U.S. patent application number 12/305673 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for toothbrush.
Invention is credited to Josef Merl, Wolf-Dieter Mueller.
Application Number | 20090229063 12/305673 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36888492 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090229063 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Merl; Josef ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Toothbrush
Abstract
An oral hygiene implement, typically a toothbrush, having an
oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material
having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition
comprising 100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material
and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of a
plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which
comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic
flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.
Inventors: |
Merl; Josef; (Neuss, DE)
; Mueller; Wolf-Dieter; (Buehl (Baden), DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CORPORATION;CORPORATE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY-US, UW2220
P. O. BOX 1539
KING OF PRUSSIA
PA
19406-0939
US
|
Family ID: |
36888492 |
Appl. No.: |
12/305673 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/056498 |
371 Date: |
December 19, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0055 20130101;
A46D 1/006 20130101; A46B 15/0081 20130101; A46D 1/00 20130101;
A46B 2200/1066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 15/00 20060101
A46B015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 30, 2006 |
GB |
0613135.3 |
Claims
1. An oral hygiene implement, having at least one elastomeric oral
hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a
hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition comprising
100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material and 10-100
parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of a plasticising oil
and a lipophilic flavouring substance which comprises menthol
and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic flavouring substance
being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.
2. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 1 being a
toothbrush comprising a grip handle and an integral or replaceable
head with bristles extending from one surface of its head, and the
at least one elastomeric oral hygiene element comprises
thermoplastic elastomeric lamellae extending from the opposite
surface of the head.
3. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 1 wherein the
plasticizing oil comprises medical white oil.
4. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 1 wherein the
lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 10+/-2% of the
plasticiser.
5. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 1 wherein the
lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 70 weight % or more of
menthol and/or one or more derivative thereof.
6. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 5 wherein the
lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 40-60 weight % of
menthol, in mixture with 20-35 weight % of menthone, 5-8 weight %
of one or more menthyl ester particularly menthyl acetate, and 1-5
weight of menthofuran.
7. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 6 wherein the
lipophilic flavouring substance comprises the composition:
TABLE-US-00005 Minimum Maximum Total menthol 52 wt. % 56 wt. %
Menthone 22 wt. % 30 wt. % Menthyl esters 5.8 wt. % 7.8 wt. %
Menthofuran 1.7 wt. % 3.7 wt. %
8. An oral hygiene implement according to claim 1 wherein the
lipophilic flavouring substance comprises peppermint oil.
9. A process for making an oral hygiene implement comprising a
plastics material handle part and an oral hygiene element,
comprising co-moulding the plastics material handle part and an
oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material
having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition
comprising; 100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base
material and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of
a plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which
comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic
flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.
10. An article comprising an oral hygiene implement according to
claim 1 provided in packaging comprising a packaging layer having a
surface on which is printed matter incorporating a pigment, and
this printed matter is covered by a barrier layer comprising at
least one layer each of polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene, the
barrier layer being situated between the printed matter and the
oral hygiene implement.
11. An article according to claim 10 wherein the barrier layer
comprises two layers of polyethylene sandwiching a layer of
polyvinyl alcohol intermediate between these two layers of
polyethylene.
12. An article according to claim 10 wherein the barrier layer has
a thickness 40-60 microns.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to oral hygiene devices.
[0002] In particular the invention relates to toothbrushes of the
type which incorporate elastomeric lamellae on the surface of their
head opposite to the surface from which bristles project. Such
lamellae are provided primarily for the purposes of tongue
cleaning, i.e. for gently removing deposits which might cause bad
breath from the tongue.
[0003] Toothbrushes of this type are known, see for example GB-A-2
391 462 which discloses a toothbrush having a head with bristles
extending from one surface of its head, and thermoplastic
elastomeric lamellae extending from the opposite surface, and these
elastomeric lamellae may incorporate a flavour. Such a toothbrush,
though not incorporating a flavour into its elastomeric lamellae,
is sold by the present applicant for example under the trade mark
Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt.
[0004] There remains an ongoing need to provide improved forms of
such toothbrushes, and it is an objective of this invention to
provide such an improvement.
