RU2388419C2 - Instrument for oral cavity care - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to field of hygiene and can be used for oral cavity care. Instrument for oral cavity care contains handle; head; and sensory material located on first side of head, producing trigeminal sensory response, when instrument for oral cavity care is introduced into user's oral cavity; and component of instrument for oral cavity care, which has symbolic communicative outlook, indicating trigeminal sensory response. Method of providing trigeminal sensory response in user's oral cavity contains stages of oral cavity contact with instrument for oral cavity care, including sensory material, which produces trigeminal sensory response in oral cavity during application; where instrument for oral cavity care contains handle; head, which has first side, and sensory material, located on first side of head; and where instrument for oral cavity care additionally contains at least one symbolic communicative element, which visually represents trigeminal sensory response.

EFFECT: ensuring biochemical sensory effect during contact with tissue in mouth and possibility of visual communicating sensor effect to user before application.

26 cl, 8 dwg

Description

Technical field

This invention relates generally to an oral care implement and, in particular, to a toothbrush that releases a chemical in the mouth during use.

State of the art

A toothbrush is used to clean teeth by removing plaque and blockages from the surface of the teeth. According to a study by the American Dental Association, the main source of bad breath from healthy people is the microbial deposits in the tongue, where organisms and clogs that cause bad smell hide in the bacterial coating. Tissues in the mouth and, especially, the tongue are a haven for the growth of microorganisms. The teat-like surface structure of the tongue creates a unique ecological site that provides an extremely large surface area conducive to the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth. Anaerobic flora and bacteria located on the tongue and other soft tissues in the mouth play an important role in the development of chronic bad breath, usually called bad breath. Typically, bacteria produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). If the production of sulfur compounds is large enough, then this can lead to bad breath or bad breath.

While consumers would like to brush their tongue or teeth, there is no toothbrush that provides a chemical sensory effect in the mouth to improve the brushing effect. In addition, there is no visual way for consumers to select a toothbrush that provides a sensory response. Therefore, there is a need for a toothbrush that provides a biochemical sensory effect during contact with tissue in the mouth and supports a method of visually informing the user of the sensory effect before use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an oral care tool, such as a toothbrush, including sensory material that elicits a selective sensory response during contact with tissues and surfaces of a user's mouth.

In one embodiment, the toothbrush includes a secreted material that causes a trigeminal response during use. In another embodiment, the toothbrush includes a tissue cleaner provided with a releasable material.

In another embodiment, the toothbrush includes a communicative element, such as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional element, which visually indicates to the user a sensory response.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings show:

figure 1-7 is an instrument for caring for the oral cavity according to alternative embodiments of the invention in isometric view;

Fig.8 is a section along the line 8-8 in Fig.7.

Detailed description

As shown in FIG. 1, an oral care implement such as a toothbrush 100 includes a handle 103 and a head 105 for brushing teeth and soft tissues in the oral cavity. Although an oral care tool in the form of a toothbrush 100 is shown and exemplified, it is understood that this includes other tools used to care for the oral cavity, such as toothpicks, tongue cleaners, etc. The handle 103 allows the user to hold and control the toothbrush and can be made in many different forms and designs, including, but not limited to, elastomers, polypropylenes, SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer), ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene copolymer) or even paper products such as regular candy sticks. Although the head is usually expanded relative to the neck of the handle, in some designs it can be a simple extension or contraction of the handle.

The toothbrush head 105 has a first front surface 107 that supports toothbrushing elements 109. The opposing second face surface 111 includes or supports a thin plate of the ejected material 300 on the surface or inside the head 105. Although the ejected material 300 is shown on the opposite front surface 111, it is clear that it can be located or included in other places of the tool for caring for the cavity the mouth. The toothbrushing elements 109 may include fiber bristles or elastomeric fingers or walls that are used to wipe, brush and / or massage the user's teeth and gums. If desired, other types of toothbrushing elements known in the art may be used.

