ELECTRIC TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an electric toothpaste

dispenser and, more particularly, is concerned with a toothpaste dispenser

which is operated by depressing a button with a toothbrush. When the

dispenser is empty a user merely replaces the toothpaste container.

Description of the Prior Art

The typical toothpaste tube in use today has been in use for many

years after gaining wide acceptance. This typical toothpaste tube is

relatively easy to use although it has a few shortcomings. Some of the

shortcomings include leakage from the tube due to cracks and tears

forming in the walls of the tube, leakage between the mouth and the cap

of the tube due to the combination of failing to properly tighten the cap

onto the tube and the placement of improper pressure upon the tube,

wasted toothpaste remaining in the tube due to uneven squeezing or

rolling of the tube, the inconvenience of unscrewing and replacing a cap

every time toothpaste is to be used and problems related to the application

of too much- pressure to the tube resulting in additional wasted toothpaste

and toothpaste spillage onto the counter and sink. All of these problems

are compounded when the toothpaste tube is used by children.

installation of an electrically driven toothpaste dispenser to be pleasing.

Several toothpaste dispensing apparatii have been disclosed in the past. U.S. Patent No. 3,198, 389 to Dunning discloses a toothpaste dispensing cabinet which uses two rollers to roll down a tube of toothpaste. U.S. Patent No. 4,234,104 to Apuzzo et al describes a toothpaste dispenser having a motor for driving two rollers down a tube of toothpaste. The outlet from the dispenser includes a closure and a manually operated switch is included to reverse the motor. U.S. Patent No. 4,258,864 to Karamanolis et al describes a toothpaste dispenser with a motor which drives a roller down a tube of toothpaste. A manually operated switch is used to retract the roller and a gate is used to close off the outlet. U.S. Patent No. 4,403,714 to Kane describes a toothpaste dispenser with a motor driven roller which compresses paste out of a horizontally mounted tube of paste. The tube is threaded into an adapter and the outlet is covered by a lever 21. The motor is reversed by a manual switch. U.S. Patent No. 4,629,095 to Smith describes a toothpaste dispenser which is carried by a wheel for driving the tube through a pair of pinch rollers. The tube of paste is inverted and threaded into an aperture which is closed off by a flap closer.

The patents described above have several shortcomings. They fail to recognize the importance of having pliable rollers which will provide an evenly distributed squeeze across the tube. Resiliency in the rollers is desired to accommodate different sized tubes and obstructions in the tubes. While some of the patents do mention that the rollers may be spring mounted, they fail to recognize that spring created resiliency will result in an imbalanced or uneven squeeze across the tube. Another problem is that these patents fail to provide drive to the rollers. Only the patent to Dunning, U.S. Patent No. 3,198,389, provides rotational drive to the rollers. However, the drive is provided by a pulley system which will be expensive to construct and will encounter problems due to slippage of the pulley.

These patents also have drawbacks relating to the guidance of the toothpaste tube between the rollers when the rollers begin at the bottom of the tube and when the tube is improperly aligned or oriented with respect to the rollers. These drawbacks are important since a dispenser must accommodate various sizes of toothpaste tubes as well as bent toothpaste tubes and adjust for improperly aligned toothpaste tubes. Additionally, these patents fail to address problems related to the rollers forcing the tube to collapse against the housing or the outlet or pulling the tube out of the outlet due to the reversal of the rollers or frictional forces from the rollers. These patents also require that a switch be manually activated, as opposed to automatically activated, to reverse a roller assembly which has completed its compressing motion across the toothpaste tube.

Additionally, no device is described for adapting to, connecting to and holding the tube within the housing. Since toothpaste tubes are made of various sizes and designs it is important to include adjustable or adaptable structures to hold the tube and to connect to the mouth of the tube. The patents described above further fail to recognize the importance of making the outlet nozzle removable so that clogged toothpaste can be removed.

Further shortcomings include the failure to recognize other features which can be added for ease of operation of the dispenser including the addition of an easily accessible button which will activate the dispenser and clear the nozzle of the dispenser of toothpaste. The dispenser can also be made more convenient by including a wall mount and a toothbrush holder which is mounted on the outside for accessibility while being removable for ease of cleaning. Additionally, these patents use alternating current to power the motor which increases the risk of electrocution.

