2) United States Patent wu (Ss) TOOTHBRUSH (76) Investor: Yun-foo Wa, Plat G,4/P, Hong Shin Court, Sun Hing Garden, Tai Po, NT Hong Kong (CN) (#) Notice: Subject wo any disclaimer, the tem of this pateat is extended ot adjusted under 35 US. 1540) by 600 days. 107897,118 Jan. 12,2008 21) Appl. No. (22). PCT Filed (86) PCT Ne. §371 (60), (2),(4)Date: Jul. 12, 2006 (87) PCT Pub, Nos WO20OSIO7A7H4 PCT Pub, Date: Aug. 18, 2008 POTICN2005/000036 ws) Prior Publication Data US 200710127981. A Jun, 7, 2007 G0) Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 17,2004 (CN) 2004 1 0000827 Cl. Aah 1922 (2006.01) (2) US.CL 401/281; 401/280; 401/275: 401/190; 401/282 (58) Field of Classification Search 401/188 R 401/268, 270,272, 273, 274, 275,277, 78, 401/279, 280, 281, 282,291, 190 ‘See application file for complete search history. 'US007625150B2 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: US 7,625,150 B2 Dec. 1, 2009 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 391235 A 21976. Broughton i848 44672 A+ 81984 Blackwell 401175 6090736 4 42000 Gonzale 401281 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS ew Yio on ims wo 1008 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—David 3 Walezak (14) dttorney, Agent, or Firm —Allea, Dyes, Doppel, Milbeath & Gilehrst, PA. 6 ABSTRACT A toothbrush has a toothbrush head, a toothbrush bar and 3 ‘toothpaste container. The toothpaste container is a gas-filled container and a gas nipple is provided atthe bottom of the {oothpaste container. pipe channel is provided in the tooth bs ha, the toothpaste containers communicated with the toothbrush head through the pipe channel via 0 valve. The toothbrush bar is hinged to the toothpaste container by spherical hinged joint Tormed by the end of the toothbrush bar: The spherical hinged joint controls the valveto discharge toothpaste in the toothpaste container iato the pipe chanel ‘nd the toothbrush head. The invention is convenient espe- cially for children, the elder, the blind and the disable 16 Claims, 4 Drawing SheetsUS 7,625,150 B2 Sheet 1 of 4 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent FigU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 2 of 4 US 7,625,150 B2 Fig2US 7,625,150 B2 Sheet 3 of 4 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent M4 Fig3US 7,625,150 B2 Sheet 4 of 4 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent Fig.US 7,625,150 B2 1 ‘TOOTHBRUSH. ‘TECHNICAL FIELD “The present invention lates to daily use goods, and more particularly toa tothbrash. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ‘The existing toothbrushes which are separated from tooth= paste sometimes are inconvenient to use for certain people, uch as children, the elder, the blind and the disabled Although there are some toothbrushes inteurated with toth- paste, they have shortcomings in practical use, such as being difficult to control when squeezing out the toothpaste SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush integrated with toothpaste whichis easy tocontrol 30a to overcome the disadvantage of being inconvenient o use in the prio a. The technical solution ofthe present invention is that, 2 ‘wothbrush comprises a toothbrish head, 2 toathbrash bar ‘and toothpaste container which is connected with the tooth brush br, wherein the toothbrush bar has pipe channel, and the woothbaush container is communicated with the tooth- brush head through the pipe channel via & first valve, and wherein the toothbrush bar is hinged with the toothbrush ‘container by aspherical hinged joint formed by the endo the toothbrush bar, and the spherical hinged joint controls the ‘opening or closing of the fist valve. Said toothbrush container is a pressurized container. Said toothbrush container isa gas-filled container, with 3 as nipple at the bottom of the container, and wherein a toothpaste bag, which i a compressible sot bag, is located inside the container Tnside sad toothbrush head is further provided witha vane valve for controlling the opening or closing ofthe pipe chan- nel Said spherical hinged joint has at least a protruding, ip located at its rear end, and the protrding lip controls the ‘opening or closing ofthe frst valve when th toatbbrush bat is rotated with respect o the toothbrush container. Said fist valve is bal valve in which the balls disposed ‘atthe exit oF the toothbrush container, andthe protruding lip «drives the ball to move when the toothbrush bari rotate. Said spherical hinged joint is equipped with a leakproof ring. ‘A positioning spring is provided to enable a eset of the toothbrush bar bya relative rotation between the toothbrush bar andthe toothbrash container. ‘An adjusting button is provided for adjusting the relative santing ange between the toothbrush bar and the toothbrush "The beneficial effect ofthe present invention isin that in the present iavention, the tothbrush bar is hinges with the toothpaste container by aspherical hinged joint formetby the ‘end oF the toothbrush bar, and the spherical hinged joint ‘contols the opening or closing ofthe first valve. Since the spherical hinged joint ean be operated flexibly, in practical tse, the