Oral care kit and package for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492006-B2
Application number	US-201214443605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2012
Priority date	Nov 19, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

An oral care kit ( 100 ) is provided to allow users with the ability to view a portion of the toothbrush ( 400 ) and the dispenser ( 500 ), such as a recess located at one end of the toothbrush ( 400 ) and an anti-rotation member ( 560 ) located at one end of the dispenser ( 500 ), without opening the package ( 300 ). The oral care kit ( 100 ) includes a package ( 300 ) comprising first and second cavities ( 600, 700 ). Each cavity ( 600, 700 ) includes retaining elements ( 630, 640, 650, 730, 750 ). Additionally, the second cavity ( 700 ) includes a retaining channel ( 740 ). The oral care kit ( 100 ) also includes a toothbrush ( 400 ) comprising a head ( 430 ), a handle ( 410 ), and a recess located at a proximal end of the handle ( 410 ), and a dispenser ( 500 ) comprising a housing ( 520 ), a rotatable actuator ( 540 ) and an anti-rotation member ( 560 ) located at a proximal end of the housing ( 520 ). When the toothbrush ( 400 ) is mounted within the first cavity ( 600 ), the recess is visible and when the dispenser ( 500 ) is mounted within the second cavity ( 700 ), the anti-rotation member ( 560 ) is visible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care kit comprising:
a package comprising a first cavity including a first plurality of retaining elements and a second cavity including a second plurality of retaining elements and a first retaining channel, the first cavity including a top surface;
a toothbrush comprising a head, a handle, and a recess located at a proximal end of the handle, the toothbrush positioned within the first cavity, a portion of the toothbrush contacting the first plurality of retaining elements;
a dispenser comprising a housing, a rotatable actuator located at a proximal end of the housing and a first anti-rotation member and a second anti-rotation member located at the proximal end of the housing, the first anti-rotation member located on a left side of the dispenser and the second anti-rotation member located on a right side of the dispenser, the dispenser positioned within the second cavity, a first portion of the dispenser contacting the second plurality of retaining elements and a second portion of the dispenser and the first anti-rotation member contacting the first retaining channel, the first retaining channel corresponding substantially to the shape of the first anti-rotation member; and
wherein the toothbrush is mounted within the first cavity so that the recess is visible from outside of the package and the dispenser is mounted within the second cavity so that the second anti-rotation member is visible from outside of the package so as to provide visual cues as to how the toothbrush and the dispenser are to be assembled together.

2. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the first cavity has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of the toothbrush.

3. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the toothbrush further comprises an opening located at the proximal end of the handle.

4. The oral care kit according to claim 3 wherein one of the first plurality of retaining elements comprises a protrusion extending from the top surface, the protrusion has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of the recess.

5. The oral care kit according to claim 4 wherein when the toothbrush is positioned within the first cavity, an outer perimeter of the protrusion is in surface contact with an inner perimeter of the recess.

6. The oral care kit according to claim 3 wherein one of the first plurality of retaining elements comprises a protrusion extending from an inner side surface of the first cavity, and wherein when the toothbrush is positioned within the first cavity, a portion of toothbrush contacts the protrusion.

7. The oral care kit according to claim 6 wherein the portion of toothbrush that contacts the protrusion is a portion of a neck of the toothbrush or a portion of the handle of the toothbrush.

8. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the toothbrush further comprising an additional recess located at the proximal end of the handle, and wherein one of the first plurality of retaining elements comprises a protrusion extending from the top surface, the protrusion has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of the recesses, and when the toothbrush is positioned within the first cavity, an outer perimeter of the protrusion is in surface contact with an inner perimeter of each of the recesses.

9. The oral care kit according to claim 3 wherein the opening forms a passageway into the toothbrush through which a portion of the dispenser can be slid, and the rotatable actuator forms a longitudinal extension of the handle.

10. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the second cavity has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of the dispenser.

11. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the dispenser further comprises a cap having a rim and the package further comprises a second retaining channel, and when the dispenser is positioned within the second cavity, a portion of an outer perimeter of the rim is in surface contact with an inner perimeter of the second retaining channel.

12. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein one of the second plurality of retaining elements comprises a protrusion extending from an inner side surface of the second cavity, and wherein when the dispenser is positioned within the second cavity, a portion of the dispenser contacts the protrusion.

13. The oral care kit according to claim 12 wherein the portion of the dispenser that contacts the protrusion is a portion of the housing of the dispenser.

14. The oral care kit according to claim 1 wherein the toothbrush is mounted within the first cavity so that a front surface and a rear surface of the head of the toothbrush are at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the first cavity.

15. The oral care kit according to claim 14 wherein the oblique angle is between 5° to 80°.

16. The oral care kit according to claim 14 wherein the oblique angle is between 20° to 40°.

17. The oral care kit according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve wrapped around the package, the sleeve being substantially transparent such that the toothbrush and dispenser are visible.

18. A package for an oral care kit comprising:
a first cavity including a top surface and an inner side surface, a first plurality of retaining elements extending from the inner side surface and the top surface, the first cavity has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of a toothbrush; and
a second cavity including a top surface and an inner side surface, a second plurality of retaining elements extending from the inner side surface and a first retaining channel disposed in the top surface, the second cavity has a shape and size that corresponds to a shape and size of a dispenser that comprises a first anti-rotation member and a second anti-rotation member, the first anti-rotation member located on a left side of the dispenser and the second anti-rotation member located on a right side of the dispenser;
wherein when the toothbrush is mounted within the first cavity, the first plurality of retaining elements cooperate to orient the toothbrush so that a recess of the toothbrush is visible, and when the dispenser is mounted within the second cavity, the first anti-rotation member is in contact with the first retaining channel, and the second plurality of retaining elements and the first retaining channel cooperate to orient the dispenser so that the second anti-rotation member is visible from outside the package so as to provide visual cues as to how the toothbrush and the dispenser are to be assembled together, the recess and the anti-rotation member capable of forming a keyed cooperation.

19. The package according to claim 18 wherein when the toothbrush is positioned within the first cavity, an outer perimeter of a protrusion is in surface contact with an inner perimeter of the recess.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Jimenez Eduardo
• Moskovich Robert
• Rooney Michael
• Lee David
• Horn Frank

Classifications

• A46B2200/1066

  Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) · CPC title

• A46B15/0061

  with a container for accessories, e.g. pills, polish, condoms, cells (A46B11/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D75/367

  and forming several compartments · CPC title

• A46B15/0091 Primary

  Container, e.g. bag or box with a collection of various devices · CPC title

• A46B11/0065

  Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being replaced when empty · CPC title