[0005] According to this invention an oral hygiene implement is
provided, having at least one elastomeric oral hygiene element made
of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a hardness in the
range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition comprising 100-200 parts of a
thermoplastic elastomer base material and 10-100 parts of a
plasticiser comprising a mixture of a plasticising oil and a
lipophilic flavouring substance which comprises menthol and/or
derivatives thereof, the lipophilic flavouring substance being 5-15
wt % of the mixture.
[0006] An improvement provided by the invention is the enhanced
oral experience provided by the pleasant flavour resulting from the
presence of the lipophilic flavouring substance.
[0007] The oral hygiene implement preferably comprises a plastics
material handle part upon which the one or more oral hygiene
element is mounted. Suitable plastics materials include the
plastics materials from which toothbrushes are made, typically
polypropylene.
[0008] The oral hygiene implement is preferably a toothbrush
comprising a grip handle and an integral or replaceable head with
bristles extending from one surface of its head. Preferably the at
least one elastomeric oral hygiene element comprises thermoplastic
elastomeric lamellae extending from the opposite surface of the
head. Such lamellae may be of a known shape. For example such
lamellae may be in the form of strips having a length direction
perpendicular to the head-handle length direction of the
toothbrush, a width direction perpendicular to the said opposite
surface, and a thickness direction parallel to said head-handle
direction. A typical form of such lamellae is those of the known
Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt toothbrush.
[0009] Alternatively the oral hygiene implement may be a tongue
cleaning device other than a toothbrush. An example of such a
device is for example disclosed in PCT/EP06/000181 and DE-G-202 005
004291.9, relating to the "Zungen Reiniger" tongue cleaning device
sold under the "DrBEST.TM." trade mark.
[0010] Thermoplastic elastomer materials are well known materials
which combine the characteristics of both thermoplastics on the one
hand and elastomers on the other. Numerous types of thermoplastic
elastomer base material are known for use in the oral hygiene
implement of this invention, for example styrene block copolymers.
A suitable base material is that which is used as the base
thermoplastic elastomer material used for the tongue-cleaning
lamellae of the AQUAFRESH DUO CLEAN.TM. toothbrush marketed by the
present applicant. Examples of such materials are he Thermolast
K.TM. family of thermoplastic elastomer materials available from
the supplier Gummiwerk Kraiburg GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, for
example the material TF 3 AAH. These are based on hydrogenated
styrene block copolymers.
[0011] The thermoplastic elastomer material preferably has a
hardness in the range ShoreA 30+/-3.
[0012] Preferably the thermoplastic elastomer material contains
20-80 parts of the plasticiser. The composition range of the
plasticiser, i.e. 5-15 wt % of the lipophilic flavouring substance
in the plasticiser mixture appears to be important in optimising
the taste perceived by the user of the oral hygiene implement of
this invention. A preferred proportion is 10+/-2%. For example it
is typically found that if less than 5% is used little benefit in
taste may be experienced, and if more than 15% is used the taste
may be undesirable.
[0013] The term "plasticising oil" used herein is intended to
encompass all oils which are capable of plasticising the
thermoplastic elastomer material. The term "oil" as used herein is
intended to encompass all organic liquids having a plasticising
function, including paraffinic, hydrocarbon and ester-based oils.
The viscosity of such oils may vary between a mobile liquid and a
wax. For use in the head of a toothbrush the oil must be of a
non-toxic orally acceptable type, and a suitable plasticising oil
is so called medical white oil. Medical white oil is a known
plasticising oil for thermoplastic elastomer materials and is
preferred. Typically a medical white oil comprises a highly refined
mineral oil conforming to the quality requirements of the British
and US Pharmacopoeias. Typically such oils comply with the quality
requirements of "Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations" 1996;
(S.I.No. 1073), and United States F & D. A Regulations No.
