Integrated disposable toothbrush including a detachable toothpaste cartridge

Abstract

A combined disposable toothbrush and detachable toothpaste cartridge includes a hollow cylindrical handle portion having opposed proximal and distal bases and a cylindrical sidewall disposed therebetween, the proximal each base having an axial recess, an exterior surface of the proximal base proportioned for engagement between a thumb and a finger of a user, the distal base including an outlet passage, a threaded rod having a proximal end rigidly secured within the recess of the proximal base; a cylindrical push block having a circumferential surface in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall and having an axial channel in thread-fit co-action with the threaded rod; and a detachable brush portion having, at a distal end thereof, a head including brushing bristles and an internal channel extending longitudinally and having an outlet in communication with the brushing bristles; and a coupling for selectably attaching and detaching a distal end of the handle portion to a proximal end of the brush portion, in which the brush portion may be readily changed when the system is used by a different user within a household, and the handle portion may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice therein, and its replacement by an unused handle portion.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system including a combined disposable toothbrush and detachable toothpaste cartridge, the system comprising: 
 (a) a hollow cylindrical handle portion comprising: 
 (i) opposed proximal and distal bases and a cylindrical sidewall disposed therebetween, the proximal each base having an axial recess therein, an exterior surface of said proximal base proportioned for engagement between a thumb and a finger of a user, said distal base including an outlet passage therein;  
 (ii) a threaded rod having a proximal end rigidly secured within said recess of said proximal base;  
 (iii) a cylindrical push block having a circumferential surface in fluid-tight frictional communication with an inner surface of said cylindrical sidewall and having an axial channel in thread-fit co-action with said threaded rod; and  
 (iv) a paste-like dentifrice disposed between said push block and said distal base, in which rotation of said proximal base by the user rotates said threaded rod to advance said push block thereby urging said dentifrice through said outlet passage of said distal base;  
   (b) a detachable brush portion comprising, at a distal end thereof, a head including brushing bristles and an internal channel extending longitudinally therethrough and having an outlet in communication with said brushing bristles; and    (c) coupling means for selectably attaching and detaching a distal end of said handle portion to a proximal end of said brush portion,    whereby said brush portion thereof may be readily changed when said system is used by a different user within a household, and said handle portion may be detached and disposed of upon exhaustion of the supply of dentifrice therein, and replacement thereof by an unused handle portion.    
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a one-way valve integrally disposed within an inlet to said internal channel of said brush portion.    
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a one-way fluid valve integrally disposed within said coupling means.  
 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a one-way fluid valve integrally disposed in fluid communication with said outlet passage of said distal base of said handle portion.  
 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 selectable closure means for sealing said outlet passage of said distal base of said handle portion during periods of storage or nonuse of said system when said brush portion is separated therefrom.    
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 means for snap-clip attachment of said brush portion to said handle portion during periods of non-use of said system.  
 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 means for selectable enclosure of said bristles of said head of said brush portion during periods of non-use of said system.  
 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 means for selectable enclosure of said bristles of said head of said brush portion during periods of non-use of said system.  
 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 3  in which said push block of said handle portion defines a frustoconical segment having a larger base thereof positioned oppositely of said distal base of said handle portion.  
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 3  in which said proximal base of said handle portion defines a knurled peripheral surface.