from the tube connector; Fig. 6 is a partial view in section of the toothbrush shown in Figure 1, showing the front and rear barrels joined by the connecting tube and the connecting tube moved backwards to stop the water passage between the front barrel and the rear barrel; Fig. 7 shows an alternate form of the brush according to the present invention;; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the alternate form of the present invention; and Fig. 9 is similar to Figure 7 but showing the vane wheel turned by water.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a toothbrush is shown comprised of a front barrel 1, a connecting tube 2, a rear barrel 3, a tube connector 4, a brush holder 5, and a brush 6.

The front barrel 1 defines a water passage communicated between the brush holder 5 and the connecting tube 2. The diameter of the water passage reduces from the rear end (the side of the connecting tube 2) toward the front end (the side of the brush holder 5). The front barrel 1 has a front plug end 12 connected to the brush holder 5. The rear end of. the front barrel 1 receives the front end of the connecting tube 21, having a longitudinal slot 11 for guiding the movement of the connecting tube 2. The connecting tube 2 is inserted into the rear end of the front barrel 1, defining a longitudinal through hole 23 communicated between the front barrel 1 and the rear barrel 3, and having a knob 21 raised from the periphery in the middle and extended out of the longitudinal slot 11 on the rear end of the front barrel 1.A plurality of water seal rings 22 are mounted around the connecting tube 2 and respectively stopped against the inside walls of the front barrel 1 and the rear barrel 3. The rear barrel 3 has a front opening 31, which receives the rear end of the connecting tube 2, and a rear plug rod 32, which is connected to the tube connector 4. The rear plug rod 32 has an annular flange 34 around the periphery and a plurality of radial through holes 33 communicated with the front opening 31 of the rear barrel 3. When the rear plug rod 32 is connected to the tube connector 4, the annular flange 34 is stopped against the inside wall of the tube connector 4, and therefore water can only be guided from the tube connector 4 to the connecting tube 2 through the radial through holes 33 and front opening 31 of the rear barrel 3.A hollow valve rod 35 is inserted into the front opening 31 of the rear barrel and covered on the rear end of the connecting tube 2, having a plurality of slots 36 spaced around the periphery, two collars 38 raised around the periphery, a water seal ring 39 mounted around the periphery between the collars 38, and a plurality of notches 37 around the rear end. The slots 36 are made on the valve rod 35 at locations and in size subject to the length between the two rear water seal rings 22 on the connecting tube 2 and the locations thereof. Therefore, the water passage through the valve rod 35 is controlled by moving the connecting tube 2 relative to the valve rod 35. The tube connector 4 connects the rear end of the rear barrel 3 to a water intake tube 9. The rear end of the tube connector 4 terminating in a threaded hollow plug rod 42 fitted into the water intake tube 9.The front end of the tube connector 4 is covered with a rubber ring 43 and a cap 41 to hold a ball valve 44 on the inside. When the ball valve 44 is closed attached to the rubber ring 43, the water passage between the water intake tube 9 and the rear barrel 3 is stopped. On the contrary, when the ball valve 44 is moved away from the rubber ring 43 by the rear plug rod 32 of the rear barrel 3, water is allowed to pass from the water intake tube 9 through the tube connector 4 into the rear barrel 3. The brush holder 5 comprises a recessed coupling portion 52, which holds the brush 6, a water hole 51, which receives the front plug end 12 of the front barrel 1, and a through hole 53 through the recessed coupling portion 52.The brush 6 comprises a block head 62 fitted into the recessed coupling portion 52 and the through hole 53, bristles 61 raised from the block head 62, a water hole 63 for guiding water from the front barrel 1 to the bristles 61, and a packing ring 64 mounted within the water hole 63 around the front plug end 12 of the front barrel 1 and stopped at the water hole 51. When installed, a part of the block head 62 projects out of the through hole 53 of the brush holder 5, therefore the brush 6 can be conveniently removed from the brush holder 5 for a replacement by pushing the block head 62 out of the through hole 53.

Referring to Figure 4, when the ball valve 44 is moved away from the rubber ring 43 by the rear plug rod 32, water flows from the water intake tube 9 through the radial through holes 33 into the rear barrel 3, then flows through the slots 36 on the valve rod 35 into the longitudinal through hole 23 of the connecting tube 2, and then flows through the front barrel 1 and the water hole 63 to the bristles 61 for cleaning the teeth.

Referring to Figure 5, when the rear plug rod 32 of the rear barrel 3 is detached from the tube connector 4, the ball valve 4 is forced forward by water from the water intake tube 9 to stop the rubber ring 43, and therefore water is stopped.