The need therefore exists for an electric toothpaste dispenser which is easily mountable and accessible for holding toothbrushes while allowing for cleaning, which prevents the likelihood of electrocution through the use of a d/c which will provide proper and efficient drive to the

rollers, which will provide an even and pliable squeeze to the tube of toothpaste, which will hold a tube of toothpaste in position while being adaptable to accommodate various sizes and designs of toothpaste tubes and which will allow for ease of controlling the dispenser without a mess or the drying of toothpaste.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the toothpaste dispenser. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 to show the interior of the housing.

Fifi. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispenser taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the drive assembly taken along section line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the drive assembly taken along section lin

5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view partially broken along section line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail view partially broken along section line 7-7 of Fig 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail view partially broken along section line 8-8 of Fig 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail view taken along section line 9-9 of Fig. 3 showin one grasping assembly in cross-section. Fig. .10 is a detail view partially broken along section line 10-10 o

Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit employed fo controlling the toothpaste dispenser of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the d/c converter employed in th toothpaste dispenser of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of th dispenser showing such embodiment from the interior of the housing.

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view the embodiment of Fig. 13 showing such embodiment- from the interior of the housing.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an assembly view showing the grasping assembly and the nozzle assembly of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 13 - 15.

Fig. 17 is a view of the grasping assembly shown in the "grasping" position.

Fig. 18 is a view of the grasping assembly shown in the "open" position. Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 14 showing details of the nozzle assembly.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an electric toothpaste dispenser designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs. The most important feature of this invention is the combination of a fixed rack and a long screw to provide an even and properly controlled squeeze on the toothpaste container. The dispenser includes pliable rollers to apply a balanced and even squeeze across the toothpaste tube. When the rollers reached the top of the tube, the control system will automatically reverse the motor so that the rollers roll back down below the tube. The outlet nozzle is adaptable to the mouth of the tube and the tube is adjustably held. The present invention includes additional important accessories including an easily accessible activation button, a wall mount, a removable toothbrush holder and a d/c converter.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a toothpaste dispensing apparatus which includes a housing having a nozzle clearing and automatic activating assembly and an adaptable grasping assembly located within the housing for holding the toothpaste container. A drive assembly is mounted

within the housing and drives a carriage for squeezing along the length of the toothpaste container. A control system is also included for activating the drive assembly and for automatic reversal of the drive assembly.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there

is shown the electric toothpaste dispenser apparatus 10. Referring now to

Fig. 2, the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 generally includes a housing

12, a toothpaste container 20, a drive assembly 30, a carriage assembly 60,

a nozzle assembly 80 and first and second grasping assemblies 90a and

90b.

Referring back to Fig. 1, the dispenser 10 includes a housing 12 with

a door 14. The dispenser 10 also includes a toothbrush holder 16, a d/c

converter 17 with a/c wall socket plug-in prongs 18 and electrical cord 19,

a nozzle assembly 80 and a push button 100. Access to the interior region

of the housing 12 is made through the door 14 which is large enough to

allow the convenient insertion by hand of a toothpaste container or tube

20. The door 14 has two hinges 140 and 141 and a latch 142 which snaps

into a groove in the housing 12 for holding the door 14 in a closed

position. The door 14 also includes a window 143 for viewing the

toothpaste container 20 so that a user can determine the brand and amount

of toothpaste which has been used. The electric toothpaste dispenser 10

is activated by depressing the push button 100 with a toothbrush 22 or

other device. This causes toothpaste 24 to be dispensed out of the nozzle

assembly 80. Lights lδa and 15b are located on the housing 12. Light 15a

is preferably blue and turns on when toothpaste 24 is being dispensed

through the nozzle assembly 80. Light 15b is preferably red and turns on

when the toothpaste container 20 is empty.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the interior of housing 12 is shown.

A wall 13 separates a lower section 130 of the housing 12 from an upper

section 131. Drive assembly 30 generally includes motor 32 and gear train

40. Gear train 40 transfers drive or torque to carriage assembly 60.

Current from the d/c converter 17 runs through the cord 19 into the

lower section 130 for powering motor 32. When the push button 100 is

depressed it will close the first switch SI which turns on light 15a and

activates the motor 32 in the forward or toothpaste dispensing direction.

A frame 34 is attached to the end of the motor 32. The other end of the

frame 34 is attached to a planetary gear 48 which is in turn attached to

a gear box 50. The internal components of the gear box 50 transfer torque

or drive to a long screw 58. When the long screw 58 is rotated it will

transfer torque to or drive carriage assembly 60. More specifically,

carriage assembly 60 will move along threads 58e causing pinion 59 to turn

on rack 57 which is installed parallel to the long screw 58. The rack 57

is attached to the housing 12 with screws 122a, 122b, 122c and 122d*which

are threaded through rack mounting supports 57a, 57b, 57c and 57d and

into casings 123a, 123b, 123c and 123d which are affixed to the housing 12.

