Abstract:
A toothbrush assembly has two main sections, a toothbrush head that incorporates toothbrush bristles and toothpaste holder. The toothbrush head has a bristle end and a shaft with an enclosed channel connecting the bristle end to a threaded end. A flexible tube extends from an opening in the channel to near the top of bristles. The threaded end mates to the chamber. The chamber is coupled to a plunger assembly having a plunger head that seals against the sides of the chamber. The plunger head pulls a vacuum on the chamber when moved laterally in a first direction and pressurizes the chamber when moved laterally in a second direction. A toothpaste tube is threaded into the threaded end of the chamber and toothpaste is extracted from the toothpaste tube into the chamber or delivered from the chamber to the bristles. A universal adapter is used for non-compatible toothpaste tubes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/320,224, filed May 27, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to toothbrushes with paste dispensing and in particular to travel toothbrushes that are sealed and provide toothpaste dispensing through the toothbrush bristles and provide for easy loading of toothbrush with toothpaste directly from a toothpaste tube. This invention relates to travel-ready toothbrushes. More specifically, this invention is an assembly used to construct self-dispensing, leakage-free, refillable toothbrushes with replaceable bristles. The assembly described in this invention is incorporated into various toothbrush designs. Toothbrushes that use this assembly can then be styled to emulate a variety of common and stylized objects such as a pen, a cigar, a make-up applicator, or other cylindrical objects. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Toothbrushes with self-dispensing toothpaste chambers have been suggested that combine the toothbrush and toothpaste container into one object. This eliminates the need for the user to carry both a toothbrush and toothpaste container and enables the user to conveniently brush wherever a water supply is available. Previous designs, however, do not lend themselves to versatility whereby a variety of different styled toothbrushes can be constructed using interchangeable parts. Patents that describe travel-ready, self-dispensing toothbrushes as finished products are not intended to be used as subassemblies or components. Therefore, the nature of those designs differs from this patent, which is used as a building block for constructing various finished toothbrush designs. 
   Several patents relating to travel-ready, self-dispensing toothbrushes are described below. One of the most popular travel ready, self-dispensing toothbrush is described in U.S. Re. Pat. No. 6,142,694. The invention describes a finished toothbrush and not a subassembly. In addition, the functionality of this toothbrush has several drawbacks. First is the fact that the toothbrush is disposable and not refillable. The user is not able to choose the brand of toothpaste used. In addition, the disposable nature necessitates the use of lower quality, low usage bristles. Another drawback is that this toothbrush is prone to water leakage and does not lend itself to being carried in the pocket of an expensive garment, handbag, or computer case without a watertight container. Another drawback is that that toothbrush is not appealing to the discretionary user. 
   There are two fundamental problems with prior art designs. First the dispensing portion of the toothbrush assembly is not designed to be disassembled. Toothpaste is a material that has different qualities and with time may tend to clog or get too rigid to be properly dispensed. A workable dispensing toothbrush assembly needs to be designed so that it can be disassembled for cleaning. Secondly, the chamber that holds the toothpaste also holds the elements that are used to facilitate loading toothpaste into the chamber and dispensing toothpaste from the chamber. Prior art designs did not isolate the toothpaste holding chamber from the elements that dispensed the toothpaste. For example, most designs have a threaded shaft that extends into the toothpaste and also engages threads in the element used to push toothpaste from the chamber. This threaded shaft may get contaminated with material that gets transferred to the toothpaste. 
   There is, therefore, a need for a toothbrush assembly comprising a threaded toothbrush head section, a delivery tube integral to the threaded toothbrush head section for delivering toothpaste to the top of the toothbrush bristles, and a chamber section operable for storing toothpaste and selectively receiving toothpaste from a toothpaste tube and delivering the toothpaste to the toothbrush bristles or back to the toothpaste tube. The toothbrush assembly needs to be made of component parts such that the chamber section can be disassembled for cleaning. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A toothbrush assembly is made with three main elements, a toothbrush head section that incorporates toothbrush bristles, a toothpaste holder section, and a leak proof cap. The toothbrush head section has bristles on a bristle end and a shaft connecting the bristle end to a threaded end. The shaft has an encased channel extending from the threaded end to substantially the center of the bristles on the bristle end. A flexible tube extends from an opening in the channel to substantially the top of the bristles. The flexible tube is sufficiently flexible that it does not interfere with the action of the bristles when brushing teeth. The threaded end toothbrush head has male threads for mating to female threads in a threaded opening in a chamber in the toothpaste holder section. The chamber also has a plunger end opening for receiving a plunger assembly having a plunger head that seals against the sides of the chamber. 
