WO1995011840A1

WO1995011840A1 - Device to dispense toothpaste from a pressurized container

Info

Publication number: WO1995011840A1
Application number: PCT/IT1993/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudio Bna
Original assignee: Claudio Bna
Priority date: 1993-10-29
Filing date: 1993-12-28
Publication date: 1995-05-04
Also published as: ITMI932302A1; ITMI932302A0; IT1272761B

Abstract

Dispenser (10) of toothpaste (40) comprising an air-tight container (20) containing both toothpaste (40) and a fluid propellant, an emitting means (30) which has a cap (36) shaped like a truncated pyramid and a rectangular aperture (38) so that by simply applying pressure to its head (39) the toothpaste (40) will come out of the aperture (38) as desired and be spread over the bristles (13) of the toothbrush (11).

Description

DEVICETO DISPENSETOOTHPASTEFROM APRESSURIZED CONTAINER The invention concerns toothbrushes and toothpaste. Toothbrushes and toothpaste packed in a metal or plas- tic tube are universally known articles.

Problems are generally encountered over the passage of toothpaste onto the toothbrush; this in fact involves unscrewing the threaded cap, pressing the tube, folding over the lower end of the tube as the content diminishes to ensure a smooth output of paste.

Unless this folding is properly done it is almost im¬ possible to get all the toothpaste out of the tube and the consequent waste increases its cost. The need to hold the toothbrush in the hand at the same time complicates the operation to a considerable extent. While the tube is open pollution from the air, the hands and from. the toothbrush itself is a likely factor. Opening the tube by unscrewing the cap is in any case a time-taking and complex task. The above invention avoids all these drawbacks while offering important advantages besides as will be ex¬ plained below.

Subject of the invention is a dispenser of toothpaste consisting of an airtight oblong container containing both the toothpaste and a fluid propellant and compri^¬ sing an emitting means and apart controlled 'by hand. Pressure on said part causes output, as desired, of toothpaste from the dispenser, and its distribution on the bristles, and the like, of the brush end of the toothbrush by means of the propellant.

The dispenser is cap-shaped, its form being substantial¬ ly that of a truncated pyramid with an inner entry aper¬ ture at the nozzle of a valve emerging at the top of the container.

The outer aperture has a substan ially rectangular cross section having internal dimensions practically corres¬ ponding to the external dimensions of the brush normal¬ ly forming part of a toothbrush. Therefore, by inserting the brush of the toothbrush in said external aperture or close to it, and causing the valve to open, toothpaste will be evenly spread on said brush . A certain length of the valve nozzle emerges from the top of the container pressed by an inner spring.

The cap of the Emitting means is fixed to the side of a hol¬ low body shaped substantially like a truncated cone, close to its lesser base. Said truncated cone-shaped body comprises an internal axial cup-shaped part facing outward and having a hole through its base. The valve nozzle penetrates inside said cup till it nearly comes in contact with said base.

The internal aperture in the truncated pyramid-shaped cap communicates with the hole in said cup. The emitting means can make a fair axial movement so that by pressing with a finger on the head formed by the lesser base of the truncated cone-shaped body, the nozzle of the valve can be pushed back causing said valve to open. As a consequence, the toothpaste when pushed by the pro¬ pellant passes through said nozzle, through the hole in the base of the truncated cone-shaped body, through the entry aperture in the pyramidal cap, -emerging from this cap to spread uniformly over the brush part of the toothbrush.

The relative angle of the axis of the pyramidal cap and that of the truncated cone-shaped body is preferably about 70° - 90°. Distribution of toothpaste on the brush of the toothbrush is therefore facilitated with the container held by the hand in a moderately inclined position towards the brush of the toothbrush and with the axis of the pyramidal cap substantially coinciding with the axis of the brush. The propelling fluid may be freon or chlorofluorocar- bide generally or of some other type.

In particular it may be obtained from carbon dioxide which develops when citric acid and soda bicarbonate are mixed . In one advantageous type of execution the oblong container is associated to the head of a toothbrush in whose handle there is a longitudinal hole and in which there is a set of holes placed at the spaces between the tufts of bristles. Said handle is substantially aligned with the container. The end of said handle opposite to the brush is so placed that the longitudinal hole along it is in line with the nozzle of a valve from which the toothpaste is delivered .

Therefore, on causing said valve to open the toothpaste is pushed by the propellant inside the longitudinal passage in the handle and out through the holes between the bristles thus becoming evenly spread over the brush. The valve nozzle projects by a certain length from the top of the container pressed by an internal spring. The end of said handle, opposite to the brush end, shaped like a block with an oblong base, slides axially and freely in relation to an oblong seat made in the head of the container.

Said block is provided with some form of external trans¬ versal element. Therefore by pressing the toothbrush towards the container and also pressing on said trans¬ versal element, a backward movement is made by the tooth- brush and also by the valve nozzle thus opening the valve and transferring toothpaste through said nozzle into the longitudinal hole in the toothbrush and out for uniform distribution over the brush. The container can be taken off the toothbrush and replaced with a new one.

