Toilet – Toilet kit – Including toothbrush
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-12-04
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toilet kit
Including toothbrush
C132S310000, C132S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325076
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to compact dental hygiene kits which require little packing space, or which can be easily carried in a pocket, pocketbook or brief case. In particular, the invention comprises a toothbrush, a supply of tooth paste, and optionally, floss, contained in a kit the size of a large pen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the years there have been many attempts to provide compact tooth brushing kits. The desire for such a kit has grown as people travel more and eat more meals away from home. In addition, the increasingly popular, expensive, and long term cosmetic and orthodontal dentistry for children and adults need to be maintained. This investment and commitment comes with the ADA recommended care of your teeth: brushing after all meals for a minimum of 3 minutes per brushing. For all these smiling faces we are providing a compact sanitary, refillable, colorful, and easy to use all in one dental hygiene kit.
Prior patented devises have failed to meet this need. Cesari, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,741,667 and 4,759,381 describes a toothbrush, which combines a handle with a dispenser for tooth paste.
These devises have numerous disadvantages, including difficulties in refilling the tooth paste supply, drying of the paste and difficulty maintaining the brush and tooth paste in a sanitary state. Quite a number of prior art devices deliver tooth paste up through the neck of the brush, directly to the bristles. In such devices it is difficult to seal the paste from the brush, and hence, to maintain the cleanliness of the brush, or paste reservoir. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,574 a container of tooth paste is kept in the hollow handle, and must be completely removed therefrom in order to dispense tooth paste, and then returned to the hollow handle. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,263, a supply of tooth powder is kept within the handle of the brush. The handle folds transversely to bring the tooth powder in contact with the bristles. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,622 a container of tooth paste is combined with a folded brush head and recessed handle, such that the paste is dispensed onto the bristles, and then, the brushing head unfolded and neck extended; making it difficult to maintain, or even to use, the device while in a sanitary condition.
In contrast, the kit of the present invention permits and mediates the use of sanitary practices similar to those already used for a toothbrush and separate container of tooth paste. In addition, the kit is easily refillable, the toothpaste supply does not get dried out, and the brush is maintained in a sanitary condition away from the paste supply. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a commercially available tooth paste tube may be used in the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a compact dental hygiene kit. The kit combines a toothbrush and a tooth paste reservoir which serves as a handle for the brush. In its simplest embodiment, the kit comprises a toothbrush with a cap-like fastening means attached to the neck of the toothbrush, and capable of making a firm fastening with the external threads about the dispensing opening of a commercially available tooth paste tube. In still another embodiment, a firming enclosure is provided for a commercially available tooth paste tube, giving it the additional firmness to operate as a handle. The firming enclosure may provide a reusable frame if the kit will be subjected to rough handling as in a book bag.
In another embodiment, the tooth paste is contained within a flexible, refillable sack nestled within a rigid body, which forms the handle of the toothbrush. In this embodiment, the cap-like fastening means may be formed of a coupling which attaches to the foreshortened handle of the brush, and which is capable of making a firm but releasable attachment to the threads of other attachment means disposed about the tooth paste dispensing opening. Various means may be provided to apply pressure to the tooth paste reservoir, to dispense paste from the sack. In addition, the neck of the toothbrush may be provided with a temporary mounting means for attaching the toothbrush to the underside of the body such that the bristles are below the tooth paste dispensing opening, for one handed dispensing. A supply of dental floss may also be included in the kit, e.g. attached to the proximal end of the body or frame.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3937235 (1976-02-01), Broughton
patent: 4294269 (1981-10-01), Kyte
patent: 4673106 (1987-06-01), Fishman
patent: 4717278 (1988-01-01), Kemeny
patent: 4887621 (1989-12-01), Vallieres
patent: 4957125 (1990-09-01), Yaneza
patent: 4987910 (1991-01-01), Lowe
patent: 5044386 (1991-09-01), Nelson
patent: 5348028 (1994-09-01), Gustavel
patent: 5375711 (1994-12-01), Bree et al.
patent: 5388599 (1995-02-01), Yen
Doan Robyn Kieu
Wilson John J.
LandOfFree
Compact dental hygiene kit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compact dental hygiene kit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compact dental hygiene kit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579862