Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush has a handle with an open-ended elongated slot in the body of the handle that partially defines the handle with two opposing handle portions and a hinge portion. Wherein one of the handle portions is directly joined with the rest of the handle in a cantilevered manner and the other handle portion is joined with the rest of the handle in an elastically hinged manner via the hinge portion. The handle portions have oppositely facing straight sides for engaging opposite sides of a tube of toothpaste and the hinge portion allows for swinging and positioning of the hinged handle portion with respect to the cantilevered handle portion with a manually applied force on the hinged handle portion to effect the progressive collapse of a tube of toothpaste with forced movement between the handle and the tube to thereby force the toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND RELATED US PATENT APPLICATION

This invention relates to toothbrushes and more particularly to those having one or more added features in support of its primary purpose and is a continuation-in-part of that in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/454,551 filed May 20, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apart from the intended use of a toothbrush, there have been various proposals directed to adding features to the toothbrush in support of its primary purpose. For example, it has been proposed to adapt the toothbrush in a way that facilitates its storage as disclosed in US Patent Application Publication Number 2008/0178406. Wherein the body of the handle of the toothbrush is provided with an open-ended elongated slot that allows the toothbrush to be stored upright in a suspended manner on the lip of a toothbrush holder/glass.

On the other hand, it has been proposed to incorporate an elongated slot in the handle of a toothbrush for the purpose of extracting the toothpaste from a collapsible tube of toothpaste in an efficient manner. Instead of requiring the user to manually squeeze the tube so as to advance remaining toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube to facilitate extracting as much toothpaste as possible during repeated use. And in incorporating such a slot for this purpose, the slot is either closed at both ends as disclosed in UK Patent Application Publication Number 2,250,184 or the slot is open at one end as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,088, International Application Publication Number WO 1998/037789 and CA Patent 2,237,733.

In the case where the slot is formed in the body of the toothbrush handle and closed at both ends, the sealed end of a collapsible tube of toothpaste is received by the slot and the tube is then pulled from the sealed end through the slot or the handle is forced along the tube thereby collapsing the tube with the slot and forcing toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube. However, the various tubes of toothpaste commercially available can vary in their cross-sectional size when fully collapsed/compacted and the slot in the case where it is closed at both ends and formed in the body of the handle may not be of adequate/proper size to accomplish the desired result.

On the other hand and in the case of an open-ended slot formed in the body of the handle, a collapsible tube of toothpaste can be inserted either endways or sideways into the slot before pulling on the tube or forcing the handle along the tube to force remaining toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube. But again the versatility of an open-ended slot provided in the body of the handle is normally limited because of the manner of the construction of the handle with the addition of the slot and for example, the width of the slot in its normal state may be too small or too large to accomplish the desired collapsing of the tube with the sides of the slot in most effectively forcing toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention also utilizes an open-ended elongated slot formed in the body of the handle of a toothbrush to aid in extracting toothpaste from a commercially available collapsible tube of toothpaste but in a significantly different and more versatile and advantageous manner. Wherein the slot partially defines the handle with two opposing handle portions and a hinge portion with one of the handle portions directly joined with the rest of the handle in a cantilevered manner and the other handle portion joined with the rest of the handle in an elastically hinged manner via the hinge portion.

The handle portions have straight oppositely facing tube engaging sides and are structured to maintain their shape in the region of these sides during their operation. And the hinge portion is located at the closed end of the slot and normally supports the hinged handle portion such that the tube engaging sides define a preset space there between for freely receiving a collapsed portion of a tube of toothpaste provided the collapsed tube portion has a thickness not exceeding the width of the preset space. And for the possibility that a collapsed tube portion has a thickness larger than the width of the preset space, the compliance of the hinge portion allows the hinged handle portion to be swung outwardly of the handle by forced sideways movement there against of this collapsed tube portion to thereby allow its reception between the tube engaging sides. Moreover, the compliance of the hinge portion allows the hinged handle portion to be urged with a manually applied force to swing inwardly as necessary to a position pressing the tube engaging sides against a collapsed tube portion however received there between and then be maintained in this position with the applied force while the handle is forcibly moved along the associated tube in the direction of its dispensing end to thereby progressively collapse the associated tube with the tube engaging sides and force toothpaste toward the dispensing end.

