IE74128B1

IE74128B1 - Brushing device particularly for teeth for single use disposable after use

Info

Publication number: IE74128B1
Application number: IE46290A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Jacques Saury
Original assignee: Jacques Saury
Priority date: 1989-02-09
Filing date: 1990-02-09
Publication date: 1997-07-02
Also published as: EP0419587A1; IE900462A1; DE69021971T2; IE900462L; CA2026988A1; PT90287A; GR1001113B; CN1053885A; YU26290A; DE69021971D1; AU4837890A; FR2642626A1; PT90287B; JPH03505054A; CA2026988C; IS3542A7; DD291920A5; ES2078334T3; ATE126980T1; WO1990009122A1

Abstract

A single-use, throw-away brushing device, in particular for teeth. The single-use, throw-away brush comprises a flexible holder for toothpaste or other treating product (1) constituted by a gripping handle having a non-flexible paste-dispensing cannula (4) extending therefrom, provided with an inner longitudinal opening (8) connected, on the one hand, to the holder (1) and, on the other hand, to a nozzle (5) fixed on the end by means of which the toothpaste is dispensed onto a silk bristle brush head (2) located on the cannula and covering its nozzle, said head being provided with a hole (6) coming into contact with the nozzle. The device is essentially characterized in that: the cannula according to the end facing the holder comprises a rigid disk-shaped collar whose diameter is larger than that of the cannula; the holder is composed of a tubular flexible sheath, fixed by one of its ends to the collar; the length of said holder, whose capacity is limited to a single dose, is such that it can be pressed completely between the user's thumb and index finger. By using his thumb and index finger, the user causes the front part of the flexible sheath constituting the holder to be brought against the inner surface of the collar (7), such that the cannula is blocked axially in relation to the holder; and the brush head is fixed to the end of the cannula and is set aside from the collar (7) and hence from the holder at an interval sufficient so that it may be inserted between the jaw extremities without the holder being placed in the user's mouth.

Description

The subject-matter of the present invention is a brushing device, particularly for teeth, with a reservoir for toothpaste or some other product.

Such a toothbrush, constituting the closest state of the art, is already known, particularly from US patent 2.766.472; it comprises a brushing head mounted on a 5 distributor tube fastened to the threaded joining piece of a reservoir of toothpaste constituting a gripping handle, this store having a capacity suitable for receiving several doses of toothpaste and being constituted by a tube of commercially available toothpaste. The distributor tube is provided with an internal channel communicating on the one hand with a nozzle which it comprises at the end and on io the other hand with the store of toothpaste. The nozzle on the tube is in relationship with an orifice made in the brushing head which opens out in the area of the bristles of the head. The toothpaste reservoir is made of a flexible material, deformable on pressure. By compressing the reservoir the user expels a certain amount of toothpaste from the reservoir to the bristles of the brush.

Because of the fact that the reservoir is made of flexible material and constitutes a gripping handle, the brushing head cannot remain constantly in the axis of the reservoir when the teeth are brushed. In other words, the brushing movement transmitted by the user to the reservoir is largely absorbed by the deformation of this reservoir and hence cannot be communicated correctly to the brushing head. This results in poor brushing of the teeth.

Furthermore, because of the fact that the reservoir is deformed during brushing and the user must keep it constantly squeezed, several measures of toothpaste come to be expelled from this reservoir during any one brushing session.

Moreover, after the brush has been used several times, there forms inside the tube, because of the hardening and drying of the toothpaste, a plug that is difficult or even impossible to extract, consequently preventing expulsion of the toothpaste contained in the reservoir to the bristles of the brush. 741 28 The tubes of this type of brush are short and are completely covered by the brushing head. Because of this configuration, the reservoir is in the immediate proximity of the brushing head and comes to penetrate inside the user’s mouth and risks injuring the gums and/or the internal surfaces of the cheeks, as well as the tooth enamel.

This risk is increased by the fact that the brushing head and the reservoir cannot remain constantly aligned.

Furthermore, since the reservoir has a sizeable cross section, there is a limit to how far it can penetrate inside the user’s mouth. Thus it is not easy to reach the anterior regions of the jaws with the brushing head.

Because of these disadvantages, such toothbrushes have not been as commercially successful as hoped.

