US2253514A

US2253514A - Fountain toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US2253514A
Application number: US340180A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas W Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-06-12
Filing date: 1940-06-12
Publication date: 1941-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-26

Description

Aug- 26, 1941 v lT. w. FISHER 2,253,514

FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 12, 1940 wrmssj A ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,253,514 f'Y FOUNTAIN '.roo'rHBRUsH Thomas W. Fisher, Columbus Grove, Ohio Appli/cation .rune 12, 1940, serial Nn. 340,180

s ciaims. (o1. 132-84) This invention relates to fountain toothbrushes, and its general object is to provide a toothbrush with means carried thereby for not only dispensing and spreading dentifrice on the bristles thereof, in measured quantities, but also for completely housing the bristles, when the brush is not in use, so that to retain the same free from dirt, dust and foreign matter, and consequently' in a clean and sanitary condition.

A further object is to provide a toothbrush with dentifrice dispensing and bristle housing means that is slidably mounted on the handle and head of the brush for disposal into and out of use, and said means can be operated accordingly as well as into and out of dispensing position in an easy and expeditious manner Another object is to provide a toothbrush with dentifrice dispensing means that can be readily filled and is capable of dispensing either powder or liquid throughout the entire tooth engaging surface of the bristles. y

A still further object is tov provide a fountain toothbrush of the character set forth, that is simple inA construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely efficient in operation, use and service. f f

This invention-also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein` like lcharacters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several Views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side View partly in section of the toothbrush, with the dispensing and bristle housing means in position for use and with the dispensing means in normal position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through the dispensing and housing means with the dispensing means in `operative position for applyingdentifrices to the Y bristles. Y

Figure Sis a fragmentary side View partly in section, with the dispensing and housing means moved out of enclosing position with respect to the bristles and illustrates the action of the closure of the housing for spreading the dentifrice upon the bristles.

Figure 4 is a side elevation illustrating the dispensing and housing means moved to a position outofuse. i

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 6--6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 1-1 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan View with the dispensing and housing means arranged in the position of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the spring cam latching means for holding the door in open or closed position, and with the door in closed position.

Figure 10 is a similar view with the door in open position.

Figure 11 is a similar View with the door removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral l indicates the handle of my brush and 2 the head thereof, which is arranged in axial alignment with the handle, and both the handle and head are relatively flat and are shown as being of the same thickness throughout their length, as well as provided with longitudinally disposed grooves 3 in the sides thereof, with the grooves terminating adjacent to their outer ends, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The head v2 has secured thereto in the usual manner, a plurality of tufts of bristles 4,

The dispensing and housing means or device includes a dentifrice receiving container portion 5 at one end, and formed on or otherwise secured to and extending forwardly from the container is an elongated housing portion 6 of a length greater than that of the longitudinal rows of bristles to completely cover the same when the device isin position for use, as best shown in Figure 1. Formed on and extending along the lower edges of the sides of the device are inturned flanges mounted in the grooves 3 for slidable movement o-f the device throughout the length of the grooves, so that the device can be moved to its position for use as shown in Figure 1, or to the position of Figure 4, and when in its. latter position will not interfere with the free use of the brush for cleaning teeth, as will be apparent.

The container .portion includes a bottom wall that is seated upon the handle anda substantially cylindrical vertical wall 8, as well as a flat top Wall 9, the latter having a threaded opening therein for receiving the shank of a screw cap l0 and the opening is of course for the purpose of lling the container portion with dentifrice, which may be either powder or liquid.

The housing portion 6 includes flat side walls II, an open bottom closed by the brush head or handle, and the flat side walls merge into a rounded top Wall, as best shown in Figure 5. The inner end of the housing portion is closed by the wall 8 of the container portion and the opposite or outer end is partially closed by an enlarged wall I2 formed on the side and top walls, While the remaining portion of the outer end is open, but is normally closed by a hinged closure or door I3 having a slot I 4 extending transversely thereof and of a size to receive the outer end of the head 2 therethrough, for normally holdingY the device with the housing portion thereof aboutv the bristles, as clearly shown in Figure 1. By that construction, it will be obvious that the housing portion including the closure or doo-r I3 completely encloses the bristles when the device is in the position of Figure 1, and thereby retains the same free from dirt, dust and foreign matter, and consequently in a clean and sanitary condition.

Mounted for rotation in the housing portion and for fitting association within a channel formed longitudinally in the top wall thereof is a substantially cylindrical dispensing member I5 having a dentifrice receiving groove It extending therein throughout its length, and the cylindrical member I5 is held Within its channel by a screw bolt I'I and an operating member I3, the latter including a shank extending into one end of the cylindrical member and through the wall portion I2 and is provided With a serrated head It. The shank is fixed within the cylindrical member by a set screw 20 and the screw bolt extends through the vertical wall 8 for disposal of its head Within the container portion and with its shank threaded within the opposite end of the cylindrical meinber. Mounted on the shank of the screw bolt is a disk valve 2l having an eccentrically disposed opening 22 for arrangement in registration with an opening 23 in the vertical Wall, as Well as with the dentifrice receiving groove I5, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Suitable gasket means is provided for the disk valve to prevent leakage about the same in the event liquid dentifrices are used, and in order to facilitate application and removal of the disk valve 2I as well as the screw bolt, I provide an opening in the container portion, that is closed by a plug 24.