Several embodiments of the invention are disclosed with each possessing the same basic advantages as well as providing one or more additional beneficial features associated therewith. These embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and together with other aspects of the invention are described in detail in the accompanying description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a toothbrush according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1 when looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 3 is a backside view taken alone the lines 3-3 in FIG. 2 when looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3 when looking in the direction of the arrows and shows the insertion of a partially used collapsible tube of toothpaste in the slot provided in the toothbrush,

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4 showing another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a partial view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. 5 when looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the toothbrush showing another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 showing another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the lines 10-10 in FIG. 9 when looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the lines 11-11 in FIG. 10 when looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a toothbrush 10 comprising a handle 12 and a brush 14 and for firm gripping is provided with spaced textured areas 15 and 16 on the brush side and a single textured area 18 on the opposite side. And wherein the toothbrush 10 following conventional practice is made of a suitable thermal setting plastic in an injection molding machine. With the brush 14 inserted in a mold cavity defining the handle 12 and the plastic material then injected in molten form into the mold cavity to form the handle with the brush firmly retained in place.

In accordance with the present invention, an open-ended elongated slot 20 is provided in the body of the handle 12 enabling the toothbrush to aid in extracting as much toothpaste as possible from a commercially available collapsible tube of toothpaste during repeated use. The slot 20 extends from an open end 22 located near the butt end 24 in a brush-less side of the handle to a closed end 26 that is located at an intermediate point between the butt end of the handle and the brush. The slot 20 has a length substantially greater than the width of a typical commercially available tube of toothpaste and divides the handle into two opposing handle portions 28 and 30 having oppositely facing coextensive straight sides 31 for engaging a tube of toothpaste from opposite sides and at its closed end 26 angles outward a substantial distance toward the brush side of the toothbrush to form a hinge portion 32 in the handle that is defined at its interior side by a concave surface that forms the termination of the closed end of the slot.

As configured, the handle portion 30 is directly joined with the rest of the handle in a cantilevered manner and the other handle portion 28 is joined with the rest of the handle in an elastically hinged manner by the hinge portion 32 that normally supports the hinged handle portion 28 such that the tube engaging sides 31 extend parallel to each other and normally define a preset space 33 there between of uniform width as shown in FIG. 2. And wherein the rest of the handle comprises the un-slotted portion 34 and the arrangement and sizing of the cross-sectional area of the hinge portion 32 given the material used to form the handle is determined so that the hinge portion has a compliance that allows the hinge portion to flex/bend without deformation in allowing the handle portion 28 to be swung as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 2 and as necessary to accommodate the operations described later. In addition, both handle portions 28 and 30 in the immediate region of the tube engaging sides 31 are determined to have sufficient structural strength so as to maintain their shape (not bend/flex/deform) in forcing the progressive collapse of a tube of toothpaste and thereby forcing toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube as described in more detail later.

Referring to FIG. 4, the handle portions 28 and 30 and the hinge portion 32 as integrally incorporated in the toothbrush handle in the manner described above are intended to operate on a commercially available collapsible tube 36 of toothpaste as shown in FIG. 4. Wherein the tube has a sealed end 37 and a dispensing end 38 that is normally closed when not in use by a cap 40 that may for example be a screw-on type as shown or some other type such as a flip type cap that remains attached to the tube. And wherein the thickness of a fully collapsed/compacted portion of the tube can vary depending on the manufacturer.

With the latter in mind, the handle portions 28 and 30 and hinge portion 32 are adapted to initiate operation on a previously fully collapsed portion 42 of the tube as shown that results from prior dispensing of toothpaste from the tube and where the thickness of the collapsed portion may vary considerably from what is considered a typical fully compacted thickness of the tube wall. And it will be appreciated that in the dispensing of the toothpaste onto a toothbrush, the tube is typically squeezed by a hand of the user and this may occur at any location along the length thereof depending on the user and as a result the remaining toothpaste may be concentrated toward the dispensing end that is preferable for subsequent use. Or the toothpaste may be concentrated at a remote location from the dispensing end or concentrated at spaced locations along the length thereof as depicted in FIG. 4. And as a result, further hand squeezing of the tube along its length is normally necessary to force the remaining toothpaste at such remote location(s) to the dispensing end of the tube for its use.

