TOOTHBRUSH WITH A REPLACEABLE TOOTHPASTE CARTRIDGE

Abstract

The present invention provides a reusable toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge, which allows the replacement of the cartridge (3) after the entire quantity of the toothpaste has been exhausted, so that the toothbrush does not need to be disposed of. Additionally, its bristle (20) is protected from contamination before usage by means of a cap (4), while the hardening of toothpaste is prevented. The present invention has two distinct functions, namely the extraction of fluid from the replaceable toothpaste cartridge (3) and resetting the device before the replacement of the replaceable toothpaste cartridge (3). The toothbrush comprises a toothbrush handle (1) intended to carry said bristle (20) and membrane (21), the latter being removably attached to a hollow shank (19), and which houses the replaceable toothpaste cartridge (3) and the mechanism for extracting toothpaste from the replaceable cartridge (3), which can be reset in order to replace the replaceable cartridge (3).

Claims

1. A toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge, comprising a toothbrush handle (1), a hollow shank (19) removable attached to toothbrush handle (1) on whose upper part are removable attached a bristle (20) and a membrane (21), which can together be covered with a cap (4); a replaceable cartridge (3) housed by toothbrush handle (1) and a mechanism for the extraction of toothpaste from a replaceable cartridge (3), which can be reset in order to replace said replaceable cartridge (3).

2. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that inside a toothbrush handle (1) houses an axially shifting plunger (5), shaped like a cartridge, whose closed end faces shank (19), while its open end, ending in a wreath-shaped base of plunger (5) faces the opposite side, having an internal thread defined on the inside of plunger (5).

3. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that inside plunger (5) houses a pressure spindle (6) shaped like an elongated hollow cylinder in the middle and ending in a head with an external thread defined, intended to mesh with the internal thread of plunger (5), also with a transitional part shaped like a truncated cone between the head and the middle of pressure spindle (6), while the pressure spindle (6) has a disc-shaped base at its lower end, by means of which a plunger coupling (7) is attached to pressure spindle (6), which at its upper end has defined axial grooves, as well as a saddle in its upper region, intended to mate with a rubber spring (8) for a radial spacing of pressure spindle (6) arms formed by the axial grooves, while the external thread of said pressure spindle (6) engages the internal thread of plunger (5), and at its lower end, above the disc-shaped base, pressure spindle (6) has axial slots intended to mate with axially-shifting pins of a reverser driver (11) positioned in the lower part of the central cavity of pressure spindle (6).

4. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a toothbrush handle (1), on the opposite the shank (19), is permanently attached to a bridge (2), which is connected to a rotary switch (10) at its other end, in a way that it is rotationally shifting relative to the bridge (2), while between bridge (2) and rotary switch (10) a torsion spring (17) is positioned, having its one end attached to bridge (2), and the other to rotary switch (10).

5. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotary switch (10) is attached to a rotary claw (12) with radially defined angled teeth at the end facing toothbrush handle (1), while opposite the radially defined angled teeth of rotary claw (12) there are complementarily defined angled teeth of the plunger coupling (7), while plunger coupling (7) and rotary claw (12), positioned coaxially one relative to the other, each have one centrally defined opening.

6. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a reverser driver (11) and pressure spindle (6) are housed in a reverser assembly (9) composed of two mutually connected parts (9.1, 9.2), which are axially shifting along pressure spindle (6), while the pins defined on reverser driver (11), already mating with the axial grooves defined on pressure spindle (6), also mate with the slots of reverser assembly (9) defined on its parts (9.1, 9.2).

7. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a reverser driver (11) passes through the central openings of plunger coupling (7) and rotary claw (12), while leaning against the central ring-shaped projection of a reset button (13), which has a circular base from which two coaxially arranged ring-shaped projections: an outer, shorter projection inserted inside rotary switch (10), and an inner, longer projection leaning against reverser driver, while reset button (13) and reverser driver (11) are mutually connected via a screw (14).

8. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a return spring (15) rests on a ring-shaped projection in the middle of a toothbrush handle (1), while on the lower side it leans against the base of plunger (5), in order to push plunger (5) towards reset button (13).

9. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that a compression spring (16) is positioned in such manner that at one end it leans against reset button (13), and at the other end against rotary claw (12).