For reasons of hygiene, the person skilled in the art has found it useful to produce single-use toothbrushes disposable after use, each having a store of toothpaste arranged so as to contain only one measure of toothpaste.

For the marketing of such toothbrushes to be effective, their selling price must be attractive and therefore their manufacturing cost must be as low as possible.

The toothbrush of the type comprising a tube attached by screwing to the joining piece of a tube of toothpaste constituting a reservoir and gripping handle and a brushing head mounted on the distributor tube also has the disadvantage of being expensive. This disadvantage, added to those mentioned above, has led the person skilled in the art to seek other solutions for producing single-use toothbrushes. For this reason, toothbrushes have been proposed in the past with a rigid gripping handle, the brushing head of which, connected to this handle, comprises upstream of the bristles a cavity into which a dose of toothpaste is introduced. This cavity communicates with the region of the bristles of the brush via an orifice made in the thickness of the head and is covered by a flexible wall capable of being deformed by pressure inside the cavity, in order to expel the toothpaste towards the bristles of the brush.

It is preferable for the heads of toothbrushes to be as small as possible. The formation of a cavity in the brush in order to receive a dose of toothpaste necessarily leads to an increase in the size of the brushing head. Moreover, such brushes require the use of specific means for their production.

Furthermore, in this type of brush, no means are provided for closing off the toothpaste orifice, which means that the toothpaste hardens on contact with the air contained in the sealed packaging of the brush.

It may be seen therefore that the single-use toothbrushes, disposable after use, implemented previously still have a number of disadvantages.

The applicant has observed that the cost of manufacturing toothbrushes of the type comprising a toothpaste reservoir constituting a gripping handle can be reduced significantly.

The applicant has also observed that the problem of keeping the brushing head and the distributor tube in the axis of the reservoir while the teeth are being brushed is largely resolved if use is made of a reservoir that is not very long or has a small capacity.

The subject-matter of the present invention is therefore a brushing device, particularly for teeth, comprising a flexible reservoir for toothpaste or some other product constituting a gripping handle extended by a rigid tube for distributing paste, provided with a longitudinal inner orifice, in relationship on the one hand with the reservoir and on the other hand with a nozzle made at the end, through which the toothpaste is distributed to a brushing head provided with bristles, said head being mounted on the tube so as to cover its nozzle and being provided with a hole coming into relationship with the nozzle.

In accordance with the invention, such a brushing device is characterised essentially in that the device is of the single-use type, disposable after use, and in that the tube, at its end facing the reservoir, comprises a rigid disk-shaped flange 7, the diameter of the flange being greater than the diameter of the tube, the reservoir is constituted by a flexible tubular sheath, fixed by one of its ends to the flange, 5 - the reservoir, having a capacity limited to a single measure, is of a length such that it can be squeezed fully between the thumb and index finger of the hand of the user such that the user, with his thumb and index finger, brings the front portion of the flexible sheath constituting the reservoir against the inner face of the flange so as to ensure that the tube is locked axially against the io reservoir, the tube is greater in length than the reservoir, and the brushing head is mounted on the end portion of the tube and is far enough away from the flange and therefore from the reservoir to be able to be inserted as far as the extremities of the jaws without the reservoir penetrating inside the mouth of the user.

It may be seen therefore that, because of these characteristics, the brushing movement given by the user to the toothpaste reservoir will be absorbed very little by the deformation of the latter. Furthermore, because of the length of the tube and the distance between the brushing head and the flange of the tube, the reservoir will not penetrate into the user’s mouth.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent on reading the description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-exhaustive example and referring to the attached drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is a front view of a toothbrush according to the invention, - Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a toothbrush according to the invention, Figs. 3 and 4 are views in cross section through the brushing head of a first embodiment of the toothbrush, - Fig. 5 is a view in partial longitudinal section of a toothbrush, - Fig. 6 is a view in section of a cap for protecting the bristles of the head.

