Abstract:
The invention provides a compact and disposable toothbrush containing its own supply of toothpaste. The toothbrush assembly is simple, has relatively few parts and can be manufactured economically. The credit card shape of the toothbrush assembly allows it to be carried easily, for example, in a shirt pocket. The toothbrush assembly also can include other features for personal grooming including a mirror. The flat surfaces of the invention also are well suited for the printing of graphics for advertisement or other promotional uses.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a toothbrush having an integral dentrifice supply.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A number of toothbrushes are known, including some featuring integral dentrifice supplies, including, for example, toothpaste supplies. Some toothbrush designs include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,693,622; 5,382,107; 5,144,712; 4,467,822; 5,464,294; 5,476,334; and 5,439,014. However, many such toothbrushes are complex in design and therefore difficult to manufacture economically. They also have designs that may be inconvenient for travel and for carrying in a compact space, such as a pocket of an article of clothing.  
           [0003]    There remains a need for a simple, portable toothbrush that is compact and portable and useful for travel. The invention disclosed herein provides a toothbrush and toothpaste holder that is compact, can be manufactured at sufficiently low cost to be disposable.  
           [0004]    It is one object of the invention to provide a compact toothbrush containing its own supply of toothpaste. The combined toothbrush toothpaste dispenser can have dimensions similar to that of a credit card and have a thickness of several credit cards, allowing for placement in a shirt pocket, travel kit or other place in which space is at a premium. The toothbrush of the invention also provides other benefits including the inclusion of a mirror useful, for example, for cosmetic application. The substantially flat surfaces of the body also provide a large area suitable for printing of graphics, advertisements or other information.  
           [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a toothbrush assembly is provided that has a body with a reservoir disposed therein for containing a dentrifice, for example toothpaste. A hollow handle member is connected to the body such that a channel within the handle is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The connection is made through a hinge region, which included both rotatably mounted hinges and flexible hinges. The hinge can include a valving mechanism that closes the fluid connection between reservoir and handle, or can always be in the open position. The invention also can have a second handle member that is connected to the first handle member through a second hinge. The body of the toothbrush assembly is made from a pliable material that allows pressure to be applied to the reservoir to force toothpaste from the reservoir through the handle and out apertures in the brush head, allowing toothpaste to emerge at the brush head. The toothbrush assembly also can contain a dental floss holder for dispensing dental floss. Allowing a user to carry a complete dental kit in a compact and disposable package.  
           [0006]    The toothbrush assembly of the invention can be formed from any suitable material, but for economy and disposability the assembly is most preferably formed from a plastic material. Some suitable plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention in the folded position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1, with the handle in an extended position.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toothbrush.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a toothbrush of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a side view showing a toothbrush of the invention in the closed position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a top view of the toothbrush in FIG. 5.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a side view with a partial sectional view, showing a toothbrush of the invention having hinges.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a top view of the toothbrush in FIG. 7.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a side view, partially sectional, of a hinge in a closed position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a side view, partially sectional, of a hinge in an extended position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a side view of a toothbrush having a single hinge.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the toothbrush in FIG. 11.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is a back side view of a toothbrush of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a hinge region of a toothbrush of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the drawings, the toothbrush of the invention includes a substantially rectangular body  200  having a reservoir  205  for containing a dentrifice, for example, toothpaste, disposed therein. Body  200  is attached to handle member  140  through hinge region  150 . Handle member  140  has a channel  145  disposed therein in fluid communication with reservoir  205 . A second handle member  120  is attached to the first handle member in this embodiment through hinge region  130 , the handle member  120  having a channel  125  disposed therein in fluid communication with channel  145  through a channel disposed in hinge region  130 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the hinge regions are molded from the same material as body  200  and handle members  120  and  140 , but have geometries and material thicknesses that allow bending from a closed to open position. The toothbrush can have an toothpick device  500  integral to body  200 .  
         [0022]    At the distal end of the handle members from body  200 , is the brush head  110 , having a brushing surface attached thereto. The brushing surface can be, for example, a plurality of bristles  100 . The brush head has one or more apertures  105  that connect channel  125  to the surface of the brush head to which the bristles  100  are attached. Body  200  is preferable formed of a pliable or deformable, or otherwise elastic material that allows pressure to be applied to reservoir  205 , forcing toothpaste through channels  145  and  125 , through aperture  105  to the brushing surface of brush head  110 . The body  200  of the toothbrush can be extended to cover partially the bristles  100  and/or the handle members  140  and  120 . In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, body extension  160  extends over handle member  140 , holding it in a closed position, and body extension  170  extends over handle member  120 , holding it in a closed position. The body extensions preferably engage the handle members through friction to hold the handle members firmly in place. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the body extension  170  also can extend to form a cavity for guarding the brush head cleaning surface and bristles  100 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a similar embodiment in which body extensions  160  and  170  extend to cover handle members  120  and  140 , thus providing a compact package having substantially rectangular front and back sides.  
         [0024]    The rectangular shape of the toothbrush of the invention makes it particularly well suited for use as a mirror. One or both surfaces can be coated with a reflective material, for example a metal foil, to provide a reflective surface. The general size of the apparatus also is well suited to the application of promotional graphics. The general dimensions of the toothbrush are similar to that of a standard credit card (about 5.4 cm by about 8.5 cm) although a bit thicker. Such a size is well suited to the display of graphics such as would normally be found on a business card, enabling use of the toothbrush as a promotional give away. The flat surface of the body  200  also is well suited to standard and inexpensive printing techniques.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the toothbrush in which the body  200 , handle member  140 , and handle member  120  are separate pieces linked through hinges  130  and  150 . FIG. 7 includes a spool  400  rotatably mounted within a cavity  390  in the body for holding dental floss  410 . The spool can rest on protrusion or protrusions from the body  405 , allowing it to spin freely. An aperture is provided to allow the dental floss to exit the body. For convenience, a dental floss cutter  420  can be included on the exterior of the body. The cutter can be fabricated from any suitable material, but preferably contains a metal, ceramic or other hard and sharp material for cutting the dental floss. In another embodiment, dental floss is provided within a cavity in the body, but is not wound on a spool. The floss can be pulled through the aperture in the body wall and cut. When the product is shipped, it is preferable to secure the floss with a small piece of adhesive tape to allow the free end to remain accessible to the user. The floss also can be supplied in a number of pre-cut pieces or pieces that have been at least partially cut to allow their removal from the device without the necessity to cut it. Cavity  390  or an additional cavity can be provided for holding and dispensing a liquid dentrifice, including, for example, mouthwash. In such an embodiment, the aperture provided will include a means for sealing the aperture to provide a substantially leak-proof container. One such means is an adhesive tab. As the device can be manufactured to be disposable, the tab can be made so the user can remove the adhesive tab for a single use. Other suitable means include any variety of plugs, including threaded and non-threaded plugs.  
         [0026]    In such an embodiment, the hinges also can serve as valves, preventing flow of toothpaste through the channels  125  and  145 . Hollow convex end  155  of handle member  140  fits into concave end  128  of handle member  120 . In the closed position (FIG. 9), aperture  146  in convex end  155  opens against concave end  128 , blocking fluid communication between channel  145  and channel  125 . In the open position (FIG. 10), aperture  146  is aligned with aperture  126  in concave end  128 , bringing channels  145  and  125  into fluid communication.  
         [0027]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14. In such an embodiment, single handle member  120  is attached to body  200 , through a hinge mechanism  132 . The body  200 , upper body  300  and handle  120  collapse to give a substantially flat package. Back surface  240  of the body is substantially flat and suited for coating with a reflective material as is front surface  220  of body  200 . Graphics, text or other promotional material can be printed on either or both the front and back surfaces. FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of a hinge suitable for use with the toothbrush shown in FIG. 11-13. Hollow hinge member  132  connects channel  125  to reservoir  205  through apertures  133  and  134 . Hinge member  132  sits in hinge seat  138  and can rotate from a closed position in which handle member lies in a groove lying between body  200  and upper body  300 . In the extended or open position, aperture  133  is aligned with aperture  134 , allowing flow of toothpaste from reservoir  205  through hollow hinge member  132 , through channel  125  disposed in handle member  120 , allowing paste to exit aperture  105  in brush head  110 . FIG. 11 also shows a toothbrush having a recess  510  disposed within body  200  that can hold a toothpick  520 . In this embodiment, the toothpick is removable and locks in place by a simple friction fit; however, the toothpick could also be slidably engaged with the pointed side outward, and not be removable. In such an embodiment, the recess could form an open channel in body  200  and the toothpick could include a protrusion that allowed deployment of the toothpick from the closed position to an open position.