GB2394653A - Reservoir toothbrush - Google Patents

Reservoir toothbrush Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2394653A
GB2394653A GB0225580A GB0225580A GB2394653A GB 2394653 A GB2394653 A GB 2394653A GB 0225580 A GB0225580 A GB 0225580A GB 0225580 A GB0225580 A GB 0225580A GB 2394653 A GB2394653 A GB 2394653A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
membrane
head portion
reservoir
dentifrice
disposable toothbrush
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0225580A
Other versions
GB0225580D0 (en
Inventor
John Ashton Sieradzki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0225580A priority Critical patent/GB2394653A/en
Publication of GB0225580D0 publication Critical patent/GB0225580D0/en
Publication of GB2394653A publication Critical patent/GB2394653A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/02—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware specially shaped for holding by the hand
    • A46B5/026—Grips or handles having a nonslip section
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
    • A46B11/0003—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water containing only one dose of substance, e.g. single-use toothbrushes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/02—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware specially shaped for holding by the hand
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
    • A46B11/001—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs
    • A46B11/002—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
    • A46B11/0072—Details
    • A46B11/0079—Arrangements for preventing undesired leakage or dispensing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/01—Disposable brush
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Landscapes

  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

A disposable reservoir toothbrush 10 comprises a body 12 including a dentifrice reservoir 22, a head portion 14, a plurality of bristles 20 connected to the head portion, and a conduit 26 connecting the reservoir to the head portion. The reservoir includes a membrane 24 operable on from an external surface of the body to urge dentifrice from the reservoir, through the conduit, towards the head portion. A valve 30 may be used to further control the flow of dentifrice to the bristles. The device may also include gripping formations 18, adapted to facilitate gripping of the toothbrush by the user.

