RU2567680C2 - Oral care tool containing oral care agent - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles.

SUBSTANCE: oral care tool contains an oral care agent. In one implementation version, the oral care agent may be provided for on one or more surfaces of the oral care tool or contained in the head cavity (50) or inside one or more surfaces of the head In another implementation version, the oral care agent may be provided for on or in a thin plate that is subsequently attached to a surface or applied as a stationary coating The oral care tool may be equipped with a wear indicator (120). Oral care agents may be released during a non-recurrent usage, during recurrent usages or during the tool service life. Water, oral excretions and/or chemical substances in the oral cavity may activate the oral care agent.

EFFECT: increased convenience.

18 cl, 10 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to an oral care implement with at least one oral care product that can be inserted into a user's oral cavity to provide hygiene to the user's oral cavity. The present invention also relates to such an oral care instrument comprising a wear indicator that informs the user when the oral care agent has been used up.

BACKGROUND

The population has many forms of oral diseases, including tooth decay, periodontal disease and bad breath (halitosis). Tooth decay and periodontal disease are usually caused by pathogenic bacteria in the mouth. When a mixture of pathogenic bacteria with protein is present in saliva, tartar deposits are formed on the teeth and soft tissues. If tartar is not removed, it can destroy teeth and form cavities. Additionally, tartar acts on soft tissues in the oral cavity and causes gum disease, which is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Thus, reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity has long been the goal of people working in the field of oral care.

The most common way to minimize the effects of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity is by brushing your teeth with toothpaste, which introduces at least one oral care product into the oral cavity.

Oral fluids, including mouth rinses, are also used to provide additional care for the oral cavity, in addition to that achieved with cleaning. Mouthwashes may also be used to introduce breath freshening substances to the oral cavity in order to eliminate stale breath.

Unfortunately, people do not always have time to take enough care of the oral cavity. For example, a busy person does not have the time or patience to brush their teeth thoroughly, floss and / or use a mouth rinse. Alternatively, some people may find everything but brushing their teeth unnecessary. In any case, these people can leave, after their usual brushing, a significant amount of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity, which can begin to act on the teeth and gums.

Additionally, even when all available and recommended products are used, they may not be as effective as if they were all introduced at the same time. For example, the use of toothpaste and rinsing for the oral cavity cannot simultaneously reduce any synergistic effect that they could provide to the user if they were used at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to an oral care implement that contains and inserts an oral care implement into a user's oral cavity. An oral care implement comprises a head having at least a portion of material that forms cavities. At least one oral care agent is provided in the plurality of cavities and is distributed in the user's oral cavity when the oral care agent (a) comes into contact with a liquid or reagent within the cavity. In another aspect of the present invention, an oral care implement comprises a wear indicator to indicate an amount of an oral care implement.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an oral care device made of a polymer that houses at least one oral care agent. Oral care products may be contained on or on one or more surfaces of the oral care tool for insertion into the oral cavity. Oral care products may be contained in cavities in one or more surfaces of the head. Alternatively, the oral care agent may be included in or held onto a thin plate subsequently attached to the toothbrush head or attached to the toothbrush head as a fixed cover. Oral care products can be released during one use, during repeated use, or during the life of the tool. Water, oral secretions, or chemicals in the oral cavity can activate your oral care products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an oral care implement in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of one surface of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 3 depicts the surface of the tool of Figure 1, the opposite of that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged part 4-4 of the surface of the tool of Figs. 1-3;

Figure 5 is a cross section of one embodiment of the cavity depicted in Figure 4;

6 is a cross section of one embodiment of the cavity depicted in figure 4;

Fig.7 is a partial section of the tool of Fig.2;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of a tool according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig.9 depicts an embodiment of the tool of Fig.2; and

Figure 10 is a General view of an alternative embodiment of a tool according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 depicts one embodiment of an oral care tool 1 having an elongated handle 10 and a head 20 for insertion into a user's mouth or oral cavity. The oral care tool 1 is not limited to a toothbrush, as shown and described, but can have any shape or design and perform any function that allows it to deliver oral care products to a user, with non-limiting examples of other oral care tools mouth, including a combination with a tongue cleaning device and a folding brush, a toothpick. Tool 1 can be used once and then disposed of or it can be used repeatedly over a period of time. The elongated handle 10 can be made of various shapes and various designs, which make it easy to hold the tool 1 for caring for the oral cavity and manipulate it in the oral cavity of the user.

