US20040154635A1

US20040154635A1 - Toothbrush system

Info

Publication number: US20040154635A1
Application number: US10/360,142
Authority: US
Inventors: Ignacio Segura
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2004-08-12

Abstract

A toothbrush system for efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush. The toothbrush system includes a handle portion having a reservoir, a plunger member positioned within the reservoir actuated by a control knob and threaded shaft, a head unit threadably attached to the handle portion having a passageway, a plurality of dispensing nozzles within the head unit, and a plurality of bristle member extending from the head unit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toothbrushes and more specifically it relates to a toothbrush system for efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush.

2. Description of the Related Art

Toothbrushes have been in use for years. Typically, a conventional toothbrush has an elongate handle with a plurality of bristles in a single group for brushing the user's teeth. The user must apply toothpaste from a separate container to the bristles and then brush the teeth.

The main problem with conventional toothbrushes is that they require an auxiliary container for storing and dispensing the toothpaste. A further problem with conventional toothbrushes is that they require a significant volume of storage space in conjunction with the toothpaste container. Another problem with conventional toothbrush systems is that the user will often times lose or damage the cap to the toothpaste container.

Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,155 to English, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,487 to Ledet; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,886 to Labranche, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,474 to Mitchell, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,662 to Aljanedi; U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,773 to Wiegner, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,118 to Tryon; U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,158 to Fey; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,489 to Harman, et al.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush. Conventional toothbrushes require an auxiliary toothpaste container which are bulky and difficult to handle.

In these respects, the toothbrush system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of toothbrushes now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new toothbrush system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new toothbrush system that has many of the advantages of the toothbrushes mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toothbrush system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art toothbrushes, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a handle portion having a reservoir, a plunger member positioned within the reservoir actuated by a control knob and threaded shaft, a head unit threadably attached to the handle portion having a passageway, a plurality of dispensing nozzles within the head unit, and a plurality of bristle member extending from the head unit.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

A second object is to provide a toothbrush system for efficiently integrating toothpaste within a toothbrush.

Another object is to provide a toothbrush system that does not require the usage of an auxiliary toothpaste container.

An additional object is to provide a toothbrush system that reduces the volume of personal items required when traveling.

A further object is to provide a toothbrush system that conveniently dispenses toothpaste directly into the bristles.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: [0023]
FIG. 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. [0024]
FIG. 2 is a cutaway upper perspective view of the present invention. [0025]
FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of the present invention. [0026]
FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the toothbrush within a storage container. [0027]
FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the toothbrush. [0028]
FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the toothbrush with a head cover. [0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate a toothbrush system [0030] 10, which comprises a handle portion 20 having a reservoir 24, a plunger member 40 positioned within the reservoir 24 actuated by a control knob 30 and threaded shaft 32, a head unit 50 threadably attached to the handle portion 20 having a passageway 54, a plurality of dispensing nozzles 59 within the head unit 50, and a plurality of bristle member extending from the head unit 50.
The [0031] handle portion 20 is preferably an elongate tubular structure having a reservoir 24 extending longitudinally within as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings. The handle portion 20 may have various cross sectional shapes which are suitable for receiving a correspondingly shaped plunger member 40. The reservoir 24 is sufficient in size to receive a desired volume of toothpaste or related fluid material.
An elongate threaded [0032] shaft 32 rotatably extends through an enclosed rear end of the handle portion 20 as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. A control knob 30 is attached to the distal exposed end of the elongate threaded shaft 32 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The control knob 30 may have various shapes and sizes that are suitable for rotating the threaded shaft 32 with. The threaded shaft 32 extends longitudinally and concentrically within the reservoir 24 of the handle portion 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
The [0033] plunger member 40 is threadably positioned upon the threaded shaft 32 as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The plunger member 40 is preferably comprised of a shape and size similar to the interior of the reservoir 24. The plunger member 40 may be comprised of various materials capable of forcing the toothpaste within the reservoir 24 outwardly through an aperture within the distal end of the handle portion 20.
FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings best illustrate the [0034] head unit 50 which has a tube portion 52. The tube portion 52 has a threaded end 56 that threadably mates with a threaded aperture 22 within the distal end of the handle portion 20 as further shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Removal of the head unit 50 allows for the insertion of toothpaste into the reservoir 24 of the handle portion 20.
The [0035] head unit 50 has a passageway 54 that is fluidly connected to the threaded aperture 22 of the handle portion 20 when connected. The head unit 50 further includes a head portion 58 that has a plurality of dispensing nozzles 59 and a plurality of bristle members 60 within an upper portion thereof. The bristle members 60 are preferably aligned in two opposing rows defining a space between thereof with one or more rows of dispensing nozzles 59 between the bristle members 60.
FIG. 4 illustrates a [0036] storage container 70 having an elongate structure that has a first section and a second section removably connected to one another that receive the toothbrush. The storage container 70 preferably has an identifying tag 74 connected to the storage container 70 by a cord member 72. The storage container 70 is sufficient in size to receive the head container 76.
FIG. 6 illustrate a [0037] head container 76 that is suitable for storing and protecting the head portion 58 of the head unit 50. The head container 76 has a size and shape sufficient for receiving the heat portion. The head container 76 further includes a front opening where the head portion 58 is inserted into. The head container 76 further includes a flip lid 78 within the front opening that assists in closing the interior of the head container 76 and for retaining the head portion 58 within the same. A plurality of vent apertures 79 are preferably positioned within the head container 76 as further shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0038]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0039]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0040]

