Active Pump Toothbrush

Abstract

Toothbrushes are provided which incorporate in a handle portion of the toothbrush a volume of a beneficial agent that may be dispensed using an included manual pump mechanism. The volume of the beneficial agent provided in the brush and the dispense rate of the beneficial agent may be widely varied. The toothbrush may be constructed to have a beneficial agent volume and dispense rate that are estimated to provide approximately three months of usage to correspond to the length of the effective life of toothbrush bristles, thus allowing the entire unit to be disposable upon dispensing of the last of the fluid.

1 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;    wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion; and    an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir towards the head portion and for exit through the emitter.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent valve fluidly coupling the reservoir with ambient air such that a vacuum in the reservoir opens the vent valve until the pressure in the reservoir is substantially equal to the pressure of the ambient air.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the active pump comprises a biased button fluidly coupled with the reservoir such that movement of the button pressurizes the reservoir.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , further comprising a button stop coupled to an interior surface of the reservoir and positioned such that the movement of the button is limited to a selected distance.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger disposed between the chamber and the reservoir, the plunger slidably engaging the reservoir such that as the chamber is pressurized the plunger travels away from the chamber and forces the beneficial agent through the emitter.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of emitters coupled with the reservoir.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a channel extending from the head portion into the handle portion.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a collapsible bag extending from the head portion into the handle portion.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective, removable membrane coupled with the emitter such that the membrane prevents premature drying of the beneficial agent.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.  
   
   
       11 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;    wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion;    an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir to travel towards the head portion and exit through the emitter; and    a vent valve fluidly coupling the reservoir with ambient air such that a vacuum in the reservoir opens the vent valve until the pressure in the reservoir is substantially equal to the pressure of the ambient air.    
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein the active pump comprises a biased button fluidly coupled with the reservoir such that movement of the button pressurizes the reservoir.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising a button stop coupled to an interior surface of the reservoir and positioned such that the movement of the button is limited to a selected distance.  
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising a plunger disposed between the chamber and the reservoir, the plunger slidably engaging the reservoir such that as the chamber is pressurized the plunger travels away from the chamber and forces the beneficial agent through the emitter.  
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of emitters coupled with the reservoir.  
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir comprises a channel extending from the head portion into the handle portion.  
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir comprises a collapsible bag extending from the head portion into the handle portion.  
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , further comprising a protective, removable membrane coupled with the emitter such that the membrane prevents premature drying of the beneficial agent.  
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.  
   
   
       20 . A method for delivering a beneficial agent through the head of a toothbrush using an active pump, the method comprising: 
 providing a toothbrush having: 
 a head portion having a plurality of bristles and at least one emitter coupled with a first end of a reservoir integrally formed in the head portion;  
 wherein the reservoir extends from inside the head portion into a handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the head portion;  
 an active pump fluidly coupled with a second end of the reservoir such that the pump can pressurize a chamber in the reservoir and force a beneficial agent stored in the reservoir to travel towards the head portion and exit through the emitter;  
   pressurizing the chamber;    driving a plunger disposed between the reservoir and the chamber; and    forcing the beneficial agent through the emitter.