   The plunger assembly is made of component parts including a plunger head, a plunger body and a twist knob coupled to a threaded shaft. The plunger head is cylindrical with compliant seal features around its circumference that fits against and seals to the inside of the chamber. The plunger head is coupled to and retained by features on the plunger end of the plunger body. The plunger body has a non-cylindrical threaded shaft that has opposing threaded sections along its length. The threaded sections are on circumferential sections of the threaded shaft and allow a nut to be threaded and supported. The threaded shaft of the plunger body is non-cylindrical with surfaces and features that allow it to translate but not rotate relative to the twist knob to which it is coupled. The nut is threaded onto the threaded shaft until it is stopped by a flange on the plunger end. The twist knob has a cavity with inside surfaces and features that mate to the threaded shaft. The shaft of the plunger body and its engagement with mating features in the cavity of the twist knob allow the plunger body to smoothly translate within the cavity. When the plunger body is inserted into the chamber, the nut is stopped by a flange in the inside of the chamber. Features on the twist knob coupled to mating features on the inside of the chamber thereby retaining the plunger assembly while allowing the twist knob to rotate with respect to the chamber. When the twist knob is rotated, the plunger body is likewise rotated. Since the nut is stopped by a flange on the inside of the chamber, the force of the threads cause the shaft of the plunger body to translate with respect to the nut and thus into the chamber. The sealed plunger head is the only moving part that is exposed to the inside of the chamber. 
   The twist knob is coupled to a threaded shaft such that rotating the twist knob in a first rotary direction operates to laterally move the plunger head toward the threaded opening and in a second rotary direction operates to laterally move the plunger towards the plunger opening. Moving the plunger head, sealed against the sides of the chamber, operates to pull a vacuum on the chamber when moved in the first direction and to pressurize the chamber when moved in the second direction. A standard off-the-shelf toothpaste tube may be threaded into the threaded end of the chamber and toothpaste may be extracted from the toothpaste tube into the chamber or delivered from the chamber back into the toothpaste tube. After the chamber has been loaded with toothpaste and a toothbrush head section has been threaded into the threaded end, the twist knob delivers toothpaste from the chamber to the top of the toothbrush bristles when rotated in the second rotary direction. The outside surface of the chamber has features that retain the cap that fits over the toothbrush head section and prevents leakage of any water or toothpaste remaining in the bristles after use. A universal adapter has threads matching the threaded end and a compliant opening for mating to a variety of off-the-shelf toothpaste tubes. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a view the toothbrush assembly according to embodiments of the present invention showing the toothbrush head section attached to the toothpaste holder section with the cap removed; 
       FIG. 1B  is a view of the toothbrush assembly with the cap attached. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the toothbrush assembly according to embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a section view of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D are various views of the plunger body of the plunger assembly used in the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are various views of the plunger head of the plunger assembly used in the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are various views of the nut of the plunger assembly used in the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  7 C and  7 D are various views of the twist knob of the plunger assembly used in the toothbrush and assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are various views of the chamber of the toothpaste holding section of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are views of the O-ring for sealing the cap of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C are various views of the toothbrush head section of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  11 C are various views of the cap for the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C are various views of the flexible tube of the toothbrush head section; 
       FIG. 13  is a clip used in the cap of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 14A ,  14 B, and  14 C are various views of the universal adapter used with embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14D  illustrates a toothpaste tube coupled to the toothpaste holding section of the toothbrush assembly of  FIG. 2  using the universal adapter illustrated in  FIGS. 14A ,  14 B, and  14 C; and 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate various views of another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known devices may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning materials and processes and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
   The modular and interchangeable design of the toothpaste holder section, plunger assembly, and toothbrush head section enables toothpaste dispensing toothbrushes to be inexpensively manufactured in a variety of styles and colors using distinctive handles and protective caps. The plunger assembly offers a mechanism for finely controlling the flow of toothpaste. The replaceable toothbrush head section enhances the reusability and longevity of the toothbrush. A chamber in the toothpaste holder section that holds the toothpaste is isolated from moving parts in the plunger assembly reduces the chance of clogging, contamination of the toothpaste, and toothpaste leakage. The plunger assembly may be easily removed from the chamber and disassembled for cleaning. 
   Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. 