easy operation of opening arelosing of the fist valve allows forsqueezing out toothpaste easly and controling the discharged amounteasily 50 8 to overeome the disadvantage ‘of being dificult to operie in the prorat. The tothbrish of the present invention is very convenient for certain people, sel as children, the elder, the blind and the disabled. Pare 0 o 2 ticularly, since the opening or closing of the fist valve is controlled by a protrding lip located at the rear end of the spherical hinged joint, the structure is simple, and itis extremely convenient to operate the toothbrush with single Fhand, thus the present invention is very practicable. A leak- proofing is provided in the spherical hinged joint to prevent {he leakage of toothpaste from the bal valve, which improves the reliability of the present invention. A positioning spring is provided to enable a reset ofthe toothbrush barby a relative ‘lation between the toothbrush bar and the toothbrush con- ‘ainee: Moreover, an adjusting button i provided foradjusting the relative slanting angle hetween the (oothbrsh barsnd the toothbrush container. In we, the discharged amount of tooth- paste can be adjusted by operating the adjusting button so as {o set the toothbrush bar lo an appropriate slanting angle with respect to the toothpaste container on demand, ths the prac- ‘icability of the peesent invention is further inproved. And a vane valve for controlling the opening or closing of the pipe channel in the toothbrush head ean effectively prevent the Teakage of toothpaste from the toothbrush head whea not ia use, which further improves the reliability of the prosent BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG, 1 is a schematic view showing the stmctre of embodiment lof the present invention FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of embodiment 2 ofthe preset invention FIG. 3 is partial enlarged view ofthe ball valve ofthe present invention, FIG. 4 js a schematic view showing the structure of the toothbrush bar and the vane valve ofthe presen invention. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS, Hereinafter, the present invention willbe further described in details in combination with the accompanying drawings and the preferred embodiments ‘As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG, 3, the toothbrush of the present invention comprises a toothbrish ead 1,2 tooth- ‘brs har 2 and a toothpaste container 3. Wherein, the tooth- paste container 3, which is connected withthe toothbmish har 2, isa gas-filled and pressurized container, with a gas nipple 32 atthe bottom of the container, and wherein a toothpaste bag 33, which sa compressible soft bag, is located inside the container. The toothbrush bar2 has pipe channel 21, and the toothbrush container 3 is communicated with the toeibbrush head I through the pipe channel 21 via a valve. As shown in FIG. , the toothbrush bar 2 is hinged with the toothbrash container by a spherical hinged joint formed by the end of the toothbrush bar 2, nd the spherical hinged joint 4 contols the opening or closing of the valve. ‘As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the spherical hinged joint 44hasa protruding lip 41 located at its ear end. The valve isa ball valve 31 with its ball 311 sot atthe exit ofthe toothbrush container. The protruding lip 1 drives the ball 11 to move ‘whe the toothbrush bar 2s rotated. In tur, the movement oF the protruding lip 41 controls the opening or closing of the valve. namely the rotation ofthe toothbrush bar2 controls the ‘opening or elosing ofthe ball valve 31 Asshown inFIG. 1, the spherical hinged joint 4is equipped ‘witha leakproof ring 42, furthermore, positioning spring 43 connected With the toothbrush bar 2 is provided to enable a ‘esc the toothhnish bar2 hy a relativerotation between the toothbrush bar 2 andthe toothbrush container 3, As showUS 7,625,150 B2 3 FIG. 1, an adjusting button 44 is provided for adjusting the relative slanting angle between the toothbrush bar 2 and the toothbrush contsiner 3. And as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 gain, the spherical hinged join is screwed tothe exitof the toothbrush container 3 "Asshown in PIG. land PIG. 4, 2vane valve 1 isso inside the tothbrsh head I for controlling the opening orclosingof the pipe channel 21, The vane valve 11 has valve holes thereon, and inside the toothbrush head I ‘are set comrespond- ing thrugh-holes extending to the bristle. The opening oF ‘losing ofthe vane valve 11 i contolled by the overlapping ‘or missligning beweea the valve hole 11 and trough-hole 12, The vane valve 11 is further provided with a protrading ‘edge 112. Whea in use, the valve hole 111 is driven to move by the press to the protruding edge 112 from the toothpaste Until the valve hole 111 is overlapped with the through-hole 12, sueh tat the toothpaste is squeezed ono the bristle ofthe toothbrush ead 1. A leaf spring 113 for reset is provided adjacent co the protruding edge 112, “The present invention may be operated in two manners. AS showin FIG. 1, sehen the toothbaish bar 2 is pressed by teth, the proirding ip Ai driven‘ rotate, andl pushes