WO2005072559A1

WO2005072559A1 - Toothbrush comprising reservoir for toothpaste

Info

Publication number: WO2005072559A1
Application number: PCT/NO2005/000036
Authority: WO
Inventors: Linda Johansen; Linda Marie Hellerud; Ida Marie Eigum; Katrine Torget; Hani Deljou
Original assignee: Rush Brush
Priority date: 2004-02-02
Filing date: 2005-02-01
Publication date: 2005-08-11

Abstract

The present invention provides a toothbrush comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with a toothbrush head (30) comprising an elevated element (35) arranged with apertures (32) on a surface of said elevated element (35) facing inwards towards a cavity (34) formed between the elevated element (35) and a bottom surface comprising bristle of said toothbrush head (30).

Description

Toothbrush comprising reservoir for toothpaste

Field of invention

The present invention is related to a toothbrush, and specially to a toothbrush comprising a toothbrush head in fluid communication with a reservoir comprising toothpaste or other fluid intended for cleaning tooth and/or oral cavity., according to the attached independent claim 1.

Background of the invention

In the prior art, the toothbrush and the toothpaste container are separate elements. However, there exist proposals for an arrangement of a reservoir for toothpaste in the handle of a toothbrush in fluid communication with the toothbrush head. Small apertures in the bottom of the toothbrush head on the surface comprising the bristle, enables toothpaste to be pushed through said apertures when a force is applied on the handle, thereby pushing the toothpaste through the apertures. US patent no. 6,679,642 depicts such a solution. The German patent DE 100 23 725 Al and DE 198 58 615 Al discloses similar solutions. Usually the toothpaste has a viscosity maintaining a certain firmness of the toothpaste when it is dispensed from a container onto the bristle of the toothbrush head. This implies that the apertures must have a certain opening diameter to allow toothpaste contained in the handle to pass without having to execute an excessive force on the handle. On the other hand, a larger aperture implies a possibility that by accident the toothpaste may be pushed out, for example when the toothbrush is transported in a toilet bag when travelling. The weight of other items or other luggage in contact with the toothbrush or toilet bag when transported may bring about the unwanted effect.

US patent no. US 6,644,878 B2 depicts an electric toothbrush that solves the above identified problem by comprising valves that open and close apertures when the toothbrush is operated. However, this solution is costly to manufacture, and the solution is not appropriate to provide a disposable toothbrush. Therefore there is a need for a toothbrush comprising a reservoir for fluid or toothpaste in fluid communication with the toothbrush head that is cheap to manufacture, that is appropriate to manufacture as a disposable toothbrush, and that do not dispose toothpaste or fluid without intention.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem by arranging a barrier between apertures on a surface of a toothbrush head and the bristle, wherein said barrier opens up when pushed, or when a force is applied onto the reservoir comprising the fluid or toothpaste in fluid communication with said toothbrush head and said apertures.

Brief description of Drawings

Figure 1 depicts a cross section of a toothbrush head arranged with apertures in fluid communication with a reservoir in the handle of the toothbrush as known in the prior art

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art solution inhibiting water to penetrate the apertures in a toothbrush head.

Figure 3 depicts the same toothbrush head as in figure 2, vied in a tilted position.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates another example of embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates across section of a toothbrush head 10 arranged with apertures 12 on the bottom surface of the toothbrush head 10 comprising the bristle 13, as known in the prior art. The toothbrush head is in fluid communication with the handle providing a container for the toothpaste. However, water pouring directly down, for example tap water, as illustrated with an arrow, may penetrate the apertures and wash out the toothpaste inside the tooth brush. Figure 2 illustrates another prior art solution wherein the apertures 22 are cantilevered relative to the bottom surface of the toothbrush head. This arrangement solves the problem anticipated in the toothbrush illustrated in figure 1. Figure 3 illustrates the same toothbrush as in figure 2, and how the bristle blocks the water from penetrating the apertures 22.

However, the prior art solutions depicted in figure 1, 2 and 3 has no blocking means arranged together with the apertures. This implies that toothpaste will be dispensed from the apertures 12 and 22 whenever an appropriate force is applied on the toothpaste contained in the reservoir in fluid communication with the toothbrush head 10 and 20. Disposable toothbrush may be manufactured like this, but whenever such a toothbrush is transported, there is a risk for unwanted dispensing of toothpaste, as described above.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of embodiment of the present invention that prevents unwanted water to penetrate the apertures on a surface of a toothbrush head. The toothbrush head 30 has an elevated portion 35 comprising a cavity in fluid communication with cavity 31 in the toothbrush head 30, which in its turn is in fluid communication with reservoir comprising toothpaste. Apertures 32 are arranged in the elevated part 35 on a surface of said elevated part 35 facing down towards the bottom face of the toothbrush head 30 such that toothpaste may be dispensed in the cavity 34 provided by the bottom surface of the toothbrush head and the elevated part 35. The edges of the elevated part 35 makes up an aperture wherein the toothpaste dispensed through the apertures 32 may trickle out onto the surface of the bottom face of the toothbrush head 30.