Description

Title: Disposable Toothbrush 5 Description of Invention
This invention relates to a disposable toothbrush and particularly to a disposable toothbrush having a reservoir for dentifrice.
Disposable toothbrushes of the kind having a reservoir for dentifrice or toothpaste are known (e.g. for use particularly on business trips, holidays etc.), 10 but have used mechanical mechanisms, such as, for example, a piston, operated by a user to urge the dentifrice to the head of the toothbrush between the bristles. A problem with such toothbrushes is that they are expensive to manufacture and therefore cannot compete commercially with a combination of 15 a standard toothbrush and a tube of dentifrice. The mechanisms used can often be problematic due to clogging up of the mechanism with dentifrice and are also clumsy and difficult to operate, which can lead to wastage of dentifrice.
There are also a number of hygiene problems which can occur due to the mechanical mechanism used and the period of time over which the toothbrush 20 can be used (some of the known toothbrushes including large reservoirs, which are intended to be used over long periods, such as, for example, seven days or more). Accordingly, dental practitioners have expressed reservations concerning these hygiene problems and have been reluctant to recommend or endorse the 25 use of such toothbrushes for their patients.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved disposable toothbrush, which seeks to overcome the aforementioned problems.
According to the present invention there is provided a disposable toothbrush having a body, the body including a dentifrice reservoir, a head
portion, a plurality of bristles connected to the head portion, and a conduit connecting the reservoir to the head portion, wherein the reservoir includes at least one membrane operable on from an external surface of the body to urge dentifrice from the reservoir, through the conduit, towards the head.
5 By providing the reservoir with a membrane, which is operable on from an external surface of the body, a user can urge dentifrice through the conduit, towards the head portion by apply a pressure to the membrane by, for examples, a finger or thumb, and then sliding the finger or thumb along the membrane towards the head portion. The finger or thumb thus deforming the membrane 10 and forcing dentifrice through the conduit.
The membrane may form part of an external surface of the body.
The membrane may be operable on to deform the reservoir, thereby reducing the internal capacity of the reservoir and hence urging the dentifrice through the conduit.
15 At least part of the membrane may form a protruding part of the body. In such a way the reservoir may be provided in a variety of different sizes, thereby allowing the toothbrush to be used for only one use or a plurality of uses.
The conduit may terminate at at least one orifice on a surface of the head portion adjacent or close to the position where the bristles are connected to the 20 head portion, thereby facilitating distribution of the dentifrice between the bristles. The orifice may include a valve adapted to control flow of the dentifrice through the orifice.
The valve may include a valve membrane which has at least one slit 25 therein. The valve membrane may have two slits therein, in the form of a cross, or three slits therein, in the form of a 'Y-shaped' slit, such that when dentifrice is urged though the conduit the valve membrane deforms and permits dentifrice to flow through the orifice.
The valve may be a non-return valve, thereby allowing flow of the dentifrice in one direction only. Therefore, when the user stops urging dentifrice thought the conduit, the membrane inhibits flow of the dentifrice in the opposite direction, i.e. inhibits flow of the dentifrice through the conduit 5 towards the reservoir.
The toothbrush may also, in the case of a multiple use disposable toothbrush, include a closure, such as, for example, a cap, to cover the head portion and bristles between uses, thereby preventing or substantially reducing any hygiene problems between subsequent uses.
10 The body may include a plurality of gripping formations adapted to facilitate gripping of the toothbrush by the user.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view a disposable toothbrush in accordance with 15 the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the toothbrush of figure 1; and Figure 3 shows an exploded view of part of the toothbrush of figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a disposable toothbrush 10 in accordance with the present invention having a body 12 and, a head portion 14 20 connected to the body 12 by a neck portion 16. Provided on the upper surface of the body 12 are a plurality of gripping formations 18, which assist a user in gripping the toothbrush 10. However, the gripping formations 18 may be provided on any of the external surfaces of the body 12 or neck portion 16.
Connected to a surface of the head portion 14 are a plurality of spaced 25 bristles 20, which extend, approximately perpendicularly, away from the head portion 14.
A dentifrice reservoir 22, containing dentifrice such as, for examples, toothpaste or gel, is provided in the body 12. The reservoir 22 having a
membrane 24 at its upper surface. The membrane 24 forms a bulge on the upper surface of the body 12.
Provided within the interior of the body 12, neck portion 16 and head portion 14 is a conduit 26, which provides a channel through which the 5 dentifrice can travel during use. The conduit 26 terminates at an orifice 28 on the surface of the head portion 14, where the bristles 20 are connected to the head portion 14.
A valve membrane 30 is provided in the orifice 28 (best shown in figure 3) . The membrane 30 has two slits 32 therein, in the form of a cross.
10 During use, a user applies a pressure to a region of the membrane 24, preferably a region of the membrane 24 remote from the head portion 14, by either his/her thumb or one or more fingers. The user then slides hisser thumb or one or more fingers along the membrane 24, whilst applying the pressure, towards the head portion 14. Due to the applied pressure and movement of 15 his/her thumb or one or more fingers, the membrane 24 forces the dentifrice contained within the reservoir 22 into and through the conduit 26 towards the membrane 30 in the orifice 28.
When the dentifrice reaches the valve membrane 30, the pressure of the dentifrice forces the valve membrane 30 to deform, due to the slits 32 therein.
20 Thus the dentifrice flows though the valve membrane 30 and into the space between the bristles 20.
According to how much dentifrice the user wishes to use, the user may continue to slide his/her thumb or one or more fingers towards the head portion 14 until the desired quantity of dentifrice protrudes through the valve 25 membrane 30 into the space between the bristles 20. Once the desired quantity of dentifrice has protruded from the orifice 28, the user ceases to apply the pressure to the membrane 24. The user can then use the toothbrush 10, in the conventional way, to clean his/her teeth.
The valve membrane 30 inhibits flow of the dentifrice back through the conduit 26, towards the reservoir 22, thereby reducing or eliminating any hygiene problems.
If the toothbrush 10 is intended for multiple use, the user may need to 5 apply a pressure of a higher magnitude to the membrane 24 and/or slide his/her thumb or one or more fingers further along the membrane 24 on the second and subsequent uses of the toothbrush 10, compared to the first use, in order to ensure the desired quantity of dentifrice in urged though the conduit 26 and into the space between the bristles 20.
10 Although not shown in the drawings, a closure, in the form of, for example, a cap, may be provided to cover the head portion 14 and the bristles 20 thus sealing the head portion 14 and the bristles 20 from the atmosphere, thereby reducing or eliminating the aforementioned hygiene problems. Two or more membranes 24 may be provided at opposite surfaces of the body 12, 15 thereby allowing the user to deform both membranes 24 together with, for example, the finger and thumb. Also, two or more orifices 28 together with respective valve membranes 30 may be provided on the surface of the head portion 14 to enhance distribution of the dentifrice between the bristles 20.
In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of"
20 and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following
claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any 25 combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (1)

