US20070086831A1 - Active Pump Toothbrush - Google Patents
Active Pump Toothbrush Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070086831A1 US20070086831A1 US11/548,558 US54855806A US2007086831A1 US 20070086831 A1 US20070086831 A1 US 20070086831A1 US 54855806 A US54855806 A US 54855806A US 2007086831 A1 US2007086831 A1 US 2007086831A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- reservoir
- toothbrush
- head portion
- beneficial agent
- coupled
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
- A46B11/001—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs
- A46B11/002—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
- A46B11/0024—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means with a permanently displaceable pressurising member that remain in position unless actuated, e.g. lead-screw or ratchet mechanisms, toothpaste tube twisting or rolling devices
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
- A46B11/001—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs
- A46B11/002—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
- A46B11/0058—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means with a metered dosage
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
- A46B11/001—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs
- A46B11/002—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water with integral reservoirs pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
- A46B11/0041—Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/01—Disposable brush
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
- A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to oral care devices, and more particularly to toothbrushes adapted to dispense a pre-measured dose of a beneficial agent for use upon actuation by the user.
- Toothbrushes have been used as a hygienic aid in a variety of cultures for many years.
- toothbrushes have been used with a variety of compositions such as dentifrices (compositions which aid in cleaning teeth) and other substances which act to improve the smell of a user's breath, remove, dislodge, or kill bacteria, or otherwise improve oral health.
- dentifrices compositions which aid in cleaning teeth
- other substances which act to improve the smell of a user's breath, remove, dislodge, or kill bacteria, or otherwise improve oral health.
- As their popularity has increased, so has the industry behind the production and sales of toothbrushes and associated cleaning compositions.
- the present invention is directed to a toothbrush capable of dispensing a beneficial agent from a handle portion of the toothbrush to the head of the toothbrush at a desired location such as, but not limited to, the back of the head or the bristles.
- the toothbrushes of the present invention generally comprise a handle portion and a head portion.
- the handle portion is generally adapted to be grasped by the user during use.
- the handle portion is further adapted to contain a reservoir to store a volume of a beneficial agent.
- the handle portion further comprises a pumping mechanism for dispensing substantially-pre-measured doses of the beneficial agent to the head portion of the toothbrush.
- the head portion of the toothbrushes of the present invention includes bristles for cleaning teeth and is adapted to receive a volume of the beneficial agent from the handle of the toothbrush and emit it for use.
- the beneficial agent could be emitted to the bristles for direct administration to the teeth and/or gums, or to another region of the head of the toothbrush for dispensing to the mouth generally.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a side plan section cross-sectional view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention taken at line A-A of FIG. 3A ;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an alternate head portion in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view illustrating an alternative embodiment of an active pump in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method of actively pumping a beneficial agent through a head portion of a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention.
- the term “active pump” refers to any mechanical, electrical, or chemical pump capable of moving material or fluid through the toothbrush.
- an active pump suitable for use in the present invention is a diaphragm pump.
- the active pump of the present invention will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1-4 .
- the toothbrushes provided in the present invention are designed to be inexpensively produced so as to be disposable after a provided quantity of a beneficial agent stored in a handle portion of the toothbrush has been used. Alternatively, the toothbrush may be refilled with beneficial agent.
- the volume of the beneficial agent provided in the brush and the dispense rate of the fluid may be widely varied within the scope of the invention.
- the toothbrush is provided with a volume and dispense rate that are estimated to provide approximately three months of usage. In many embodiments, this corresponds to the length of the effective life of toothbrush bristles. Other quantities and dispense rates may be provided within the scope of the invention, however, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an active pump toothbrush device 10 of the present invention.
- the toothbrush device 10 generally includes a head portion 20 and a handle portion 40 .
- the head portion 20 comprises a number of bristles 22 that may be widely varied to correspond with various sizes and designs of toothbrushes, and an emitter 24 .
- the emitter 24 is placed to allow emission of a beneficial agent to the bristles 22 of the brush 10 .
