US3308836A - Toothpaste cartridge and brush - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1967 w. c. JOINES TOOTHPASTE CARTRIDGE AND BRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1964 INVENTOR William C. Joines BY W ATTORNmQ March 14, 1967 JONE 3,308,836:

TOOTHPASTE CARTRIDGE AND BRUSH Filed June 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8.

INVENTOR William C. Joines BY vxww ATTORNEY? United States Patent O Wyo.

Filed June 19, 1964, Ser. No. 376,406 6 Claims. (Cl. 13284) This invention is a novel combined toothpaste cartridge and toothbrush particularly appealing to and being adapted for use by children or juveniles, the toothbrush simulating a toy pistol and having a hollow brush head at one end carrying the bristles and having an outlet therein at the base of the bristles for the toothpaste, the end of the head opposite from the bristles having an externally and internally shaped conical portion, the external portion of which engages the correspondingly-shaped end of a pistolbarrel simulating portion clamped therearound, which barrel portion is adapted to receive therein a replaceable toothpaste cartridge having its discharge end engaging the internal walls of the conical portion of the head; said cartridge containing toothpaste and having plunger means for forcing the toothpaste from the cartridge into the hollow brush head; and said barrel having pivotally attached thereto a pistol-butt simulating portion whereby the buttportion may be swung away from alignment with the barrel-portion to permit insertion or removal of the cartridge in the barrel.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a combination of a disposable and replaceable toothpaste cartridge and a pistol simulating toothbrush forming a compact unit making it more desirable for children to brush their teeth throughout the day in order to help preserve the teeth and freshen the breath. The toothpaste is contained in the replaceable cartridge which is replaceable in the pistol-barrel. The paste is forced through a bore in the stem of the brush head and discharged into the center of the bristles of the brush by means carried by and forming part of the cartridge, upon rotating a knob at the exposed end of the cartridge. The disposable and replaceable cartridge is purchaseable at drugstores or the like and the'cartridge fits within the barrel of the pistol. When the paste is exhausted, the old cartridge is simply removed from the pistol-barrel and discarded, and then a new paste containing cartridge is inserted in the barrel and is ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel toothpaste cartridge which may be sold as a unit in drugstores or the like and insertable directly in the barrel of pistol portion, the cartridge being formed of plastic material, such as acetate, nylon, or other clear plastic, and being closed at one end and open at the other, the cartridge having a screw shaft preferably of the same material disposed axially therein, and having a head extending through the closed end of the cartridge and carrying a knob whereby the shaft may be rotated to move a plunger mounted on the shaft towards the open end, the cartridge when purchased being filled with toothpaste and the open end thereof being closed by a temporary cap which may be discarded when the open end of the cartridge is slipped into the open end of the brush head and frictionally retained therein by slip-fit.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and used the same; and I will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

338,836 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 ice FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my pistol simulating toothbrush showing the parts in normal operative position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the parts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the parts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the cartridge removed from the barrel, and showing the pistol-butt portion swung out of normal axial alignment with the barrel portion to permit removal or insertion of the cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 77, FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88, FIG. 3.

As shown in the drawings, my novel toothbrush comprises a combined disposable and replaceable toothpaste cartridge 1 (FIG. 5), and a pistol simulating toothbrush (FIG. 1), the toothpaste cartridge 1 (FIGS. 3 and 5) being sold as a unit in drug-stores or the like and adapted in use to fit within the handle of the toothbrush, the cartridge being adapted to contain toothpaste in its bore of desired kind. The cartridge 1 and toothbrush are preferably of acetate or nylon, or other clear plastic material.

As shown in FIG. 3, within the bore of the cartridge 1 is a screw shaft 3, also preferably formed of acetate or nylon or other clear plastic material, extending the full length thereof and having an enlarged head 3a at its outer end passing through a bore 1a in the closed outer end of the cartridge, the portion 311 of the shaft 3 extending beyond the closed end of the cartridge and receiving a knob 4, also preferably formed of acetate or nylon, which knob 4 as shown is substantially dome-shaped having a central bore 4a receiving the extended portion 3b of the shaft 3 which has a press fit within the bore 4a so as to be securely attached thereto, whereby upon rotation of the knob 4 the shaft 3 will be correspondingly rotated.

Slidably mounted within the bore of the cartridge 1 is a plunger 5, also preferably formed of acetate or nylon or other clear plastic material, having a tapped bore receiving the threads of the shaft 3, whereby rotation of the shaft 3 will move the plunger 5 axially from the closed end of the cartridge towards the open end thereof. Preferably a longitudinal rib 10, FIG. 3, is provided in the bore of the cartridge 1 engaging a groove in the wall of the plunger 5 to prevent rotation of the plunger 5 with the shaft 3 as the latter is rotated, thereby insuring axial movement of the plunger within the bore as the knob 4 is turned.

