Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush having a handle with a brush at one end has an open-ended slot in the handle adapted to receive a collapsible tube of toothpaste and force the toothpaste by wedging action from a closed end of the tube toward a dispensing end of the tube as the tube is pulled through the slot. The slot has a configuration that is adapted to partially define the handle with a stiff resiliently-hinged handle portion and an opposing relatively rigid handle portion wherein the hinged handle portion is operable to swing outward and inward of the handle and by squeezing action on these handle portions vary as well as maintain the width of the slot and thereby control and assist in forcing the toothpaste by wedging action to a desired degree toward the dispensing end of the tube as the tube is pulled through the slot.

1 . A toothbrush comprising a handle with a brush at one end, said handle having an open-ended elongated slot extending lengthwise of the handle adapted to receive a collapsible tube of toothpaste and force the toothpaste by wedging action from a sealed end of the tube toward a dispensing end of the tube as the tube is pulled through the slot, and said slot having a configuration adapted to partially define the handle with a stiff resiliently-hinged handle portion and an opposing relatively rigid handle portion wherein the hinged handle portion is normally conditioned to cooperate with the rigid handle portion in establishing the slot with a nominal width determined to accept the sealed end of a commercially available tube of toothpaste and also a fully collapsed portion of the tube and is adapted to swing inward and outward of the handle by hinging action under control of squeezing and releasing action on the handle at said handle portions to vary the width of the slot and thereby facilitate entry of a partially collapsed portion of the tube into the slot in addition to allowing entry of the sealed end and side entry of a fully collapsed portion of the tube and also providing control and assistance in forcing the toothpaste to a desired degree toward the dispensing end of the tube as the tube is pulled through the slot. 
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has opposing convex sides adapted to define the slot width. 
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has an open end located in a backside of the handle and a closed end angling and extending a substantial distance toward a front side of the toothbrush so as to define a resilient portion integrally joining the hinged handle portion with the handle adapted to provide for the hinging action of the hinged portion. 
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has an open end located in a front side of the handle and a closed end angling and extending a substantial distance toward a backside of the toothbrush so as to define a resilient portion joining the hinged handle portion with the handle adapted to provide for the hinging action of the hinged handle portion. 
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has an open end located in a butt end of the handle and a closed end angling and extending a substantial distance toward one side of the handle to define a resilient hinge portion integrally joining the hinged handle portion to the handle adapted to provide for the hinging action of the hinged portion. 
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said hinged portion has an outer side with a concave surface. 
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said handle portions have opposing sides with converging convex surfaces adapted to define an effective slot width at a location intermediate the ends of the convex surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said handle portions have opposing sides with converging convex surfaces adapted to define an effective slot width at one end of the convex surfaces, and an arrow on an outer side of the handle portions pointing in the direction of said one end of the convex surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has a closed end with a configuration adapted to form a resilient hinge portion in the handle providing for the hinging action of the hinged handle portion. 
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said slot has an open end defined by a convex surface on the hinged handle portion and an opposing convex surface on the rigid handle portion. 
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a flexible portion of the handle joins the hinged handle portion to the handle independent of the rigid handle portion and is adapted to provide for the hinging action of the hinged handle portion. 
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a flexible portion of the handle joins the hinged handle portion to the rigid handle portion and is adapted to provide for the hinging action of the hinged handle portion.