- the emitter 24 may be placed on any other region of the head portion 20 of the brush 10 , including, but not limited to, the back 26 of the head portion 20 positioned substantially opposite of the bristles 22 , or on a top surface 28 or side surface 29 A, 29 B. All such variations are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
- the brush 10 of FIG. 1 further includes a handle portion 40 .
- the handle portion 40 may be generally configured to be grasped by a user of the brush 10 during use.
- the handle portion 40 may be given a wide variety of suitable shapes and dimensions to accommodate different overall brush sizes for different hand sizes and grasping orientations.
- a beneficial agent such as a dentifrice or an active therapeutic composition.
- beneficial agents are dispensed from the reservoir to the head portion 20 for use.
- Beneficial agents may include, but are not limited to, oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.
- the beneficial agents may be dispensed by depressing a flexible button 42 to activate a pump (not shown) that dispenses the agent.
- the handle portion 40 of the toothbrush 10 of FIG. 1 includes a neck 30 that transmits the beneficial agent from the reservoir to the head portion 20 .
- Such a neck 30 is optional, and when present, its size and dimensions may be widely varied within the scope of the invention.
- FIG. 2 a partial cross-sectional view of the active pump toothbrush 10 of the present invention is shown. Portions of the handle portion 40 have been omitted to allow demonstration of sufficient structural detail of the toothbrush 10 .
- This view of the toothbrush 10 enables the workings of the pump 50 to be viewed. More specifically, as discussed above, a beneficial agent 66 may be dispensed from a reservoir 60 by activating a pump 50 which dispenses discrete doses of the beneficial agent (hereinafter “agent”) 66 .
- agent the beneficial agent
- the pump 50 is activated by depression of a flexible button 42 .
- the button 42 travels upwardly into the handle portion 40 until further motion is blocked by a button stop 48 .
- the button 42 is in fluid connection with an air chamber 52 , which is vented by a vent valve 44 , which includes a flap 46 .
- the air chamber 52 is in continuous fluid communication with a beneficial agent reservoir 60 , containing a beneficial agent 66 , and a plunger 64 .
- the pump 50 is operated by depressing the button 42 to pressurize the air chamber 52 .
- Pressure in the air chamber 52 acts to drive the plunger 64 forward against the agent 66 present in the reservoir 60 to dispense a dose of the beneficial agent 66 to the emitter 24 .
- a collapsible bag containing the beneficial agent 66 may be used instead of the plunger/follower 64 .
- pressure in the air chamber 52 would collapse the bag and dispense the beneficial agent from the brush.
- the bag could inflate inside the reservoir chamber, displacing the beneficial agent.
- the flexible button 42 may be constructed of rubber or any other suitable flexible material.
- a user of the toothbrush 10 may actuate the button 42 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, pressing it with a finger or against another surface.
- the presence of the button stop 48 limits the travel of the button 42 and seals it in place within the handle portion 40 of the brush 10 .
- the size of the dose of beneficial agent 66 dispensed is dictated by the displaced volume within the flexible button 42 and may thus be varied widely with the size and configuration of the button 42 , as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the button 42 Upon release of the flexible button 42 , the button 42 will revert to its original shape, thus creating a vacuum within the air chamber 52 .
- the vacuum may be relieved by ambient air drawn through the air vent valve 44 into the air chamber 52 .
- the flap 46 in the vent valve 44 is forced open by the incoming air and then closes to seal the vent valve 44 .
- the toothbrush 10 is then ready to be operated again.
- the air vent valve 44 may be replaced with any one-way valve including, but not limited to, ball check valves, swing check valves, clapper valves, stop-check valves, lift-check valves, and the like.
- the head portion 20 of the toothbrush 10 may optionally comprise a frangible or removable protective membrane 80 to prevent release of agent 66 prior to use during manufacture, shipping, storage, etc., of the toothbrush 10 .
- the membrane 80 may also prevent premature drying out of any such agent 66 .
- the frangible membrane may be constructed or selected to break upon depression of the button 42 to allow release of the agent 66 .
