Coating implements with material supply – Brush – broom – or mop – With flow-regulator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-18
2001-03-27
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Brush, broom, or mop
With flow-regulator
C401S153000, C401S195000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206600
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is sometimes desirable to combine a toothbrush and a toothpaste dispenser in the same article. Such a combination is ideal for travelers who generally desire to pack as few items as possible. Additionally, such a combination may be attractive for children, encouraging them to brush their teeth more often.
It is known, as disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 4,787,765, to incorporate a pump which uses a reciprocating action between a toothbrush and an integrated toothpaste dispenser to dispense toothpaste from the dispenser onto the free ends of the bristles. As a user pushes the toothbrush head into the dispenser, toothpaste is pumped from the dispenser through a nozzle and onto the bristles. U.S. Pat No. 5,096,321 discloses a combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser which incorporates a pump on the dispenser to pump toothpaste through a hollow cavity within the toothbrush to distribute toothpaste to the bristles. One drawback to these inventions is that the mechanisms required to pump the toothpaste are relatively complex and costly to manufacture.
It would be beneficial to provide a combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser which dispenses the toothpaste to the bristles through a hollow cavity within the toothbrush by means of a reciprocating pumping action of the toothbrush with respect to the toothpaste dispenser which incorporates a relatively simple operating mechanism and is inexpensive to manufacture.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is a combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser. The combination comprises a toothpaste dispenser and a toothbrush. The toothpaste dispenser has a top and a container located therein. The container has a top and a bottom, and toothpaste located within the container. The bottom of the container is movable toward the top of the container. The toothbrush includes a head portion and a stem portion. The head portion has a plurality of bristles extending therefrom and at least one hole extending thereinto. The stem portion has a channel extending therethrough. The channel has first and second opposing ends. The first end is in fluid communication with the at least one hole and the second end is in fluid communication with the top of the container. The toothbrush is reciprocally mounted to the toothpaste dispenser, whereby reciprocation of the toothbrush relative to the toothpaste dispenser from a first position to a second position compresses the container to pump the toothpaste in a first direction from the container, through the channel, and through the at least one hole and to the bristles, and reciprocation of the toothbrush from the second position to the first position moves the bottom of the container toward the top of the toothpaste dispenser.
In a second aspect, the invention is also a combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser. The combination comprises a toothpaste dispenser and a toothbrush. The toothpaste dispenser includes a container. The container has a top and a bottom, and toothpaste is located within the container. The top of the container is movable toward the bottom of the container. The toothbrush includes a head portion and a stem portion. The head portion has a plurality of bristles extending therefrom and at least one hole extending thereinto. The stem portion has a channel extending therethrough. The channel has first and second opposing ends, the first end being in fluid communication with the at least one hole and the second end extending into and being in fluid communication with the container. The second end is outwardly movable from the container. The toothbrush is reciprocally mounted to the toothpaste dispenser, whereby reciprocation of the toothbrush relative to the toothpaste dispenser from a first position to a second position compresses the container to pump the toothpaste from the container, through the channel, and through the at least one hole and to the bristles, and reciprocation of the toothbrush from the second position to the first position extends the second end of the stem portion from the container.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1465840 (1923-08-01), Celano
patent: 1891324 (1932-12-01), Ferguson
patent: 2743042 (1956-04-01), Burgin
patent: 3507599 (1970-04-01), Meszaros et al.
patent: 4692047 (1987-09-01), Endo
patent: 4693622 (1987-09-01), Booth
patent: 4733983 (1988-03-01), Hertrampf
patent: 4787765 (1988-11-01), Kuo
patent: 4957125 (1990-09-01), Yaneza
patent: 5348028 (1994-09-01), Gustavel
patent: 5425591 (1995-06-01), Contreras et al.
patent: 5439014 (1995-08-01), Moussa
patent: 5490530 (1996-02-01), Snowden
patent: 5769553 (1999-06-01), Chaudhri et al.
patent: 5832940 (1998-11-01), Embry et al.
patent: 5842487 (1998-12-01), Ledet
patent: 6039489 (2000-03-01), Harman et al.
patent: 2633500 (1990-01-01), None
Bressler Peter W.
Rosenberg Dorothy J.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
deVore Peter
Recla Henry J.
Rosenberg Dorothy J.
LandOfFree
Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524652