Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ORAL CARE KIT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to toothbrushes, and, more
particularly, to a kit
having a toothbrush and an oral care dispenser containing an oral care
material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The advantages of good dental hygiene are well known. Often, however,
toothbrushes are
forgotten when one is traveling or away from home. Hotels, health care
facilities, nursing homes,
hospitals, daycare facilities, schools, airlines, etc. can use single use
disposable or limited
multiple use toothbrushes that may be economically supplied to and discarded
by individuals
without a toothbrush and/or a water supply. Such toothbrushes could be used in
vending
machines, or distributed in large quantities for simple, portable use from
anywhere.
[0003] Various types of disposable, limited use, or portable toothbrushes are
known in the art.
An improved portable toothbrush is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In some embodiments, an oral care kit comprises at least one oral care
implement
comprising a handle having a head at one end of the handle. The head has at
least one cleaning
element projecting outwards from the head. At least one dispenser is separate
from the oral care
implement. The dispenser contains an amount of the oral care material. A
package includes the
at least one oral care implement and the at least one dispenser. The package
has at least two
sections joined to each other. Each section has a separate sealed chamber. The
package has at
least one separable connector separating one of the chambers from the other of
the chambers.
[0005] In some embodiments, an oral care kit comprises a plurality of oral
care implements, each
comprising a handle having a head at one end of the handle. The head has at
least one cleaning
element projecting outwards from the head, and a recess shaped to hold an oral
care material. At
least one dispenser is provided separate from the oral care implements. The
dispenser contains
an amount of the oral care material. The dispenser has an orifice for
dispensing the oral care
material. The orifice has a width that is less than or equal to a width of the
recess. A package
contains the plurality of oral care implements and the at least one dispenser.
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[0006] In some embodiments, an oral care kit comprises a sachet having a ring
shaped reservoir
for an oral care material configured around a central opening. The sachet has
a notch, slit or
perforation for forming a tear in a portion of the reservoir so as to form a
dispensing nozzle. An
oral care implement is sized so that a portion of the oral care implement fits
through the central
opening The oral care implement is configured to be used to tear the portion
of the reservoir
along the notch, slit or perforation.
[0007] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the
detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the
detailed description
and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended
for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description
and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and
thus are not
limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an oral care toothbrush with a
toothpick connected
thereto;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the toothbrush shown in FIGS. 1-2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmental, cross-sectional view of the head of an oral
care toothbrush;
[0013] FIGS. 5-6 are side elevational views of other forms of heads for an
oral care toothbrush;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a fragmental side elevational view showing a head detachably
mounted to the
handle for an alternate embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a fragmental cross-sectional elevational view showing a
vibrating toothbrush
head for an alternate embodiment;
[0016] FIGS. 9-10 are fragmental front elevational views partly broken away of
portions of a
handle for an alternate embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view showing toothbrushes in a packaged
or display
condition;
[0018]
[0019] FIG. 12 is a front view of an oral care kit including a plurality of
oral care implements.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a side edge view of the oral care kit of FIG. 12.
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[0021] FIG. 14 shows one of the oral care instruments and the dispenser of
FIG. 12 in use.
[0022] FIGS. 14A and 14B show variations of the nozzle configuration.
[0023] FIG. 14C shows a head having an absorbent insert.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a front view of the blister pack of FIG. 12, unfolded.
[0025] FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing the blister pack of FIG. 15 during
folding.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a plan view of a ring shaped sachet for dispensing oral care
material.
[0027] FIG. 18A is a side elevation view of a blister package containing a
toothbrush with the
sachet of FIG. 17 mounted thereon. FIG. 18B shows the step of opening the
sachet of FIG. 18A.
[0028] FIG. 19A is a plan view of an alternative blister pack design. FIG. 19B
is an enlarged
detail of the sachet of FIG. 19A.
[0029] FIG. 20A is a plan view of a variation of the blister pack of FIG. 19A.
FIG. 20B is an
enlarged detail of the sachet of FIG. 20A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely
exemplary in nature
and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
[0031] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.
The same
reference numbers in different figures identify the same or similar elements.
[0032] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an oral care toothbrush 10 that includes a head 12
and a handle 14.
The head 12 may be a refill head and thus be removably connected to the handle
14, or the head
12 may be permanently connected to the handle 14.
[0033] The majority of the handle 14 and a portion of the head 12 may be
molded from a variety
of rigid materials, including plastics, resins, etc., such as, for example,
polypropylene. At an end
portion of the handle 14, opposite the end to which the head 12 is attached,
there is attached an
accessory 16. The accessory 16 may be a toothpick in some embodiment of the
invention. The
toothpick 16 is formed of a resilient and soft thermoplastic elastomer. The
accessory 16 may be a
refill and thus be removably connected to the handle 14. The accessory 16 may
be permanently
connected to the handle 14. The accessory 16 provides a mechanism for spot
cleaning between
teeth. Forming the accessory 16 of a soft elastomer provides more comfortable
interproximal
cleaning between teeth. The accessory 16 could, however, be made of a stiff
rigid material
similar to the main portion of handle 14, or it could simply be a rubber or
elastomeric pick
adhered or otherwise mounted to the end of handle 14.
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[0034] Portions 18 of the handle 14 may also be formed of a resilient and soft
thermoplastic
elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer which forms the accessory 16 and the
handle portion 18
may be a thermoplastic vulcanate (TPV) consisting of a mixture of
polypropylene and EPDM
(ethylene propylene diene monomers) which is available as SANTOPRENE (brand),
described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,796, or VYRAM (brand), another TPV consisting of a
mixture of
polypropylene and natural rubber. Both SANTOPRENE and VYRAM (brands) are
elastomers
marketed by Advanced Elastomer Systems. Other suitable elastomers include
KRATON, a brand
of styrene block copolymer (SBC) marketed by Shell, and DYNAFLEX G 2706
(brand), a
thermoplastic elastomer marketed by GLS Corporation and which is made with
KRATON
(brand) polymer.
[0035] The handle 14 may further include dimples, bumps, or ridges protruding
from portions of
its surface, and providing a decorative appearance to the handle 14 and
enhanced gripping of the
handle 14 during use of the toothbrush 10. The dimples may be formed from the
same material
as soft elastomer portions 18 of the handle 14 or from the same material as
the majority of the
handle 14 (e.g., a rigid material such as polypropylene). All or part of the
handle 14 could be
made of any suitable material, such as plastic, wood, metal or various natural
materials which are
biodegradable. Preferably the handle 14 is made of a generally flat or oval
shape rather than
cylindrical in its gripping portion which would be between the spaced
elastomer portions 18 to
facilitate the gripping of the handle.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4 another portion of the head 12, defining a bristle
or cleaning element
block 22 of head 12, may also be formed of a resilient and soft thermoplastic
elastomer, such as
the thermoplastic elastomer used to form the handle portions 18. The cleaning
block 22 may
optionally include one or more depressions 24 provided in a surface thereof
with an opening 30
therein. The cleaning block 22 further includes a multitude of cleaning
elements which could be
conventional filament, preferably nylon, or elastomeric bristles or fingers 26
extending integrally
outwardly from the outer surface of the head 12. In the illustrated embodiment
as best shown in
FIG. 4, all of the cleaning elements 26 extend outwardly from the outer
surface of the cleaning
block 22 the same distance so as to create a generally flat surface.
