GB2334881A

GB2334881A - Cleaning utensil : cleaning material reservoir : toothbrush

Info

Publication number: GB2334881A
Application number: GB9804641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Rowley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-06
Filing date: 1998-03-06
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Also published as: GB9804641D0

Abstract

A cleaning utensil, in the form of a reservoir toothbrush, has a handle reservoir from which toothpaste is fed to head bristles 4 via valve 6. Paste is pressurised by piston 8 moved by ratchet 9 and lever 10. The handle may have a paste refilling means such as a non-return valve, or the handle reservoir may be disposable. Other cleaning utensils fed by a pressurised reservoir, such as a scrubbing brush, nail brush or broom, are envisaged. The cleaning head may comprise cloth or sponge.

Description

DISPOSABLE TOOTH BRUSH The present invention relates to cleaning utensils, in particular cleaning brushes having a supply of an appropriate cleaning fluid operatively connectable thereto.

It is usual for a cleaning utensil such as a toothbrush, a nailbrush, a scrubbing brush or the like to be used in conjunction with a separate supply of the appropriate cleaning fluid. Therefore it is necessary to purchase, transport and store the utensil and the cleaning fluid. This can be undesirable where space is limited, for example when travelling.

Furthermore, cleaning utensils are often kept in use for a longer period of time than is hygienic, as a new supply of cleaning fluid can be readily bought for further use with the original utensil.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning utensil having its own integral supply of appropriate cleaning material sufficient to last for a given period of time.

Accordingly the present invention provides a cleaning utensil having a cleaning head, a means for containing a supply of cleaning material and to be operatively connectable to the cleaning head, means to dispense the cleaning material from the containing means to the cleaning head and means for holding the cleaning material under pressure in the containing means.

The cleaning head may comprise a cloth or a sponge, e.g. a mop or dish cloth, but preferably the cleaning head comprises bristles, for example the head of a toothbrush, scrubbing brush, nail brush or broom.

The containing means for the cleaning material preferably forms a handle to which the cleaning head is secured. The containing means must have at least one hollow portion to contain the cleaning material.

The containing means and the cleaning head may be integral with each other. Alternatively, they may be separate parts secured together by a screw fit, push-fit or other suitable means.

Where the cleaning head is separate from the containing means it may be possible to secure replacement or alternative cleaning heads to the containing means.

A hollow channel must be provided between the containing means and the cleaning head along which the cleaning material can pass when dispensed from the containing means to the cleaning head.

In a first embodiment the containing means may be provided substantially full of cleaning material and may be adapted to be disposed of after use. This embodiment is particularly useful when travelling: the utensil can be used for a given period of time and then discarded.

In a second embodiment the containing means may be provided substantially full of cleaning material (or alternatively it may be provided empty) and may be adapted to be refilled when the cleaning material has been used.

The containing means may be provided with a closable aperture through which cleaning material can be passed to fill or refill the containing means. The aperture may be closed by a screw or push-fit plug or alternatively the closable aperture may comprise a one-way valve.

The means for holding the cleaning material under pressure in the containing means may be manual, for example by means of a pump action or controlled pressure device allowing pressure to be exerted on the cleaning fluid in the containing means. Alternatively, it may be mechanical.

The means to dispense the cleaning material from the containing means onto the cleaning head is preferably a second closable aperture through which the cleaning material passes when the aperture is opened by reason of the pressure inside the containing means.

The second closable aperture may be closed by means of a sliding cover, which may be operated by means of an operatively-connected lever. The cover is preferably positioned outside the cleaning portion of the head to avoid having to leave part of the cleaning head out of use owing to the space required by the sliding cover.

Alternatively the closable aperture may be closed by any other suitable means.

A metering valve may be provided to allow a predetermined amount of cleaning material to pass from the containing means to the cleaning head.

The containing means may have the capacity to hold a given amount of cleaning material which will last in normal use for a predetermined period of time (for example two weeks) after which time the utensil can be disposed of or refilled.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a part longitudinal section of a utensil according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure ib is a plan view of the utensil shown in Figure la; Figure 2a is a part longitudinal section of a utensil according to the second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2b is a plan view of the utensil shown in Figure 2a.