The sensor material 300 may be any suitable biocompatible drug or chemical for use in the oral cavity. Material 300 is released within the oral cavity, lips, or cheeks by various methods including, but not limited to, erasing, changing temperature, changing pH, or dissolving. In one embodiment, the material is a sensory material that provides a biochemical sensory response on the internal tissue and surface of the oral cavity. Such a sensory response is understood as the result of stimulation of the human trigeminal nerve. The sensory material creates mainly a physiological effect without taste, with such an action, which is usually defined using the concepts of cooling, pinching or heating (or heat).

Sensitive materials are usually derived from single compounds that are not volatile and which in themselves are odorless or tasteless. An example is a chemical known as capsaicin, which is found in Chilean pepper, which can be used to provide the user with a sensation of tingling, hot or cold massage, warming or warming, soothing. Capsaicin is also known as a material that provides pain relief and numbness when applied topically. Other examples of sensory materials that cause a cooling sensation are menthol and camphor. Most polyols, including maltitol syrup, sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, isomalt and xylitol, also cause a cooling sensation. The coldest of the erythritol polyols causes a clear cooling sensation. Both erythritol and xylitol cool the oral cavity and counteract the sensation of dry mouth, usually associated with the use of medicines and dental hygiene products. Erythritol is a naturally occurring structure with four carbon atoms. Xylitol is a sugar with four carbon atoms found in fruits and vegetables and produced in small quantities by the human body as an intermediate metabolic chemical compound.

In another embodiment, the sensory material is provided as a flavoring material for eliciting an olfactory sensory response in a person. It is generally believed that taste includes a mixture of compounds that are volatile and cause an aromatic effect and stimulate the olfactory bulb. Fragrances are transmitted mainly through the nasal passages and are often selected and used due to their unique connection with certain benefits for the consumer, such as lavender for stress relief and relaxation. Another example of a tasteful material is chamomile, which has a strong, aromatic odor and is often used in medicine for indigestion and as a sedative to facilitate falling asleep. Chamomile is also used as a rinse against mucositis of the oral cavity (swelling, irritation and ulceration of the cells of the mucous membrane that cover the gastrointestinal tract). In another embodiment, the material released includes both a sensory component and a flavor component.

In one embodiment, the sensor material 300 may be associated with any two-dimensional or three-dimensional form to provide a symbolic or visual communicative representation of the taste or trigeminal sensation that the user would expect when using the toothbrush 100. In the two-dimensional structure, the material to be released may be provided as a mark, having a coating giving a taste or sensation to a substance for a desired biochemical sensory response. In a three-dimensional structure, the emitted material 400 (see FIG. 6) is raised from the head 105 and may have an external topography with physical changes in the contour. Therefore, the toothbrush 100 provides convenient visual indications for communicating to the user signs of taste and / or sensation.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sensor material 302 is provided in the form of a lemon flavor and is applied in a form having an appearance and / or surface texture typically found in physical lemon. More generally, a toothbrush can have a fruity taste and a shape of a sensor material carrier that resembles any fruit such as orange, raspberry, berry, grape, apple, mint, lemon, lime, etc. Naturally, if desired, other tastes and visual communication elements can also be used. Therefore, the user can consciously choose a toothbrush with the desired taste using a specific visual feature.

In another embodiment, the toothbrush is provided with a communication element that offers the user a feeling of cooling or heating. For example, in FIG. 3, a snowflake-like element 304 offers a sensor material to be used that leads to a cooling sensation or sensory cooling response. Other non-restrictive communication elements that indicate a cooling sensation include images of ice, ice cubes, icebergs, icicles, polar bears, a low temperature thermometer, snow, snow-covered mountains, winter landscapes, etc. 4, a communication element 306 visually represented by a flame indicates a sensation of heating. Other non-restrictive communication elements that indicate a sensation of heating include images of a candle, gas flame, burning firewood, burning coal, desert, a thermometer with a high temperature mark, stove, stove, sun, flamethrower, etc. Similarly, a communicative element representing a tingling sensation can be visually represented as vibration, lightning, pins and needles, etc. Thus, the user is able to select a specific toothbrush or other oral care tool for the desired sensation using a supporting visual or communicative feature.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sensor material 308 is provided as a nutritional or herbal supplement, such as a vitamin or mineral, in the form of a leaf (for example, as an aloe leaf). Such material can be combined with a feeling of calming or sea breeze to create a combined sensory and nourishing effect. Other shapes for the material to be secreted may also be provided.

In other embodiments, material 300 contains an excreted active substance, such as HUMPHRIES 3 ^TM or benzocaine, used to relieve teething or gum irritation in infants or children. Another homeopathic supplement for soothing teething or inflammation, but not limited to, is belladonna (atropa belladonna), caffeine, and Passiflora Incarnata (passionflower). In another embodiment, drugs such as cocaine can be used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss treatment. In yet another embodiment, the secreted material may be aspirin or the like. Other embodiments include materials used to clean or inhibit further accumulation of biofilm on the shed or non-shed structures and / or tissues of the oral cavity, or materials that can stimulate the release of saliva, thereby temporarily facilitating xerostomia or dry mouth. Thus, a wide variety of other chemicals that provide a medical or sensory response can be used, along with an oral care tool. In each case, you can use the appropriate visual sign to indicate a beneficial effect, such as a pulsating tooth as a representation of a toothbrush with benzocaine, a figure of a person with a narrow waist for medications such as cocaine, or the “Rx” symbol for pain relief medications.

In one embodiment, the release material 300, 302, 304, 306, 308 is provided in the form of at least one solid soluble drop or liquid enclosed in a soluble or breakable outer shell (eg, capsule). Therefore, the released material can be destroyed by the user's teeth or dissolved with saliva to release fluid into the oral cavity. In another embodiment, the emitted material 300, 302, 304, 306, 308 is provided as a biocompatible resilient material used in oral hygiene devices. Such an elastic material is preferably included within the elastomeric material. In other embodiments, the elastomeric material can be formed with a desired shape representing a taste or biochemical response to the sensor material. To provide a comfortable feeling inside the oral cavity, the elastomeric material preferably has a hardness in the range of A8 to A25 on the Shore scale. Non-limiting examples of elastomeric materials are styrene, butylene and styrene copolymer (SBS), styrene, ethylene / butylene and styrene block copolymer (SEBS), another material designated G6725 and manufactured by GLS Corporation, together with any other material provided for direct or indirect food contact with a thermoplastic elastomeric material. In one design, the resilient material may be incorporated within the polyolefin. Despite this, materials from other manufacturers or other materials may be used inside or outside the specified hardness range.

In one design, the material to be released can be provided in the form of a solution, emulsion, or microcapsule deposited or deposited to form a continuous or semi-continuous coating on the surface of the elastomeric material. The precipitated solution, emulsion or microcapsules can be air dried, dried using heat, vulcanized using heat, vulcanized using heat and a catalyst, or vulcanized using ultraviolet light. However, other methods for vulcanizing the coating can also be used.

In another design, the emitted material can be integrated into the elastomeric material to form part of an oral care tool, so that taste or sensory material, or both, can be released from within the elastomeric material. The released material may be mixed into an elastomeric and / or thermoplastic material. Alternatively, the emitted material can be embedded in microcapsules and then mixed into an elastomeric and / or thermoplastic material. Thus, the material released can be emitted in a substantially uniform manner while using the oral care implement. In these systems, the elastomeric release material is provided as a single homogeneous element. The excreted material migrates outward and is transferred to the soft tissues of the mouth upon contact. The released material can be pre-mixed or pre-compounded with water-soluble hydrogel-based polymers or with other biomaterials before being finally mixed into the elastomeric material or before the final coating.