- the membrane could be made to be easily removable such that it could be removed easily by a user prior to first use of the pump 50 of the toothbrush 10 .
- the frangible or removable protective membrane 80 may be replaced with a removable plug.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show a top plan view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention and a side plan section view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention taken at line A-A of FIG. 3 , respectively. It should be noted that other features such as, but not limited, to, a varying depth of the button to allow varying volumes of the beneficial agent 66 to be dispensed could be added to the toothbrushes 10 of the present invention.
- fill windows (such as clear or at least partially transparent windows) could be added to the handle portion 40 to indicate the amount of beneficial agent remaining in the toothbrush 10 .
- a second reservoir could be added to allow dispensing of two separate beneficial agents 66 .
- Such a second reservoir could be controlled by the same flexible button 42 , thus allowing concurrent dispensing of two discrete beneficial agents.
- the second reservoir could be controlled by use of a separate button (not illustrated) to enable separate or stepwise dispensing of the two agents.
- two beneficial agents could be dispensed from the toothbrush 10 concurrently or separately from each other within the scope of the invention.
- Other additional reservoirs are also thus within the scope of the invention.
- beneficial agents 66 may be dispensed from the reservoir 60 of the toothbrushes 10 of the present invention.
- One general family of such agents includes, but is not limited to, dentifrice compositions such as tooth pastes, gels, and creams.
- Other beneficial agents could include whitening agents, therapeutic compositions, oxygen-generating agents, and breath-fresheners.
- Some such therapeutic compositions may include, without limitation, antibacterial agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and many other chemical entities suitable for oral administration.
- Suitable beneficial agents could also include agents which are not stable when mixed with a dentifrice composition for long periods of time.
- the toothbrush could be used with a dose of the beneficial agent being dispensed together with a separately-provided dentifrice composition. Allowing the beneficial agent to be dispensed at the time of use could provide both the benefits of the dentifrice and the beneficial agent that would otherwise be unavailable to a user.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an alternate head portion 500 in accordance with the present invention.
- the head portion 500 includes, as described previously, a plurality of bristles 22 embedded in the head portion 500 .
- the bristle bottoms are placed in holes formed or bored in the head portion 500 .
- Positioned underneath the bristles 22 is one end of the reservoir 60 that extends from the handle portion (see FIGS. 1-4 ) to the head portion 500 .
- the head portion 500 may include a plurality of emitters 24 .
- the emitters 24 comprise orifices or apertures that enable the flow of a beneficial agent from the reservoir 60 to the outer surface of the head portion 500 and subsequently into the bristles.
- the emitters 24 as depicted are located in between bristles, the emitters may alternatively be formed in the head portion 500 such that the flow of beneficial agent passes through one or more bristles.
- each bristle may comprise a hollow tube configured to direct the flow of beneficial agent to the surface of the teeth.
- FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view illustrating an alternative embodiment of an active pump in accordance with the present invention.
- the button 602 is formed of a rigid material and seated in the base of the handle portion 604 .
- the button 602 functions to pressurize the reservoir 606 .
- the button 602 may slideably engage interior surfaces of the handle portion 604 .
- a seal 608 is disposed between the button 602 and the interior surfaces 610 of the handle portion 604 .
- a seal 608 is disposed between the button 602 and the interior surfaces 610 of the handle portion 604 .
- substances and materials may be disposed between the button 602 and the interior surfaces 610 of the handle portion 604 . Examples include, but are not limited to, rubber-based materials, petroleum-based jellies, various plastic membranes, etc.
- the pump of FIG. 6 may also include a biasing device in contact with the button such that a force is applied to cause the button to return to an extended or resting position.
- the biasing device may comprise a spring 612 .
- the spring 612 in a further embodiment, may be attached at one end with a stop 614 formed in the reservoir 606 .
- the stop 614 as depicted does not restrict the flow of air or other fluid away from the button 602 .
- the schematic flow chart diagram that follows is generally set forth as a logical flow chart diagram. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method of actively pumping a beneficial agent through a head portion of a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention.
