US2592099A - Fountain toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1952 M. AcKERMAN FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed Nov. 22. 1949 A Q 3 N @xk 9 u OF N. mg mg Maee/s ACKEQMAM irz wmazq 5mm flax/dam ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a fountain toothbrush.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a fountain-type toothbrush for use with tooth powder, and having means to facilitate dispensing the tooth powder into the bristles of the brush.

A further object is to provide a toothbrush of the above-mentioned character having a bristleholding section which is bodily removable from the handle or reservoir section of the brush, so that it may be replaced by a new bristle-holding section.

A further object is to provide a fountain toothbrush wherein the bristles are arranged in such a manner that they tend to hold or retain a substantial quantity of tooth powder when the powder is dispensed among the bristles.

A further object is to provide a fountain-type toothbrush including a shiftable, bristle-holding section, and novel and simplified means for releasably holding such bristle-holding section in selected, adjusted positions.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a toothbrush of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy yet relatively inexpensive to make, the use of the brush resulting in a substantial saving of tooth powder normally wasted when applied to toothbrushes in the usual manual and unsanitary manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fountain toothbrush embodying my invention; 1

I Figure2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal sec-.-

tion through the brush, showing the brush section in operative position; I Figure 3 is a similar section showing the brush 'section in tooth powder dispensing position;

. prises a forward, transversely fiat, or low, elon- 2 gated forward portion l I for insertion within the mouth. The forward portion I I includes a closed, rounded forward end l2, preferably rounded longitudinal sides l3, flat bottom [4, and flat top I5 spaced from the bottom I4, as shown. Near the longitudinal center of the handle section In, the top wall of the same, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is upwardly oiTset with respect to the top wall 1 15, as shown at It, for forming a rear handle portion I! of increased size in transverse crosssection. The top wall I 6 may be substantially semi-cylindrically curved in transverse crosssection, as shown in Figure 5. The handle section In is of substantially uniform width, Figure 1, throughout its entire length, although shallow, curved, opposed side recesses I8 may be formed in the sides l3 near and forwardly of the longitudinal center of the section [0 to facilitate manipulating the forward end of the brush within the mouth. The flat bottom [4 is continuous and extends for the entire length of the handle section I0, as shown. The rear portion ll of the handle section includes a somewhat reduced, cylindrical, tubular, short extension l9 which is internally screw-threaded, as shown, for receiving a screw-threaded closure plug 20 having a wide transverse generally flat peripheral flange 2| which projects below the fiat bottom [4, Figures 2 and 3, and abutting the end of the extension [9. If desired, the plug 20 may include a transversely elongated, apertured lug 22 for suspending the toothbrush from a hook, nail or the like.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, the flat bottom I4 carries integral, longitudinally extending, depending side flanges 23 extending from a point spaced from the forward end of the bottom M to the rear end of the bottom l4, thereby defining a slide groove which opens through the rear end of the handle section H]. The inner, longitudinal, opposed faces of the flanges 23 are undercut adjacent to the tops of the flanges for forming parallel, longitudinal, shallow grooves 24 and bottom, parallel, longitudinal, inwardly projecting ribs or tongues 25. The depending side flanges 23 form with the bottom flat face of the bottom M a shallow, elongated, longitudinal slide groove or guideway 26 extending through the rear end of the handle section Ill, with its forward end closed by a stop shoulder 21 located adjacent to the forward end of the bottom wall [4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The flat bottom [4 of the handle section I0 is provided near its longitudinal center with a group of longitudinally spaced, transversely elongated, rectangular tooth-powder dispensing ports 28. The ports 28 extend completely through the bottom I4 at points midway between the flanges 23, Figure 5. Near and slightly rearward of the rearmost port 28, and near and rearwardly of the longitudinal center of the bottom I4, the bottom I4 is provided in its undersurface and at its transverse center with a shallow detent recess 29. A second detent recess 30, identical with the detent recess 29, is formed in the undersurface of the bottom I4 near and forwardly of the rear end of the bottom i4. The detent recess 30 is likewise arranged at the transverse center of the bottom I4 and is spaced longitudinally rearwardly of the recess 29 for a substantial distance, as shown. The handle section I is unitary, and preferably formed of some suitable plastic material, such as usually emloyed in the forming of conventional toothbrush handles. The handle section II] can thus be made in various colors, as are the handles of most toothbrushes.

A longitudinally adjustable brush section 3| is provided and comprises a flat, elongated, rectangular plate 32 slidably mounted between the depending side flanges 23 and having its top surface slidably contacting the undersurface of the bottom I4. The plate 32 is provided in its opposite sides with longitudinal grooves 33 forming longitudinal, laterally outwardly extending tongues34 for engagement within the longitudinal grooves 24 above the tongues 25. The grooves 33 and tongues 34 extend for the entire length of the plate 32. As shown in Figure 2, the plate 32 is substantially one-half as long as the handle section II].

