Abstract:
A hand-held dental appliance provides a complete, portable dental care system. The appliance stores toothpaste in a toothpaste delivery canister. The appliance has a removable cover to protect a toothpaste dispensing toothbrush unit that is separably connected to the canister, The toothbrush unit has a brush head at the end of a stem ending with a connector for joining with a cooperating canister connector. When the brush unit and canister connectors are joined, a dispenser tip at the connector end of the canister fluidly communicates with a distributed orifice disposed within a bristle array on the brush head by means of a fluid-communicating passage in the stem leading from the joined connectors through the orifice. The orifice is overlapped by a set of resilient flaps enabling toothpaste to flow into the bristles but inhibiting backflow through the orifice. The size and shape of the canister enables it to be gripped for brushing with the brush head. The canister contains an toothpaste delivery actuator driving a movable member that forces the canister&#39;s stored toothpaste from the dispenser tip to the brush head through the stem passage. The protective cover includes a housing that receives and encloses the toothbrush unit through one open end. The other end of the cover includes a hinged lid that covers a dental floss dispenser contained inside the cover when the lid is closed. Lengths of floss can be cut from the floss dispenser by a cutter where it protrudes from an aperture adjacent to the lid.

Description:
REFERENCES CITED 
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         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
             
          
           
               
                 U.S. P/N 
                 TITLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 7,677,827 
                 Toothbrush with toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 7,651,012 
                 Toothpaste dispenser, toothpaste dispensing system and kit 
               
               
                 7,293,928 
                 Toothpaste dispensing toothbrush 
               
               
                 7,048,460 
                 Portable combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 6,729,789 
                 Toothbrush assembly with toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 6,685,375 
                 Toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush 
               
               
                 6,609,848 
                 Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 6,273,629 
                 Toothpaste dispensing toothbrush 
               
               
                 6,257,791 
                 Toothbrush with integrated toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 6,213,663 
                 Dentifrice dispensing toothbrush device 
               
               
                 6,129,474 
                 Toothpaste dispensing toothbrush 
               
               
                 6,056,469 
                 Toothbrush with toothpaste dispensing casing 
               
               
                 6,039,489 
                 Paste dispensing brush 
               
               
                 6,027,273 
                 Toothbrush with pressurized toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 5,918,996 
                 Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 5,913,632 
                 Refillable dentrifice dispensing toothbrush 
               
               
                 5,909,977 
                 Dentifrice dispensing toothbrush with refillable cartridge 
               
               
                 5,415,187 
                 Combination toothbrush, toothpaste dispenser and dental 
               
               
                   
                 filament dispenser 
               
               
                 5,407,287 
                 Toothbrush with self-contained toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 5,403,105 
                 Toothbrush with plural supply 
               
               
                 5,066,155 
                 Toothbrush and paste dispenser 
               
               
                 4,733,983 
                 Dispenser toothbrush 
               
               
                 4,693,622 
                 Combined toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 4,583,563 
                 Combined toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                 4,388,011 
                 Material dispenser toothbrush 
               
               
                 4,332,497 
                 Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0002]      FIG. 1A : 
           [0003]    Exploded perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention 
           [0004]      FIG. 1B : 
           [0005]    Components of  FIG. 1A  in storage or transport configuration. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2A : 
           [0007]    Cross section of brush head assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B : 
           [0009]    Partially cutaway view of canister of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2C : 
           [0011]    Partial cross section of cover and lid of alternative embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2D : 
           [0013]    Cross section and partial cut-away view of joined configuration of alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0014]      FIG. 2E : 
           [0015]    Cross section and partial cut-away view of joined configuration of head and canister shown in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2F ,  2 G,  2 H: frontal view of 3 alternative brush heads for brush head assembly of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2I : cross section of distributed orifice in  FIG. 2F  before delivery of toothpaste to bristles. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2J : Cross section of orifice during delivery of toothpaste. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2K : Cross section of orifice after delivery. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B : cross sections of alternative pressurized toothpaste dispenser canister. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A and 4B : alternative roller actuated dispenser canister. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B : alternative wiper actuated dispenser canister. 
       