Connection between the oblong seat, within which the base block of the toothbrush freely slides, and the container is made by elastic means which fit onto ridges in the head of the container, or else by ridges on said oblong seat which fit onto elastic means in the head of the container. The advantages offered by the invention are evident. By slight pressure from a finger the toothpaste 'is uni¬ formly and quickly spread from the container over the whole of the brush of the toothbrush, even among and over the tufts of bristles providing a more efficient cleaning effect.

When the above pressure is released the container once more becomes perfectly airtight, a great advantage from the standpoints of hygiene and safety from infection. There is also an economic advantage in that practically all the toothpaste is extracted from the container.

In the type formed by association between a toothbrush and the pressure container, direct transfer of toothpaste from the container to the toothbrush greatly increases its practical and hygienic value since,with little more than the bulk of a toothbrush, rapid and convenient dis¬ tribution of toothpaste on the brush is obtained. It is even possible to have more toothpaste during the cleaning operation and towards its completion. Not only does the invented toothbrush enormously facili- tate tooth cleaning in the home but it is also most con¬ venient when travelling because of its small bulk sub¬ stantially the same as that of an ordinary toothbrush with handle . All these advantages are provided by simple means and at a cost no greater, or even less, than that of presently used methods and toothbrushes.

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. Fig. 1 Side view of the toothpaste dispenser subject of the invention. Fig. 2 Fr.ont view of the dispenser in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 The same dispenser seen from above. Fig. 4 The dispenser in Figs. 1-3 partially cut away and close over a toothbrush. Fig. 5 The dispenser in Fig. 4 when dispensing tooth¬ paste. Fig. 6 Another version of the dispenser combined with a toothbrush . Fig. 7 The dispenser in Fig. 6 when dispensing tooth- paste.

The dispenser 10 comprises the container 20 with its fixed cover 21.

In the centre of said cover is the head 22 with its ax¬ ial hole through which passes the nozzle 23 of an inter- nal valve.

In line with the cover 21 is an emitter 30 shaped like a truncated cone having an open base 31 and a grille-type head 39.

Inside is an axial cup 32 opening outwards and having a hole 34 through its base 33.

Fixed to one side of the emitter 30 is a cap 36 shaped like a truncated pyramid having an external rectangular aperture 38 connected to the hole 34 by the internal pas¬ sage 35. Figs. 4 and 5 show the toothbrush 11 with its handle 12 and brush 13 consisting of tufts 14 of bristles. The container contains the toothpaste and a fluid propellant. As seen in Fig. 5 the dispenser 10 is brought close to the toothbrush so that the brush 13 enters the aperture 38. By pressing the head 39 of the emitter 30 with a finger

41, the emitter is moved towards the container and there¬ fore the nozzle 23 towards the internal valve causing said valve to open.

As a consequence the toothpaste comes out of the con¬ tainer, pushed by the propellant, and is spread uni¬ formly over the brush 13. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another execution 50 consist¬ ing in association of the toothbrush 80 with the oblong container 51 substantially similar to the container 20 in Figs. 1-5.

The container contains toothpaste and fluid propellant. AS!. he top of the container there is a fixed cover 52 with its head 55 and a groove 53 below it.

The annular ridge formed by the rim of the hole 71 in

the tubular body 70, axial with the container 51, fits

into said groove. The toothbrush 80 has a handle 81 in which there is a longitudinal hole 82.

Holes 84 are made through the surface carrying the tufts of bristles 86 forming the brush 85. At the end of the toothbrush 80 opposite to the brush 85 is the hollow base 90 in which there is an internal cup 92, open outwards , there being in its base 93 the hole 91 connected to the longitudinal hole 82 in the handle 81 by means of the passage way 83. The nozzle 60, connected to the valve inside the contain- er 51, emerges from. the head 55 on the container's cover 52.

The toothbrush 80 is pushed outward by the spring 61 in¬ side the tubular body 70 and is held firm by ridges 73 on said tubular body 70 which press into the seats 91 made in the base 90 of the toothbrush.' On the outward end of the base 90 there is an external trans¬

versal element 72.

By pressing with the finger on said transversal element 72, as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 7 )ι the toothbrush moves inside the container 51.

As a result the bottom 93 of the cup 92 moves the nozzle 60 inside the container and this opens the internal valve. Once the valve opens, the toothpaste 87 in the container passes through the nozzle 60, through the hole 94 and passage way 83, along the longitudinal hole 82 and through the holes 84 madeεmong the tufts of bristle from where it spreads all over the brush 86.

As the invention has been described and explained as an example only not limited to this one and to show its es- sential characteristics, it is understood that numerous variations may be made to it in accordance with indus¬ trial, commercial or other requiremen s, and that other systems and means may be included in it without thereby causing any departure from its sphere of action. It is therefore understood that in the request to patent the invention any and every equivalent application of the concepts are included and every equivalent product exe¬ cuted and /or operating according to any one or more of the charac eristics set forth in the following claims.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Dispenser ( 10,50) of toothpaste (40,87), characterized in that it comprises an airtight contain¬ er (20,51). holding both the toothpaste (40,87) and a fluid propellant, an emitting means (30,90) operated by hand so that toothpaste (40,87) can be taken out as desired from the emitting means (30,90) and be spread on the tufts ( 14,86) of bristles and the like of the brush part ( 13, 85) of the toothbrush ( 11,80).

