This invention relates to a tooth brush.

According to the present invention there is provided a tooth brush comprising a brush head provided with bristles, an elongate hollow portion extending from the brush head portion, a container containing dentifrice located within said elongate hollow portion, said brush head portion being provided with a passageway having one end in communication with the area of said head portion provided with said bristles, said container having at one end an outlet which is, or can be placed, in communication with the other end of said passageway, said container being provided with a piston slidable in the container and located between the dentifrice contained therein and the other end of said container, and pneumatic or resilient means for moving the piston in the container in a direction towards said outlet end for forcing dentifrice out of the outlet of the container and through said passageway to the bristles. Preferably the pneumatic means comprises a second piston slidable in said elongate hollow portion and located between the container and the end of said elongate hollow portion remote from the brush head portion, a plunger connected to the second piston and extending through said end of the elongate hollow portion, means for admitting air into the elongate hollow portion between the pistons and resilient means for urging the second piston towards said end of the . elongate hollow portion remote from the brush head portion.

The resilient means for moving the piston in the container may comprise a spring located in said elongate member and acting on said piston. Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a tooth brush according to the present invention with the container shown in an operative position, Figure 2 is a section similar to that of Figure -. , showing the container in an inoperative position,

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Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of a tooth brush according to the present invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the tooth brush of Figure 3 with the end cap removed, Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tooth brush of Figure 3 with the end cap covering the brush head,

Figure 6 is a side- elevation of the tooth brush of Figure 3 with the end cap attached to the other end of the elongate hollow member,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a cartridge used in the tooth brush of Figure 3, and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a tooth brush according to the present invention.

The tooth brush shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a brush head 10, a container 11 for dentifrice such as toothpaste, an elongate hollow member 12 and a cap or cover (not shown) which can be placed around the head 10.

The brush head 10 is provided with bristles 14 and has a screw- threaded portion 15 through which extends a passage 16.

The screw-threaded portion 15 can be engaged with an internal screw-thread 17 provided at the open end of the member 12. The container 11 may be in the form of a cartridge containing dentifrice and which can be discarded when empty and replaced with a full cartridge. One end of the container 11 has a discharge nozzle 18. The container 11 is received within the member 12 and the discharge nozzle 18 co-operates with the passage 16 in the brush head 10. If necessary a non-return valve may be provided in the passage 16 to prevent water entering the passage from the bristle end.

The tooth brush charged with dentifrice can easily be carried in a pocket or in a bag so that it is available for use at any time.

It will be appreciated that the parts can be formed of any suitable material.

The passage 16 communicates with an axial bore 24 in which the discharge nozzle 18 of the container 11 is slidably received. The container 11 is rigid and is open at its end remote from the nozzle 18. Positioned within the container 11 is a piston 25 slidable within the container 11 and which is acted upon by a coiled spring 26 located within the member 12. In the non-use condition shown in Figure 2 the nozzle 18 is pushed up to the

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closed end of the bore 24 and dentifrice in the container 11 is prevented from entering the passage 16.

A slider 27 is provided on the member 12 and engages with a neck on the container 11. Movement of the slider 27 towards the rear end of the member 12 will cause the slider 27 to push the container 11 rearwardly against the action of the spring 26 and when the outlet end of the nozzle 18 is in communication with the passage 16 dentifrice will be forced through the passage 16 onto the bristles 14 by means of the piston 25 being forced by the spring 26 in a direction towards the nozzle 18. Figure 3 shows a tooth brush which comprises a brush head 28, an elongate hollow member 29, a cartridge 30 and a cover 31. The brush head 28 has an externally screw-threaded portion 32 which engages with an internally screw-threaded end portion 33 of the member 29 and extending from the. portion 32 is a longitudinally extending portion 34 which enters the forward end of the cartridge 30. A passageway 35 extends from the portion 34 and terminates at the base of the bristles 36 carried by the brush head 28.

The cartridge 30, which is shown more clearly in Figure 7, is cylindrical having at its forward end a reduced diameter portion 37. The cartridge 30 also has a reduced diameter portion 38 adjacent its other end. The portion 37 forms an axially facing shoulder which abutts against an internal shoulder formed in the hollow member 29. The portion 38 forms with the bore of the hallow member 29 an annular chamber 39 and the hollow member 29 is provided with apertures 40 aligned with the chamber 39. The cartridge 30 also has a transverse aperture 41 extending from the portion 38. Located in the cartridge 30 and positioned upstream of the aperture 41 is a sealing member 42 in the form of a piston. Dentifrice is contained in the cartridge 30 between the sealing member 42 and the outer end of the portion 37. This outer end can be sealed by a transverse wall which is pierced or ruptured by the portion 34 of the brush head.

Mounted in the hollow member 29 is a ring 43 which acts as a guide for a rod 44 which is connected at one end to a piston 45 slidable in the rear end of, the cartridge 30, and at its other end is connected to a plunger 46 which extends from the rear end of the hollow member 29. A coil spring 47 extends between the member 42 and the plunger 45.

Air at atmospheric pressure can flow through the holes 40, chamber 39 and hole 41 into the cartridge 30 on the side of the sealing member 42 remote from the dentifrice.

The plunger 46 is depressed in order to move the piston 45 towards the sealing member 42 and when the piston 45 covers the hole 41 and then moves past it, the air between the piston 45 and the sealing member 42 is compressed causing the dentifrice to be discharged from the cartridge 30 and along the passageway 35 to the bristles 36.

The cover or cap 31 is provided with a clip 48. Figure 4 shows the cover or cap 31 removed, Figure 5 shows the cover or cap 31 covering the brush head 28 and Figure 6 shows the cover or cap 31 connected to the other end of the hollow member 39 and forming an extension handle.

Figure 8 shows a tooth brush which is very similar to that shown in Figure 3 but in this embodiment the piston 45 is slidable in the hollow member 29 instead of in the cartridge 30.

In each of the embodiments described the tooth brush can be operated by one hand to cause dentifrice to be applied to the bristles 36, and therefore such tooth brushes will be of value to persons who only have one hand or who have only one hand which they can use properly. The tooth brush according to the present invention is also capable of being carried in a pocket or hand bag so that the person always has it available for use away from home.

The dentifrice may be toothpaste or a jelly-like dentifrice which can flow when under pressure.

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