Abstract:
A sanitary guard is disclosed which is attached to the dispensing spout of an automatic toothpaste dispenser with an interference fit. Toothpaste is dispensed through the sanitary guard onto a toothbrush positioned in a slot below the guard to assure the toothpaste will be on the toothbrush bristles. The sanitary guard helps prevent the toothbrush from touching the dispensing spout for sanitary protection. In addition, the sanitary guard is made from a plastic having nanosilver compounds therein that give it germicidal properties for sanitary protection.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to dispensers for oral care compositions suitable for cleaning the oral cavity. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toothpaste dispensers are well known in the art. Most existing toothpaste dispensers are in the form of simple tubes that dispense toothpaste when users manually squeeze the tubes. Some of these tubes are formed of flexible plastic, and older ones of these tubes were formed of a soft, malleable metal. Alternatively, some toothpaste dispensers exist in a pump form. Simpler versions of these pump dispensers are manual and a user operates them by depressing the top of the dispenser, and other variants utilize a pump lever on the dispenser. Such toothpaste dispensers are not user-friendly for people who have arthritis in their hands or have other physical limitations such as Parkinson&#39;s disease. 
     In addition, such traditional tube and pump toothpaste dispensers are messy. It is easy to squeeze a tube of toothpaste or to press a manual pump type toothpaste dispenser with an incorrect amount of pressure and eject too much toothpaste that falls on a counter or, worse, on the floor. Further, the caps of tube type toothpaste dispensers often become messy and covered with toothpaste that dries out and thereby makes a worse mess. 
     In view of the shortcomings described above automatic toothpaste dispenser that can dispense toothpaste without manual operation have come into vogue. They are easier to use, thereby making it easier for young and old to brush their teeth. They are then subtly encouraged to brush their teeth more often. As a result automatic toothpaste dispensers promote oral hygiene. 
     While automatic toothpaste dispensers have made it easier to dispense toothpaste onto a brush they are still not user-friendly for people who have arthritis in their hands or who have other physical limitations such as Parkinson&#39;s disease. These people have difficulty in holding the bristle end of a toothbrush under the dispensing spout of the automatic toothpaste dispensers and the toothpaste too often does not go onto the bristles but, rather, onto the counter or floor. 
     Whether toothpaste tubes, manually operated toothpaste dispensers or automatic toothpaste dispenser, they all have a common problem. A person using them often touches the opening where the tooth is dispensed from such devices with the bristles of their toothbrush. This creates a hygienic problem because the bristles and handles of virtually all toothbrushes have germs, bacteria and sometimes viruses thereon. A fast rinse of a toothbrush under a running faucet after brushing does not properly clean a toothbrush. They still have germs, bacteria and viruses thereon. Very few families will have a separate toothpaste dispensers for each person in a family and germs, bacteria and viruses are thereby easily spread between members of a family or other group who share one of the many types of toothpaste dispensers described above. This problem is exacerbated when people with physical limitations, such as Parkinson&#39;s disease, must hold their toothbrush bristles against the opening where the toothpaste is dispensed in order to get the toothpaste on their toothbrush. 
     Therefore, there is a need for means to dispense toothpaste using a dispenser that is shared by people while minimizing the transfer of germs, bacteria and viruses between the people. In addition, there is a need in the art for means to help a person position their toothbrush to receive toothpaste only onto their toothbrush and thereby minimizing any messes caused during dispensing toothpaste. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned needs in the prior art are satisfied by the present invention. A novel sanitary guard is provided which is easily attached to the dispensing spout of a dispenser of viscous oral care products such as an automatic toothpaste dispenser. The novel sanitary guard helps prevent a person using an automatic toothpaste dispenser with the sanitary guard attached from touching the dispensing spout of the dispenser with the bristles, head or handle of their toothbrush. In addition, the sanitary guard has means to help a person steady their toothbrush and position its bristles under the dispensing spout of the dispenser so that all toothpaste goes onto the bristles. Further, and very important, the sanitary guard is made of an antimicrobial plastic containing nanosilver compounds that kill microbes and microorganisms such as bacteria, germs, viruses and mold that attempt to grow on the surface of the sanitary guard, making its surface germicidal. This helps prevent the spread of such harmful microbes and microorganisms between people using the same toothpaste dispenser equipped with the sanitary guard. 