Claims

I claim:

1. A toothbrush system, comprising:

a handle portion having a reservoir;

a plunger member positioned within said reservoir;

a threaded shaft threadably connected to said plunger member;

a control knob attached to said threaded shaft; and

a head unit removably connected to an end of said handle portion, said head unit comprising:

a tube portion having a passageway fluidly connectable to said reservoir;

a head portion attached to said tube portion;

a plurality of dispensing apertures within said head portion fluidly connected to said passageway; and

a plurality of bristle members extending from said head portion.

2. The toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said head unit is threadably connected to said handle portion.

3. The toothbrush system of claim 2, wherein said tube portion has a threaded end that is threadably received within a threaded aperture within said handle portion.

4. The toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bristle members are aligned in a plurality of distally spaced rows.

5. The toothbrush system of claim 4, wherein said distally spaced rows of bristle members are aligned with a longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

6. The toothbrush system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of dispensing nozzles are aligned within at least one row positioned between said distally spaced rows of bristle members.

7. The toothbrush system of claim 6, wherein said at least one row of dispensing nozzles is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

8. The toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said plunger member has a size and shape similar to the interior of said reservoir.

9. The toothbrush system of claim 8, wherein said reservoir has an elongate structure.

10. The toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said reservoir has an elongate structure.

11. A toothbrush system, comprising:

a handle portion having a reservoir;

a plunger member positioned within said reservoir;

a threaded shaft threadably connected to said plunger member;

a control knob attached to said threaded shaft;

a tube portion having a passageway fluidly connectable to said reservoir;

a head portion attached to said tube portion;

a plurality of bristle members extending from said head portion;

a head container having a front opening for receiving and storing said head portion of said head unit.

12. The toothbrush system of claim 11, wherein said head unit is threadably connected to said handle portion.

13. The toothbrush system of claim 12, wherein said tube portion has a threaded end that is threadably received within a threaded aperture within said handle portion.

14. The toothbrush system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of bristle members are aligned in a plurality of distally spaced rows.

15. The toothbrush system of claim 14, wherein said distally spaced rows of bristle members are aligned with a longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

16. The toothbrush system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of dispensing nozzles are aligned within at least one row positioned between said distally spaced rows of bristle members.

17. The toothbrush system of claim 16, wherein said at least one row of dispensing nozzles is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said handle portion.

18. The toothbrush system of claim 11, wherein said plunger member has a size and shape similar to the interior of said reservoir and wherein said reservoir has an elongate structure.

19. The toothbrush system of claim 11, wherein said head container has a plurality of vent apertures and a flip lid selectively partially closing said front opening with said head portion positioned within.

20. The toothbrush system of claim 11, including a storage container having a first section, a second section connectable to said first section, and an identifying tag attached to said first section by a cord member.