EP0123518A1 — Toothbrush

Claim 1

Independent Claim 240 words

A toothbrush comprising a bristle-planted rod which is provided, at its head, with a great number of bristles and a handle including a container for containing tooth-brushing material having a fluidity, wherein a mouth of the container is connected to a root portion of the rod, the tooth-brushing material in the container being fed to a bristle-planted surface of the head of the rod through a material feeding passage formed in the rod, characterized in that the handle (2) has a container (6) for containing tooth- brushing material (24) in liquid or emulsion form and a main body (5), a rear end of which is connected detachably to the mouth of the container (6), that the root portion (3B) of the rod (3) is inserted axially slidably into a forward bearing portion (9) of the main body (5) in such a manner that rotation of the rod (3) can be avoided by a rotation-preventing-means (10, 11), that in the main body (5) is provided a pumping mechanism (4, 4A, 4B, 4C) for sucking the tooth- brushing material (24) from the container (6) and feeding the sucked material (24) to the bristle-planted surface of the rod (3) through the material feeding passage (8) formed in the rod (3), and that the pumping mechanism (4, 4A, 4B, 4C) is operated in accordance with axial movements of the rod (3) at the time when the rod (3) is pushed rearward and returned forward.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 240 words

A toothbrush comprising a bristle-planted rod which is provided, at its head, with a great number of bristles and a handle including a container for containing tooth-brushing material having a fluidity, wherein a mouth of the container is connected to a root portion of the rod, the tooth-brushing material in the container being fed to a bristle-planted surface of the head of the rod through a material feeding passage formed in the rod, characterized in that the handle (2) has a container (6) for containing tooth- brushing material (24) in liquid or emulsion form and a main body (5), a rear end of which is connected detachably to the mouth of the container (6), that the root portion (3B) of the rod (3) is inserted axially slidably into a forward bearing portion (9) of the main body (5) in such a manner that rotation of the rod (3) can be avoided by a rotation-preventing-means (10, 11), that in the main body (5) is provided a pumping mechanism (4, 4A, 4B, 4C) for sucking the tooth- brushing material (24) from the container (6) and feeding the sucked material (24) to the bristle-planted surface of the rod (3) through the material feeding passage (8) formed in the rod (3), and that the pumping mechanism (4, 4A, 4B, 4C) is operated in accordance with axial movements of the rod (3) at the time when the rod (3) is pushed rearward and returned forward.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 72 words

A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the rotation-preventing-means (10, 11) comprises: an operational projection (11) formed on a peripheral surface of the root portion (3B) of the rod (3) and functioning as a pushing member on which a finger is put when the rod (3) is pushed rearward; and a slit (10) axially provided in a bearing portion (9) of the main body (5) for slidably receiving the operational projection (11).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 174 words

A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pumping mechanism (4, 4C) comprises: an operational pipe (12, 12D) received slidably in a forward portion (9) of the main body (5) and connected, at its forward end, to the root portion of the rod (3); a compression spring (17, 41) for urging the operational pipe (12, 12D, 12F) forward; two forward and rear valve bodies (19, 20) provided in the main body (5) so as to form a suction chamber (21) therebetween, the forward valve body (19) bringing the material feeding passage (8) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (2) while the rear valve body (20) brings a suction hole (18, 42) extending between the mouth of the container (6) and the suction chamber (21) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (21); and a sealing portion (15, 15F) formed at the rear end of the operational pipe (12, 12D) and sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the suction chamber 21 in an air tight contact therewith.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 150 words

A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pumping mechanism (4A) comprises: an operational pipe (12F) received slidably in a forward portion (9) of the main body (5) and connected, at its forward end, to the root portion of the rod (3); a compresion spring (17A) for urging the operational pipe (12F) forward; two forward and rear valve bodies (19, 20) provided in the main body (5) so as to form a suction chamber (21A) therebetween, the forward valve body (19) bringing the material feeding passage (8) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (21A) while the rear valve body (20) brings a suction hole (18) extending between the mouth of the container (6) and the suction chamber (21A) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (21A); and a bellows (27) provided in the main body (5) for forming the suction chamber (21A) therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 163 words

A toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pumping mechanism (4B) comprises: an operational pipe (12C) received slidably in the main body (5) and connected, at its forward end, to the root portion of the rod (3); a cylindrical valve case (30) fixedly connected to the main body (5), slidably accommodating a sealing portion (15A) of the operational pipe (12C), and forming a suction chamber (21B) therein; a suction pipe (32) connected to a rear end of the valve case (30) for sucking the tooth-brushing material (24) into the suction chamber (21B); a compression spring (31) for urging the operational pipe (12C) forward; two forward and rear valve bodies (19, 20) between which the suction chamber (21B) is provided, the forward valve body (19) bringing the material feeding passage (8) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (21B) while the rear valve body (20) brings the suction pipe (32) in and out of communication with the suction chamber (21B).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container (6) has a movable bottom body (23, 45) for keeping an interior of the container airtight, the movable bottom body (23, 45) being advanced in accordance with the amount of the toothbrushing material (24) having been sucked by the pumping mechanism (4, 4C).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 78 words

A toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein the mouth of the container (6) is closed with a diaphragm (44), the rear end of the main body (5) being closed with a valve seat member (40) for holding the rear valve body (20), the valve seat member (40) being provided with a relatively sharp projection (43) extending rearward for breaking the diaphragm (44) when the container (6) is connected to the main body (5) of the handle (2) .

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the container (6) has a bellows (28) therein for containing the tooth-brushing material (24).

Toothbrush

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