against the bull 11 simltanconsly. Since the tothrish container 3 isa pressurized container, toothpaste therein is discharged out of the exit ofthe toothbrush container 3 and flows through the Pipe channel 21 to the vane valve 11 located inside the toot brush head 1. The press t the protruding edge 112 by the toothpaste drives the valve hole 111 to move until the valve hole 111 overlaps with the through-hole 12, and then tooth- pastes squeeze onto the beste ofthe tothbnush head 1 via the through-bole 12 ‘An alternative manner is that, the adjusting button 44 is rotated first for adjusting the relative slanting angle between the toothbmush bae 2 and the toothbrush container 3, 80.28 10 make the adjusting button 44 push agains! the toothbrush bar 2 and set an appropriate slanting angle with respect to the ‘wothbrush container 3. Similarto those mentioned above, the toothpaste is squeezed onto the bristle of the toothbrush head 1 via the through-hole 12, With this manner, the output amount of toothpaste canbe increased or reduced according to individal habit. After use of when not in-use, the positioning spring 43, located in the spirical hinged joint 4 enables the revel of the toothbrush bar 2 hy relative rotation between the toothbrush bar 2 and the toothbrush holder 3, namely The toubbrush bar 2is reset, Theexit of the toothhaish container 3 is blocked hy the ball 311, and at the same time the reset spring 113 pushes the vane valve 11 to move until the valve hole 111 ofthe vane valve 11 is misaligned with the throgh-hole 12 the tooth- brushed 1, soas toavoid any leakage of toothpaste fom the toothbrush head 1 ‘When the toothpaste in the toothbrush container 3 is ‘exhausted, the tolhbrush container 3 is disconaevted rom the screw connection between the ext and the spherical hinged joint 4, and is replaced with a new toothbrush con- tainer 3. “The invention claimed is 1A toothbrush comprising ‘toothbrush head, toothbrush bar, and ‘toothpaste container which is connected with the tooth: ‘brush bar, 0 o 4 ‘wherein the toothbrush bar has a pipe channel, and the toothbrish comtainer i communicated with the tothe ‘bush head through the pipe channel via. is valve, and ‘wher the toothbrush ba is hinged with the toothbrush ‘container by a spherieal hinged joint formed by the end fof the toothbrush bar, and the spherical hinged joint ‘controls the opening or closing ofthe first valve 2. toothbrush according to elaim 1, further comprising vane valve inside said toothbrush head for controlling the ‘opening or closing ofthe pipe chal 3. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said tooth brush container i a pressurized container 4.8 toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said tooth brs container isa gas-filled container with a gas nipple at the bottom of the container, and wherein a tocthpaste bag, hich isa compressible soft bag, is located inside the eon- ‘ainee 8. A toothbrush according 1 claim 1, wherein said spheri- al hinged joint has at least a proteuing lip located at its rear end, andthe protruding lip controls the opening or closing of the frst valve when the toothbrush bars rote with respect tothe toothbrush container 6.4 toothbrush according to claim $, wherein said first valves ball valvein which the bal is disposed atthe exitof the toothbrash container, and the protradng lip drives the Bll tomove when the toothbrish bar is ote 7. toothbrush secording to claim 1, wherein sid spheri- «al hinged joint includes a leakproof ring. '8. A toothbrush according to claim I, farther comprising positioning spring to enable a reset of the toothbrush bar by a ‘lative mlation between the tonthbmish bar and the tooth- brush container 9. toothbrish according clam 1 fuer comprising an adjusting button for adjusting the relative slanting angle between the toothbrush bar and dhe wothbrush container 10. A toothbrush according to clsim 2, wherein sid tooth- bush container i «pressurized container 11, A toothbrush according 10 clsim 2, wherein said rooth- bush container iss gas-filled container with a gas nipple at the bottom of the container, and wherein a tocthpaste bag, ‘which is compressible sft bag, is located inside the con. ‘ainee 12. toothbrash according to claim 2, wherein said spheri- «al hinged joint has at leas a proteuding lip located at its rear end, andthe protruding lip controls the opening or closing of the fist valve when the toothbrush bars rotate with respoct tothe oothbeush container 13, A toothbrush according to claim 12, wherein said first valve. ball valvein which the bal is disposed atthe exitof the toothbrash container, and the protradng lip drives the Bll to move when the toothbrash bar ie rotate 14. toothbrush socording claim 2, wherein said spheri- cal hinged joint includes a leakproo! ring. 15, A toothbrush according to claim 2, Further comprising ‘positioning spring to enahlea eset ofthe toothbrush bar by ‘relative ration between the toothbrush bar and the tooth- brush container 16. toothbrush seeording to claim 2, further comprising an adjusting bution for adjusting the relative slanting angle ‘between the toothbrush bar and the toothbrush container.