A DISPENSING TOOTHBRUSH

• Main Author: BURROWES LEE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.07.2008
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE; BRUSHES; BRUSHWARE; COFFEE MILLS; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; DENTISTRY; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; FURNITURE; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SPICE MILLS; STORING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; TOILET ACCESSORIES; TRANSPORTING

The invention provides an electrically driven dispensing device, particularly a toothbrush, utilising replaceable pressurised cartridges, of the bag-in-can type. The toothbrush has a'top-loading' structure in which the cartridge is housed in a recess at the brush end of the toothbrush handle, the recess being accessible by removing the brush head. Other features include an elastomeric valve outlet located on the brush head which can also function as a tooth wiping or polishing blade, and a non-linear drive shaft which enables the brush head to be driven from a motor located at the based end of the handle whilst keeping the handle slim in design. The invention further provides bag-in-can pressurised cartridges for use in such a brush. Advantages of such cartridges include the ability to uniformly dose dentifrice of high solids content, or dentifrice otherwise having a high viscosity. The invention further provides replaceable heads for such a brush.