US1973212A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1934.

JE. w. KRUEGER TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 28, 1952 pip/Ir um s Patented Sept. 11, 1934 NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention is comprised primarily of a barrel body element; a threaded shaft runs longitudinally and centrally of the barrel.

A manipulative handle is disposed at one end 5 or the bam-e1 and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the barrel against a reacting element, as a coil spring. A threaded stern is disposed longitudinally of the barrel and in axial alignment with the hand manipulative element.

A 'tooth brush that is cylindrical in cross sec.- tional area is removably secured to the outer end of the threaded stem and, as the hand manipulative element is moved longitudinally of the barrel it rotates the threaded stem in one direction as it is pushed in, and as the coil spring returns the hand manipulative element to its normal position of repose the stem and tooth brush are rotated in the opposite direction. A protective shield is disposed about one side of the brush.

A well is disposed within the shank of the barrel for the holding of dentifrice, either in paste form or in fluid form and the threaded stem and the body of the tooth brush have an exuding 25 hole disposed longitudinally therethrough with intercommunicating holes disposed within the body of the brush to facilitate the exuding of the dentifrice into the bristle structure of the brush; simple threaded compensating means is provided for creating an exuding pressure on the dentifrice carried therein as the same is depleted through use.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tooth brush that may be used as a tooth brush is at present used and at the same time may be rotated in either direction to clean the surface of the teeth as well as between the teeth.

A still further object of my invention consists in so constructing a device that a dentifrice may be automatically released to the brush during the brushing action.

A still further object of my invention consists in so constructing the device that it will be small 45 in size and easy to use.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional side view of the dentifrice well, of the hollow stem connected thereto, of the tooth brush and of the tooth brush guard, and is made primarily to illustrate means for moving the piston within the dentifrice holding well and for exuding the dentifrice from the dentifrice holding well through the tooth brush and into the bristles of the brush.

Fig. 4 is a sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3, the same is taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3, the same being taken on line 5-5 of 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. e' is a fragmentary sectional View of the base end of the brush.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary partially sectional view of the discharge end of the stem and illustrates the connection between the stem and the base end of theA brush.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the body of my new and improved brush holder, illustrating a tube of dentifrice in position for filling the dentifrice holding well of the device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

My device is comprised primarily of a barrel 1.

A stem 2 is disposed centrally of and extends 85 longitudinally of the barrel 1. A relatively coarse screw thread 3 is disposed upon the exterior of the threaded stem. A hand manipulative handle 4 projects from the open end of the barrel and the same forms a sleeve to receive the stem and to permit the reception of the hand manipulative member relative to the stem. A pin 5 is disposed within the sleeve and is placed in registry with the screw thread 3 and the same imparts rotation to the stem as it is reciprocated along the stem.

A screw 8 coacts with a slot 9 disposed longitudinally of the outer surface of the hand manipulative element and prevents the rotation, or the partial rotation, of the hand manipulative element.

A compressible element, as a coil spring 10 is disposed within the barrel and within an annular spring receiving recess 11 disposed within the hand manipulative element. The longitudinal movement of the hand manipulative element ro- 195 tates the shaft which in turn rotates the brush in one direction. The release of the hand manipulative element permits the reaction of the coil spring to return the hand manipulative element to its normal extended position and simultane- 110 ously therewith rotates the threaded stem and the brush in the opposite direction.

A concavity 12 is disposed in the outer end oi' the hand manipulative element to facilitate the application of the thumb thereto and a breather hole intercommunicates with the stem receiving cylindrical hole 14 which prevents the development of pressure within the recess during the manipulation of the hand element.

An outwardly extending annular band l5 extends about the barrel to facilitate the grasping of the barrel between the fingers of the user and to facilitate the manipulation of the same.

The barrel 1 is compartmented, a dentifrice holding well 23 being provided in the form of a cylinder 24 that is secured to the threaded stem 2. A piston 26 is rcciprocably disposed within the dentifrice holding well. A cylinder head 27 is removably and threadably secured to the open end of the cylinder and the piston rod 28 run therethrough and connects the piston 26 with the brush holder 29.

The barrel l has a neck 30 outwardly extending Atherefrom and an enlarged threaded head 31 is bristle structure of the brush.

A screw receiving slot 35 is disposed upon the outer surface of the piston rod and a set screw 36 extends thereinto to secure the end wall of the cylinder to the piston rod to prevent relative rotary movement therebetween.

Corrugations 3'7 are disposed in the outer surface of the open end of the brush holder and tapering wedges 38 are disposed upon the outer surface of the end of the piston rod. The Wedges engage within the corrugations and form a driving relation between the piston rod and the brush holder.

An annular recess 39 is disposed within the outer surface of the brush holder and a ring 4D formed in the hood, or guard, acts as a bearing for supporting the brush holder.

The discharge end of the piston rod forms a frusto-conical tapered surface 41 and the same is so forme'd as to engage the frusto-conical outer surface 42 of the tube 43 so that when a contact is made the dentifrice may be supplied directly through the piston rod and into the dentifrice holding well disposed within the dentifrice holding cylinder.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulll the objects primarily Stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in variuos forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. n a device of the class described, the combination of a barrel body element, a stem carrying a cylinder disposed longitudinal of the barrel, means for rotating the stem and the cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder, a hollow piston rod outwardly extending from the piston, a tooth brush secured to the piston rod, communieating means disposed between the base of the brush bristles and the cylinder and extending longitudinally of the piston rod, manually settable means for predetermining the position of the piston within the cylinder and a guard adapted for protecting the brush.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular body element, a stern rotatably mounted within the body element, a cylinder secured to the inner end of the stem, a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder, a hollow piston rod secured to the piston and extending outwardly through the cylinder and the tubular body element, a circular tooth brush secured to the outermost end of the hollow piston rod and in open communication therewith, a guard rotatably but not slidably connected to and surrounding the tooth brush and threadedly mounted to an elongated and reduced end of the tubular body element, whereby advancing or retarding the guard on its threads will cause relative sliding movement between the piston and its cylinder.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollow tubular body element formed with a cylindrical compartment at one of its ends, a cylinder rotatably mounted within the compertinent and provided with a spirally grooved stem extending throgh the inner wall of the cornpartrnent and out through the remainder of the length of the tubular body element, a hand engaging means rotatably mounted within the body element and yieldingly interconnected with the 1 spirally grooved stem for rotating the same, an apertured piston slidab-ly mounted within the cylinder, a tube secured to the pistonin open cornmunication with the aperture therein, means for permitting sliding movement of the piston relative to the cylinder and for preventing relative rotary movement therebetween, a hollow circular brush secured to the outermost end of the tube and in open communication therewith, and means interposed between the brush and the tubular body within the cylinder.

EDWIN W. KRUEGER.

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