U.S. patent application number 12/788295 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-02 for providing toothpaste beads positioned on dispensing medium.
Invention is credited to Joelle J. Scholer.
Application Number | 20100300921 12/788295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43219028 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100300921 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scholer; Joelle J. |
December 2, 2010 |
PROVIDING TOOTHPASTE BEADS POSITIONED ON DISPENSING MEDIUM
Abstract
Systems and methods to dispense toothpaste include toothpaste
beads positioned onto a dispensing medium. The toothpaste beads may
be individually stored and accessed for use on a toothbrush.
Inventors: |
Scholer; Joelle J.;
(Wilmington, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas A. Scholer
7005 Eschol Ct.
Wilmington
NC
28409
US
|
Family ID: |
43219028 |
Appl. No.: |
12/788295 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61181267 |
May 26, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/528 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 73/0007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/528 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/42 20060101
B65D085/42 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a dispensing medium configured to be
separated into a plurality of portions; and a plurality of
toothpaste beads positioned on the dispensing medium, wherein at
least one toothpaste bead of the plurality of toothpaste beads is
positioned on each of the plurality of portions, and wherein at
least a portion of the one toothpaste bead is configured to be
removed from the dispensing medium onto a toothbrush.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first toothpaste bead of the
plurality of toothpaste beads differs from a second toothpaste bead
of the plurality of toothpaste beads by a characteristic that
includes at least one of a shape, an image, an additive, a
thickness, a size, a design, a color, and a flavor.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer
positioned on a side of a toothpaste bead opposite the dispensing
medium.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cover layer is
translucent.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of toothpaste
beads are arranged in at least one of a raw and a grid.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing medium is
scored along adjacent portions.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portions of the dispensing
medium include at least one of different markings, different
colors, different images, and different designs.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dispenser
configured to separate the portions of the dispensing medium.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the dispenser is configured to
advance the dispensing medium.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing medium is
configured to be spooled.
11. A method of dispensing toothpaste, the method including:
automatically positioning a plurality of toothpaste beads onto a
dispensing medium, wherein the dispensing medium is separable into
portions each having a toothpaste bead of the plurality of
toothpaste beads positioned thereon, wherein at least a portion of
the toothpaste bead is configured to be removed from the dispensing
medium onto a toothbrush; and packaging the dispensing medium for
sale.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning a cover
layer over a toothpaste bead of the plurality of toothpaste beads,
wherein the cover layer and the dispensing medium form a cavity
that includes the toothpaste bead.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising configured the cover
layer to be peeled away from the toothpaste bead.
14. The method of claim 11, configuring a first toothpaste bead of
the plurality of toothpaste beads to differ from a second
toothpaste bead of the plurality of toothpaste beads by a
characteristic that includes at least one of a shape, an image, an
additive, a thickness, a size, a design, a color, and a flavor.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising spooling the
dispensing medium.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising arranging a
plurality of toothpaste beads into at least one of a row and a
grid.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising scoring the
dispensing medium.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising executing program
code configured to selectively modify a characteristic of a
toothpaste bead of the plurality of toothpaste beads, wherein the
characteristic is selected from a group consisting of: a shape, an
image, at additive, a thickness, a size, a design, a color, and a
flavor.
19. A method of dispensing toothpaste, the method including:
advancing a plurality of toothpaste beads towards a separating
mechanism, wherein the toothpaste beads are configured to be
positioned onto a toothbrush; aligning a toothpaste bead of the
plurality of toothpaste beads with the separating mechanism; and
separating the toothpaste bead using the separating mechanism.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of toothpaste
beads comprise a strip.
Description
I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to the U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/181,267, entitled "Toothpaste Dots," filed
on May 26, 2009, and claims the benefit of the filing data thereof.
The entire disclosure of the above is incorporated into this
application by reference.
II. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to oral hygiene products, and
more particularly, to toothpaste packaging and dispensing.
III. BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventional toothpaste delivery mediums can be messy and
wasteful. For example, it may be challenging for some to dispense
an appropriate amount of toothpaste from a tube. An amount of
toothpaste in the tube may further be unsalvageable. Bottle and
pump dispensers may similarly deliver toothpaste in an imprecise
amount and errant direction. Pre-packaged toothpaste and toothbrush
combinations require a user to discard the toothbrush after a
single use. Travel size restrictions may further limit the
versatility of conventional toothpaste dispensers.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a top view of a plurality of toothpaste beads
arranged in a row and positioned on a dispensing medium;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a top view of a plurality of toothpaste beads
arranged in a grid of rows and positioned on a dispensing
medium;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a plurality of toothpaste beads
sandwiched between a dispensing medium and a cover layer;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a top view of a third embodiment of toothpaste
beads comprising detachable portions of a strip;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a plurality of toothpaste beads
individually encapsulated by a dispensing medium and a plurality of
cover layers; and
[0009] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a dispensing apparatus
configured to dispense toothpaste beads.
V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Toothpaste use may be improved by providing a plurality of
toothpaste beads conveyed by a dispensing medium. The toothpaste
beads may be individually stored and accessed and may comprise an
appropriately sized quantity. Toothpaste beads positioned on the
same dispensing medium may include one or more different shapes,
colorings, designs, images, and flavors. The toothpaste beads of an
embodiment may have a moderately dehydrated consistency. The
toothpaste beads of different embodiments may range from being
moist to dry. The toothpaste beads may include different thickness.
For example, a toothpaste bead may be rounded or may be flat. A
toothpaste bead may include an additive, such as a breath or flavor
enhancing chemical.
