Abstract:
An oral solution dispenser apparatus for attachment to a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, includes a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, the housing having a recess therein for receiving a cartridge containing the oral solution, a pump disposed in the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, and an outlet nozzle extending from the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing. A head having bristles thereon is adapted to interconnect with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from the outlet nozzle to proximate the bristles.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/325,014, filed Sep. 26, 2001 by Andrew Tybinkowski et al. for POWERED TOOTHBRUSH WITH ASSOCIATED FLUID DISPENSER MECHANISM (Attorney&#39;s Docket LUSTIG-3 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to dental apparatus in general, and more particularly to toothbrushes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Toothbrushes are well known in the art. In general, a toothbrush comprises a head having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, and a handle adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user. 
         [0004]    Powered toothbrushes are also well known in the art. In general, a powered toothbrush comprises a replaceable head having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, and a handle adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user. The replaceable head is adapted to be removably counted on the handle so that a driver mechanism located within the handle can drive the head longitudinally and/or laterally and/or rotationally, whereby to aid in brushing the teeth. 
         [0005]    In the typical situation, dentifrice (e.g., toothpaste, tooth powder, etc.) is applied to the bristles of the toothbrush (either manual or powered) prior to the commencement of brushing. This is generally accomplished by grasping the handle of the toothbrush in one hand and the dentifrice container in the other hand, and then manually applying the dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush. Once the user has applied the dentifrice to the toothbrush, the user then commences brushing the teeth. 
         [0006]    Thus, with conventional manual and powered toothbrushes, the dentifrice is generally held in a container separate from the toothbrush, and applying the dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush is a two-handed operation. 
         [0007]    It has been recognized, for both manual and powered toothbrushes, that it would be advantageous to provide an improved toothbrush having a supply of liquid dentifrice located within the handle of the toothbrush, and a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the stored liquid dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush for application directly to the teeth. 
         [0008]    In the past, there have been a number of proposals for achieving the foregoing, but all of these proposals are believed to suffer from one or more significant disadvantages, including ineffectiveness of operation, lack of durability, unattractiveness of appearance, prohibitive cost of manufacture, cross-contamination, etc. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, with respect to powered toothbrushes, these proposals have generally required that the handle of the powered toothbrush be designed with dentifrice dispensing in mind. In other words, none of these proposals is believed to have addressed the issue of how a non-dentifrice-dispensing powered toothbrush can be quickly and easily converted into a dentifrice-dispensing powered toothbrush. 
         [0010]    In addition to the foregoing, in some circumstances substances other than dentifrice may need to be applied to the teeth and/or to the tissue adjacent to the teeth (e.g., the gums) or to other tissue accessible by the oral cavity (e.g., the throat, etc.). By way of example, but not limitation, such substances may include whitening or bleaching agents, anticariogenic (i.e., anti-cavity) agents, such as fluoride, or medicinal agents, such as an antibacterial agent, a local or systemic antibiotic, etc. All such agents and dentifrices are collectively referred to hereinafter as “oral solutions”. In this respect it should be appreciated that the term “solution” is not meant to be limiting, in the sense that it is intended to cover any flowable material consistent with the present invention, e.g., fluids, liquids, suspensions, gels, etc. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved powered toothbrush having a supply of liquid oral solution associated with the handle of the toothbrush, and a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the stored solution to the bristles of the toothbrush for delivery directly to the teeth, both prior to and during brushing. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a oral solution dispensing toothbrush adapted to utilize replaceable, oral solution storing cartridges. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a solution dispensing toothbrush which is effective in operation, durable, attractive in appearance, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0014]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus whereby a non-solution dispensing powered toothbrush can be quickly and easily upgraded into a dispensing powered toothbrush. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention are addressed by the provision and use of a novel solution dispenser mechanism which can be used with the handle of a conventional, powered toothbrush, whereby to quickly and easily provide a solution-dispensing powered toothbrush. 