Alternatively, however, some
elements 26 may be shorter or longer than other elements 26. The variable
length of the cleaning
elements 26 is illustrated by the dotted out tips 26a in FIG. 14, with only
body portions 26b of
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the cleaning elements 26 shown in solid lines for purposes of clarity and to
focus on the variable
nature of such elements.
[0037] The term "cleaning elements" as used herein is intended to include
massage elements
arranged in a circular, elliptical, or oval cross-section shape or any type of
desired shape,
including straight portions or sinusoidal portions. It is to be understood
that the specific
illustration of the cleaning elements is merely for exemplary purposes. The
features herein can,
however, be practiced with various combinations of the same or different
configurations (such as
stapled or in-mold tufting (IMT) bristle technology and/or with the same or
different bristle
materials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, etc.).
Similarly, while FIGS. 1-4
illustrate the cleaning elements 26 to be generally perpendicular to the outer
surface of head 12,
some or all of the cleaning elements 26 may be angled at various angles with
respect to the outer
surface of the head 12. It is thereby possible to select the combination of
configurations,
materials and orientations to achieve specific intended results, such as
enhanced cleaning, tooth
polishing, breath freshening, tooth whitening and/or massaging of the gums.
[0038] In some embodiments, the cleaning elements 26 may be in the form of
bristles made from
conventional materials, such as nylon, as well as from a combination of
materials so as to
provide the proper stiffness in an economical manner. For example, the
cleaning elements 26
could be made of a flexible resilient material, such as TPE and a lesser
expensive material such
as LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or
a TPE. The
cleaning elements 26 could be made of a blend of TPE and either LLDPE, EVA, or
polypropylene. Preferably, the two materials are combined to provide a
stiffness of less than 600
MPa. The blend of materials would give the properties of conventional nylon
bristles, while
offering reduced costs. For example, there would be lower manufacturing costs
by injection
molding instead of conventional bristle tufting. Alternatively the resilient
material could be a
single material, such as hard TPE (i.e. Shore A 80 hardness), straight LLDPE
or straight EVA.
[0039] The cleaning elements 26 may be of any desired shape. For example, the
cleaning
elements 26 could be of cylindrical shape having a uniform diameter throughout
their length.
Alternatively, the cleaning elements 26 could taper from the root of each
cleaning element where
it extends from the head 22 to its outer cleaning end. In some embodiments, to
provide a small
lightweight toothbrush, the dimensions of the various components of the
toothbrush 10 are
preferably small. Thus, for example, each cleaning element 26 may extend
outwardly from the
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outer surface of the cleaning block 12 a distance no greater than 10 mm and
preferably no greater
than 8 mm and most preferably no greater than 6 mm. Where tapered cleaning
elements are used
the root diameter should be no greater than 1.5 mm, preferably no greater than
1 mm, most
preferably no greater than 0.7 mm or no greater than 0.5 mm or no greater than
0.3 mm. The
diameter could then decrease in size to no greater than 0.2 mm at a distance
of no greater than 6
mm from the base of the cleaning element. The taper relationship of diameter
at a distance
location above the root diameter could be a range of no greater than 1 mm at a
distance of no
greater than 10 mm, preferably no greater than 0.6 mm at a distance of no
greater than 8 mm,
most preferably no greater than 0.2 mm at a distance of no greater than 6 mm.
Preferably, the
length of the entire toothbrush 10 is no greater than 5 inches, preferably no
greater than 4 inches,
and more preferably no greater than 3.75 or 3 or 2.50 inches, and may be in
the range of 2 to 4
inches.
[0040] In some embodiments, the cleaning elements 26 may vary in diameter at
their proximate
ends, so that the cleaning elements 26 in different areas of the field have
different thicknesses
and rigidity or axial stifthess as measured from the longitudinal axis of the
bristle. In such a
construction, inner or central region bristles 26b are stiffer than the outer
or peripheral region
cleaning elements 26c. The cleaning elements 26 of the carrier 80 may taper
towards their distal
ends.
[0041] The variable stiffness arrangement of the field of cleaning elements 26
forms a structure
for incremental radial flow control of oral care solution/material during a
brushing operation for
efficient cleaning. This feature is particularly useful for low viscosity oral
care solutions.
Nevertheless, oral care solutions of higher viscosity can be used in the
toothbrush 10. The
cleaning elements 26 are independently flexible. In this regard, during a
brushing operation, the
free ends (e.g., tip) of the stiffer cleaning elements 26b bend relative to
their, respective vertical
axis less than the outer cleaning elements 26c (e.g., bristles near the
periphery). Hence, a portion
of the dentifrice stays longer in the central region of the brush head by
reduced dynamic bending
or action of the stiffer bristles. The sweeping or oscillating motion
transfers a portion of the
retained liquid to the outer region of the cleaning elements. While the outer
cleaning elements
26c are less stiff, the dynamic bending relative to their vertical axis
additionally causes the outer
bristles to receive a portion of the dentifrice from the central region of the
cleaning elements. In
this construction, effective cleaning of the tissue surfaces in the mouth may
be obtained though
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the combined use of the variable stiffness bristle field mechanically
scrubbing the tissue surfaces
and the beneficial effects of applying the oral care material from the
dispenser in the oral cavity.
In this way, the bristles field provides a limited and controlled flow of the
dentifrice or other oral
care material to the outer bristles and maintains sufficient flexibility to
provide greater user
comfort and improved cleaning of the oral tissues.
[0042] The head 12 may be angled at a 100 angle with respect to the handle 14,
representing a
less-angled head than that shown in figures 1-4. An angle ranging from 8 to
12 may assist in
improving a user's brushing technique. The block 22 may be made of the same
materials as some
or all of the bristles 26 and portions of the handle 14. Alternatively, the
handle 14 may be made
of the same material as the block 22 and/or bristles 26.
[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 the cleaning elements 26 define a
cleaning field in the
head 22 . The cleaning elements 26 preferably extend outwardly from the
cleaning block 22, as
shown in FIG. 4. The features herein, however, can also be practiced where the
cleaning
elements extend either a greater distance or a lesser distance than as shown
in FIG. 14.