10. The toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower side of shank (19) has a saddle defined, for the purpose of accepting a cartridge gasket (18).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to get a better understanding of the invention and to show how it can be realised in practice, the present invention will be described in more detail through an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of an exemplary embodiment toothbrush with a full toothpaste cartridge,

[0027] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of an exemplary embodiment toothbrush from FIG. 1, with an empty toothpaste cartridge,

[0028] FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of a partially disassembled toothbrush from FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0029] FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of a fully disassembled toothbrush from FIG. 3,

[0030] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of the toothpaste cartridge showing the cartridge piston inside the cartridge body,

[0031] FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of the pressure spindle together with the two parts of the reverser assembly,

[0032] FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of the two parts of the reverser assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] As mentioned above, the exemplary embodiment toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge, shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, constructionally provides two basic functions: a. squeezing of the fluid (toothpaste) out of the replaceable cartridge and b. resetting of the mechanism for the toothpaste extraction (in further text: the mechanism) for the purpose of returning it to its functional position, i.e. replacing an empty cartridge with a full one. Basically, the toothbrush assembly can be divided into three sub-assemblies A, B and C, i.e. three constructional units shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] The toothbrush comprises: a toothbrush holder 1, bridge 2, replaceable cartridge 3 with a cartridge body 3.1 and a piston 3.2, a cap 4, plunger 5, pressure spindle 6, plunger coupling 7, rubber spring 8, reverser assembly 9, rotary switch 10, reverser driver 11, rotary claw 12, reset button 13, screw 14, return spring 15, compression spring 16, torsion spring 17, cartridge gasket 18, toothbrush shank 19, bristle 20, and membrane 21. Within the three sub-assemblies—sub-assembly A for the fluid extraction, sub-assembly B for resetting the mechanism and sub-assembly C for brushing teeth, the toothbrush can be roughly divided into 5 functional units, respectively: toothbrush shank 19, cap 4, toothbrush handle 1, replaceable cartridge 3 and the mechanism (consisting of the rest of aforementioned parts).

[0035] As stated above, the purpose of sub-assembly A is to extract (squeeze out) the fluid, i.e. toothpaste from a full toothpaste cartridge 3. In this case, the replaceable cartridge 3 is full, while the plunger 5 is minimally inserted into the replaceable cartridge 3, while the return spring 15 is fully compressed. This sub-assembly consists of a toothbrush handle 1, bridge 2, replaceable cartridge 3 with cartridge body 3.1 and a piston 3.2, plunger 5, pressure spindle 6, plunger coupling 7, rotary switch 10, rotary claw 12 and torsion spring 17.

[0036] The purpose of sub-assembly B is to reset the mechanism, i.e. to revert the mechanism from the position in which the cartridge 3 is empty to the position where a new, full cartridge 3 can be inserted, in other words from the position shown in FIG. 2 into the position shown in FIG. 1. This sub-assembly consists of a replaceable cartridge 3, plunger 5, pressure spindle 6, rubber spring 8, reverser assembly 9, reverser driver 11, reset button 13, screw 14, return spring 15 and compression spring 16. In this case the replaceable cartridge 3 is empty, for the entire quantity of the fluid (toothpaste) has been exhausted, the plunger 5 is fully inserted into the replaceable cartridge 3, and the return spring 15 is assuming its resting position.

[0037] The purpose of sub-assembly C to maintain oral hygiene and brush teeth. It comprises a toothbrush shank 19 and bristle 20 with a membrane 21. The shank 19 can be covered with a cap 4 for hygienic reasons.

[0038] The toothbrush handle 1 represents the basic part of the present invention and carries the rest of its constructional elements. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is essentially a hollow, elongated body. In the presented exemplary embodiment, the outer contour of the toothbrush handle's 1 cross-section is squircular, while the inner contour of the cross-section is circular.

[0039] The upper end of the toothbrush handle 1, on which the hollow toothbrush shank 19 is mounted, has circumferentially arranged L-shaped pins intended to mate with counterpart pins circumferentially defined at the end of the toothbrush shank 19 opposite to the end which the bristle 20 is mounted on. The shank 19 is mounted on the toothbrush handle 1 by axially shifting the shank 19 towards the handle 1 in a way that the pins defined on the shank 19 slide into the gaps between the circumferentially arranged L-shaped pins defined on the toothbrush handle 1, and then by rotating the shank 19 relative to the toothbrush handle 1, said pins interlock. Alternatively, the shank 19 can be mounted on the handle 1 of the toothbrush by any other suitable means of creating a non-permanent joint, such as screw thread mounting or elastic deformation of one of the two structural elements, etc.

[0040] On the lower side of the shank 19, a saddle is defined to mate with the cartridge gasket 18. The cartridge gasket 18 is ring-shaped, having a central opening intended to allow the passage of fluid towards a predominantly axial passage inside the shank 19, stretching from the cartridge gasket 18 at one end to the bristle 20 at the other end. The purpose of the cartridge gasket 18 is to prevent the leakage of fluid between the toothbrush handle 1 and the shank 19.