The head 20 comprises a plurality of surfaces that are exposed to liquids in the oral cavity during use. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the head 20 comprises a first surface 22 on the first side 23 and a second surface 24 on the second, opposite side 25. The side walls 26 extend between the surfaces 22, 24. The oral care elements 30 may extend from either of two or both surfaces 22, 24 of the head 20, whose elements 30 may comprise tooth cleaning elements 35, such as elongated bristles or rubber fingers, or soft tissue cleaning elements, such as tongue cleaning elements (not shown) passing from one of two surfaces she is 22, 24. A third example comprises a head 20 having tooth cleaning elements 35 extending from the first surface 22 and tongue cleaning elements (not shown) extending from the second surface 24.

The oral care elements 30 disclosed herein are not limited to those discussed above. In contrast, the term “oral care item” is generic and intended to combine all types of items that can be used in the oral cavity, including items for cleaning teeth and soft tissues that are not mentioned above, items for massaging gums and other types of items for cleaning and massage the oral cavity.

Regardless of the number and position of the oral care elements 30 provided on the head 20, the head 20 also comprises at least one oral care product for insertion into the oral cavity to fulfill its intended function. In one embodiment, an oral care agent may be provided in cavities 50 (see FIG. 4) formed or existing in the head 20. An oral care agent may also be contained in or on a separate member 100 located on one or more surfaces 22, 24 or 26 of the head 20 (see Figure 2). This element 100 can be provided instead of cavities 50 or in addition to them, within the head 20.

The head 20 is generally made of a material having a plurality of externally located cavities 50 that are open to their respective external surfaces 22, 24, 26. The entire head 20 can be made of this material, or it can only cover an inner core (not shown). The material from which the head 20 is typically made may comprise any of a wide variety of commercially available polymers, for example, a type of thermoplastic polymer. In an embodiment, the oral care tool 1 is made of polypropylene, so that in the manufacture it is made with cavities located inside. Different thermoplastic polymers or polymers having different molecular weights usually have different melting and solidification parameters.

Thus, the prerogative of the choice of the polymer suitable for this application, has a qualified specialist in this field of technology. The oral care tool 1 may be made of polypropylene materials such as those available from M.A. Industries In an embodiment, the head 20 made of polypropylene material is made using a sintering method. The head 20 can be performed simultaneously with the remaining part of the oral care tool 1 as a single, continuous element. Alternatively, head 20 may be configured as a component that is assembled as part of tool 1. Head 20 can then be attached by a variety of methods, including ultrasonic welding, heat welding, laser welding, etc. or by mechanical means, which will also allow the head 20 to be replaceable.

As used in the description, the term "cavity" is intended to mean holes in the head 20, whether they are present directly in the material of the head or intentionally made there, which preferably do not pass completely through the entire head. As used in the description, the term "open surface" refers to a surface that forms the shape of the head 20 and which, in general, forms the boundary between the head 20 and its environment. The outwardly open cavities 50 are configured to receive and maintain one or more oral care products. Cavity 50 can receive these funds in concentrated form, in liquid form, or both. In an embodiment, the cavities 50 will receive and store the oral care agent (a) until a predetermined amount is obtained or the cavity is filled. The size and shape of these cavities 50 may be different, so they may contain a large amount of oral care products or oral care products with larger or different molecules.

Obviously, a wide variety of technical requirements for materials can be used (such as polymer type, polymer size, granule size distribution, type of oral care product used, particle size distribution of oral care product and ratio of polymer pore to particle size oral care products) and also a wide variety of manufacturing / manufacturing parameters (such as temperature and pressure) to provide tool 1 having various advantageous differences, including tea size, shape and location of the cavity spacing. For example, an oral care tool 1 may have cavities 50 that introduce oral care products into a user's mouth at different speeds. These speeds can be controlled, for example, by the size of the open surface area corresponding to the cavity 50 and the oral care product in the outer surface 22, 24, 26 of the head, the shape of the cavities 50, the depth of the cavities 50 and / or the parameters of the means contained in the cavities oral care.

Adjacent cavities 50 may have different sizes to accommodate different amounts of oral care products or oral care products with different molecular sizes. As a result, the oral care tool 1 can have various output parameters of the oral care products that control when and how much of each oral care product should be introduced into the oral cavity. For example, in an embodiment in which it is desired that the oral care product be introduced relatively quickly from the oral care tool 1, a large granule size of thermoplastic can preferably be selected for the head 20 and, where required, the tool according to oral care has been introduced more slowly, preferably a smaller thermoplastic granule size may be selected.

Adjacent cavities 50 on the external surfaces of the head 20 may comprise the same or different oral care products. In the same way, the same cavity 50 may contain various oral care products (A, B) or placed in layers on top of each other (FIG. 5) for controlled release time, or placed adjacent to each other (FIG. 6) so that they will respond simultaneously when they come in contact with the activator.

