US2353963A

US2353963A - Folding toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US2353963A
Application number: US468467A
Authority: US
Inventors: Landesman Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-12-10
Filing date: 1942-12-10
Publication date: 1944-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1961-07-18

Description

July 18, 1944.

FOLDING TOOTHVBRUSH Filed Dec. 10, 1942 6 Fly. 2

IN VEN TOR. MORRIS LANDESMA vv HTT'OR NE Y5 M. LANDESMAN I 2,353,963

Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to folding tooth brushes.

Tooth brushes, shaving brushes, and like toilet articles that must be kept clean and that become wet in use are difiicult for the user to protect particularly if he travels for not only do suc articles when wet readily pick up dirt, but also they may Wet clothing or other articles. This is particularly true of tooth brushes. While special containers are available, these are not wholly satisfactory as they are relatively large, easily lost, and soon become dirty or otherwise unfit for use.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a tooth brush that consists of pivotally interconnected handle members of which one carries a brush element and the other has a compartment disposed to receive the brush element when the handle members are folded together. When the tooth brush is thus folded, the portions of the handle member adjacent the brush element serve as a cover for the compartment ensuring the protection of the brush element against dirt. Such a tooth brush may be easily made and provides both protection of the brush element and desirable compactness when not in use.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention from which these and other of its novel features and advantages will be readily apparent. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tooth brush in accordance with my invention in its unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tooth brush shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional view of the tooth brush of Fig. 1 in its folded position, and

Fig. 4 is a section along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

At I and 2, I have indicated handle members hinged together by the pivot 3. The handle memher I has a slightly enlarged head 4 and supports the brush element 5. The handle member 2 may be U-shaped in cross section to receive the handle member I and to provide convenient means for the support of the pivot 3. To prevent the pivoting of the handle member of the tooth brush beyond the position of use shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the handle member 2 as extending beyond the pivot 3 as at 6 to serve as a stop against which the handle member seats when the tooth brush is unfolded for use.

The handle member 2 is formed with a compartment I disposed to receive the brush element 5 when the handle members I and 2 are folded together. Preferably, the rim of the compartment I is formed with a rib 8 to enter a groove 9 marginally of the head 4 of the handle member I thereby to provide a tight joint between the compartment and its cover established by the head portion 4 of the handle member I.

iii)

Preferably, I provide the compartment I with a resilient hook In to engage with the front part of the head 4 to lock the handle members I and 2 together when the tooth brush is folded to protect the brush element 5. The hook III may also be used to support the tooth brush.

Such a tooth brush may be readily made from any suitable material and not only provides for the full protection of the brush element 5 against dirt and the like, but also ensures maximum convenience to the user since it is both compact and easy to clean.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding tooth brush comprising a first handle member, a second handle member, means pivotally interconnecting one end of each of said handle members, the other end of said first member being fiat a brush element supported by said flat end of said first handle member adjacent its extremity, and said second handle member including a compartment adjacent its extremity disposed to receive said brush element when said handle members are folded together, said compartment having a rim extending entirely around it with all portions of said rim lying in the same plane the flat end of said first handle member adjacent said brush element constituting a cover for said compartment and being formed with a groove extending entirely about said brush element, and the rim of said compartment being formed with a rib to establish with said groove a tight joint between said cover and said compartment.

2. A folding tooth brush comprising a first handle member, a second handle member, means pivotally interconnecting one end of each of said handle members, the other end of said first memher being flat a brush element supported by said fiat end of said first handle member adjacent its extremity, and said second handle member including a compartment adjacent its extremity disposed to receive said brush element when said handle members are folded together, said compartment having a rim extending entirely around it with all portions of said rim lying in the same plane the flat end of said first handle member adjacent said brush element constituting a cover for said compartment and being formed with a groove extending entirely about said brush element, the rim of said compartment being formed with a rib to establish with said groove a tight joint between said cover and said compartment, and said compartment including a resilient upwardly extending hook portion to engage with the extremity of said first handle member when said handle members are folded together and exposed to be engaged by the user to permit it to be readily released.

MORRIS LANDESMAN.