Powered toothbrush with associated oral solution dispenser mechanism

Abstract

An oral solution dispenser apparatus for attachment to a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, includes a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, the housing having a recess therein for receiving a cartridge containing the oral solution, a pump disposed in the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, and an outlet nozzle extending from the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing. A head having bristles thereon is adapted to interconnect with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from the outlet nozzle to proximate the bristles.

1 . An oral solution dispenser apparatus for attachment to a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, said housing being adapted to receive a cartridge containing the oral solution;   a pump disposed on said housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge;   an outlet nozzle mounted on said housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from said pump and from said housing; and   a head having bristles thereon and adapted to interconnect with the handle drive coupling and said housing outlet nozzle;   whereby to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from said outlet nozzle to proximate the bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said pump is provided with an inlet needle extending therefrom and adapted to penetrate a distal end of the cartridge to place said pump in communication with the oral solution in the cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said pump is manually operable to move the oral solution from the cartridge to proximate the bristles. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said pump is provided with a flexible wall and is operable by manually compressing and releasing the flexible wall. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the inlet needle extends into the cartridge less than half the length of the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said head is provided with a first connector for connecting with the handle drive coupling and a second connector for connecting with the outlet nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said head is provided with a fluid conduit extending from the head second connector to proximate the bristles. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing is provided with a recess with biased detents therein for releasably holding the cartridge in the housing recess. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said housing is adapted to slidably receive the handle therein. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said housing is provided with a spring lock for releasably locking the handle in said housing. 
     
     
         11 . A powered toothbrush apparatus comprising:
 a handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon;   a housing fixed to said handle, said housing being adapted to receive a cartridge containing an oral solution;   a pump disposed in said housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge;   an outlet nozzle mounted on said housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from said pump and from said housing; and   a head having bristles thereon and interconnected with the handle drive coupling and said housing outlet nozzle;   whereby to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from said cartridge to proximate the bristles.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said pump is provided with an inlet needle extending therefrom and adapted to penetrate a distal end of the cartridge to place said pump in communication with the oral solution in the cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said pump is manually operable to move the oral solution from the cartridge to proximate the bristles. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in accordance wit  claim 13  wherein said pump is provided with a flexible wall and is operable by manually compressing and releasing the flexible wall. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the inlet needle extends into the cartridge less than half the length of the cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said head is provided with a first connector for connection to the handle drive coupling and a second connector for connection to the outlet nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said head is provided with a fluid conduit extending from the head second connector to proximate the bristles. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said housing is provided with a recess provided with biased detents for releasably holding the cartridge in the housing recess. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled)