US20100067969A1

US20100067969A1 - Portable Toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US20100067969A1
Application number: US12/447,611
Authority: US
Inventors: Yun-Beum Kang
Original assignee: KOREAENER Co Ltd
Current assignee: KOREAENER Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-22
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Also published as: WO2008062935A1

Abstract

A portable hygienic toothbrush includes: a head part having toothbrush bristles; a trunk which is integrally formed with the head part and has a tube keeping groove formed at the trunk a toothpaste storing tube which is detachably assembled with the tube keeping groove and keeps toothpaste within the toothpaste storing tube; and an outer lid detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the trunk, wherein the toothpaste storing tube comprises a tube which has its own elastic force and includes a toothpaste storing groove for storing toothpaste formed at an interior of the tube; and a toothpaste dispensing cap detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of an toothpaste injection opening of the tube. The toothpaste storing tube filled with toothpaste and the toothpaste storing tube are detachably assembled with the interior of the trunk constituted in the toothbrush bar, and then the toothpaste storing tube and the toothpaste storing tube can be drawn out in use so as to dispense toothpaste to the toothbrush bristles. Therefore, the user can brush his/her teeth. When toothpaste is consumed, toothpaste can be again supplied to the toothbrush storing tube so that the user can use it until the bristles are deteriorated. Therefore, resources can be saved and toothpaste can be hygienically kept.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

In general, when a user uses public bath facilities while traveling or taking a business trip, the user has to have a separate toothbrush and toothpaste only for one time brushing of his/her teeth.
Due to such a difficulty, in typical lodging facilities or public bath facilities, a disposable toothbrush set, including a simply manufactured toothbrush and a tube-type receptacle containing a small amount of toothpaste, is provided to the user for their convenience. A toothbrush of such a disposable toothbrush set is coarsely manufactured in comparison with a typical toothbrush, and its hard toothbrush bristles cause the user to feel discomfort in the gums. Furthermore, most toothbrushes are disposable items consumed after being used once, thereby causing a waste of resources. Therefore, such a disposable toothbrush set has many uneconomic aspects.
In order to solve these problems, various types of disposable toothbrushes containing toothpaste have been suggested, but most such disposable toothbrushes containing toothpaste are disposable consumption articles having a structure which can not be used again after discharging toothpaste to be consumed, thereby causing a waste of resources.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a portable hygienic toothbrush, and more particularly a portable hygienic toothbrush, which includes a toothpaste storing tube filled with a proper amount of toothpaste, which is detachably assembled within a trunk of the tooth brush, so that the user can draw the toothpaste storing tube out of the tooth brush and dispense toothpaste contained in the tube onto the toothbrush bristles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention provides a portable hygienic toothbrush which includes toothpaste storing tube, which is filled with toothpaste, assembled with the interior of a trunk constituted in a toothbrush bar, so that the user uses the toothbrush by drawing the toothpaste storing tube from the toothbrush bar as necessary while carrying it. Therefore, the user can repeatedly use the toothbrush until toothbrush bristles become ineffective.

Technical Solution

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable hygienic toothbrush includes: a head part having toothbrush bristles a trunk which is integrally formed with the head part and has a tube keeping groove formed at the trunk a toothpaste storing tube which is detachably assembled with the tube keeping groove and keeps toothpaste in the interior of the toothpaste storing tube; and an outer lid detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the trunk, wherein the toothpaste storing tube comprises a tube which has its own elastic force and includes a toothpaste storing groove for storing toothpaste formed at an interior of the tube; and a toothpaste dispensing cap detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of an toothpaste injection opening of the tube.

