Toilet – Toilet kit – Including toothbrush
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2001-07-03
Mancene, Gene (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toilet kit
Including toothbrush
C132S308000, C132S075600, C206S209100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253773
ABSTRACT:
This invention concerns a portable dental hygiene device with a treatment space and a spray device by means of which a treatment medium can be sprayed into the treatment space, with the spray device and the parts to be sprayed with the treatment medium being separated from one another but arranged in spray relation to one another on a holder which encloses the spray device and the parts, with a trigger element being provided with which a spray head of the spray device can be brought into the spraying position.
International Patent WO No. 96/16,750 describes a dental care station where the head part of a toothbrush and the head of a spray can are at the bottom. A two-part case-like holding device is provided. The spray can sits in a receptacle cavity of one part of the holding device, and the toothbrush is in the other part of the holding device, which is designed as a lateral valve. Guide rails position the toothbrush when the device is closed. The spray head of the valve of the spray can sits in a brush chamber. A spray mist is released by means of a release button which is provided on the head of the housing and can act on the bottom of the spray can. By depressing the release button, the spray mist can be directed at the bristles of the toothbrush in the brush chamber in a controlled manner.
Such a device is also unsuitable for travel purposes because of its size. There is a lack of possibilities for accommodation of other dental care utensils. A spray stream may be released unintentionally by depressing the release button inadvertently. This danger is especially great in luggage in particular.
The object of this invention is to create a portable dental hygiene device which has a simple design and is very secure against accidental release, especially when traveling.
This object is achieved according to this invention by the fact that
a) the release element has a detachable cap which can be placed on the holding device and has a release projection on its bottom on the inside,
b) passages are provided in the bottom of the holding device corresponding to the arrangement of the release projection, one passage being aligned axially with the spray head,
c) when the detachable cap is placed on the holding device in one of the possible placement positions, it secures the spray device against release of a spray stream, and in the other possible placement position, it can cause a spray stream to be released.
The special design of the detachable cap thus yields a security function and a release function. The security function is carried out when the release element penetrates into the passage provided at some distance away from the spray head when the cap is placed in position. The release function is carried out when the release element penetrates into the passage aligned axially with the spray head when the cap is placed in position. In this placement position, the release position, the release element of the detachable cap can force the spray head up and thereby release the spray stream. No spray can be released in the other placement position, the security position. Handling is simple, convenient and reliable.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the holding device consists of two shell parts that can be snapped together, and the detachable cap can be pushed at least partially over the shell parts that have been snapped together to hold them together. The detachable cap serves as a closing means for the holding device, holding together the shell parts of the device.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the detachable cap is also designed as a toothbrush dish. The detachable cap can thus be used appropriately in another application.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the two shell parts are joined together by a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism preferably consists of a film hinge with shell parts made of plastic.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the shell parts have an insertion cavity for the spray device, an insertion cavity for the toothbrush and an insertion cavity for a toothpaste container.
According to another embodiment of this invention, at least one insertion cavity is provided for devices used for dental hygiene, such as toothpicks, dental floss and plaster.
According to another embodiment of this invention, this insertion cavity is also designed for the insertion of portioned water disinfectants, especially fast-acting disinfectants. The portions of the water disinfectant are metered so that precisely the amount of water needed for brushing one's teeth is disinfected rapidly. This creates a complete travel set.
According to another embodiment of this invention, multiple accommodations for spray devices and toothpaste containers are provided for long travel periods.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the parts to be arranged in the treatment space may be the heads of tooth cleaning brushes, electric toothbrush heads and even dentures. With suitable shaping, this makes it possible even for wearers of dentures and users of electric toothbrushes to achieve thorough dental hygiene.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the device is designed to serve as a dispenser for disinfectant by the fact that the disinfectant is sprayed onto the toothbrush bristles in the treatment space, and the toothbrush bristles thus sprayed then can be used as a carrier for the disinfectant. Thus parts outside the device which cannot be placed in the device because of their size, such as dentures, jackscrews, braces for trigeminal syndrome, and the like can then be disinfected reliably with freshly sprayed toothbrush bristles that are still wet from spraying.
According to another embodiment of this invention, an adapter can be pushed onto the spray head of the spray device, assuming a secured position on the spray head, so it can pass through the passage provided for it to the bottom underside of the holding device.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the adapter has a projection with a reduced outside diameter on the bottom with which it can pass through the passage provided for it as far as the bottom underside of the holding device. There is thus a clear axial guidance of the adapter and the spray head.
According to another embodiment of this invention, the device may be designed as a monoset, a duoset or a multiset for one, two or more toothbrushes.
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Bierman, Musserlian and Lucas
DDG Dental Devices GmbH
Doan Robyn Kieu
Mancene Gene
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