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0023]    The present invention relates generally to a dental care apparatus and, in particular, to a self-contained toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush with dental floss dispenser. 
       Related Previous Art 
       [0024]    Toothbrushes, toothpaste dispensers and dental floss dispensers are well known. Occasionally, the multiple steps of retrieving a toothbrush, and separate toothpaste dispenser, placing toothpaste from the toothpaste dispenser onto the brushes of the toothbrush, then later finding a separate dental floss dispenser become time-consuming and tedious. At other times, one or more of the three items cannot be located, causing frustration. 
         [0025]    It is desirable, therefore, to provide a toothbrush having a toothpaste dispenser and dental floss dispenser integrated within a single unit in order to overcome the disadvantages noted above. It is also desirable to provide a toothpaste dispenser that is reusable and/or includes replaceable components. 
         [0026]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,789 by Gordon describes a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss dispenser combination having a spring biased cartridge  12  in a canister  11  that feeds toothpaste from the open top end of the cartridge through a passage  18  in brush head stem  19  to exit through aperture  20  in the brush head  13 . Optional check valves  27  at the brush head prevent back flow of the toothpaste. A button  21  actuates valve  30 , which controls the start/stop flow of toothpaste from the cartridge into the passage. The bottom end of the brush head stem and the top end of cartridge  12  are connected by releasable means such as threaded connection or bayonet type releasable connection. 
         [0027]    Disadvantages: Gordon&#39;s cartridge is open-ended at the top and bottom so when an expended cartridge is removed and discarded, toothpaste residue is left at the rear end of the brush head and at the top of the Piston, which is messy; also handling the open-ended cartridge that is inherently messy. Also the parts count and cost of the Piston, spring control valve and button are problematic. In addition, Gordon doesn&#39;t show or describe what the check valve is. Additionally, the floss spool that  22   a  projects from the bottom of the canister  11  prohibits one from standing the brush  10  upright to minimize counter space when not in use. 
         [0028]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,460 by Thompson, et al, shows 
         [0029]    a portable combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser device  12  within a casing  15 . The casing includes a toothbrush  12 , a toothpaste dispenser, and includes a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end has a ribbed circular dispensing wheel  26  connected to an internal plunger assembly  28 . The plunger assembly has a circular platform  25  which pushes toothpaste upwardly and a funnel cap  32  which dispenses the toothpaste outwardly onto the toothbrush  12 . The toothbrush has bristles  20  and the handle  17  that extends upwardly and downwardly from within the casing. A cap  34  fits onto the bottom end of the casing in an open position ready for use and onto the top end of the casing in a closed position for storage. 
         [0030]    Disadvantages: single dispensing funnel  32  concentrates toothpaste in one location on the bristles; when the receptacle  14  is empty and discarded, the brush is discarded along with it. Thompson doesn&#39;t show or describe how to avoid interference between the circular platform  25  and the handle  17  when the platform is moved above the bottom end of the handle 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The unitary dental care device of the present invention includes a toothbrush component, a manually controlled toothpaste dispenser component, a detachable protective cover and a dental floss dispenser component all integrated into one hand held unit. The toothbrush component has a stem with brush head at its free end and is detachably connected at its base at the other end to the top of the toothpaste dispenser component. The toothpaste dispenser component is formed as a longitudinal body formed to be easily grasped by one&#39;s hand when using the toothbrush. 
         [0032]    The detachable cover for protecting the brush head has two sections: a longitudinal body section with separable lid at one end and an open bottom at the other end. The cover body receives the toothbrush component through its open-end and detachably connects to the outside of the stem base with the brush head and stem inside. 
         [0033]    The dental floss dispenser is mounted to the cover body section inside the cup-shaped lid section at the top of the cover. The lid is mounted on the cover body by a hinge so it can be rotated from a closed position, protecting the floss dispenser, to an open position where the floss dispenser is exposed for use. The cover and the cap keep the other components of the unit clean and shielded from contamination during transport or storage. 