Advantageous Effects

The toothpaste storing tube filled with toothpaste and the toothpaste storing tube are detachably assembled with the interior of the trunk constituted in the toothbrush bar, and then the toothpaste storing tube and the toothpaste storing tube are drawn out in use so as to dispense toothpaste to the toothbrush bristles. Therefore, the user can brush his/her teeth. After the user completes the brushing, the outer lid is closed so as to protect the toothbrush bristle, and the toothpaste storing tube and the toothpaste storing tube are kept in the trunk so as to be hygienically and stably protected. Furthermore, when toothpaste is consumed, toothpaste can be again supplied to the toothbrush so that the user can repeatedly use it until the bristles become ineffective. Therefore, resources can be saved and convenience can be provided to the user.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view illustrating a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention while being operated;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the first embodiment of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an assembled state of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views illustrating the portable hygienic toothbrush of FIG. 7 while being operated.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view illustrating a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a view of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention while being operated.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention includes a head part 10 having toothbrush 11 bristles on one side thereof, a toothbrush bar 20 which is integrally formed with the head part 10 and includes a trunk 14 having a tube keeping groove 13 formed at the interior thereof, and a toothpaste storing tube 30 which is kept in the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14 and contains toothpaste in the interior thereof.
At this time, the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14 has an inner protrusion 13 a extending from an inner circumferential edge spaced a proper distance from one end thereof, and an inner latching step 13 b is formed in the interior of the inner protrusion 13 a.
The toothpaste storing tube 30 includes a tube 32 having a toothpaste storing groove 31 for storing a proper amount of toothpaste formed at the interior thereof, an injection opening 40 integrally formed at the other end of the tube 32, an inner lid 50 detachably coupled with the injection opening 40, and an outer lid 60 detachably coupled with an outer circumferential part of the inner lid 50.
At this time, the tube 32 of the toothpaste storing tube 30 has own elastic force so as to dispense toothpaste kept in the interior thereof.
The injection opening 40 is integrally formed at the other end of the tube 32 so as to be communicated therewith and has vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42 corresponding to an outer circumferential edge of the tube 32 and horizontal locking grooves 43 and 44 formed in each opposite directions of the vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42.
The inner lid 50 has locking protrusions 52, which are assembled with the vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42 and the horizontal locking grooves 43 and 44, respectively, formed at an inner circumferential edge of one end of the inner lid 50. The inner lid 50 also has an inner latching step 54, in which the other end of the injection opening 40 is locked, formed at an inner circumferential edge of the inner lid 50, and a slanted protruding part 58, which has a toothpaste dispensing hole 58 a, formed at the central part of the other end of the inner lid 50.
The outer lid 60 includes an outer body 62 having an outer coupling groove 62 a to be inserted into a ring-shaped protruding part 58 of the inner lid 50 and an inner body 64 which is formed at the central part of the outer body 62 and has an inner coupling groove 64 a, which is assembled with the slanted protruding part 58 of the inner lid 50, formed at the central part of the interior of the inner body 64.
At this time, a horizontally holding part 66 is integrally formed at a portion of an outer circumferential edge of the outer body 62 of the outer lid 60.
The first outer latching step 70 is formed at an outer circumferential edge of the inner lid 50 while keeping a proper distance from the other end of the inner lid 50 so as to be locked in the inner latching step 13 b of the tube keeping groove 13. A plurality of outer latching jaws 72 are formed at an outer circumferential edge of the other end of the first outer latching step 70 so as to be locked in the inner protrusion 13 a of the tube keeping groove 13. The second outer latching step 74 is formed at an outer circumferential edge of the other end of the first outer latching step 70 so that one end of the trunk 14 is locked therein. Therefore, the trunk 14 is assembled with the inner lid 50.
At this time, the horizontal holding step 51 is formed at both sides of an outer circumferential edge of the second outer latching step 74 of the inner lid 50.
Meanwhile, a toothbrush cap 80 is detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 14 of the toothbrush bar 20 so as to protect the toothbrush bristles 11.
The toothbrush cap 80 has a pocket clip 81 having its own elastic force at an outer circumferential edge thereof so that the user can securely hold keep the toothbrush in a pocket, etc. The toothbrush cap 80 has a plurality of latching protrusions 82 protruding from an inner circumferential edge of the toothbrush cap 80 so as to be elastically locked in the latching protruding part 14 a formed at an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 14, and one end of the toothbrush cap 80 is locked in the latching step 14 b of an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 14. Therefore, the toothbrush cap 80 is assembled with the trunk 14.
