US3021850A - Cartridge toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1962 D, c. SMITH ETAL 3,021,850

CARTRIDGE TooTHBRUsH Filed April 22, 1959 David C, Smith Richard E Mikes INVENTORS WWW HMM,

United States Patent @Hice 3,@Zl50 Patented Feb. 2G, 1962 3,621,854) CARTRiDGE TGTHBRUSH David C. Smith, 1336 Brown St., Des Plaines, Ill., and Richard F. Mikes, Chicago, Ill.; said Richard F. Mikes assigner to said David C. Smith Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,163 S Claims. (Cl. 132-84) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toothbrushes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of this character having embodied therein a novel pressurized supply of tooth paste.

Another veryimportant object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush of the aforementioned character comprising unique means for controlling the discharge of the paste to the bristles.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a cartridge toothbrush of the character set forth comprising automatic sealing means whereby any paste ejected from the cartridge and remaining in the forward portion of the brush after use, will be prevented from drying, hardening and clogging the device.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cartridge toothbrush of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compart, of light weight, sanitary, attractive in appearance and which maybe manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the cartridge in retracted position and closed;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view substantially similar to FIGURE l but showing the cartridge in discharging position;

FIGURE 3 is a view in transverse section through the head, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a reduced view 'in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it wilt be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubular handle 5 of suitable dimensions and material. Formed integrally with the tubular handle 5, on the forward end thereof, is a head 6. The head 6 includes a back 7 having embedded therein bristle tufts S.

The tubular handle 5 provides a cylindrical chamber for the reception of a charged or pressurized tooth paste cartridge 9. At its forward end, this cartridge chamber 10 is substantially conical, providing what may be considered a cam 11. Communicating with the chamber 10 through the substantially conical portion 11 thereof is a longitudinal passage 12 in the back 7 of the head 6. The passage or bore 12 terminates in an enlarged, down- Wardly extending forward end portion or outlet 13 for discharging the tooth paste from the cartridge 9 among the bristles 8. Mounted in the passage or bore 12 is a resilient tube 14. The inner end of the resilient tube 14 is provided with a self-closing inlet slit 15. The forward end of the tube 14 has formed therein a similar discharge slit 16. The slit 16 communicates with the outlet 13 of the passage or bore 12.

The cartridge 9 is provided on its forward end with a laterally swingable nozzle 17 which actuates a springloaded control valve (not shown) in said cartridge. Also mounted on the forward end portion of the cartridge 9 and encircling the nozzle 17 is a coiled spring 18. The spring 18 is adapted to seat in the conical portion 11 of the chamber 10.

Threadedly mounted on the rear end portion of the tubular handle 5 is a removable cap 19. The cap 19 has formed therein a central opening 20. .A thumb actuated plunger 21 is operable in the opening 20 behind the cartridge 9.

It is thought that the use of the toothbrush will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the spring 1S, seated in the conical cam portion 11 of the chamber itl, yieldingly retains the cartridge 9 in retracted position as seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. When a quantity of the paste in the cartridge 9 is desired, the plunger 21 is actuated, thus pushing said cartridge forwardly against the tension of the spring 18. The nozzle 17 engages and rides on the cam 1li, thus opening the cartridge 9 for permitting the paste to be ejected therefrom. The cone 11 guides the nozzle 17 into the tube 14 through the slit 15 thereof for discharging the paste into said tube, From the tube 1li the paste passes through the slit 1t? into the outlet 13 and is" discharged among the bristles 8 in an obvious manner. When the plunger 21 is released the cartridge 9 is immediately retracted by the spring 18 and the nozzle 17 returns -to the position of FIGURE 1 of the drawing, thus closing said cartridge. As the nozzle 17 is withdrawn from the tube 14 the self-closing slit cleans the tip of said nozzle and seals the rear end of said tube. The self-closing slit it? automatically seals the forward end of the tube 14 when the pressure ceases, thus preventing the paste in said tube from drying and hardening.

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 modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fountain-type toothbrush comprising, in combination, a bristle equipped head having a longitudinally bored passage with an outlet for toothpaste at one end and a toothpaste intake at the other end, a tubular handle rigidly connected at a forward end to an adjacent rearward end of the head, said handle embodying an elongated hollow portion defining a chamber for an insertable and removable cartridge having a valve at one end and charged with pressurized toothpaste, the forward end of said chamber communicating operatively with the intake end of the passage by a duct having sloping side walls which comprise camming means, the longitudinal axes of said chamber and said bored passage being substantially parallel and offset from one another and connected by said duct, said chamber being of a length substantially equal to the length of said handle and greater than the length of the cartridge so that when the cartridge is inserted and fitted into the chamber it and the valves are capable of being slid toward and from said camming means for causing the camming means to operate the valve means, said handle being open at the rearward end to allow the cartridge to be inserted into or removed from the chamber, and manually actuatable chamber-closing and cartridge actuating means for actuating and sliding the cartridge toward the camming means and alternatively releasing it for movement in a direction away from the camming means.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and in combination, a separate pressurized toothpaste containing member comprising said cartridge removably mounted in said chamber and being provided at its discharge end with a valved spring-loaded nozzle comprising said valve which is normally closed, the tip portion ofl said nozzle engaging and sliding against the camming means when said cartridge is moved toward said head whereby the nozzle istilted laterally with respect to the axispof the cartridge and said valved nozzle is connected withV the interior of said cartridge, the camming means serving to guide the tip o the nozzle into communicating and sealing relationship inrespect to the intake of theaforementioned passage.

3. A fountain-type toothbrush comprising, in combination, a. bristle-equipped head having a longitudinally bored passage therein for reception of` toothpaste under pressure, said' passage having an outlet at the forward end4 thereof to deliver the toothpaste to the bristles, the rearward end of said passage providing an intake for toothpaste, a tubular handle having a forward end fixed to a rearward end of the head, and being openatits rearward end, said handle having an elongated hollow portion delining a chamber, substantially all of the for ward end' of said chamber being conical infcross-sectiqn andthe surface of the conical portion providing a cam surfaceLthe apical portion of the cam surface registering and communicating with the intake of the passage in said head, a removable cap provided on the rearward end ofY the handle and cooperatingwith and closing the adjacent end, of the chamber and provided with a central opening, and a thumb actuated plunger reciprocabley in said opening, aV portion of the plunger extending into the chamber and being adapted vto engage a cooperating end portion of a tube of toothpaste Vfor moving `it toward :said cam surface.

4. The structure deiined in claim 3 and in combination, a..V readily insertabler and removahlearlidg S593-, rate from said handlevembodyiug a tube of toothpaste charged with pressurizing media, said cartridge being of a length less than the chamber and capable of sliding back and forth in the chamber-'between the plunger and conical camming surface, the forwardf end of said cartridge havingra laterally tiltable valved nogzle'mounted IVthereon, the tip of said nozzle` having sliding andcamming cooperation with said camming surface, the camrnirig surface serving when the cartridge is moved forwardly to tilt and guide the discharge tipof the nozzle into communicating relation with the intake of the aforementioned passage, andi a' spring in saidchamber., for movingl said cartridge rearwardly, Saidplunge? being 5.206119llf with the end-ofthe Cartridgeadjacent thereto, J

5. The structure defined in claim 4 and in combination, a resilienttubeiitting within said bored passage having a self closingr inlet-- at saidintake for toothpaste and a sel@ closingv discharge at said outlet, said nozzle automatically guided intosaid inlet bysaid cam surface for Opening same when Said cartridge, is moved fDWe' Said passage-by Said plunger.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNrreD ewes PATENTS-

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