US1454938A - Folding toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

May l5, l 923.

G. E. W. MILLER FOLDING TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 16. 1919v Patented May l5, 1923.,

GUSTAVE E. W. MILLER, 0F BOTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

romaine @corr-innesti.

Application lecl April 16, 1919.` Serial No. 290,456.

To all 'whom t my concern:

Be it known that I, Gusfrixvn E. W. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county `of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Folding Toothbrush, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tooth brush casing, adapted to hold a tooth brush in such a manner that it can be folded inside the casing, for permitting it to be carried inthe pocket readily.

The principal objects of the invention are t0 provide a construction which will be sanitary and will occupyl very little space; to provide an improved clasp and hinge therefor, and more specifically to provide a convenient form of detachable connection by which the tooth brush may be supported on the casing while in use and firmly held in the proper position when it is folded inside' the casing. This is so arranged that it is contacted by the engaging walls of the casing and cover to firmly hold the brush in position, when in use.

The invention also involves improvements in other details of construction including the particular construction of the casing and cover itself, the means for hinging the parts together and locking them together in closed position.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, showing the brush in one position for use;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the same;

Fig opened with the brush shown in the casing in full linesand projecting therefrom in dotted lines in position for use.l in the same location as that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same with the parts shown ina different position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line of Fig. 4, showing the means `for connecting thev casing with the cover;

Fig. 6 is a side view like part of Fig. 3, enlarged; f l

Fig. 7 is a view showing parts in section and illustrating in dotted lines how the brush c-an he detached from the pivoted link and casing, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are a plan and inside view respectively of a modication.

The invention is shown a form in with each other. 3 is a view of the casing and coverV bored out to afford a passagerfor thepin.

in this way the two parts are pivotally oonnected together along the whole of the short side.A and this ensures the closing of the parts together alwaysin they same position, bef,y cause the hinge isof such a nature that it is not likely to get out of place. 1

`The casingand cover are of a general rectangular shape but with an extension 14 at one end.k The extensions on Vthe two parts register with each other and tend to` contract at the end to form a passage 15 for the shank of the tooth brush as will appear. lt may be noticed at this point that both the casingand cover are provided with a pair of studs or projections 16 located inthe contracted end portion in alignment with each other.

Prefer-ably on the interior of the casing there is located a lbracket 20 which supports a pivoted link 21 passing through it, and having, two arms extending upwardly parallel with each other on opposite sides of this bracket. These arms are provided with separated converging ends 22 in alignment This is for" detachable connection with 'thetooth brush shank 23, which is provided at the end and on each side with a pair of opposite shallow grooves 24 for receiving the ends 22. At the ends of these grooves are two opposite depressions 25 into which the ends 22 enter when the parts are pressed fully into position. Thus the ends 22 constitute a pivot on which the shank 23y is mounted and by which it .is connected with the casing. The shank is also provided with two depressions 26 on each side for receiving the studs 16. The object of this connection is to'` cause the studs to enter the sockets and steady they, tooth brush shank in the casing when the casing is closed and the tooth brush is eX- tended as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The position of the brush vwhen the casing is to be closed is indicftd in Fig, `Bin full lilies. The brush is supported in the casing b v its pivotal connection With the link 21 and if the brush is used in the position shoivn in Fig. 1 it need not be detacher from this connection when it is to be folded in the casing, but if it is to be used in the position shown in et, which is most convenient for many people, the brush has to be removed from the pivoted link 21 and reversed in order to enclose it in the asing. T his can be done, in the manner indicated in dotted lines in T by simply pulling on the brush. rlhis releases the ends 22 from the notches or depressions 25 and allows the enns to slide along the. grooves as the shank is 'ivitlulraivn- Then it is reversed and put back in position in a. similar manner.

It is to be noticed that when the brush is folded back in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and the cover closed, the

'converging edge Walls of the casing and cover come into contact with the link 21 and hold it in position, so that the brush is held not only by the studs 16 but by these links. Therefore, it Will not wobble in the casing or come into such position that its bristles Will engage the ivalls of the casing.

lt is to be noticed that have provided a fastening device in the form of a hinged clasp 2T having side flanges 28, that come down over the box and cover when it is folded down into closed position. This is preferably inset into the box and cover byv providing depressions 29 in the course of manufacture.

1n Figs. 8 and 9 l have shown a modification in which the pivotal link projects through notches 30 in the edges of the casing` and cover, which clamp it solidly when closed.

1t is to be observed therefore that this device is firm and solid in construction, holding` the brush securely in either folded or projected position, so as to prevent any movement of the brush relative to the casing. This forms a receptacle Which is entirely closed at all points but properly ventilated and firmly held by the hinge and clasp.

Although l have illustrated and described only one form of the .invention7 li am aware of the fact that modifications can be made Atherein by any person skilled. in the art,

without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims, therefore 1 do not Wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

lilhat l do claim is:

1. ln a folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of a movable link connection pivoted therein,n and a tooth brush pivotally connected with said link connectionand readily detachable thereiroinu in a folding tooth brush. the combination with a casing, of a link pivoted therein, at a distance from the end of the casing, and a tooth brush shank pivotally mounted on said link and readily detachable therefrom.

3. .ln :folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of a link pivoted therein at a distance from the end of the tooth brush, and a tooth brush shank detachably and pivotally mounted onsaid link, said link having yielding projections in alignment extending toward each other and the toothbrush shank having oppositedeprcssions for receiving said projections.

1n a folding tooth brush, the combination ivith a casing, of a link pivoted therein having yielding projections in alignment extending toward each other, and a tooth brush shank having opposite depressions for receiving said projections,y said projections and depressions being alike on both sides so that it is reversible.

5. in a folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of va link pivoted therein having` yielding projections in alignment extending toward each other, and a tooth brush having a shank provided withy tivo opposite longitudinal grooves in its end for receivingl the projections, said grooves terminating in tivo opposite depressions s o that the shank can be pivotally and detachably connected to the link.

6. in a foldingtooth brush, the combination vcith a casing and a cover pivotally connected together, said casing and cover having a 1reduced end, of `a pivotal connection therein having separated ends in transverse alignment, and a tooth brush detachably connected with said separated ends, and having its end located in the reduced end, the Walls of which engage the separated ends of the pivotal connection to help hold them in position and prevent detachment of the brush.

7. ln a folding tooth-brush, the combination ivith a casing, of a link pivoted thereto. and a tooth-brush shank pivotally mounted on said link, said link having opposite yielding projections in alignment extending toivard each other and the tooth brush shank having-.opposite depressions for receiving said projections. i

8. 1n a folding tooth-brush, the combination with a zasing, of a link pivotally mounted therein,` and a tooth-brush shank pivotally connected with the link and detachable therefrom by pulling it in any direction directly away from the point of pivotal support of the link.

9. A folding tooth-brush casing comprising tivo right and left parts pivotally connected along one straight side and having a reduced end affording (a passage formed,

by the tvvo parts for receiving a toothbrush shank, said shank and reduced end 1,454,938 Y Y B having opposite symmetrical inter-engagswinging means permanently connected to ing projections and depressions for locating one of said parts and extending within it f and steadying the tooth-brush in said pasfrom the end for positively holding sage and means independent of said prothe shank against longitudinal withdrawal 5 jeotion and depressions for pivotally conwhen it is held `loetween the two parts of 15 neoting the'brush with the casing. the casing.

.10. In a folding tooth brush, the eomhi- In testimony whereof I have hereunto nation with a two-part `casing and brush, alixed my signature.

said two parts of the easing-having means 10 for holding the shank of the brush, of GUSTAVE E. W. MILLER.

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