- the method 700 starts and a toothbrush 10 is provided 704 having an active pump 50 integrated in the handle portion.
- a reservoir 60 is also provided 706 and configured to maintain a beneficial agent 66 .
- the reservoir 60 may be defined by a void or channel extending from the handle portion into the head portion.
- the method 700 continues and the active pump 50 pressurizes 708 the reservoir 60 at which point the pressurized air drives 710 the plunger.
- the plunger forces 712 the beneficial agent through the emitter.
- the method 700 then ends 714 .
- the toothbrush 10 is contemplated to be a “throw-away” toothbrush, the toothbrush 10 may become reusable simply by refilling the reservoir.
Abstract
Toothbrushes are provided which incorporate in a handle portion of the toothbrush a volume of a beneficial agent that may be dispensed using an included manual pump mechanism. The volume of the beneficial agent provided in the brush and the dispense rate of the beneficial agent may be widely varied. The toothbrush may be constructed to have a beneficial agent volume and dispense rate that are estimated to provide approximately three months of usage to correspond to the length of the effective life of toothbrush bristles, thus allowing the entire unit to be disposable upon dispensing of the last of the fluid.
Description
- This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/725,528 entitled “ACTIVE PUMP TOOTHBRUSH” and filed on Oct. 11, 2005 for Truman C. Wold, which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates generally to oral care devices, and more particularly to toothbrushes adapted to dispense a pre-measured dose of a beneficial agent for use upon actuation by the user.
- Toothbrushes have been used as a hygienic aid in a variety of cultures for many years. Increasingly, toothbrushes have been used with a variety of compositions such as dentifrices (compositions which aid in cleaning teeth) and other substances which act to improve the smell of a user's breath, remove, dislodge, or kill bacteria, or otherwise improve oral health. As their popularity has increased, so has the industry behind the production and sales of toothbrushes and associated cleaning compositions.
- Most currently-produced toothbrushes are designed to be replaced after a period of time. Although this period of time varies somewhat, the American Dental Association recommends replacement of toothbrushes every three to four months, or earlier if a brush appears worn. See generally www.ada.org. This assures that the brush used has optimal cleaning ability. Users face some difficulty in remembering when to replace toothbrushes since their frequent use often obscures their date of purchase in memory. A variety of technologies (fading indicator strips, indicator bristles, etc.) have been used with various degrees of success to remind a user to replace their brush with a new one at the proper time.
- In addition, most current toothbrushes are used with separately-provided dentifrices. Thus, travel or portable use of a toothbrush requires the user to bring their toothpaste of choice along with their toothbrush. Attention has been focused on developing combination devices that contain a dentifrice inside of a toothbrush apparatus in a variety of forms.
- Additional difficulty is faced in the industry in devising methods and means for administering a wide variety of beneficial agents to the teeth and/or mouth. Some such agents may be successfully delivered in dentifrice compositions, but others, due to their chemical properties may be unsuited for delivery in this manner.
- Thus, it would be an improvement in the art to provide a disposable toothbrush device that is only usable for a specified number of uses and/or an approximate period of time. It would further be beneficial to provide a toothbrush containing its own onboard supply of a dentifrice or other beneficial agent.
- Such a device and methods of its use are provided herein.
- The present invention is directed to a toothbrush capable of dispensing a beneficial agent from a handle portion of the toothbrush to the head of the toothbrush at a desired location such as, but not limited to, the back of the head or the bristles.
- The toothbrushes of the present invention generally comprise a handle portion and a head portion. The handle portion is generally adapted to be grasped by the user during use. In the present invention, the handle portion is further adapted to contain a reservoir to store a volume of a beneficial agent. The handle portion further comprises a pumping mechanism for dispensing substantially-pre-measured doses of the beneficial agent to the head portion of the toothbrush.
- The head portion of the toothbrushes of the present invention includes bristles for cleaning teeth and is adapted to receive a volume of the beneficial agent from the handle of the toothbrush and emit it for use. As discussed, the beneficial agent could be emitted to the bristles for direct administration to the teeth and/or gums, or to another region of the head of the toothbrush for dispensing to the mouth generally.
- Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following figures and description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
- In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a side plan section cross-sectional view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention taken at line A-A ofFIG. 3A ; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an alternate head portion in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view illustrating an alternative embodiment of an active pump in accordance with the present invention; and -
FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method of actively pumping a beneficial agent through a head portion of a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention. - The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Several examples are provided below which discuss the construction, use, and testing of specific embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments are exemplary in nature and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
- Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the active pump toothbrush device of the present invention, as represented in
FIGS. 1-4 , is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the term “active pump” refers to any mechanical, electrical, or chemical pump capable of moving material or fluid through the toothbrush. One example of an active pump suitable for use in the present invention is a diaphragm pump. The active pump of the present invention will be discussed in greater detail below with reference toFIGS. 1-4 . - The toothbrushes provided in the present invention are designed to be inexpensively produced so as to be disposable after a provided quantity of a beneficial agent stored in a handle portion of the toothbrush has been used. Alternatively, the toothbrush may be refilled with beneficial agent. The volume of the beneficial agent provided in the brush and the dispense rate of the fluid may be widely varied within the scope of the invention. In some embodiments, the toothbrush is provided with a volume and dispense rate that are estimated to provide approximately three months of usage. In many embodiments, this corresponds to the length of the effective life of toothbrush bristles. Other quantities and dispense rates may be provided within the scope of the invention, however, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
- A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIG. 1 .FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an activepump toothbrush device 10 of the present invention. As seen inFIG. 1 , thetoothbrush device 10 generally includes ahead portion 20 and ahandle portion 40. Thehead portion 20 comprises a number ofbristles 22 that may be widely varied to correspond with various sizes and designs of toothbrushes, and anemitter 24. InFIG. 1 , theemitter 24 is placed to allow emission of a beneficial agent to thebristles 22 of thebrush 10. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that theemitter 24 may be placed on any other region of thehead portion 20 of thebrush 10, including, but not limited to, theback 26 of thehead portion 20 positioned substantially opposite of thebristles 22, or on atop surface 28 or side surface 29A, 29B. All such variations are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. - The
brush 10 ofFIG. 1 further includes ahandle portion 40. Thehandle portion 40 may be generally configured to be grasped by a user of thebrush 10 during use. Thus, thehandle portion 40 may be given a wide variety of suitable shapes and dimensions to accommodate different overall brush sizes for different hand sizes and grasping orientations. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that such adaptations are within the scope of the present invention. Thehandle portion 40 also generally includes a reservoir (not shown) containing a beneficial agent such as a dentifrice or an active therapeutic composition. Such beneficial agents are dispensed from the reservoir to thehead portion 20 for use. Beneficial agents may include, but are not limited to, oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents. - The beneficial agents may be dispensed by depressing a
flexible button 42 to activate a pump (not shown) that dispenses the agent. Thehandle portion 40 of thetoothbrush 10 ofFIG. 1 includes aneck 30 that transmits the beneficial agent from the reservoir to thehead portion 20. Such aneck 30 is optional, and when present, its size and dimensions may be widely varied within the scope of the invention. - Referring next to
FIG. 2 , a partial cross-sectional view of theactive pump toothbrush 10 of the present invention is shown. Portions of thehandle portion 40 have been omitted to allow demonstration of sufficient structural detail of thetoothbrush 10. This view of thetoothbrush 10 enables the workings of thepump 50 to be viewed. More specifically, as discussed above, abeneficial agent 66 may be dispensed from areservoir 60 by activating apump 50 which dispenses discrete doses of the beneficial agent (hereinafter “agent”) 66. - The
