US3917420A

US3917420A - Disposable toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US3917420A
Application number: US408506A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-23
Filing date: 1973-10-23
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

A disposable toothbrush having a one-piece body, bristles and dentifrice holder. The dentifrice holder is flexible, generally tubular in construction and pliant enough for normal brushing action to squeeze the dentifrice therefrom. The dentifrice holder is positioned within the bristles such that the discharging dentifrice is readily picked up by the bristles.

Description

" United States Patent Watson 5] Nov. 4, 1975 1 DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH 3,432,245 3/1969 Hudson 401/132 [76] Inventor: George Watson, 2159 3,589,823 6/1971 Hendnckson 401/287 Downington Ave Salt L k Ci FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Utah 84108 401,378 4/1966 Switzerland 132/84 R 22 F1 1 led Oct 1973 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles [21] Appl. No.: 408,506 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Criddle & Thorpe 52 us. c1. 1. 401/286; 401/132; 132/84 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A46B 11/02 A disposable toothbrush having a one-piooo y, [58] Field of Search 401/286-288, bristles and n ifri e hol r. The n fri h l r i 401 /132, 28; 132/84 flexible, generally tubular in construction and pliant enough for normal brushing action to squeeze the den- [56] Reference Cit d tifrice therefrom. The dentifrice holder is positioned UNITED STATES PATENTS within the bristles such that the discharging dentifrice 1,988,557 1/1935 Jecker 401/287 x readlly plcked up by the bnstles 3,316,580 5/1967 Tebbs 401/132 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fi ure Patent Nov. 4, 1975 il iil DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to brushes for use in cleaning teeth and particularly to low-cost disposable brushes.

2. Prior Art The desirability of a low cost, disposable toothbrush has long been recognized, and a number of brushes have been proposed in the past. The disposable brushes with which I am familiar have had a sponge scrubbing surface impregnated with dentifrice and a rigid handle, or have been made of a composite of materials. Because of the manner in which they are constructed and assembled, the disposable toothbrushes with which I am familiar have been too costly. Also, because the dentifrice used does not stay fresh or is not arranged for convenient dispensing, the brushes have not been entirely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a toothbrush that can be conveniently formed of low cost materials in a single molding operation and that will include a dentifrice holder from which dentifrice will be conveniently and automatically dispensed during a brushing operation.

Other objects are to provide a disposable toothbrush that can be easily equipped with a moist dentifrice and with the dentifrice holder being constructed such that the bulk of the dentifrice will be kept in a moist usable condition for an extended period of time.

Principal features of the invention include a onepiece handle, bristle and dentifrice dispenser construction, all made out of economical plastic material and formed in a single molding operation.

The handle is made rigid and the bristles and the dentifrice holder are flexible. The dentifrice holder is made hollow and has a small orifice opening through which dentifrice is inserted into the holder and through which the dentifrice is discharged during a brushing operation.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawing, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE is a perspective view, taken from above and at one end and looking down onto the bristles and dentifrice holder and dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the disposable invention is shown generally at 10.

The brush is made of one piece and preferably is injection molded out of polyethylene or other suitable low cost plastic material.

Brush 10, includes a handle 11, which is made sufficiently rigid to allow the brush to be held and manipulated, rows of bristles 12, formed of the same plastic as the handle 11, but made pliant enough to bend on the handle during use, thereby avoiding damage to tender mouth tissue. The bristles 12 project, in rows from the end of one face of handle 11, and are preferably tapered inwardly from the handle outwardly to their tips.

A dentifrice holder and dispenser 13 also projects from the face of the handle from which the bristles extend. Like the bristles, the dentifrice holder and dispenser is made pliant and will bend during use of the brush. The holder and dispenser 13 is made .hollow and is ofa generally conical configuration, with the base at the handle and the tip at about the plane of the bristle tips. A small opening 14 at the tip ,provides access to the interior of the holder and dispenser, and the interior of the holder and dispenseris enlarged to provide a storage area for enough dentifrice to insure proper brushing.

The holder and dispenser 13 is positioned on the longitudinal center line of the handle and preferably be tween the row of bristles at the end of the handle and the next adjacent row.

In use, the air-tight package (not shown), in which the toothbrush is dispensed to insure sanitation, is first removed. Thereafter, the brush is used in conventional fashion by moving it back and forth, up and down, or in circular motions, with respect to the teeth. As the brush is moved, the bristles clean the teeth in conventional fashion, bending as necessary for clearance and straightening to move into recesses and openings. The dentifrice holder and dispenser acts as a bristle, bending and straightening, and with the tip moving into recesses and openings. However, as the holder and dispenser is bent and as it is moved over the teeth in its bent condition, the dentifrice, contained therein is squeezed through the opening 14 to be picked up by the bristles and to be used in the cleaning operation. The positioning of the holder and dispenser 13 between the rows of bristles, as specified, insures maximum movement of the holder and dispenser over the teeth and maximum discharge of the dentifrice contained therein.

The small opening 14 provides a means whereby dentifrice 15 can be injected into the holder and dispenser 13 during production of the toothbrush 10, and through which dentifrice can be expelled, as has been heretofore described. After the dentifrice has been injected into the holder and dispenser, a small portion of the dentifrice at the opening 14 will dry out to some extent, thereby keeping air from getting into the larger interior of the holder and dispenser to dry out the bulk of the dentifrice. Naturally, the air tight package (not shown) will also limit the amount of dentifrice that may dry out, but in any event, only a relatively small portion at opening 14 can harden.

The toothbrush herein described is a very low cost item, even if made of bio-degradable plastic, since it is readily produced with a single molding process. It is complete and ready for use, even including its own supply of fresh dentifrice, and it can be readily handled.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

I claim:

1. A disposable toothbrush comprisin a substantially rigid handle;

pliant bristles projecting from one end of one face of the handle;

a pliant dentifrice holder and dispenser formed as one piece projecting from the said face of the handle, between the bristles, said holder and dispenser having a hollow body closed by the said face of the handle and a tip substantially on a plane with tips of the bristles and a small opening through the ti'p' into the hollow body; and

dentifrice in said hollow body and extending into the 5 opening at the tip thereof.

2. A disposable toothbrush as in claim 1, wherein the cavity of the hollow body is enlarged with respect to the opening through the tip.

3. A disposable toothbrush as in claim 1, wherein next adjacent row.

Claims

1. A disposable toothbrush comprising a substantially rigid handle; pliant bristles projecting from one end of one face of the handle; a pliant dentifrice holder and dispenser formed as one piece projecting from the said face of the handle, between the bristles, said holder and dispenser having a hollow body closed by the said face of the handle and a tip substantially on a plane with tips of the bristles and a small opening through the tip into the hollow body; and dentifrice in said hollow body and extending into the opening at the tip thereof.

3. A disposable toothbrush as in claim 1, wherein the handle, bristles and pliant dentifrice holder and dispenser are all formed of one piece of plastic material.

4. A disposable toothbrush as in claim 3, wherein the cavity of the hollow body is enlarged with respect to the opening Through the tip.

5. A disposable toothbrush as in claim 4, wherein the bristles are in rows; and the holder and dispenser is positioned on the central longitudinal axis of the handle and between the row of bristles nearest the end of the handle and the next adjacent row.