Fill, refill disposable toothbrush package

[0002] This present invention relates to dental hygienics. The present invention is a fill, refill disposable toothbrush package with capabilities of dispensing toothpaste with refill capabilities and is disposable.

[0003] There is a need for a convenient, useful and practical way to acquire dental hygiene. It is impractical carrying a toiletry case or carrying a toothbrush and toothpaste to events or an apparatus that is larger than a toothbrush which may be at times cumbersome in our fast-paced society. That is why there is a need of a toothbrush package all in one. To expand upon an old cliche, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is proven that by taking the proper measures in dental hygienics, many problems of oral hygiene will be prevented. The present invention will encourage dental hygiene plus to utilize the conventional toothbrush and toothpaste.

[0004] The present invention, the fill, refill disposable toothbrush package, can be stored in the same manner as a normal toothbrush in a glove compartment, backpack, purse, fanny pack, school lunch box and the like.

[0005] The present invention can include but are not limited to vacations, outings, rest areas, truck stops; used by campers, hikers, overnight trips by business personnel, emergencies to hospitals, overnight stays at hospitals, given out as samples at Dental Facilities, be used as promotions or given as complimentary gifts at hospitals, hotels, motels—as a novelty though still useful in its own degree such as disposable razors and ink pens and the like.

[0006] With respect to the prior arts, several solutions for a toothbrush with toothpaste and refilling means have been proposed. These devices fulfill their respective, particular object and requirement in their scope of concepts and designs. The proposed solutions have had disadvantages of being cumbersome, impractical, ineffective, complicated, expensive to produce.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,779; U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,451; U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,629 in essence have taken away the simplicity of the toothbrush and have mechanized the toothbrush.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,410 discloses a power toothbrush which, in general, has mechanisms to operate the toothbrush.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,076 discloses a reservoir for toothpaste—a sack having a dispensing means for applying pressure to toothpaste.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,629 discloses a dispensing toothbrush with a mechanism adapted for forcing toothpaste to the bristles in the toothbrush which strays from the simplicity and practicality of a toothbrush.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,984 disclosed a toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser comprised of a hand manipulated rotating shaft with a transparent indicator window.

[0012] In general, the prior arts have been difficult to operate, unreliable and costly to manufacture. Reasons for failure—clogging of the fluid lines or exit opening, malfunctioning pumps, complex systems, forcing paste through a small orifice, large to maintain their strength and cumbersome.

[0013] Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved toothbrush to deviate from the conventional concepts to a simplified toothbrush which can be mass produced inexpensively with filling of toothpaste, refills, and disposable capabilities.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is that the refill handle and fill handle having internal threads that would be complementarity to the circumference of a commercial toothpaste tube's external threads, so that an user would be able to dispense toothpaste into the fill or refill handle for one or several uses, which is separate from the head containing tufts—which has advantages over the prior art.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is that it would be easily used by children to adults alike.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is that it has six (6) separate components which are complementarity to one another.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is that the fill and refill handle can be refilled simply and tidy—which has an advantage over the prior art.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is it may be easily and efficiently manufactured from materials and techniques in the manner known to the art, without the mechanisms of the afore mentioned prior art, easily packaged as now is readily toothbrushes. The package could be marketed with or without toothpaste in the handle showing preference to the consumer.

[0019] Lastly, a further object of the present invention is that it can be incorporated into expected and obvious structural configurations of toothbrush designs.

[0020] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the components joined in a manner securely fixed.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the process of joining a commercial tube of toothpaste axially to the refill handle of the present invention at the longitude axial.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the present invention showing the toothbrush embodiment components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention showing the toothbrush embodiment components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the present invention showing the toothbrush embodiment components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side view of the present invention's toothbrush refill handle embodiment showing the components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the present invention's toothbrush refill handle embodiment showing the components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention's toothbrush refill handle embodiment showing the components disassembled at the longitude axial.

[0029] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view showing a cylindrical open center axially having plurality of external threads at the end of the fill handle.

[0030] FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view showing a cylindrical open center axially having plurality of internal surface threads at the end of the fill handle .

[0031] FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial perspective cross sectional view of the end having plurality of external threads, showing the open cavity having concave sides extending from the fill handle front to the intersecting of the latitude center line, longitude axial, and longitude diameter line of the cylindrical open center of the fill handle.

