WO2010028457A1

WO2010028457A1 - A toothbrush containing toothpaste

Info

Publication number: WO2010028457A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Hindley
Original assignee: Simon Hindley
Priority date: 2008-09-12
Filing date: 2009-09-14
Publication date: 2010-03-18
Also published as: AU2008100887A4

Abstract

A toothbrush containing toothpaste, the toothbrush having a body portion adapted to allow a gripping and manipulation of the toothbrush, the body portion having a reservoir for storage of toothpaste therein, a head portion with a plurality of bristles for contact with a user's teeth and an outlet co-located with the bristles, a toothpaste supply conduit associated with both the reservoir and the outlet and an actuable pump mechanism to force toothpaste from the reservoir to the head portion and out of the outlet.

Description

A TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINING TOOTHPASTE FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to toothbrushes and toothpaste and particularly to a toothbrush with onboard toothpaste storage reservoir. Background Art.

Toothbrushes are commonly used with a tube of toothpaste from which a portion of toothpaste is dispensed on to the bristles of the toothbrush. The toothbrush is being used to clean the teeth.

A major problem with toothbrushes is that users continue to use the tooth brush far beyond the time for which the toothbrush remains effective.

Commonly the toothbrush bristles which are manufactured of a plastic material deform under continued use until they are arcuate and no longer straight, this reducing their effectiveness.

There is also the problem that the tooth brush must be accompanied by a tube of toothpaste and therefore a user must remember to take both implements on holiday for example in order for the tooth brush to be used at maximum effectiveness. There is still further the problem that users tend to apply more toothpaste than is necessary to the toothbrush, thus wasting toothpaste.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a toothbrush containing toothpaste, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in a toothbrush containing toothpaste, the toothbrush having a body portion adapted to allow gripping and manipulation of the toothbrush, the body portion having a reservoir for storage of toothpaste therein, a head portion with a plurality of bristles for contact with a user's teeth and an outlet co-located with the bristles, a toothpaste supply conduit associated with both the reservoir and the outlet and an actuable pump mechanism to force toothpaste from the reservoir to the head portion and out of the outlet. One important advantage of the present invention as defined above is that at a time when the toothpaste held in the reservoir is exhausted, the toothbrush can be either disposed of or the head portion with the bristles can be changed in order to give more effective oral hygiene. Indeed, the reservoir can be sized in order to indicate to the user that when the reservoir is exhausted, the bristles will no longer effectively clean the user's teeth.

Preferably, the toothbrush is a sealed and limited use article. It may have a series of possible advance positions and it may lack the ability to be reversed, meaning that the user has to dispose of the toothbrush when the toothpaste supply is exhausted.

The toothbrush of the present invention is also particularly well adapted for use by a wide variety of users, particularly handicapped or the blind, so that the correct amount of toothpaste is more easily dispensed.

The toothbrush of the present invention will normally be provided in one of two preferred embodiments. According to a first preferred embodiment, the toothbrush will be a disposable toothbrush with the reservoir providing toothpaste for a predetermined period depending upon the size of the reservoir. In this embodiment, a unitary construction of the body portion and the head portion is preferred.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the toothbrush may be a re-fillable toothbrush in which the reservoir is re-fillable using any preferred means.

In particular, it is preferred that the reservoir be fϊllable from a bulk fill pack with pump means and an elongated nozzle. It is further preferred that only a single depression or actuation of the pump means will fill the reservoir.

According to an alternative embodiment, the reservoir may be a removable reservoir such that refill reservoirs may be provided.

Typically, the reservoir will be refilled by removal of the pump actuation means or alternatively through a small, removal plug which opens a conduit communicable with the reservoir.

The body portion of the toothbrush of the present invention will normally be elongate and substantially hollow. The body portion will preferably be manufactured of plastic. As mentioned above, the body portion may be manufactured integrally with the head portion or alternatively, the head portion may be removable therefrom. The body portion will typically be substantially cylindrical in order to be easily gripped by a user. Alternatively, the body portion may have an ergonomic shape adapted for easy gripping. In addition, an external surface of the body portion may be provided with grip enhancing means. These means may take the form of rubber or similar material inserts.

It is preferred that the body portion be approximately 2.5 cm in outer diameter in order to allow the comfortable gripping of the body portion in user's palm. Smaller (or larger) body portions may be provided for children for example.

The body portion will typically have an internal reservoir for holding the toothpaste. As intimated above, the reservoir may be formed directly in the body portion or the body portion may be provided with a cavity adapted to hold a reservoir which is removable from the body portion.