Active oral care products can function as, for example, abrasives, oral fresheners, tooth whiteners, vitamins, antibacterial / antimicrobial agents, tartar removers, substances to reduce the sensitivity of the oral cavity and teeth, anti-caries substances and / or combinations of these functional compounds to provide an individual or combined, synergistic advantage. Oral care products may also contain flavorings, colorings, nutritional or beneficial additives such as calcium. Calcium could, for example, be provided in a dosage of 1 mg per use. Flavors may be dispensed to indicate that the oral care item 1 is functioning properly or to indicate that tool 1 has been exhausted and is ready to be replaced or refilled. Also, oral care products could eliminate specific enzymes within the user's oral cavity. Dyes administered by oral care products could temporarily give the user's teeth a shade, a sparkle, a shine and / or an indicator for the user's teeth. Additionally, a lack of fluid in the oral cavity may trigger an oral care product, such as a stimulant for the salivary gland, provided within the cavities 50. The amount and rate of administration of such agents will depend on the amount needed and the agent used.

During the manufacture of the oral care tool 1, the oral care products can be introduced into the cavity in a solid and / or liquid state. In one embodiment, the material of the oral care tool 1 is immersed in the desired fluid so that the oral care product (a) within the fluid can flow and remain inside the cavities 50. When dried, the oral care product 20 is held in cavities 50. It is also possible to impregnate the cavities 50 of the head portion 20 with the desired oral care product during manufacture. It is also obvious that the used oral care tool, that is, the one in which the oral care product was used up, can advantageously be refilled with the oral care product by immersing it again in a liquid that contains the desired care product behind the oral cavity. The cavities 50 can be replenished (refilled) on a regular basis, including daily replenishment for instruments that provide a single dosage of at least one oral care product.

Once the cavities 50 receive their intended oral care product, the head 20 can advantageously be used to dispense or release the oral care product into the oral cavity. Oral care products will usually be washed out of their respective cavities 50 when they come into contact with fluids and / or chemicals in the oral cavity. According to one aspect of the present invention, active oral care agents that have been impregnated with head material, for example, can be released into the oral cavity when brushing teeth. During the toothbrushing process, water and chemicals present in the user's mouth will come into contact with the oral care product in the cavities 50 of the head 20. This will lead to a reaction in which the oral care product (s) will be washed out cavities 50 of the head 20. Additionally, the use of various oral care products in the cavities 50 of the same head 20 has the ability to provide synergistic benefits to the user. This can be especially useful when there are two primary oral care products that, under ideal conditions, should be kept separate from each other until the desired time of use. In this way, the oral care tool 1 can simultaneously provide the user with many benefits.

The oral care tool 1 is also able to provide the benefits of toothpaste, for example, by soaking the head material with chemicals and abrasives in the toothpaste. In such an embodiment of the invention, it would be possible to provide some of the chemical and mechanical benefits of toothpaste solely by using a toothbrush without toothpaste applied to the cleaning elements of the toothbrush. At least one of the issued oral care products could also act as a catalyst or enhancer for toothpaste or other substances introduced into the mouth. Also, by using this oral care tool 1 in a more efficient way, it is possible to provide an advantage to a chemical, such as, for example, chlorhexidine.

The feed member 100 described above may provide or comprise the oral care products described above and also function as an indicator of wear. This element 100 may be located in any position on the head 20 and may provide the user with an indication of when the oral care product has been exhausted. In a non-limiting illustrative embodiment, the feed member 100 is shown as a strip 102 on the second surface 24. The feed member 100 may be of any shape and may be located on or in any surface (s) on the tool 1 that will be in the user's field of vision. In addition to identifying when the tool 1 is to be removed or filled a second time, the supply element 100 may also comprise and supply at least one of the aforementioned oral care products to the oral cavity.

In an embodiment, the feed member 100 is replaceable, and one or more replaceable strips 102 can be applied in its place, in series or in parallel, to perform the same function (s) as the feed member 100. These interchangeable strips 100 can be applied after each use of tool 1 or after repeated use. Single or multiple strips may also be applied to the surface of the head to make apparent the multiple individual benefits or advantages that result from combining the effects of the multiple available different strips. Such bands can be sold separately and used by the user as desired. For the convenience of the user, interchangeable strips 100 could be located in the recess or in the cavity of the handle 10 of the tool 1.