As shown, the single-use brushing device, particularly for teeth, disposable after use, comprises a flexible reservoir 1 for toothpaste, constituting a gripping handle extended axially by a rigid tube 4 for distributing toothpaste, provided with a longitudinal inner orifice 8 in relationship on the one hand with the reservoir 1 and on the other hand with a nozzle 5 made radially at the end of said tube which is covered by a brushing head 2 mounted on the tube 4 and provided with a hole 6 opening into the region of the bristles 3 of the head 2 and coming into relationship with the nozzle 5 of the tube 4 so that, when the reservoir is squeezed, the dose of toothpaste it contains is expelled towards the bristles of the brush.

According to the preferred embodiment, the elements constituting the toothbrush are made of a synthetic material of any suitable type.

The tube 4, at its end facing the reservoir, comprises a rigid disk-shaped flange 7. This disk-shaped flange extends so as to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

The diameter of the flange 7 is greater than that of the nozzle. By way of example given purely for information, the diameter of the flange is equal or close to two centimetres, while the outer diameter of the tube is equal or close to 0.6 centimetres.

The tube 4 has a ring-shaped cross section.

The reservoir is constituted by a flexible tubular - for example, cylindrical - sheath, fixed in an impermeable manner by one of its ends to the flange 7 by any appropriate means and technique. After being filled with toothpaste the other end of the tube will be closed off by bringing together its lips and welding them.

The capacity of the reservoir is such that said reservoir contains only a single measure of toothpaste. By way of example, the capacity of the reservoir is comprised between two and four cm3.

Moreover, the length of this reservoir is such that it can be squeezed fully between the thumb and index finger of the user’s hand such that the user, with his thumb and index finger, brings the front portion of the flexible sheath constituting the reservoir against the inner face of the flange 7, this inner face being the one that, together with the inner face of the sheath, delimits the volume of the reservoir. In this way the user’s thumb and index finger, via the sheath, press against the flange 7. Since the latter is intimately fixed to the tube 4 or is integral with the said tube, the tube is held axially in relation to the reservoir and in relation to the user’s hand. Thus the brushing movement imparted by the user on the toothbrush is absorbed very little io or not at all by the deformation of the reservoir.

In order to reinforce this result a rigid tab 13 of an appropriate shape can be fastened to the flange 7, said rigid tab extending within the reservoir parallel to the axis of said reservoir, against which tab the user will bring the sheath constituting the reservoir by pressing with his fingers. This tab can be integral with the flange 7 and can be fastened by one of its ends to the edge forming the perimeter of said flange 7.

This tab 13 may with advantage be curved over an arc of circumference with a radius increasing from the zone where it is attached to the flange as far as its distal extremity so as to follow the geometry of the reservoir 1.

The tube 4 is longer than the reservoir 1 and the brushing head 2 is mounted over the end portion of the tube, that is, the end located away from the flange 7.

The head 2 is far enough away from the flange 7 and the reservoir 1 to be able to be inserted as far as the extremities of the jaws without the reservoir penetrating inside the mouth of the user and constituting a nuisance.

The value of this distance is at least equal or close to one and a half times the length of the head.

The end portion of the tube occupies substantially one third of the length of said tube. Purely for the purposes of information, the value of this distance is at least equal to three centimetres and the length of the tube is at least equal to four centimetres. Again, purely for the purposes of information, the length of the head 5 will not be greater than two centimetres.

The brushing head 2 has along its longitudinal axis a closed-off internal cavity 10 into which the end portion of the tube 4 is inserted, said end portion and said cavity being complementary in shape.

According to the preferred embodiment, the end portion of the tube is formed by a io narrowing of said tube which allows the section of the cavity 10 and hence the thickness of the brushing head 2 to be reduced.

Still according to the preferred embodiment, the end of the tube is blocked, the nozzle 5 of the latter being contrived radially in the vicinity of said end.

According to a preferred embodiment, the head comprises an outer flat surface 9 in which the bristles 3 are lodged.

The hole 6 comprised in the head is contrived radially starting from the flat surface and opens out into the inner cavity 10.

The portion of the head opposite this flat surface can be ergonomically shaped to allow improved penetration into the mouth.

To improve the distribution of the toothpaste in the region of the bristles, several radial holes 6 can be provided, starting from the flat surface and opening into the inner cavity, these radial holes all communicating with the nozzle 5 of the tube.