178.3620(a) and 172.878. Typically such oils have the following
properties:
TABLE-US-00001 ISO 15 ISO 68 Relative Density @ 60.degree. F. 0.850
0.880 Viscosity @ 20.degree. C. (cS) 25.0 235 Viscosity @
40.degree. C. (cS) 15.0 69.0
[0014] Suitably the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 70
weight % or more, preferably 80 weight % or more of menthol and/or
derivatives thereof. For use in the head of a toothbrush the
derivative must be of a non-toxic orally acceptable type. Many such
non-toxic orally acceptable compounds derived from the menthol
nucleus are known. Suitable derivatives may include esters of
menthol, e.g. C.sub.1-5 alkanoic acid esters, ether and ketone
derivatives in which the hydroxyl group of the menthol nucleus is
replaced by a carbonyl moiety or is cyclised into an ether, e.g.
furan, moiety. Preferably the lipophilic flavouring substance
comprises 40-60 weight % of menthol, preferably in mixture with
20-35 weight % of menthone, preferably in mixture with 5-8 weight %
of one or more menthyl ester, particularly menthyl acetate,
preferably in mixture with 1-5 weight & of menthofuran. An
example of such a substance is Peppermint Oil. Peppermint oil
generally comprises the composition:
TABLE-US-00002 Minimum Maximum Total menthol 52 wt. % 56 wt. %
Menthone 22 wt. % 30 wt. % Menthyl esters 5.8 wt. % 7.8 wt. %
Menthofuran 1.7 wt. % 3.7 wt. %
[0015] Typically in peppermint oil the menthofuran is the
(R)-(+)-isomer. A further constituent of peppermint oil is the
menthol derivative (R)-(+)-pulegone.
[0016] In addition to being pleasant, the flavour of menthol and
menthol derivatives also conveys a feeling of oral freshness, and
can assist in overcoming any problem of bad breath.
[0017] The lipophilic flavouring substance may be admixed with the
plasticising oil to form the plasticiser, and the mixture then
blended with the thermoplastic elastomer. Alternatively the
lipophilic flavouring substance and the plasticising oil may be
blended separately with the thermoplastic elastomer.
[0018] The oral hygiene implement with its oral hygiene element may
be made according to any of the known processes for making such an
implement. A typical manufacturing process comprises co-moulding of
the implement from a plastics material and the thermoplastic
elastomer material. In such a process the thermoplastic elastomer
material defined above for use in the invention may be co-moulded
by a moulding process analogous to that used for conventional
materials. An example of such a co-moulding process is disclosed in
WO-A-2005/084487.
[0019] In a further aspect the present invention therefore provides
a process for making an oral hygiene implement comprising a
plastics material handle part and an oral hygiene element,
comprising co-moulding the plastics material handle part and an
oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material
having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition
comprising 100-200 parts of the thermoplastic elastomer base
material and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of
a plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which
comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic
flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.
[0020] The process may be otherwise generally conventional.
Typically such a process comprises firstly making a plastics
material part of the toothbrush in a first injection mould, then
enclosing the so-made plastics material part in a second injection
mould having a mould cavity which defines the shape of the
elastomeric oral hygiene element, then injecting the thermoplastic
elastomer material into the second mould under conditions which
achieve a bond between the plastics material and the thermoplastic
elastomer. Typical plastics materials are known in the art of
toothbrush manufacture, e.g. the plastics materials from which the
plastics material parts of the Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt toothbrush
is made and include polypropylene.
[0021] The oral hygiene implement of this invention is preferably
provided for sale in some suitable packaging, e.g. blister
packaging. It has been found that some lipophilic flavouring
substances, particularly those including menthol, can adversely
affect pigments used on packaging, especially blue pigments, and
the invention further addresses this problem.
[0022] This problem is addressed by a package comprising a
packaging layer having a surface on which is printed matter
incorporating a pigment, and this printed matter is covered by a
barrier layer comprising at least one layer each of polyvinyl
alcohol and polyethylene, the barrier layer being situated between
the printed matter and the oral hygiene implement.
[0023] Further there is provided a product comprising an oral
hygiene implement as defined above, enclosed within a package
comprising a packaging layer having a surface on which is printed
matter incorporating a pigment, this printed matter is covered by a
barrier layer comprising at least one layer each of polyvinyl
alcohol and polyethylene, and this barrier layer is situated
between the printed material and the oral hygiene element.
[0024] It is found that the interposition of such a barrier layer
between the oral hygiene element and the printed matter helps to
prevent adverse effects of the flavouring on typical pigments used
in printed matter on packaging.
[0025] Suitably the packaging layer may comprise a
cardboard-aluminium foil laminate, with the printed matter printed
on the surface of the aluminium foil layer. Preferably the barrier
layer comprises two layers of polyethylene sandwiching a layer of
polyvinyl alcohol intermediate between these two layers.