In the normal or as-molded condition of the handle and with the possibility of variable compacted tube thickness in mind with differently made tubes of toothpaste, the preset space 33 is provided with a uniform width between the oppositely facing straight sides 31 of the handle portions for closely receiving the fully collapsed portion 42 of a typical commercially available tube of toothpaste as depicted in FIG. 4 and when entered into the preset space either endways or sideways through the open end 22 of the slot. Where after progressive collapsing of the tube and the accompanying forcing of the toothpaste toward the dispensing end is accomplished by the handle 12 being manually held and squeezed at the handle portions 28 and 30 to apply a force on the hinged handle portion 28 to maintain it in its normal position while the tube is manually held and the handle is manually forcibly moved along the tube in the direction of the dispensing end.

On the other hand and in the event a fully collapsed portion of a particular tube of toothpaste is larger or smaller in thickness than the width of the normally provided preset space 33, the hinge portion 32 allows the handle portion 28 to swing outwardly of the handle from its normally maintained position in the case of a larger thickness and inwardly of the handle from its normally maintained position in the case of a smaller thickness to accommodate the difference. With the outward swinging of the handle portion 28 being allowed by the hinge portion 32 in reaction to forced sideways insertion against the hinged handle portion 28 of a collapsed tube portion having such a larger thickness entering the slot sideways via the open end 22 of the slot and thereby allow this collapsed tube portion of larger thickness to be fully received between the tube engaging sides 31. And with the hinge portion 32 then allowing inward swinging and reorienting movement of the hinged handle portion with squeezing on the handle portions to a position forcing the tube engaging sides 31 fully against the opposite sides of this collapsed tube portion to thereby restore the tube engaging sides 31 to parallel but now with a larger uniform width there between corresponding to that of this collapsed tube portion. Where after the hinge portion 32 allows continuing manually applied force on the hinged handle portion 28 to maintain this condition to progressively and efficiently collapse the associated tube with the sides 31 in forcing remaining toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the associated tube.

On the other hand, with a collapsed tube portion having a thickness less than the width of the preset space 33 and thus received with clearance in this space, the hinge portion 32 allows inward swinging and reorienting movement of the hinged handle portion with manual squeezing on the handle portions to a position inward of its normal position in forcing the tube engaging sides fully against the opposite sides of this collapsed tube portion to thereby restore the tube engaging sides 31 to parallel but now with a smaller uniform width there between corresponding to that of this collapsed tube portion. Where after the hinge portion 32 allows continually applied force on the hinged handle portion to maintain this condition to progressively and efficiently collapse the associated tube in forcing remaining toothpaste toward its dispensing end.

In all instances, the amount of force manually applied to the elastically hinged handle portion 28 determines the actual extent of the collapsing of the tube in forcing toothpaste toward its dispensing end. And for this reason, the textured area 16 on the brush side of the handle is located at an intermediate site on the outer side of the hinged handle portion 28 intermediate the lengthwise extent of the tube engaging sides 31 and in addition is formed at this site on a recessed surface 44 provided on the outer side of the hinged handle portion. As it was found that applying a force in this recessed area such as with a thumb of a person's hand can substantially aid in controlling the forced swinging movement of the handle portion 28 with the hand squeezing action on the handle portions and thereby aid in controlling the degree to which the tube is collapsed in forcing the toothpaste toward the dispensing end.

Having described the fundamentals of operation provided with the elastically hinged handle portion 28, it will be appreciated that the forced collapsing of the tube by the handle portions 28 and 30 is facilitated by the oppositely facing tube engaging sides 31 of the handle portions having a convex surface as shown in FIG. 4 that extends along their tube engaging length, define the closest space there between at a midpoint of these convex surfaces, and operate to collapse the tube in the same manner regardless of which direction the un-collapsed portion of the tube is entering the compressing space. And it will also be appreciated that the collapsing operation can be facilitated in a more gradual manner by the oppositely facing tube engaging sides 31 having a more gradual (larger radiused) convex surface as shown in FIG. 5 wherein they converge and cooperate to form a continuously converging or funnel shaped throat providing for more gradual progressive collapsing of a tube with the closest space between the sides 31 then at corresponding ends of these surfaces. And in this case the un-collapsed portion of the tube is intended to feed into the funnel shaped throat in the direction indicated by a directional arrow 46 provided on the outer side of the handle portions as shown on the handle portion 30 in FIG. 6 and wherein it will be understood that a like directional arrow pointing in the same direction is located on the outer side of the other handle portion 28.