Referring to Figure 6, when the connecting tube 2 is moved backwards by the knob 21, water is stopped from passing through the slots 36 on the valve rod 35 by the water seal rings 22 of the connecting tube 2, and therefore no water is guided out of the brush 6.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternate form of the brush. The brush 7 fits into the recessed coupling portion 52 and through hole 53 of the brush holder 5, comprising a water hole 73 connected to the front plug end 12 of the front barrel 1, a top recessed hole 71 communicated with the water hole 73, a vane wheel 72 disposed in the top recessed hole 71, a cap 74 covered on the top recessed hole 71 to hold the vane wheel 72 in place, and bristles 76 securely fixed to the wheel shaft of the vane wheel 72.

Referring to Figure 9, when water passes through the water hole 73, the vane wheel 72 is rotated by water to turn the bristles 76 for cleaning the teeth.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A toothbrush comprising a front barrel, a rear barrel, a connecting tube capable of connecting the front barrel and the rear barrel, a brush, a brush holder connected to the front barrel remote from the rear barrel to hold the brush, and a tubular connector connected to the rear barrel remote from the connecting tube for connection to a water intake tube to guide water from the water intake tube through the rear barrel, the connecting tube, the front barrel and the brush holder to the brush for cleaning the teeth.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the front barrel defines along its length a water passage for guiding water from the connecting tube to the brush holder, having a front plug end fitted into one end of the brush holder and a rear end connected to the connecting tube, the rear end of the front barrel having a longitudinal slot for guiding the movement of the connecting tube in the rear end of the front barrel.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the connecting tube has a front end inserted into the rear end of the front barrel, a rear end inserted into one end of the rear barrel, a plurality of water seal rings mounted around the periphery, a longitudinal through-hole for guiding water from the rear barrel to the front barrel, and a knob raised from the periphery and extending out of the longitudinal slot on the front barrel for moving the connecting tube in the front barrel and the rear barrel relative to the longitudinal slot of the front barrel.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein the rear barrel comprises a front opening, which receives the rear end of the connecting tube, a rear plug rod connected to the tubular connector, a hollow valve rod mounted around the rear end of the connecting tube and disposed inside the front opening of the rear barrel, the rear plug rod of the rear barrel having an annular flange raised around the periphery and stopped inside the tubular connector and a plurality of radial through-holes communicating with the front opening of the rear barrel, the hollow valve rod having a plurality of slots spaced around the periphery, two collars raised around the periphery, a water seal ring mounted around the periphery between the collars, and a plurality of notches around a rear end thereof, the slots and notches of the hollow valve rod being disposed in communication between the radial throughholes on the rear plug rod of the rear barrel and the front opening thereof for guiding water from the tubular connector to the front barrel when the connecting tube is moved forwards, the slots and notches of the hollow valve rod being blocked up by the water seal rings of the connecting tube to stop water from passing through the rear barrel when the connecting tube is moved backwards.

5. A toothbrush according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tube connector has a rear end terminating into a threaded hollow plug rod fitted into one end of the water intake tube, a front end covered with a rubber ring and a cap to hold a ball valve on the inside and connected to one end of said rear barrel remote from the connecting tube, the ball valve being moved away from the rubber ring of the tube connector for allowing water to be guided from the water intake tube into the rear barrel when the rear wheel is connected to the tubular connector, the ball valve being forced by water from the water intake tube to stop against the rubber ring of the tubular tube connector and to stop water from flowing out of the tubular connector.

6. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim, wherein the brush holder comprises a recessed coupling portion, which holds the brush, a water hole connected to the front barrel for guiding water to the brush, and a through-hole through the recessed coupling portion for the insertion of a finger to push the brush away from said brush holder.

7. A toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the brush comprises a block head fitted into the recessed coupling portion and through-hole of the brush holder, a plurality of bristles raised from the block head, a water hole for guiding water from said front barrel to said bristles, and a packing ring mounted within the water hole of said brush around one front end of the front barrel.

8. A toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the brush comprises a block head fitted into the recessed coupling portion and through-hole of the brush holder, a water hole connected to the front barrel, a top recessed hole connected to the front barrel through the water hole of the brush, a cap covered on the top recessed hole, a vane wheel disposed in the top recessed hole and held in place by the cap of the brush and having a wheel shaft extended out of a hole on the cap of said brush, and bristles securely fixed to the wheel shaft of the vane wheel.

9. A toothbrush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings of Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 7 to 9.