In another variation of the example of embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the edges of the elevated part 35 is by default in sealing contact with the bottom surface of the toothbrush head 30. The elevated part 35 is in itself provided as a flexible part with a tension in the surface of the elevated part 35 providing the sealing effect. That implies that normally no toothpaste may trickle out on to the bottom surface of the toothbrush head 30 from the cavity 34. However, when a force is applied on the toothpaste, the tension in the elevated part 35 may be compensated, allowing a lifting of the edges in sealing contact with the bottom face of the toothbrush head 30, and toothpaste may tickle out of the aperture provide by the edges of the elevated part 35. Another aspect of the embodiment illustrated in figure 4 is that bristle positioned on the elevated part 35 will be shorter than bristle located on the bottom surface of the toothbrush head 30. That implies a different stiffness of the bristle on these locations which is an advantageous feature of this example of embodiment.

Another aspect of the example of embodiment in figure 4 is that the apertures 32 may be provided with a larger diameter or size than the apertures 12 and 22 as known in the prior art. Since the apertures 32, according to the present invention, always faces away from any externally applied water onto the tooth brush, there is no risk of washing out the content in the cavity 31. The larger size of the apertures 32 makes it easier for a user to dispense toothpaste through the aperture 32. At the same time, the tension in the surface of the elevated part 35 functions as a barrier blocking unwanted tickling of toothpaste from the cavity 34.

In another variant of the embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the edges of the elevated part 35 are provided with a skirt all around providing a sealing effect or barrier for toothpaste in the cavity 34.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 5, a shutter mechanism 36 is arranged movable in the cavity 34 provided by the elevated part 35 as described in the embodiment illustrated in figure 4. The U shaped shutter mechanism 36 may be moved backwards towards the handle of the toothbrush, as illustrated in figure 5, thereby unveiling the apertures 32 such that toothpaste may be in fluid communication with the cavity 34 as described above. When the shutter is moved forward away from the handle of the toothbrush an effective barrier is in place blocking any trickling of toothpaste from the cavity 31.

In another variant of this example of embodiment, the apertures 32 in the elevated element 35 may be arranged in the sidewalls of the elevated element 35. The shutter mechanism will provide the necessary barrier according to the present invention. Another variant of this example of embodiment comprise apertures in the sidewalls of the shutter 36 it self. When the shutter is moved the apertures 32 in the elevated part 35 may be aligned with the apertures in the sidewalls of shutter 36 thereby providing an open passage for fluid or toothpaste to tickle out from the cavity 31. When the shutter is moved again, a barrier is formed since the apertures no longer are aligned.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the handle of the toothbrush is formed as a long narrow protruding support, where a toothpaste container as known in the prior art may be located. When the toothpaste container is moved along the protruding support towards the toothbrush head, an opening in the toothbrush head 30 provides a passage between the cavity 31 and the toothpaste container. The opening in the toothbrush head 30 may be a protruding tube that is inserted into the toothpaste container when the toothpaste container is moved towards the toothpaste head.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1.

Toothbrush comprising a reservoir (31) containing fluid or toothpaste in fluid communication with apertures (32) arranged on a toothbrush head (30), c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that an elevated element (35) is located on a bottom surface comprising bristle (13) of said toothbrush head (30), wherein said elevated element (35) provides a cavity (34) formed between said elevated element (35) and said bottom surface of said toothbrush head (30), and wherein said apertures (32) are located on a surface of said elevated element (35) facing inwards towards said cavity (34).

2.

Toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that said elevated element (35) is provided as a flexible member with a tension in surface of said elevated element (35) pushing all outer edges of said elevated element down towards said bottom surface of said toothbrush head (30), thereby providing a sealing that are blocking tickling of toothpaste or fluid out from said cavity (34).

3.

Toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that a flexible skirt is arranged all around edges of said elevated element (35) in contact with said bottom surface of said toothbrush head (30), thereby providing sealing that are blocking tickling of toothpaste or fluid out from said cavity (34).

4.

Toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that an U shaped shutter mechanism is arranged movable in said cavity (34), such that when moved away from said toothbrush head (30) fluid or toothpaste may be dispensed through said apertures (32), and when moved towards said toothbrush head (30), said shutter (36) is blocking said apertures (32).

5.

Toothbrush in accordance with claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that apertures are arranged in sidewalls of said shutter (36) such that when the shutter is moved, said apertures (32) may be aligned with the apertures on said side walls of said shutter (36) to provide a passage for fluid or toothpaste from said cavity (31) through said apertures (32) through said cavity (34) out onto said bottom surface of said toothbrush head (30).

6.

Toothbrush in accordance with any of the foregoing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that a protruding support member is arranged adjacent to an end surface of said toothbrush head (30), wherein said end surface comprises a protruding tube providing fluid communication passage from a toothpaste container located on said protruding supporting member with said cavity

(32).

7.

Toothbrush in accordance with any of the foregoing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y that said toothbrush is provided as a disposable toothbrush.