It will also be appreciated that the collapsed portion of the tube extends beyond the handle portions and when of sufficient length can then, if desired, be coiled about the handle and left in that configuration on the handle or removed in such coiled configuration though the open slot end 22. And it will also be appreciated that the brush-containing end of the toothbrush can be a detachable and replaceable part that can be of the same design as shown or a different design and is made separate from the handle portion and then joined with the latter with a suitable fastening joint.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown another embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention wherein the toothbrush and its attendant features are identified with the same references numbers used previously but with the suffix “A” added. In this embodiment, the open end 22A of the slot 20A in the toothbrush 10A is now located in the brush side of the toothbrush at an intermediate location along the length of the handle 12A and the closed end 26A of the slot is located near the butt end 24A of the handle and that the hinge portion 32A instead of directly joining the handle portion 28A with the rest of the handle like in the FIG. 1-6 embodiments now joins the handle portion 28A with the terminal end of the other handle portion 30A and thereby with the rest of the handle. And like in the previous embodiments, the hinged handle portion 28A is provided with a recessed surface 44A on its outer side that is located midway along its length to aid in controlling the degree of hinged movement, if any, desired of the hinged handle portion. And it will also be understood that the embodiment in FIG. 7 with the relocation of the hinge portion 32A provides for the same operation on a tube of toothpaste in facilitating the use of the available toothpaste as the embodiments in FIGS. 1-6. And wherein side entry of a collapsed portion of a tube of toothpastes into the slot 22A is now provided for at an intermediate location along the length of and in the brush side of the handle rather than at the brushless side as provided in the FIG. 1-6 embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown another embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention wherein the toothbrush with its attendant features are identified with the same reference numbers used previously but with the suffix “B” added. In this embodiment, the open end 22B of the slot 20B in the toothbrush 10B is now located in the butt end 24B of the handle and the closed end 26B like the embodiments in FIGS. 1-6 is located at an intermediate location along the length of the handle with the hinge portion 32B joining the handle portion 28B with the rest of the handle 12B like in the FIG. 1-6 embodiments but now having a larger rounded shape in defining the interior side of the hinge portion 32B. And like in the FIG. 1-7 embodiments, the recessed surface 44B on the outer side of the elastically hinged handle portion 28B provides aid in controlling the degree of hinged movement, if any, desired of the handle portion 28B.

It will also be understood that the embodiment in FIG. 8 with the above-described features provides for the same operation on a tube of toothpaste in maximizing the use of the remaining toothpaste in the tube following usage as the FIG. 1-7 embodiments. And wherein sideways entry of a collapsed portion of a tube of toothpaste into the space between the handle portions 28B and 30B is now provided for in a straight forward manner at the butt end 24B of the handle by allowing straight or inline sideways entry of a collapsed portion of a tube of toothpaste via the open slot end 22B as compared with angled sideways entry of a collapsed portion of a tube of toothpaste at a side of the handle as provided in the previous embodiments.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, there is shown another embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention wherein the toothbrush with its attendant features are identified with the same reference numbers used previously but with the suffix “C” added and added features are identified with new reference numbers. In this embodiment, the open end 22C of the slot 20C in the toothbrush 10C is located in the butt end 24C of the handle like in the FIG. 8 embodiment and the closed end 26C like in the FIG. 1-8 embodiments is located at an intermediate location along the length of the handle with the hinge portion 32C joining the handle portion 28C with the rest of the handle 12C at that location but with the hinged handle portion 28C now located on a brushless side of the handle and the cantilevered handle portion 30C now located on the brush containing side. And like in the FIG. 1-8 embodiments, the elastically hinged handle portion 28C has the recessed surface 44C with the textured area 16C located on its outer side to provide aid in controlling the degree of hinged movement, if any, desired of the handle portion 28C.

But unlike that in the previously described embodiments, the hinge portion 32C in this embodiment has a sinusoidal profile as shown in FIG. 10 that is oriented at right angles to the swinging movement of the hinged handle portion 28C in providing for the compliance to a greater degree in the hinge portion 32C that allows the operation of the hinged handle portion 28C like that of the hinged handle portion in the other embodiments but to a greater extent. And it will be understood that this form of the hinge portion that thus expands the range of collapsed tube thickness that can be accommodated can also be applied to the other embodiments.