         [0016]    The solution dispensed by the dispenser mechanism may be in various states, e.g., liquids, gels, pastes, etc. Furthermore, the solution dispensed by the solution dispenser mechanism may serve a variety or functions, e.g., cleaning (such as dentifrice), whitening or bleaching (such as a bleaching agent), anticariogenic (i.e., anti-cavity, such as fluoride), medicinal (e.g., antibacterial), etc. 
         [0017]    With the above objects in view, a feature of the invention is the provision of an oral solution dispenser apparatus for attachment to a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon. The apparatus comprises a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, the housing being adapted for receiving a cartridge containing the oral solution, a pump disposed on the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, and an outlet nozzle mounted on the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing. A head having bristles thereon is adapted to interconnect with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from the outlet nozzle to proximate the bristles. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a powered toothbrush comprising: a handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, a housing fixed to the handle, the housing being adapted for receiving a cartridge containing an oral solution, a pump disposed on the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, an outlet nozzle mounted on the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing, and a head having bristles thereon and interconnected with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, whereby to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from the cartridge to proximate the bristles. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there in provided a method for simultaneously effecting oral scrubbing and the application of an oral solution. The method comprises the steps of providing a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, and an oral solution dispenser apparatus comprising a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, the housing being adapted for receiving a cartridge containing the oral solution, a pump disposed on the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, an outlet nozzle mounted on the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing, attaching the housing to the handle, providing a head having bristles thereon and interconnecting the head with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, providing a cartridge containing the oral solution and connecting the cartridge to the housing and into communication with the pump, activating the powered toothbrush drive coupling to effect powered movement of the bristles, and operating the pump to move the oral solution from the cartridge, through the pump and outlet nozzle, and out of the head proximate the bristles. 
         [0020]    In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, there is provided a method for simultaneously effecting oral scrubbing and the application of an oral solution, the method comprising the steps of providing a powered toothbrush comprising a handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, a housing fixed to the handle, the housing being adapted for receiving a cartridge containing an oral solution, a pump disposed on the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, an outlet nozzle mounted on the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and on the housing, providing a head having bristles thereon and interconnecting the head with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, providing a cartridge containing the oral solution and connecting the cartridge to the housing and into communication with the pump, activating the powered toothbrush drive coupling to effect powered movement of the bristles, and operating the pump to move the oral solution from the cartridge, through the pump end outlet nozzle, and out of the head proximate the bristles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1-5A  illustrate a conventional powered toothbrush; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6-10  illustrate a novel replaceable head and a novel oral solution dispenser which are adapted to be mounted to the handle of the conventional powered toothbrush shown in  FIGS. 1-5A ; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 11-14  illustrate construction details of the novel replaceable head shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A ; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 15 ,  15 A,  16  and  16 A illustrate construction details of the novel dispenser shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 17-21  and  21 A illustrate construction details of a cartridge for containing a supply of oral solution; and 
           [0027]      FIGS. 22-38  illustrate an alternative arrangement in which the novel dispenser is intended to be mounted to the handle of a conventional powered toothbrush while in the field. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Looking first at  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown a conventional powered toothbrush  5 . Conventional powered toothbrush  5  generally comprises a replaceable head  10  and a handle  15 , Replaceable head  10  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ) generally comprises a stem  20  having a plurality of bristles  25  extending outwardly from a distal end thereof. Handle  15  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 ) has an elongated body  26  ( FIG. 5 ) that includes a driver mechanism (not shown) located within the handle. This driver mechanism powers a drive coupling  30  ( FIGS. 5 and 5A ; extending out a distal end of handle body  26  whereby, when a replaceable head  10  is mounted on drive coupling  30  and the handle&#39;s driver mechanism is actuated, e.g., with button  31  ( FIG. 5 ), the handle&#39;s driver mechanism can drive replaceable head  10  longitudinally and/or laterally and/or rotationally. Such driver mechanisms are of the sort well known in the art. 
