Patent Publication Number: US-6220773-B1

Title: Container for receiving a fluid, gel-like or pasty medium

Description:
The invention relates to a container for receiving a fluid, gel-like or pasty medium according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     Such containers are known for the purpose of receiving mascara into which a mascara brush is inserted, as is described, for example, in DE 80 26 372 U1. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,122 likewise discloses a cosmetics container which accommodates a cosmetics material and has a brush which extends into the container. 
     EP 0 294 051 A2 discloses an interdental brush which can be used for cleaning the spaces between the teeth. In order to improve these cleaning properties, provision is made for the brushes of the brush section to be of a certain length. 
     DE 93 09 004 U1 discloses a toothbrush of which the toothbrush body can be filled with a toothpaste. The toothpaste accommodated by the toothbrush is fed, within the toothbrush body, to the toothbrush head in order to be dispensed in the region of the toothbrush head. 
     DE 89 11 487 U1 discloses a toothbrush which, at an end which is located opposite the toothbrush head, has an interdental brush over which it is possible to push the section of a handle shank. 
     The object of the present invention is to extend the application area of cosmetics containers. 
     This object is achieved by the features of claim  1 . 
     This provides a container of the abovementioned type which, for cleaning the spaces between the teeth, makes available an interdental brush which is impregnated with an oral-hygiene medium and, in contrast to a hitherto-conventional toothpick or dental floss, can be used repeatedly since storage in the container, or at least brief insertion into the container, prepares the interdental brush for reuse. Furthermore, the interdental brush carries along oral-hygiene medium out of the container and introduces it into the spaces between the teeth which are to be cleaned. Such a combined effect of mechanical and chemical cleaning has not been possible to achieve up until now. 
     It is also advantageous that the container can be carried unobtrusively in one&#39;s pocket and is thus always at hand, for example following meals, during travelling, etc. 
     It is also possible for the container to be integrated in a toothbrush, for which purpose the toothbrush handle may be designed as a hollow handle in order to accommodate a container which, at an end which is remote from the toothbrush head, has the container head, which bears the interdental brush. 
     Further configurations of the invention can be gathered from the following description and from the subclaims. 
    
    
     The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing, in which 
     FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a side view of a container according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a side view of a container formed on a toothbrush. 
    
    
     The invention relates to a container  1  in which there is formed a container chamber  2  which is provided for receiving a fluid, gel-like or pasty medium. In order to fill the container chamber  2 , the latter has a removal opening  3  which can be closed off by means of a closure plug  4  which tapers in a stub-like manner into the container chamber  2 . The closure plug  4  has a through-passage  5  for the introduction of a dental brush  6  with a stem  7  and a brush head  8  into the container  1 , as a result of which the dental brush  6  is dipped into the medium in the container chamber  2 . At an end which is located opposite the brush head  8 , the stem  7  is fastened on a container head  9  which can be positioned on the removal opening  3 , with the result that the container chamber  2  can be closed off in an airtight manner in order that the medium introduced into the container chamber  2  does not dry out. 
     By virtue of the container head  9  being removed from the container  2 , the interdental brush  6  is drawn out of the container  1 , the brush head  8  being stripped on the closure plug  4  in order that just a small quantity of medium is removed from the container chamber  2 . 
     The interdental brush  6 , which, by virtue of being dipped into the medium in the container chamber  2  and stripped on the closure plug  4 , is wetted with a still-sufficient quantity of medium, can be used for cleaning the spaces between the teeth. Following use, the interdental brush  6  is introduced, possibly once it has been rinsed, into the container  2  again via the closure plug  4 , the diameter of the through-passage  5  preferably being dimensioned such that the stem  7  of the interdental brush  6  closes off the through-passage  5 . In this case, the interdental brush  6  is guided by way of the container head  9 , which is seated on the stem  7 . However, provision may also be made for the stem  7  to be seated releasably in the container head  9  in order that possibly the container head  9  does not constitute an obstruction during use of the interdental brush  6 . 
     In order for the interdental brush  6  to be kept in the container chamber  2  for a relatively long period of time, it is possible for the container head  9  to be positioned on the container  2  in a gastight manner, for example by way of a screw closure or of a snap-action closure. 
     The fluid, gel-like or pasty medium is formed by a breath-freshening oral-hygiene medium which is preferably also suitable for destroying bacteria. It is possible to select any desired flavors. 
     The interdental brush  6  preferably has a brush head  8  of cylindrical form. 
     According to FIG. 2, the container  1  forms the stem or handle of a toothbrush  10 . Fastened on the container  1 , for this purpose, is a toothbrush neck  11  which bears a toothbrush head  12 . 
     While this invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art to which it pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.