The hinge means for the door I3 includes a pair of spaced parallel apertured ears 25 formed on the wall portion I2 and formed on the door is a hinge barrel 28 disposed between the ears for registration of the bore of the hinge barrel with the apertures of the ears fo-r receiving ahinge pin 21. The ears each have a projection 28 formed thereon to provide a cam surface and the ears above and below the projections are provided with flat faces 29 yand 30 for receiving the free ends of a sp-ring strip 3| that is fixed to the hinge barrel, as best shown in Figure 6. By that construction, it will be obvious that when the hinge strip is engaged with the flat faces Sii, the door is held in closed position, as shown in Figure 9, and when engaged with the flat faces 29, the door is held in open position, as shown in Figures 3 and 10. When the door is in its open position, the free end thereof is held slightly above the top of the bristles, so that upon rearward movement of the device along the handle,

the free end of the door will spread the dentifrice across and along the -rows of bristles as clearly shown in Figure 3.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawing, it is believed that the operation will be obvious, but it might be mentioned that When it is desired to use the brush, and assuming of course that the device is in the position of Figure 1, the brush is tilted for the disposal of Some of the dentifrice from the container into the groove I6 of the cylindrical dispensing member I5, thence the latter is rotated through the Vmedium of the head I9 from the position of Figure 1 to that of Figure 2, so that the dentifrice willdrop by gravity from the groove onto the bristles. The door I3 is then released from the brush head Vand moved to its open position, and the device is then moved rearwardly on the handle to the position of Figure 4.

` It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement. of the several parts, provided that such changes fiall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fountain toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head formed on the handle, a dentifrice container mounted for movement on the handle, a housing for the bristles of the head and carried by the container for disposal into 'and out of enclosing position with respect to the bristles, and means for receiving and dispensing the dentifrice from the container and upon the bristles.

r2. A fountain toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head formed on the handle, a dentifrice container mounted fo-r movement on the handle, a housing for the bristles of the head and carried by the container for disposal into and out of enclosing position Withv respect to the bristles, means for receiving and ldispensing the dentifrice from the container and upon the bristles, and means for spreading the dentifrice along the bristles as the housing is moved out of enclosing position.

3. A fountain toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head formed on the handle, a dentifrice container mounted for movement on the handle, a housing for the bristles of the head and carried by the container for disposal into and out of enclosing position With respect to the bristles, means for dispensing the dentifrice from the container upon the bristles and including a cylinder having a longitudinally disposed groove therein for receiving the dentifrice from the container, and means for rotating the cylinder into and out of dispensing position.

4. A fountain toothbrush comprising ya handle, a b-rush hea-d formed on the handle, a dentifrice container mounted for movement on the handle, a housing for the bristles of the head and car- Aried by the container for disposal into and out of enclosing position with respect to the bristles, means f or dispensing the dentifrice from the container upon the bristles and including a cylinder having a longitudinally disposed groove therein for receiving the dentifrice from the container, means for rotating the cylinder into and out of dispensing position, closure means for the housing and associated With the head for holding the housing in enclosing position, and said closure means being associated With the housing for spreading the dentifrice upon the bristles as the housing is moved out of enclosing position.

5. A fountain toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head formed on the handle, a dentifrice container mounted for movement on the handle, a housing for the bristles of the head and carried by the container for disposal into and out of enclosing position with respect to the bristles, means for dispensing the dentifrice from the container upon the bristles and including a cylinder having a longitudinally disposed groove therein for receiving the dentifrice from the container, said cylinder being mounted for rotation Within the housing, valve means Within the container for controlling the passage of the dentifrice therefrom and carried by the cylinder for rotation therewith, means for rotating the cylinder into and out of dispensing position, closure means for the housing and associated with the head for holding the housing in enclosing position, latching means for holding the closure means in either open or closed positions, and said closure means being arranged when in open position for spreading the dentifrice upon the bristles when the housing is moved out of enclosing position.

6. A fountain toothbrush comprising a handle, a head formed on the handle, said handle and head having longitudinally disposed grooves in the sides thereof and terminating adjacent their outer ends, a dentifrice container, a housing for the bristles of the head and forme-d on the container, flanges formed on the container and housing and slidably mounted in the grooves for disposal of the housing into and out of enclosing position with respect to the bristles, means for dispensing the dentifrice from the container upon the bristles and including a cylinder having a longitudinally disposed groove therein for receiving the dentifrice from the container, said cylinder being mounted for rotation Within the housing, valve means connected to the cylinder for rotation therewith and for controlling the passage of the dentifrice from the container, handled means for rotating the cylinder into Iand out of dispensing position, said housing having an open outer` end, a door for closing said end and hinged to the housing, said door having a slot therein for receiving the head to hold the housing in enclosing position, spring and cam llatching means included in the hinge of the `door for holding the latter in open or closed positions, and said door being arranged when in open position with its free end elevated above the bristles for spreading the dentifrice along the same.

THOMAS W. FISI-IER.