[0026] The present invention will now be illustrated by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows an overall side view of an oral hygiene device
of this invention, being a toothbrush.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an overall side view of a package for the oral
hygiene device of FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section of the construction
of part of the package of FIG. 2
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 an oral hygiene implement 1 overall is
shown, being a toothbrush, comprising a grip handle 2 and an
integral head 3 with bristles 4 extending from one surface 5 of its
head 3. The handle 2 and head 3 are made of a known polypropylene
material, e.g. Moplen EP 548 T.TM. used in toothbrush
manufacture.
[0031] Elastomeric oral hygiene elements 6 are provided on head 3,
being thermoplastic elastomeric lamellae extending from the
opposite surface 7 of the head 3 from which the bristles 4 extend.
The lamellae 6 are identical in construction to those of the known
Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt toothbrush, i.e. extending ca. 2 mm from
the surface 7, and about 1 mm wide at their base where they meet
the surface 7. The lamellae 6 are formed integrally in one piece
with a covering 8 of elastomer over the head 3.
[0032] The lamellae 6 and covering 8 are made of a thermoplastic
elastomer material having a hardness of ShoreA 30 comprising
100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material, for
example Thermolast K.TM. TF 3AAH, and 10-100 parts of plasticiser.
Specifically thermoplastic elastomer materials comprising
respectively 120 parts of the thermoplastic elastomer base material
and 20 parts of the plasticiser; and 200 parts of the thermoplastic
elastomer base material and 100 parts of the plasticiser were
used.
[0033] In each of these compositions of the thermoplastic elastomer
material the plasticiser comprises a mixture of Medical white oil
complying with the quality requirements of "Mineral Hydrocarbons in
Food Regulations" 1996; (S.I.No. 1073), and United States F &
D. A Regulations No. 178.3620(a) and 172.878, with the following
properties:
TABLE-US-00003 ISO 15 ISO 68 Relative Density @ 60.degree. F. 0.850
0.880 Viscosity @ 20.degree. C. (cS) 25.0 235 Viscosity @
40.degree. C. (cS) 15.0 69.0
This oil is mixed with peppermint oil of a composition:
TABLE-US-00004 Minimum Maximum Total menthol 52 wt. % 56 wt. %
Menthone 22 wt. % 30 wt. % Menthyl esters 5.8 wt. % 7.8 wt. %
Menthofuran 1.7 wt. % 3.7 wt. %
[0034] In the mixture the peppermint oil amounts to 10 weight % of
the white medical oil-peppermint oil mixture.
[0035] The plastics material part of the toothbrush, i.e. the
handle 2 and head 3 were made by a conventional injection moulding
process. This plastics material part was then enclosed in an
injection mould (not shown) having a mould cavity (not shown)
defining the shape of the lamellae 6, and thermoplastic elastomer
material of this composition was injection moulded to form the
lamellae 6. The procedure was exactly the same way as the known
elastomer material compositions which use the same white medical
oil without the peppermint oil as plasticiser, i.e. in the same way
as the lamellae of the known Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt toothbrush.
This is advantageous in enabling a 1:1 replacement of the known
thermoplastic elastomer material of the Dr.BEST.TM. Duo Protekt
toothbrush with the peppermint oil containing material described
above. The proportion of 10 weight % peppermint oil in the
plasticiser is found to be optimal in achieving a taste that is
satisfactory to consumers.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 a package 10 overall suitable for
a toothbrush 1 above is shown. This package comprises a
polyethylene terephthalate blister 11 being 250 microns thick
defining a typical blister cavity 12 suitable to enclose the
toothbrush 1. The blister cavity 12 is closed by a packaging layer
13, which comprises a cardboard 13A-aluminium foil 13B laminate,
with the printed matter 14 printed on the surface of the aluminium
foil layer 13B. This packaging layer 13 is typically 300-400
microns thick, for example ca. 350 microns thick. This printed
matter 14 is covered by a barrier layer 15 comprising two layers
15A, 15B of polyethylene sandwiching a layer of polyvinyl alcohol
15C intermediate between these two layers 15A, 15B. The barrier
layer 15 is typically 40-60 microns thick, typically ca. 50 microns
thick.
* * * * *