Fountain Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a housing having a handle and a toothbrush head, a pump having a pump chamber and a pump impeller or pump gear arranged in the pump chamber, and a motor driving the impeller or pump gear. An input port and an output port are connected to the chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through the output port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the working fluid is supplied through the input port. The pump chamber has a circumferential wall defining a transverse cross section, the output port being connected to the pump chamber through the circumferential wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush, comprising:
 a housing having a handle and a toothbrush head;   a pump having a pump chamber and a pump impeller or pump gear arranged in the pump chamber;   a motor driving the impeller or pump gear; and   an input port and an output port connected to the chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through the output port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the working fluid is supplied through the input port, the pump chamber having circumferential wall defining the cross section, the output port being connected to the pump chamber through the circumferential wall.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the output port includes a plurality of parallel channels. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein the channels are separated by thin walls that extend longitudinally through the output port. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the output port has an overall diameter of approximately 3.25 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the fins or web are injection molded as part of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the fins or web are part of an extruded part that is inserted into the output port. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein the fins include at least two fins that are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 8 , wherein the output port extends radially outward from the circumferential wall with respect to a rotating axis of the impeller. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the output port extends perpendicular to the circumferential wall at the area in which the output port is connected to the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the input port is covered with a filter. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , therein the filter is a plastic screen or a plastic grating. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch for starting an stopping the motor. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein the switch is a momentary switch that turns on the motor when pressed and turns off the motor when released. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the input port comprises a channel configured to receive water flowing from a faucet and is on a same side of the housing as the output port. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two injection molded parts, defining an upper part and a lower part of the pump chamber respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein at least the motor the impeller are arranged in a pump casing, wherein the pump casing is inserted into the housing and overmolded in place. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein at least the motor the impeller are arranged in a pump casing, wherein the pump casing and the switch are inserted into the housing and overmolded in place. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein an offset weight is placed on the motor shaft to cause it to vibrate for improved brushing. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a Lobe pump, Rotary Vane pump, Axial pump or peristaltic pump.