In addition, a recessed surface 48 with a textured area 50 is now provided on the outer side of the cantilevered handle portion 30C directly across from the recessed surface 44C on the hinged handle portion 28C. As it was found that this facilitates the efficient concentrating of the squeezing action on the handle portions wherein the hinged handle portion 28C for example is pressed at the recessed surface 44C by the thumb of a person while the associated forefinger engages the recessed surface 48 on the other handle portion 30C. And it will be understood that this additional useful feature may also be added to the cantilevered handle portions 30, 30A and 30B in the other embodiments.

It will also be understood that in all the embodiments and instead of the tube engaging sides being parallel in defining the preset space there between, the tube engaging sides can be angled to a significant degree with respect to each other and thereby define the preset space with a width that increases in the direction of the open end of the slot to help facilitate sideways entry of a collapsed tube portion of significantly large thickness. And with the compliance of the hinge portion following forced entry of such a collapsed tube portion then allowing a manually applied force on the hinged handle portion to swingingly position and orient the hinged handle portion with respect to the cantilevered handle portion as necessary to bring the tube engaging sides into full engagement with the collapsed tube portion and thus become parallel for progressively collapsing the associated tube and efficiently forcing toothpaste toward the dispensing end of the tube.

It will also be appreciated that having disclosed several exemplary embodiments of the invention, persons skilled in the art may arrive at various versions or modified forms of the invention constituting other embodiments. And therefore the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising a handle having a brush at one end, a slot in the body of said handle having an open end and a closed end and partially defining said handle with two opposing handle portions and a hinge portion wherein one of said handle portions is directly joined with the rest of said handle in a cantilevered manner, the other handle portion is joined with the rest of said handle in an elastically hinged manner via said hinge portion, said handle portions have oppositely facing straight sides and are structured to maintain their shape during their operation, said hinge portion normally supports said other handle portion such that said sides define a preset space there between for freely receiving a collapsed portion of a collapsible tube of toothpaste provided the collapsed tube portion has a thickness not exceeding the width of said preset space, said hinge portion has a compliance allowing said other handle portion to be swung outwardly of said handle by forced sideways movement there against of a collapsed tube portion having a thickness larger than the width of said preset space to thereby allow reception of this collapsed tube portion between said sides, and the compliance of said hinge portion allows said other handle portion to be urged to swing inwardly of said handle as necessary with a force manually applied to said other handle portion to a position pressing said sides fully against a collapsed tube portion however received there between and then be maintained in this condition with the applied force while said handle is moved along the associated tube in the direction of its dispensing end to thereby progressively collapse the associated tube with said sides and force toothpaste toward the dispensing end.

2. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion handle joins said other handle portion with the rest of the handle independent of said one handle portion.

3. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion joins said other handle portion to said one handle portion and thereby with the rest of the handle.

4. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said open end of said slot is located in a longitudinally extending side of said handle.

5. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said open end of said slot is located in a longitudinally extending brushless side of said handle.

6. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said open end of said slot is located in a longitudinally extending brush containing side of said handle.

7. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said open end of said slot is located in a butt end of said handle.

8. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other handle portion has an outer side with a recessed surface adapted to be engaged by the thumb of a person's hand in applying force on said other handle portion.

9. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other handle portion has an outer side with a recessed surface adapted to be engaged by a thumb of a person's hand, and said one handle portion has an outer side with a recessed surface adapted to be engaged by a forefinger of a person's hand to provide resistance with said one handle portion against the force applied on said other handle by the thumb when pressing on the recessed surface of said other handle portion.

10. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion is defined at an inner side by a rounded surface.

11. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion has a sinusoidal profile oriented at right angles to the swinging movement of said other handle portion.

12. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion has a varying cross-sectional area.

13. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sides are parallel in defining said preset space with a uniforms width, and the compliance of said hinge portion allows the force applied to said other handle portion to swingingly position and orient said other handle portion with respect to said one handle portion so that said sides remain parallel in pressing on a collapsible tube of toothpaste and progressively collapsing the tube.

14. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sides are angled with respect to each other in defining said preset space with a width that increases in the direction of said open end of said slot, and the compliance of said hinge portion allows the force applied to said other handle portion to swingingly position and orient said other handle portion with respect to said one handle portion so that said sides become parallel in pressing on a collapsible tube of toothpaste and progressively collapsing the tube.

15. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sides have oppositely facing convex surfaces adapted to define the closest space there between at a midpoint of said convex surfaces.

16. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sides have converging oppositely facing convex surfaces adapted to define the closest space there between at corresponding ends of said convex surfaces.