1. A disposable toothbrush having a body, the body including a dentifrice reservoir, a head portion, a plurality of bristles connected to the head portion, 5 and a conduit connecting the reservoir to the head portion, wherein the reservoir includes at least one membrane operable on from an external surface of the body to urge dentifrice from the reservoir, through the conduit, towards the head.
10 2. A disposable toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the membrane forms part of an external surface of the body.
3. A disposable toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the membrane is operable on to deform the reservoir 4. A disposable toothbrush according to any preceding claim wherein at least part of the membrane forms a protruding part of the body 5. A disposable toothbrush according to any preceding claim wherein the 20 conduit terminates at at least one orifice on a surface of the head portion adjacent or close to the position where the bristles are connected to the head portion 6. A disposable toothbrush according to any preceding claim the orifice 25 includes a valve adapted to control flow of the dentifrice through the orifice.
7. A disposable toothbrush according to claim 6 wherein the valve includes a valve membrane having at least one slit therein.
8. A disposable toothbrush according to claim 7 wherein the valve membrane has two slits therein in the form of a cross.
9. A disposable toothbrush according to claim 7 wherein the valve 5 membrane has three slits therein in the forming a 'Y-shape'.
l O. A disposable toothbrush according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the valve is a non-return valve 10 11. A disposable toothbrush according to any preceding claim wherein the toothbrush includes a closure to cover the head portion and bristles.
12. A disposable toothbrush according to any preceding claim wherein the body includes a plurality of gripping formations adapted to facilitate gripping of 15 the toothbrush by the user 13. A disposable toothbrush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
20 14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.
GB0225580A 2002-11-02 2002-11-02 Reservoir toothbrush Withdrawn GB2394653A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0225580A GB2394653A (en) 2002-11-02 2002-11-02 Reservoir toothbrush

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0225580A GB2394653A (en) 2002-11-02 2002-11-02 Reservoir toothbrush

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0225580D0 GB0225580D0 (en) 2002-12-11
GB2394653A true GB2394653A (en) 2004-05-05

Family

ID=9947092

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0225580A Withdrawn GB2394653A (en) 2002-11-02 2002-11-02 Reservoir toothbrush

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2394653A (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005110149A3 (en) * 2004-05-11 2006-01-12 Colgate Palmolive Co Oral care toothbrush
US7182542B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2007-02-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Disposable toothbrush
EP1836922A1 (en) 2006-03-22 2007-09-26 Jon Sakowsky Toothbrush
WO2008091935A2 (en) * 2007-01-24 2008-07-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US7478959B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2009-01-20 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US8240937B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2012-08-14 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement with bead retention
US8282298B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2012-10-09 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8398326B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2013-03-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid dispensing oral care implement
US8459892B2 (en) 2008-06-25 2013-06-11 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8506196B2 (en) 2010-02-26 2013-08-13 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid delivery system for an oral care implement
US8734042B2 (en) 2010-03-31 2014-05-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement with rapid flavor release
US9033602B2 (en) 2011-03-28 2015-05-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Toothbrush having oral care fluid delivery
US9402700B2 (en) 2011-03-09 2016-08-02 Colgate-Palmolive Company Interdental cleaning device
US9554641B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2017-01-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2457087A1 (en) * 1979-05-21 1980-12-19 Lambertin Bernard Tooth-brush with dentifrice in hollow handle - has paste expelled on to bristles by pressure on membrane in top or handle
FR2651102A1 (en) * 1989-08-29 1991-03-01 Fizaine Gabriel Disposable toothbrush
US5599126A (en) * 1994-02-25 1997-02-04 Hough; Cheryl Disposable toothbrush
US5865195A (en) * 1997-07-03 1999-02-02 Carter; Theresa Oral hygiene system
DE10035214A1 (en) * 2000-07-20 2002-02-28 Schmidt Corinna Combined toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser with special compressible material used for both parts to permit one-handed use
DE10052512A1 (en) * 2000-10-23 2002-04-25 Ertugrul Cebeci Toothbrush includes hollow handle acting as toothpaste dispenser operated by depression of pressure membrane
WO2002058508A2 (en) * 2001-01-26 2002-08-01 Vanni Calligaro Improved toothbrush

