Portable Oral Care Kit
A self-contained portable oral care kit comprising: a non-hollow toothbrush (or other implement), vessel, and liquid (or other substance) stored within the vessel to allow for the quick brushing of teeth, gums and/or tongue on the go.
The present invention is directed to help a user to practice oral care on the go—the invention comprising a cap with attached toothbrush inserted into a portable vessel which contains a liquid (for example, anti-cavity mouthwash) or other beneficial substance in liquid or other form.
A number of patents have been filed with respect to storing and cleaning toothbrushes between brushings such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,566,823; 5,690,214; 6,135,279; 6,213,777; 6,260,884 and 6,966,441. Additionally, there have been suggestions put forth regarding portable hollow toothbrushes that dispense toothpaste—the most recent being: U.S. Pat. No. D421,679. However, these devices are either bulky toothbrush holders that allow for disinfecting between uses at home or are travel brushes that do not disinfect nor provide for brushing without additional liquid being required. The present invention addresses the need for a convenient-to-carry on-the-go solution which may be quickly opened, utilized and stored away again.
SUMMARYThe present invention allows the user to carry the oral care kit in a pocket, purse, hand, travel bag or otherwise.
Additionally, it allows for the storing of a beneficial liquid or other substance (gel, powder, paste or other substance) in the vessel along with the portable toothbrush that will allow him/her to brush his teeth at a moment s notice quickly and for user's teeth/gums/mouth to benefit from such teeth brushing via the use of stored substance (such as a whitening, antiseptic and/or anticavity mouthwash or other substance not listed here). While it is recommended that people brush their teeth twice a day, at certain times one may want to brush their teeth or freshen up their breath while traveling or on a date, and not want to carry their toothbrush, paste and other implements along with them. Additionally, while we typically use toothpaste when brushing, toothpaste in not particularly necessary if there is some lubrication, such as mouthwash, available. In short, to use the proposed devise, the user would for example (herein provided for illustrative purposes only): shake the vessel which is partially filled with liquid/substance before use (if necessary), remove cap with attached brush, brush teeth, rinse brush if feasible and insert back into vessel.
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The toothbrush comprises a fall-size, half-length non-hollow toothbrush, mini or other-sized toothbrush, or other implement (such as a tongue scrapping device), that slides easily into a portable vessel. The vessel pictured here is what would be considered travel-size, but other embodiments may be bigger or smaller, wider or thinner, and still fall within this spec.
The curved toothbrush pictured here is attached to a screw cap with a hinged top by means of a stainless steel screw (hidden by the hinged top), and the screw cap fits the vessel allowing for the insertion and extraction of the brush (or other implement) from the vessel easily and quickly. Other methods of attaching the brush to the lid may be used (such as, but is not limited to, heat welding adhesive/molding the parts as one piece, etc.).
The cap is such that it is adhered to the vessel to securely store and not allow leakage of the liquid (or other substance) from the vessel. In this case, a screw cap was used; however, another mechanism may be substituted such as, but is not limited to, a snap cap, flip cap, push and turn cap, etc. Additionally, the cap here is a plain and simple one, however, different embodiments of the cap could incorporate an extended handle more or less ornamental, more or less practical, may be taller/shorter, or different in size, shape, or other characteristic, come with or without the hinged cap, and still fall within this spec. The cap could also be modified to be a larger cap with a storage space, for example, that could incorporate the storage of an additional substance such as, but not limited to, paste or floss under a larger hinged cap or other modification. A top cap may also be used—to hide a hinge cap—and this approach would also fall within the boundaries of this spec.
The base is such that it has a flat edge allowing it to stand for convenience sake. But it also could be amended to include an additional storage space for a substance such as, but not limited to, floss or paste. Any such embodiments/modifications would fall within this spec.
The substance stored within the invention comprises a liquid, such as, but not limited to: water, a whitener, antiseptic, anti-cavity, anti-tartar, or anti-halitosis mouthwash, medicine, or other solution (whether over-the-counter or prescribed), or may be another substance in another form such as a gel, paste, powder or a combination thereof, or another substance not yet identified. Any such embodiments/modifications would fall within this spec.
The vessel pictured comprises one that is entirely transparent, but may be partially or fully transparent, partially or fully translucent or fully or partially opaque. The vessel may be a standard one (pictured here) but may also comprise an ornamental or novelty or discreet design/shape (for example, comprise a design that would hide the nature of the contents altogether such as making it look like a lipstick casing or a moisturizer vessel). Any such embodiments/modifications would fall within this spec.
The device stands upright so that the liquid remains inside, but may be designed to stand otherwise, and may be carried “as is” or carried in another manner (such as, but not limited to, attached to a rope, cord, chain or object, and included in a care kit bag, or other manner not specified here). Any such embodiments or modifications would fall within this spec.
The toothbrush, cap and vessel are plastic in this case; however, other materials may be substituted. Any such embodiments or modifications would fall within this spec.
The toothbrush bristles are nylon in this case; however, other material may be substituted. Any such embodiments or modifications would fall within this spec.
A curved toothbrush and vessel are used here, but other straight, contoured, curved, angled or novelty shapes may be substituted. Any such embodiments or modifications would fall within this spec.
Rubber grips or areas are not included in this particular design but may be included. Any such embodiment or modification would fall within this spec.
The shape, coloring and type of toothbrush (and other parts) used here are typical; however, the shape, material, coloring or other facet of it (of them) may be amended and still be considered within the specs of this design.
The invention's proposed used is for a quick brushing of teeth, gums, and/or tongue on the go, however, the invention may also be used for other purposes (such as, but not limited to: the administering of dental/gum/tongue medicine, the whitening of teeth, administering medicine to other parts of the inner mouth by use of the brush or a modified version of the brush or other implement, etc.). The purposes may extend beyond what is stated here, however, all such uses would fall within this spec.
Claims
1. An oral care kit comprising:
- a) a portable non-hollow toothbrush (or other implement) attached to a cap
- b) a vessel onto which the above cap sits/fits, such that leakage from the vessel is prevented
- c) a liquid or other substance, that is stored within the vessel along with the toothbrush
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 26, 2017
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
Inventor: Juan A. Gonzalez (West New York, NJ)
Application Number: 15/497,537
