DISPOSABLE TOOTHPASTE DISPENSING TOOTHBRUSH SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method includes a device that combines a toothbrush with a changeable head assembly connected to a body assembly that is filled with toothpaste for single or multi use. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method is useful for improving the convenience of brushing teeth at home or while away from home by offering the convenience of a tooth brush filled with toothpaste with advantages for venting while filling and sealing toothpaste from hardening or drying out.

Claims

1. A disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system comprising: a head assembly having; a toothpaste chamber; a plurality of bristles; a plurality of openings; a neck assembly including; a receptacle; and a hollow passageway; a body assembly having; at least one sealed, transparent viewing window; a connection mechanism; a hollow chamber; a rotating assembly including; a screw gear having; a driven assembly; a plunger; and a locking receiver; a twist cap including; a locking mechanism; and a drive assembly; wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system includes said head assembly, said body, and said twist cap together in functional combination; wherein said head assembly and said body assembly are removably couplable via said receptacle and said connection mechanism; wherein said body assembly and said twist cap are removably couplable via said locking mechanism and said locking receiver; wherein said head assembly includes said toothpaste chamber, said plurality of bristles, said plurality of openings, and said neck assembly together in functional combination; wherein said neck assembly includes said receptacle, and said hollow passageway together in functional combination; wherein said body assembly includes said at least one sealed, transparent viewing window, said connection mechanism, said hollow chamber, said rotating assembly, and said locking receiver together in functional combination; wherein said rotating assembly includes said screw gear and said plunger; wherein said twist cap has said locking mechanism and said drive assembly together in functional combination; and wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system includes said head assembly, said body, and said twist cap together in functional combination to provide a means by which to brush teeth using a toothbrush that dispenses toothpaste.

2. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said twist cap rotates freely within said locking receiver.

3. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said driving assembly couples to and drives said driven assembly.

4. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said driven assembly drives said screw gear.

5. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said screw gear drives said plunger axially through said hollow chamber.

6. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said neck assembly includes multiple transparent viewing windows.

7. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bristles are affixed to said head assembly.

8. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bristles protrude through said plurality of openings.

9. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of bristles are affixed to a floating bar.

10. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 9, wherein said floating bar is sealed against said plurality of holes by toothpaste pressure within said toothpaste chamber.

11. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 9, wherein said floating bar is forced against said plurality of openings by compression springs for forming a seal between said floating bar and said plurality of openings.

12. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 9, wherein said floating bar is sealed against said plurality of holes via o rings on said bristles.

13. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said hollow chamber accommodates a toothpaste cartridge.

14. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system is a complete, non-refillable assembly intended for one-time use.

15. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said head assembly is sold separately for replacing due to wear and alternately for health and cleanliness reasons.

16. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings comprise a flexible gate for enabling toothpaste to pass and venting to occur when pressure is applied from within said toothpaste chamber while returning to a sealed state for keeping said toothpaste from hardening once pressure equalizes.

17. A disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system comprising: a head assembly having; a toothpaste chamber; a plurality of bristles; a plurality of openings; a neck assembly including; a receptacle; and a hollow passageway; a body assembly having; at least one sealed, transparent viewing window; a connection mechanism; a hollow chamber; a rotating assembly including; a screw gear having; a driven assembly; a plunger; a locking receiver; a twist cap including; a locking mechanism and; a drive assembly; wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system includes said head assembly, said body, and said twist cap together in functional combination; wherein said head assembly and said body are removably couplable via said receptacle and said connection mechanism; wherein said body assembly and said twist cap are removably couplable via said locking mechanism and said locking receiver; wherein said head assembly includes said toothpaste chamber, said plurality of bristles, said plurality of openings, and said neck assembly together in functional combination; wherein said neck assembly includes, said receptacle, and said hollow passageway together in functional combination; wherein said body assembly has said at least one sealed, transparent viewing window, said connection mechanism; said hollow chamber, said rotating assembly, and said locking receiver together in functional combination; wherein said rotating assembly includes said screw gear and said plunger; wherein said twist cap has said locking mechanism and said drive assembly together in functional combination; wherein said twist cap rotates freely within said locking receiver; wherein said driving assembly couples to and drives said driven assembly; wherein said driven assembly drives said screw gear; wherein said screw gear drives said plunger axially through said hollow chamber; wherein said plurality of bristles are affixed to said head assembly; wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system is a complete, non-refillable assembly intended for one-time use; and wherein said disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system includes said head assembly, said body, and said twist cap together in functional combination to provide a means by which to brush teeth using a toothbrush that dispenses toothpaste.