The pinion 59 transfers torque or drive to the carriage assembly 60. As

the carriage assembly 60 rides up the length of the long screw 58 it will

squeeze toothpaste out of the toothpaste container 20. When the carriage

assembly 60 approaches the top of the toothpaste container 20 it will force

toggle bar 110 to strike or close reverse switch or second switch S2. The

reverse switch S will turn on light 15a and automatically activate the

motor 32 in the reverse direction such that the carriage assembly 60 will

ride downward until a prong 68 strikes or opens a third switch S3. In

this position the carriage assembly 60 will rest below the lower end of the

tube of toothpaste 20 sp that the empty tube or container may be removed

for disposal and a new container may be installed. The toothpaste

container 20 is held around the neck 26 of the container 20 by a first and

a second grasping assembly 90a and 90b.

The nozzle assembly 80 includes a lever 88 for the lowering of a

tube fitting 86 into the mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20. Once the

tube fitting 86 is in place within or against the mouth 28 of the toothpaste

container 20, toothpaste 24 can flow through the tube fitting 86 and out

spout 82.

The toothbrush holder 16 could be mounted on either side of the

housing 12 by any suitable means of attachment such as a hole and

channel formed in the side of the toothbrush holder 16 for sliding over a

projecting .rivet head 16a. The toothbrush holder 16 has receptacles 16b

for receiving toothbrushes 22. Referring to Fig. 3, the electric toothpaste

dispenser 10 also includes a wall mount plate 130 which may be screwed

or attached by other suitable means of attachment to a wall 131 or other

structure. The mounting plate 130 has openings which receive prongs

132a, 132b, 132c ( not snown) and 132d (not shown ) fixed on housing 12.

The prongs 132a, 132b, 132c and 132d are slid into the openings on

mounting plate 130 and the housing 12 is lowered until the prongs 132a,

132b, 132c and 132d grasp around and the housing 12 rests on the

mounting plate 130. Housing 12 may include other accessories.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, portions of the drive assembly 30 for

driving carriage assembly 60 are shown. Frame 34 is attached by a screw

36 to the motor 32. The drive shaft 38 driven by the motor 32 transmits

torque to gear train 40 through a pinion gear 42 located at the other end

of the drive shaft 38. Gear train 40 ends with long screw 58.

The pinion gear 42 meshes with three idle gears 44a, 44b and 44c

( not shown) which are equiangularly arranged around the pinion gear 42.

Opposite the point of contact between the idle gears 44a, 44b and 44c and

the pinion gear 42, the idle gears 44a, 44b and 44c mesh with a planetary

gear 48. The planetary gear 48 remains stationary. The idle gears 44a,

44b and 44c are pinned to a revolution disc 52. As the pinion gear 42

drives the three idle gears 44a, 44b and 44c the idle gears 44a, 44b and

44c will rotate about their central axis on shafts 46a, 46b and 46c (not

shown) as well as orbit within the planetary gear 48. Revolution disc 52

is seated within but does not mesh with the planetary gear 48. Hence, the

orbital motion of the idle gears 44a, 44 b and 44c will cause the revolution

disc 52 to turn. The revolution disc 52 has a keyed opening in the

center for engaging a notch 54a in worm gear 54. The worm gear 54 is

supported at the other end by a worm bush 54b. The worm gear 54

transmits torque to a worm wheel 56. Worm wheel 56 is pinned or attached

by other suitable means over the end of the long screw 58. A gear box

50 is attached to the planetary gear 48 for enclosing the worm gear 54 and

the worm wheel 56 and holding the worm bush 54b in place. A washer 54c

is placed between the worm bush 54b and the worm gear 54. The gear box

50 also contains two long screw bushes 58a and 58b for support of long

screw 58. Wave washers 58c and 58d are placed between the long screw

bushes 58a and 58b and the worm wheel 56.

Details of the carriage assembly 60 are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The carriage assembly 60 generally includes an upper bracket 61, a lower

bracket 65, a first roller 70, a second roller 74, a roller gear box 69, roller

padding 70a and 74a and first and second guide plates 78a and 78b.