According to a first embodiment, the brushing head is mounted on the tube with the possibility of displacement relative to the tube between an initial position in which the nozzle of the tube is blocked and a final position in which the hole 6 which it comprises, which opens out into the region of the bristles at one of its ends is, at its other end, in communication with the nozzle 5 of the tube 4 in order to allow the distribution of a measure of toothpaste into the bristles of the brush, which distribution is operated by squeezing the reservoir.

It may be seen therefore that, when the head is arranged in its initial position, the nozzle is closed off and the product contained in the reservoir and the tube cannot dry out.

According to the preferred embodiment, the cavity of the head and the nozzle are cylindrical in shape and the brushing head is mounted on the tube with the possibility of displacement in rotation. Thus the hole in the head and the nozzle of the tube will move apart or towards one another by an angular movement of the head. In the initial position, the nozzle 5 will be closed off by the surface of the inner cavity 10.

According to this embodiment, the head 2 is locked in translation on the tube. According to a first embodiment, the locking in translation of the head on the tube is effected by adhesion. For this purpose, the head in the inner cavity may be provided with at least one projecting rib, this rib pressing against the cylindrical face of the end portion of the tube.

According to a first variant, this rib extends inside the cavity 10 in the shape of a helix. According to another variant, the cavity has several ribs distributed regularly, each rib extending over the contour of a circle. It should be noted that, because of this rib or ribs which press on the tube, no untimely pivoting of the head is to be feared. Thus, until the user has brought the head into its final position, it will remain in its initial position.

According to a second embodiment, the locking in translation of the head on the tube is effected by an obstacle. To this end, a lug projecting from the surface of the tube is provided, as is a groove made in the cavity of the head into which groove the lug will engage.

An O-ring seal is preferably arranged between the head and the tube and behind the nozzie. By way of example, this seal can be mounted in a groove made in the tube.

According to another embodiment, this seal is advantageously constituted by one of the circular ribs.

According to the preferred embodiment, the head and the tube can be provided with means for marking their position relative to one another. By way of example, these marking means may be constituted by two indicators 11 and 12 contrived respectively on the head and the tube, these two indicators facing one another for example when the head is arranged in the position of use of the brush, that is, in the final position.

In order to hold the brushing head 2 relative to the tube in either its initial position or its final position, locking elements are provided which are constituted by a resilient element attached so as to project from the outer surface of the tube and by two orifices made in the cavity of the head. The resilient element penetrates into one of these orifices when the head is arranged in its initial position and into the other orifice when the head is disposed in its final position.

A description has been given previously of a toothbrush having the head mounted on the tube with the possibility of displacement relative to the latter.

According to another embodiment, the brushing head is intimately fixed to the tube and cannot be displaced in relation to the latter, both in translation and in rotation, or else it is moulded at the end of the tube.

A toothbrush according to the embodiments previously described is advantageously provided with a protective cap 14 covering the bristles of the brushing head and being clipped to the body of said head.

This cap is advantageously provided with an inner stud 15 which, when the cap is positioned on the head, blocks the hole 6 of the brushing head, in order to prevent the drying out of the product in the reservoir and the tube and in order to guarantee the authenticity of the first and single use of the brushing device.

Where the brushing head is fixed rigidly to the tube, the stud 15 can block the nozzle 5 of the tube.

Such an arrangement can also be applied to a brushing head mounted so as to rotate on the tube.

Once again, where the brushing head is fixed rigidly on the tube or mounted so as io to rotate on the tube, a membrane can be provided to block either the hole in the head or the nozzle, and again to prevent the product from drying out prior to use of the brushing device. This membrane can be perforated by the stud of the cap when the latter is pushed down towards the brushing head.

The brushing device, particularly for teeth, as described can be constituted by the 15 elements of a toothpaste tube, comprising a distributor tube with a flange, and the brushing head can be the stopper for closing off this toothpaste tube. The great advantage of such a configuration, which considerably limits the manufacturing cost of such a brush, is immediately apparent.