Replaceable / enhancement strips 102 that perform various functions in the oral cavity can also be provided. For example, interchangeable / enhancement strips 102 may be designed to freshen breath, stimulate salivary glands and / or reduce tooth sensitivity, etc. In such embodiments, these strips 102 with various functions, for example, can be attached to the tool 1 instead of or in addition to the strips 102 that are regularly used on the head 20 to kill pathogens in the oral cavity.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the delivery member 100 (and interchangeable strips 102, see FIG. 2) comprises a first layer 110, preferably of a water-insoluble material, such as a polymer, which can hold the oral care product supplied to oral cavity. The water-insoluble material comprises a feed member 100 as the oral care product is washed away and delivered to the user's oral cavity. The material layer 110 may comprise a part of the head 20 or a material layer designed to have the desired criteria for the feed rate and dosage that can be held in the head 20. The feed element 100 can be held on or within at least one surface of the head 20. For example , the feed member 100 could be held within the recess 118 (FIG. 8), which extends along or around the head 20. Such a recess 118 could be from about 1 to about 2 mm deep relative to the outer surfaces of the head 20.

The second layer 114 is placed on top of the first layer 110. This layer can be made of any material or materials that can be chemically and / or mechanically modified. Chemical and / or mechanical change can be achieved, for example, by chemical reactions initiated by saliva components or water, including dissolution or chemical reaction of enzymes and / or friction of the layer on the surface of the oral cavity. This layer 114 may be destroyed due to friction during use of the tool 1, or it may be made of a water-soluble material. In an embodiment, the outer layer 114 comprises a water soluble polymer (preferably, for example, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol). However, any known non-toxic polymer, copolymer or combination thereof can be used to provide controlled water solubility of the layer. The solubility of the polymer used in the outer layer 114 should be low enough so that it dissolves slowly during repeated use. The second layer 114 may also contain one or more oral care products, such as an antimicrobial compound. The antimicrobial compound may be any of those discussed above, such as chlorhexidine.

Non-limiting examples of antimicrobial compounds that can be used in place of chlorhexidine digluconate include antibiotics such as actinobolin, chlortetracycline, tetracycline, streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin, niddamycin, bacitracin, erythromycin, penicillin, racinecin, racincin, racincin, racecin, as well as anti-calculus enzymes such as mucinase, pancreatin, fungal enzymes, protease amylase, dextranase, mynase, zendium and amyloglucocidase and glucose oxidase. Other common antimicrobial agents that may be used include phenolic compounds (eg, phenol, thymol, 2-phenylphenol, hexylresorcinol) and listerins (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate); b-pyridines (e.g., octeniden); pyrimidines (e.g. hexetidine); halogens (e.g. iodine, iodophor, fluorides); quaternary ammonium salts (e.g. cetylpyridinium chloride, benztonium chloride, domifen bromide); oxidizing agents (e.g. peroxides; perborates); plant extracts (e.g. sangnimarine); heavy metal salts (e.g. silver, mercury, zinc, copper, tin); and other bis-biguanidines other than chlorhexidine (e.g., alexidine). Of course, other chlorhexidine salts such as diacetates and dihydrochlorides can be used instead of chlorhexidine digluconate.

These two layers 110, 114 can be made either by the usual method of co-extrusion or co-injection molding of two different mixtures. Alternatively, one layer may be extruded and then another layer may be hot formed / compression cast or applied to the extruded layer. Other manufacturing methods are also possible.

Since the feed member 100 comes into contact with water, saliva, or a chemical compound in the mouth, the outer layer 114 dissolves and the oral care product leaves the area open by dissolving the outer layer 114. Since the outer layer 114 dissolves through repeated use, it does not only releases the oral care product held, for example, in the polymer, but also releases the indicator 120, which indicates wear of the tool 1, including when the oral care in the tool It has not been exhausted and must be replaced or re-filled (Fig. 9). The indicator 120 may be a bright color that draws the user's attention to the layer 110 and shows the amount of effective resource of the tool 1. Alternatively, the indicator 120 may be a message that informs the user that the resource of the oral care tool 1 has been used up (FIG. 9 ) Other communication methods are also possible.

In an alternative embodiment, a hydrogel is applied to at least one surface of the tool 1 and / or forms at least one layer of the feed member 100. In this embodiment, the hydrogel releases oral care products and / or absorbs other substances, bacteria and / or chemical compounds in the oral cavity and on the instrument 1.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the tool 1 may comprise any number of containers or capsules 200 attached to the surface of the head 20 or embedded in the head 20. Each capsule 200 may be made of a biocompatible material and contain at least one agent oral care products such as liquid and / or powdered oral care products. In some cases, the substances provided in the capsules should not be mixed before they enter the oral cavity. These capsules 200 may burst under pressure or dissolve and release the oral care product into the oral cavity.