     The novel sanitary guard easily mounts to the outer side of a lip of the dispensing spout of an automatic toothpaste dispenser by frictional fit. The guard may easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. The sanitary guard has open sides that visually permit positioning the bristles of a toothbrush under the dispensing spout to receive toothpaste without touching the spout. In addition, the bottom edge of the sanitary guard has a notch in which the handle of the toothbrush is positioned, and the handle is slid along as toothpaste is dispensed onto the toothbrush bristles. This notch keeps the toothbrush bristles far enough away from the dispensing spout so that it ordinarily will not touch the spout. Use of the notch also helps steady a toothbrush to properly receive toothpaste, and this feature is valuable to people who have a physical limitation that hinders them from holding the toothbrush steady without the aid of the notch on the bottom of the sanitary guard. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood on reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the novel sanitary guard; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the novel sanitary guard; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a toothpaste dispenser on which the novel sanitary guard is about to be mounted; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the toothpaste dispenser on which the novel sanitary guard is fully mounted for use; 
         FIG. 5  is a side of a toothbrush; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the toothpaste dispenser on which the novel sanitary guard is fully mounted for use, a toothbrush is positioned under the guard and the dispensing spout of the dispenser, and toothpaste is just commencing to be dispensed; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the toothpaste dispensing mechanism on which the novel sanitary guard is fully mounted for use, the toothbrush positioned under the guard has been moved along underneath the guard while toothpaste has been dispensed, and dispenser is turned off; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged front view of the novel sanitary guard mounted to the dispensing spout of a toothpaste dispenser with a toothbrush positioned thereunder and just about to received toothpaste onto the bristles of the toothbrush; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged front view of the novel sanitary guard mounted to the dispensing spout of a toothpaste dispenser with a toothbrush positioned thereunder and just after toothpaste has been dispensed onto the bristles of the toothbrush. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the novel sanitary guard  10  in accordance with the teaching of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a side view of novel sanitary guard  10 . While one shape of the sanitary guard  10  is shown in the drawings the exact shape of sanitary guard  10  is not critical, as long as it contributes to preventing the head and bristles  26  of a toothbrush  24  ( FIG. 5 ) from touching the dispensing spout  11   i  and  11   f  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 ) of a dispenser of viscous oral care products which in this Detailed Description is toothpaste dispenser  10  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 - 9 ). 
     Before describing the novel sanitary guard  10  a toothpaste dispenser  11  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6  and  7 ) with which guard  10  may function is first described. This is done first so that sanitary guard  10  will be better understood. In  FIG. 3  is a side view of a toothpaste dispenser  11  on which a novel sanitary guard  10  may be mounted for use. Such fluid dispensers  11  are known in the art, particularly for dispensing soap. Accordingly, such prior art fluid dispensers are only described generally herein. 
     Toothpaste dispenser  11  comprises a base  11   a  in which are typically mounted a pump and batteries for powering the pump (not shown). There is also a top or head piece  11   b  in/on which are mounted an actuator button  11   e  that powers an air pump (not shown) to dispense toothpaste, and a cap  11   d  that may be easily opened to insert a viscous fluid toothpaste  12  into a clear plastic container  11   g  that is mounted in middle section  11   c . The top surface of toothpaste  12  is shown rippled only to indicate it is a fluid. Positioned inside container  11   g  is a hollow tube  11   h  that is used to extract toothpaste  12  from container  11   g  and move it to head  11   b  where it is dispensed via the dispensing spout which comprises elements  11   f  and  11   i . When actuator button  11   e  is depressed an air pump (not shown) mounted in base  11   a  pumps air into the top of container  11   g  as shown at arrow W3 in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The air pressure causes toothpaste  12  to flow up tube  11   h  as indicated by arrow W4. The toothpaste  12  then exits toothpaste dispenser  11  via the dispensing spout  11   f , and out spout  11   f ,  11   i  ( FIG. 3 ) and through novel sanitary guard  10  onto bristles  26  of toothbrush  24  positioned under the dispensing spout and the sanitary guard  10  as shown in  FIGS. 6-9 . 