         [0029]    In accordance with the present invention, and looking now at  FIGS. 6-10 , there is provided a novel replaceable head  100  ( FIGS. 6 ,  8 ,  9  and  9 A) and a novel solution dispenser  200  ( FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10  which are adapted to be used with the handle  15  of a conventional powered toothbrush, whereby to provide a novel solution-dispensing powered toothbrush. As will be discussed in further detail below, novel replaceable head  100  is adapted to be mounted to the handle&#39;s drive coupling  30  whereby the replaceable head may be driven (e.g., longitudinally and/or laterally and/or rotationally) in the usual fashion. At the same time, however, novel replaceable head  100  is also adapted to receive a solution provided by solution dispenser  200 , which is preferably formed integral with handle  15  or snap-mounted onto handle  15  or otherwise attached, so that solution may be dispensed to the bristles of the replaceable head  100  for application to the teeth. In accordance with the present invention, the solution dispensed by dispenser  200  may be in various states, e.g., liquids, gels, pastes, etc. Furthermore, the solution dispensed by dispenser  200  may serve a variety of functions, e.g., cleaning (such as dentifrice), whitening or bleaching (such as a bleaching agent), anticariogenic (i.e., anti-cavity, such as fluoride), medicinal (e.g., antibacterial), etc. 
         [0030]    More particularly, and looking now at  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  11 - 14 , replaceable head  100  comprises a stem  105  having a distal end  110  and a proximal end  115 . A plurality of bristles  120  extend outwardly from stem  105  generally adjacent to the distal end of the stem. A mount  122  is connected to the proximal end  115  of the stem  105 . A passageway  125  is formed in the distal end  110  of stem  105 . One end of passageway  125  opens adjacent to, and preferably amidst, bristles  120 , and the other end of passageway  125  connects to a fluid conduit  127  which runs along the length of the stem  105 . The other end of fluid conduit  127  connects to a passageway  128  ( FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  12 ) formed in mount  122 . It will be appreciated that, on account of the foregoing construction, fluid introduced into passageway  128  in mount  122  may flow through that passageway, through fluid conduit  127 , and then through passageway  125  so as to exit the stem adjacent to, and preferably amidst, bristles  120 . 
         [0031]    Stem  105  also includes an opening  129  ( FIGS. 6 and 6A ) in its proximal end  115 , whereby replaceable head  100  may be mounted to the handle&#39;s drive coupling  30  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0032]    Looking next at  FIGS. 8 ,  8 A,  15 , and  15 A, fluid dispenser  200  comprises a housing  205  which generally induces a pump  210  received in a pump-receiving recess  212  ( FIG. 15 ), and a cartridge-receiving recess  215  for receiving a cartridge  217  containing a supply of oral solution. A pair of spring-loaded ball detents  218  ( FIG. 15A ) releasably hold the cartridge  217  in cartridge-receiving recess  215 . 
         [0033]    Pump  210  ( FIGS. 16 ,  16 A) comprises at least one flexible wall  220  partially defining a central chamber  225 , a pair of check valves  230 ,  235 , an outlet port  240  (preferably including an O-ring seal  241  such as is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 16  for sealing with the walls of passageway  128 ) and an inlet needle  245 . Pump  210  essentially operates as follows:
       (1) when needle  245  is in communication with an appropriate supply of oral solution, and the at least one flexible wall  220  is initially pressed inwardly, check valve  230  permits air inside chamber  223  to be expelled out outlet port  240  while check valve  235  prevents air inside chamber  225  from being expelled out through needle  245 ;   (2) when the at least one flexible wall  220  is thereafter released, check valve  235  permits solution to be drawn into chamber  225  through needle  245  while check valve  230  prevents air or fluid from being drawn into chamber  225  from outlet port  240 ;   (3) when the at least one flexible wall  220  is thereafter pressed inwardly again, check valve  230  permits fluid inside chamber  225  to be expelled out outlet port  240  while check valve  235  prevents air or fluid within chamber  225  from being expelled out through needle  245 ; and   (4) when the at least one flexible wall  220  is thereafter released again, check valve  235  permits additional solution to be drawn into chamber  225  through needle  245  while check valve  230  prevents air or fluid from being drawn into chamber  225  from outlet port  240 .       