The lower bracket 65 has a vertical neck 66 having a threaded

aperture for engaging the long screw 58 and has lower bearing cavities

67a and 67b for supporting and guiding both the first roller 70 and the

second roller 74. A prong 67e on lower bracket 65 rides in guide channel

57e of rack 57 for stabilization of carriage assembly 60. The upper

bracket 61 has a vertical bore therethrough which seats over the outer

circumference of the neck 66 of the lower bracket 65, upper bearing

cavities 62a and 62b for supporting and guiding both the first and the

second rollers 70 and 74 and bearing walls 63a and 63b having holes for

support of both the first and second guide plates 78a and 78b.

As the long 58 is driven, the threading in the neck 66 will

ride upon the long screw threading δδe. The neck 66 is long enough to

engage approximately twentv-six millimeters of the long screw 58 in order

to stabilize the carriage assembly 60. The roller wheels 71 and 75 in both

the first and second rollers 70 and 74 are supported within the bearing

cavities 62a and 62b and 67a and 67b of the upper and lower brackets 61

and 65 when the brackets are attached together by screws or other

suitable means of attachment. As best seen in Fig. 8, both brackets 61 and

65 include a continuous cavity 62a and 67a therethrough to accommodate

first roller 70 and a partial cavity 62b and 67b to support the roller wheel

75 of the second roller 74.

A pinion 59 is attached to the first roller 70 at one end. A first

roller drive gear 72 is pinned or attached by other suitable means to the

other end of the first roller 70. A second roller drive gear 76 is pinned

or attached by other suitable means to the other end of the second roller

74. The first roller drive gear 72 meshes with a second roller drive gear

76. Additionally, each roller 70 and 74 is coupled to its respective drive

gear 72 and 76, preferably by a hex shaped bore ( not shown ) in each

drive gear 72 and 76 which engages a hex shaped shaft section (not

shown ) on each roller 70 and 74. A roller gear box 69 is pinned over the

ends of the first and second rollers 70 and 74 between two washers 73a

and 73b and 77a and 77b and retained by clips 73c and 77c. The roller

gear box 69 has two lower holes for support of the first and second rollers

70 and 74 and two upper bearing walls 69a and 69b having holes for

support of the first and second guide plates 78a and 78b. As the long

screw 58 turns, the upper and lower brackets 61 and 65 will move together

in either an upward or downward direction depending upon the respective

forward or reverse drive beins provided by the motor 32. During this

upward or downward motion of the brackets 61 and 65, contact between the

rack 57 and pinion 59 will impart motion to the first roller 70. The first

roller 70 drives the second roller 74.

Both rollers 70 and 74 are covered with roller padding 70a and 74a

which is made of a pliable material such as rubber, foam or foam rubber.

The pliable material is useful for guiding the toothpaste container 20

between the rollers 70 and 74 when the carriage assembly 60 begins at the

bottom 21 of the toothpaste container 20, for obtaining a better squeeze on

the toothpaste container 20 and for rolling over creases and other

obstructions on toothpaste containers 20 of various sizes.

The distance between the rollers 70 and 74 and the thickness of the

padding 70a and 74a creates a sufficient squeeze upon the toothpaste

container 20 to remove the toothpaste while not impeding the motion of the

rollers 70 and 74 and the carriage assembly 60. The open space between

the rollers 70 and 74 when covered with padding 70a and 74a is preferably

0.5 millimeters and the thickness of the pads is preferably 2.5 millimeters.

Both the first guide plate 78a and the second guide plate 78b are

attached to pins 79a and 79b which ride and are clamped within the holes

on the upper bracket 61 and the roller gear box 69. Leaf springs 79c,

79d, 79e and 79f are seated at both ends of the guide plates 78a and 78b

to urge the guide plates 78a and 78b to an angle of approximately 45 ^* from

the horizontal. Washers 79g, 79h, 79i and 79j are located on pins 79a and

79b which are retained bv clips 79L, 791, 79m and 79n. However, the guide

plates 78a and 78b may be rotated against the force of the leaf springs

79c, 79d, 79e and 79f to a horizontal position. The guide plates 78a and

78b help to guide the lower end 21 of the toothpaste container 20 to the

open space between the first and the second rollers 70 and 74 when the

carriage assembly 60 starts at the bottom 21 of the toothpaste container

20.

