Patent Application
20110239388
The present invention relates generally to oral care implements, and, more particularly, to oral care implements which have a moisture degradable dispenser containing an oral care material.
The advantages of good dental hygiene are well known. Often, however, people either forget their toothbrushes when traveling or do not carry their toothbrushes outside of the home. Hotels, health care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, daycare facilities, schools, airlines, etc. have a need for single use disposable or limited multiple use toothbrushes that may be economically supplied to and discarded by individuals without a toothbrush, a dentifrice and/or a water supply. Such toothbrushes could be used in vending machines or distributed in large quantities for simple, portable use from anywhere.
Various types of disposable, limited use or portable toothbrushes are known in the art. For example, some toothbrush systems have attempted to meet some of these needs by providing toothpaste within the toothbrush itself, through an integrated channel, for distribution through the toothbrush and around the bristles. This approach tends to be economically inefficient due to added manufacturing costs. In addition, the toothpaste in some of these integrated channel toothbrushes has a tendency to become dry, hard and stale. Furthermore, these toothbrushes require water in order for the toothpaste to have maximum effectiveness and for the user to clean up after a tooth brushing session.
The present invention is directed to an oral care implement that comprises a dispenser containing an oral care material. The dispenser is designed to degrade when subjected to a user's saliva so that the oral care material is released into the oral cavity of the user. While designing the dispenser to degrade when subjected to saliva allows the inventive oral care implement to be used without water, the dispenser will also have a tendency to degrade prematurely if accidentally subjected to water or to a high humidity environment, thereby resulting in the oral care implement being ruined for its intended purpose. Thus, according to the present invention, the oral care implement further comprises a cap that creates an air-tight chamber between a head of the oral care implement and an inner surface of the cap in which the dispenser is located.
In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; a removable cap attached to the head such that an inner surface of the cap and a portion of the head forms an air-tight chamber; and wherein the dispenser is disposed within the air-tight chamber.
In another aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; a removable cap attached to the head such that an inner surface of the cap and a portion of the head forms an air-tight chamber, the air-tight chamber containing a low humidity atmosphere; and wherein the dispenser is disposed within the low humidity atmosphere of the air-tight chamber.
In a further aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material disposed on the head; a removable cap attached to the head and covering the dispenser; and wherein the dispenser and the cap are surrounded by the plurality of tooth cleaning elements.
In a yet another aspect, the invention can be a method of assembling an oral care implement for distribution comprising: providing an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head connected to the handle and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a face of the head; providing a dispenser containing an oral care material on the head of the oral care implement, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; and attaching a removable cap to the head in a low humidity atmosphere such that an inner surface of the cap and a portion of the head forms an air-tight chamber, the air-tight chamber filled with the low humidity atmosphere and the dispenser disposed within the air-tight chamber.
In a yet further aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head comprising at least one tooth cleaning element extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material positioned on the head, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; a removable barrier attached to the head so as to create a chamber between an inner surface of the removable barrier and a portion of the head, the removable barrier being constructed of a moisture impermeable material; and wherein the dispenser is disposed within the chamber.
In an even further aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head comprising at least one tooth cleaning element extending from a face of the head; the at least one tooth cleaning element comprising an oral care material; a removable barrier attached to the head so as to create a chamber between an inner surface of the removable barrier and a portion of the head, the removable barrier being constructed of a moisture impermeable material; and wherein the at least one tooth cleaning element is disposed within the chamber.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are provided for understanding only and are not to be considered limiting of the present invention.
In the following description, the invention is discussed in terms of a manual toothbrush. However, the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, the invention can be in the form of other types of oral care implements, including without limitation, a soft-tissue cleansing implement, an inter-proximal pick, a flossing tool, a plaque scraper, a powered toothbrush, or any another type of ansate implement designed for oral care use. It is also to be understood that, irrespective of the exact type of oral care implement utilized, various structural and functional modifications and/or additions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring first to
In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end 17 of the handle 14 comprises an oral care accessory, which in the exemplified embodiment is a toothpick 16. The toothpick 16 is preferably formed of a resilient and soft thermoplastic elastomer. As with the head 12, the toothpick 16 may be a refill toothpick that is removably connected to the handle 14 or may be permanently connected to the handle 14. The toothpick 16 provides a mechanism for spot cleaning between teeth. Forming the toothpick 16 of a soft thermoplastic elastomer provides for a more comfortable interproximal cleaning between the teeth. However, the toothpick 16 could be made of a stiff rigid material, similar to the main portion of the handle 14. The toothpick 16 could simply be adhered to or otherwise mounted to the end of the handle 14. Alternatively, it may be integrally formed therewith. Furthermore, a different accessory, such as a strip of dental floss or a tongue cleaning element, may be attached to the proximal end 17 of the handle 14 instead of (or in addition to) the toothpick 16. In certain embodiments, the handle 14 may not include an accessory or may include multiple accessories.
