GB2323779A - Reservoir toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A reservoir toothbrush has screwed into its body a proprietary tube whose paste is expelled through the bristle head by an inclined pressure plate moved by a button sliding in a serrated slot. The tube thread is connected to a female fitting (Fig. 4, not shown) whose angled, flexible fins adjust to differing thread dimensions. The brush head is unscrewed to allow replacement or cleaning, and is covered by a snap-on cap. A screwed base adjusts to tube length.

Description

NENV CONCEPT TOOTIBRUS1{ - The invention relates to a propelling toothbrush.

- A separate toothbrush and toothpaste is normally used for cleaning teeth. The toothpaste tube is unscrewed and a small amount of the paste is squeezed onto the toothbrush to perform the cleaning operation.

- This manoevre normally uses two pieces of equipment, is time-consuming and unnecessary, inconvenient for travel and difficult for disabled people without the use of an arm or hand.

- According to the present invention, the tube of paste and toothbrush are all in one unit, together with a hygiene cap. By screwing a proprietory toothpaste tube or cartridge into the body of the unit, the paste and brush are as one. The paste is then propelled into the back of the head of the brush by means of a sliding pressure plate guided by a serrated slot runing up the side of the body of the unit and through the drilled head onto the brush. A slotted screw base with a long travel adjusts for the length of tube and secures the top of the proprietory toothpaste tube nozzle into the invention.. The female fitting in the invention consists of specially designed composition fin or fins angled upwards which will accept differing threads and lengths of nozzles on the toothpaste tubes. The head of the brush is interchangeable and drilled to accept the toothpaste from the body of the invention to the brush-head. The examples illustrated are for 50ml tubes but could be adapted to any size.

- A specific embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective with the interchangeable brush-head in place together with the toothpast tube installed and the hygiene cover protecting the brush-head.

Figure 2 illustrates how the contents is forced up the tube of toothpaste or cartridge by means of a sliding pressure plate operated by manual upward pressure on the external button, which, in turn, activates the internal plate. This is held in position by a serrated closely fitting slot running up the side of the body of the unit.

Figure 3 illustrates how the toothpaste tube or cartridge is inserted into the base of the unit by firstly unscrewing the baseplate, sliding the pressure plate button to the bottom of the slot, which is enlarged to allow the internal shaft from the button to the pressure plate to be released. The pressure plate then flattens against the wall of the body of the unit and lets the toothpaste tube or cartridge to be inserted or extracted. To make the unit operational, this process is carried out in reverse sequence.

Figure 4 illustrates the female fitting in the body of the unit which accepts the proprietory toothpaste tube or cartridge. This fitting is in the form of a layer or layers of fins around the aperture which is/are slightly flexible and will adjust to the differing thread sizes, lengths and diameters of proprietory toothpast nozzles or cartridges.

In order to remove or replace the brush-head, click off the hygiene cap which protects the brush when not in use and screw up or unscrew the brush-head.

T-B 1 PROPELLING TOOTHBRUSH KEY TO DRAWINGS FIGURE 1.

a) Interchangeable brush-head with drilled centre b) Hygiene cover (snap-on) c) Tube bored out to carry toothpaste d) Composition fins angled to accept varying sizes and threads of proprietory toothpaste tube or cartridge (slightly flexible) e) Outer casing in any form of plastic or metal f) Proprietory toothpast tube or cartridge (inside casing) g) Slot running up casing with button on outside and angled pressure plate inside h) Slotted screw-in base EIGURE 2.

a) Body of outer casing b) Slot to carry pressure plate mechanism c) Outer button to activate pressure plate d) Pressure plate in position e) Enlarged area of slot FIGURE 3.

a) Outer button b) Enlarged area of slot c) Pressure plate released to receive proprietory brand of toothpaste d) Toothpast tube or cartridge FIGURE 4.

a) Part of body connecting to brush-head b) Flexible fins c) Ridge for hygiene cap fitting d) Internal shoulder to support proprietory brand of toothpaste or cartridge e) Outer body shell of unit f) Proprietory brand of toothpast or cartridge FIGURE 4A.

a) View looking up into body of unit showing fins b) Body of unit c) Shoulder to support toothpast tube d) Feed hole connecting to brush-head e) Concentric angled flexible fins

Claims (3)

1. C-MMS 1. .6 propelling toothbrush comprising a detachable brush-head which can be exchanged when bristles are worn or paste tube becomes clogged and facilitates cleaning.
2. 2 A detachable hygiene cap fastened by snap-on ridges which fits over the brush-head and fastens to the body of the unit.
3. 3. A pressure plate inside the body of the unit attached to a button on the outside which is held firm by a serrated slot running up the side of the body of the invention.

   This is able to be released by sliding to the bottom of the slot so that the pressure plate is able to move fiat against the barrel.

   4 A ridged cap fitting at the bottom of the body with a long thread in order to locate the proprietory toothpaste tube or cartridge in the barrel of the unit.

   5 A specially designed female fitting located at the top end of the barrel of the unit which complines one or a number of composition tins angled upwards to accept differing sizes of proprietory toothpaste tubes or cartridges. This, when the tube is inserted, provides a seal against toothpast escaping back into the body of the unit or the tube becoming dislocated.