Abstract:
The personal dental care unit provides a single device for the storage and containment of most articles used in personal dental care in the household, e.g., toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. The device attaches to a wall at a convenient location near a bathroom sink or the like, and includes a mechanism for affixing a tube of toothpaste therein and dispensing the toothpaste efficiently. Opposed rollers grip the tube and squeeze toothpaste from the tube as they are advanced by a roller advance screw along the tube. The tube is supported by a support bracket which is adjustable for different sizes of tubes. The tube and mechanism are enclosed in a cover, with the cover including a rack for holding toothbrushes and a receptacle for holding a small packet of dental floss. The cover may be provided with any form of complementary or contrasting decor or pattern, as desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to article holders and dispensers. More particularly, the present invention is a personal dental care unit, which attaches to a wall surface, e.g., in a bathroom. The device includes a mechanism for dispensing toothpaste from a tube secured therein and may also include receptacles for a dental floss container and toothbrushes.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Over the years, people have generally become increasingly concerned about good dental hygiene. Toothpaste and toothbrushes are used nearly universally, and many people also use dental floss at least occasionally. Typically, a tube of toothpaste is kept in a bathroom cabinet, with toothbrushes stored nearby in a holder near the bathroom sink or basin. A container of dental floss may also be stored in the bathroom cabinet. While these various articles relating to dental hygiene are kept in the same general area, they are not usually located immediately with one another for convenient access in one specific location.  
         [0005]     Moreover, the toothpaste must be manually squeezed from its tube onto the bristles of the toothbrush when no dedicated dispenser is provided. While this is a simple act for most people, younger children often have difficulty in gauging the amount of pressure to apply to the tube and the quantity of toothpaste to squeeze from the tube. Many people, including adults, are not adept at manipulating the tube to use all of the contents, and toothpaste tubes are often discarded with a fairly significant percentage of their toothpaste contents remaining. Another common problem is the loss of the cap from a toothpaste tube, which may result in the contents drying and hardening in the neck of the tube, thereby requiring that the tube be discarded even though it may still contain a significant quantity of toothpaste.  
         [0006]     While some related art addresses perhaps one or two of the above problems, the present inventors are not aware of any related art device which provides a single solution to all of the above problems relating to personal dental care. An example of one related art device is described in German Patent No. 10,128,034, published on Dec. 12, 2002. According to the drawings and English abstract, the device comprises a wall-mounted tube with an automatic closure. The closure has a tab extending therefrom, which is pushed back by the head of the toothbrush to open the tube. No mechanism for dispensing the toothpaste from the tube nor means for holding the toothbrush(es) and/or floss is apparent in the &#39;034 German Patent Publication.  
         [0007]     None of the related art of which the present inventors are aware, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a personal dental care unit solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The personal dental care unit provides a solution for all of the above problems by means of a single device, which may be mounted upon a wall surface adjacent to the bathroom basin or sink. The device includes a mechanism for precisely dispensing toothpaste from a tube secured therein, and a tube closure that remains attached to the device to preclude loss of the closure. The dispensing mechanism efficiently and progressively collapses the tube to provide for the dispensing of nearly all of the contents of the tube with virtually no waste. The tube is secured within the device with its outlet nozzle oriented downwardly, with the upper end of the tube immovably affixed within a clamp. Opposed rollers roll progressively down the sides of the tube as an advance screw is turned, thereby squeezing the toothpaste from the tube. The lower or outlet end of the tube is supported by an adjustable tube support bracket, which may be positionally adjusted within the device to accommodate different length toothpaste tubes. Toothbrushes are stored in a rack surrounding the device, and a receptacle for a conventional container of dental floss is also provided on the device.  
         [0009]     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a personal dental care unit according to the present invention, showing an exemplary installation and its use.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top front perspective view of the personal dental care unit of the present invention with its cover closed, showing various details thereof.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom front perspective view of the personal dental care unit of the present invention with the cover removed to show further details of the operating mechanism.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom front detail perspective view of the tube support bracket of the personal dental care unit of the present invention and its adjustment mechanism.  