In another embodiment, a single container or capsule 250 having two or more chambers 252, 254 attached to the surface of the tool 1. In this embodiment, the membrane 255 passes between the chambers 252, 254. After a while, the membrane 255 will dissolve or break. This destruction of the membrane may depend on time and / or result from the use of tool 1 in the oral cavity. When the membrane 255 dissolves, collapses, or otherwise moves away from the inner wall of the capsule 250, the substances in the chambers 252, 254 come into contact with each other and lead to a noticeable change, which indicates that the oral care product in the tool 1 may be exhausted.

As described above, a wide variety of casting methods can be used in accordance with an oral care tool, and a wide variety of technical requirements and parameters for materials can be used to provide tools having a variety of desired characteristics. While the shapes of various preferred articles of the invention have been described above, it is apparent that a wide variety of additional shapes and sizes can also be made in accordance with the invention. Preferably, the shapes and sizes are selected so that fluid contact with the porous portion of the oral care implement is optimized. Additionally, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Obviously, other embodiments may be used and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (18)

1. An oral care implement comprising:
a head, wherein at least a portion of said head comprises at least one oral care agent;
a wear indicator attached to the surface of the oral care implement, the wear indicator comprising a first chamber containing a first material and a second chamber containing a second material;
a membrane located between the first chamber and the second chamber for separating the first material from the second material; and
however, when the membrane is removed, the first material is in contact with the second material and causes a noticeable change, which indicates that the means for caring for the oral cavity is exhausted. 2. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is removed by dissolving over time using the oral care implement. 3. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the oral care product is stored inside the capsule, which is located on the head. 4. An oral care implement according to claim 3, wherein the capsule bursts under pressure to release the oral care product into the oral cavity. 5. An oral care implement according to claim 3, wherein the capsule dissolves over time to release the oral care product into the oral cavity. 6. An oral care implement according to claim 1,
additionally containing a cavity made in the surface of the head, and the specified at least one means for caring for the oral cavity is located inside the cavity. 7. An oral care implement according to claim 6, wherein the first oral care agent and the second oral care agent are located in the cavity. 8. An oral care implement according to claim 7, wherein the first oral care agent is layered on the upper surface of the second oral care agent for a controlled release of the time distribution. 9. An oral care implement according to claim 7, wherein the first oral care agent and the second oral care agent are various agents, and wherein the first oral care agent is disposed adjacent to the second inside the oral cavity oral care products, so that the first and second oral care products will respond simultaneously when they come in contact with the activator. 10. An oral care implement comprising:
a head, wherein at least a portion of said head comprises at least one oral care agent;
a capsule attached to the surface of the oral care implement, wherein the capsule comprises a first chamber containing a first material and a second chamber containing a second material, where the first and second materials are separated by a barrier; and
while the barrier is destroyed after a predetermined period
the time the oral care tool is used, so that the first material contacts the second material, which causes a noticeable change that indicates that the oral care product has been exhausted. 11. An oral care implement according to claim 10, wherein the barrier dissolves over time when using the oral care implement. 12. An oral care implement comprising:
a head, wherein at least a portion of said head comprises at least one oral care agent;
wear indicator;
a tearable element on at least one surface of an oral care implement, wherein the tearable element comprises at least one oral care agent;
moreover, the wear indicator contains a first layer and a second layer, which are chemically or mechanically changed during the period of reuse of the tool for caring for the oral cavity to make available the first layer; and
where the first and second layers are held within the recess that extends around the head. 13. An oral care implement according to claim 12, wherein the second layer comprises material having cavities that comprise a second oral care agent. 14. The oral care instrument of claim 12, wherein the availability of the first layer after a chemical or mechanical change to the second layer indicates when the oral care instrument should be replaced or refilled
additional oral care products. 15. An oral care implement according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the layers comprises an oral care implement. 16. An oral care implement according to claim 12, wherein the wear indicator visually reports the presence of said at least one oral care product. 17. The oral care implement of claim 12, wherein the wear indicator contains a plurality of different materials which, when they are in contact, causes a noticeable change that indicates that said at least one oral care product has been expended. 18. An oral care implement comprising:
a head, wherein at least a portion of said head comprises at least one oral care agent;
wear indicator;
a tearable element on at least one surface of an oral care implement, wherein the tearable element comprises at least one oral care agent;
moreover, the wear indicator contains many different materials, which, when they are in contact, causes a noticeable change, which indicates that the specified at least one means for caring for the oral cavity is used up; and
a membrane located between many different materials that wears off when using an oral care tool to allow many different
materials get in touch.

Images