It should be noted that, by associating the closing off of the tube which ensures the 20 physiological characteristics of the toothpaste contained, the single use of the brushing device, because of the presence of a single dose of toothpaste and the disposable - and hence not transmittible - appearance of the brush after use, is a guarantee of maximum hygiene, which will be reinforced by appropriate sealed packaging.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be adjusted and varied in any way without thereby leaving the scope of the present patent

Claims

1. A brushing device, particularly for teeth, comprising a flexible reservoir (1) for toothpaste or some other product constituting a gripping handle extended by a rigid tube (4) for distributing paste, provided with a longitudinal inner orifice 5 (8), in relationship on the one hand with the reservoir (1) and on the other hand with a nozzle (5) made at the end, through which the toothpaste is distributed to a brushing head (2) provided with bristles (3), said head being mounted on the tube so as to cover its nozzle and being provided with a hole (6) coming into relationship with the nozzle, characterised in that the device is of the io single-use type, disposable after use, and in that: - the tube, at its end facing the reservoir, comprises a rigid disk-shaped flange (7), the diameter of the flange being greater than the diameter of the tube, - the reservoir is constituted by a flexible tubular sheath, fixed by one of its l5 ends to the flange, - the reservoir, having a capacity limited to a single measure, is of a length such that it can be pressed fully between the thumb and index finger of the hand of the user such that the user, with his thumb and index finger, brings the front portion of the flexible sheath constituting the reservoir against the 20 inner face of the flange (7) so as to ensure that the tube is locked axially against the reservoir, - the tube is greater in length than the reservoir, - and the brushing head is mounted on the end portion of the tube and is far enough away from the flange (7) and therefore from the reservoir to be able 25 to be inserted as far as the extremities of the jaws without the reservoir penetrating inside the mouth of the user.

2. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the length of the tube (4) is greater than that of the reservoir (1) that the value of the distance between the head (2) and the flange (7) is equal to at least one and a half times the length of the head and that the end portion of the tube occupies substantially one third of the length of the latter.

3. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised by a rigid lab (13) fixed to the flange (7) extending inside the reservoir parallel to the axis of said reservoir.

4. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the head (2) is 5 mounted on the tube (4) with the possibility of displacement relative to the latter between an initial position in which the nozzle of the tube is blocked and a final position in which the hole (6) which it comprises, which opens out into the region of the bristles (3) at one of its ends is, at its other end, in communication with the nozzle (5) of the tube (4) to allow the distribution of a 10 measure of toothpaste into the bristles of the brush, which distribution is operated by pressing the reservoir.

5. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the nozzle (5) is made in the end portion of the tube (4) in a radial manner relative to said tube.

6. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the head (2) 15 covers the whole end portion of the tube and has along its longitudinal axis an obstructed cavity (10) into which the end portion of the tube is inserted.

7. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the head (2) comprises a flat surface (9) in which the bristles (3) are lodged.

8. A brushing device according to Claims 1,6 and 7 characterised in that the hole 20 (6) comprised in the head (2) is contrived starting from the flat surface (9) and opens out into the inner cavity (10).

9. A brushing device according to Claim 4 characterised in that the head (2) is mounted on the tube (4) with the possibility of displacement in rotation, in the initial position of the head, the surface of the inner cavity (10) coming to block 25 the nozzle (5).

10. A brushing device according to Claims 4 or 9, characterised in that the head is locked in translation on the tube.

11. A brushing device according to Claim 10 characterised in that the locking in translation is effected by adhesion. 5

12. A brushing device according to Claim 11 characterised in that the locking in translation is effected by at least one projecting rib inside the inner cavity, this rib pressing against the cylindrical face of the end portion of the tube.

13. A brushing device according to Claim 10 characterised in that the locking in translation is effected by an obstacle. 10

14. A brushing device according to Claim 4 characterised in that the head (2) and the tube (4) are provided with means for marking their position relative to one another.

15. A brushing device according to Claim 1 characterised in that the brushing head (2) is fixed in translation and in rotation on the tube (4). 15

16. A brushing device according to one of Claims 1,4 and 15 characterised in that it is provided with a protective cap (14) covering the bristles (3) of the brushing head (2) and being clipped to the body of said head.

17. A brushing device according to one of Claims 1,4 and 15 and 16 characterised in that the cap (14) is provided with an inner stud (15) which, when the cap is 20 positioned on the head (2), blocks the hole of the head.

18. A brushing device according to one of Claims 1,4,15 and 16 characterised in that the hole of the head (2) and/or the nozzle (5) is blocked by a membrane capable of being perforated by the stud of the cap when the latter is pushed down towards the head.

19. A brushing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.