         [0034]    The base of the toothbrush component forms a receiving cavity to make detachable connection with the dispenser component. A flow channel is formed in the stem for delivering toothpaste to the brush head. The channel leads from an open channel end at a coupling connection in the stem cavity to the brush head. When the canister and the stem base are joined, the channel delivers toothpaste from the canister to the brush head. Toothpaste is received from the canister by the coupling connection in the stem base from an open-ended dispenser tip projecting from the top end of the canister 
         [0035]    The stem of the brush head component is preferably angled with respect to its base end providing enhanced effectiveness to the user. 
         [0036]    A coupling connection gasket between the outside of the dispenser tip and the inside of the cavity blocks toothpaste flowing out of the tip from flowing anywhere in the cavity other than into the channel end at the connection. This prevents build-up of toothpaste residue in the cavity, keeping it clean and fresh so it doesn&#39;t have to be cleaned when the canister is empty and is replaced by a new canister. 
         [0037]    The coupling connection allows the toothpaste canister to be separated from the brush head when the canister is empty, so a new one can replace it. 
         [0038]    The brush head has an array of bristles on its face. The brush head face defines a distributed orifice among the bristles that connects the channel in the brush head into multiple locations along the array. The distributed orifice enables the flow of toothpaste to spread along the array. Openings in the orifice are covered by cantilever sealing members with free ends. the sealing members close off the orifice openings when in a closed rest position. the sealing members are made from a resilient material that allow the free ends to flex open, from the closed rest condition, and permits toothpaste to flow from the brush head to the bristles when it is forced from the channel. When toothpaste is no longer being forced from the channel, the resilient members relax to the closed rest condition, and inhibit backflow of toothpaste or other external material into the channel. The self-sealing orifice in the brush head helps to keep the channel clean. 
         [0039]    Toothpaste is forced to flow from the canister into the connected channel by a forcing mechanism disposed in the canister. A preferred forcing mechanism is a movable plunger in the canister body with the stored toothpaste between the plunger and the connected channel. A threaded rod that passes through mating threads at its center manually advances the plunger when it is rotated by a rotatable knob fixed at its distal end. The rotatable knob forms part of the base of the dispenser body section. Rotating the base knob relative to the canister body advances the plunger and forces toothpaste to flow from the canister toward the bristles on the brush head. 
       Advantages of the Present Invention 
       [0040]    Advantages of the present invention include:
       A self-contained assembly combining a protective cover, toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss integrated into a single transportable, storable unit.   A self-sealing orifice in the brush head inhibits backflow of toothpaste or other external material from the bristles into the brush head channel;   Toothpaste is delivered to multiple locations among the bristle array;   The amount of toothpaste delivered to the brush head is precisely controlled by simple manual control;   Components of the assembly are separable for replacement and renewal, as desired;   Multiple instances of some components can be shared with a single set of other common components; e.g., one cover shared between a toothbrush head and canister set at home and another set for travel; or one cover and toothbrush head with two canisters, one for home and one for travel.       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0047]      FIG. 1A , B Joined and Separated Components 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 1A and 1   b  the toothbrush assembly according to the present invention is indicated generally at  10 . The toothbrush assembly  10  includes 3 distinct and separable components ( FIG. 1A ) that can be joined to form a single integral unit ( FIG. 1B ) for storage or transport. The separate components consist of a predominantly cylindrical, rigid, longitudinal toothpaste dispenser assembly  11 , a brush head assembly  12  and a hollow, generally cylindrical sanitary cover  30 . The canister  11 , the brush head assembly  12 , and the cover  30  are preferably formed of molded plastic. 
         [0049]    The canister  11  stores a source of toothpaste to be delivered to the brush head assembly  12 . 