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2457087A1 (en) * 1979-05-21 1980-12-19 Lambertin Bernard Tooth-brush with dentifrice in hollow handle - has paste expelled on to bristles by pressure on membrane in top or handle
FR2651102A1 (en) * 1989-08-29 1991-03-01 Fizaine Gabriel Disposable toothbrush
US5599126A (en) * 1994-02-25 1997-02-04 Hough; Cheryl Disposable toothbrush
US5865195A (en) * 1997-07-03 1999-02-02 Carter; Theresa Oral hygiene system
DE10035214A1 (en) * 2000-07-20 2002-02-28 Schmidt Corinna Combined toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser with special compressible material used for both parts to permit one-handed use
DE10052512A1 (en) * 2000-10-23 2002-04-25 Ertugrul Cebeci Toothbrush includes hollow handle acting as toothpaste dispenser operated by depression of pressure membrane
WO2002058508A2 (en) * 2001-01-26 2002-08-01 Vanni Calligaro Improved toothbrush

Cited By (36)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8764332B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2014-07-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US7331731B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2008-02-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US10016053B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2018-07-10 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US9265337B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2016-02-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US7182542B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2007-02-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Disposable toothbrush
US7478959B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2009-01-20 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US8449211B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2013-05-28 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US7722274B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2010-05-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
US8240937B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2012-08-14 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement with bead retention
AU2005244084B2 (en) * 2004-05-11 2011-08-11 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care toothbrush
WO2005110149A3 (en) * 2004-05-11 2006-01-12 Colgate Palmolive Co Oral care toothbrush
EP1836922A1 (en) 2006-03-22 2007-09-26 Jon Sakowsky Toothbrush
US9167886B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2015-10-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US11160360B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2021-11-02 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
WO2008091935A3 (en) * 2007-01-24 2009-02-05 Colgate Palmolive Co Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US10092086B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2018-10-09 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US8517728B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2013-08-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
WO2008091935A2 (en) * 2007-01-24 2008-07-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US8920168B2 (en) 2007-01-24 2014-12-30 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement having fluid delivery system
US8459892B2 (en) 2008-06-25 2013-06-11 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US9131767B2 (en) 2008-06-25 2015-09-15 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8282298B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2012-10-09 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US9149110B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2015-10-06 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8628264B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2014-01-14 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8506196B2 (en) 2010-02-26 2013-08-13 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid delivery system for an oral care implement
US8398326B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2013-03-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid dispensing oral care implement
US10912378B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2021-02-09 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid delivery apparatus
US9237798B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2016-01-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid dispensing oral care implement
US9648943B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2017-05-16 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid dispensing oral care implement
US10238203B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2019-03-26 Colgate-Palmolive Company Fluid delivery apparatus
US8734042B2 (en) 2010-03-31 2014-05-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement with rapid flavor release
US9402700B2 (en) 2011-03-09 2016-08-02 Colgate-Palmolive Company Interdental cleaning device
US9033602B2 (en) 2011-03-28 2015-05-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Toothbrush having oral care fluid delivery
US9603444B2 (en) 2011-03-28 2017-03-28 Colgate-Palmolive Company Toothbrush having oral care fluid delivery
US10639136B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2020-05-05 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US9554641B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2017-01-31 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0225580D0 (en) 2002-12-11

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