Figures la and 1b show a toothbrush 1 according to the present invention with a handle 2 having a hollow portion 3 in which toothpaste can be contained. The cleaning head 4 comprises bristles and is integrally moulded with the handle 2.

The handle 2 and portion of the cleaning head 4 holding the bristles are manufactured from a plastics material.

An aperture 5 is provided in the portion of the cleaning head 4 holding the bristles through which toothpaste can pass from the hollow handle 2 onto the bristles.

A slidable tongue 6 is provided to close the aperture 5 having a portion 6a protruding from the cleaning head 4 to form a push button.

The tongue 6 is provided with an aperture 7 which is of a similar size to the aperture 5 and lines up with the aperture 5 when the protruding area 6a of tab 6 is pressed towards the cleaning head 4, thus permitting the passage of toothpaste from the handle 2 on to the bristles.

Inside the handle 2 is provided a piston 8 secured to a ratchet 9 operatively associated with a lever 10, to exert pressure on the toothpaste in the handle 2. The piston 8 is made of a flexible plastics material.

In use the toothpaste is maintained under pressure by means of piston 8 and ratchet 9 such that pushing the protruding portion 6a of the tongue 6 towards the cleaning head 4 brings the aperture 7 of the tongue 6 into line with the aperture 5 in the cleaning head 4 and toothpaste passes out of aperture 5 onto the bristles of the cleaning head. The protrusion 6a of tongue 6 is then pulled away from the cleaning head 4 to cover aperture 5 and stop the flow of toothpaste.

Figures 2a and 2b show a toothbrush according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Like numbers denote like parts in figures la, lb, 2a and 2b and accordingly the toothbrush of the second embodiment has a one way refill valve 11 into which the nozzle of a toothpaste tube can be inserted and the hollow portion 3 can be refilled.

As a result of the option to refill the toothbrush the cleaning head 4 can also be removed and replaced so that it is not used for a period of time that leads to the bristles becoming unhygienic. The cleaning head 4 is secured to the handle 2 by means of an internal screw thread provided on the cleaning head 4 and a corresponding external screw thread provided on the handle 2.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cleaning utensil comprising a cleaning head, means (operatively connectable to the cleaning head) to contain a supply of cleaning material, means to dispense the cleaning material to the cleaning head and means to hold the cleaning material under pressure in the containing means.
2. A utensil according to Claim 1, in which the cleaning head comprises a cloth or a sponge.
3. A utensil according to Claim 1, in which the cleaning head comprises bristles.
4. A utensil according to Claim 3, in which the cleaning head comprises the head of a toothbrush.
5. A utensil according to Claim 3, in which the cleaning head comprises the head of a scrubbing brush, a nail brush or a broom.
6. A utensil according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the means to contain the cleaning material forms a handle to which the cleaning head is adapted to be secured.
7. A utensil according to Claim 6, in which the containing means and the cleaning head are integrally secured to each other.
8. A utensil according to Claim 6, in which the containing means and the cleaning head are detachably secured to each other.
9. A utensil according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the containing means is provided substantially full of cleaning material and is adapted to be disposed of after use.
10. A utensil according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the containing means is adapted to be filled and/or refilled with the cleaning material.
11. A utensil according to Claim 10, in which the containing means includes a closable aperture for use when filling and/or refilling with the cleaning material.
12. A utensil according to Claim 11, in which the closable aperture is closed by means of a screw-fit or push-fit plug.
13. A utensil according to Claim 11, in which the closable aperture comprises a one-way valve.
14. A utensil according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, in which the means to hold the cleaning material under pressure in the containing means comprises a pump-action or controlled-pressure device.
15. A utensil according to any of Claims 1 to 14, in which the means to dispense the cleaning material to the cleaning head comprises a second closable aperture.
16. A utensil according to Claim 15, in which the second closable aperture is closed by means of a sliding cover.
17. A utensil according to Claim 16, in which the sliding cover is adapted to be operated by means of a lever.
18. A utensil according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, in which a metering valve is provided to allow a predetermined amount of cleaning material to pass from the containing means to the cleaning head.
19. A utensil according to Claim 1, 3 or 4 and to any one of Claims 5 to 18 when dependent upon Claim 1, 3 or 4, which is a toothbrush.
20. A cleaning utensil, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.