 
         [0038]    Thus, it will be seen that by connecting needle  245  to an appropriate supply of fluid, and by thereafter repeatedly depressing and releasing the pump&#39;s at least one flexible wall  220  in an in-and-out fashion, pump  210  causes fluid to be drawn from the oral solution supply and to be expelled from outlet port  240 , while preventing fluid from being drawn into outlet port  240  and expelled out inlet needle  245 . 
         [0039]    Pump  210  ( FIG. 16 ) is positioned in recess  212  ( FIG. 15 ) in housing  205  so that the pump&#39;s outlet port  240  extends out the distal end of housing  205 , and so that the pump&#39;s needle  245  extends into the housing&#39;s cartridge-receiving recess  215  ( FIG. 7 ). In this way, when the proximal end of replaceable head  100  is connected to the distal end of housing  205 , fluid leaving the pump&#39;s outlet port  240  can pass into passageway  128  of replaceable head  100  for subsequent delivery to the region of bristles  120 . Additionally, when a cartridge  217  is disposed in the housing&#39;s cartridge-receiving recess  215 , needle  245  can access the oral solution contained in cartridge  217 . 
         [0040]    Preferably, the relative dimensions of the housing&#39;s cartridge-receiving recess  215  and needle  245  are coordinated with one another so that the sharp tip of needle  245  is safely shielded within recess  215  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). In addition, the dimensions of recess  215  and needle  245  are preferably formed so that fingers, both large and small, will be prohibited from contacting the sharp tip of needle  245 . This construction constitutes an important safety feature of the present invention. 
         [0041]    In one form of the invention, solution dispenser  200  is intended to be permanently attached to, or formed integral with, powered toothbrush handle  15 , e.g., such as at the time of the manufacture of powered toothbrush handle  15 . Such a construction is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . Alternatively, and as will hereinafter be discussed in detail below, solution dispenser  200  may be snap-mounted onto handle  15 , or otherwise attached to handle  15 , after manufacture of handle  15 , e.g., by the user. 
         [0042]    Cartridge  217  is shown in detail in FIGS.  8  and  17 - 21  and  21 A. Cartridge  217  generally comprises a housing  250  ( FIG. 17 ), a bladder  255  ( FIG. 20 ) and a cap  260  ( FIG. 21 ). 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , it will be seen that the housing  250  comprises a hollow, elongated body  265  having a distal end  270  and a proximal end  275 . Distal end  270  is open. Proximal end  275  is closed off by an element  280  ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ) which includes a passageway  265  extending between the interior and exterior of body  265 . Passageway  285  provides a path for air to pass into the interior of housing  250 , as will hereinafter be described in further detail. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , it will be seen that the bladder  255  comprises an elongated body having a distal end  287  and a proximal end  288 . Distal end  287  is open. Proximal end  288  is closed. The bladder&#39;s body is preferably formed with a bellows-like construction, which helps hold the body in the generally open (i.e., non-collapsed) shape shown in  FIG. 20  prior to filling of the bladder with fluid. In addition, this construction helps keep the bladder&#39;s body open as fluid is withdrawn from the cartridge during use, so as to reduce the risk that some fluid may be trapped in the proximal portion of the bladder. In essence, this bellows-like construction helps provide directional control to the collapse of bladder  255  as fluid is withdrawn from the bladder, with bladder  255  collapsing primarily longitudinally rather than primarily radially. 
         [0045]    Cap  260  is shown in  FIG. 21 . Cap  260  comprises a generally cylindrical resilient body  292  having a thin end wall section  294 . On account of the foregoing construction, it will be appreciated that cap  260  comprises a relatively thin septum or seal for closing off the distal end of bladder  255 , as will hereinafter be discussed. Furthermore, by forming cylindrical body  292  out of a resilient material, cap  260  can seal around, needle  245  when the needle extends through the cap, as will hereinafter be discussed. 
         [0046]    Cartridge  217  is intended to be assembled as follows. First, bladder  255  ( FIG. 20 ) is inserted into the interior of housing  250  ( FIG. 17 ). Then the distal end  287  of bladder  255  is pulled back over the outside of the distal end  270  of housing  250 . In other words, the distal end of bladder  255  is everted so that it covers both the inside and outside surfaces of the distal end of housing  250 . Then bladder  255  is filled with fluid. Finally, cap  260  ( FIG. 21 ) is pressed into the mouth of housing  250  and bladder  255  so as to close off the interior of bladder  255 . 