         [0050]    The sanitary cover  30  is a removable shield over the brush head assembly  12  (indicated by dashed lines  44 ) to keep it clean when not in use. 
         [0051]    Brush Head Assembly; External View 
         [0052]    The head assembly  12  has a longitudinal stem  14  extending proximally from its distal end to a brush head  16  at its proximal end. The brush head  16  presents an embedded array of lateral projecting bristles  18  for brushing one&#39;s teeth. 
         [0053]    The lower end of head assembly  12  is flared distally outward from the stem  14  to define open-ended barrel section  19  provided with a outward projecting circumferential ridge  33 . The open end of barrel  19  receives the proximal end  28  of the canister  11  and engages with the canister threads  25  as described further below. 
         [0054]    Canister Assembly; External View 
         [0055]    A major central portion of the canister assembly  11  has a body section  9  sized for grasping by human hand. Adjacent to the upper end of the canister assembly  11  are male threads  25  removably received into the proximal lower end of toothbrush head assembly  12 . 
         [0056]    The proximal end  28  of canister  11  narrows, to an open-ended tubular dispenser tip  20 . Toothpaste stored within canister  11  is transferred to the brush head assembly  12  and subsequently to the bristles  18  of the brush head  16 . 
         [0057]    The distal end of canister  11  terminates in a supporting base member  22 . The base member  22  has a truncated conical section serrated with a set of notches and ridges  24  distributed around its periphery to enhance gripping by fingers of one&#39;s hand while the canister&#39;s upper body  9  is grasped by one&#39;s opposite hand. 
         [0058]    The base  22  terminates with a flat bottom face perpendicular to the longitudinal body  9  providing stability for supporting the invention  10  in an upright orientation on a counter or sink top. 
         [0059]    Cover  30  External View  FIG. 1   a ,  1   b.    
         [0060]    The hollow sanitary cover  30  extends longitudinally between an open bottom end  32  and a closed upper end  34 . 
         [0061]    The open bottom end of the cover  32  removably receives the brush head assembly 
         [0062]    The cover  30  is divided into two sections, a longitudinal lower body shell  36  and a contiguous upper lid section  38 . The lid section  38  is rotatably separable from the lower section  36  by a hinge  42  at an intermediate peripheral joint  40  extending around the body of the cover  30 . 
         [0063]    In  FIG. 1   b  the lid  38  is shown closed and latched to the proximal end of shell  36  at joint  40  defined between a lower rim of the upper section and contiguous opposing upper rim of the lower section. The upper section  38  is an inverted cup-shaped lid to close off the upper end  34  of the cover  30 . 
         [0064]    Lid  38  is rotatable about hinge  42  with respect to shell  36  so that, when closed, the cover  30  to expose the interior of lid  38  and the proximal interior of lower section  36 . 
         [0065]    A releasable latch  46  holds the lid  38  and body  36  together when the lid  38  is closed. 
         [0066]    When the lid  38  is open, the proximal interior of the body  36  exposes a floss dispenser  48 . The floss dispenser  48  is supported on a retainer  50  mounted in the body  36 . Floss  49  from floss dispenser  48  protrudes through a cutting aperture  41  defined in the lid  38 . Aperture  41  includes a cutter  43  for cutting off a segment of floss. The dispenser  48  and the retainer  50  can be any one of a number of configurations, such as a headed-post  54  fitted through and frictionally snapped into the center of cylindrical spool or bobbin  48 . 
         [0067]    Canisters of different capacity and types of contents may be interchangeably joined with a brush head assembly. For example, a separate canister with a small amount of toothpaste  28  limited to that required for carriage on an airplane can be attached for travel and carried conveniently in carry-on luggage. 
         [0068]      FIG. 2A  Brush Head Interior 
         [0069]    The flared end of barrel section  19  has internal female threads  23  that engage with threaded upper section  25  of canister  11 . The canister  11  stores a quantity of toothpaste  13  to be delivered through dispenser tip  20  when assembled in flowing communication with the brush head assembly  12  as described further below. 
         [0070]    as described below.  16  through a channel  21  defined in stem  14  for delivery to bristle array 
         [0071]      FIG. 2A , b, Brush Head Barrel and Canister; Cross Section 
         [0072]    The lower shell section  36  and the interior of the bottom end  32  are sized and shaped to form a detachable connection with the outer surface of barrel  19  so that the brush head assembly  12  may be fully enclosed within the lower section  36  (indicated by dashed line  44 ) for storage or transport, 
