In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush which comprises a tubular body forming a handle, an elongate stem projecting from one end of the tubular body and having a brush head at its outer end, the tubular body having a compartment containing toothpaste and means being provided for delivering toothpaste from said compartment, through said stem and to said brush head.

Preferably a piston is disposed within the tubular body or handle of the toothbrush and is arranged to be advanced in order to cause toothpaste to be expelled from its compartment and delivered to the brush head. Preferably the rear end of the handle is arranged to receive a plunger for advancing the piston. Preferably the toothbrush is provided with a tubular cover which fits over the brush head and stem of the toothbrush, preferably for its open end to engage onto a reduced-diameter forward end portion of the handle. Preferably the rear end of the handle is arranged to permit insertion of the cover, once removed from its position over the brush head and stem of the toothbrush, for use as the plunger required for advancing the piston.

Preferably the stem of the toothbrush is hollow and preferably the handle and stem are formed as a one-piece hollow component.

Preferably a closure is provided to close the interior of the stem from the toothpaste-filled compartment, but a delivery tube extends through the closure and along the stem to the brush head. Preferably the outer or forward end of the stem is formed with a head, having the brush head mounted to one of its sides. Preferably the delivery tube is coupled to a passage which extends through the head of the stem, to emerge at the side of the head to which the brush head is mounted.

The arrangement limits the amount of toothpaste which will remain in the delivery system, and so be wasted, once the

piston has been advanced fully.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be describe by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of a toothbrush with toothpaste dispenser in accordance with the present invention, shown with its tubular cover fitted over the brush head; FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the toothbrush of Figure 1, shown with its cover removed; FIGURE 3 is a similar view, showing the cover about to be inserted into the rear end of the handle of the toothbrush; FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the toothbrush, shown with its cover advanced into the handle to displace the piston within the handle, for dispensing toothpaste into the brush head ; and FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section through the toothbrush, shown without its piston and with its cover removed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a toothbrush which incorporates a toothpaste dispenser, the toothbrush comprising a one-piece tubular body 10 which is open at one end 12 and is formed with an elongate, tapering stem 14 at its opposite end, the stem 14 being offset towards one side of the handle 10.

The outer or forward end of the stem 14 is formed with a head 15, to one side of which a brush head 16 is mounted.

A tubular cover 18 is provided for the brush head 16 and is arranged to fit over the brush head 16 and its stem 14, for its open end to engage frictionally around a reduced-diameter end portion 20 of the tubular body 10. It will be appreciated that the tubular body 10 forms the handle of the toothbrush.

A piston 22 is disposed within the tubular body or handle 10 of the toothbrush. The compartment 24, formed within the handle 10 between the piston 22 and the forward end of the handle, is filled with toothpaste, in the manufactured

condition of the toothbrush. The entrance to the hollow stem 14 is closed by a closure 26: a delivery tube 28 extends through the closure 26 and longitudinally within the stem 14, to engage into a passage 30 through the head 15 of the stem 14 ; the passage 30 leads to the side of the head 30, to which the brush head 16 is mounted.

In use, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover 18 is removed from its position over the brush head 16 and the stem 14, and is inserted into the handle 10 from its open, rear end 12, then pushed in to advance the piston 22: a corresponding quantity of toothpaste is thus delivered through the delivery tube 28 and passage 30 into the rear of the brush head 16. The cover 18 is then removed from within the handle 10 and, after use of the toothbrush, re-fitted over the brush head 16 and stem 14 of the toothbrush.

It will be appreciated that the toothbrush which has been described is of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, yet is easy to use in order to deliver a desired quantity of toothpaste to the brush head, in effective manner.