GB2326820A - Reservoir toothbrush:causing piston movement - Google Patents

Description

TOOTHBRUSH The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and in particular to toothbrushes which contain an integral reservoir of toothpaste.

There exists a demand for a toothbrush which can be used one or a few times, and then disposed of. For example, people may find such a toothbrush particularly convenient when travelling. Such a toothbrush is even more convenient if it contains an integral reservoir of toothpaste.

There have been many proposals for providing toothbrushes of this general type, examples being seen in CA-A-2 110 868, US-A-4 139 312, US-A-4 265 560, and FR-A-2 215 916.

Problems can be identified in each of these known toothbrushes. For example, the toothbrush of CA-A2 110 916 requires manufacture of a complex elongate threaded shaft. That of US-A-4 139 312 and US-A4 265 560 can store only a very small amount of toothpaste, and that of FR-A-2 215 916 includes a long shaft which could easily be damaged in storage.

Furthermore, the toothbrushes of US-A-4 139 312, US-A4 265 560 and FR-A-2 215 916 provide no protection for the brushing filaments when the toothbrush is not in use.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a toothbrush which is simple and of low cost to manufacture, is robust and convenient for storage, and which can provide sufficient toothpaste to allow it to be used several times.

Accordingly, the invention provides a toothbrush comprising a head from which projects a multiplicity of brushing filaments, a body connected to the head, and a cover for surrounding and protecting the head while the toothbrush is not in use a chamber within the body in which is contained toothpaste, a passage through which toothpaste can flow from the chamber to emerge at the head in the region of the brushing filaments, and a piston sealingly closing the chamber, being disposed such that a force may be applied to the piston to cause toothpaste to flow through the passage; characterised in that: on removal of the cover for use of the toothbrush, the cover can be partially inserted into the chamber, and can then be used to enable a user to apply force to the piston to cause toothpaste to flow to the head.

The cover therefor has a dual purpose, thereby helping to minimise the number of components of the toothbrush. Furthermore, it use to urge the piston means that the piston can be entirely contained within the body, so leading to a compact arrangement for storage, and a low risk of force being accidentally applied to dispense toothpaste to the head. Of course, the cover can be reapplied to cover the head after use if the user intends to re-use the toothbrush later.

Preferably the cover is formed as a moulding of transparent plastic material.

Typically, an elongate neck connects the head to the body. In such embodiments the flow passage conveniently extends axially as a bore through the neck.

The head and the neck can conveniently be formed as a one-piece moulding of plastic material.

The cover is preferably sealed in place during manufacture, that seal being broken prior to a first use of the toothbrush. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover can be replaced after a first use of the toothbrush.

Advantageously, the piston is substantially within the body prior to a first use of the toothbrush. In this way, the likelihood of the piston being accidentally driven to eject toothpaste is minimised.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and side views of a toothbrush embodying the invention in a storage condition; Figure 3 is a cross-section along line A-A of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are a side and a plan view of a piston for use in the toothbrush of Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 6 is a side view of the toothbrush of Figures 1 to 3 in a condition prior to use.

With reference to the drawings, a toothbrush comprises a head 10 from projects a multiplicity of brushing filaments. The brushing filaments are grouped together into a plurality of tufts 12, each of which is secured within a respective hole formed in the head 10.

The general shape and configuration of the head is substantially the same as that of a conventional toothbrush.

An elongate neck 14 projects from the head 10.

The neck 14 is of somewhat smaller cross-section than the head 10.

Remote from the head 10, the neck 14 is connected to a mounting formation 16. The mounting formation 16 comprises a region of which has a circular outer crosssection, of dimension somewhat greater than that of the neck 14.

The head 10, the neck 14 and the mounting formation 16 are formed as a one-piece plastic head moulding.

The toothbrush further comprises a body 20. The body 20 comprises a cylinder moulded of plastic material. The cylinder has an internal bore 22. A portion of the mounting formation 16 is received and secured (typically by adhesive) within an end region of the bore 22. Thus, the body 20 can be used as a handle by means of which a user can hold the toothbrush in use.