[0032] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a demonstration of the present invention with the integrated components of the present invention by an user's hand dispensing toothpaste.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown the preferred embodiments of the fill, refill disposable toothbrush package of the present invention. The numeral 10 designates the fill, refill disposable toothbrush package. The fill, refill disposable package 10 comprises a neck 17 having distal ends, attached thereon tufts 60 at the outward proximal end. The inward end of neck 17 having attachable releasable means with fill handle 12, fill handle 12 having distal ends, on one end capabilities for dispensing toothpaste (not shown) and on the opposite end, filling capabilities (not shown) which will be described further on. Fill handle 12 having a soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 of chemical and material composition properties known to the art which is generally similar to the composition or the same composition of a soft commercial toothpaste tube or a soft rubber balloon-like material intermediate attached thereon fill handle 12. An end plug 19 having distal ends, the inward end of end plug 19 having attachable releasable means with fill handle 12. End plug 19 having a floss cutter 21 secured in groove 21aat the outward end of end plug 19 with dental floss 20 attached and wound around an intermediate annular groove 20a. A refill handle 12ahaving distal ends which has the capabilities on one end for dispensing toothpaste (not shown) and on the opposite end, filling capabilities (not shown) which will be described further on. Refill handle 12ahaving a soft elastical non-porous membrane 13aof chemical and material composition and properties known to the art which is generally similar to the composition or the same composition of a soft commercial tube, or a soft rubber balloon-like material intermediate attached thereon refill handle 12a. A front closing cap 23 having distal ends and a rear closing cap 24 having distal ends, at the inward ends attachable releasable means with refill handle 12a. The configuration of neck 17 is used only for descriptive purposes herein. The configuration of neck 17 can vary and maybe oval, square, rectangle or other desired configuration. The configuration of fill handle 12 and refill handle 12aare used only for descriptive purposes herein and would be complementary to the configuration of neck 17 when integrated as a complete toothbrush.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 2 illustrates the coupling procedure for the filling process of toothpaste. FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8 are used to identify components. In FIGS. 2-12 several attachable releasable means are known to the art. The usage of terms external threads 18 and internal threads 22 are for descriptive and clarification purposes. The components may be equipped with different attachable releasable means which would not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 the refill handle 12ahaving distal ends, at one end plurality of external threads 18 having an opening (not shown) for dispensing toothpaste and releasing pressure. At the opposite end of refill handle 12aan axial (x) bore 17bhaving plurality of internal surface threads 22. The process of filling the refill handle 12awith an available soft commercial toothpaste tube 16 having a plurality of external threads 18 with an opening for dispensing toothpaste, at the end of the refill handle 12aan axial (x) bore 17bhaving plurality of internal surface threads 22. The external threads 18 of the toothpaste tube 16 complementarity integrates with the plurality of internal surface threads 22 of refill handle 12aaxially (x) via circular rotation of the toothpaste tube 16 until securely joined. The toothpaste tube 16 is then prepared to dispense toothpaste into the bore 17bwithin and throughout the refill handle 12a. Therein would be an expansion of the elastical non-porous membrane 13aas refill handle 12areceives the toothpaste (not shown), at the opposite end of refill handle 12ahaving external threads would release pressure through the opening (not shown) for dispensing toothpaste. Furthermore fill handle 12 would also be filled by the same procedure set forth and will become evident further on in the description.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 illustrates components of the preferred embodiment fill handle 12 and the procedure for integration. Neck 17 having distal ends, thereon tufts 60 at the outward proximal end securely affixed in or attached to neck 17 in manner known to the art. At the inward end of the solid neck 17 an inner hollowed opening 17aaxially (x), within inner hollowed opening 17aplurality of internal surface threads 22. Fill handle 12 having an open bore 17baxially (x) for storage of toothpaste within and throughout. Fill handle 12 having distal ends at one end having plurality of internal surface threads 22 within the open bore 17b(which also can complementarity integrate with an available soft commercial tube of toothpaste not shown), at the opposite end of fill handle 12 the open bore 17bfor dispensing toothpaste having plurality of external threads 18, a soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 attached fixedly to fill handle 12 via a bonding agent or bonding technique in manners known to the art relating to the composition of material of fill handle 12 and membrane 13 thereon covering an open depressed section 13blengthwise. End plug 19 being solid having distal ends at the outward end having a floss cutter 21 fixedly secured in groove 21a. At the inward end of end plug 19 having plurality of external threads 18 axially (x) complementarity to attach or release from fill handle 12 end opening having plurality of internal surface threads 22 integrating via circular rotating end plug 19 or fill handle 12 until securely joined. End plug 19 having dental floss 20 attached and wound around an intermediate annular groove 20a. Fill handle 12 having distal ends, at one end plurality of internal surface threads 22 to attach or release from end plug 19 having plurality of external threads 18. At the opposite end of fill handle 12 plurality of external threads 18 complementarity to attach or release from neck 17 inner hollowed opening 17ahaving plurality of internal surface threads 22 integrating via circular rotating fill handle 12 or neck 17 until securely joined. Disassembling of components are the reversed procedure of the integration of components described therein.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 illustrates components of the preferred embodiment refill handle 12aand the procedure for integration, front closing cap 23 being solid having distal ends, at the inward end plurality of external threads 18, a refill handle 12ahaving an open bore 17baxially (x) for storage of toothpaste within and throughout. Refill handle 12ahaving distal ends, at one end plurality of internal surface threads 22 within the open bore 17baxially (x) (which also can complementarity integrate with an available soft commercial tube of toothpaste not shown), at the opposite end of refill handle 12athe open bore 17bfor dispensing toothpaste having plurality of external threads 18, a soft elastical non-porous membrane 13acovering an open depressed section 13battached fixedly to refill handle 12avia a bonding agent or bonding technique in manners known to the art relating to the composition of material of refill handle 12aand membrane 13athereon covering an open depressed section 13blengthwise. A rear closing cap 24 having distal ends, at the inward end within the rear closing cap 24 an inner hollowed opening 17aaxially (x) having plurality of internal surface threads 22. Front closing cap 23 being solid at the inward end having plurality of external threads 18 attached to or release from refill handle 12aend opening having plurality of internal surface threads 22 integrating via circular rotating front closing cap 23 or refill handle 12auntil securely joined. The opposite end of refill handle 12aplurality of external threads 18 attached to or release from rear closing cap 24 inner hollowed opening 17ahaving plurality of internal surface threads 22 integrating via circular rotating refill handle 12aor rear closing cap 24 until securely joined. Disassembling of components are the reversed procedure of the integration of components described therein.