Near its forward end, and at'its transverse center, the plate 32 is provided with a group of longitudinally spaced, transversely elongated, rectangular, tooth-powder-receiving ports 35 adapted to register with the ports 28 of the handle section It when the brush section is shiftly rearwardly into its intermediate, powder dispensing position, shown in Figure 3, from its normal for-ward operating position, shown in Figure 2, wherein the ports 23 and 36 are out of registry.

The plate 32 is provided upon its underside adjacent to the ports 35 with a central, longitudinally extending row of bristles 33 and side longitudinal rows of bristles 31 arranged upon opposite sides of the central row 36, all of said rows of bristles being secured to the plate 32 in a conventional manner. The bristles of the rows 35 and 31 are arranged in the usual longitudinally spaced groups of tufts 38. The tufts 38 of the central row 36 are arranged substantially at right angles or perpendicular to the plate 32, and are preferably arranged in longitudinal pairs between the ports 35. The tufts 38 of the side rows 31 are arranged at a slight angle with respect to the perpendicular, and converge toward the free ends of the tufts 38 of the central row. as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4, to form longitudinal, tapered passages 39 between the rows 36 and 3'! at opposite sides of the ports 35, as shown in Figure 5, the ports 35 lead into the passages 39, and the passages are substantially closed adjacent to the outer ends of the tufts 38, so that the passages will hold the tooth powder dispensed through the ports 28 and 35. Secured to and extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the plate 32 at the transverse center thereof is a resilient spring detent 40 for selective engagement within the detent recesses 29 and 30. which includes a small knob 3I to facilitate disengaging the detent 40 from the recesses 29 and 30. The arrangement is such that when the plate 32 is shifted to its forward operative position, Figure 2, and the forward end of the plate engages the stop shoulder 21, the dispensing ports 28 are closed by the rear imperforate portion of the plate 32. At the same time, the ports 35 are positioned near the forward end of the handle section II] and are out Of registry with the ports 28, and the detent 49 is engaged in the forward detent recess 29.

When it is desired to apply tooth powder to the bristles for brushing th teeth, the brush section is shifted rearwardly to its intermediate, dispensing position, shown in Figure 3, wherein the spring .detent 40 engages the rear detent recess 30, and ports 35 register with the ports 28, and the tooth powder within the handle section I0 will sift by gravity into the tapered passages 39 between the rows 36 and 31 of bristles. If necessary, with the parts arranged as in Figure 3, the toothbrush may be tapped gently or otherwise agitated to insure that sufiicient toothpowder will enter the passages 39. Obviously, the plug 20 may be removed for refilling the handle section I0 with tooth powder. Likewise, with the plug 20 removed so that its flange 2| no longer covers the rear end of the guideway 26, the brush section 3| may be, bodily removed from the handle section I5 and a new bristle-carrying section may be applied to the handle section. In this manner, the handle section I0 may be used continuously while the brush sections may be replaced. The plate 32 may be formed of the same material as the handle section ID. When in use for brushing the teeth, the rear, enlarged portion I I of the handle section is grasped as a handle, while the forward, relatively narrow and fiat portion II is inserted into the mouth, as is obvious.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a fountain tooth brush, an elongated hollow handle section adapted to contain dentifrice, said handle section having a wall formed with a longitudinal slide groove and with first ports opening into the groove, said first ports being located intermediate the ends of and substantially spaced from the ends of said groove, a brush section comprising an elongated plate shorter than said slide groove and confined therein for longitudinal sliding movement along the brush section, said plate being formed with second ports adapted to be registered with the ports of the handle section, said brush section being otherwise imperforate and being slidable in said groove in one direction away from its intermediate position to its brushing position in which the ports of the brush section are closed by the said wall of the handle section and the ports of the handle section are closed by an imperforate portion of the brush section, an end of said groove openin through one end of said handle section, and said brush section being slidable in said groove away from its intermediate position in a direction to pass said brush section plate through the open end of the slide groove and remove the brush section from said handle section, said one end of the handle section having a tubular filling extension, and a removable plug closing said filling extension, said plug having a peripheral flange closing the open end of the slide groove and preventing unwanted removal of the brush section from the handle section.

2. In a fountain tooth brush, an elongated hollow handle section adapted to contain dentifrice, said handle section having a wall formed with a longitudinal slide groove and with first ports opening into the groove, said first ports being located intermediate the ends of and substantially spaced from the ends of said groove, a brush section comprising an elongated plate shorter than said slide groove and confined therein for longitudinal sliding movement along the brush section, said plate being formed with second ports adapted to be registered with the ports of the handle section, said brush section being otherwise imperforate and being slidable in said groove in one direction away from its intermediate position to its brushing position in which the ports of the brush section are closed by the said wall of the handle section and the ports of the handle section are closed by an imperforate portion of the brush section, an end of said groove opening through one end of said handle section and said brush section being slidable in said groove away from its intermediate position inthe direction to pass said brush section plate through the open end of the slide tion in its brushing and intermediate positions.

MORRIS ACKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,040 McKinley et al June 2, 1903 1,432,715 Mendoza Oct. 17, 1922 1,580,390 Trumbull Apr. 13, 1926 1,753,290 Graves Apr. 8, 1930 2,371,936 Walker Mar. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date France July 9, 1945

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