     FIG. 1A  is a view of the toothbrush assembly  100  according to embodiments of the present invention. Toothbrush assembly  100  comprises the cap  109  and two primary sections; toothbrush head section (toothbrush head)  101  and toothpaste holder section  102 . Toothbrush head  101  comprises bristles  106  on the bristle end and a shaft  107  connecting the bristle end to the threaded end. The threads of the threaded end are not shown in this view. Shaft  107  has an encased channel (not shown) that extends from the bristle end to the threaded end. A flexible tube  104  is coupled to a brush opening (not shown) in the encased channel and extends to substantially the top of the bristles  106 . In this way, toothpaste (not shown) may be deposited on the top of the bristles avoiding waste. Flexible tube  104  is sufficiently flexible such that it does not interfere with the action of the bristles  106  when brushing. Also shown in this view are a twist knob  103  which is coupled to a plunger head (not shown in this view) that operates inside toothpaste chamber  105  of toothpaste holder section  102 . Cap  109  with clip  108  is also shown in this view. 
     FIG. 1B  illustrates the toothbrush assembly  100  with cap  109  coupled to toothpaste holder section  102 . The outside of toothpaste chamber  105  and twist knob  103  are shown in this view. 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded view of all the elements of toothbrush assembly  100 . Plunger assembly  200  comprises a plunger head  203 , plunger body  204 , threaded nut  205  and twist knob  103 . Plunger body  204  has plunger threads  252  from tail end  250  to head end  251 . Nut  205  threads onto the plunger threads  252  from the tail end  250 . Plunger assembly  200  is inserted into plunger end  208  of toothpaste chamber  105 . O-ring  202  is coupled to a groove (not shown) on brush end  209  of toothpaste chamber  105 . O-ring  202 , toothpaste chamber  105  and plunger assembly  200  make up toothpaste holder section  102  of toothbrush assembly  100 . Toothbrush head  101  comprises bristles  106  coupled to threaded end  206  with shaft  107 . Flexible tube  104  couples to&#39;brush opening  207  and extends substantially to the top of bristles  106 . 
     FIG. 3  is a section view of toothbrush assembly  100 . Cap  109  with clip  108  extends over bristles  106  and shaft  107  and couples to features  302  on toothbrush head  101 . Cap  109  seals against O-ring  202  to prevent leakage of any fluid left in bristles  106  after use. Opening  305  in brush end  209  accesses toothpaste chamber volume  301 . Toothpaste (not shown) is disposed into toothpaste chamber volume  301 . Plunger head  203  is the only moving part of toothbrush assembly  100  that comes in contact with toothpaste in toothpaste chamber volume  301 . Seal features  306  extend around plunger head  203  and seal against the inside wall of toothpaste chamber  105 . Plunger head  203  is coupled to an retained by features on plunger body  204 . Nut  205  is threaded onto threads of plunger body  204  and is stopped by flange  307 . A front surface of nut  205  also seats against an inside lip on toothpaste chamber  105 . Plunger body  204  extends inside a recess of twist knob  103 . Features  308  on twist knob  103  couple to mating features in plunger end  208  of toothpaste chamber  105 . Twist knob  103  is free to rotate relative to toothpaste chamber  105  while coupled to plunger end  208 . When twist knob  103  is over plunger body  204  and coupled to features  308  on toothpaste chamber  105 , it contacts and retains nut  205  from any lateral motion. The plunger head  203  is coupled to plunger body  204  and therefore rotates when twist knob  103  rotates plunger body  204 . Plunger head  203  moves laterally between plunger end  208  and toothbrush end  209  of toothpaste chamber  105  by the action of nut  205  and threads on plunger body  204  when twist knob  103  is rotated. Features of twist knob  103  (not shown) prevent plunger body  204  from rotating with respect to twist knob  103 . Channel  304  is used to transport toothpaste from chamber volume  301  to bristle  106 . 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D illustrate details of plunger body  204 . Plunger body  204  does not have a cylindrical cross section The embodiment of  FIG. 4  illustrates plunger body  204  with a rectangular cross section  405 . Two sets of threads  401  are diametrically opposed on plunger body  204  and conform to a circumference  406  that is tangential to the cross section of plunger body  204 . A mating recess to cross section  405  in twist knob  103  allows plunger body  204  to translate but not rotate within twist knob  103 . Plunger head  203  fits over end  403  of plunger body  204 . Flange  307  stops nut  205  when it is threaded on threads  401  of plunger body  204 . Surfaces  404  (on each side of plunger body  204 ) serve to guide plunger body  204  when it moves laterally and aids in preventing binding. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate details of plunger head  203 . Surface  501  of plunger head  203  is the only moving part that contacts toothpaste in toothpaste chamber volume  301 . Seal features  306  act like three O-rings and seal against the inside wall of toothpaste chamber  105 . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate details of nut  205  of plunger assembly  200 . Nut  205  has features  602  that fit into mating features on the inside wall of toothpaste chamber  105  and prevent nut  205  from rotating in toothpaste chamber  105  when plunger assembly  200  is inserted in and coupled to toothpaste chamber  105  with features  308 . Surface  603  of nut  205  contacts flange  307  on plunger body  204 . Threads  601  mate with threads  401  on plunger body  204 . 
     FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate details of twist knob  103  for toothbrush assembly  100 . Recess  702  receives plunger body  204 . Recess  702  has features  703  that mate with grooves  402  in plunger body  204  and aids guiding plunger body  204  in recess  702  when it moves laterally. 
     FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C illustrate details of toothpaste chamber  105 . Toothpaste chamber  105  has brush end  801  and plunger end  208 . Grooves  808  mate with corresponding features  602  on nut  205  preventing nut  205  from rotating within toothpaste chamber  105 . Groove  805  holds and retains O-ring  202 . Feature  804  in toothpaste chamber  105  mates with features  308  on twist knob  204 . Toothpaste chamber volume  301  is modified by lateral motion of plunger head  203 . 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate details of O-ring  202 . O-ring  202  stretches and fits into groove  805  in toothpaste chamber  105 . Inside  902  contacts the bottom of groove  805  and outside  901  contacts the inside wall of cap  109 . 
     FIGS. 10A ,  10 B, and  10 C illustrate details of toothbrush head  107 . Holes  1004  are for receiving bristles  106 . Opening  207  receives flexible tube  104 . Encased channel  304  extends from opening  207  to opening  1003 . Threads  206  mate with corresponding threads in toothpaste holder section  102 . Threads  206  may be made compatible with one of the many off-the-shelf toothpaste tubes on the market. 
     FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  11 C illustrate details of cap  109  for toothbrush assembly  100 . Cap  109  has holes  1103  for receiving mating features of clip  108 . Feature  1202  is a groove for coupling to feature  302  on toothbrush head  101 . Opening  1101  extends over toothbrush head  101 . 
     FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C illustrate details of flexible tube  104  that fits into opening  207  in toothbrush head  101 . Flange  1202  fits into a mating groove retaining flexible tube  104  in toothbrush head  101  so that it is secure during brushing with bristles  106 . Opening  1201  delivers toothpaste to substantially the top of bristles  106 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates details of clip  108  for toothbrush assembly  100 . Features  1301  couple and retain clip  108  to cap  109 . 
     FIG. 14A  illustrate details of a universal adapter  1400  used with embodiments of the present invention. Shown are opening  1404  for toothpaste flow and adapter threads  1401  for threading into toothpaste holder section  102 . 
     FIG. 14B  is a side view of the universal adapter  1400  showing toothpaste tube end  1402  and adapter threads  1401  on toothbrush end for mating with section line  1405 . 
     FIG. 14C  illustrates a section view of a universal adapter  1400  used with embodiments of the present invention. Shown are a side view of opening  1404  for toothpaste flow, adapter threads  1401  for threading into toothpaste holder section  102 , and toothpaste tube receiving end  1402 . 
     FIG. 14D  illustrates toothpaste tube  1403  coupled to the threaded end  209  of toothpaste chamber  105  with universal adapter  1400 . 
     FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate views of another embodiment of a toothpaste holding section  1500 .  FIG. 15A  is an exploded view of toothpaste holding section  1500 . Toothpaste holding section  1500  has a cylinder  1501  that receives plunger assembly  1520  also shown in an exploded view. Plunger assembly  1520  comprises plunger head  1502  with threaded section  1504 , plunger sleeve  1503 , and plunger shaft  1506  coupled to knob  1508 . Threaded shaft  1506  mates with threaded section  1504 . Plunger sleeve  1503  goes inside and couples to cylinder  1501  with flange  1507 . Knob  1508  has features that snap over flange  1507  so that knob  1508  and sleeve  1503  are attached to cylinder  1501 . While knob  1508  is firmly attached to cylinder  1501  it is free to rotate. When knob  1503  is rotated, the threads on shaft  1506  laterally move plunger head  1502 . Plunger head  1502  has a compliant seal  1505  that circumferentially contacts against the walls of cylinder  1501 . As plunger head  1502  is moved laterally by rotating knob  1503 , it operates to pull a vacuum or to pressurize cylinder  1501 . 
     FIG. 15B  is a partial assembly view of plunger assembly  1520  coupled to knob  1508  and assembled into plunger sleeve  1503 . View  1510  is an end view of this assembly showing the end profile of plunger sleeve  1503 , shaft  1506 , and twist knob  1508 . Plunger sleeve  1503  fits into plunger head  1505  and the threads of shaft  1506  are threaded into threads  1504  forming plunger assembly  1520 . Arms  1509  prevent sleeve  1503  from rotating with respect to chamber  1501 . 
   Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.