US2828504A - Gun-type toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent GUN-TYPE TOOTHBRUSH Erin Nugent, West Redding, Conn. Application February 21, 1955, Serial No. 489,405 Claims. (Cl. 15-184) This invention relates to brushes, and more particularly to a retractible and extendable brush.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brush, as for example, a toothbrush which, because of its unique construction, will stimulate the desire of children for brushing teeth.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush whose bristles are able to be concealed when not in use so that they will not be exposed to dirt.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having the desired advantages which is nevertheless economical to manufacture and simple to produce.

Other objects and advantages are set forth in greater detail in the accompanying specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of the toothbrush of the present invention with the brush in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectioned side view of the toothbrush of the present invention with the brush in extended position; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a retractible and extendable toothbrush consisting of a holder 11 having a bore 12. A plunger 13 is carried within the bore. Bristles comprising a brush 14 are disposed at one end of the plunger. The wall of the bore is provided with laterally extending holes 15 and 16, the hole 16 being spaced slightly to the rear of the bristles 14 as seen in Fig. 1 and the hole 15 being adjacent the rear end of the plunger 13 as viewed in this figure. The plunger has a recess 17 of substantially the same diameter as the holes 15 and 16 for the purposes hereinafter set forth. A coil spring 18 is secured to the rear of the bore and adapted to engage the end 19 of the plunger. A button 29 having a sloping, rearwardly-facing cam surface is disposed within the recess 17 of the plunger and is normally urged outward of the opening 15 in the bore by a coil spring 21. A longitudinal groove 22 is provided between the holes 15 and 16. The forward end of the holder is provided with a tapered portion 23. A movable housing 24 is secured above the tapered portion 23 and is normally urged downwardly about the pivot 25 by means of the coil spring 25a. A handle or laterally extending grip 26 is provided as shown, having a finger opening 27. A lever 28 is provided having a trigger 29 at one end thereof extending within the finger opening. The other end of the lever 30 abuts the base of the button 20, as shown.

The toothbrush in retracted position, shown in Fig. 1, is maintained in such position by the engagement of the forward end of the button with the forward side of the hole 15. The button is normally urged into such position by the coil spring 21. The housing 24 rests against the top of the bristles 14 concealing the brush portion of the toothbrush. In order to extend the toothbrush for use, the laterally extending grip 26 is held by the palm of the hand, and the trigger 29 is urged in the direction of the arrow by finger pressure through the finger opening 27. This action will cause the other end of the lever 30 to urge the button into the recess 17 against the action of the spring 21 allowing the spring 18 to urge the plunger 13 forwardly with the base of the button riding in the groove 22. When the button reaches the hole 16, the action of the coil spring 21 will urge said button outwardly and prevent further forward movement of the plunger 13 carrying the bristles 14. The brush portion 14 is in this position outside of the holder 11. The housing 24 is urged downwardly around the pivot 25 by the action of the coil spring 25a to close the forward end of the holder and to get that portion of the holder nearest the toothbrush out of the way so that it does not contact the mouth of the user. The toothbrush may be used for the cleaning of teeth in this position.

In order to retract the bristles and return them to their original position, the housing 24 is urged upwardly by pressing the finger piece 31. The plunger is urged rearwardly and the sloping rear surface of the button permits the latter to easily retract from the hole 16 and pass into the groove 22. The plunger is then urged further rearwardly against the action of the spring 18 toa position where the button again projects into hole 15 wherein it is locked maintaining the plunger in retracted position. The brush portion 14 is concealed within the housing 24 in this position.

It will be understood that While the invention has been described in some detail, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retractible and extendable toothbrush comprising a holder having a bore; a plunger slidable in said bore between extended and retracted position, said plunger having bristles on its outermost end portion constituting a brush; spring means for shifting the plunger to extended position; means including a detent member movably'carried by the plunger for locking the same in retracted position; and means including a lever carried by the holder for shifting said detent member to unlock the plunger and enable the spring means to project the plunger from the holder, said detent member having a sloping, rearwardly-facing cam surface and said holder having a shoulder engageable with the cam surface when the plunger is extended, thereby to provide a yieldable detent.

2. A retractible and extendable toothbrush comprising a holder having a bore; a plunger slidable in said bore between extended and retracted position, said plunger having bristles on its outermost end portion constituting a brush; spring means for shifting the plunger to extended position; means including a detent member movably carried by the plunger for locking the same in retracted position; said holder having a laterally extending grip portion, a finger opening in said grip portion, and a lever in said opening and carried by said holder for shifting said detent member to unlock the plunger and enable the spring means to project the plunger from the holder, said detent member having a sloping, rearwardly-facing cam surface and said holder having a shoulder engageable with the cam surface when the plunger'is extended, thereby to provide a yieldable detent.

3. A retractible and extendable toothbrush comprising a holder having a bore; a plunger slidable in said bore between extended and retracted position, said plunger having bristles on its outermost end portion constituting a brush; spring means for shifting the plunger to extended position; a spring charged detent button movably carried by the plunger for locking the same in retracted posi tion; and means including a lever carried by the holder for shifting said spring charged detent button to unlock the plunger and enable the spring means to project the plunger from the holder, said button having a" sloping, rearwardly-facing cam surface and said holder having a shoulder engageable with the cam surface when the plunger is extended, thereby toprovide a yieldabl'e detent.

4. A retractible and extendable toothbrush comprising a holder having a bore; a plunger slidable in said bore between extended and retracted position, said plunger having bristles on its outermost end portion constituting a brush; spring means for shifting the plunger to extended position; means including a detent member movably carried by the plunger for locking the same in retracted position; a pivoted housing at one end of said handle adapted to overlay said bristles; and means including a lever carried by the holder for shifting said detent memher to unlock the plunger and enable the spring means to project the bristles from said pivoted housing, said detent member having a sloping, rearwardly-facing cam surface and said holder having a shoulder engageable with the cam surface when the plunger is extended, thereby to provide a yieldable detent.

5. A retractible and extendable toothbrush comprising a holder having a bore; a plunger slidable in said bore between extended and retracted position, said plunger having bristles on its outermost end portion constituting a brush; spring means for shifting the plunger to extended position, said bore having two laterally extending holes in its wall, a longitudinal groove in said wall extending between said two holes; a spring biased detent button movably carried by said plunger and normally urged into one of said holes for locking the plunger in retracted position; a pivoted housing at one end of said holder adapted to overlay said bristles; said holder having a laterally extending grip portion, a finger opening in said grip portion, and a lever in said opening and carried by said holder for shifting said spring biased detent button and enabling the button to move along said groove into the other of said holes whereby the bristles are projected from said housing, said detent button having a sloping, rearwardlyfacing cam' surface and said holder having a rear wall at said other hole engageable with the cam surface when the plunger is extended, thereby to provide a yieldable detent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 175,198 Tasner et al July 19, 1955 380,080 Bouton et al Mar. 27, 1888 1,103,879 Hofiman July 14, 1914 1,259,603 Conord Mar. 19, 1918 2,544,130 Boothroyd Mar. 6, 1951 2,637,869 Tomlinson May 12, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 8 2,647 Austria Feb. 10, 1921

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