It is preferred that the internal reservoir or the cavity is closable by the provision of a removable cap located at the butt end of the body portion opposite the head portion.

It is also preferred that the reservoir is cylindrical in shape. It is particularly preferred that if the reservoir is a fixed reservoir provided in the body portion to hold the toothpaste, and that the reservoir walls are smooth and continuous in order that the pump mechanism can empty reservoir more efficiently. The head portion of the tooth brush of a preferred embodiment will typically taper towards a leading end with the bristles provided at or adjacent the leading end. The head portion will typically widen as it extends towards the body portion to provide increased strength and also in order to attach to the body portion.

There will typically be at least one outlet or exit port located in the head portion within the bristle area. Toothpaste exiting the outlet or exit port in this area will typically be more easily spread by the bristles and more effectively applied to the user's teeth.

The outlet or exit port will preferably be provided approximately centrally along the bristle area and approximately centrally across the bristle area as well. There may be more than one outlet or exit port.

Typically, the outlet or exit port will be formed in the head portion directly below the bristle area. It is also preferred that the outlet or exit port will extend substantially perpendicularly to the main axis of the head portion into the bristle area and parallel to the bristles. It is considered that this will increase effectiveness of the toothpaste both in spreadability and decreasing wastage.

In preferred embodiment, the head portion may be provided with an associated cover portion in order to protect the bristles and also to prevent leakage of toothpaste. It is preferred that the cover portion be engageable with the body portion of the toothbrush.

As mentioned briefly above, the head portion may be engageable with the body portion in order to attach the head portion to the body portion temporarily and to allow removal and/or replacement of the head portion. This will typically occur when the bristles are worn or lose effectiveness. A click or twist attachment mechanism for attaching ahead portion to the body portion is preferred.

The tooth brush of the present invention contains a transport conduit in order to transport the toothpaste from the reservoir to the outlet or exit port. The transport conduit will typically lead from a forward end of the reservoir to the outlet or exit port. Normally, the transport conduit will extend substantially parallel to the main axis of the body portion and the tooth brush in general.

The transport conduit may be formed from more than one conduit portion. For example if the head portion of the tooth brush is removable from the body portion, then the transport conduit may include a conduit portion in the head portion extending rearwardly through the neck of the head portion and communicable with an opening in the body portion which will typically be the leading end of a second conduit portion extending to the reservoir. During removal and replacement of the head portion where applicable, the first and second conduit portions will typically mate when the head portion is connected to the body portion. There will typically be one or more seals provided in association with one or both of the first and/or second conduit portions in order to minimise leakage of the toothpaste.

Typically, the transport conduit is specifically shaped to allow the flow of toothpaste therethrough. For example, toothpaste is normally a shear-thickening material and therefore, the transport conduit is preferably provided with smooth walls and any direction changes in the conduit will typically be arcuate rather than angular.

It is preferred that the head portion is typically attached to the body portion using a threaded arrangement for security. Normally, a forward end of the body portion is externally threaded and a rearward end of the head portion is provided with an internally threaded attachment portion although an opposite arrangement would achieve a similar function.

The toothbrush of the present invention also includes an actuable pump mechanism to force toothpaste from the reservoir to the head portion and out of the outlet or exit port. As mentioned above, toothpaste is a shear-thickening material and therefore a slow, steady application of force by the pump mechanism is preferred.

A manually actuable pump mechanism is preferred over an electrical or similar pump mechanism. A particularly preferred pump mechanism includes a screw pump mechanism with actuator. Typically, the actuator will be a manually actuable twist knob which is preferably located at the butt end of the body portion. Normally, the twist knob will be mounted such that twisting will operate the screw pump mechanism but the twist knob will also preferably be mounted to close the cavity in the hollow body portion.

The pump mechanism will preferably include an elongate, helical member located internally of the body portion and normally through the cavity in the body portion. It is preferred that the helical member is mounted centrally within the cavity, and both parallel to and coaxial with the main longitudinal axis of the cavity. There is preferably a pump member located relative to the helical member and adapted for movement of therealong. The pump member will typically take the form of an annular member which is mounted centrally about the helical member and is movable longitudinally along the helical member. Typically, as the helical member is rotated using the manually actuable twist knob, the pump member will normally move towards the head portion forcing the toothpaste along the transport conduit in front of the pump member.

The preferred annular pump member is preferably provided with an internally threaded opening centrally disposed and one or more outer portions functioning to form a seal against the inner surface of the cavity in the body portion. One or more guides mechanisms will preferably be provided on the annular member and the internal wall of the reservoir in order to prevent rotation of the annular member and to guide movement thereof. It is preferred that the twist knob is rotatable in a single direction only and therefore, it is also preferred that the helical member rotating in a single direction only.