pump 50 is activated by depression of aflexible button 42. Thebutton 42 travels upwardly into thehandle portion 40 until further motion is blocked by abutton stop 48. Thebutton 42 is in fluid connection with anair chamber 52, which is vented by avent valve 44, which includes aflap 46. Theair chamber 52 is in continuous fluid communication with abeneficial agent reservoir 60, containing abeneficial agent 66, and aplunger 64. - The
pump 50 is operated by depressing thebutton 42 to pressurize theair chamber 52. Pressure in theair chamber 52 acts to drive theplunger 64 forward against theagent 66 present in thereservoir 60 to dispense a dose of thebeneficial agent 66 to theemitter 24. In alternative embodiments of the toothbrush 10 (and, indeed, toothbrush 110 discussed below), a collapsible bag containing thebeneficial agent 66 may be used instead of the plunger/follower 64. Thus, in such embodiments, pressure in theair chamber 52 would collapse the bag and dispense the beneficial agent from the brush. In other embodiments, the bag could inflate inside the reservoir chamber, displacing the beneficial agent. - The
flexible button 42 may be constructed of rubber or any other suitable flexible material. A user of thetoothbrush 10 may actuate thebutton 42 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, pressing it with a finger or against another surface. The presence of thebutton stop 48 limits the travel of thebutton 42 and seals it in place within thehandle portion 40 of thebrush 10. The size of the dose ofbeneficial agent 66 dispensed is dictated by the displaced volume within theflexible button 42 and may thus be varied widely with the size and configuration of thebutton 42, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. - Upon release of the
flexible button 42, thebutton 42 will revert to its original shape, thus creating a vacuum within theair chamber 52. The vacuum may be relieved by ambient air drawn through theair vent valve 44 into theair chamber 52. Theflap 46 in thevent valve 44 is forced open by the incoming air and then closes to seal thevent valve 44. Thetoothbrush 10 is then ready to be operated again. Alternatively theair vent valve 44 may be replaced with any one-way valve including, but not limited to, ball check valves, swing check valves, clapper valves, stop-check valves, lift-check valves, and the like. - The
head portion 20 of thetoothbrush 10 may optionally comprise a frangible or removableprotective membrane 80 to prevent release ofagent 66 prior to use during manufacture, shipping, storage, etc., of thetoothbrush 10. Themembrane 80 may also prevent premature drying out of anysuch agent 66. In some embodiments, the frangible membrane may be constructed or selected to break upon depression of thebutton 42 to allow release of theagent 66. In some embodiments, the membrane could be made to be easily removable such that it could be removed easily by a user prior to first use of thepump 50 of thetoothbrush 10. Alternatively, the frangible or removableprotective membrane 80 may be replaced with a removable plug. - The
toothbrush 10 is further illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 , which show a top plan view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention and a side plan section view of the active pump toothbrush of the present invention taken at line A-A ofFIG. 3 , respectively. It should be noted that other features such as, but not limited, to, a varying depth of the button to allow varying volumes of thebeneficial agent 66 to be dispensed could be added to thetoothbrushes 10 of the present invention. - Many variations on the above invention would be considered to be within the scope of the invention by one of ordinary skill in the art. In one such variation, fill windows (such as clear or at least partially transparent windows) could be added to the
handle portion 40 to indicate the amount of beneficial agent remaining in thetoothbrush 10. In still other embodiments, a second reservoir could be added to allow dispensing of two separatebeneficial agents 66. Such a second reservoir could be controlled by the sameflexible button 42, thus allowing concurrent dispensing of two discrete beneficial agents. Alternatively, the second reservoir could be controlled by use of a separate button (not illustrated) to enable separate or stepwise dispensing of the two agents. Thus, two beneficial agents could be dispensed from thetoothbrush 10 concurrently or separately from each other within the scope of the invention. Other additional reservoirs are also thus within the scope of the invention. - As discussed briefly above, a wide variety of
