Toothpaste holder and dispenser

• US 6,789,703 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jean Pierre-Louis
• Original Assignee: Jean Pierre-Louis
• Inventors: Pierre-Louis, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Cartagena, Melvin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/347,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 222/101, 222/93
• US Class Current: 222/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/18 for both soap and toothpaste or the like; in combination with holders for drinking glasses, toothbrushes, or the like ; Toothpaste dispensers; Dental care centers soap dispensers per se A47K5/06; dispensers using pliable containers with auxiliary devices for expelling contents B65D35/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/28 for expelling contents

Abstract

A toothpaste dispenser holds a collapsible tube of toothpaste within a housing between a roller assembly and a wall surface. A plunger is operable from a relaxed, raised position to a lowered, depressed position to drivingly engage the roller assembly so that one or more rollers are moved along the toothpaste tube in a manner which squeezes toothpaste out of the tube and onto the bristles of a toothbrush held in close proximity to a dispensing outlet of the tube or a nozzle. A spring returns the plunger to the relaxed, raised position upon removing the downward force. The housing is provided with toothbrush holders and a removable cover to permit replacement of the tube of toothpaste.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing toothpaste from a collapsible tube having a discharge opening, said device comprising:

a housing including an interior chamber structured and disposed for holding a collapsible tube therein and said housing further including a wall surface within said interior chamber;

a roller assembly moveably disposed within said interior chamber of said housing and moveable relative to said wall surface, said roller assembly including at least one roller structured and disposed for engaging and pinching the collapsible tube between said roller and said wall surface;

an actuator assembly drivingly engaging said roller assembly and said actuator assembly being operable to move said roller assembly through a range of movement within said housing so that said at least one roller is moved relative to said wall surface and in engagement with the collapsible tube in a manner which urges a charge of the toothpaste out from the discharge opening of the collapsible tube;

a dispensing nozzle structured for releasable connection to the discharge opening of the collapsible tube for directing the dispensed charge of toothpaste therefrom and out from an open end of said dispensing nozzle exterior of said housing for deposit onto the bristles of a toothbrush positioned adjacent to the open end of said dispensing nozzle and exterior of said housing;

said actuator assembly including a plunger extending from said housing and including a platform positioned exterior of said housing and said plunger being operable from a relaxed, raised position to a depressed, lowered position, upon application of hand pressure against said platform;

said actuator assembly further including a near moved by operation of said plunger and said near drivingly engaging said roller assembly for moving said roller assembly through said range of movement upon operating said plunger from said relaxed, raised position to said depressed, lowered position; and

a pivoting locking cam on said roller assembly disposed in driven engagement with said gear, and said locking cam being structured and disposed for driven engagement with said gear upon operation of said plunger from said raised position to said lowered position, and said locking cam being further structured to maintain engagement with said gear when said plunger is in said relaxed position to thereby hold said roller assembly stationary with said at least one roller in engagement with the collapsible tube and against a bulge in the collapsible tube formed by the toothpaste contents.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a holder for holding at least one toothbrush.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said holder includes a sliding drawer structured and disposed for holding the at least one toothbrush therein.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a longitudinal track within said housing; and

a traveler on said roller assembly and moveably coupled to said longitudinal track for guiding movement of said roller assembly.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a rubber strip on said wall surface for engaging said collapsible tube and discouraging movement of said collapsible tube relative to said wall surface upon movement of said roller assembly and said at least one roller against said collapsible tube.

6. A device for dispensing toothpaste from a collapsible tube having a discharge opening, said device comprising:

a housing including an interior chamber structured and disposed for holding a collapsible tube therein and said housing further including a wall surface within said interior chamber;

a roller assembly moveably disposed within said interior chamber of said housing and moveable relative to said wall surface, said roller assembly including at least one roller structured and disposed for engaging and pinching the collapsible tube between said roller and said wall surface;

an actuator assembly drivingly engaging said roller assembly and said actuator assembly being operable to move said roller assembly through a range of movement within said housing so that said at least one roller is moved relative to said wall surface and in engagement with the collapsible tube in a manner which urges a charge of the toothpaste out from the discharge opening of the collapsible tube;

a dispensing nozzle structured for releasable connection to the discharge opening of the collapsible tube for directing the dispensed charge of toothpaste therefrom and out from an open end of said dispensing nozzle exterior of said housing for deposit onto the bristles of a toothbrush positioned adjacent to the open end of said dispensing nozzle and exterior of said housing;

said actuator assembly including a plunger extending from said housing and including a platform positioned exterior of said housing and said plunger being operable from a relaxed, raised position to a depressed, lowered position, upon application of hand pressure against said platform;

said actuator assembly further including a gear moved by operation of said plunger and said gear drivingly engaging said roller assembly for moving said roller assembly through said range of movement upon operating said plunger from said relaxed, raised position to said depressed, lowered position; and

a pivoting locking cam on said roller assembly disposed in driven engagement with said gear, and said locking cain being structured and disposed for driven engagement with said gear upon operation of said plunger from said raised position to said lowered position, and said locking cam being further structured to maintain engagement with said gear when said plunger is in said relaxed position to thereby hold said roller assembly stationary with said at least one roller in engagement with the collapsible tube and against a bulge in the collapsible tube formed by the toothpaste contents; and

a rubber strip on said wall surface for engaging said collapsible tube and discharging movement of said collapsible tube relative to said wall surface upon movement of said roller assembly and said at least one roller against said collapsible tube.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein said housing includes a holder for holding at least one toothbrush.

8. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein said holder includes a sliding drawer structured and disposed for holding the at least one toothbrush therein.

9. The device as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a longitudinal track within said housing; and

a traveler on said roller assembly and moveably coupled to said longitudinal track for guiding movement of said roller assembly.