The guide plates 78a and 78b function to direct a toothpaste

container 20 which is not installed parallel to the axial direction of the

first and second rollers 70 and 74 to the open space between such rollers

when the carriage assembly 60 begins at the bottom 21 of a new container

of toothpaste 20. A toothpaste container 20 may be installed such that the

major cross-sectional axis of the container is anywhere within a 360 ^' range

of the axial direction of the first and second rollers 70 and 74. The guide

plates will force the toothpaste container to rotate so that the major crosε-

sectional axis will be parallel to the axial directions of rollers 70 and 74

except in one situation. This situation occurs when the bottom 21 of the

toothpaste container 20 is wider than the upper ends of guide plates 78a

and 78b when the guide plates 78a and 78b are forced to the horizontal

position. In this situation the angular range that the toothpaste container

20 can be rotated away from the axial direction of the first and second

rollers 70 and 74 and still be rotated or guided between such rollers will

be decreased to an angle where the bottom 21 of the toothpaste container

20 is within the extremities of the width between the upper ends 78c and

78d of guide plates 78a and 78b when the guide plates 78a and 78b are in

the horizontal position.

The guide plates 78a and 78b are also useful for guiding a slightly

bent toothpaste container to the open space between the padded rollers 70

and 74 as well as guiding a toothpaste container which is partially empty

before being inserted within the electric toothpaste dispenser 10. Since

the guide plates 78a and 78b are allowed to rotate toward a horizontal

position against the force of the leaf springs 79c, 79d, 79e and 79f, the

guide plates 78a and 78b will not obstruct the approach of the carriage

assembly 60 to the top of the housing 12. This allows the rollers 70 and

74 to roll to the top 23 of the toothpaste container 20 before the second

switch 112 is closed thus minimizing the amount of toothpaste left within

the toothpaste container 20 before the drive assembly 30 is reversed in

direction.

A toggle bar 110 is seated within a toggle bar holder 111 which is

attached by screws or other suitable means of attachment to the housin -

12. When the carriage assembly 60 has reached the top 23 of the

toothpaste container 20, the upper bracket 61 will drive the toggle bar 110

up to close the second switch S2. The second switch S2 automatically

reverses the drive assembly 30 causing the carriage assembly 60 to ascend

or ride back down the length of toothpaste container 20 until the prong

68 on the lower bracket 65 strikes the third switch S3 which turns the

motor 30 off. At this time light 15b will be activated to inform a user that

a new toothpaste container 20 should be installed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Referring now to Fig. 9, the details of the grasping assemblies 90a

and 90b are shown. Both grasping assemblies 90a and 90b include an

assembly housings 96a and 96b, respectively, which are attached by screws

or other suitable means of attachment to the housing 20. Both grasping

assemblies 90a and 90b include upper and lower clamps 92a and 92b and

94a and 94b, respectively. Both the upper clamps 92a and 92b and the

lower clamps 94a and 94b are held together within the assembly housings

96a and 96b which restrict both vertical motion and motion in a direction

perpendicular to the plane of the Fig. 9 drawing. However, the clamps 92a

and 92b and 94a and 94b are allowed to move horizontally upon

compression spring's 98a and 98b and 99a and 99b which urge the clamps

92a and 92b and 94a and 94b, respectively, in opposing directions. Ends

92c and 92d on the upper clamps 92a and 92b, respectively, are concave

to mesh with the threaded neck 26 of the toothpaste container 20. Ends

94c and 94d on the lower clamps 94a and 94b, respectively, are concave to

grasp under the threads and around the neck 26 located on typical

American toothpaste containers. In some situations depending upon the

design of the toothpaste container 20, only either the upper or the lower

clamps 92a and 92b or 94a and 94b will be needed.

The user of the electric toothpaste dispenser 10 is able to operate

the grasping assemblies 90a and 90b merely by reaching within the housing

and pulling the upper and lower clamps 92a and 92b and 94a and 94b apart

and either removing or inserting a toothpaste container 20. Since the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

grasping assemblies 90a and 90b are spring loaded they will adjust or

adapt to the neck size of the toothpaste container 20 installed.

Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the nozzle assembly 80 and the push

button 100. The push button 100 has a cap 102 and a downwardly

extending prong 104. A compression spring 106 is seated over the prong

104 and compressed between the cap 102 and the housing 12 to hold the

push button 100 in an upright position against a retainer 108. In this

• position the first switch SI will be open.. When the push button 100 is

depressed the prong 104 will close the first switch SI. This will activate

the motor 32 in the forward direction to drive the carriage assembly 60 up

the toothpaste container 20.

The nozzle assembly 80 includes a cup cover 84, a nozzle adjustment

lever 88, a spout 82, a tube fitting 86 and a spring 85. A cup 81 is

threaded at its upper end for attachment of the cup cover 84 and has an

opening at the lower end to allow the tube fitting 86 to pass therethrough.

