DE29714843U1 - Cap for closing or for placing on a cap of a toothpaste tube - Google Patents

Description

Wolfgang Niermann G 3197

Main Street 1-3 18.08.97

96237 Frohnlach

Cap for closing or for placing on a
Cap of a toothpaste tube

The invention relates to a cap for closing or for placing on a cap of a toothpaste tube.

Toothpaste tubes are known to have screw cap closures or snap-on cap closures, whereby the upper part of the cap can be pivoted relative to the lower part and can be pressed with a central sealing part onto an outlet attachment on the cap, which is provided as an extension to the outlet neck of the tube.

From DE 40 29 770 Al, DE 29 18 806 Al and
From DE 86 10 513 Ul it is known to provide a toothbrush with an integrated short-time transmitter which controls an acoustic and/or optical signal transmitter.

In the version according to DE 40 29 770 A1, such a timer is integrated into the handle of an electric or manually operated toothbrush. When the activation switch is pressed, a fixed time begins to run (here 3 minutes). After the time has elapsed, the user is signaled that the optimal toothbrushing time has elapsed.

Furthermore, a dental care unit is known from DE 32 46 048 A1, in which a toothbrush holder is provided that has an integrated timer. This timer can be mechanical or electrical. Examples include a rotating hourglass,

a short-term alarm clock or a mechanical or electrically driven clock with simultaneous or optional normal time and short-term time indication.

Based on the known prior art, the present invention is based on the object of integrating a short-timer with a signaling device for signaling the end of an ideal, predetermined or preset use time of a toothbrush in such an element that is necessary for brushing teeth, but is not needed during brushing itself, i.e. should not be integrated in a toothbrush.

The invention solves the problem according to the teaching of claim 1 in that a short-timer, an optical and/or acoustic signal generator and an actuating element for activating the short-timer are integrated in the cap of a toothpaste tube.

Using a toothpaste tube is essential when brushing your teeth. It is used to apply toothpaste to the toothbrush from the open neck of the tube or from a spout on a cap that is attached to it. The user therefore takes the tube in their hand and can simultaneously or when putting the tube down operate the activation element on the removed cap in order to activate the timer to control the optical or acoustic signal generator when the time expires.

The closure cap can have a similar design to the cap screwed or placed on the outlet neck. However, it can also be designed so that it can be placed on the existing cap.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in detail in the subclaims in a self-explanatory manner.

The short-timer can be, for example, a mechanical clock mechanism that briefly activates a mechanical chime when it is finished. In a mechanical embodiment, a spring can be wound up by an adjusting ring on the cap itself. This adjusting ring can also have a scale with which the short time can be specified. Such an adjusting ring can also be coupled with an electronic short-timer, with the necessary battery and electronics and the signal generators being arranged inside the cap. The teachings provided in the subclaims open up a variety of design options for the person skilled in the art to integrate the short-timer into the cap.

integrate. - ■ '

The invention is explained in more detail below using two embodiments in the drawing.

In the drawing show:

FIG 1 a cap according to the invention with four LED display elements on the top and

FIG 2 another embodiment of a cap with a
Display element in the casing surface.

In the embodiment in Figure 1, a cap 1 is screwed onto the invisible neck of a toothpaste tube 9 instead of the existing screw cap or is attached to the screw cap with a correspondingly provided inner cylinder with driving ribs. The user of the toothpaste tube will therefore unscrew the cap 1 in order to be able to remove toothpaste from the tube. After removal, the user screws or presses the cap onto the neck of the tube in the case of a pressure cap design. When putting it down, he can then press the activation switch 3 of an integrated

I ·» t

Press the integrated timer to receive information about the optimal tooth brushing time to improve oral hygiene. The timer now starts the specified or set time. In the example, an adjustment ring 2 with a scale 4 is provided for setting purposes. This ring 2 can be rotated relative to the other part of the cap, which allows an individual timer to be set. If the timer is electronic - practically an electronic clock - this type of setting can be retained. It cannot be adjusted again from use to use. If a mechanical stopwatch is used, however, this adjustment ring can also be used to wind up the spring of the mechanical drive.■ ■ ·

In the embodiment, four LEDs 5, 6, 7 and 8 are provided on the top side 15 of the closure cap 1, evenly distributed on a circumferential track, as well as an outlet opening with an acoustic signal generator 10 located underneath. The integrated electronic short-timer is activated by operating the activation element 3, which is arranged centrally and is a push button. The short-timer, which has a timer function, switches on all the LEDs 5, 6, 7, 8 and, for example, after 60 seconds, lets the first LED 5 flash for, for example, 30 seconds. The first LED then goes out and the second 6 starts to flash for a period of 30 seconds. This goes out and the third LED 7 flashes for 30 seconds and then also goes out. The fourth LED 8 then begins to flash and then goes out after 30 seconds. When all LEDs are switched off, the optimal brushing time is three minutes. In addition, the passage of time can also be made audible by the acoustic signal generator 20, a small sound generator. The flashing sequences also allow the user to easily determine

to see how long he has been brushing his teeth. He can also stop brushing his teeth within the specified time period - indicated by the flashing light.

It is understandable that the cap can also be used if it is not placed or screwed onto the tube’s spout, but is initially removed and the timer is activated when you start brushing your teeth. Only after you have finished brushing can you then put the cap back onto the tube’s neck.

The embodiment in Figure 2 differs from that in Figure 1 only in that a different display means, namely a small display 13, is inserted in the casing of the cap 1. The casing also contains a switch 11 with which the short time can be preset. This is indicated, for example, as 2 minutes 30 seconds. The activation switch 12 is used to cause the short timer to run towards zero from the preset time. If the zero position is now reached, this is also an indication for the user that the optimal cleaning time has been reached. In addition, the display can flash here too or an acoustic signal generator (not shown) can be integrated to indicate that the short time has elapsed.

A special feature of this design is that the closure cap has an outlet neck 14 which is connected to the outlet neck of the tube via an internal connecting channel. A sensor can be provided in this connecting channel which responds either to pressure or to toothpaste flowing through and automatically activates the timer. Taking into account the necessary handling time when putting down the tube, the short-timer is automatically triggered to control the optical or acoustic

To trigger the signal generator, activation via the activation button 12 is not necessary.

Of course, a pivotable closure cap can also be provided on the cap 1 according to Figure 2 in order to be able to close the outlet neck 14. In addition, the display element 13 can also be used to display the normal time.

Claims (11)

Protection claims 1. Cap for closing or for placing on a closure cap of a toothpaste tube, characterized in that a short-timer, an optical (5, 6, 7, 8, 13) and/or an acoustic (10) signal generator and an actuating element (3) for activating the short-timer are integrated in the cap (1). 2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (1) is essentially cylindrical and has a screw or plug closure on the inside for screwing on or for sealingly placing on the neck of the toothpaste tube. 3. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (1) has a hollow cylindrical area on the underside and is designed in such a way that it can be placed on a screw cap or a swivel cap of an existing corresponding closure cap of a toothpaste tube, the shell wall being elastic or having ribs on the inner sides of the hollow cylinder for clamping and/or positive connection to the existing closure cap. 4. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the short-timer is a mechanical or electronic short-timer and that the short time is fixed or adjustable so that after activation of the short-timer, at the latest when the time has elapsed, the signal transmitters {5, 6, 7, 8; 10; 13) are activated for a predetermined or fixed time. 5. Cap according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one light-emitting diode (5, 6, 7, 8) and/or an acoustic signal generator (10) are provided on the upper side (15) or the outer surface, the light-emitting diode (5, 6, 7, 8) lighting up when the short time has elapsed or the acoustic signal generator (10) emitting an acoustic signal. β. Cap according to claim 5, characterized in that several light-emitting diodes (5, 6, 7, 8) are provided on the top side (15), which can be connected individually or in series to a power source from the integrated electronic circuit in chronological order depending on the time of the short period that has already elapsed. 15 7. Cap according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that in the outer surface of the cylindrical cap (1) or in the cover wall on the upper side (15) a display element (13) is inserted, which displays the set and/or the time already elapsed and/or the remaining time of the short-time setting by means of numbers or graphic elements. 8. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (2, 11) for setting the short time is provided on the jacket of the cap (1) or on the top side (15). 9. Cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation element (3, 12) on the outer surface or on the top (15) is provided and that operable switches are assigned to them. 10. Cap according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the cap (1) has an upper adjustable ring (2) with which the short time can be set, which ring (2) is part of a cap (1) lying housing in which the electronic or mechanical elements of the short-timer are arranged and on the surface of which the optical display elements (4) for presetting the short time are provided or in which the signal tone generator is arranged. 11. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (1) is designed as a closure cap that can be screwed or pressed onto the outlet neck of the tube (9) and that a closable outlet attachment (14) for the toothpaste is provided on the top in extension of the outlet neck of the tube (9) and that a sensor is arranged in the connecting channel to the outlet neck, which automatically activates the timer when pressure is applied to the tube or when the toothpaste flows through the connecting channel.