Meanwhile, FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the assembled state of a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of the portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention while being operated.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a portable hygienic toothbrush according to the present invention includes a head part 90 having toothbrush bristles 91 at one side thereof, a toothbrush bar 100 which is integrally formed with the head part 90 and includes a trunk 96 having a tube keeping groove 94 formed at the interior thereof, and a toothpaste storing tube 200 which is kept in the tube keeping groove 110 of the trunk 96 and contains toothpaste in the interior thereof.
An outer lid 500 for protecting toothbrush bristles 91 is detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96 of the toothbrush bar 100.
The toothpaste storing tube 200 has a toothpaste storing groove 201 for storing a proper amount of toothpaste formed at the interior thereof, a tube 210 which has own elastic force and includes an air intercepting member 300 formed at one end thereof and a toothpaste injection opening 202 integrally formed at the other end thereof, and a toothpaste dispensing cap 400 detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the toothpaste injection opening 202 of the tube 210.
The air intercepting member 300 is integrally formed at one end of the tube 210, and includes a connecting opening 310 having an air hole 311 so as to be communicated with the toothpaste storing groove 94 and an air intercepting lid 320 detachably assembled with the connecting opening 310 so as to selectively cut off air.
The toothpaste injection cap 400 is detachably assembled with the toothpaste injection opening 202, and includes a trunk 420 having a protruding part 410 integrally formed therewith, which has a toothpaste injection hole 411 formed at the other end of the protruding part 410 so as to be communicated with the toothpaste injection opening 202, and an intercepting lid 430 integrally and elastically formed at the trunk 420 so as to intercept the toothpaste injection hole 411 of the protruding part 410.
At this time, a plurality of vertically slanted protrusions 421 are formed at an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 420 so as to be elastically coupled with an inner circumferential edge of the other side of the tube keeping groove 94 of the toothpaste bar 100. A latching step 422, in which the other end of the trunk 96 of the toothbrush bar 100 is locked, is formed at the outer circumferential edge of the upper part of the vertically slanted protrusion 421.
A holding piece 430 is formed at an external upper part of the trunk 420 of the toothpaste injection cap 400 so as to be held when the tube 210 is separated from the tube keeping groove 94.
Furthermore, a latching protrusion 94 a is formed at an inner circumferential edge of the tube keeping groove 94 so as to make close contact with the vertically slanted protrusion 421 of the toothpaste injection cap 400 and is locked therein, thereby preventing the separation of the tube 210.
A horizontal separation piece 431 is integrally formed at an outer circumferential edge of one side of the interception lid 430 so as to allow the interception lid 430 to be easily separated from the protruding part 410 of the toothpaste injection cap 400.
The toothbrush cap 500 has a pocket clip 510 having its own elastic force at an outer circumferential edge thereof so as to allow the user to securely hole the toothbrush in a pocket, etc. The toothbrush cap 500 has a latching protrusion 520 protruding from an inner circumferential edge thereof so as to be elastically locked in a latching protuberance 96 a formed at an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96, and one end of the toothbrush cap 500 is locked in a latching step 96 b of an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96. Therefore, the toothbrush cap 500 can be assembled.
A plurality of air ventilation holes 530 are formed at an outer circumferential edge of the toothbrush cap 500, so as to supply outer air to the toothbrush bristles 91.
The operation of the potable hygienic toothbrush as constructed as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the user separates the toothbrush storing tube 30, which is kept in the interior of the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14 included in the toothbrush bar 20, from the trunk 14, and can use the toothpaste.
Particularly, when the horizontally holding steps 51 of both sides of an outer circumferential edge of the second outer latching step 74 included in the inner lid 50 is held, and then the horizontally holding steps 51 are drawn out toward an external direction, the first outer latching step 70 of an outer circumferential edge of the inner lid 50 is separated from the inner latching step 13 b of the tube keeping groove 13, the outer latching jaw 72 is separated from the inner protrusion 13 a of the tube keeping groove 13, and the second outer latching step 74 is separated from one end of the trunk 14. Therefore, the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14 is separated from the inner lid 50.
In this state, a horizontally holding part 66 formed at one portion of the outer circumferential edge of the outer body 62 of the outer lid 60 is held and then is moved toward an upper direction.
Then, the outer coupling groove 62 a of the outer body 62 is separated from the ring-shaped protruding part 56 of the inner lid 60, and the inner coupling groove 64 a of the inner body 64 is simultaneously separated from the slanted protruding part 58, so that the toothpaste dispensing hole 58 a of the slanted protruding part 58 is exposed.
Then, when the tube 32 included in the toothpaste storing tube 30 is elastically pushed, a proper amount of toothpaste kept in the toothpaste storing groove 31 is dispensed through the injection opening 40 and the toothpaste discharging hole 58 a. Accordingly, the user places the dispensed toothpaste on the toothbrush bristles, and then brushes his/her teeth while holding the trunk 14 constituted in the toothbrush bar 20.
As such, when the brushing is finished, the slanted protruding part 58 is cut-off by the inner coupling groove 64 a of the inner body 64 so as to cover the toothpaste-discharging hole 58 a.