When the cartridge 1 is purchased at the drugstore the plunger 5 would be retracted adjacent the closed end of the cartridge, and the bore of the cartridge filled with toothpaste up to the outer open end thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer open end of the cartridge 1 is reduced in size as at 1d and furthermore is tapered slightly, and when the cartridge is purchased at the drugstore the open end would be closed by a temporary cap (not shown) also preferably formed of acetate or nylon or other clear plastic material, said temporary cap having a tapered bore receiving the tapered end 1d of cartridge 1 so that the cap will have a slip-fit on the end of the cartridge, but may be removed therefrom by a slight outward pull.

As above stated, the cartridge 1 is filled with toothpaste and normally closed by the temporary cap and is purchasable in drugstores or the like; and when in use the cartridge will fit within the head 2 of the pistol simulating toothbrush, which head 2 is also formed of acetate or nylon or other clear plastic material. Head 2 comprises a stem portion having at its inner end an enlarged cartridge receiving socket portion 2a which is slightly tapered internally and externally and conforms with the J9 taper of the outer open end 1d of the cartridge 1 so that when the temporary cover of the filled cartridge 1 has been removed the tapered end 1d of the cartridge will be insertable directly into the tapered socket portion 2a of the toothbrush head 2 and will make a slip-fit with the internally tapered walls thereof to frictionally secure the cartridge 1 to the brush head 2, as shown in FIG. 3.

At the outer end of the toothbrush head 2, as shown, are bristles 2a, and the head 2 is hollow as at 2e throughout most of its length from the end portion 2a, the hollow portion 2e terminating as at 21 at a point adjacent the center of the bristles 2d, so that the paste from the cartridge 1 may be forced by rotation of the knob 4 from the outer open end of the cartridge 1 through the hollow portion 2e2f of the brush head 2 and deposited in desired amount at the base of the bristles 2d of the brush. Preferably the bristles 2d are formed of nylon, and are inserted or punched into the brush head 2 after the head is molded, but may be formed of any other desired material and secured to the brush head 2 in any other desired manner.

Thus the cartridge 1 may be used until its contents are emptied, i.e., until the plunger 5 has reached the outer end of the shaft 3, whereupon the empty cartridge 1 may be readily removed from the brush head 2 and a new filled cartridge 1 inserted in its place, after removal of its temporary cap.

As shown in the drawings, around the cartridge 1 when the latter is attached to the brush head 2, is a pistol simulating barrel 6 of somewhat shorter length than the cartridge 1 having an internal diameter suflicient to permit the cartridge to be inserted therethrough to engage the brush head 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2. and 3, the barrel 6 is formed of two complementary halves which are secured together by pins 6a, 6b (FIG. 3) when assembled with the brush head 2, and the bore of the barrel 6 at the end adjacent the brush head 2 is conically formed as at 60, FIG. 3, to engage the correspondingly shaped exterior conical wall 2a of the hollow head of the brush 2 so that when the halves of the barrel 6 are clamped together around the end of the brush head 2 the same will be securely locked thereto by the pins 6a6b or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the opposite end 'of the barrel 6 is provided with recesses 6d which are disposed'diametrically apart to assist in removal of an emptied cartridge 1 from the barrel 6, the recesses 6d enabling the finger and thumb of the hand of the user to grasp the sides of the cartridge 1 during such removal.

At the front of the barrel portion 6 disposed axially of the brush head 2., is a sight simulating projection 6e which may be molded integrally with one of the halves of the barrel 6. At the center of the barrel 6 at the lower periphery thereof is a perforated ear 6 FIGS. 3 and 7, to which is pivoted the pistol-butt simulating portion hereinafter described.

As shown in the drawings, the pistol butt simulating portion is composed of complementary halves 7 formed of plastic material, such as acetate, nylon or other clear plastic, which when fitted together are secured by integral rivets 7a (FIGS. 3 and 8) on one of the halves 7 engaging sockets 7b on the other half to lock the halves together. Each half contains a butt portion 70, a trigger portion 7d, a trigger guard portion 72, and also a hammer simulating portion 71, as shown in the drawings.

The pistol-butt simulating portion 7 normally extends forwardly under and parallel with the barrel 6 to a point beyond the perforated ear 6), as shown in FIG. 3, and one of the halves 7 carries an integral pin 7g, FIGS. 3 and 7, which passes through the perforated ear 6 so that the pistol simulating portion 7 may be swung downwardly as shown in FIG. 5 out of parallel relation with the barrel 6 to permit entry or removal of an empty cartridge 1 from the barrel 6, the pistol-butt portion 7 normally being in the position shown in FIG. 1, i.e., in alignment with or parallel with the barrel portion 6.

As shown, the hammer simulating portion 7} is spaced somewhat behind the knob of the cartridge 1 when the cartridge is positioned in the barrel 6, to enable the knob 4 to be rotated when the parts are in normal position to force the toothpaste from the cartridge into the brush head 3.

When it is desired to place or remove the cartridge 1 from the barrel 6, it is only necessary to pivot the pistolbutt simulating portion 7 into the position shown in FIG. 5, whereby the cartridge 1 may be inserted or removed axially of the barrel 6. When'so positioned therein, the butt portion 7 would be returned to normal position shown in FIG. 1.