[0044] As stated above, the cleaning block 22 may include one or more optional
depressions 24
which are designed to receive and retain an oral care material therein. The
one or more
depressions 24 can be varied in size so as to accommodate varying quantities
of toothpowder, a
toothpaste or tooth cleaning gel dentifrice or other oral care material, for
delivery to the dentiture
as the elements 26 extending from the block 22 are applied thereto, during
use, such that the oral
care material enhances the cleaning of the dentiture by the cleaning elements.
In some
embodiments, the toothbrush 10 is manufactured containing a packed
toothpowder, toothpaste or
tooth cleaning gel dentifrice and used repeatedly by the user refilling the
dispenser with
toothpowder, toothpaste or tooth cleaning gel dentifrice. In other
embodiments, the toothbrush
is provided as part of a kit with a separately packaged oral care material,
which is manually
placed by the user onto the cleaning element 26 or in the depression 24, if
present.
[0045] In some embodiments, the depression is in the form of a cushioned
socket 28. Cushioning
socket 28 opening 30, and the material making up bristle block 22 provide a
cushioning effect.
[0046] The user applies a oral care material onto the bristles 26 of the
toothbrush head 12. The
oral care material may be a toothpaste, a gel, a mouthwash, a powder, or
similar dentifrice or oral
hygiene product, or a combination of the same. The materials making up the
oral care material
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preferably are consumable by the user of the toothbrush 10, eliminating the
need for water, a
sink, or a waste receptacle to expectorate the oral care material.
[0047] The oral care material may include an active agent. Non-limiting
examples of active
agents which can be used include antibacterial agents, whitening agents, anti-
sensitivity agents,
anti-inflammatory agents, anti-attachment agents, plaque indicator agents,
flavorants, sensates,
breath freshening agents, gum health agents and colorants. Examples of these
agents include
metal ion agents (e.g., stannous ion agents, copper ion agents, zinc ion
agents, silver ion agents)
triclosan; tidos= monophosphate, chlorhexidine, alexidine, hexetidine,
sanguinarine,
benzalkonium chloride, salicylanilide, domiphen bromide, cetylpyridinium
chloride,
tetradecylpyridinium chloride, N-tetradecy1-4-ethylpyridinium chloride
(TDEPC), octenidine,
delmopinol, octapinol, nisin, essential oils, furanones, bacteriocins,
flavans, flavinoids, folic
acids, vitamins, minerals, hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, sodium
percarbonate, PVP-H202,
polymer-bound perxoxides, potassium nitrates, occluding agents, bioactive
glass, arginine salts,
arginine bicarbonate, bacalin, polyphenols, ethyl pyruvate, guanidinoethyl
disulfide, tartar
control agents, anti-stain ingredients, phosphate salts, polyvinylphosphonic
acid, PVM/ MA
copolymers; enzymes, glucose oxidase, papain, ficin, ethyl lauroyl arginate,
menthol, carvone,
and anethole, various flavoring aldehydes, esters, and alcohols, spearmint
oils, peppermint oil,
wintergreen oil, sassafras oil, clove oil, sage oil, eucalyptus oil, marjoram
oil, cinnamon oil,
lemon oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, and/or orange oil.
[0048] The active agent may be compatible with toothpaste, or may be unstable
and/or reactive
with typical toothpaste ingredients. The active agent also may be a tooth
cleaning agent to boost
the overall efficacy of brushing.
[0049] The active agent can be provided in any suitable vehicle, such as in
aqueous solution or
in the ÷form of gel, paste or powder. The vehicle can have a variety of
different visual aesthetics
including clear solution or gel or opaque solution or gel. Non-limiting
examples of vehicles
include water, monohydric alcohols such as ethanol, poly(ethylene oxides) such
as polyethylene
glycols such as PEG 2M, 5M, 7M, 14M, 23M, 45M, and 90M available from Union
Carbide,
carboxymethylene polymers such as Carbopol® 934 and 974 available from
B.F. Goodrich,
and combinations thereof. The selection of a suitable vehicle will be apparent
to persons skilled
in the art depending on such factors as the properties of the active agent and
the desired
properties of the medium, such as viscosity.
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100501 In use, the user applies the oral care material over cleaning elements
26. The user then
may brush their teeth with toothbrush 10. The user may also use the accessory
16 to clean
between teeth, either before or after brushing. After the user has used the
toothbrush 10, one
may, but not necessarily, then easily and economically dispose of the
toothbrush 10.
[0051] In some embodiments, the entire structure of the toothbrush 10,
including the head 12,
the handle 14, and the accessory 16, may be molded as one integral structure,
using a
conventional multi-component injection molding operation typically used in the
manufacture of
toothbrushes. This enables the toothbrush 10 to be economically and quickly
manufactured.
Although the toothbrush 10 may have a variety of sizes and dimensions, it is
preferred that the
toothbrush 10 have a small profile, with the head 12 being small enough to
cover one tooth at a
time and the handle 14 being thinner than conventional, everyday toothbrush
handles. The
toothbrush 10 is thus readily portable or space saving.
[0052] The toothbrush 10 may provide many benefits, including the cosmetic
benefits of
brushing one's teeth in a form that can be used when one is away from home,
and away from a
water supply. The cosmetic benefits achieved by the toothbrush 10 include the
cleaning of debris
between teeth with the accessory 16, broad tooth surface cleaning with the
cleaning elements 26
and the oral care solution, and breath freshening with the oral care solution.
[0053] In addition to the cosmetic benefits, the toothbrush 10 may also
provide economic
benefits in the form of an inexpensive toothbrush that is both quickly and
economically
manufactured. Toothbrush 10 also provides a mechanism for maintaining oral
health, without the
need for toothpaste, water, mouth wash, and containers to hold the same. Thus,
toothbrush 10 is
also very convenient to use.
[0054] Furthermore, the toothbrush 10 provides at least one benefit of
preventing the spread of
waterborne diseases. For example, the toothbrush 10 eliminates the
conventional practice of
using local water to mix with toothpaste. This feature is useful for military
applications where
there is a limited source of potable water or a need to conserve water or
maintain the oral health
of troops, such as in desert fighting environments. In another situation, the
toothbrush is useful in
outdoor camping environments to prevent disease or sickness from waterborne
bacteria.
[0055] Although FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a manually-operated, disposable
toothbrush, the features
herein may also be practiced where the head includes one or more power or
electrically operated
movable sections carrying cleaning elements. Such movable section may
oscillate in a rotational
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manner or may oscillate linearly in a longitudinal direction with respect to
the longitudinal axis
of the head or may oscillate linearly in a lateral or transverse direction
with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the head. The movable section may oscillate in and out in
a direction toward
and away from the outer surface of the head. The movable section may rock back
and forth with
respect to the outer surface of the head. The movable section may rotate
continuously in the
same direction, rather than oscillate. Any suitable drive mechanism may be
used for imparting
the desired motion to the movable section. Where plural movable sections are
used, all of the
movable sections may have the same type and direction of movement, or
combinations of
different movements may be used.
