FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[1] The present invention relates generally to a toothbrush, and more particularly to a toothbrush having self-contained toothpaste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[2] Toothbrushes are generally well known. A conventional toothbrush includes a handle and an integral toothbrush head, with bristles supported by and extending from the toothbrush head for brushing a user’s teeth.

[3] In use, toothpaste from a tube is applied to the head of the toothbrush in order to use the toothbrush. When travelling or otherwise using the toothbrush away from home, both the toothbrush and the tube of toothpaste must be transported. This can make portability of the toothbrush cumbersome and inconvenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[4] It is an object of the invention to provide a portable toothbrush provided with its own supply of toothpaste, thus not requiring a separate tube of toothpaste and making it ideal for travel.

[5] It is another object of the invention to provide a re-usable portable toothbrush, able to refill its self-contained supply of toothpaste.

[6] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes an opening for receiving a toothpaste packet, a cavity for housing the toothpaste packet, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force.

[7] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes a lateral face having an opening, a cavity for housing toothpaste, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force for extruding the toothpaste.

[8] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toothbrush comprises a toothbrush head including bristles and an interior opening for receiving toothpaste, a neck portion extending from the toothbrush head, with the neck portion including an interior channel connecting to the interior opening, and a handle portion extending from the neck portion. The handle portion includes a cavity for housing a toothpaste packet, and a compression section capable of compressing toothpaste contained in the cavity. The compression section includes an operable element configured to provide a lateral compression force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[9] Figure l is a side elevation view of the toothbrush in accordance with the invention.

[10] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toothbrush in accordance with the invention. [11] Figure 3 is a top plan view of a toothpaste packet in accordance with the invention.

[12] Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the toothbrush and toothpaste packet in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[13] Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the toothbrush with a partially depressed operable element in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention.

[14] Figure 6 is a top plan view of the toothbrush in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[15] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a toothbrush 10 in accordance with the invention includes a body 11 having a handle portionl2, a neck portion 14, and a toothbrush head 16. While these elements are preferably contiguously connected as a single element, it is within the scope of this invention to provide separate elements connectable together.

[16] The body is provided with a hollow cavity 20 for receiving and containing a toothpaste packet, describe below. The cavity is accessed from an opening 21 in the handle portion, as shown in Figure 2, and includes a main hollow 22 for housing a main body of the toothpaste packet and continues with a channel 24 extending through the neck portion and terminating at an orifice 26 in the toothbrush head.

[17] A toothpaste packet 30 in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 3. The toothpaste packet includes a main body 32 in which the toothpaste is contained and an extended neck 34 that provides a passage for the toothpaste to travel to the orifice and into the toothbrush head. As will be appreciated, the toothpaste packet is shaped generally to fit within the hollow cavity 20 of the toothbrush, and while they are preferably shaped to complement each other, the particular shape of the cavity and toothpaste packet can vary. [18] The toothpaste packet itself can be made of conventional materials, e.g., sheets of plastic laminate and aluminum laminate pressed together in a film. A high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, could also be used. The toothpaste packet should also be pliable and collapsible, allowing for the toothpaste, which is preferably a viscous liquid, to be extruded by squeezing the tube.

[19] The body of the toothbrush also includes a compression section 40, shown generally in Figure 1, providing an operable element for compressing the toothpaste in the packet. This is accomplished by applying a lateral compression force against the main body of the toothpaste packet. The compression section is configured to fit within or over the opening 21. With this arrangement, the hollow cavity can be readily accessed for inserting new toothpaste packets into the toothbrush and removing empty toothpaste packets from the toothbrush.

[20] Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing the compression section to comprise a lever 42 as the operable element. The lever has a generally rectangular shaped pad approximating the size and shape of the opening 21, albeit slightly smaller, so as to be able to pivot into the opening. The lever itself can be made of a rigid material or, alternatively, a flexible material.

[21] As illustrated, the lever is pivotably-connected at its proximal end 43 to the handle 12 and can be raised and lowered relative to the opening. In its raised position (unshown), access to the opening 21 is readily available, making it possible to insert or remove the toothpaste packet 30.

[22] Figure 5 illustrates the lever in a lowered, or depressed, position, with the lever fitting within the opening and able to apply the lateral compression force to the toothpaste packet. [23] By applying a lateral force to the lever, such as by the thumb of the user, in the direction of Arrow F, the lever rotates about the pivoting end 43. With this movement, a lateral compression force is applied to the toothpaste packet, and toothpaste is forced through the extended neck portion 14 by way of the channel 24 and into the toothbrush head 16 through the orifice 26. As the lever pivots downward, the lateral compression force moves axially along the handle portion.

[24] As will be appreciated, in a modified arrangement the lever can be designed to pivot from its distal end instead of the proximal end.

[25] The shape of the operable element is also such that compression of the toothpaste packet is optimized, so as much toothpaste as possible can be extruded from the toothpaste packet as the lever is depressed. For example, the distal end of the lever 42 can be thicker (top to bottom) than the proximal end for earlier contact of the toothpaste packet as the lever pivots from its proximal end. By providing such a ‘wedge-shaped’ lever, toothpaste extrusion can be improved.

[26] Figure 6 shows an alternative operable element. In this embodiment, the operable element is not pivotably-connected to the handle but rather is fitted within or over the opening. In more detail, a pad 44 fits securely with but removably from the handle opening 21. The pad is preferably comprised of, for example, an elastomer material, such as silicon, for flexibility so it can be compressed by the user to contact the toothpaste packet and apply the lateral compression force to the toothpaste packet.

[27] The pad is also preferably removable to readily allow access to the opening for inserting/replacing the toothpaste packet. As will be appreciated, however, a pad that is not removable is also within the scope of the invention

[28] With this configuration, a toothpaste packet can be loaded through the opening and into the cavity, with the extended neck 34 being fed though the channel. In use, a lateral compression force is applied by the user, for example by the user’s thumb pressing against the pad, to compress the toothpaste packet. This forces toothpaste through the extended neck and through the orifice, thus entering the toothbrush head. By moving the thumb axially along the pad and pressing against the pad, the lateral compression force can be applied axially along the handle portion, optimizing toothpaste extrusion.

[29] As a further alternative, a second pad can be provided in a second opening located generally opposite to the opening 21 in the handle portion. In this way lateral compression can be applied to two sides of the toothpaste packet.

[30] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.