Thus, I have provided a novel pistol simulating toothbrush in which the barrel simulating portion of the pistol receives a replaceable or throwaway cartridge 1 whereby when the contents of one cartridge has been emptied the entire cartridge may be thrown away and a new cartridge purchased in a drugstore or the like and inserted in place thereof in the barrel, the cartridge so purchased containing the plunger 5, screw 3 and knob 4 necessary to force the toothpaste from the filled cartridge 1 into the brush head 2. In this manner the cartridge 1 may be sold as a separate item from the brush head 2 and pistol portions 6 and 7; and the cartridge is disposable, so that when emptied a filled cartridge is easily replaceable in the barrel 6 of the pistol simulating toothbrush.

By forming the parts of acetate or nylon or other clear plastic material substantially all members of the toothbrush and cartridge may be formed by injection molding.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a toothbrush head having bristles adjacent one end, the other end terminating in an enlarged conical socket having tapered internal walls, said head having a bore therein communicating with the socket and discharging at the base of the bristles; a barrel portion extending from the socket and having its outer end open; a disposable and replaceable toothpaste-containing cartridge removably housed in the barrel and having its outer end closed and having its inner end open and tapered and making a slip-fit with the internal walls of the socket, said cartridge extending beyond the open end of the barrel; means carried by the cartridge for forcing the toothpaste therefrom to the base of the bristles, and a pistol-butt simulating portion pivotally connected to the underside of the barrel portion and normally extending parallel therewith, said butt portion including a hammer simulating portion normally aligned with the barrel portion but spaced from the outer end of the cartridge, whereby said butt simulating portion may be swung to bring the hammer portion out of alignment with the barrel to permit in sertion and withdrawal of a cartridge from the barrel.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said means comprising a screw shaft disposed axially within the cartridge and extending to the open end thereof, the inner end of the shaft being journaled in and extending through the closed end of the cartridge; a knob on the extended end of the shaft for rotating the same; and a non-rotatable plunger threaded on the shaft within the cartridge.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said brush head, barrel, pistol butt simulating portion, cartridge, and forcing means being formed of plastic material.

4. In combination, a toothbrush head having bristles adjacent one end, the other end terminating in an enlarged conical socket having tapered internal and external walls, said head having a bore therein communicating with the socket and discharging at the base of the bristles; a barrel portion consisting of complementary halves clamped at one end around the external walls ofthe socket and having its outer end open; a disposable and replaceable toothp te-something cartridge removably housed in the barrel and having its outer end closed and having its inner end open and tapered and making a slip-fit with the internal walls of the socket, said cartridge extending beyond the open end of the barrel; means carried by the cartridge for forcing the toothpaste therefrom to the base of the bristles, and a pistol-butt simulating portion pivotally connected to the underside of the barrel portion and normally extending parallel therewith; said butt portion including handle, trigger, trigger guard and hammer simulating portions, said hammer simulating portion being normally aligned with the barrel portion but spaced from the outer end of the cartridge, whereby said butt simulating portion may be swung to bring the hammer, portion out of alignment with the barrel to permit insertion and withdrawal of a cartridge from the barrel.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said means comprising a screw shaft disposed axially within the cartridge and extending to the open end thereof, the inner end of the shaft being journaled in and extending through References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,140 11/1925 Coleman 132-84 1,907,839 5/1933 Lefever 222-79 3,141,465 7/ 1964 Petr-opoulos 132-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 349,626 6/1937 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. G. MCN-EILL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A TOOTHBRUSH HEAD HAVING BRISTLES ADJACENT ONE END, THE OTHER END TERMINATING IN AN ENLARGED CONICAL SOCKET HAVING TAPERED INTERNAL WALLS, SAID HEAD HAVING A BORE THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE SOCKET AND DISCHARGING AT THE BASE OF THE BRISTLES; A BARREL PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE SOCKET AND HAVING ITS OUTER END OPEN; A DISPOSABLE AND REPLACEABLE TOOTHPASTE-CONTAINING CARTRIDGE REMOVABLY HOUSED IN THE BARREL AND HAVING ITS OUTER END CLOSED AND HAVING ITS INNER END OPEN AND TAPERED AND MAKING A SLIP-FIT WITH THE INTERNAL WALLS OF THE SOCKET, SAID CARTRIDGE EXTENDING BEYOND THE OPEN END OF THE BARREL; MEANS CARRIED BY THE CARTRIDGE FOR FORCING THE TOOTHPASTE THEREFROM TO THE BASE OF THE BRISTLES, AND A PISTOL-BUTT SIMULATING PORTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BARREL PORTION AND NORMALLY EXTENDING PARALLEL THEREWITH, SAID BUTT PORTION INCLUDING A HAMMER SIMULATING PORTION NORMALLY ALIGNED WITH THE BARREL PORTION BUT SPACED FROM THE OUTER END OF THE CARTRIDGE, WHEREBY SAID BUTT SIMULATING PORTION MAY BE SWUNG TO BRING THE HAMMER PORTION OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE BARREL TO PERMIT INSERTION AND WITHDRAWAL OF A CARTRIDGE FROM THE BARREL.

Images