The cup 81 is affixed to the top of the housing 12. The spout 82 has an

. elbow 82a to deliver the toothpaste 24 to an area over or above the push

button 100. A shoulder 83 is located just below the elbow 82a. The nozzle

adjustment lever 88, cup cover 84 and spring 85 are seated over the lower

end of spout 82 and held in place between shoulder 83 and tube fitting 86

which is threaded to the lower end of spout 82. The tube fitting 86 has

a conical neck portion 87 for lowering, adapting or connecting to the

mouth 28 of the toothpaste container 20 mounted within the housing 12.

This allows for toothpaste container mouths of various sizes to be

accommodated. The upper end of the tube fitting 86 includes a flange 88.

This flange 88 limits the downward motion of the tube fitting 86 when the

flange 88 contacts the bottom of the cup 81. Spring 85 forces the tube

fitting 86 downward to maintain contact with the mouth 28 of the

toothpaste container 20 while toothpaste 24 is being dispensed from the

container 20.

As shown in Fig. 9, the nozzle adjustment lever 88 has a collar 88a

which fits around the spout 82. A portion of the collar 88a has an inclined

surface 88b which wedges against the inclined surface 82b on the spout

82. Thus by moving lever 88, the spout 82 will adjust or move in an axial

direction either to lower or raise the tube fitting 86 from the mouth 24 of

the toothpaste container 20.

At times toothpaste can dry within the spout 82 causing the spout

82 to be blocked. When this occurs the nozzle assembly 80 may be

removed for soaking in warm water or for dislodging in some other manner.

Nozzle assembly 80 is removed by unscrewing cup cover 84 from cup 81.

There are two problems which the present invention overcomes as

the carriage assembly 60 ascends or descends along the toothpaste

container 20. The first problem occurs when the toothpaste container 20

collapses either diagonally or toward the nozzle assembly 80. The second

problem occurs when the neck 26 of the toothpaste container 20 is pulled

out of the first and second grasping assemblies 90a and 90b. Both

problems are affected by vibration and non-vertical forces exerted by the

rollers 70 and 74. However, the first problem is primarily created by the

exertion of too much vertical force in the upward direction, and the second

problem is primarily created by the exertion of too much vertical force in

the downward direction.

The interaction between the long screw 58, brackets 61 and 65, rack

57, pinion 59 and padded rollers 70 and 74 creates a smooth rolling motion

along the toothpaste container 20 and makes the vibration and non-vertical

forces negligible as compared to the rigidity of the toothpaste container

20 and the holding and stabilization abilities of the grasping assemblies 90a

and 90b.

The upward and downward forces on the toothpaste container 20 are

created by rollers 70 and 74 as carriage assembly 60 ascends or descends

along the toothpaste container 20 and created by frictional contact between

the padded rollers 70 and 74 and the toothpaste container 20. In the

present invention these forces tend to balance each other out. However,

the resilient mounting of the tube fitting 86 in nozzle assembly 80 will

maintain contact with the mouth of the toothpaste container 20 and the

holding and stabilization abilities of grasping assemblies 90a and 90b will

hold the neck 26 regardless of any net force exerted by rollers 70 and 74

due to the ascending or descending motion of carriage assembly 60 and

friction.

The present invention is also designed so that the rate of ascension

or descension of the carriage assembly 60 and the rotational speed of

rollers 70 and 74 will squeeze or compress the toothpaste container 20 to

obtain a desirable flow rate of the toothpaste 24 out of the nozzle assembly

80.

The drive assembly or motor 30 operates at a speed of 5000 rotations

per minute. Through the motor 32 and gear system 40 the long screw 58

is driven at 34.5 rotations per minute. The carriage assembly 60 either

ascends or descends 1 millimeter per revolution of the long screw 58

depending upon the direction that motor 32 is driven. This results in the

carriage assembly 60 moving at a rate of 34.5 millimeters per minute or

0.575 millimeters per second. Although other drive assemblies 30 may be

devised and used, this illustrates the preferred drive speed of the

carriage assembly 60 in order to obtain a desirable flow rate of toothpaste

24 out of the spout 82 and in order to hold the container 20 in place

without causing container 20 to collapse or be jarred from grasping

assemblies 90a and 90b.

