GB2329110A - Reservoir toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush 1 having a toothpaste container 3 and feeder means 6 for delivering paste directly from the container 3 to a bristle array of the brush head 2. The toothbrush 1 is intended to be stored in an upright position on a support base 4. The base 4 can include an electronic timer arranged to produce a musical signal as a hygiene training aid for a child. Handle 3 may be squeezable, or head 2 may be pushed towards the handle to operate a pump.

Description

AUTOMATIC TOOTHBRUSH This invention relates to an automatic toothbrush. Such an article is considered to be a toothbrush which includes a container for toothpaste or a tooth cleaning gel and has means for feeding this material to a brush part of the unit.

For cleaning teeth, the toothpaste is normally provided in a flexible tube container or in a rigid container which has a movable piston capable of being pushed up from the bottom of the container to extrude the paste. Since the operation of producing the strip of toothpaste is separated from that of applying this paste to the brush, there is a tendency for a child to apply too much pressure to the tube and thus cause too much paste to be put on the brush. This causes a waste of the toothpaste since it is not easy to gauge the correct amount that is likely to be needed.

The present invention was devised to make it easier for a standard amount of paste to be dispensed from a toothpaste container and to give better control of the application of this paste to the brush bristles.

According to the invention, there is provided a toothbrush having a toothpaste container and feeder means for applying paste to a brush part of the unit, in which the feeder means is arranged to deliver paste directly from the container to a bristle array of the brush part.

Where the paste container is of a mainly rigid construction, the feeder means may be a pump located coaxially about a delivery tube from the container, the pump being operable by a movement of the brush part in the direction of the container.

When the paste container is of a flexible construction, the feeder means may be operable by applying pressure to a wall of the container such that paste will be delivered through a feeder tube towards the brush part. The feeder tube may incorporate a one-way valve, if required.

The automatic toothbrush may be provided with a firm base so that the unit is capable of being stored in an upright position. The base may include a timer module that will produce an audible signal such as music when the brush is moved by being lifted from its storage position. This timer will give a short audible signal or in an alternative embodiment the signal may correspond in duration to the optimum time that a child should spend on the tooth brushing operation.

In a further embodiment, the signal produced may be a visual one. The timer module may be operated by an exposure of the toothbrush base underside to light energy.

By way of example, some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, an exploded view of the toothbrush, Figure 2 shows in perspective, the action of pumping the brush to dispense a measure of paste, Figure 3 shows the toothbrush being lifted from a flat surface to initiate operation of the timer module, Figure 4 shows the toothbrush with a toothpaste container shaped in the form of a cartoon character, and, Figure 5 shows a different embodiment in a cross-sectional view, where the paste is dispensed by finger pressure on the sides of a flexible container.

As depicted in Figure 1, the automatic toothbrush 1 comprises a brush head 2 which is carried on a toothpaste container 3 mounted on a support base 4. The brush head 2 forms a movable member of a delivery pump 6 which is provided with a delivery tube 7 extending to a bottom end of the container 3. The delivery pump 6 is of a well-known kind frequently used for dispensing liquids or pastes where a movable member of the pump is located coaxially about a delivery tube for the pump.

The support base 4 forms a convenient stand for the toothbrush to be stored in an upright position on a level surface. The base 4 also includes a miniature timer module (not shown) which will produce an audible signal for a predetermined length of time whenever the brush is lifted off the support surface. A timer module of this kind arranged to produce electronically generated music for a predetermined period can be provided at a comparatively low cost and the device can be actuated by light energy whenever the toothbrush is lifted from its support surface.

Figure 2 shows the action of operating the delivery pump 6 part of the automatic toothbrush so that toothpaste will be applied to the brush head 2 part of the toothbrush.

Figure 3 shows the lifting of the toothbrush unit from its normal storage position on a level surface 8. This action allows light energy to impinge on the lower side of the support base 4 which in turn initiates operation of the timer module mounted in the base.

In operation of the automatic toothbrush, a user will lift the brush from its storage position as indicated in Figure 3. This will cause the timer module to produce a musical signal which will run for a predetermined time such as two minutes. The user will then operate the pump 6 so that paste will be applied to the brush head 2. If the user is a child, this will encourage the user to brush the teeth for the set length of time determined by the duration of the audible signal.

If the intended user is to be an adult, the musical effect in a different embodiment could be replaced by a ticking sound or flashing light effect.

At the end of the brushing period, the sound will stop and the user will then replace the toothbrush on its support base 4 until the next time that the brush is needed.

An object of the invention is thus to assist the education of children in good oral hygiene. The particular musical effect can be any theme or phrase that would be attractive to a child and would thus help to establish a good brushing habit.

In the present specification, it is understood that the invention is not restricted to a container for toothpaste and it could be applied equally to other tooth cleaning materials such as tooth cleaning el.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment where the container 3 is provided in the shape of a cartoon character in order to enhance the enjoyment of a child in using the device.

Figure 5 depicts yet a further embodiment where the delivery of the paste to the brush head 2 is effected not by a delivery pump but by the user applying pressure to the side walls of the toothpaste container 3. In this way, the toothpaste can be forced from the container through an outlet opening directly to the bristle array of the brush head 2.

For the sake of clarity in the Figure, there is no one-way valve depicted in the drawing but it is possible in some constructions that such a component will be needed. As before, the toothbrush has a support base 4 which incorporates the timer module. In this embodiment, the toothbrush unlit also has a removable cover 5 which can be clipped over the brush head 2.

In use of the automatic toothbrush of the invention, it has been found to be beneficial in encouraging a child to brush its teeth and to do this in each instance for a recoiemended period of time. By comparison with a conventional toothbrush with separate toothpaste tube, the automatic toothbrush can be made more fun to use and it will help to educate a young user in good oral hygiene. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 4, the toothpaste container can be made in the shape and colours of a favourite child's character such as a cartoon character, a railway engine, an animal figure or a pop star. The musical effect produced by the timer module may be arranged to correspond to whatever musical theme might be associated with that character, In the automatic toothbrush, the container 3 for the toothpaste or cleaning gel is made to be easily replaceable when a refill is needed. When the container 3 has been made in the shape of a favourite child's character, this component even when empty can become a useful new toy for the child an4 could possibly lead to the child wishing to make a collection of a full set of the toy characters. The brush head 2 is also replaceable separately when necessary.

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the invention have been given by way of example only and a nunber of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in te appended claims. For instance, the timer module may be replaced by an alternative time indication device such as 2 flashing light or a steady musical tone. It is also not essential that the timer module should be located on the underside of the base of the automatic toothbrush. If the toothbrush was designed to have its own stand for supportin the unit when it was not being used, the timer module could be oved to another place so that it would still be activated when the toothbrush was picked up to be put into use.

Claims (6)

1 A toothbrush having a toothpaste container and feeder means for applying paste to a brush part of the unit, in which the feeder means is arranged to deliver paste directly fro the container to a bristle array of the brush part.

2 A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 1, in which the feeder means is a pump located coaxially about a delivery tube from the container, the pump being operable by a movement of the brush part in the direction or the container.

3 A toothbrush as claimed in Claim 1, in which the feeder means is operable by the application of pressure to a wall of the container such that paste will be delivered through a feeder tube towards the brush part.

4 A toothbrush as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the toothpaste container is provided with a firm base arranged so that the unit is capable of being store in an upright position.

5 A toothbrush as claimed in Clain 'l, in which the base includes a timer module effective to signal wnen a predetermined time interval is in operation.

6 An automatic toothbrush, substantially as hereinbefore described with refereAlce to any one 0 tne accoilpanying drawings.