[0041] On the lower side of the toothbrush handle 1, the side opposite the shank 19, there is a permanently affixed bridge 2, partially extending outside the cavity of the toothbrush handle 1. On its other side, opposite the shank 19, the bridge 2 is connected to the rotary switch 10 by means of clasps, and rotationally shifting relative to the switch 10. A torsion spring 17 is positioned between the bridge 2 and the rotary switch. One end of the torsion spring 17 is attached to the bridge 2, while the other end is attached to the rotary switch 10, allowing the rotary switch 10 to rotate relative to the fixed position of the toothbrush handle 1, for instance, while the toothbrush handle 1 is held in hand. It rotates in a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the cartridge gasket 18.

[0042] The rotary claw 12 is affixed to the rotary switch 10. The claw 12, at its end facing the toothbrush handle 1, has radially defined angled teeth. Opposite said radially defined angled teeth of the rotary claw 12 there are complementarily defined angled teeth of the plunger coupling 7. Additionally, the rotary claw 12 and the plunger coupling 7, which are set coaxially one against the other, both have a central opening defined, whose purpose will be explained later.

[0043] The very plunger coupling 7 is affixed to the pressure spindle 6 by means of clasps, and it passes through the torsion spring 17 and the bridge 2. Said angled teeth of the plunger coupling 7 mesh with the angled teeth of the rotary claw 12.

[0044] The purpose of the torsion spring 17 is to return the rotary switch 10 to its initial position. Because the torsion spring is affixed to the rotary switch 10 at one end, while the other end is attached to the bridge 2, the rotation of the rotary switch creates a torsional force acting to return the rotary switch 10 to its original position.

[0045] The angled teeth on the plunger coupling 7 and the rotary claw 12 are defined in such a way that when the rotary switch 10 is rotated in one direction, the angled teeth of the plunger coupling 7 and the rotary claw 12 mesh together so that the rotation of the rotary switch 10 (for example, by hand) and the rotary claw 12 is transferred to the plunger coupling 7. After the release of the rotary switch 10, which returns to its initial position by rotating in the opposite direction under the influence of the torsion spring's 17 torsional force, said angled teeth slide over each other without transferring the torque of the rotary switch 10 to the plunger coupling 7.

[0046] Inside the toothbrush handle 1 is an axially shifting plunger 5 shaped like a cartridge, whose closed front end, intended to push the cartridge piston 3.2, is oriented towards the shank 19, while its open end, ending in the wreath-shaped base of the plunger 5, is oriented towards the reset button 13. An internal thread is defined on the inside of the plunger 5.

[0047] The pressure spindle 6 is positioned inside the plunger 5. The middle part of the pressure spindle 6 is an elongated cylinder ending with a wide head at its upper end. An external thread is defined on the head and its purpose is to mesh with the internal thread of the plunger 5. Between the head and the middle of the pressure spindle 6, there is a tapering transitional part shaped like a truncated cone. The lower part of the pressure spindle 6 ends in a disk-shaped base through which the plunger coupling 7 is affixed to the pressure spindle 6 by means of clasps. At its upper end, the pressure spindle 6 has axial grooves defined. Also, around its upper end the pressure spindle 6 has an internally defined saddle which mates with the rubber spring 8 for the radial spacing of the pressure spindle 8 arms formed by said axial grooves. The external thread of the pressure spindle 6 engages the internal thread of the plunger 5. At its lower end, above the disc-shaped base, the pressure spindle 6 has axial slots defined. Inside these slots, the pins of the reverser driver 11 shift axially. The reverser driver is positioned in the lower part of the pressure spindle's 6 central cavity.

[0048] The reverser driver 11 and the pressure spindle 6 are housed by the reverser assembly 9, which comprises two mutually connected parts 9.1, 9.2 axially shifting along the pressure spindle 6. The pins on the reverser driver 11 mate with the axial slots defined on the pressure spindle 6, and also mate with the slots on the reverser assembly 9 defined on its parts 9.1 and 9.2, preventing its displacement inside the reverser assembly 9.

[0049] The reverser driver 11 is a hollow cylinder with said pins projecting radially outward. The lower part of the reverser driver 11 passes through the central holes of the plunger coupling 7 and the rotary claw 12 and leans on the central ring-shaped projection of the reset button 13.

[0050] Said reset button 13 has a circular base with two coaxially arranged ring-shaped projections. The outer, shorter projection is inserted in the rotary switch 10, while the central, longer projection leans on the reverser driver 11 which has a central cavity.

[0051] The reset button 13 and the reverser driver 11 are connected by means of a screw 14, which passes through their central cavities.

[0052] The upper end of the return spring 15 leans against a ring-shaped projection defined in the middle of the toothbrush handle 1, while its lower end leans on the plunger 5 base. It pushes the plunger 5 towards the reset button 13. FIG. 2 shows the plunger 5 fully inserted into an empty replaceable cartridge 3 with all the fluid (such as toothpaste) having previously been squeezed out. FIG. 1 shows the plunger 5 outside of a full replaceable cartridge 2.