Within the moulding which constitutes the head 10, the neck 14 and the mounting formation 16, there is formed a flow passage 18. The flow passage 18 is constituted by a void within the mounting formation 16 which opens into the bore 22 of the body 20. The flow passage 18 extends from the mounting formation 16 as a narrow tube formed axially through the neck 14 into the head 10. Within the head 10, the flow passage turns through a right angle at 28 to emerge at an opening 26 amongst the tufts 12 of the head 10.

In this embodiment, the mounting formation 16 includes an externally screw threaded region. This cooperates with an internally screw-threaded region of the bore 22 as indicated at 30, to secure the head moulding to the body 20, such that the body 20 constitutes a handle of the toothbrush by means of which it can be manipulated in use. Thus the body and the head moulding together constitute a useable toothbrush.

A cover 36 is provided to protect the head moulding (and in particular the filaments) when the toothbrush is not in use. The cover 36 comprises a moulding of clear plastic material, being generally cylindrical in shape. At one end of the cover 36 is formed as an end face 38 to close the end of the cylinder. The end face 38 is formed as to be slightly convex.

Opposite the end face, the an open end portion of the cover 36 is a tight push fit over the mounting formation 16. During manufacture, adhesive is disposed to provide a breakable seal between the cover 36 and the mounting formation 16. Once the seal is broken, the cover can subsequently be replaced, to be retained on the mounting formation 16 by friction. By this arrangement, the head moulding can be protected between successive uses of the brush.

As will be seen from Figure 1, within the bore 22 of the body 20 there is provided a piston 42 (shown separately in Figures 4 and 5). The piston 42 can slide axially of the bore while providing a fluid-tight seal between itself and an internal wall of the bore 22.

There may be provided a peripheral O-ring 44 on the piston 42 to enhance the seal. An outwardly facing surface 46 of the piston is concave.

Within the bore 22, there is disposed a quantity of toothpaste, within a chamber 22 defined between the piston and the head moulding. The amount of toothpaste can be selected having given consideration to the number of intended uses of the toothbrush. However, it is desirable that it should not be so large as to require the piston 42 be disposed very close to the open end of the bore 22. In this way, the likelihood of a force being applied to the piston 42 accidentally is minimised.

For use, a user first removes the cover 36. The cover is then inserted, closed end first, into the bore 22 to contact the piston 42. The convex end face 38 of the piston makes good contact with the concave outwardly facing surface 46 of the piston 42. By applying force to the cover 36, the user can urge the piston 42 towards the head moulding. This in turn displaces the toothpaste, which enters the flow passage 18 and flows towards the head 10, eventually to emerge from the opening 26. At that stage, the toothbrush is ready for use.

After use, the cover 36 can be removed from the bore 22 and replaced in its original position to protect the head 10 from contamination, and also to contain any moisture on the head, until it is next required for use.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A toothbrush comprising a head from which projects a multiplicity of brushing filaments, a body connected to the head, and a cover for surrounding and protecting the head while the toothbrush is not in use a chamber within the body in which is contained toothpaste, a passage through which toothpaste can flow from the chamber to emerge at the head in the region of the brushing filaments, and a piston sealingly closing the chamber, being disposed such that a force may be applied to the piston to cause toothpaste to flow through the passage; characterised in that: on removal of the cover for use of the toothbrush, the cover can be partially inserted into the chamber, and can then be used to enable a user to apply force to the piston to cause toothpaste to flow to the head.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1 in which the cover is formed as a moulding of transparent plastic material.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which an elongate neck connects the head to the body.

4. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim in which the flow passage extends axially as a bore through the neck.

5. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim in which the cover is sealed in place during manufacture, that seal being broken prior to a first use of the toothbrush.

6. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim in which the cover can be replaced after a first use of the toothbrush.

7. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim in which the piston is substantially within the body prior to a first use of the toothbrush.

8. A toothbrush substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.