The emitted material provides a biochemical sensation of taste and benefits during brushing, preferably during repeated use, and more preferably within three months of use. Therefore, after daily use of the toothbrush for three months, the toothbrush may have a usage indicator (for example, a sign indicating to the user that the sensor materials have been used up). Thus, the user can visually distinguish a toothbrush with the desired taste and sensation, and may have a pleasing way to know when to purchase a new brush. For example, flame 306 (see FIG. 4) may initially be bright red, and then gradually lose intensity (or become, for example, black) as the sensor material is consumed.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the tissue cleaner 400 preferably consists of a soft foldable elastomeric material for comfortable cleaning and effective removal of bacteria and blockages located on tissue inside the mouth, such as the tongue, inner surfaces of the cheeks, gums and lips. The tissue cleaner 400 includes at least one tissue contacting member 402 for cleaning an oral tissue. In fabric cleaner 400 in an elastomeric structure, emitted material may be included, as described above in previous embodiments. In the shown embodiment, the tissue cleaner 400 is made in the form of a leaflet to visually indicate the nutritional effect and the cleaning effect. As an alternative solution, the leaf may be in the form of a leaf of mint to visually indicate the peppermint taste or sensation.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the emitted material 300 is provided in the pool 113 under the fabric cleaner 404. Passing paths or openings 406 are provided in the elastomeric surface 408 to allow dissolution by a liquid, such as saliva, of the excreted material to allow the migration of chemicals in the solution into the user's mouth. Alternatively, the released material may be a fluid or gel encapsulated in a tissue cleaner 402, so that compressing the elastomeric surface 408 extrudes the fluid through openings 406 into the mouth of the user. In another design, cleaning of tissue surfaces can be achieved through the combined use of a tissue cleaner 404, mechanically scrubbing the tissue surface, and the beneficial effects of using flavoring and sensory materials within the oral cavity.

The fabric cleaners 400, 404 are preferably made with a plurality of elements 402 coming into contact with the fabric, which in a preferred design are made in the form of cones and which are called cones for simplicity. Used here, the concept of "bump" implies mainly a protrusion in the form of a column (without limiting the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion), which protrudes from the base surface. Typically, the bump in a preferred embodiment has a height that is greater than the width of the base of the bump (when measured in the longest direction). However, cones may include protrusions in which the height and width are approximately the same or in which the height is slightly less than the width of the base. In addition, in some conditions (for example, when a cone tapers to the apex or includes a base part that tapers into a smaller protrusion), the width of the base can be significantly greater than the height.

Upon contact or, for example, friction on the surface of the tongue, the bumps 402 provide easy contact with a soft tissue. In addition, cones 402 are soft so as to flex to the extent necessary during passage and to clean the surface of the tissue in the mouth. In a preferred construction, cones 402 are capable of bending and deviating from their respective vertical axes upon application of lateral pressure during use. This bending increases comfort and cleansing of soft tissue surfaces.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first secreted material can be included in the pool, while the second secreted material can be included in the cone-forming material (as indicated above with respect to FIG. 6) to create a combined sensory action . For example, the first emitted material may include a flavoring substance, while the second emitted material may include a sensory substance, or, conversely, to create an improved sensory material based on a flavoring substance that creates, for example, a cooling sensation of vanilla or a feeling of hot cinnamon .

Such a combined sensation can be likewise applied to the other above-mentioned embodiments when changing the position and nature of the material released on the oral care implement. For example, an oral care implement may have a combined visual attribute in the form of a snowflake (see FIG. 3) inside a lemon (see FIG. 2) or a snowflake next to a lemon that represents or visually indicates a lemon-like cooling sensation. Similarly, an oral care implement may have a mint leaf (see FIG. 6) combined with a snowflake (see FIG. 3) to present a mint cooling sensation. Other sensory variations and combinations are possible.

Although the invention has been described in somewhat lengthy terms and with certain particularities with respect to the several embodiments presented, it is not limited to these particulars or any particular embodiment, but is to be interpreted in accordance with the appended claims to provide the broadest possible interpretation of the claims taking into account the prior art and most to effectively cover the intended scope of the invention. For example, while the visual communicative element is mainly associated directly with the sensory response to the material being released, such an element may be connected indirectly, but indicate a specific sensation. For example, a visual representation of human anatomical structures, such as the tongue, hand, ear, head, or gender characteristics, can be used to represent sensory materials aimed at these structures, while the ear treatment material can be represented using a visual image of the ear. Similarly, plant material may be indicated by a female figure, while the musky odor may be represented by a male figure. Other indirect communication elements include sports equipment such as baseball, basketball, soccer ball, hockey puck, baseball bats, tennis racquet, hockey stick, etc., which may represent sensory or active materials intended for sports activities, such as for example, energy-enhancing materials, vitamins, minerals, etc.