[0053] One end of the compression spring 16 rests against the base of the reset button 13, right between its coaxial projections. The other end of the compression spring 16 rests against a matching ring-shaped surface defined on the lower side of the rotary claw 12.

[0054] The bristle 20 and the membrane 21 are mounted the upper side of the shank 19. The bristle 20 serves the purpose of cleaning teeth, while the membrane 21 prevents oxidation, i.e. hardening of the fluid. During the compression of the fluid (such as toothpaste), the membrane expands under the fluid's pressure and allows the fluid to flow. When the fluid is no longer being compressed, the pressure on the membrane 21 drops, and it contracts once again.

[0055] While the toothbrush is not in use, for instance while it is being transported or stored, the bristle 20 and the membrane 21 can be protected from contamination by means of a cap 4, which can be attached to the toothbrush handle 1.

[0056] As mentioned above, the toothbrush with a replaceable toothpaste cartridge has two distinct functions: [0057] 1. The extraction of the fluid (such as toothpaste) out of the replaceable cartridge 3 and [0058] 2. The resetting of the device (prior to replacing the cartridge 3).

[0059] The fluid (such as toothpaste) is squeezed out by turning the rotary switch 10. It engages the rotary claw 12, which further engages the plunger coupling 7 by mutual meshing of their complementarily angled teeth. Since the plunger coupling 7 is affixed to the pressure spindle 6, turning the plunger coupling 7 rotates the pressure spindle 6 as well. Upon rotating the pressure spindle 6, the outer thread of the pressure spindle 6, engaging the inner thread of the plunger 5, raises the plunger 5 axially. The elevation of the plunger 5 exerts pressure on the piston 3.2 which slides inside the body 3.1 of the replaceable cartridge 3, thus squeezing the fluid out of the replaceable cartridge 3 towards the passage extending axially through the toothbrush shank 19 and further towards the bristle and the membrane 21.

[0060] The purpose of resetting the device is to replace the empty cartridge 3. When the reset button 13 is pressed, it engages the reverser driver 11 via the screw 14. The reverser driver 11 engages the pressure spindle 6 via the reverser assembly 9. Upon engaging the reverser driver 11, its pins, mating the slots on the reverser assembly 9, elevate the reverser assembly 9 axially along the pressure spindle 6. The sliding of the reverser assembly 9 over the tapered part of the pressure spindle 6 brings the arms of the pressure spindle 6 closer and compresses the rubber spring 8, while simultaneously compacting the head of the pressure spindle 6.

[0061] Once the return spring 15 is fully compressed, and the head of the pressure spindle 6 is compacted, allowing itself to disengage the internal thread of the plunger 5 and the external thread of the pressure spindle 6, the plunger 5 is released and returned to its original position (shown in FIG. 1) due to the force exerted by the return spring 15.

[0062] Now, by twisting the shank 19 relative to the toothbrush handle 1 and pulling it away, the two structural elements can be detached, while the replaceable cartridge 3 can be removed from the toothbrush handle 1, and replaced with a full replaceable cartridge 3. Before a new cartridge 3 is inserted into the toothbrush handle 1, a protective foil seal is removed from the nozzle of the body 3.1 of the replaceable cartridge 3. Finally, the shank 19 is mounted on the toothbrush handle 1 and reattached by twisting relative to it, after which the toothbrush can be used again.

[0063] It is important to emphasize that the exemplary embodiment toothbrush comprises a compact and aesthetically pleasing entity which ensures proper extraction of the toothpaste onto the bristle. The volume of extracted toothpaste corresponds to the angle of rotation of the rotary switch 10.

[0064] It is to be understood that the above description is intended for the purposes of illustrating a preferred exemplary embodiment, rather than limiting the scope of the invention. Based on the considerations above, a person skilled in the art will envision numerous variations and modifications of the present invention, which would still be covered by the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0065] 1 toothbrush handle [0066] 2 bridge [0067] 3 replaceable cartridge [0068] 3.1 cartridge body [0069] 3.2 piston [0070] 4 cap [0071] 5 plunger [0072] 6 pressure spindle [0073] 7 plunger coupling [0074] 8 rubber spring [0075] 9 reverser assembly [0076] 9.1 part of reverser assembly [0077] 9.2 part of reverser assembly [0078] 10 rotary switch [0079] 11 reverser driver [0080] 12 rotary claw [0081] 13 reset button [0082] 14 screw [0083] 15 return spring [0084] 16 compression spring [0085] 17 torsion spring [0086] 18 cartridge gasket [0087] 19 shank [0088] 20 bristle [0089] 21 membrane