In this state, the inner lid 50 is assembled with the interior of the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14. As a result, the first outer latching step 70 of the outer circumferential edge of the inner lid 50 is locked in the inner latching step 13 b of the tube keeping groove 13, the outer latching jaw 72 is locked in the inner protrusion 13 a of the tube keeping groove 13, and the second outer latching step 74 makes close contact with one end of the trunk 14 so that the tube keeping groove 13 of the trunk 14 is coupled with the inner lid 50. Accordingly, the toothpaste storing tube 30 is kept in the tube keeping groove 13 so as to stay ready for the next use.
Meanwhile, the toothpaste contained in the tube 32 constituted in the toothpaste storing tube 30 is consumed, and the tube is supplied with toothpaste through the injection opening 40 integrally formed at a front portion of the tube 32.
Particularly, the inner lid 50 is rotated in one direction so as to allow the locking protrusion 52 of the inner lid 50 to be moved along horizontal locking grooves 43 and 44 of the injection opening 40 in a horizontal direction. Then, when the locking protrusion 52 is separated toward an upper direction along the vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42 of the injection opening 40 so that the injection opening 40 can be opened.
At this state, after the tube is filled with a proper amount of toothpaste through the injection opening 40 from the exterior, the locking protrusions 52 of the inner lid 50 are inserted in the vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42 of the injection opening 40, the locking protrusions 52 are moved toward a lower direction along the vertical insertion grooves 41 and 42, and then the inner lid 50 is rotated in the other direction. As a result, the locking protrusions 52 of the inner lid 50 are moved along the vertical locking grooves 43 and 44 in corresponding opposite directions, so that the injection opening 40 can be locked.
In this state, when the inner lid 50 is assembled with the outer lid 60, the toothbrush is completely assembled so that the toothbrush can be ready for the next use.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the operation of the hygienic toothbrush according to the first embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 10, the toothpaste storing tube 200 kept in the interior of the tube keeping case 94 of the trunk 96 is separated from the tube keeping case 94, and then the toothpaste contained in the interior of the tube keeping case 94 is dispensed onto the toothbrush bristles 91.
More particularly, the tube 210 constituted in the toothpaste storing tube 200 is separated from the tube keeping groove 94 by using the holding piece 430 formed at external upper portion of the trunk 420 of the toothpaste dispensing cap 400 constituted in the toothpaste storing tube 200.
In this state, the horizontal separation piece 431 of the interception lid 430 is held, and the interception lid 430 is elastically separated from the protruding part 410 of the toothpaste injection cap 400. As a result, the toothpaste dispensing hole 411 of the protruding part 410 is exposed.
The air interception lid 320 is separated from the connecting opening 310 of one end of the tube 210, the toothpaste dispensing hole 411 formed at the protruding part 410 of the intercepting lid 430 is positioned toward the toothbrush bristles 91, and the tube 210 is squeezed.
Then, while the tube 210 having own elastic force is pushed, toothpaste contained therein is dispensed to the toothbrush bristles 91 through the toothpaste dispensing hole 411 of the protruding part 410. Therefore, the user can brush his/her teeth in an easy manner.
As such, when the brushing is completed, the intercepting lid 430 is closed so as to cut off the toothpaste dispensing hole 411 formed at the protruding part 410 of the toothpaste injection cap 400, the air intercepting lid 320 is assembled with the connection opening 310 of one end of the tube 210, and then the tube 210 is assembled with the tube keeping groove 94 of the toothbrush bar 100.
A plurality of vertically slanted protrusions 421 formed at an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 420 constituted in the toothpaste storing tube 200 are elastically assembled with the inner circumferential edge of the other side of the tube keeping groove 94 of the toothbrush bar 100, and the other end of the trunk 96 of the toothbrush bar 100 is locked in the latching step 422 of the outer circumferential edge of each upper portion of the vertically slanted protrusions 421. In this state, the outer lid 500 is assembled with the trunk 96 of the toothbrush bar 100 so as to protect the toothbrush bristles 91.
Particularly, the latching protrusion 520 of the inner circumferential edge of the outer lid 500 is elastically locked in the latching protuberance 96 a of the outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96, and one end of the outer lid 500 is locked in the latching step 96 b of the outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96. Therefore, the outer lid 500 is assembled with the trunk 96 of the toothbrush bar 100.
At this time, the outer lid 500 has a pocket clip 510 formed at the outer circumferential edge thereof so as to allow the user to securely hold the toothbrush in a pocket, and a plurality of air ventilation holes 530 are formed at the outer circumferential edge of the outer lid 500 so as to supply outer air to the toothbrush bristles 91.
Meanwhile, after the user finishes brushing his/her teeth, the user can contain water in the interior of the tube keeping groove 94 of the toothbrush bar 100 or the outer lid 500 so as to rinse his/her mount with the contained water.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5 b, when the toothpaste contained in the interior of the toothpaste tube 200 is consumed, the toothpaste storing tube 200 is separated from the tube keeping groove 94, the toothpaste dispensing cap 400 is separated from the toothpaste injection opening 202 of the tube 210 constituted in the toothpaste storing tube 200, and through the toothpaste injection opening 202, the interior of the toothpaste storing groove 201 of the tube 210 is filled with a proper amount of the toothpaste.
At this time, the air hole 311 formed at the connection opening 310 of one end of the tube 210 is exposed so that inner air can be rapidly dispensed through the air hole 311. Therefore, the interior of the tube 210 can be filled with the toothpaste.