[0056] Since the toothbrush 10 is intended to be both small and lightweight,
it is preferred that
the toothbrush 10 weigh no more than 3 grams, but this is an option, and the
toothbrush 10 may
have a greater weight. The small size is such that it can be held completely
within the palm of an
adult user. The head 12 is of a size that it would correspond to the size of
an individual tooth or
an individual tooth and the interproximal areas. The head 12 could be made of
any suitable shape
and is preferably of circular, elliptical, oval or tri-lobal shape having a
maximum lateral
dimension or diameter of no greater than 13 mm, preferably no greater than 12
mm and most
preferably no greater than 11 mm. Where the head 12 is of non-circular shape
its preferred
maximum lateral dimension is 14 mm.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the head 12 may be at an angle between 00 and 90
to the
longitudinal axis of handle 14. The preferred angle is from 20 to 70 and
more preferably from
30 to 60 . The cleaning elements could be perpendicular to the outer
surface of head 12 or
could also be at an angle to the outer surface such as in the range of 60 to
90 or in the range of
75 to 90 .
[0058] In one embodiment, the cleaning elements could be hollow, such as
hollow bristles,
which are capable of absorbing a medicament by capillary action. Such a
feature would be
particularly useful for children where a medicament or some form of flavor
could be dispensed
from the hollow cleaning elements. It is also possible to leach antibacterial
material from the
cleaning elements. In one embodiment where the cleaning elements are used to
dispense oral
care materials the cleaning elements themselves may be considered as the oral
care dispensers
without requiring additional dispensers.
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[0059] Where specific parameters and characteristics have been given for
cleaning elements, the
features herein could be practiced where other cleaning elements do not
include those parameters
and characteristics.
[0060] FIGS. 5-6 show other variations wherein the cleaning elements are in
the form of a single
mass having an irregular outer surface. As shown in FIG. 5 the mass 34 is
similar to that of "steel
wool" as used in household cleaning or could be part of VELCRO, formations,
such as hooks or
loops.
[0061] FIG. 6 shows a variation where the cleaning element 36 is of a single
mass of sponge,
foam or cotton which could be used as a swab for oral care material. In some
embodiments, the
cleaning element 36 provides an absorbent receptacle for the oral care
material. The outer
surface of the swab could be generally planar or could have surface
irregularities. In such
embodiments, the cleaning element 36 could be impregnated with the oral care
material or could
be dipped into oral care material so as to absorb the material and thereby the
cleaning element 36
would also function as the oral care dispenser. Such swab type cleaning
elements are gentle for
children, particularly infants.
[0062] In some embodiments, the element 36 is a single piece of melamine foam,
a foam-like
material comprising a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer.
Melamine foam is
available from BASF of Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany, and is also sold under
the name
"MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASER"TM by Procter & Gamble. Melamine foam is an effective
abrasive cleaner. The open cell foam is microporous and works like extremely
fine sandpaper,
getting into tiny grooves and pits in the tooth surface being cleaned. On a
larger scale the
material feels soft.
[0063] The features herein could be practiced where the various components of
the toothbrush
are segmented for manufacturing and assembly purposes. Such segmented
components could
also be detachably connected together so as to permit the interchangeability
of the components
thereby providing the possibility for the substitution of different components
in the combination.
Thus, the head 12 could be detachably connected to the handle 14. FIG. 7, for
example,
illustrates head 12 to be detachably mounted to handle 14 by a snap fitting 38
which may be of
any suitable construction as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0064] The concept of a detachable interconnection may also be used wherein
the oral care
accessory 16, such as the toothpick, is detachably mounted to the handle 14.
Thus, as later
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described with respect to FIGS. 12 and 13 the toothbrush and its various
components could be
packaged wherein the same package includes a plurality of toothbrushes and/or
a plurality of
different components such as heads, dispensers or accessories.
[0065] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment wherein a piezoelectric crystal 40 is
provided in the
handle 14 at the junction with head 12 so as to cause the head 12 to vibrate
during use.
Alternatively the head 12 could be mounted to a rotatable shaft extending from
the handle and
having an eccentric weight on the shaft to cause the head to vibrate.
[0066] Although FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an oral care accessory 16 in the form of
a toothpick, other
types of accessories 42 could be used as schematically shown in FIG. 9. As
illustrated therein
such accessory 42 would be mounted to the end of the handle 14 similar to the
mounting of the
toothpick. Such mounting could be detachable or of a permanent nature.
Examples of such oral
care accessories 16/42 include tongue cleaners, floss holders or an
interproximal brush.
Similarly, the accessory 16/42 could be of a swab or foam type similar to the
cleaning element
36 of FIG. 6 or could be of the single mass of roughened material such as the
cleaning element
34 of FIG. 5.
[0067] FIG. 10 shows another variation wherein the toothbrush is particularly
adapted for use by
children. Such use is enhanced by providing any suitable ornament or
caricature 44 on the
toothbrush, such as on the handle or on any other suitable location including
the backside of the
head. Such ornament 44 could be detachably mounted so that it could be kept by
the child after
the rest of the toothbrush is thrown away. Other embodiments particularly
suitable for use by
children include the optional capabilities of dispensing various types of oral
care materials
including materials having special flavors, tooth numbing materials, anti-
sensitive materials or
various medicaments.
[0068] The toothbrush may also be made of various colors for different parts
of the toothbrush.
For example, soft elastomer 18 may be made of a different, such as a
contrasting, color with
respect to the remainder of handle 14 which would be made of a rigid material.
Similarly, the
head 12 could be made of a different color than the rigid portion of the
handle and/or the soft
elastomer portions 18. The cleaning elements 26 could be made of distinct
colors. Along the
same lines the accessory 16/42 such as the toothpick or other accessory could
be made of a
distinct color. These various colors could be contrasting or complementary
with each other.
Thus, for example, the various colors could differ only slightly in color or
shade.
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[0069] Any suitable oral care products could be dispensed from the dispenser.
Such products
include, but are not limited to toothpaste, tooth powder or could be a small
vial of mouthwash
having a gel, a powder or a liquid. Such a dispenser could be separately
included in a package
containing the toothbrush 10. The materials could be flavored and could be
provided in sets of
different flavors and/or different characteristics such as medicaments,
numbing materials, etc.
[0070] Any suitable methods may be used for forming the toothbrush 10 and its
various
components. For example, multi-component injection molding could be used to
integrally couple
various components such as the cleaning elements 26 and the head 12 and/or the
handle 14. This
could be done in an automated or multiple step process. The handle 14 could be
rotocast blow
molded to form a hollow squeeze handle.
