US2826775A - Toothbrush construction - Google Patents

Description

March 18*, 1'958 H. PSILOS TQOTHBRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15. 1957 United Sta-I6 t 2,826,775 TOOTI-IBRUSH CONSTRUCTION Helen Psilos, Ludlow, Mass. Application January 15, 19 57, Serial No. 634,376 3 Claims. ..(Cl. 15-137) This invention relates to improvements in toothbrush construction.

The principal objects of this invention are directed to the provision of toothbrush construction, wherein a dispenser for toothpaste and the like is insertable into the handle of the toothbrush and is in communication with channel means for supplying the brush head with toothpaste. A separate propeller associated with a cap for the end of the handle is adapted for operating a piston of the dispenser to displace toothpaste from the dispenser, said propeller being insertable in the handle when not in use.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the toothbrush without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which for purposes of disclosure is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevational view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of the toothbrush;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the combined cap and propeller of the toothbrush; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush shown in Fig. 1 with the propeller in operative engagement with the piston of the dispenser.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the novel features of the invention will be more fully explained.

The toothbrush is constructed to have an elongated handle 2 and a bristle head 4, from which extend tufts of bristles 6.

As shown, the handle 2 is provided with an open ended longitudinal bore 8 having a socket 10 at its inner end. A channel 12 extends from the socket 10 into the head 4, and discharge ports 14 extend from said channel for discharging toothpaste to the bristles.

The handle and bore therein are shown as being rectangular in cross section, but obviously they may have any desired cross sectional shape.

An elongated dispenser 16 is insertable in the bore of the handle, and has an outer open end 18 with a tubular discharge neck 20 at its inner end. Said dispenser is insertable in the bore of the handle in such a manner as to seat the neck 20 in the socket 10, at the inner end of the handle bore. The dispenser, of course, is withdrawable from the handle bore when empty.

A piston 22 is reciprocable in the dispenser and has a recess or depression 24, in the outer side thereof, to receive the outer end of a propeller.

With the dispenser in the bore of the handle so that the neck 20 thereof is seated in the socket 10, toothpaste, represented by 25, is discharged by inward movement of the piston so that it flows through the channel 12, and out the ports 14.

The outer end of the dispenser projects outwardly of the outer end of the handle, when in the bore thereof, as shown, for manual engagement to facilitate withdrawal of the dispenser.

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A cap 30 .isarranged to frictionally engage the outer piston propeller 32 fixed thereto and extendingtherefrom.

"With thecap 30 in place on the open end of therhandle, the propeller is disposedin the bore of the-handle,-and along aside of the dispenser. The dispenser and bore of the handle are proportionedforsaiddisposition of the propeller.

With'the dispenserdisposed in the bore of the handle,

and connected with the socket of the bore, the cap may be removed-from the-handle. The end'of-the propeller is then seatedinthe 'depression'of the'dispenser piston; as shown in Fig. 5.

Pressure applied by the propeller against the piston moves said piston inwardly of the dispenser so that a supply of toothpaste is displaced from the dispenser into and through the channel and out the ports in the head 4.

When the desired supply of toothpaste has been discharged from the dispenser, the cap may be applied to the open end of the handle with the propeller disposed in the bore adjacent the dispenser. The cap closes the end of the handle bore as well as the end of the dispenser.

The toothbrush may be formed from various types of plastic as may the cap and propeller. The dispenser may be formed from plastic material or some one of the metals used for collapsable tubes and the like.

The dispenser is readily and easily insertable in and removable from the bore of the handle to facilitate replacing of an empty dispenser with a filled one. Toothpaste in the dispenser is easily displaced therefrom by moving the piston inwardly by the propeller.

The propeller is inserted in the handle bore, and the open end of the handle bore and dispenser are capped when not in use.

Altogether the construction is compact and convenient for use and a fresh supply of toothpaste is readily facilitated.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the toothbrush, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which has been disclosed in the form at present preferred. It is desired to be limited, if at all, by the appended claims rather than the foregoing disclosure.

It is desired to claim and secure the following by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. Toothbrush construction comprising in combination, a toothbrush having an elongated handle terminating in a bristle head at the inner end thereof, said handle provided with a longitudinal bore extending inwardly from an open end thereof at the outer end of the handle and with a socket at the inner end of said bore, said head provided with an elongated channel extending from said socket and with ports extending outwardly from said channel, an elongated tubular toothpaste dispenser in the bore of said handle having an outer open end and provided with a discharge neck on its inner end for seating in the socket of said bore, a piston movable axially inwardly of said dispenser, adjacent longitudinal sides of said bore of said handle and dispenser spaced apart to receive a propeller therebetween, a cap frictionally engaging the outer end of said handle having an elongated propeller fixed to and extending therefrom and adapted to be inserted between the spaced apart sides of said dispenser and handle bore with said cap on the outer end of said handle, said piston provided with a recess on the outer side thereof for receiving the outer end of the propeller whereby said piston may be advanced inwardly of the dispenser by said propeller.

2. Toothbrush construction comprising in combination, an elongated handle and a head at the inner end of said handle provided with bristles depending therefrom, said handle provided with a longitudinal bore extending from an open end thereof at the outer end of the handle and terminnating at its inner end in a socket adjacent said head, saidhead provided with an elongated channel extending from said socket and with discharge ports extending outwardly-from said channel to said bristles, an

elongated tubular dispenser. having a discharge neck on its inner end and being open at itsouter end, said dispenser being insertable in the bore of the handle with the neck thereof seated 1 in' said socket and withdrawable' therefrom, said dispenserand bore of-the handle arranged with the dispenser in-said bore to provide between adjacent sides of the dispenser and bore a space for a propeller, a piston movable axiallyninwardly of said dispenser having a propeller receiving recess in the outer side thereof,

a cap for engaging the outer endof the handle and over- 15 lying the open ends of said handle bore and dispenser,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 29,805 Middleton Aug. 28, 1860 1,362,937 Grace Dec. 21, 1920 1,849,893 Von Radics Mar. 15, 193"

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