         [0073]    The lower outer surface of barrel section  19  and inner surface of cover  36  are formed with complementary separable fittings, e.g., circular ridge  33  on barrel  19  and circular receiving groove  35  within cover  36 , for example, which allow them to be removably joined together so that the brush head  16 , stem  14  and at least a portion of barrel  19  are fully enclosed within the cover  30 , for storage or transport and then can be easily separated by hand for use. 
         [0074]      FIG. 2D : Alternate Cover Joined to Canister and Brush Head 
         [0075]    Near the lower end of canister body  9 , an inward projecting interior lip  66  extends circumferentially around the interior of the canister wall. A matching groove  68  is disposed between upper and lower faces of the base  22 , and defined around its outer circumference. The lip  66  is slidably received within the groove  68  so that the base  22  rotatable within the body  9  but is longitudinally fixed within the canister by the lip  66 . 
         [0076]    A circular disc member  70  acts as a plunger to press toothpaste out of the canister. The disc  70  is extends laterally across the interior of the canister body  9  and is longitudinally slidable therein. The disc is longitudinally positioned within the canister  11  by a helically threaded rod  72  fixed at its lower end to the top center of base member  22 . The rod is centrally disposed within canister  11 , and extends longitudinally between its lower fixed end its opposite end disposed adjacent to, but separated from, the dispenser tip  20  near the upper end of the canister. 
         [0077]    With a full canister, the disc is positioned at the lower end of the rod adjacent to the top of the base with toothpaste filling the remaining interior of the canister. As the base is rotated with respect to the canister, toothpaste is dispensed out of the tip into the channel. Further rotation of the base forces toothpaste up in to the channel into the brush head and out into the bristles as discussed further below. 
         [0078]      FIG. 2E  Canister Joined to Brush Head Orifice 
         [0079]    Referring to now to  FIG. 2E  brush head assembly  12  and canister  11  are shown threaded together in a fully engaged position ready for transferring toothpaste from canister  11  to the brush head bristles  18 . 
         [0080]    The interior wall of the channel  21  near the distal end of the stem  14  is stepped outward to form a peripheral rim  60 . The proximal end of dispenser tip  20  protrudes beyond rim  60  and is received into the distal end of channel  21 . Adjacent to the end of tip  20  the body of the tip widens to form a shoulder  62  distal from the channel rim  60 . A sealing gasket  64  is compressed between the rim  60  and shoulder  62  and provides a seal preventing toothpaste flowing from the canister  9  into the channel  21  from escaping into any space between the adjacent inner wall of barrel  19  and the adjacent outer wall of canister  9   
         [0081]    Disposed within the bristle array  18  there is a distributed self-sealing orifice  17 . orifice  17  flowingly communicates between the proximal end of channel  21   a  and the bristles  18  at the end of the brush head  16 . The brush head receives toothpaste from canister  11  delivered through the proximal end of channel  21 , and delivers toothpaste through the distributed self-sealing orifice  17  to the brush head bristle array  18 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 2F  and  FIG. 2I , Self-Sealing Orifice. 
         [0083]    There is shown a magnified frontal view of the face of brush head  16  with array of bristles  18  distributed thereon. 
         [0084]    In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 2E  the distributed self-sealing orifice  17  takes the form of a set of three spaced apart cylindrical apertures  102  formed in the face of the brush head. The apertures are disposed near the top, middle, and bottom of the bristle array  18 . A thin, resilient sheet member  104 , e.g., plastic, completely covers each aperture. Each of the sheet members in each aperture is divided into three contiguous sectors  106  arranged sequentially around the periphery of its respective aperture. Three Radial separations  108  distributed around the periphery extend to the center of each aperture  102  and divide adjacent sectors  106  into separate cantilevered sections from their outer ends  110  fixed at the aperture periphery to respective central free ends where they abut in the center of the aperture covered by the three sectors. 
         [0085]    This permits each sector to resiliently deflect under pressure of toothpaste that comes through the channel  21  under pressure from the canister  11 . 