[0071] FIG. 11 illustrates a variation wherein the package 54 includes one or
more toothbrushes
and a plurality of other components 56 which could be accessories or
dispensers or other
components. The components could include a small vial of mouthwash.
Preferably, the package
50 or 54 would be hermetically sealed to assure freshness.
[0072] As is apparent the features herein provide an oral care toothbrush that
may be small in
size and portable and can be conveniently used away from home under
circumstances, such as
travel, where water is not readily available.
[0073] The features herein could be practiced with a combination of various
components that do
not involve "toothbrush" usage. In that sense these features may be used in
any oral care device
or the like, rather than strictly being a toothbrush. Where used as a
toothbrush or the like, the
features herein may have the advantages, because of the size and
configuration, to allow discreet
hygienic use, such as no fingers in the mouth, adapting it to be readily used
in public areas.
[0074] FIGS. 12-16 show an embodiment of an oral care kit 90. FIG. 12 shows an
oral care kit
90 comprising a plurality of oral care implements 10, and at least one
dispenser 96 separate from
the oral care implements 10. The oral care implements 10 may be any of the
embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1-10, for example. Each oral care implement 10 is a disposable
toothbrush
comprising a handle 14 having a head 12 at one end of the handle. In some
embodiments, the
head has an optional depression 24 which is empty, to receive one of the oral
care materials
discussed above. The head 12 has at least one cleaning element 26 projecting
outwards from the
head, and may be configured as shown in FIG. 4. Descriptions of the handle 14,
cleaning
element 26, elastomer portion 18, cleaning block 22, cushioned socket 28 and
opening 30 are
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provided above and, for brevity, are not repeated. In some embodiments, the
second end of each
handle 14 has an accessory 16 such as a toothpick. Other embodiments have
different accessories
42 at the end of the handle 14 opposite the head 12, as described above with
reference to FIGS. 9
and 10.
[0075] Referring again to FIGS. 12-16, in some embodiments, the plurality of
oral care
implements 10 are all identical to each other. In other embodiments, a variety
of oral care
implements are included. The variety of oral care implements may include two
or more of the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-10, for example. Further, each variation of the
oral care
implement 10 may optionally have a respective color for easy identification.
[0076] In some embodiments, the depression 24 extends only partially through
the head, so as to
be capable of holding an oral care material 99, such as a liquid, emulsion,
paste, gel, powder or
other oral care material. In some embodiments, the depression 24 is capable of
holding either a
liquid, emulsion, paste, gel, powder or other oral care material.
[0077] Although FIG. 4 shows an opening 30 at the center of the depression 24,
other
embodiments omit the opening 30. If the opening 30 is present, the opening is
capable of
holding additional oral care material during use.
[0078] In other embodiments, the head does not have a depression 24. If the
cleaning elements
26 are bristles, then a continuous field of bristles or foam is provided
across the head 12.
Alternatively, the cleaning element without a depression may be a continuous
field of plastic
hooks or loops 34, as described above with reference to FIG. 5, or a single
mass of foam, sponge
or cotton 36, as described above with reference to FIG. 6. The oral care
material (paste, powder,
gel, liquid or the like) is placed on the cleaning element 26. In some
embodiments, the cleaning
element 26 is adapted to hold or absorb oral care material that is manually
dispensed by a user.
The oral care material that is absorbed upon being dispensed then leaches out
onto the user's
teeth and gums during brushing.
[0079] In some embodiments, a single blister pack 92 holds the entire
plurality of oral care
implements 10. The single blister pack 92 may be foldable, as shown in FIG.
16, for compact
storage within the kit 90. In other embodiments, the plurality of oral care
implements 10 are
contained within two smaller blister packs, which can be arranged back-to-back
with the
cleaning elements thereof facing away from each other for compact storage
within the kit 90
(i.e., with the flat sides of the blister packs facing each other). In
alternative embodiments, the
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kit 90 includes more than two blister packs (e.g., four blister packs, each
containing two or three
oral care implements 10.).
[0080] The blister pack 92 comprises a polymer web 92w (FIG. 16) having a
plurality of cavities
92c, each cavity having a longitudinal axis A (FIG. 15), for containing the
oral care implements
oriented with the handles 14 of each oral care implements aligned with the
longitudinal axis
of its respective cavity. In some embodiments, the cavities 92c of the blister
pack 92 are shaped
to conform to the shape of the oral care implements 10. In other embodiments,
the cavities 92c
are substantially rectangular or block shaped, to accommodate a variety of
oral care implement
shapes.
[0081] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16, the blister pack 92 is a
single blister pack
foldable about an axis B aligned with the longitudinal axes A of the cavities
92c. Thus, a
plurality of oral care instruments 10 in a single blister pack can be arranged
back-to-back with
the cleaning elements 26 thereof facing away from each other for compact
storage within the kit
90.
[0082] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 15 and 16, the handle 14
of each oral
care implement 10 has a second end opposite the head 12 (i.e., at the location
of the accessory 16
in FIGS. 12-16); and the plurality of oral care implements 10 alternate
between a first orientation
in which the head 12 points in a first direction (e.g., upwards) and the
second end points in a
second direction opposite the first direction, and a second orientation in
which the head points in
the second direction (e.g., downwards) and the second end points in the first
direction. For an
oral care implement design in which the head 12 is wider than the second end
16, alternating the
orientations of successive oral care implements allows the distance between
adjacent oral care
implements (and the overall footprint of the blister pack 92) to be reduced.
[0083] In some embodiments, the blister pack 92 has a respective separable
connector (e.g.,
perforation 92p) between each pair of adjacent oral care implements 10. The
separable
connectors 92p facilitate folding of the blister pack, or separation of one or
more of the oral care
implements 10 from the blister pack 92.
[0084] In some embodiments, the blister pack 92 is formed by a form-fill-seal
process. The
blister pack 92 is formed from rolls of transparent flat sheet or film using a
thermoforming
process. In some embodiments, the sheet or film comprises polyvinyl chloride.
In other
embodiments, the sheet or film comprises polyvinylidene chloride,
Polychlorotrifluoro ethylene,
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or Cyclic Olefin Copolymer. The oral care implements are positioned on the
sheet or film, and
the blister pack 92 is closed (sealed) on a blisterline. The blister pack 92
includes a formed base
web 92w defining the cavities 92c inside which the oral care implements 10
fit. The blister pack
92 further includes a backing card or lidding foil 92f (FIG. 16) for
containing the oral care
implements within the pack 92. A thermoplastic adhesive bonds the web 92w to
the backing
card or lidding foil 92f.