Claims

1. A portable hygienic toothbrush comprising:

a head part 90 having toothbrush bristles 91;

a trunk 96 which is integrally formed with the head part 90 and has a tube keeping groove 94 formed at the trunk 96;

a toothpaste storing tube 200 which is detachably assembled with the tube keeping groove 94 and keeps toothpaste in the interior of the toothpaste storing tube; and

an outer lid 500 detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 96,

wherein the toothpaste storing tube 200 comprises a tube 210 which has its own elastic force and includes a toothpaste storing groove 201 for storing toothpaste formed at an interior of the tube, and a toothpaste dispensing cap 400 detachably assembled with an outer circumferential edge of an toothpaste injection opening 202 of the tube 210.

2. The portable hygienic toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air interception member 300 comprises a connection opening 310, which is integrally formed at one end of the tube 210 and has air holes 311 so as to be communicated with the tube keeping groove 94, and an air interception lid 320 which is detachably assembled with the connection opening 310 so as to selectively cut off air.

3. The portable hygienic toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispensing cap 400 comprises a trunk 420 which is detachably assembled with the toothpaste injection opening 202 and has a protruding part 410, which has a toothpaste discharging hole 411 so as to be communicated with the toothpaste injection opening 202, integrally formed at the other end of the trunk 420 and an interception lid 430 which is elastically included in the trunk 420 so as to intercept the toothpaste discharging hole 411 of the protruding part 410.

4. The portable hygienic toothbrush as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of vertically slanted protrusions 421 are formed at an outer circumferential edge of the trunk 420, and a latching step 422 is formed at an outer circumferential edge of each upper part of the vertically slanted protrusions 421.

5. The portable hygienic toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer lid 500 includes a plurality of air ventilation holes 530 formed at an outer circumferential edge of the outer lid 500 so as to supply outer air to the toothbrush bristles 91.