Additionally, while the material to be dispensed is preferably applied to or included inside parts of an oral care tool intended to be inserted into the oral cavity, the visual communication element may be associated with a component not intended to be inserted into the oral cavity, for example, handle or the like For example, instead of (or in addition) to the secreted material 302 shown in FIG. 2, made in the form of a lemon, the handle 103 may be in the form of a lemon or have a lemon-based communicative element to visually indicate the sensory action of the secreted material 302. Thus, the communicative element can be physically separated from the secreted material, but indicate to the consumer the sensory action.

Claims (26)

1. An oral care instrument comprising a handle, a head and sensory material provided on a first side of the head that triggers a trigeminal sensory response when an oral care instrument is inserted into a user's oral cavity and an oral care instrument component having a symbolic communicative appearance indicating a trigeminal sensory response. 2. An oral care implement according to claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric material comprising sensory material. 3. An oral care implement according to claim 1, further comprising a surface coating of sensor material. 4. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor material is included inside the elastomer. 5. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor material comprises sensory material. 6. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the sensory material is a tasting material for eliciting an olfactory sensory response during use. 7. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the communicative appearance causes a cooling sensation. 8. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the communicative appearance causes a sensation of heating. 9. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the communicative appearance causes a tingling sensation. 10. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a plurality of toothbrushing elements protruding from a second side opposite the first side. 11. The oral care implement according to claim 1, further comprising a tissue cleaner containing sensory material on a first side of the head, the tissue cleaner comprising at least one protrusion for cleaning soft tissues of the mouth. 12. The oral care implement according to claim 11, further comprising a head including a plurality of teeth cleaning elements protruding from it, and wherein the tissue cleaner is located on the head opposite to the teeth cleaning elements. 13. The oral care implement according to claim 1, further comprising a tissue cleaner covering the sensor material, and wherein the tissue cleaner includes at least one opening for fluid flow to the sensor material to allow the sensor material to be released into the mouth of the user . 14. The oral care instrument of claim 1, wherein the trigeminal sensory response is selected from the group consisting of a cooling sensation, a heating sensation, and a tingling sensation. 15. The oral care implement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensory material, which is a sensory material, and at least one sensory material, which is a tasteful material. 16. An oral care implement according to claim 15, further comprising a component having a communicative appearance associated with at least one sensory material, and a component having a communicative appearance associated with at least one tasteful material. 17. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor material and a component having a communicative appearance are physically separated. 18. An oral care implement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor material and a component having a communicative appearance are physically combined together on the oral care implement. 19. A method for providing a trigeminal sensory response in the oral cavity of a user, comprising the steps of contacting the oral cavity with an oral care implement including sensory material that triggers a trigeminal sensory response in the oral cavity during use, wherein the oral care implement comprises a handle , a head having a first side, and a sensor material provided on a first side of the head, and wherein the oral care implement further comprises at least one symbol matic communicative element that visually represents the trigeminal sensory response. 20. The method according to claim 19, in which the communicative element causes a feeling of cooling. 21. The method according to claim 19, in which the communicative element causes a feeling of heating. 22. The method according to claim 19, in which the communicative element causes a tingling sensation. 23. The method according to claim 19, in which the sensor material is included inside the elastomer. 24. The method according to claim 19, in which the tool for caring for the oral cavity further comprises a surface coating of sensor material. 25. The method according to claim 19, in which the sensor material is included in a three-dimensional feature on the tool for caring for the oral cavity. 26. The method according A.25, in which the three-dimensional sign is a cleaner of soft tissue.

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