beneficial agents 66 may be dispensed from thereservoir 60 of thetoothbrushes 10 of the present invention. One general family of such agents includes, but is not limited to, dentifrice compositions such as tooth pastes, gels, and creams. Other beneficial agents could include whitening agents, therapeutic compositions, oxygen-generating agents, and breath-fresheners. Some such therapeutic compositions may include, without limitation, antibacterial agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and many other chemical entities suitable for oral administration. Suitable beneficial agents could also include agents which are not stable when mixed with a dentifrice composition for long periods of time. In such situations, the toothbrush could be used with a dose of the beneficial agent being dispensed together with a separately-provided dentifrice composition. Allowing the beneficial agent to be dispensed at the time of use could provide both the benefits of the dentifrice and the beneficial agent that would otherwise be unavailable to a user. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of analternate head portion 500 in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, thehead portion 500 includes, as described previously, a plurality ofbristles 22 embedded in thehead portion 500. In one embodiment, the bristle bottoms are placed in holes formed or bored in thehead portion 500. Positioned underneath thebristles 22 is one end of thereservoir 60 that extends from the handle portion (seeFIGS. 1-4 ) to thehead portion 500. - In one embodiment, the
head portion 500 may include a plurality ofemitters 24. As depicted, theemitters 24 comprise orifices or apertures that enable the flow of a beneficial agent from thereservoir 60 to the outer surface of thehead portion 500 and subsequently into the bristles. Although theemitters 24 as depicted are located in between bristles, the emitters may alternatively be formed in thehead portion 500 such that the flow of beneficial agent passes through one or more bristles. For example, each bristle may comprise a hollow tube configured to direct the flow of beneficial agent to the surface of the teeth. -
FIG. 6 is a side cross-section view illustrating an alternative embodiment of an active pump in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, thebutton 602 is formed of a rigid material and seated in the base of thehandle portion 604. In the depicted embodiment, thebutton 602 functions to pressurize thereservoir 606. Thebutton 602 may slideably engage interior surfaces of thehandle portion 604. - In a further embodiment, a
seal 608 is disposed between thebutton 602 and theinterior surfaces 610 of thehandle portion 604. One skilled in the art of forming substantially air tight seals will recognize that many substances and materials may be disposed between thebutton 602 and theinterior surfaces 610 of thehandle portion 604. Examples include, but are not limited to, rubber-based materials, petroleum-based jellies, various plastic membranes, etc. - The pump of
FIG. 6 may also include a biasing device in contact with the button such that a force is applied to cause the button to return to an extended or resting position. In one embodiment, the biasing device may comprise aspring 612. Thespring 612, in a further embodiment, may be attached at one end with astop 614 formed in thereservoir 606. Thestop 614, as depicted does not restrict the flow of air or other fluid away from thebutton 602. - The schematic flow chart diagram that follows is generally set forth as a logical flow chart diagram. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
-
FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method of actively pumping a beneficial agent through a head portion of a toothbrush in accordance with the present invention. Themethod 700 starts and atoothbrush 10 is provided 704 having anactive pump 50 integrated in the handle portion. Areservoir 60 is also provided 706 and configured to maintain abeneficial agent 66. Thereservoir 60 may be defined by a void or channel extending from the handle portion into the head portion. - The
method 700 continues and theactive pump 50 pressurizes 708 thereservoir 60 at which point the pressurized air drives 710 the plunger. The plunger forces 712 the beneficial agent through the emitter. Themethod 700 then ends 714. Although thetoothbrush 10 is contemplated to be a “throw-away” toothbrush, thetoothbrush 10 may become reusable simply by refilling the reservoir. - The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims (20)
1. A toothbrush comprising:
a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;
wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion; and
an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir towards the head portion and for exit through the emitter.
2. The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising a vent valve fluidly coupling the reservoir with ambient air such that a vacuum in the reservoir opens the vent valve until the pressure in the reservoir is substantially equal to the pressure of the ambient air.
3. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the active pump comprises a biased button fluidly coupled with the reservoir such that movement of the button pressurizes the reservoir.
4. The toothbrush of claim 4 , further comprising a button stop coupled to an interior surface of the reservoir and positioned such that the movement of the button is limited to a selected distance.
5. The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising a plunger disposed between the chamber and the reservoir, the plunger slidably engaging the reservoir such that as the chamber is pressurized the plunger travels away from the chamber and forces the beneficial agent through the emitter.
6. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of emitters coupled with the reservoir.
7. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a channel extending from the head portion into the handle portion.
8. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a collapsible bag extending from the head portion into the handle portion.
9. The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising a protective, removable membrane coupled with the emitter such that the membrane prevents premature drying of the beneficial agent.
10. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.
11. A toothbrush comprising:
a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;
wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion;
an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir to travel towards the head portion and exit through the emitter; and
a vent valve fluidly coupling the reservoir with ambient air such that a vacuum in the reservoir opens the vent valve until the pressure in the reservoir is substantially equal to the pressure of the ambient air.
12. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the active pump comprises a biased button fluidly coupled with the reservoir such that movement of the button pressurizes the reservoir.
13. The toothbrush of claim 11 , further comprising a button stop coupled to an interior surface of the reservoir and positioned such that the movement of the button is limited to a selected distance.
14. The toothbrush of claim 11 , further comprising a plunger disposed between the chamber and the reservoir, the plunger slidably engaging the reservoir such that as the chamber is pressurized the plunger travels away from the chamber and forces the beneficial agent through the emitter.
15. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of emitters coupled with the reservoir.
16. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the reservoir comprises a channel extending from the head portion into the handle portion.
17. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the reservoir comprises a collapsible bag extending from the head portion into the handle portion.
18. The toothbrush of claim 11 , further comprising a protective, removable membrane coupled with the emitter such that the membrane prevents premature drying of the beneficial agent.
19. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.
20. A method for delivering a beneficial agent through the head of a toothbrush using an active pump, the method comprising:
providing a toothbrush having:
a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;
wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion;
an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir to travel towards the head portion and exit through the emitter;
pressurizing the chamber;
driving a plunger disposed between the reservoir and the chamber; and
forcing the beneficial agent through the emitter.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/548,558 US20070086831A1 (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2006-10-11 | Active Pump Toothbrush |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US72559805P | 2005-10-11 | 2005-10-11 | |
US11/548,558 US20070086831A1 (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2006-10-11 | Active Pump Toothbrush |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070086831A1 true US20070086831A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 |
Family
ID=38049103
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/548,558 Abandoned US20070086831A1 (en) | 2005-10-11 | 2006-10-11 | Active Pump Toothbrush |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070086831A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007058716A2 (en) |
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US20080176183A1 (en) * | 2007-01-24 | 2008-07-24 | Gatzemeyer John J | Oral Care Implement Having Fluid Delivery System |
US20080223292A1 (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2008-09-18 | Jeremy Ling | Painting apparatuses and methods |
US20090100620A1 (en) * | 2007-10-22 | 2009-04-23 | Colgate-Palmolive | Oral Care Implement With Air Flossing System |
US20110067193A1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2011-03-24 | Richard Carl Olson | Toothbrush Device |
US20110214240A1 (en) * | 2010-03-04 | 2011-09-08 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Fluid dispensing oral care implement |
US20120110762A1 (en) * | 2010-11-09 | 2012-05-10 | Dutch Reese Williams | Combination toothbrush/toothpaste dental hygiene devices |
US8276538B2 (en) | 2007-03-14 | 2012-10-02 | Depingo, Llc | Painting apparatuses and methods |
EP2674063A3 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2015-04-29 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care system and method of using an oral care system |
US9131768B2 (en) | 2011-05-09 | 2015-09-15 | Sunstar Americas, Inc. | Dental hygiene device |
WO2015171132A1 (en) * | 2014-05-07 | 2015-11-12 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
WO2015171131A1 (en) * | 2014-05-07 | 2015-11-12 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
US9402700B2 (en) | 2011-03-09 | 2016-08-02 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Interdental cleaning device |
US9554641B2 (en) | 2012-10-26 | 2017-01-31 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
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US10849419B2 (en) | 2018-03-08 | 2020-12-01 | Olson Ip Technologies, Inc. | Oral care device |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007058716A3 (en) | 2007-12-06 |
WO2007058716A2 (en) | 2007-05-24 |
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