[0085] The kit 90 includes at least one dispenser 96. Any number of dispensers
96 may be
provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a single relatively large
dispenser 96 may be
provided with sufficient oral care material for single or multiple uses of
every oral care
implement 10. Alternatively, as discussed below with reference to FIGS. 17-
20B, a respective
individual dispenser may be provided for each respective oral care implement.
Although the
dispenser 96 of FIGS. 12-14 is a tube, other embodiments include different
dispenser types, such
as a bottle, pump, can, box, sachet or other vessel. The type of dispenser 96
is selected based on
the type of oral care material, in addition to such factors as convenience and
cost. In some
embodiments, the dispenser 96 has a narrow nozzle 96n, as shown in FIG. 14, to
deliver a small
stream or quantity of the oral care material 99 into the depression 24.
[0086] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 14A, the opening 30 extends
completely
through to the back surface of head 12. The shape of the opening 30 at the
rear of head 12 is
coordinated to mate with the nozzle 96n of a seprate dispenser 96 (e.g., a
pump, vial, tube or the
like) supplying the oral care material, so that the nozzle can be joined to
the head for supplying
oral care material from the rear of the head without leakage. For example, the
opening 30 may
be threaded with mating holes on the nozzle, or the opening and nozzle may
have matching
tapers. If the head 12 is provided without a depression 24, the oral care
material can travel
through the cleaning element(s) 26 (e.g., bristles), instead of lying on top
of the bristles.
[0087] In the configuration shown in FIG. 14A, the oral care material is
dispensed from a nozzle
behind the head 12 into the spaces between the bristles 26. In another
embodiment (not shown),
the bristles are hollow, and the head includes channels to distribute the oral
care material from
behind the head through the channels and into the hollows with the bristles.
In this embodiment,
the bristles comprise a permeable material that transmits the oral care
material to be desorbed
onto the surfaces of the teeth during brushing.
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[0088] In another variation (not shown), the cleaning element is a single mass
of sponge, cotton
or foam having an outer shape as shown in FIG. 6, and a hollow interior for
receiving the oral
care material through an opening in the back of the head. The oral care
material is dispensed
into the hollow through the opening in the back of the head. Then, during
brushing, the oral care
material is release through the material of the cleaning element.
[0089] In another embodiment, .shown in FIG. 14B, each oral care implement has
a recess or
depression 28 for receiving and holding the oral care material 99, and a width
of the dispensing
nozzle 96n' is less than or equal to a width of the recess. The nozzle 96n'
optionally has at least
one side opening 96o coupled to receive and dispense the oral care material
99, while the tip of
the nozzle 96n' contacts the bottom of the recess or depression 28. Thus, the
tip of nozzle 96n'
can be seated firmly against the bottom of the depression without blocking or
interfering with the
dispensing of the oral care material 99.
[0090] In some embodiments, the height 96h of the opening 96o (the distance
from the tip of the
nozzle to the shoulder of opening 96o) is approximately equal to the depth of
the depression 28,
to facilitate filling of the depression while the tip of the nozzle 96n' is
seated against the bottom
of the depression 28. This also provides a visual aid to assist the user in
determining when the
depression 28 has been completely filled.
[0091] In other embodiments, the height 96h and shape of the opening 96o can
be selected so
that the opening 96o engages a feature of the head 12 (such as the cleaning
element 26) and acts
as a depth gauge for positioning the tip of the nozzle 96n' at a pre-
determined distance from the
bottom of the depression 28. This ensures that the tip of the nozzle 96n' is
clear for dispensing
the oral care material.
[0092] The dispenser 96 contains an amount of the oral care material 99. In
some embodiments,
the oral care material 99 is a breath freshening solution, a toothpaste or
polish, mouthwash, a
fluoride rinse, or the like. In other embodiments, the oral care material may
be a marker material
for providing an indication of a gum disease or cancer, or a marker for tooth
areas in need of
additional cleaning. In some embodiments, the oral care material includes
timed release
materials, for releasing an active ingredient or a foaming agent. Timed
release active ingredients
may be used, for example, in a waterless setting, where the user keeps the
oral care material in
the user's mouth after brushing has ceased.
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[0093] In some embodiments, where the oral care material has a relatively low
viscosity, a
cleaning element such as the absorbent mass of sponge, foam or cotton 36 of
FIG. 6
advantageously can act as an absorbent receptacle, and prevent the oral care
material from
spilling if the user is not holding the toothbrush 10 with the head 12 in a
perfectly horizontal
orientation. Thus, the user can have one or two free hands to replace a cap on
the oral care
material dispenser 96, for example. Once the cleaning element 36 is placed in
the user's mouth,
the brushing motion releases the oral care material from the absorbent
receptacle of the cleaning
element 36.
[0094] In some embodiments, as shown in 14C, an absorbent receptacle 27 is
provided as an
insert in a toothbrush 10 having cleaning elements 26, such as bristles. The
absorbent receptacle
27 may be a mass of any of the materials discussed above with reference to the
cleaning element
36 of FIG. 6, including cotton, sponge, or a foam, such as a melamine foam, a
foam-like material
comprising a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer. This provides
the combined
benefit of bristles 26, which can extend into crevices, and a soft, absorbent
insert 27 that
dispenses oral care material and polishes the tooth surface with its mild
abrasive properties. As
in the case of the single mass cleaning element 36, the absorbent insert 27
can prevent the oral
care material from spilling if the user is not holding the toothbrush 10 with
the head 12 in a
perfectly horizontal orientation, and free up one or both of the user's hands.
Once the cleaning
element 27 is placed in the user's mouth, the brushing motion releases the
oral care material from
the absorbent receptacle of the cleaning element 36.
[0095] In some embodiments, the plurality of oral care implements 10 includes
a number of oral
care implements, and the amount of oral care material in the dispenser
contains a number of
dosages of the oral care material that is greater than or equal to the number
of oral care
implements. For example, in FIGS. 12-15, the kit 90 has ten oral care
implements 10, and the
tube of oral care material 96 has at least ten dosages of the oral care
material. This amount is
sufficient to at least dispense a dosage of the oral care material 99 into the
respective depression
24 of each oral care implement 10 (or onto the cleaning element 26, if there
is no depression)
once, for usage as a single-use toothbrush. Optionally, the tube 96 may
include a larger amount
of oral care material (e.g., 20 or 30 dosages).
[0096] In some embodiments (not shown), the kit includes two or more
dispensers 96, optionally
each having a different formulation, flavor or color of oral care material 99.
This allows the user
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to individually select the formulation, flavor and/or color of the oral care
material 99 used with
each oral care implement 10.
[0097] FIGS. 17, 18A and 18B show an alternative dispenser and package
configuration 70. In
some embodiments, the oral care material dispenser 60 is provided in the form
of one or more
sachets. The sachet 60 may contain a single dose of oral care material 69, or
a larger amount
(e.g., up to three doses). The sachets 60 are formed of a thin, flexible
polymer film, and each
sachet has a slit, notch or perforation 68, providing a means for manually
tearing the sachet.
