Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02627712 2008-03-31
ANTIBACTERIAL TOOTHBRUSH SPRAY
Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a portable dental hygiene device, and in particular a
device for sanitizing toothbrush bristles.
Backjzround of the Inveption
Canadian laid open patent application No. 2,204,502 describes a dental care
station where the head part of a toothbrush and the head of a spray can are at
the bottom of the
station housing. The housing is a two-part case-like holding device. The spray
can sits in a
receptacle cavity of one part of the holding device, and the toothbrush is in
the other part of the
holding device, which is designed as a lateral valve. Guide rails position the
toothbrush when
the device is closed. The spray head of the valve of the spray can sits in a
brush chamber. A
spray mist is released by means of a release button which is provided on the
head of the
housing and can act on the bottom of the spray can. By depressing the release
button, the
spray mist can be directed at the bristles of the toothbrush in the brush
chamber in a controlled
manner. Such a device is not particularly portable and is unsuitable for
travel purposes
because of its size.
Canadian laid open patent application No. 2,257,457 discloses a portable
dental
hygiene device which has a simple design and is secured against accidental
release of the
spray, especially when travelling, but still requires a carrying case for
aligning a toothbrush
with the spray.
United States patent No. 5,328,692 discloses a dentifrice composition having
as
the three main constituents an enzymatic complex, fluoroamines and Demthicone.
A variety
of optional constituents may also be present in the dentrifice. The dentifrice
composition is
applied to the teeth as a spray, not to the toothbrush bristles, and is
contained in a suitable
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container under pressure and provided with a spray nozzle so that it can be
applied to the teeth
and the interstices between the teeth in the form of a jet of fine droplets.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
Various dentifrice compositions in the form of a paste, a gel, a powder or a
solution are known which are applied with a brush to the teeth. Dentifrice
tubes provided with
a measuring device also have been proposed, and some of which are filled with
a propellant
gas to force the dentifrice from the tubes but even in this latter case a
toothbrush must always
be used. The use of a brush is always a constraint for many reasons, but the
concern addressed
in the present invention is the unsanitary lock of hygiene. Specifically, when
at home or
travelling, typically a toothbrush is used and then merely allowed to air dry.
The fact remains,
however, that whether or not superficially dry along the exposed length of the
toothbrush
bristles, the bristles will harbour bacteria and the bacteria will grow in the
warm wet
environinent provided by the bristles when mounted onto the head of the
toothbrush. The
bacteria culture are thus present when the head of the toothbrush is
repeatedly replaced into the
mouth of a user.
This invention eliminates this unsanitary drawback, providing a liquid
dentifrice composition contained in a container from which it is possible to
eject the liquid as a
mist, or as fine droplets (spray), or as a pressure jet. The critical feature
of this invention is the
use as a spray of a sanitizing liquid dentifrice solution, which is active
against such bacterial
cultures and which may also provide a preventive agent against dental plaque,
dental decay
and tartar formation, thanks to its components. It helps in the battle against
recurring colds
flu's and other orally transmitted germs.
The composition of the present invention achieves such effects by spraying a
multitude of liquid particles upon the bristles by simple, proper orientation
of a jet of droplets
or fine particles, to deposit upon all the bristles of the toothbrush the
components of the
composition having a bactericidal action and/or a protective action against
decay. The
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sanitizing components of the composition are orally safe. For example, in one
embod.iment
the ingredients of the spra.y may include purified water, tea tree oil,
stevia, benzoic acid,
sodium benzoate, polysorbate and alcohol.
Such projection can be achieved by a highly portable, small hand-held
vaporizer comprising a system for pumping the liquid and expelling it
outwardly through a
spraying nozzle. It can also be obtained by using a propellant gas under
pressure, such as, for
example, nitrogen. Such a container would not use a lot of counter space and
would be easily
packed for travel.
In use, after each use of the toothbrush, it is rinsed with water and then.
sprayed
until bristles are saturated with the liquid dentifrice. The user then shakes
out excess solution
and stores as per normal.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet of fine particle spray of
liquid dentifrice is expelled under relatively high pressure, with a view to
adding a mechanical
effect to the effects resulting from the nature of the constituents, i.e.,
adding mechanical spray
cleaning of the bristles and the interstices between them.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in. the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
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