It is anticipated however that the knob may be attached to the body portion in a manner which allows movement in a reverse direction when required.

For example, in certain embodiments of the invention, the toothbrush is refillable.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the toothbrush may be refillable by removing the removable head portion from the body portion exposing the opening in the transport conduit in the body portion. Rotating the twist knob in a direction which is the reverse of that to dispense toothpaste, will typically operate to move the pump member in the reverse direction which will then create a suction force through the opening. If the opening is placed in a container with toothpaste, operation of the two is not in this manner will preferably fill the reservoir.

There is preferably a forward guide member to guide rotation of the helical member and also to retain the helical member in position but allow rotation thereof.

The helical member is preferably attached directly to the twist knob, normally by provision of an opening in the twist knob into which an end of the helical member is received and engaged. According to an alternative pump mechanism, the head portion of the tooth brush may be mounted for movement longitudinally relative to the body portion and along the same axis as the body portion operating a positive displacement type pump to move the toothpaste. According to this embodiment, the head portion is preferably biased into the forward position by a spring or similar. Sealing means will also typically be required between the head portion and the body portion in order to prevent leakage of the toothpaste. According to this embodiment, the pump mechanism may be actuated to dispense toothpaste while the tooth brush is in use.

Preferably, the head portion includes a rear funnel-shaped or converging opening, converging from a dimension approximately that of the reservoir to a dimension which is smaller and approximately equal to the outlet in the head portion. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the helical member will extend into the converging opening in the head portion and the annular member may be resilient such that further operation of the pump actuator will drive the annular member into the converging opening so that toothpaste there can be expelled through the outlet, minimising wastage.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the tip end of a toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the butt end of a toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a toothbrush according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment. According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a toothbrush containing toothpaste is provided.

As illustrated in the Figures, the toothbrush 10 has a body portion 11 adapted to allow gripping and manipulation of the toothbrush 10. The body portion has a reservoir 12 for storage of toothpaste therein. The toothbrush 10 also includes head portion 13 with a plurality of bristles 14 for contact with a user's teeth. An outlet 16 is co-located with the bristles 14 and a toothpaste supply conduit 15 connects the reservoir 12 and the outlet 16. A pump mechanism is provided to force toothpaste from the reservoir 12 to the head portion 13 and out of the outlet 16. The toothbrush of the present invention will normally be provided in one of two preferred embodiments. According to a first preferred embodiment, one form of which is illustrated in Figure 1 , the toothbrush is a disposable toothbrush with the reservoir 12 providing toothpaste for a predetermined period depending upon the size of the reservoir 12. In this embodiment, the body portion 11 and the head portion 13 are manufactured in a unitary configuration and are not separable.

According to a second preferred embodiment, forms of which are illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the toothbrush is a multipart toothbrush in which the reservoir can be re-filled. In particular, the head portion 13 and body portion 11 of these illustrated embodiments are separable from each other.

The body portion 11 of all embodiments illustrated is elongate and substantially hollow. The body portion 11 will normally be manufactured of plastic. The body portion 11 is substantially cylindrical in order to be easily gripped by a user.

The body portion 11 has an internal reservoir 12 for holding the toothpaste. The internal reservoir of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, is closable by the provision of a removable cap located at the butt end of the body portion 11 opposite the head portion 13. The reservoir 12 is cylindrical in shape in the illustrated embodiments.

The head portion 13 of the tooth brush of the illustrated embodiments tapers towards a leading end with the bristles 14 provided at or adjacent the leading end. The head portion 15 widens as it extends towards the body portion 11 to provide increased strength and also, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, to attach to the body portion 11.

An outlet 16 is located in the head portion 13 within the bristle 14 area. The outlet 16 is provided approximately centrally along the bristle area and approximately centrally across the bristle area as well. The outlet 16 is formed in the head portion 13 directly below the bristle area and extends substantially perpendicularly to the main axis of the head portion 13 parallel to the bristles 14.

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the head portion 13 is provided with an associated cover portion 17 engageable with the body portion 11 in order to protect the bristles 14 and also to prevent leakage of toothpaste.

As mentioned briefly above, the head portion 13 may be engageable with the body portion 11 as illustrated in Figure 2, in order to attach the head portion 13 to the body portion 11 temporarily and to allow removal and/or replacement of the head portion 11. A screw arrangement is illustrated in Figure 2. The transport conduit of the illustrated embodiments leads from a forward end of the reservoir 12 to the outlet 16 extending substantially parallel to the main axis of the body portion 11 and the toothbrush in general. A particularly preferred pump mechanism includes a screw pump mechanism with a twist knob actuator 18 located at the butt end of the body portion 11. Toothpaste is a shear-thickening material and therefore a slow, steady application of force by the screw pump mechanism is preferred. The twist knob 18 is mounted such that twisting operates the screw pump mechanism but the twist knob 18 is also mounted to close the reservoir cavity in the body portion 11.

The pump mechanism includes an elongate, helical member 19 located through the reservoir cavity 12 in the body portion 11. The helical member 19 is mounted centrally within the reservoir cavity 12, and both parallel to and coaxial with the main longitudinal axis of the reservoir cavity 12.

An annular pump member 20 is located relative to the helical member 19 and adapted for movement of therealong. The annular pump member 20 is mounted centrally about the helical member 19 and is movable longitudinally along the helical member 19. In use, as the helical member 19 is rotated using the manually actuable twist knob 18 , the pump member 20 moves towards the head portion 11 forcing the toothpaste along the transport conduit 15 in front of the pump member 20. The annular pump member 20 is provided with an internally threaded opening centrally disposed and outer portions functioning to seal against the inner surface of the reservoir cavity 12 in the body portion 11. The twist knob 18 of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is rotatable in a single direction only and therefore, the helical member 19 rotating in a single direction only.

According to an alternative pump mechanism illustrated in Figure 4, the head portion 13 of the toothbrush is mounted for reciprocal movement longitudinally relative to the body portion 11 and along the same axis as the body portion 11 operating a positive displacement type pump to move the toothpaste through an elongate tube through the reservoir. According to this embodiment, the head portion 13 is biased into the forward position by a spring 21 and repeated pumping of the head portion will drive toothpaste along the tube and out of the opening. Sealing means 22 are required between the head portion 13 and the body portion 11 in order to prevent leakage of the toothpaste.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims

1. A toothbrush containing toothpaste, the toothbrush having a body portion adapted to allow gripping and manipulation of the toothbrush, the body portion having a reservoir for storage of toothpaste therein, a head portion with a plurality of bristles for contact with a user's teeth and an outlet co-located with the bristles, a toothpaste supply conduit associated with both the reservoir and the outlet and an actuable pump mechanism to force toothpaste from the reservoir to the head portion and out of the outlet.

2. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in claim 1 wherein the toothbrush is a re- tillable toothbrush.

3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 2 wherein the reservoir is refilled through a small, removal plug which opens a conduit communicable with the reservoir.

4. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head portion is removable from the body portion.

5. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the internal reservoir is closable by the provision of a removable cap located at the butt end of the body portion opposite the head portion.

6. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reservoir is refilled by removal of the removable cap from the body portion.

7. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including an associated cover portion in order to protect the bristles and prevent leakage of toothpaste.

8. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuable pump mechanism is a manually actuable pump mechanism.

9. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pump mechanism includes a screw pump mechanism with actuator.

10. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 9 wherein the actuator is a manually actuable twist knob located at a butt end of the body portion.

11. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 9 or 10 further including an elongate, helical member located at least through the reservoir in the body portion containing toothpaste and an annular pump member located relative to the helical member and adapted for movement of therealong in response to rotation of the helical member.

12. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head portion includes a converging opening, converging from a dimension approximately that of the reservoir to a dimension which is smaller and approximately equal to the outlet in the head portion.

13. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on claim 12 wherein the helical member extends into the converging opening in the head portion and the annular member is resilient such that continued operation of the pump mechanism drives the annular member into the converging opening.

14. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the toothbrush is refillable by removing the head portion from the body portion exposing an opening to the reservoir and rotating the twist knob in reverse to move the pump member in the reverse direction creating a suction force through the opening.

15. A toothbrush containing toothpaste as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the toothbrush has a unitary construction of the body portion and the head portion.

16. A toothbrush having a body portion adapted to allow a gripping and manipulation of the toothbrush, the body portion having a cavity to receive a reservoir for storage of toothpaste therein, a head portion with a plurality of bristles for contact with a user's teeth and an outlet co-located with the bristles, a toothpaste supply conduit associated with both the reservoir and the outlet and an actuable pump mechanism to force toothpaste from the reservoir to the head portion and out of the outlet.

17. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the head portion is mounted for reciprocal movement longitudinally relative to the body portion operating a positive displacement pump to move the toothpaste, the head portion is preferably biased into a forward position.