     Returning to the front view of novel sanitary guard  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , it comprises a circular top piece  17  having a hole  18  therefore that is used to mount guard  10  onto dispensing spout  11   f ,  11   i  as shown in FIGS.  4  and  6 - 9 . The dispensing spout has a larger diameter portion  11   i  that fits with an interference fit into hole  18  of sanitary guard  10  as shown in FIGS.  4  and  6 - 9 . Guard  10  has flared, open sides having four corner pieces  13 ,  14 ,  15  and  16  ( 16  not shown) that form a rectangle at the bottom of guard  10 . The front view of guard  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is the almost the same as the rear view (not shown). In the front view shown in  FIG. 1  front legs  13  and  14  are shown and there are two legs  15 ,  16  on the rear side of guard  10  that are not seen in  FIG. 1 . There is a front to rear hole through sanitary guard  10  shown in  FIG. 1  as element number  22 . While the lower portion of guard  10  is shown in a rectangular form its shape can be square or oval. Similarly, the holes  22 ,  23  etc. through the sides of guard  10  may be oval or another shape. 
     The front side of sanitary guard  10  has a front bottom edge  20 . Guard  10  also has a rear bottom edge that is not shown in any of the figures except as the line across the bottom of notch  19  in  FIG. 1 . Notch  19  in the front bottom edge  20  shows in the side view of  FIG. 2  as a dotted line, and shows in  FIGS. 8 and 9  with handle  25  of toothbrush  24  resting therein. 
       FIG. 2  shows a left side view of sanitary guard  10  and it is almost the same as the right side view of guard  10  (just reversed) which is not shown. The front side leg is designated  13  and the rear side leg is designated  15 . Right side legs  14  and  16  are not seen in  FIG. 2  but leg  14  is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The description of hole  18  is the same as it is for  FIG. 1  which is given above. There is a left to right hole through the left and right sides of guard  10  shown in  FIG. 2  as element number  23 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the toothpaste dispenser  11 , which has already been described, with sanitary guard  10  about to be installed to dispensing spout  11   i  and  11   f  by moving guard  10  in the direction of arrow W1 until guard  10  is in friction fit with spout  11   i ,  11   f  as previously described. 
       FIG. 4  shows sanitary guard  10  fully mounted on dispensing spout  11   i  and  11   f  of toothpaste dispenser  11  and ready for use as described hereinafter. 
       FIG. 5  shows a toothbrush  24  having a handle  25  and a head with bristles  26  therein. 
       FIG. 6  shows a left view of sanitary guard  10  assembled to dispensing spout  11   i  and  11   f  of toothpaste dispenser  11  with toothbrush handle  25  positioned in the notch  19  ( FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ) in the bottom front edge of guard  10  as better shown in and described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The bristles  26  are positioned under spout  11   f  as shown. Toothbrush  25  may start in the position shown in  FIG. 6  and be pushed in the direction of arrow W5, or it may start in the position shown in  FIG. 7  and be pulled from under the dispensing spout (arrow not shown). In  FIG. 6  actuator button  11   e  is depressed by pressing it in the direction of arrow W2. This actuates an air pump (not shown) mounted in base  11   a  and air is pumped into the top of container  11   g  as shown as arrow W3 in  FIG. 6  to dispense toothpaste  12 . This has previously been described. In  FIG. 6 , toothpaste  27  is beginning to be dispensed but is not yet on bristles  26 . As toothpaste  27  is being dispensed by just exiting spout  11   f  and the user slowly pushes the handle  25  of toothbrush  24  in the direction of arrow W5 until the proper amount of toothpaste  27  has been dispensed onto the toothbrush bristles as shown in  FIG. 7 . Actuator button  11   e  is then released. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a timing mechanism may be embodied as known the prior art. When actuator button  11   e  is momentarily pressed it activates the air pump (not shown) for a pre-programmed amount of time to dispense toothpaste  27 . 