Referring to Fig. 11, circuitry for the control system of the present

invention is shown. When the first switch SI is closed the circuit is

completed and the motor 32 will start running in the forward direction to

squeeze toothpaste out of the toothpaste container 20. When the push

button 100 is released and the first switch SI is open, activating ^* pulse

signal generating device Q sends a signal which turns on the third

transistor J ., and the third transistor TR, in turn puts the relay RL into

motion. This reverses the direction of the motor 32 which causes the

carriage assembly 60 to descend. The amount of time that the third

transistor TR. sends the signal to the relay RL in order to reverse the

motor 32 is predetermined and adjustable. It is preferred that this amount

of time be set at 0.5 seconds or approximately thereabout. This automatic-

reversal feature whicn operates for a set predetermined amount of time

once the push button 100 is released is designed to release any pressure

on the toothpaste container 20 to prevent excess ieakage of the toothpaste

24 from the nozzle assembly 80 once the push button 100 is released. ^"

When the toggle bar 110 closes the second switch S2, the relay RL

will be set into operation through the contact point of the transistor TR

and the third switch SO. In this position the motor 32 will run in the

reverse direction. The transistor TF:.. stays in the "on" position by its

self-maintaining circuit until it is restored to the original position. When

the carriage assembly 60 " bottoms" the third switch S3 is opened. This

turns the second transistor TR. off and the RL is restored to its normal

condition. Consequently, the original state of the circuit system is

In some situations it may be desirable to reverse the direction of the

motor 32 before the second switch S2 is closed. One such situation will

occur when a user wishes to replace a container 20 of toothpaste or t

rearrange . the positioning of the toothpaste container 20. This manuai

reversal of the motor 32 can be achieved bv reaching within the housing

12 and raising the toggle bar 110 by hand to close the second switch SI.

As an option, a fourth switch S4 (shown oniy in Fig. 11 ) could be adde

to the exterior cf the housing 12 in order to manually reverse the moto

32. Fig. 12 illustrates tne preferred circuitrv for trie d/c converter.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14 another embodiment of the invention i

shown. This electric toothpaste dispenser 210 consists of a nousing 212

a toothpaste container 220, a drive assembly 230, a carriage assembly 260

a nozzle assembly 280 and a grasping assembly 290.

In this embodiment the toothpaste container 220 is held in a

inverted position. The first switch SI is located at the bottom of th

housing 212 for activating the drive assembly 230 in a forward direction

Once the carriage assembly 260 has advanced a sufficient distance alon

the toothpaste container 220, switch S2 will be activated by a prong 27

to reverse the direction of the assembly 230. Carriage assembly 260

will then retract until switch S3 is activated by a prong 274. Switch S

will stop the drive assembly 230. Once a new toothpaste container 220 is

inserted within housing 212 the drive assembly 230 can be activated at an

increased speed by pressing switch SF until carriage assembly 260 is a

the base of the toothpaste container 220 at which time switch SI is used

to continue the advancement of carriage 260.

The drive assembly 230 includes a motor 232 which is operated by

a/c or d/c electricity which drives a worm gear 234. Worm gear 234 drives

worm wheel 236 and worm wheel 236 drives gear 238 which in turn drives

gear 239 to rotate long screw 240. A rack 242 is fixed within housing 212

parallel and adjacent to long screw 240. The combination of the long screw

240 and rack 242 drives carriage assembly 260.

Carriage assembly 260 includes a carriage block 262 which has a

vertically threaded aperture for engaging long screw 240, two squeezing

rollers 263 and 264, and pinion gears 265 and 266 which are extended to

the rollers 263 and 264 through the carriage block 262. The pinion gears

265 and 266 mesh with the thread of rack 242.

A guide assembly 270 attached to the other end of the carriage

assembly 260 holds carriage assembly 260 between two walls 213 and 214

within housing 212.. The guide assembly 270 includes a guide channel 272

which fits around walls 213 and 214. As the carriage assembly 260 moves,

guide assembly 270 will move along walls 213 and 214 to prevent the

vibration or the incline of the carriage assembly 260. Carriage assembly

260 also includes prongs 274 and 276 for activating switches S3 and S2.

Referring to Fig. 16, 17 and 18, the tube grasping assembly 290 is

fixed within the housing. It generally includes a round plate or cam 291,

a holder plate 295 and grasping wings 299a, 299b and 299c. Holder plate

295 which has a hole in the center and three prongs 296a, 296b and 296c

which are equiangulariy spaced to engage grooves 292a, 292b and 292c in

cam 291 and three holes located in grasping wings 299a, 299b and 299c.