         [0086]    Additionally, after the flow of toothpaste from the channel is ended, the resilient nature of the sheet member causes the sectors to relax and tends to inhibit the reverse flow of toothpaste from the bristles into the channel  21 . 
         [0087]    The distributed apertures provide a more uniform delivery of toothpaste across the bristle array than a single aperture. 
         [0088]      FIG. 2G ; Alternate Distributed Aperture Orifice 
         [0089]      FIG. 2G  shows a alternate distributed orifice of the present invention that has three cylindrical apertures  102  covered by a resilient sheet  104  divided into four contiguous cantilever sectors by four radial separations extending from their fixed ends at the aperture&#39;s periphery to their free ends at its center. 
         [0090]      FIG. 2H ; Alternate Slot Orifice 
         [0091]      FIG. 2H  shows another alternate embodiment of the distributed self-sealing orifice of the present invention. The aperture of the alternative shown in  FIG. 2H  is a single longitudinal slot  112  extending along the longest dimension of the bristle array  18  and has a comparable length. The slot  112  has a width substantially less than the bristle array  18 . 
         [0092]    The slot aperture  112  is covered by two resilient cantilever sheet sections  114  extending inward from opposite ends fixed at the two longest opposite edges of the slot  112  to abutting adjacent free ends in the middle of the slot. The cantilever sections  114  extend laterally to opposite free edges adjacent to the lateral shortest dimensions of the slot aperture  112 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 2I ; Detail of Aperture Valve in  2 F Before Delivery 
         [0094]      FIG. 2I  shows a cross section of the cantilever sheet sectors  106  disposed in their normal unflexed positions before delivering toothpaste to the bristles  18 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 2J ; Detail of Aperture Valve in  2 F During Delivery 
         [0096]    The cross section in  FIG. 2J  shows the toothpaste flowing from the channel end, through the apertures  104  under the forcing pressure communicated through the channel  21  originating from the toothpaste forcing mechanism of canister  11 . 
         [0097]      FIG. 2J  shows a cross section of the cantilever sheet sectors  106  disposed with their free ends deflected by pressure from toothpaste  13  in the brush head to provide an opening so that toothpaste  13 ′ is delivered into the bristles  18 . 
         [0098]      FIG. 2K ; Detail of Aperture Valve in  2 F after Delivery 
         [0099]      FIG. 2K  shows the resilient cantilever sections  106  disposed in a closed, undeflected state after toothpaste  13  is no longer flowing from the canister into the brush head. 
         [0100]      FIG. 3A : Alternative Pressure Canister Cross Section 
         [0101]      FIG. 3A  shows a partial cut-away view of an alternative toothpaste dispensing pressure canister  120  for the present invention. The canister  120  retains external features of the toothpaste dispenser assembly  11  of  FIG. 1A  the screw threads  25 , the dispensing tip  20 , shoulder  62 , proximal top end  28  and supporting base  22  but differs in the manner of driving toothpaste  13  from inside the canister body  11  through the dispenser tip  20 . 
         [0102]    a longitudinally slidable, circular plunger disc  128  extends laterally across the inside of canister body  11 . 
         [0103]    When the canister is filled with toothpaste, the disc  128  is positioned longitudinally within the body  11  with its proximal face in contact with the distal extent of the stored toothpaste. 
         [0104]    Spaced between the disc&#39;s distal face and the bottom of the canister, there is disposed a pressurized cylindrical aerosol container  122  mounted closely fitting within the body  11 . The container  122  is disposed with its bottom end adjacent to the base  22 . The bottom of the container  122  is restrained within the body  11  by a rigid inward projecting rim  132  disposed around the inside of body  11  at its distal end. The bottom of the container is accessible through the distal end of the canister&#39;s base inside the rim  132 . 
         [0105]    The pressure container has a pressure release valve  124  centered on the containers upper end and faces toward the plunger disc  128 . The valve  123  is spaced away from the distal face of the disc  128 . 
         [0106]    A rigid valve release actuator member  126  is disposed between the valve  124  and the spaced away disc&#39;s distal face. The actuator  126  has one end fixed to the inside of canister body  11 . The actuator extends inward from its fixed end toward its opposite actuating end disposed at the center of canister body  11 . The actuator has its opposite end angled distally and disposed longitudinally so that it points directly toward and adjacent to the valve  124  when the bottom of the container is adjacent to the restraining rim  132 . 