Portions 18 of the handle 14 are preferably formed of a resilient and soft thermoplastic elastomer. A suitable thermoplastic elastomer includes a thermoplastic vulcanate (TPV) consisting of a mixture of polypropylene and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomers), which is available under the tradename SANTOPRENE™ and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,796. Another suitable TPV consisting of a mixture of polypropylene and natural rubber, sold under the tradename VYRAM™, can also be used. Both SANTOPRENE™ and VYRAM™ 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. Of course, the invention is not limited to any specific type of thermoplastic elastomer.
The handle 14 may further include dimples, bumps, or ridges protruding from portions of its outer surface. Such features not only provide a decorative appearance to the handle 14 but can also facilitate enhanced gripping of the handle 14 during use of the oral care toothbrush 10. The dimples may be formed from the same material as the soft elastomer portions 18 of the handle 14 or from the same material as the remaining portions 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 has a generally flat or oval transverse cross-sectional shape, rather than a circular cross-sectional shape, in its gripping portion 15. The gripping portion 15 is the longitudinal section of the handle 14 that is located between the elastomer portions 18. The shape of the handle 14, and specifically the shape of the gripping portion 15, facilitates an enhanced gripping of the handle 14 by the user. For example, the toothbrush 10 may gradually increase in width from a point TP1 in the elastomer portion 18 nearest the head 12 to a middle point MP of the gripping portion 15 and then gradually decrease in width from the middle point MP to the proximal end 17 of the handle 14 (best shown in
The toothbrush 10 also includes a cap 40 that is attached to the head 12. The cap 40 is preferably made of a hard thermoplastic, such as polypropylene, but can be made from a wide range of materials. The cap 40 is preferably constructed of a transparent rigid plastic material so that the head 12 is visible therethrough. Of course, translucent or opaque materials can be used. The purpose of the cap 40, as well as the details of its structure, will be described in greater detail below with respect to
Referring still to
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 in certain embodiments. The small size allows the toothbrush 10 to be held completely within the palm of an adult user's hand. The head 12 is preferably sized to correspond to the size of an individual tooth or an individual tooth and the interproximal areas. While the head 12 could be made in any suitable shape, it is preferably of a circular or oval shape and has 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. The cap 40 is also preferably of a circular or oval shape (as measured across its transverse cross-section) and corresponds to the shape and size of the head 12. Of course, the invention is not limited to any specific dimensions or shapes.
Referring solely now to
Referring now to
Any suitable oral care material could be housed within and dispensed from the dispenser 32. Such products include, without limitation, toothpaste, tooth powder, or a small vial of mouthwash having a gel, a powder or a liquid. Such a vial could be separately included in a package containing the toothbrush. The materials could be flavored and could be provided in sets of different flavors and/or different characteristics such as medicaments, numbing materials and the like. In embodiments where the dispenser 32 is in the form of a bead or gel capsule, different colors may be used to correlate the bead or gel capsule with a flavor of the oral care material contained therein in order to enhance consumer appeal. Preferably, the oral care material is a fluidic oral care material.
Of course, the dispenser 32 can take the form of a wide variety of embodiments, including a coating on the tooth cleaning elements 26 of the cleaning block 22, a tablet, a film matrix/flakes in the bristle field, or any other type of barrier that controls release of the oral care material.
In certain embodiments, the materials making up the dispenser 32 and the oral care material contained therein are preferably consumable by the user of the toothbrush 10, eliminating the need for water, a sink, or a waste receptacle to expectorate the dispenser 32 or its contents. Preferably, the toothbrush 10 is supplied with a single, non-replaceable and non-refillable dispenser 32 so as to be easily transported, used and economically disposed of.
The cleaning block 22 includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 26 that are integrally formed with and extend outwardly from an outer surface 25 of the cleaning element block 22. In the illustrated embodiment, all of the tooth cleaning elements 26 extend outwardly from the outer surface 25 of the head 12 an equal distance so that their distal ends collectively form a generally flat surface. Alternatively, however, some of the tooth cleaning elements 26 may be shorter or longer than others of the tooth cleaning elements 26.
