Oral care device with sacrificial electrode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10932893-B2
Application number	US-201816215236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A container, a toothbrush, or a device including at least one sacrificial electrode. In one aspect, the container may include a body adapted to contain an oral care solution and a cap selectively removable from the body. The cap may include a cavity configured to contain a fluid, a first electrode comprising a sacrificial metal, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and an electrical connection electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to a power source. Activation of the power source may generate an electric field between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sacrificial metal of the first electrode to release ions into the fluid in the cavity of the cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising;
a body adapted to contain an oral care solution; and
a cap selectively removable from the body, wherein the cap comprises:
a cavity configured to contain a fluid;
a first electrode comprising a sacrificial metal;
a second electrode spaced from the first electrode; and
an electrical connection electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to a power source; and

wherein activation of the power source generates an electric field between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sacrificial metal of the first electrode to release ions into the fluid in the cavity of the cap; and
wherein the cap comprises a base surface forming a closed end of the cap and an annular sidewall extending from the base surface, and wherein the first and second electrodes extend from the closed end of the cap into the cavity.

2. The container according to claim 1 further comprising threads on the inner surface of the annular sidewall for coupling the cap to the body.

3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the cap comprises a closed end and an annular sidewall that extends from the closed end to an open end, the closed end and the annular sidewall collectively defining a cavity configured to hold a volume of the fluid, the closed end of the cap being flat so that the cap may be placed on a flat surface with the closed end resting on the flat surface.

4. The container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is the oral care solution or water.

5. The container according to claim 1 wherein the sacrificial metal is zinc.

6. A container comprising;
a body adapted to contain an oral care solution; and
a cap selectively removable from the body, wherein the cap comprises:
a cavity configured to contain a fluid;
a first electrode comprising a sacrificial metal;
a second electrode spaced from the first electrode; and
an electrical connection electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to a power source; and

wherein activation of the power source generates an electric field between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sacrificial metal of the first electrode to release ions into the fluid in the cavity of the cap; and
wherein the cap comprises a base surface and an annular sidewall extending from the base surface, and wherein the first and second electrodes comprise metallic wire loops coupled to an inner surface of the annular sidewall in a spaced apart manner, the loops extending parallel to one another.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Johansson Patrik
• Gontarz Gerald

Classifications

• C25B1/01

  Products · CPC title

• A61C19/06 Primary

  Implements for therapeutic treatment (radiation therapy A61N5/00) · CPC title

• C25B11/02

  characterised by shape or form · CPC title

• A61N1/0548

  Oral electrodes · CPC title

• A61C19/066

  Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips · CPC title