BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to a liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush for applying a measured dose of liquid dentifrice from a reservoir of liquid dentifrice into the toothbrush bristles via an integral pump.

Description of the Prior Art

There are other tooth brushing devices designed for dispensing dentifrice known to the prior art, as exemplified by Cavanaugh, U.S. Patent No. 1,676,601, issued July 10, 1928; Burgin, U.S. Patent No. 2,743,042, issued April 24, 1956; Taylor, U.S. Patent No. 2,807,818, issued October 1 , 1957; Meyer et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,236,651; Hassan, U.S. Patent No. 4,875,791, issued October 24, 1989; Kuo, U.S. Patent No. 5,346,324, issued September 13, 1994; Voight, U.S. Patent No. 5,382,106, issued January 17, 1995; Podolsky, U.S. Patent No. 5,769,585, issued June 23, 1998; Kuo, U.S. Patent No. 5,909,977, issued June 8, 1999; Puurunen, U.S. Patent No. 5,918,995, issued July 6, 1999; Spies et al, U.S. Patent No. 6,241,412, issued June 5, 2001 ; Dillingham et al, U.S. Patent No. 6,679,642, issued January 20, 2004; Jang, U.S. Patent No. 6,948,875, issued September 27, 2005; Neuls, Canadian Patent No. 523,340, issued April 3, 1961; Horitz, U.K. Patent Specification No. 864,439; and Douglas, U.S. Patent Specification No. 2,215,593. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush that dispenses a measured amount of liquid dentifrice to the bristles of the toothbrush.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dentifrice toothbrush having a housing comprising a handle portion with a removable cap and a head portion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dentifrice toothbrush having a head portion that includes an internal conduit extending from one distal end to at least one aperture located in the bristles of the head portion.

A yet additional object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dentifrice toothbrush wherein the handle portion has a reservoir of liquid dentifrice and a pump assembly for dispensing a predetermined amount of the liquid dentifrice.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dentifrice toothbrush wherein a plurality of chambers comprises a dosage chamber and a holding chamber.

The foregoing and related objects are accomplished by the present invention which provides a dentifrice dispensing toothbrush that includes a handle having a removable cap and a removable head portion, along with a plurality of bristles within the head portion and means for dispensing liquid dentifrice. Preferably, the means for dispensing the liquid dentifrice dispenses a pre-determined amount of liquid dentifrice.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dentifrice toothbrush includes a dosage chamber that incorporates a pliable button and a pair of one-way valves positioned on each end, so that when the button is depressed, positive pressure moves the contents of the dosage chamber through an egress one-way valve into the holding chamber and, upon button release creates a vacuum, within the dosage chamber drawing the predetermined amount of liquid dentifrice from a collapsible bag through the ingress one-way valve into the dosage chamber. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description of the invention, which provides certain preferred embodiments and examples of the present invention.

It should, however, be noted that the accompanying drawing figures and detailed description thereof is intended to discuss and explain only certain embodiments of the claimed invention and is not intended as a means for defining the limits and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar features throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main components of the present invention including end cap, handle, pump button, head and bristles;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the toothbrush showing the detailed components of the present invention including position of liquid dentifrice refill, check valves, dosage chamber, holding chamber, actuator pump and flow direction;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the toothbrush showing the toothbrush hand grip on the handle of the toothbrush;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the toothbrush showing the internal components of the present invention with pump assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the toothbrush pump assembly showing the pump assembly components including dentifrice bag, inlet, pump button and outlet;

FIG. 6 is a side exploded view of the toothbrush pump assembly showing the one way valves;

FIG. 7 is a side detailed view of the toothbrush pump assembly showing the path the dentifrice follows once the push button of the pump assembly is pressed;

FIG. 8 is a side detailed view of the toothbrush pump assembly showing the collapsible bag refilling the pump assembly with fresh dentifrice; and, FIG. 9 is a side detailed view of the toothbrush pump assembly showing a depressed push button when the liquid dentifrice refill needs to be replaced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES AND PREFERERD EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of the toothbrush of the present invention 10 comprising a handle portion 12 with end cap 20 and a removable brush head 16, which includes bristles 18 and a pump assembly 42. The pump assembly 42 includes a pump actuator 14 for displacing and holding liquid dentifrice 26 integrated into its handle 12.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention that presents the toothbrush as having a handle 12 portion and a removable brush head portion 18. The handle 12 houses a dentifrice collapsible bag 34, a plurality of check valves 22 and reservoirs, including a dosage chamber 33 and holding chamber 32; each chamber using check valves as ingress and egress one-way valves in fluid communication with a removable brush head 18 conduit 28 terminating in a plurality of apertures 36 located at the base of the brush 30. Further shown is a liquid dentifrice bag refill 38 having liquid dentifrice refill fastener 39 that is able to mate to the handle end check valve 22 once the end cap 20 is removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush 10 depicting the liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush comprising a handle 12 portion and a removable brush head 18 portion with the handle 12 portion housing a pump assembly 42 having a pump actuator 14 within the wall of the handle 12. Also shown is the handle 12 having an end cap 20 providing access for refilling the liquid dentifrice reservoir.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the liquid dentifrice dispensing toothbrush 10 of the present invention, which displays the internal components of the device including a pump assembly 42 within a cavity 44 provided by the handle 12 housing for holding, pumping and delivering dentifrice through a provided conduit 28 and to the user via its apertures 36.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pump assembly 42 of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention as having a nipple 48 for attachment thereto of a liquid dentifrice collapsible bag 34, via aperture 35, for holding and supplying liquid dentifrice 24 to the pump assembly 42 when needed.

FIG. 6 is a side exploded view of the pump assembly 42 of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention 42, which comprises a housing having a plurality of chambers and one-way valves 22 with a pump actuator 14 providing means for moving the liquid dentifrice from the reservoir of liquid dentifrice to the brush bristles.

FIG. 7 is a side detailed view of the pump assembly 42 of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention depicting that when the pump actuator 14 is depressed, pressure 54 moves the liquid dentifrice 24 from the dosage chamber 33 to the holding chamber 32 with the holding chamber contents moved to the brush bristles.

FIG. 8 is a side detailed view of the pump assembly 42 of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention depicting that when the pump actuator 14 returns to its original position, a vacuum is created within the dosage chamber causing the dosage chamber 33 to refill with fresh liquid dentifrice 24 from the reservoir of liquid dentifrice.

FIG. 9 is a side detailed view of the pump assembly 42 of the toothbrush 10 of the present invention depicting that when the pump actuator 14 is depressed with no dentifrice remaining in dentifrice collapsible bag 34, the vacuum created will keep the pliable button 14 in the depressed position, thereby serving as an indicator that the dentifrice collapsible bag needs to be refilled.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. List of Reference Numerals

Liquid Dentifrice Dispensing Toothbrush handle housing pump actuator removable brush head brush bristles end cap check valve flow direction liquid dentifrice conduit brush holding chamber dosage chamber dentifrice collapsible bag dentifrice bag aperture brush bristle aperture liquid dentifrice refill liquid dentifrice refill fastener grip pump assembly cavity pump egress port inlet pump nipple pressure vacuum