2. Dispenser ( 10) of toothpaste (40) as in claim 1, characterized in that the emitting means (30) comprises a cap (36) shaped substantially like a truncated pyramid having an inner entry aperture against the nozzle (23) of a valve emerging at the top of the container (20) and an outer substantially rectangular aperture (38) whose internal dimensions substantially correspond to the ex¬ ternal dimensions of the brush ( 13) of an ordinary tooth¬ brush ( 11) so that by inserting said brush ( 13) of an ordinary toothbrush ( 11) inside said external aperture (38) or close to it, and opening the valve, the toothpaste (40) will be spread/in a practically uniform manner over said brush ( 13).

3. Dispenser ( 10) of toothpaste (40) as in claim 2, characterized in that the nozzle (23) of the valve is pushed out from the top of the container (20) by an inter¬ nal spring, the emitting means (30) consisting of a sub¬ stantially truncated cone-shaped hollow body, the cap (36) being placed close to the lesser base (39) of said body, said emitting means (30) comprising an internal axial cup (32) facing outwards and having a hole (34) through its base (33) into which cup (32) penetrates the nozzle (23) of the valve until it comes practically in contact with said base (33), the inner aperture of the truncated py¬ ramid-shaped cap (36) communicating with the hole (34) in in said cup (32), the emitting means (30) being moderate- ly mobile axially so that by pressing with a finger on the head formed by the lesser base (39) of its truncated cone-shaped body , the -nozzle '(23)df he valve can be pushed backwards thus opening said valve and allowing toothpaste (40) to pass through said nozzle (23), through the hole (34) in the base (33) of the emitting means (30), through the entry aperture of the pyramidal cap (36) and out onto the brush ( 13) of the toothbrush ( 11).

4. Dispenser ( 10) of toothpaste (40) as in claim 3, characterized in that the relative angle of the axes of the emitting means (30) and of the pyramidal cap (36) is substantially of 70°-90° which facilitates distribution of the toothpaste (40) on the brush ( 13) of the toothbrush ( 11), the container (20) being held by the hand in a mo¬ derately inclined position towards the brush ( 13) of the toothbrush ( 11) and the axis of the pyramidal cap (36) prac¬ tically coinciding with the axis of the brush ( 13).

5. Dispenser ( 10) of toothpaste (40) as in claim 1, characterized in that the fluid propellant is freon, a chlorofluorocarbide generally.

6. Dispenser ( 10)of toothpaste (40) as in claim 1, characterized in that the fluid propellant is obtained from the carbon dioxide formed by mixing citric acid with bicarbonate of soda.

7. Dispenser (50) of toothpaste (87) as in claim 1, charac erized in that the container (51) is associated on the head (52) to a toothbrush (80) with its handle (81) in which there is a longitudinal hole (82) and a set of holes (84) through it in the spaces between the tufts (86) of bristles forming the brush (85), said handle (81) being substantially in line with the con- tainer (51) and the end of said handle (81) being substantially in line with the container (51), the longitudinal hole (82) being aligned with the nozzle (60) of a valve inside the container (51) from which the toothpaste (87) emerges so that, by causing said valve to open, the toothpaste (87) is pushed by the

propellant inside the longitudinal hole (82) in the

handle (81) and forced out through the holes (84) be¬

tween the tufts (86) of bristles to become uniformly spread throughout the brush (85).

8. Dispenser (50) of toothpaste (87) as in claim 7, characterized in that thenozzle (60) of the valve emer¬ ges from the top of the container (51) pressed by an internal spring (61) the emitting means (90) being placed at the end of the above handle (81) and consist- ing of an oblong block that slides freely in relation to an oblong seat (70) fixed on the head (52) of the container (51) said emitting means (90) comprising an external transversal part (72) so that by pressing said toothbrush (80) towards the container (51) and pressing on said transversal part (72), the toothbrush (80) and the valve nozzle (60) move backward thus opening the valve and allowing .the toothpaste (87)..to pass through said nozzle (60) into the longitudinal hole (82) in the tooth¬ brush (80) after which it becomes evenly spread on the brush (8^'5).

9. Dispenser (50) of toothpaste (87) as in claim 7, characterized in that the container (51) can be re¬ placed in relation to the toothbrush (80).

10. Dispenser (50) of toothpaste (87) as in claim 7, characterized in that the container (51) can be re¬ placed in relation to the toothbrush connection being made, between the oblong seat (70) in which the emit¬ ting means (90) on the toothbrush (80) slides and the container (51), by elastic means (71) that fit onto ridges (54) specially made in the head (52) of the container (51) or else by ridges on the above-mentioned oblong seat (70) which fit onto elastic means placed on the head of the container (51).