U.S. patent application number 12/886826 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-24 for water pump toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Diane Richardson.
Application Number | 20110070016 12/886826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43756739 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110070016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richardson; Diane |
March 24, 2011 |
WATER PUMP TOOTHBRUSH
Abstract
A toothbrush for cleaning teeth includes a body defining an
internal fluid reservoir, a plurality of bristles supported at a
base portion by the body, a passage extending from the internal
fluid reservoir to at least one opening adjacent the base portion
of the plurality of bristles, and a manually operated pump disposed
in fluid flow communication between the internal fluid reservoir
and the passage for transferring fluid from the internal fluid
reservoir to the at least one opening in the base portion between
the bristles.
Inventors: |
Richardson; Diane; (Detroit,
MI) |
Family ID: |
43756739 |
Appl. No.: |
12/886826 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61244478 |
Sep 22, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/1066 20130101;
A46B 11/0055 20130101; A46B 11/0079 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/282 |
International
Class: |
A46B 11/02 20060101
A46B011/02 |
Claims
1. A toothbrush for cleaning teeth comprising: a body defining an
internal fluid reservoir; a plurality of bristles supported at a
base portion by the body and having an outer end portion for
contact with teeth; a passage extending from the internal fluid
reservoir to at least one port opening adjacent the base portion of
the plurality of bristles; and a pump disposed in fluid flow
communication between the internal fluid reservoir and the passage
for transferring fluid from the internal fluid reservoir through
the at least one port or the base portion of the bristles.
2. The toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising: a reciprocal
trigger carried on the body and coupled to the pump for activating
the pump for fluid transfer.
3. The toothbrush of claim 2 further comprising: a piston acted on
by the trigger; the piston mounted in a chamber in the body; and a
biasing means acting on the piston for biasing the piston in one
direction after the piston is moved to a water dispensing position
in the chamber by the trigger.
4. The toothbrush of claim 3 further comprising: the chamber
carried within the body and having an inlet and an outlet; first
and second flow valves respectively coupled in fluid flow
communication with the inlet and the outlet, respectively, for
controlling fluid flow from the internal fluid reservoir through
the inlet only in a direction into the chamber upon movement of the
piston back to the nominal position, and for allowing fluid flow
only through the outlet of the chamber to the passage to dispense
fluid from the chamber only when the piston is moved from the
nominal position to a second position by depression of the trigger.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to the benefit of the Sep.
22, 2009, in the name of Diane Richardson, filing date of
co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/244,478
filed Sep. 22, 2009, for a "WATER GUN TOOTHBRUSH", the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present water pump toothbrush relates in general to
toothbrushes and, more particularly, to a toothbrush having a pump
for transferring fluid from the internal fluid reservoir to a
position adjacent a base portion of a plurality of bristles
supported by a body of the toothbrush.
[0003] Various configurations for toothbrushes are well known in
the art. While these devices appear to be suitable for the intended
purpose of cleaning teeth, the known toothbrushes suffer from
various deficiencies and lack desired features. By way of example
and not limitation, known toothbrush devices fail to provide a
readily available source of fluid, such as liquid water, for aiding
in the cleaning and/or rinsing process.
SUMMARY
[0004] A water pump toothbrush according to one aspect of the
present invention is a manual toothbrush used along with
conventional toothpaste. During use, toothpaste is spread on the
toothbrush bristles as is conventional. The water pump toothbrush
provides the advantage of a readily available source of fluid, such
as liquid water, for aiding in the cleaning process by squirting
fluid, such as liquid water, on the bristles when the user is ready
to begin brushing their teeth. The water pump toothbrush can
operate similar to a toy water gun. The fluid, such as liquid
water, can squirt out when a button located on a body of the
toothbrush is pushed by the user.
[0005] A majority of people run water to wet a toothbrush in
preparation to begin brushing their teeth, because the combination
of water and toothpaste is more efficient working together to clean
the teeth.
[0006] The water pump toothbrush has many advantages. By way of
example and not limitation, the water pump toothbrush eliminates
the common habit of continually running water from the faucet and
thereby wasting a valuable natural resource. No more hand movement
required back and forth to the running faucet to wet the toothbrush
in preparation to begin or to continue brushing teeth. The water
pump toothbrush keeps the user brushing at a steady pace. The fluid
stored inside an internal reservoir defined by the body of the
toothbrush is ready to use at the push of a button, which makes the
water pump toothbrush convenient and easy to use. The water pump
toothbrush is also a convenient way to brush teeth when a source of
running water is unavailable. The water gun toothbrush simplifies
the task of brushing young children's teeth, and can make brushing
more fun for children as they grow older.
[0007] With the water pump toothbrush, a user can now brush with
any desired fluid, by way of example and not limitation, liquid
water, mouth wash, plaque rinse, and other mouth cleaning
liquids.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying
drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of one aspect of a
water pump toothbrush; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water
pump toothbrush shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a water pump toothbrush 10
is illustrated. The toothbrush 10 for cleaning teeth includes a
body 12 defining an internal fluid reservoir 14. The fluid
reservoir 14 may comprise substantially all of the interior of the
body 12 or only a portion of the body 12, such as the portion
extending from the end of the neck 22 to the end of the body 12
which receives the cap 30. A plurality of bristles 16 are supported
at a base portion 18 by a head 20 of the body 12. The head 20 can
be supported from a neck portion 22 of the body 12. The neck
portion 22 can be integrally with the body 12 or as a discrete neck
portion 22 which is removably attachable to the body 12. An outer
end portion 24 of the plurality of bristles 16 contact the teeth
for cleaning. A fluid flow passage 26 extends from the internal
fluid reservoir 14 to a position adjacent the base portion 18 of
the plurality of bristles 16. A pump 28 is located in the passage
26 for transferring fluid from the internal fluid reservoir 14 to
the base portion 18 of the bristles 16.
[0012] The body 12 of the toothbrush 10 can be any size and shape
desired. Preferably, the body 12 is of a sufficiently small size
and shape to be grasped within the palm of one hand during use. It
should be recognized that a larger body 12 can accommodate a larger
fluid reservoir 14. The fluid reservoir 14 includes a removable cap
or plug 30 allowing the fluid reservoir 14 to be filled or refilled
by a user. The cap or plug 30 can be threaded or friction fit to
one end of the body 12 to seal and prevent leakage from the
reservoir 14. A one way vent valve, not shown, can be provided in
the cap 30 or in the body 12 to prevent any build up of vacuum
pressure within the reservoir 14 during dispensing of fluid by the
pump 28.
[0013] The bristles 16 can be provided with uniform size, length,
and shape, or can be provided with differing size, length and/or
shape if desired. The passage 26 through the neck portion 22
includes at least one opening or port 34, preferably adjacent the
base portion 18 of the bristles 16, for dispensing fluid from the
reservoir 14. The port or ports 34 are interspersed with the bottom
ends of the bristles 14 on the base portion 18. The port or ports
34 can have any suitable diameter, such as one large diameter port
34, or a plurality of smaller diameter ports 34, or a combination
of difference diameter ports 34. The passage 26 can also include
check valves 36, 38 located on the suction portion of the passage
26 and on the discharge portion of the passage 26 to prevent
backflow of fluid.
[0014] The pump 28 can be either manual or electric. By way of
example and not limitation, the pump 28 in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a
piston 44 reciprocally supported in a hollow member 46 fixed in the
body 12 to define a pumping chamber 48.
[0015] The hollow member 46 is coupled in fluid communication with
the passage 26. The pumping chamber 48 has a suction portion 40,
which communicates with an inlet to the member 46 and the first
check valve 36, and a discharge portion 42 which communicates with
an outlet in the member 46, the second check valve 38 and the
passage 38. The piston 44 is biased by spring 50 toward a first
position, where the pumping chamber is enlarged to a first volume
in the chamber 46.
[0016] A flexible tube 49 is coupled to the inlet of the member 46
to collect water from the bottom of the reservoir 14 during use of
the toothbrush 10.
[0017] During use, the "trigger" 52 is pressed by the user to urge
the piston 44 against the biasing of spring 50 toward a second
position of reduced volume in the chamber 48. The first check valve
36 prevents backflow of fluid through the suction portion 40 of the
passage 26 toward the reservoir 14. Fluid discharged by the piston
44 movement is directed through the discharge portion 42 second
check valve 38 to the passage 26 to be dispensed out of port 34 at
the base portion 18 of the bristles 16. Release of the trigger 52
by the user, draws fluid through the first check valve 36 from the
reservoir 14 into the suction portion 40 of the chamber 48 to prime
the pumping chamber 48 by filling the pumping chamber 48 with water
from the reservoir 1. Backflow of fluid through the passage 26 and
the discharge portion 42 is prevented by second check valve 38. It
should be recognized that pump 28 can be any desired configuration,
such as a manually operated piston pump, a manually operated
diaphragm or bladder pump, or a battery operated rotary, piston, or
diaphragm pump.
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