         [0014]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     The present invention is a personal dental care unit comprising a wall-mounted apparatus, which may contain or hold all of the products and accessories normally associated with daily personal dental hygiene and care. More specifically, the present device is a combination container and dispenser for holding a tube of toothpaste therein, and dispensing toothpaste therefrom as desired. The device also includes a toothbrush rack and an open container for holding a small packet of dental floss or the like.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  provide external views of the present dental care unit  10  with its cover secured in place, with  FIG. 1  providing a general environmental perspective view showing the use of the device  10  and  FIG. 2  providing a larger, more detailed view showing further features thereof. In  FIG. 1 , the dental care unit  10  is shown mounted or attached to a bathroom wall W, adjacent the conventional sink and bathroom cabinet with mirrored door commonly found in bathrooms. The device  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is positioned for the convenience of smaller children, but the mounting location may be determined by the installer of the device as desired. In  FIG. 1 , a young child C is using the toothpaste dispensing knob or handle  12  extending from the top of the case or cover  14 , to dispense toothpaste from a toothpaste tube T (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) secured within the device onto a toothbrush B 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  provides a more detailed drawing to show further features of the dental care unit  10 . The device  10  includes a cover or outer case  14 , shown having a generally semicylindrical shape in the drawings, but adaptable to any practicable shape as desired. The cover  14  has a laterally disposed hinge  16  along the rear edge of its upper surface or panel  18 , allowing the cover  14  to be raised to access the toothpaste tube holding and dispensing mechanism within the cover  14 . The hinge  16  is also attached to the upper edge  20  of the wall mounting plate  22  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and discussed in detail further below) to secure the cover  14  to the remainder of the mechanism. A knob or handle clearance slot or passage  24  is provided in the upper panel  18  of the cover  14  in order to allow the cover  14  to clear the toothpaste-dispensing knob or handle  12  when the cover  14  is raised. A toothbrush clearance slot or passage  26  is provided at the lower front portion of the cover  14 , to allow access to the nozzle of the toothpaste tube T contained therein.  
         [0018]     The cover  14  provides at least a few features for the present dental care unit. First, the cover  14  conceals and protects the toothpaste tube T installed therein, as well as the tube securing and toothpaste dispensing mechanism of the device. Second, the cover  14  includes an external toothbrush rack, comprising rack portions  28   a  and  28   b  disposed to either side of the center of the device. The toothbrush rack preferably holds a plurality of toothbrushes therein, e.g., brushes B 1  (removed for use as shown in  FIG. 1 ), B 2 , B 3 , B 4 , etc. Finally, the cover  14  includes an externally disposed receptacle  30  for holding a container of dental floss F or the like therein. The receptacle  30  may have a cover or closure, or may have an open top, as shown.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the internal mechanisms for securing a tube T of toothpaste therein, as well as for dispensing toothpaste from the tube T. The mounting plate  22  includes a fixed upper block  32  extending outwardly or forwardly therefrom and adjacent the upper end  20  of the plate  22 , with the upper block  32  having an unthreaded passage  34  therethrough for clearance for the roller frame advance screw  36 . A conventional collar (not shown) may be affixed to the advance screw  36  below the upper block  32 , to preclude axial movement of the advance screw upwardly through the upper block  32 ; other advance screw retaining means may be provided as desired. The upper block  32  also includes a toothpaste tube end securing clamp  38  disposed across its forward edge or end. The clamp  38  is secured to the end of a toothpaste tube T placed in the device  10  with a clamping screw  40  serving to tighten the clamp  38  along the end of the tube T.  
         [0020]     A fixed lower block  42  extends outwardly or forwardly from the lower end  44  of the mounting plate  22  and serves to secure the lower end of the advance screw  36  therein. A seat or socket  46  or the like (indicated in the broken line showing of the lower block and advance screw in  FIG. 4 ) may be provided in the lower block  42 , with the lower end of the advance screw  36  residing in the advance screw seat  46  to secure the advance screw  36  within the two blocks  32  and  42 . The unthreaded advance screw clearance passage  34  of the upper block  32  and the advance screw seat  46  in the lower block  42  are spaced the same distance from the mounting plate  22 , in order to position the roller frame advance screw  36  parallel to the plate  22 .  