The term “tooth cleaning elements” as used herein is intended to be used in a generic sense, including cleaning elements or massaging elements. The cleaning elements can be arranged in a circular cross-section shape or any type of desired shape, including straight portions or sinusoidal portions. It is to be understood that the illustrated pattern of the cleaning elements 26 is merely for exemplary purposes. The invention can be practiced with various combinations of the same or different configurations (such as stapled or in-mold tufting (IMT) bristle technology as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,609,890, 5,390,984, and 5,533,791, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, etc.). The cleaning elements can be formed of the same or different bristle materials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, or the like). Similarly, while
The tooth cleaning elements 26 could be conventional filament bristles, elastomeric bristles or fingers, or any combination of materials so as to provide the proper stiffness in an economical manner. For example, in preferred embodiments, the tooth cleaning elements 26 can be constructed 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). The tooth cleaning elements 26 may also be constructed of a blend of TPE and either LLDPE, EVA, or polypropylene. Preferably, the two materials are combined to create cleaning elements 26 having a stiffness of less than 600 MPa. The blend of materials would give the tooth cleaning elements 26 the same properties as that 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), LLDPE or EVA.
The tooth cleaning elements 26 could be hollow, such as hollow bristles, which are capable of absorbing a medicament by capillary action. Such practice of the invention would be particularly useful for children where a medicament, such as an antibacterial material, or some form of flavor could be dispensed from the hollow cleaning elements. In such an embodiment, the tooth cleaning elements 26 themselves would act as the dispenser containing the oral care material. When the tooth cleaning elements 26 act as the dispenser, the tooth cleaning elements 26 may comprises a coating or layer that acts as a seal that degrades when exposed to moisture in certain embodiments.
The tooth cleaning elements 26 may be of any desired shape. For example, the tooth cleaning elements 26 could be of cylindrical in shape and have a uniform diameter throughout their length. Alternatively, the tooth cleaning elements 26 could taper from the root where they extend from the head 12 to their outer cleaning ends or tips 27 (
Still referring to
The tooth cleaning elements 26 define a cleaning field in the head 12 and the dispenser 32 is preferably mounted within this cleaning field. Of course, the invention is not so limited. The tooth cleaning elements 26 preferably extend outwardly from the cleaning block 22 to be approximately flush with the outer surface of the dispenser 32. Alternatively, the tooth cleaning elements 26 may extend slightly further than the dispenser 32.
The dispenser 32 holds and applies an oral care solution onto the tooth cleaning elements 26 of the toothbrush head 12. As mentioned above, the oral care solution may be toothpaste, a gel, a mouthwash, or a similar dentifrice or oral hygiene product, or a combination of the same. Preferably, the dispenser 32 is a liquid-filled gel capsule having a shell comprising frangible, thin walls that easily rupture or burst when rubbed against the teeth. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser 32 degrades when subjected to moisture and, thus, dissolves when mixed with the saliva of a user. As the saliva of a user degrades and dissolves the walls of the dispenser 32, the oral care solution held therein is excreted. While the degradation of the dispenser 32 is a desired characteristic for effectuating end use of the toothbrush 10 by the consumer, the moisture-driven degradation of the dispenser 32 presents issues with respect to properly preserving the integrity of the dispenser during product manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and display in retail stores. The dispenser 32, or at least a portion thereof, is susceptible to degradation when subjected not only to direct contact with liquid water but also to prolonged exposure to atmospheres having a high humidity level. It has been discovered that a high humidity environment can degrade the integrity of the dispenser 32 and prematurely expel the oral care material or cause the oral care material to dry up. Of course, the exact humidity levels and exposure times that will result in the degradation of the dispenser will be determined on a case-by-case basis, considering such factors as the type of dispenser being used, the type of oral care material, and the thermal cycling to which the toothbrush 10 is subjected. In view of the foregoing, the dispenser 32 is covered with the cap 40 that forms an air-tight chamber in which the dispenser 32 is disposed, thereby protecting the dispenser 32 from external moisture which can be in the form a high humidity atmosphere or liquid water.
Still referring to
In the exemplified embodiment, when the cap 40 is attached to the head 12, the elastomeric cleaning element block 22 will be compressed between the inner surface of the cap 40 and the head 12, thereby creating the air-tight seal. The air-tight seal protects the dispenser 32 from premature moisture exposure because the dispenser 32 (whatever form it takes) will be located within the air-tight chamber (which is also a water-tight chamber) formed by the cap 40 and the head 12. Although
As noted above, the dispenser 32 is susceptible to degradation when subjected to moisture, whether it be direct liquid contact or prolonged exposure to a high humidity environment or atmosphere. This may be because the dispenser 32 is water soluble in certain embodiments. Stated simply, the cap 40 provides a small discrete structure that creates a stabilized low humidity environment in which the dispenser 32 resides.