         [0107]    The pressure container  122  is urged distally toward the restraining rim  132  by a longitudinally resilient ring member  130  in overlapping contact with the containers upper end. The ring member  130  is fixed longitudinally and circumferentially within the body  11  between the disc&#39;s distal face and the container&#39;s upper end. The ring extends inwardly around the inside of body  11  and spaced away from the central release valve  124 . The ring  130  extends inward to overlap and contact an outermost portion of the containers upper end without contacting or interfering with the actuator member  126  or the containers release valve  124 . 
         [0108]      FIG. 3B : Canister of  FIG. 3A  Dispensing Toothpaste. 
         [0109]    When the bottom of the container  122  is pressed, indicated by the finger in  FIG. 3B , the container moves up in the body  11 , deforming the resilient restraining member  130  until the actuating end of the actuator  126  makes contact with the valve  124 , releasing gas which drives the plunger to press toothpaste  13  out of the dispensing tip  20 . The container&#39;s bottom is recessed within the base  22  so that the chance of inadvertent discharge of toothpaste is minimized when the canister  120  is vertically stood on its base  22 . 
         [0110]      FIG. 4A ; Alternative with Roller Dispensing Canister 
         [0111]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  a partial cut-away view of the interior of an alternative toothpaste dispenser assembly  140  component of the present invention is shown. The canister  140  has a proximal end  28  with dispenser tip  20 , abutting shoulder  62  and mating threads  25  for connecting to the internally threaded barrel of brush head assembly  14  of the present invention. 
         [0112]    The canister body encompasses a conventional toothpaste tube  148  (without its cap), containing toothpaste  13  to be dispensed through the dispenser tip  20  into the brush head assembly  12  of  FIG. 1A . The threaded end of the uncapped tube is fixed within the canister body by conventional means (not shown: for example, engaged with mating female threads inside the proximal end  28  of the canister body) so the open tube end is aligned and connected flowingly with the inside of the dispenser tip  20  enabling toothpaste to flow out of the tube to be dispensed out of the tip  20 . 
         [0113]    A thumb-operated slide actuator  142  is disposed on the outside of the canister wall and rigidly connects to an axle  143  inside the canister body  9 . A roller  144  is rotatably mounted on the axle  143  and extends transverse to the tube  148  and between the tube and the actuator slider  142 . The slider  142  rides in a recessed longitudinal slot  146  formed in the canister wall at the bottom of a longitudinal groove  147  extending along the canister body  9 . The outside surface of slider  142  is preferably flush with the canister wall at the top of groove  147 . 
         [0114]    The axle-mounted roller is rotatably disposed on the axle  143  between the adjacent tube body and the actuator slider so that it compressively contacts the tube body, tending to flatten the tube and force toothpaste to flow out of the proximal tube end and subsequently out of the dispenser tip  20 . 
         [0115]      FIG. 4B : Alternative of  4 A while Dispensing. 
         [0116]    Continued movement of the slider toward the dispenser tip  20  ( FIG. 4B ) continues to force the roller to flatten successively more of the tube and deliver more toothpaste from the tip  20 . 
         [0117]      FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
         [0118]    With reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there is shown another alternative toothpaste dispensing canister assembly  150  for the present invention. As before the assembly  150  contains the toothpaste tube  148  fixed to the inside proximal end of the canister. It also includes the proximal canister end  28  with dispenser tip  20 , abutting shoulder  62  and mating threads  25  for connecting to the internally threaded barrel of brush head assembly  14  of the present invention. 
         [0119]    As in  FIG. 4A , the canister  150  has a slider  142 , riding outside the canister in recessed slot  146  at the bottom of longitudinal groove  147 . However, the canister  150  of  FIGS. 5A  and B has a semi-rigid transverse wiper  154 , instead of a roller, that extends from the slider  142 , making compressive contact with the tube as the slider is moved along the canister. 
         [0120]    Knowledgeable practitioners of the art will appreciate that the scope of the IVR invention is not limited to the embodiments, form factors, interfaces, connections, and operating functions described above, but are limited only by the claims herein. The present invention has been described in what is considered as preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.