Oral care systems having replaceable toothbrush and dentifrice units
OwnerKaren Glassmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides oral care systems having an integral brush/dentifrice compartment and a self-contained dentifrice delivery system. The systems include a substantially permanent handle unit and a replaceable/disposable brush/dentifrice compartment unit. The brush/dentifrice compartment unit preferably is constructed as a single-piece and is insertable into the handle unit. The brush/dentifrice compartment unit includes an integral and self-contained dentifrice dispensing system that eliminates the need for a separate dentifrice container and therefore provides a more effective and sanitary dentifrice delivery system.
Claims32
An oral care system comprising:
- a handle having a cavity therein;
- a brush having a plurality of bristles extending from a head;
- one or more apertures in said head proximate said bristles;
- a compartment that is disposed in said cavity and comprises at least one dentifrice material;
- a neck extending between said brush and said compartment;
- a passageway in said neck fluidly connecting said compartment and said apertures;
- wherein said brush, said neck, and said compartment are formed as a substantially integral unit that is detachably connected to said handle.
Canceled.
An oral care system comprising a handle portion and a brush/dentifrice compartment portion that is detachably coupled to said handle portion:
- said handle portion comprising:
- a rigid body;
- a cavity in said body;
- an opening in a top end of said body;
- said brush/dentifrice compartment portion comprising:
- a rigid brush head;
- a plurality of flexible bristles extending from said brush head;
- one or more dentifrice dispensing apertures in said brush head proximate said bristles;
- a rigid neck formed between said brush head and said compartment, said neck extending through said opening in said top end of said handle portion;
- a collapsible compartment storing a dentifrice material, said compartment positioned within said cavity;
- a passageway passing through said neck and fluidly connecting said compartment to said one or more dentifrice dispensing apertures;
- wherein said compartment, said passageway, and said one or more apertures form a self-contained dentifrice dispensing system.
A toothbrush and dentifrice storage sub-system comprising:
- a brush portion comprising:
- a rigid platform;
- a plurality of bristles extending from one side of said platform;
- one or more apertures in said platform proximate said bristles;
- an elongate neck extending from said platform;
- a passageway in said elongate neck, said passageway fluidly connected to said one or more apertures;
- a dentifrice storage portion non-detachably connected to said brush portion, said dentifrice storage portion comprising:
- a flexible wall defining a belly;
- an opening in said flexible wall, said opening fluidly connected to said passageway;
- a dentifrice material stored within said belly;
- wherein said dentifrice material flows from said belly, through said opening in said flexible wall, through said passageway in said neck, and through said one or more dispensing apertures in said head portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.