       FIG. 7  shows toothpaste dispenser  11  with sanitary guard  10  mounted thereon after toothpaste  27  has been fully dispensed onto toothbrush bristles  26  and actuator button  11   e  has been released. Toothbrush  24  is then lowered to clear guard  10  and is removed to brush one&#39;s teeth. With this operation no part of toothbrush  24  touches dispensing spout  11   i  and  11   f  to contaminate it. Any microbes that may be transferred to sanitary guard  10  by toothbrush  24  touching it are killed by the nanosilver compounds in the antimicrobial plastic from which guard  10  is fabricated. This assures a sanitary operation where microbes and microorganisms such as bacteria, germs, viruses and mold are not passed from one person who utilizes toothpaste dispenser  11  to another person who utilizes the same dispenser. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged front view of the novel sanitary guard  10  mounted to the dispensing spout  11   f ,  11   i  of a toothpaste dispenser  11  with a toothbrush  24  positioned thereunder and just about to receive toothpaste  27  onto the bristles  26  of the toothbrush  24 . The actuator button  11   e  has been depressed and toothpaste  27  is commencing to flow out of spout  11   f , 11   i  in the direction of arrow W6. Handle  25  of toothbrush  24  is in notch  19  on the underside of sanitary guard  10  and will be moved in or out of sanitary guard  10  to receive toothpaste  27  onto bristles  26  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged front view of the novel sanitary guard  10  mounted to the dispensing spout  11   f ,  11   i  of a toothpaste dispenser  11  with a toothbrush  24  positioned thereunder after finishing receiving toothpaste  27  onto the bristles  26  of the toothbrush  24 . The actuator button  11   e  has been released and no more toothpaste  27  is flowing out of spout  11   f , 11   i . Handle  25  of toothbrush  24  is still in notch  19  on the underside of sanitary guard  10  and will be moved downward and then away from sanitary guard  10  in order to brush ones teeth. 
     As previously mentioned, the plastic from which sanitary guard  10  is made has nanosilver compounds therein giving it antimicrobial properties that kill microbes and microorganisms such as bacteria, germs, viruses and mold that attempt to grow on the surface of the sanitary guard. This helps prevent the spread of such harmful microbes and microorganisms between people using the same toothpaste dispenser equipped with sanitary guard  10 . One company that sells such nanosilver plastic is BASF Corp., of Florham Park, N.J. Their plastic is an acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer called Luran S BX 13042 that comes with a special additive containing silver manufactured by Agion Technologies. Antibacterial polymers have the advantage of not being much more expensive than ordinary plastic and the extra cost is around 10%. 
     One important feature is that microorganisms are unable to develop immunity to silver. The germicidal properties of silver were used 6,000 years ago by the Sumers who kept water in silver pots so that it could stay fresh for longer, and dropped silver coins into pots with milk to prevent it from going bad. During great epidemics, people who used silverware were more likely to survive. Small children were fed with silver spoons in order to boost their immunity. Wounds were treated with silver compounds that accelerated healing. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention the toothpaste dispenser  11  will not have a dispensing spout  11   f ,  11   i  to which sanitary guard  10  will attach with an interference fit. To overcome this shortcoming an adapter is provided. The adapter has an adhesive strip attached thereto that is used to attach the adapter to the underside of top  11   b  of dispenser  11  in registration with the opening from which toothpaste  12  is dispensed. The adapter has a dispensing spout  11   f ,  11   i  to which sanitary guard  10  will properly attach with an interference fit. Alternatively, a dispensing spout  10  may be made an integral part of dispenser  11  and need not be fitted to dispenser  11 . 
     While what has been described herein above is the preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.