Each sachet has a nozzle portion 67 located and shaped to form a dispensing
nozzle when the
slit, notch or perforation is torn.
[0098] The sachet may be generally ring shaped, with a reservoir 64, for
holding the oral care
material 69. The reservoir 64 surrounds a center opening 63, and includes an
end 66 having a
reduced width. The sachet 60 may be configured with a notch 65a or slit near
the reduced width
end 66 of the reservoir 64. The notch or slit 65a forms a frangible seal
extending in a generally
radial direction, configured to be tom off to form a nozzle portion 67 for
dispensing the oral care
material 69 from the sachet 60. Optionally, perforations 68 may be provided on
either or both
sides of the nozzle portion 67 to assist in tearing open the dispenser 60.
[0099] In some embodiments, the ring shaped reservoir 69 subtends an angle of
270-330 degrees
around the central opening 63 of the sachet. In some embodiments, the ring
shaped reservoir 69
subtends an angle of 300-330 degrees around the central opening 63.
[00100] The sachet 60 may be formed using materials and methods described
in any of
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,705,680; 4,728,508; 4,770,324; 5,041,279; or 5,096,698, or
International
Application Publication No. WO 95/01921, each of which is incorporated by
reference herein in
its entirety. Other sachet fabrication methods may be used.
[00101] In some embodiments, the toothbrush 10 is used as a tool for
opening the sachet
60, as shown in FIG. 18B. The center opening 63 of sachet 60 is placed around
the head 12 of
the toothbrush 10 during packaging, so that the head 12 of toothbrush 10 is
within the sachet 60.
When a user is ready to use the toothbrush 10, he/she pulls the brush 10 out
of the sachet 60. In
some embodiments, the user uses one hand to grasp the sachet 60 by the end 61
opposite the
frangible seal 37, and uses the other hand to gasp toothbrush head 12. The
toothbrush 12 is
pulled in the direction of the notch or slit 65a (away from end 61), and is
used to tear the
frangible seal 67 of the sachet 60, so that when the toothbrush 10 is removed
from the sachet, the
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dispensing orifice 67 of the sachet is opened for dispensing the oral care
material 69. FIG. 18A
shows a package 70 in which the sachet 60 is positioned on the head 12 of the
toothbrush 10
during packaging, to facilitate the step of opening the sachet using the
toothbrush 10 as a tool,
upon removal of the toothbrush and sachet from the package 70.
[00102] In other embodiments, the opening of the sachet 60 (by severing
the frangible seal
67) is performed in a separate step from the step of pulling the sachet off of
the toothbrush 10.
The toothbrush 10 is moved along its longitudinal axis, without tearing the
frangible seal 67.
Then the seal 67 is broken by tearing open the sachet 60 along the notch 65a
and/or perforations
68. Optionally, a second notch 65b may be provided along the outer edge of the
sachet 60 to
facilitate manual tearing of the frangible seal without using the toothbrush
10 or any other tool to
perform the tearing.
[00103] In some embodiments, the sachet 60 is a separate package, which is
individually
placed within a blister pack or bag that houses the toothbrush 10. For
example, a blister pack
may have two rows and ten columns of chambers. The chambers in one row contain
toothbrushes 10. The chambers in the other row contain sachets 60. Each column
has a
respective toothbrush and a respective sachet 60. The two rows have a
separable connector
therebetween. The separable connector is one of the group consisting of a
perforated region of
the package, a region of the package having a cut or notch, a film or tape of
a material that is
susceptible to tearing or rupturing, or at least one adhesive joint connecting
separately formed
sections of the package. Another separable connector is provided between each
successive pair
of adjacent columns. Thus, a user can easily manually separate one column from
the blister pack
to form an individual kit (a "sub-kit") having one toothbrush 10 and one
dispenser 60. Similarly,
a user about to embark on a trip can tear off a portion including N columns (N
toothbrushes and
N sachets, where N is an integer) as desired.
[00104] In other embodiments, a plurality of sachets 60 are formed along a
continuous
sheet of plastic, with separable connectors (e.g., perforations, slits or the
like) between each
adjacent sachet 60. The strip of sachets 60 can be separate from (i.e.,
unconnected to) the blister
package of toothbrushes 10.
[00105] FIG. 19A shows another embodiment, in which the plurality of oral
care
implements 10 are packaged within a first package, such as one or more blister
packs 80, and the
sachets 81 are formed as part of the same blister pack 80. Blister pack 80 has
two rows and ten
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columns of chambers, but any number of columns may be used. The chambers 83 in
one row
contain toothbrushes 10. The chambers 82 in the other row contain sachets 81.
Each column has
a respective toothbrush 10 and a respective sachet 81. The two rows have a
separable connector
(e.g., perforations) 86 therebetween. Another separable connector (e.g.,
perforation) 85 is
provided between each successive pair of adjacent columns. Thus, a user can
easily manually
separate N column(s) from the blister pack 80 to form an individual kit (a
"sub-kit") having N
toothbrush(es) 10 and N dispenser(s) 81, where N is an integer from one to C-
1, where C is the
total number of columns in blister package 80.
[00106] FIG. 19B is an enlarged detail of a chamber 82 containing one
sachet 86. In this
example, the sachets 81 are formed from the same polymer film sheet used to
form the blister
package 80, and the same separable connectors 86 that separate the toothbrush
chamber 83 from
the sachet chamber 82 also provide a means for tearing open the nozzle 84 of
the sachets 81.
Thus, a single perforation line 86 can be formed between the row of sachet
chambers 82 and the
row of toothbrush chambers 83. (The perforations are interrupted at each
nozzle section 87 of
each sachet 81, to avoid leakage of the oral care material). In a single
motion, the user can
separate one of the sachet chambers 82 from its associated toothbrush chamber
83, and also open
the nozzle 84 of the sachet 81 of that chamber 82. The act of tearing the
perforation 86 forms the
open dispensing nozzle of the sachet 81.
[00107] The reservoir for containing the oral care material in each sachet
81 is
approximately pentagonal, with a narrow portion for forming the nozzle 84.
However, the
reservoir can be any convenient shape, such as, but not limited to rectangle,
square, trapezoid,
circle, ellipse, oval, or the like.
[00108] One of ordinary skill understands that the designation of
horizontal rows and
vertical columns herein is optional, and the same package may be rotated 90
degrees, in which
case the rows are vertical and the columns are horizontal.