18. The disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system is arranged as a kit.

19. A method for using a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system, the method comprising the steps of: filling the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system; twisting twist cap; dispensing toothpaste via the rotating assembly, driven assembly, screw gear, and plunger; and brushing teeth.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: refilling a hollow chamber with said toothpaste; and replacing a head assembly when worn or for cleanliness and health.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 1 is an in-use view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system during an in-use condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 4A is a sectioned view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 4B is an in-use view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system and method, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances and more specifically relates to toothbrush art as used to improve the convenience of brushing teeth.

[0027] Generally speaking, disclosed is a device that combines a toothbrush with a changeable head and body that fills with toothpaste for single or multi use. The disclosure offers advantages in dispensing toothpaste as well as sealing the toothpaste from becoming hard or drying out.

[0028] Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4B, various views of a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100. FIG. 1 shows a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 during an in-use condition 150 by user 140, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 may be beneficial for use by a user 140 to brush teeth by providing a tooth brush that manually dispenses toothpaste. As illustrated, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 may include head assembly 120 including neck assembly 126 and body assembly 156 including at least one sealed transparent viewing window 128, and twist cap 170. User 140 twists twist cap 170 causing toothpaste to dispense from head assembly 120.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 in a perspective view, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 has head assembly 120, body assembly 156, and twist cap 170 together in functional combination. Head assembly 120 includes toothpaste chamber 121, plurality of bristles 122, plurality of openings 124, and neck assembly 126 having hollow passageway 132. Body assembly 156 has at least one sealed transparent viewing window 128, connection mechanism 158, and hollow chamber 160.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 perspective view, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Body assembly 156 includes locking receiver 157, connection mechanism 158, at least one transparent viewing window 128, and hollow chamber 160 having rotating assembly 162, screw gear 164, plunger 166, and driven assembly 168. Head assembly 120 is removably couplable to body assembly 156 via receptacle 130 and connection mechanism 158. Twist cap 170 includes drive assembly 172 and locking mechanism 173. User 140 twists twist cap 170 initiating drive assembly 172 to drive driven assembly 168 turning screw gear 164. Plunger 166 is forced by screw gear 164 along axial direction of hollow chamber 160 pushing toothpaste into hollow passageway 132 and further into toothpaste chamber 121. Toothpaste builds pressure pushing it out plurality of openings 124 onto plurality of bristles 122.

[0031] FIG. 4A shows a disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100, according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Floating bar 180 is normally sealed against toothpaste chamber 121 due to pressure from toothpaste in toothpaste chamber 121. User 140 pushes on plurality of bristles 122 breaking seal with plurality of openings 124 while twisting twist cap 170. Twisting action forces toothpaste out of unsealed plurality of openings 124. This embodiment also allows venting of air from toothpaste chamber 121 during filling with user 140 pushing down on plurality of bristles 122 to allow toothpaste chamber 121 to break seal with floating bar 180.

[0032] FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100, according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Floating bar 180 is normally sealed against toothpaste chamber 121. User 140 pushes disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 against teeth forcing plurality of bristles 122 inward into toothpaste chamber 121 breaking seal with plurality of openings 124. Pressure within the toothpaste chamber 121 from floating bar 180 forces toothpaste out of unsealed plurality of openings 124 onto plurality of bristles 122.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 may further include a set of instructions 155. The instructions 155 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 (such that the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner).

[0034] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 550 showing a method of use 500 for disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of use 500 may include one or more components or features of the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method for method of use 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, filling the disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100; step two 502, twisting twist cap 170; step three 503, dispensing toothpaste via the rotating assembly 162, driven assembly 172, screw gear 164, and plunger 166; and step four 504 brushing the teeth of the user.

[0035] Method of use 500 for disposable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush system 100 may further comprise the steps of: step five 505 refilling the hollow chamber 160 with toothpaste and step six 506 replacing the head assembly 120 when worn or for cleanliness.

[0036] It should be noted that steps 505 and 506 are an optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of step of should not be interpreted as step for, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for dispensing (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

[0037] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.