         [0021]     Laterally separated first and second guide rods, respectively  48  and  50 , extend between the upper and lower blocks  32  and  42 , with their ends anchored in the two blocks. These two guide rods  48  and  50  are also disposed parallel to the mounting plate  22 , and provide guidance for the tube roller frame and tube outlet bracket, both discussed below.  
         [0022]     A vertically positionable tube roller frame  52  includes an internally threaded roller frame advance screw passage  54  therethrough, with the passage  54  engaging the threads of the roller frame advance screw  36 . As the advance screw  36  is rotated by the roller frame advance screw knob  12  extending from the upper end of the advance screw from the top  18  of the cover or housing  14 , the roller frame  52  travels along the length of the advance screw  36 . Assuming the advance screw  36  and roller frame advance screw passage  54  are provided with right hand threads, rotation of the advance screw knob  12 , i.e., the toothpaste dispensing handle, in a counterclockwise direction will cause the roller frame  52  to travel downwardly along the advance screw  36  toward the lower block  42 . Left hand threads will of course produce the same direction of travel for the roller frame  52  when the advance screw knob or toothpaste dispensing handle or knob  12  is rotated clockwise.  
         [0023]     The roller frame  52  further includes first and second guide rod passages, respectively  56  and  58 , parallel to the threaded roller frame advance screw passage  54 . The guide rod passages  56  and  58 , along with the stationary guide rods  48  and  50  passing therethrough, prevent the roller frame  52  from rotating about the advance screw  36  as it is turned. While the roller frame  52  cannot rotate significantly in any event due to its corners contacting the mounting plate  22  even if no guide rods were provided, the roller frame  52  is somewhat narrower than the upper and lower blocks  32  and  42  in order to provide clearance for the heads of mounting screws driven into the mounting holes  60  formed through the mounting plate  22 . With the significant clearance between the back of the roller frame  52  and mounting plate  22 , the roller frame  52  could rotate to some degree, possibly interfering with the heads of the mounting screws, if not restrained from rotation by the guide rods  48  and  50 . The guide rod passages  56  and  58 , as well as the threaded advance screw passage  54 , are oriented normal to the plane of the roller frame  52 , thus orienting the roller frame  52  normal to the mounting plate  22 .  
         [0024]     The roller frame  52  further includes closely spaced first and second tube gripping rollers, respectively  62  and  64 , disposed laterally across the forward edge thereof. The two rollers  62  and  64  are positioned on opposite sides at the flattened tail end of the toothpaste tube T, and roll down along the sides of the tube T as the advance screw knob or toothpaste dispensing handle or knob  12  is rotated to advance the tube roller frame  52  downward along the body of the tube T, thereby forcing toothpaste from the nozzle N of the tube T.  
         [0025]     The nozzle end or head H of the tube T is supported by a tube outlet bracket  66  adjustably secured to the mounting plate  22  and extending normal thereto. The tube outlet bracket may be repositioned along the mounting plate  22 , in order to adjust for different sizes of tubes T installed in the device. The tube outlet bracket  66  includes a relief  68  to clear the nozzle N of the toothpaste tube T, with the remainder of the bracket  66  supporting the head H of the tube. A tube nozzle closure cap  70  extends on a flexible hinge from the back of the relief  68 , and serves to close the tube nozzle N between uses of the device  10 . The closure cap  70  and its flexible hinge may be similar to those found in various household products, such as dishwashing detergent bottles and the like, etc. The cap  70  and its hinge are preferably formed as a permanent, unitary, integral part of the tube outlet bracket  66 , replacing the conventional threaded cap of the toothpaste tube T. The forming of the closure  70  as a permanent component of the tube outlet bracket  66  assures that the closure  70  cannot be lost, as often occurs with conventional toothpaste tube caps.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  provides a clearer illustration of the adjustability of the tube outlet bracket  66 . The bracket  66  also includes first and second guide rod passages, respectively  72  and  74 , and first and second support gussets  76  and  78  to each side thereof. The guide rod passages  72 ,  74  and support gussets  76 ,  78  assure that the tube outlet bracket  66  remains normal to the mounting plate  22  as it extends therefrom. The outlet bracket  66  also has an unthreaded clearance passage  80  formed therethrough for the roller frame advance screw  36  (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4 ), thus allowing the outlet bracket  66  to be adjustably positioned along the guide rods  48  and  50  independently of the operation of the advance screw  36 .  