The holder plate 295 also includes a small hole 297 to hold one end of

spring 298. The cam 291 has a small hole 293 to hold the other end

of spring 298, three holes 294a, 294b and 294c at the margin to engage the

prongs of the grasping wings 299 and a hole through the center. A

release lever 300 is fixed by a pin (not shown) to an arm 301 of cam 291.

Figs. 17 and 18 show the assembled toothpaste grasping assembly

290. When a new toothpaste tube is to be positioned, a user pushes the

lever 300 to let the grasping wings 299 spread out ( Fig. 18 ) , then inserts

the mouth of the toothpaste tube into the holes through the center of

holding plate 295 and cam 291 and then releases lever 300. Tne tnree

grasping wings 29b will then be biased to their orisina. position ( Fig. 17 :

by spring 298 to grasp the mouth or neck α ^f the toothpaste containei .

The grasping assembly is adaptable to the diameter and threading of the

mouth of the tootnpast e container and when used in combination with

nozzle assembh 280 is αiso adaptable to the heig ht or depth of th" mυut.

of the toot hpast- ^■ container.

Referring to FigK. 16 and 19 the nozzit assembly 280 generally

includes a nozzle plate 281 and a cove]' l t' 285. Nozzle plate 281

includes a nozzle 282 a d a threaded casing 283 for the securing of a

partially threaded 28-1 ,

Coyer ulate 285 includes a holy 286 at one corner which houses a

smooth portion of partially threaded screw 284. A wall 287 biases against

a spring 288. The other end of spring 288 is biased against a wall 216

located on housing 212. Housing 212 also includes walls 217 and 218 which

define a channel 219 leading into the interior of housing 212 allowing the

passage of a tooth brush to push cover plate 285.

Whex, a user desires toothpaste a toothbrush will be inserted thi'ough

channel 219 and pressed against cover plate 285 which pivots around

partial! '-" threaded screw 284 to automatical " activate switch SI.

Simultaneously, cover plate 285 will clear nozzle 282 allowing toothpaste to

flow therethrough. Cover late 285 is flush with nozzle 281 such that

when cover plate 285 is biased over nozzle 282 the nozzle will be sealed

or coλ'ered and such that when cover plate 285 is pivoted across nozzle

282 excess toothpaste which could dry and clog over nozzle 282 will be

swept, cleared or cleaned away.

Fig. 20 shows the electric circuit system for the embodiment of the

invention shown in Figs. 13 - 19. W ^: heπ the automatic switch SI is "on"

as activated bv a toothbrush, the motor turns on and the toothpaste is

sαueezed. When switch 1 is off by removing the toothbrush, the motor

turn - "off" which creates a clog pulse for a moment (about 0.5 seconds )

at clog circuit Q (a counterclockwise rotational clog pulse circuit) to turn

the transistor (TR3 ) "on" for a moment (about 0.5 seconds) and "on/off"

relay RL turns "on" simultaneously and causes relays RL1 and RL2 to shift

from point (a) to point ( b ) at the contact point to reverse the motor fox:

the clog pulse moment and to stop the toothpaste's natural flow.

When the toothpaste tube is almost empty the switch S2 turns "on"

to turn TR] "on" and RL turns "on" simultaneously and the motor turns

counterclockwise. Although the switch S2 turns "off" automatically by the

descent of the carriage assembly 260 as the transistor TR2 was already

"on" and ".on and off" relay RL is maintained in the "on" state. The motor

runs counterclockwise until the carriage assembly 260 touches switch S3

"off" and TR2 "off" and causes RL to turn "off" causing the rollers to stay

at their initial location. After the toothpaste tube is set, to insert the end

of the toothpaste tube 220 between the rollers 263 and 264 a user touches

switch S I so that the cari'iaϋe assembly descends (this action can b .

speeded by alternatively depressing button SF ). When a tube needs to b<_-

repiaced during use the user touches switch SI_ tυ make the carriage

assembly ascend.

Resistance for limited- current R is connected directly to SI between

point (a) and the motor s.o that it reduces the clockwise speed of the motor

when the rollers squeeze the toothpaste tube and accelerate the

countei'clockwise speed. Manual switch SF is parallel with the resistance

F; above mentioned and switch SI. The speed of the motor by the manual

switch SF is increased and the carriage descends quickly until the rollers

strike the bottom or end of the toothpaste tube. The carriage assembly

260 descends slowly when the switch SI is touched by a toothbrush.

The preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and

described aboλ'e. It is to be understood that minor changes in the details,

construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing

from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed.