A New or Improved Apparatus for Storing and Distributing Powdered Dentifrices.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Storing and Distributing
Powdered Dentifrices.
I, CHARLES MILLINGTON of Clifford near Boston Spa, R.S.O. County of
Yorkshire Accountant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to economy and preservation and better distribution of
powdered dentrifices in connection with their use with and on tooth brushes.
The method of charging tooth brushes with powdered dentifrices as now in
practice is either to pour them on the tooth brush from some receptacle in such a
manner that a quantity is almost sure to fall off and be wasted, neither is it
properly distributed over the tooth brush; or else the wet brush is dipped into the
bulk of the powder and only a chance quantity is taken up, and a portion of damped
powder nearly always falls back and this portion deteriorates the remainder by
causing it to become lumpy and worse to adhere to the tooth brush afterwards, and
also much of the fragrance, where odours are introduced, is thereby dissipated, and
this is the case especially with vegetable powders.
Now the object of my invention is to prevent this waste and deterioration and to
provide a measured quantity that may be evenly distributed over the length and
breadth of the tooth brush.
For this purpose I provide a box or receptacle of a particular shape with a door
or lid on an upper side through which to fill it with powder, or as an alternative an
orifice at one end may be used for filling the box or receptacle, and then close door
or lid tightly, thereby excluding all dampness from interfering with the powder-
through this receptacle in the direction of its length and through corresponding
holes in each end I introduce a combined measuring trough, pusher, and hole
stopper of the same section as the holes through which it passes-the trough is
automatically filled when drawn into the box ready when pushed out to feed the
tooth brush by turning the one over the other thus evenly distributing the powder
without waste, while the powder in the box is kept nearly hermetically sealed both
when the trough is drawn in for filling and pushed out for use.
Dated this 21st day of November 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Storing and Distributing
Powdered Dentifrices.
I, CHARLES MILLINGTON of Clifford, near Boston Spa in the County of York
Accountant do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention relates to a new or improved device for storing powdered dentifrices
and distributing or applying the same to tooth brushes.

page_text: A common method of applying powdered dentifrice to tooth brushes consists in
emptying a quantity of the powder from the receptacle or holder over the brush
with the result that a considerable proportion will almost invariably fall off the
brush and be wasted whilst such method does not regularly distribute the powder
over the tooth brush.
According to another method the wet tooth brush is dipped into the body of
powder and an irregular quantity is taken up by the brush according to its more or
less damp condition whilst a portion of the damp powder almost invariably falls
back into the receptacle and this greatly injures the store of powder within the
reservoir or receptacle causing it to accumulate in lumps, which latter become
quite hard, and upon the next insertion of the tooth brush adhere thereto and are
introduced into the mouth to the injury of the teeth and discomfort of the user.
Furthermore in the case of scented powders by this rough treatment much of the
fragrance becomes dissipated, and this is especially the case with vegetable powders
and the powder speedily becomes instead of an agreeable an unpleasant thing to
introduce into the mouth.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain a means whereby the powder
will be supplied in measured quantities, and evenly distributed over the entire
length and breadth of the tooth brush whilst it will generally be practically sealed
within the reservoir, and by these means the waste and deterioration of the powder
herein before referred to will be entirely obviated whilst it will be maintained in a
useful and pleasant form for use.
In carrying the invention into effect a reservoir is provided consisting of a box
or receptacle formed on its interior of a V or hopper shape for the purpose herein-
after described and provided with a docr or lid upon its top or in other convenient
position through which it may be charged with the powder and this door or lid
takes the form of a screw stopper or is otherwise of such a character that it closely
seals the receptacle thus protecting the contained powder from atmospheric influence
and preventing the evaporation of the perfume therefrom.
At the lower part of the hopper shaped interior of the box and at diametrically
opposite points thereof are formed in the walls of the box two apertures in which
is mounted with capability of longitudinally sliding a combined measuring trough,
pusher, and hole stopper, formed throughout its length of the same section as the
holes in the walls of the box or reservoir through which it passes.
This device or slide is provided at one end with a small handle beyond which for
part of its length it is formed plain to closely fit and entirely fill when in its normal
position, the holes or apertures in the walls of the box, and thus hermetically close
the same or nearly so, whilst beyond the box it is formed with an indentation or
trough constituting a measure.
When a supply of powder is required the trough is drawn within the receptacle
when by reason of the hopper formation of the interior thereof the powder will fall
by gravity into the trough and fill the same after which upon returning the slide to
its normal position the trough will be expelled from the box together with its charge
of powder, when upon placing the brush upon the trough and inverting both the
box or receptacle and the brush, the measure of powder will be evenly distributed
over the brush without waste.
The act of inverting the box in the manner herein before described in order to
discharge the powder from the trough is a very great advantage inasmuch as it
more or less agitates the powder within the box or receptacle and prevents the
same caking.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
TA

page_text: Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the device showing the slide retracted to
bring the trough or measure within the box or receptacle in position to receive a
charge of powder and
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section thereof.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4 but showing the trough or measure
projected with its charge of powder and the entire device inverted in the act of
discharging the powder upon a tooth brush.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
a represents the body of the box or receptacle which upon its interior is formed
with a V or hopper shaped chamber a' and a² represents a screw stopper or lid which
loses a corresponding aperture in the top of the box a through which the hopper
shaped chamber or reservoir a¹ may be charged with powder and this stopper or
lid a² closely seals the reservoir a' thus protecting the contained powder from
atmospheric influence and preventing the evaporation of the perfume therefrom.
Or the screw stopper hereinbefore described may if desired be arranged in any
other convenient position than at the top of the device or in lieu of a screw stopper
a closely fitting door, lid, or shutter of other form might be employed for the same
purpose as will be readily understood.
At the lower part of the hopper shaped chamber or reservoir a¹ and at diametrically
opposite points thereof are formed in the walls of the box a two apertures a³
surrounded by a suitable india-rubber or other bushing or packing a³* and within
the apertures a³ and supported by the bushing or packing a³* is mounted with
capability of longitudinally sliding a slide b comprising a measuring trough, a
pusher, and hole stopper and this device is throughout its length formed of the
same transverse section as that of the apertures a³ in the walls of the box a through
which it passes.
This device is provided at one end with a small handle b beyond which for part
of its length it is formed with a plain part b² to closely fit and entirely fill when in
its normal position-as represented at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6,-the holes or
apertures a³ in the walls of the box a and thus hermetically close the same or
nearly so, whilst beyond the walls of the box a it is formed with an indentation
or trough constituting a measure, and with shoulders or flanges 63 constituting
stops to limit the motion of the slide b.
When a supply of powder is required the slide b is moved end wise until the
trough is retracted within the chamber or reservoir a¹ when by reason of the
hopper shaped formation of the interior thereof the powder will fall by gravity into
the trough of the slide and fill the same as indicated at Figures 4 and 5 after
which upon returning the slide 6 to its normal position the trough b¹ will be expelled
from the box or receptacle a together with its charge of powder when upon placing
the brush upon the trough b' and inverting both the box or receptacle a and the
brush cas represented at Figure 6 the measure of powder will be discharged upon
and evenly distributed over the brush c without waste.
The act of inverting the box a in the manner hereinbefore described in order to
discharge the powder from the trough 61 is a very great advantage inasmuch as it
more or less agitates the powder within the chamber or reservoir a¹ and prevents
the same solidifying or caking.
By the meaus herein before described the powder within the hopper shaped
reservoir a will be sealed against atmospheric influence in either of the extreme
positions of the slide 6 thus preventing the escape of perfume from the contained
powder, whilst the trough or measure b¹ which may have become moistened by
contact with the tooth brush is not required to be re-introduced into the reservoir a
but remains exposed to the air until the next operation which would be at some
distant time and thus the trough or measure & has ample time to become perfectly
dry so that there is no risk of moisture being carried by the trough or measure 61
into contact with the powder within the reservoir.

page_text: The device is simple in construction and therefore unlikely to get out of order
whilst it is inexpensive to produce and is thus adapted to become an article of
general use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A device for distributing dentifrice comprising a hopper shaped reservoir provided
with a filling orifice closed by a screw or other stopper or lid, two corresponding
apertures in the walls of the device at diametrically opposite points at the lower
part of the reservoir and a slide mounted with capability of end way movement in
such apertures and formed for one part of its length plain to act as a stopper to
such apertures and for another part of its length with a depression or trough
adapted to be retracted within or projected from the reservoir so as to act as a
measure substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 14th day of June 1895.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.