Referring now to
When the cap 40 is attached to the head 12, as shown in
The air-tight chamber 41 is formed by an inner surface 42 of the cap 40 and a portion of the head 12. Preferably, the cap 40 is attached to the head 12 while the entire toothbrush 10 is in an atmosphere having a humidity level that is sufficiently low so as not to degrade the dispenser 32 despite a prolonged exposure. As such, the attachment between the cap 40 and the head 12 will trap the low humidity air into the air-tight chamber 41. A suitably low humidity atmosphere is one which has a relative humidity level that is less than 70% at room temperature, preferably less than 60% at room temperature, more preferably less than 50% at room temperature, and most preferably less than 40% at room temperature. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, even if an atmosphere having a higher humidity is initially trapped within the chamber 41, the dispenser 32 may be able to absorb this small set amount of moisture without degrading. To this extent, the air-tight nature of the chamber 41 will prevent further exposure of the dispenser 32 to moisture and, thus, will keep the dispenser 32 in tact.
With reference to
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, the distal tips 27 of the tooth cleaning elements 26 are adjacent a roof 44 of the cap 40. In a more preferable embodiment, the cap 40 will be designed so that the distal tips 27 of the tooth cleaning elements 26 are separated from the bottom surface of the roof 44 by a space between 0-5 millimeters. In a most preferable embodiment, the inner surfaces of the cap 40 will be spaced from the tooth cleaning elements 26 by a space between 1-5 millimeters in all directions. This configuration maintains the portability of the toothbrush 10 by ensuring that the toothbrush 10, even with the cap 40 assembled thereto, maintains its small profile. In addition to protecting the dispenser against premature moisture degradation, the cap 40 will also protect the tooth cleaning elements 26 and dispenser 32 against physical damage. The cap 40 further protects the tooth cleaning elements 26 and dispenser 32 against dust, dirt, and the like that may be present in the air.
As with the embodiment of
Again, due to the air-tight nature of the attachment between the cap 40 and the head 12, which is accomplished by the air-tight seal 43, the atmosphere outside of the air-tight chamber 41 cannot penetrate into the air-tight chamber 41. This enables the toothbrush 10 to be brought into a high humidity environment without affecting the low humidity environment within the air-tight chamber 41.
Referring to
Referring to
Again, although all of the embodiments have been described herein with an annular groove 45 in the head 12 of the toothbrush 10 and an annular ridge 46 on the cap 40, the invention is not so limited. In any of the embodiments discussed herein, the head 12 of the toothbrush 10 may be provided with an annular ridge and the cap 40 may be provided with an annular groove. Moreover, the exact location of the groove and the ridge can be varied on the head 12 and/or the cap 40.
In further embodiments, the cap 40 may not cover the entirety periphery of the head 12. Rather, the cap 40 may be constructed so as to only cover the portion of the head 12 that contains the dispenser 32, such as the depression 28 of
Alternative configurations for the attachment between the head 12 and the cap 40 are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention. For example, the cap 40 may be attached to the head 12 via a press-fit attachment, tight-fit assembly, a snap-fit assembly, a threaded engagement, a tang snap assembly, a hook-and-loop fastener, and/or combinations thereof.
Referring back to
Due to the air-tight annular seal 43 between the cap 40 and the head 12 of the toothbrush 10, the air-tight chamber 41 will maintain its low humidity atmosphere, thereby protecting the dispenser 32 that is disposed therein against degradation due to moisture exposure. Prior to use of the toothbrush 10, the cap 40 may be removed manually.
Finally, while the invention is discussed above with respect to a rigid removable cap that forms an air-tight chamber, the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, any type of moisture impermeable barrier can be used to protect the dispenser or oral care material from moisture degradation. Such moisture impermeable barriers may allow dry air to pass therethrough but would impermeable to liquid and vapor forms of water. Such moisture impermeable materials can be used to create different structures, including without limitation, the cap discussed above, a sheet of material that is attached to the head, a bag that encloses the head (or a portion thereof), and the like. In one embodiment, a flexible sheet or bag constructed of moisture impermeable material may be attached to the head to enclose the dispenser (or oral care material) in a moisture impermeable chamber. The flexible sheet or bag may be heat shrunk to create the necessary hermetic connection with the head or other part of the toothbrush to prevent moisture from entering the chamber via the interface between the flexible sheet or bag and the toothbrush structure.
In embodiments where the oral care material is incorporated into the tooth cleaning elements 26, rather than in an capsule or bead, the water impermeable barrier may be directly attached to and enclose the tooth cleaning elements 26. In such embodiments, the chamber 41 does not have to include free space but may be completely filled with the capsule and/or the tooth cleaning elements.
While a number of embodiments of the current invention have been described and illustrated in detail, various alternatives and modifications will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As various changes could be made in the above methods, compositions and structures without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in this application, including all mechanisms and/or modes of interaction described above, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting in any way the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/319,675, filed on Mar. 31, 2010. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61319675 | Mar 2010 | US |
