Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-19
2001-06-05
Young, Lee (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
C206S532000, C222S083000, C222S094000, C222S105000, C222S207000, C222S209000, C222S325000, C401S134000, C401S135000, C401S140000, C401S153000, C401S183000, C401S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241412
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to dental apparatus in general, and more particularly to toothbrushes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toothbrushes are well known in the art.
In general, a toothbrush comprises a head having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom, and a handle adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user.
In the typical situation, dentifrice is applied to the bristles of the toothbrush prior to the commencement of brushing. This is generally accomplished by grasping the handle of the toothbrush in one hand and the dentifrice container in the other hand, and then manually applying the dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush. Once the user has applied the dentifrice to the toothbrush, the user then commences brushing of the teeth.
Thus, with conventional toothbrushes, the dentifrice is generally held in a container separate from the toothbrush, and applying the dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush is a two-hand operation.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to provide an improved toothbrush having a supply of dentifrice located within the handle of the toothbrush, and a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the stored dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush for application to the teeth when the need arises.
In the past, there have been a number of proposals for achieving the foregoing, but all of these proposals are believed to suffer from one or more significant disadvantages, including ineffectiveness of operation, lack of durability, unattractiveness of appearance, prohibitive cost of manufacture, etc.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved toothbrush having a supply of liquid dentifrice located within the handle of the toothbrush, and a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the stored dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush when the need arises.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dentifrice-dispensing toothbrush adapted to utilize replaceable, dentifrice-storing cartridges.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a dentifrice-dispensing toothbrush which is effective in operation, durable, attractive in appearance, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the present invention are addressed by the provision and use of a novel cartridge toothbrush.
In one form of the invention, the invention comprises a novel cartridge toothbrush, the cartridge toothbrush comprising a toothbrush and a cartridge; the toothbrush comprising a head and a handle; the head comprising a stem having a distal end and a proximal end; a plurality of bristles connected to the stem adjacent to the distal end of the stem; and a passageway extending through the stem, from the proximal end of the stem to the distal end of the stem adjacent to the bristles; and the handle comprising a pump and a cartridge-receiving recess; the pump comprising at least one flexible wall defining at least in part a chamber, an outlet port, an inlet needle, a first check valve disposed between the chamber and the outlet port so as to permit fluid to flow from the chamber to the outlet port but not from the outlet port to the chamber; and a second check valve disposed between the chamber and the inlet needle so as to permit fluid to flow from the inlet needle to the chamber but not from the chamber to the inlet needle; the pump being disposed so that the inlet needle protrudes into the cartridge-receiving recess; the proximal end of the head being connected to the distal end of the handle so that the outlet port of the handle is in communication with the passageway of the head; and the cartridge comprising a hollow housing having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the housing being open and the proximal end of the housing including a passageway connecting the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; a bladder; and a cap; the proximal end of the bladder being disposed within the housing, and the distal end of the bladder being wrapped over the outside of the distal end of the housing; and the cap being secured in the distal end of the housing so as to fasten the distal end of the bladder to the housing; the cartridge being disposed within the cartridge-receiving recess of the handle such that the inlet needle extends through the cap and is in communication with the interior of the bladder.
In another form of the invention, the invention comprises a novel toothbrush comprising a head and a handle; the head comprising a stem having a distal end and a proximal end; a plurality of bristles connected to the stem adjacent to the distal end of the stem; and a passageway extending through the stem, from the proximal end of the stem to the distal end of the stem adjacent to the bristles; and the handle comprising a pump and a cartridge-receiving recess; the pump comprising at least one flexible wall defining at least in part a chamber, an outlet port, an inlet needle, a first check valve disposed between the chamber and the outlet port so as to permit fluid to flow from the chamber to the outlet port but not from the outlet port to the chamber; and a second check valve disposed between the chamber and the inlet needle so as to permit fluid to flow from the inlet needle to the chamber but not from the chamber to the inlet needle; the pump being disposed so that the inlet needle protrudes into the cartridge-receiving recess; the proximal end of the head being connected to the distal end of the handle so that the outlet port of the handle is in communication with the passageway of the head.
In still another form of the invention, the invention comprises a novel cartridge for use in a cartridge toothbrush, the cartridge comprising a hollow housing having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the housing being open and the proximal end of the housing including a passageway connecting the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; a bladder; and a cap; the proximal end of the bladder being disposed within the housing, and the distal end of the bladder being wrapped over the outside of the distal end of the housing; and the cap being secured in the distal end of the housing so as to fasten the distal end of the bladder to the housing.
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Lustig L. Paul
Spies Norbert
Tybinkowski Andrew P.
Pandiscio & Pandiscio
Prunner Kathleen J.
Young Lee
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