         [0027]     The outlet bracket  66  includes a generally U-shaped latch  82  beneath the bracket&#39;s platform, with each arm of the latch  82  being urged toward the mounting plate  22  by a compression spring  84  disposed between a collar affixed to the latch arm and the corresponding latch retainer and guide sleeve  86 . Each arm of the latch  82  selectively engages one of a pair of outlet bracket latching receptacles  88  disposed along the mounting plate  22 . A handle  90  is provided at the front of the latch  82  to allow the user to manipulate the latch  82  and reposition it along the guide rods  48  and  50  to adjust for different lengths of toothpaste tubes, generally as indicated by the alternative positions of the outlet bracket  66  in solid and broken lines in  FIG. 4 . The close fit of the tube outlet bracket  66  about the advance screw  36  passing through the clearance hole  80  assures that the bracket  66  cannot shift outwardly from its position against the mounting plate  22 .  
         [0028]     The personal dental care unit  10  is easily installed upon a wall W or other surface as desired by raising the cover  14  to access the screw holes  60  in the mounting plate  22 , positioning the device as desired, and driving mounting screws to secure the device  10  in place. The keyhole shaped screw holes allow the device to be lifted from its mounting screws for periodic cleaning or other maintenance as desired. A toothpaste tube T is installed within the device by positioning the roller frame  52  at or near the top of its travel adjacent the upper block  32  and clamping the crimped end, i.e., the end opposite the nozzle N, of the tube T in the tube end securing clamp  38  at the front of the upper block  32 . The tube outlet or support bracket  66  is then adjusted to a position adjacent the outlet end or head H of the tube T, with the nozzle N of the tube extending through the relief area  68  of the bracket  66 . The conventional cap is removed from the tube nozzle N, and the integral tube outlet closure  70  is secured over the end of the tube nozzle N. Finally, the cover  14  is lowered to complete the process.  
         [0029]     In conclusion, the present personal dental care unit provides a convenient means of locating all of the commonly used articles and supplies for daily home dental care, in a single unit. The advance screw mechanism for dispensing toothpaste from a tube contained within the device greatly facilitates the application of toothpaste onto a brush for many people. Persons with arthritis or other injuries or infirmities who may have difficulty grasping and squeezing a toothpaste tube, will find the present dental care unit to be a most valuable accessory to the home. Parents of small children will appreciate the benefits of the present dental care unit as well, since small children often have difficulty in holding and squeezing a toothpaste tube with one hand while holding a toothbrush in the other hand. The mechanism of the present device assures that the proper amount of toothpaste is dispensed every time, as a predetermined number of degrees of rotation of the toothpaste dispensing advance screw knob serves to advance the roller frame a corresponding amount, thereby delivering a consistent amount of toothpaste every time and reducing waste.  
         [0030]     It will be seen that the present device is not limited only to use as a dental care unit in the bathroom. Many viscous materials are supplied in tubes, and the present device may be used as a dispenser for such materials as well. For example, hand cleaner is often found in collapsible tube type containers, and the present device may be installed in automotive shops and the like to dispense such materials. The brush-holding rack is most convenient for holding brushes for cleaning beneath the fingernails and scrubbing at stubborn grease spots, in such an installation or environment. Certain lubricants are also sometimes provided in collapsible tubes, and the present dispenser is well suited for use with such lubricant tubes as well. Accordingly, the present device will be much appreciated in many environments of use, including various locations and environments where materials are commonly dispensed from a tube.  
         [0031]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.