[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged perspective sectional view of fill handle 12 showing the end having plurality of external threads 18, the opening of the bore 17baxially (x) for dispensing toothpaste (not shown). The soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 covering the open depressed section 13blengthwise thereon fill handle 12.

[0038] FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged perspective sectional view of fill handle 12 end showing the open bore 17bhaving plurality of internal surface threads 22 axially (x). The soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 covering the open depressed section 13bthereon fill handle 12.

[0039] FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged perspective cross-section sectional view of fill handle 12 end having an open bore 17baxially (x) within and throughout for storage of toothpaste (not shown) having plurality of external threads 18. The soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 (not shown) to show clarity of the open depressed section 13b. The open depressed section 13btherein fill handle 12 extending lengthwise, intersecting at center line (CL), the axis (x) and diameter line (d).

[0040] FIG. 12 illustrates a demonstration of the present invention's preferred embodiments. Neck 17 inner hollowed opening 17ahaving plurality of internal surface threads 22 is disassembled from fill handle 12. Fill handle 12 having distal ends, at one end plurality of external threads 18, at the opposite end an end plug 19 integrated securely to fill handle 12 having a floss cutter 21 and dental floss 20. The user's hand 40 grips fill handle 12. By a single actuation on the soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 by the user's thumb 30 over the soft elastical non-porous membrane 13 covering the open depressed section 13bon fill handle 12. Therein would cause pressure within and throughout fill handle 12 filled with toothpaste 50. To release pressure within the fill handle 12, toothpaste 50 would be dispensed from fill handle 12 onto tufts 60.

[0041] Directing attention to the unique and novel characteristics of the preferred embodiments of the specific individual components. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 the relationship between fill handle 12 and refill handle 12ais that these components are exact duplication of one another. Neck 17 end having an inner hollowed opening 17acomplementarity integrates with the plurality of external threads 18 either of fill handle 12 or refill handle 12a. The end plug 19 end having plurality of external threads 18 complementarity integrates with the plurality of internal surface threads 22 either of fill handle 12 or refill handle 12a. Front closing cap 23 end having plurality of external threads 18 complementarity integrates with the plurality of internal surface threads 22 of either fill handle 12 or refill handle 12a. Rear closing cap 24 end having an inner hollowed opening 17a, within inner hollowed opening 17ahaving internal surface threads 22 complementarity integrates with the plurality of external threads 18 of either fill handle 12 or refill handle 12a. Furthermore, an available soft commercial tube of toothpaste 16 having plurality of external threads shown in FIG. 2 complementarity integrates with the internal surface threads 18 of either fill handle 12 or refill handle 12afor the purpose of refilling process.

[0042] In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth illustrative embodiments for the present invention and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic sense only and not for purpose of limitation. The preferred embodiments ends need only be complementarity to each other. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes is subject to many variations and structure and design. It is understood that the details herein are interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.