[00109] FIGS. 20A and 20B show a variation of the package of FIGS. 19A and
19B, in
which each sachet 187 is formed separately from the film that forms the sachet
chamber 182 of
the blister pack 182. The sachet 187 can optionally be removed from its
chamber 182 without
severing the separable connector 186 which separates the sachet chamber 182
from its respective
toothbrush chamber 83. Similarly, once removed, the sachet 187 can be returned
to its chamber
182, either for disposal after a single use, or for a second usage, if the
reservoir 181 of sachet 187
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contains more than one dosage of oral care material. The sachet chamber 182
can optionally be
separated from its respective toothbrush chamber 83 by tearing the blister
pack material along
the perforated line 186.
Each sachet 187 has a distinct separable connector 185 (e.g., a
perforation, slit or notch) for tearing the film of the sachet 187 to open the
nozzle orifice of the
sachet, for dispensing the oral care material.
[00110]
In other respects, the layout and construction of kit 180 is similar to that
of kit 80
(FIGS. 19A and 19B), and a description thereof is not repeated.
[00111]
Referring again to FIGS. 12, 13, 15 and 16, the oral care kit 90 may
optionally
include an outer package, such as a clamshell container 91. An outer package
may be included
for protection of sachets and or other accessories, and to prevent their
accidental separation from
the remainder of the kit 90. An outer package 91 may also be used for storing
a separate oral
care material dispenser, such as a tube 96, pump, can or the like. An outer
package may also
provide contoured compartments for holding either the toothbrush 10 or
dispenser 96 during a
dispensing or brushing operation.
[00112]
In some embodiments, the outer package 91 includes either two pre-formed
plastic sheets or one sheet folded over onto itself and fused at the edges.
The sheet(s) comprise a
transparent polymer that is durable and more rigid than the blister pack web
92w, either by
choice of material or by the thickness of the polymer material.
[00113]
The outer package 91 includes at least one transparent shell 91 having a first
opening 94 shaped to contain the plurality of oral care implements 10, and a
second opening 98
shaped to contain the dispenser 96. The second opening 98 is separate from the
first opening 94.
[00114]
In some embodiments, a clamshell package 91 has two symmetrical halves 91a,
91b (shown in FIG. 13), each half shaped to receive a blister pack 92 or a
portion of a blister
pack, containing a subset of the plurality of oral care implements 10. Each
half 91a, 91b is
shaped to receive a respective portion of the dispenser 96.
[00115]
In some embodiments, each half 91a, 91b is shaped to receive at least a
portion of
the at least one blister pack 92, containing a subset of the plurality of oral
care implements 10.
In some embodiments, the clamshell package 91 has two halves 91a, 91b, each
half shaped to
receive a respective portion of the web 92w of the blister pack 92, as shown
in FIG. 13. Each
half 91a, 91b is shaped to receive a respective portion of the dispenser 96.
In some embodiments
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having a single blister pack 92 folded about an axis B (shown in FIG. 16),
each half of the
folded blister pack is received by a respective half of the clamshell 91, as
shown in FIG. 13.
[00116] In some embodiments, the outer package 91 has a slot 93 for
hanging the kit 90
from a store rack or hook. Optionally, a larger slot (not shown) may be
provided for use as a
handle.
[00117] In other embodiments, the two portions of the clamshell 91 are not
mirror images
of each other, but include a first side with deeper recesses, and a second
side with shallower (or
no) recesses. Other variations of the clamshell 91 can accommodate variations
in the shape and
configuration of the blisterpack(s) 92 and the dispenser(s) 96.
[00118] An example of a method of fabricating the kit 90 includes
providing at least one
blister pack containing a plurality of oral care implements, and folding the
at least one blister
pack 92 about its axis B, so that two portions of the web 92w face in opposite
directions. The at
least one blister pack 92 is inserted into a clamshell package 91; and at
least one dispenser (e.g, a
tube 96 having a nozzle 96n) is inserted into the clamshell. The dispenser 96
is separate from the
blister pack 92 and contains an amount of the oral care material 99. The
clamshell package 91
has a first opening 94 shaped to receive the at least one blister pack 92 and
a second opening 98
shaped to receive the dispenser 96. The clamshell package 91 is then sealed
with the at least one
blister pack 92 and the dispenser 96 therein.
[00119] In some embodiments, the blister pack has a first edge and a
second edge, and the
providing step includes arranging the plurality of oral care implements in
respective cavities, so
that successive oral care implements alternate between: a first orientation in
which the head of
the oral care implement is adjacent the first edge and the second end thereof
is adjacent the
second edge, and a second orientation in which the second end of the oral care
implement is
adjacent the first edge and the head thereof is adjacent the second edge. In
some embodiments, a
respective perforation 92p is made in the blister pack 92 between each pair of
adjacent oral care
implements 10.
[00120] In some embodiments, a method of using the oral care kit 90
comprises opening a
clamshell package 91 and removing a blister pack 92 from the clamshell
package. The blister
pack 92 includes a plurality of cavities 92c containing respective oral care
implements 10. Each
oral care implement 10 comprises a handle 14 having a head 12 at a first end
of the handle, the
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WO 2012/087317 PCT/US2010/061883
head having at least one cleaning element 26 projecting outwards from the
head, the head having
at least one concave depression 24 shaped to hold an oral care material.
[00121] The user removes one of the oral care implements 10 from the
blister pack 92.
The user removes a dispenser 96 from the clamshell package 91. The dispenser
96 is separate
from the oral care implements 10. The user dispenses a dose of the oral care
material 99 from
the dispenser 96 into the depression 24 of the removed oral care implement 10.
The user uses
the removed oral care implement with the oral care material 99 on it to
perform a dental care
procedure, such as brushing the user's teeth.
[00122] In some embodiments, the user disposes of the removed oral care
implement 10
after a single usage. In some embodiments, the user repeats (for each oral
care implement 10)
the steps of removing an oral care implement from the package 92, dispensing
the oral care
material 99 onto the removed oral care implement, performing the dental care
operation and
disposing of the removed oral care implement after use.
[00123] In some embodiments (not shown), the kit 90 includes at least two
variations of
the oral care implement and at least two dispensers containing respectively
different oral care
materials. The user coordinates the selection of one of the oral care
implements with the
selection of oral care material. In some embodiments, the handles 14 and
dispensers 96 are
optionally color coded to indicated suggested pairings of differentiated oral
care implements 10
with respective differentiated oral care materials 99. For example, in some
embodiments, the
oral care implements have a respectively different handle color for each
cleaning element type or
for accessory type, and the dispenser containing the corresponding recommended
oral care
material for each oral care implement type has the same color.
[00124] Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art
from consideration
of the specification disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification
and examples be
considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention
being indicated by
the following claims and their range of equivalents.
[00125] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing
each and every
value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as
the terminus of the
range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by
referenced in their
entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present
disclosure and that of a cited
reference, the present disclosure controls.
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