[0011] An embodiment of the dispensing medium may comprise a
plastic ribbon on which the toothpaste beads are positioned, or
otherwise attached. A computer programmable machine may
automatically position the plurality of toothpaste beads onto the
dispensing medium according to a programmed plan. Characteristics,
such as bead placement, size, thickness, color, etc., may be
programmed into the bead placing machinery for execution. The
dispensing medium may be spooled or stored in strips. The
dispensing medium may be bendable or rigid.
[0012] The dispensing medium may be scored or otherwise segmented
into sections that are associated with each toothpaste bead.
Alternatively, the dispending medium may be manually torn or
mechanically separated into portions in the absence of pre-scored
portions. A cover layer may overlay the toothpaste beads for
preserving or containing the toothpaste beads. Alternatively, the
toothpaste beads may stick to the dispensing medium on their own.
For example, either or both the toothpaste beads and the dispensing
medium may be sticky or tacky at the time the toothpaste beads are
positioned onto the dispensing medium. A toothpaste bead may
alternatively be attached to the dispending medium using an
intermediate, adhering substance, or by using heat treatment. The
cover layer and the dispensing medium may be made from recyclable
material, such as recyclable plastic. Portions of either or both of
the cover layer and the dispensing medium may Include patterns,
colors, and designs that are different than adjacent portions.
[0013] A dispenser may advance the dispensing medium in response to
a user input. For example, a user may apply force to a button,
handle, or trigger of the dispenser to mechanically advance the
dispensing medium. The dispenser may automatically advance and cut
the dispensing medium. A dispenser may be wall-mounted or may
include a stand. The dispenser may additionally be pocket-sized. In
another dispensing embodiment, the user may manually pull on a free
end of the dispensing medium to advance it. The user may further
manually detach a portion of the dispending medium from another
portion. Different lengths or sizes of the dispensing medium may be
individually packaged in to travel-sized containers (e.g., each
container including a preset number of dispensing mediums of a
certain size and length).
[0014] In use, a toothbrush may be wet and swiped along the
dispensing medium to pick up the toothpaste bead. Alternatively,
the toothpaste bead may have enough water content such that the
toothbrush is not pre-wetted. When present, the cover layer may be
first peeled away or otherwise removed. Alternatively, the
toothpaste bead may be forcibly pushed through either of the cover
layer or the dispensing medium. Where no cover layer is present,
the user may press on, wriggle, or otherwise manipulate the
dispensing medium in a manner that causes the toothpaste bead to
fall onto a toothbrush.
[0015] Turning more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1
illustrates a top view of an apparatus 100 that includes a
plurality of toothpaste beads 106 positioned on a dispensing medium
102. The dispensing medium 102 may be pre-scored, as denoted by
lines 104. The scoring may facilitate manual or mechanical
separation.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 200 that includes a dispensing
medium on which a plurality of toothpaste beads 206-212 are
positioned. The toothpaste beads 206-212 may include different
shapes, flavorings, colors, and designs. The surface of the
dispensing medium, as shown in portions 220-225, may include
different colors and markings.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 300 that
includes toothpaste beads 306 positioned on a dispensing medium
302. In an embodiment, the dispensing medium 302 may be the
dispensing medium 102, 202 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. A cover layer 308
may cover the toothpaste beads 306 (e.g., to protect and/or
secure). The cover layer 308 may be translucent. Alternatively, the
cover layer 308 may include markings, designations, or designs. The
dispensing medium 302 and the cover layer 308 may include scoring
304.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows an apparatus 400 that includes toothpaste beads
402 that are substantially planar. The toothpaste beads may include
scoring 404 to facilitate separation. The toothpaste beads may thus
be connected in a single strip. The strip may be rigid, gel-like in
consistency, or somewhere in between. The strip may be positioned
on a dispensing medium (not shown), or may be packaged (e.g.,
rolled, boxed, etc.) for use independent of a dispensing medium.
For example, a user or dispenser may cut or tear a portion of the
strip for placement on a toothbrush.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 500 that
includes toothpaste beads 506 positioned on a dispensing medium
502. In an embodiment, the dispensing medium 502 may be the
dispensing medium 102, 202 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. Multiple cove r
layers 508 may encapsulate or otherwise individually cover the
toothpaste beads 306. A cover layer 508 may be translucent.
Alternatively, a cover layer 508 may include markings,
designations, or designs. The dispensing medium 502 may include
scoring 504.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a dispensing apparatus 600 that includes
dispenser 602 configured to dispense a spool 604 of dispensing
medium that includes a plurality of toothpaste beads. An advancing
mechanism 606 may advance the spool 604. For example, a user may
depress a button or turn a handle to cause the advancing mechanism
to mechanically and/or automatically advance the spool 604 by a
preset amount. A separating mechanism 608 may receive and separate
the spooled dispensing medium. The separating mechanism may
mechanically align the dispending medium with an edge or other
separating instrument to facilitate separation.
[0021] Embodiments may encourage good hygiene by offering varieties
of differently flavored, colored, and shaped toothpaste beads.
Cleanliness may be facilitated by the measured quantity and
contained nature of each toothpaste bead. The toothpaste beads may
be convenient for travel and packaging.
[0022] While the present invention has been illustrated by a
description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the Applicant to restrict, or any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. For example, attaching a toothpaste
bead to a dispensing medium may include positioning the toothpaste
bead in between layers of the dispensing medium. The invention in
its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific
details, representative apparatus, methods, and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made
from such details without departing from the scope of Applicant's
general inventive concept.
* * * * *