         [0047]    The oral solution dispensing powered toothbrush is intended to be used as follows. 
         [0048]    First, a replaceable head  100  is connected to handle  15  and dispenser  200 , so that the handle&#39;s drive coupling  30  is in engagement with the replaceable head  100  ( FIG. 8 ), and so that the dispenser&#39;s outlet port  240  is in communication with the replaceable head&#39;s passageway  128  ( FIGS. 6 ,  6 A). Then a fresh oral solution cartridge  217  is inserted into the dispenser  200 . This is done by inserting cartridge  217 , distal end first, into the housing&#39;s cartridge-receiving recess  215  ( FIG. 9A ). As cartridge  217  is advanced within the cartridge-receiving recess  215 , the cartridge&#39;s cap  260  ( FIG. 21 ) engages the sharp proximal tip of the pump&#39;s needle  245  and, upon further distal movement of cartridge  217 , cap  260  is punctured by needle  245  ( FIG. 8 ). Further distal movement of cartridge  217  continues until the cartridge is securely attached to fluid dispenser  200 , with the solution in cartridge  217  being in communication with pump  210 . Spring-loaded bail detents  218  ( FIG. 15A ) releasably hold cartridge  217  in cartridge-receiving recess  215 . 
         [0049]    Thereafter, in use, the user depresses and releases the pump&#39;s at least one flexible side wall  220  several times so as to manually advance solution from the interior of bladder  255 , through pump  210 , and out stem  105  amidst bristles  120 , whereby the oral solution contained in bladder  255  will be applied to the teeth. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the two check valve construction of pump  210  permits solution to be supplied to bristles  120  regardless of the orientation of the toothbrush, i.e., the dispenser mechanism of the powered toothbrush operates successfully whether oriented horizontally, vertically, inverted, etc. 
         [0050]    It will also be appreciated that, as solution is drawn out of bladder  255 , housing passageway  285  ( FIGS. 18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21 ) permits air to enter the interior of housing  265 , whereby bladder  255  may easily release its fluid. 
         [0051]    Furthermore, it will be appreciated that if, between brushing, the powered toothbrush should be laid down in a horizontal position while oral solution is in cartridge  217 , no solution will leak from the toothbrush because of the two check valve construction of pump  210 . 
         [0052]    When the solution in cartridge  217  has been completely used up, or when it is thereafter desired to use a different cartridge  217  (e.g., one containing a different type of solution), cartridge  217  is detached from solution dispenser  200 , whereupon a new cartridge  217  may be inserted. 
         [0053]    As noted above, in one form of the invention solution dispenser  200  is intended to be permanently attached to, or formed integral with, powered toothbrush handle  15 , e.g., such as at the time of the manufacture of powered toothbrush handle  15 . Such a construction is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . 
         [0054]    Alternatively, and as shown in  FIGS. 22-38 , dispenser  200  may be snap-mounted onto handle  15 , or otherwise attached to handle  15 , after manufacture of handle  15 , e.g., by the user. Such a construction can be advantageous, since it permits an existing powered toothbrush handle  15  to be retroactively converted into a solution dispensing powered toothbrush. Where dispenser  200  is to be snap-mounted onto handle  15 , or otherwise attached to handle  15 , after manufacture/ dispenser  200  may include a pair of supports  200 A and  200 B ( FIG. 22 ) for the connection to handle  15  ( FIG. 28 ). In use, dispenser  200  is first secured to handle  15  ( FIG. 33 ), as by sliding the handle  15  through the supports  200 A,  200 B, until the handle  15  is engaged by a leaf spring  296 . Replaceable head  100  is then mounted to handle  15  and dispenser  200  ( FIGS. 34 and 35 ), and then oral solution cartridge  217  is installed in dispenser  200  ( FIGS. 36-38 ). 
         [0055]    These and other variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure.