Abstract:
A compact personal package for tooth stain prevention between regular brushings includes a small brush and a small quantity of specially formulated cleaning material enables a user to immediately remove stain-causing substances from the teeth and freshen the breath as promptly as possible after exposure to such substances, so as to prevent the stain from setting in. A first embodiment is directed to a disposable product for essentially one-time usage, while a second embodiment is directed to a re-usable product. Variations in packaging are provided for maximum personal convenience as well as for commercial distribution efficiency. The products offer substantial promotional potential as complimentary guest gifts in restaurants, motels and hotels, as well as retain items directed to the general public.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention relates to the field of dental hygiene, particularly as applied to preservation of good facial appearance. The invention is directed to prevention of discoloration of particularly the front tooth region by facilitating removal therefrom of common residual staining substances between regular brushings, promptly after exposure to such substances. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Undoubtedly, facial appearance is of prime importance to most individuals, and is greatly enhanced by the appearance of clean white teeth. Conversely, facial appearance is greatly degraded by stain discoloration that develops over time from the cumulative effects of frequent and repeated exposures to staining substances, despite normal regular brushings. 
   Modern lifestyles, including increased public travel trends, have tended to intensify the exposure of many to teeth-staining substances such as nicotine, coffee and many other beverages and foods. Due to lack of convenient facilities, often the period between regular brushings can extend to as much as 16 hours or more. Consequently, especially for the appearance-conscious, there is an unfulfilled need for a convenient way to remove these unwanted residuals from at least the frontal areas of the teeth as promptly as possible after each of numerous incidents of daily exposures between regular brushings. 
   DISCUSSION OF KNOWN ART 
   Many approaches to portable devices or kits for enabling regular brushing when away form home include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,076, 4,527,574, 5,044,386, 5,423,427 and D266,623. Fingertip type toothbrushes have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,628,949 having a fingertip receptacle and stored in a hinged lid case along with a solid bar of cleaning compound, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,531 having an attached finger-activated tooth-paste tube, intended as a disposable kit for vending machines. 
   As an example of a remedial device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,665 discloses a TOOTH WHITENING KIT AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME, used to apply a tooth whitening composition to a user&#39;s teeth. 
   In contradistinction from the above described known art the present invention is directed to a novel and evolving philosophy of personal super-prevention to be practiced as required throughout every day whether at home or in travel as a supplement to conventional maintenance, i.e. regular brushings, so as to avoid or at least minimize a potential later need for remedial procedures such as whitening, wherein unduly harsh abrasives or strong chemicals can remove enamel or cause other damage to the teeth. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
   It is a primary object of the invention to provide products and methods directed to prevention of tooth discoloration by facilitating immediate removal of residue from the front region of the teeth as quickly as possible after each exposure to staining residues to prevent stain from setting in permanently, especially in locations and situations where conventional brushing is impractical. 
   It is a secondary object to provide a compact embodiment, capable of simple clean-off of the front region of the teeth, packaged so as to be carried on the user&#39;s person, e.g. in a woman&#39;s purse or a man&#39;s pocket in a manner that is convenient and sanitary. 
   It is a further object to provide a brush packaged along with a small quantity of tooth-cleaning compound that can be ingested safely and is non-abrasive to prevent damage to natural tooth material or to dental work such as caps, porcelain veneers, and bonding materials. 
   It is a further object to provide alternative embodiments directed to particular marketing and vending approaches, including provision for presentation of a promotional matter such as a logo or advertisement. 
   It is a further object to provide an embodiment of the invention including a breath-freshening ingredient. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   These and other objects have been met by a compact personal package that includes a small brush and a small quantity of specially formulated edible cleaner material. Variations in packaging are provided for maximum personal convenience and for promotional capabilities. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, by way of example. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a main view of a packaged brush unit in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention directed to a disposable product intended for one-time usage. 
       FIG. 2  is a right hand end view of the subject of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a lower side view of the subject of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a main view of the package of the package of  FIG. 1  opened and the brush unit removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a main view of the brush unit from  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a left hand end view of the brush unit of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a right hand end view of the brush unit of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a lower side view of the brush unit of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the brush unit of  FIGS. 6-8  being held by the user. 
       FIG. 10  is a main view of a second embodiment of the present invention directed to a re-usable product. 
       FIG. 11  is a left hand end view of the subject of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a right hand end view of the subject of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 13  is a lower side view of the subject of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the subject of  FIG. 10  with the cover removed for deployment by a user. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the handle portion is made hollow to contain cleaning material. 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view as in  FIG. 15 , showing the handle portion compressed by a user to dispense cleaning material to the brush region. 
       FIG. 17  is an enlarged cross-section taken at  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a front view of a compact case for articles of the present invention shown in a closed condition. 
       FIG. 19  is a top view of the compact case of  FIG. 18 , shown open and containing a half dozen disposable brush units packaged with cleaner material as in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 20  is an alternate version of the compact case containing a dozen brush units as in  FIGS. 10-13  and configured with a compartment for cleaning material. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     FIG. 1  is a main view of a packaged brush unit  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention directed to a disposable product intended primarily for one time usage. The package  12  is configured with a conformal top cover  12 A, typically of transparent plastic having a peripheral flange by which it is sealed onto a flat cardboard base, enclosing a brush unit  14  whose outline is indicated in broken lines. The top cover  12 A is provided with a “snap-open” feature by a scored line  12 B for convenient opening. An inner partition  12 C forms a compartment at the left hand end containing a quantity of cleaning material  16  in paste form. 
     FIG. 2  is a right hand end view of the package  12  of  FIG. 1  showing the cardboard base  12 D attached peripherally to the top cover  12 A which conforms to the outline of the brush unit  14 , shown in broken lines. 
     FIG. 3 , a lower side view of the package of  FIG. 1 , shows cardboard base  12 D attached peripherally to the top cover  12 A containing the brush unit  14  whose outline is seen in broken lines and the compartment at the left hand end containing cleaning material  16 . 
     FIG. 4  is a cross-section taken along the center of package  12 , shown after the top cover  12 A having been opened at the “snap-open” line ( 12 B  FIG. 1 ) and the brush unit having been removed. The left hand end portion of cardboard base  12 D is bent perpendicular so as to locate the partition  12 C above the stored cleaning material  16  as shown. A flap  12 E, which is initially adhered to the partition  12 C in a manner to seal in the cleaning material  16  and prevent it from migrating, has been opened to provide user access to the cleaning material  16  through the opening provided in partition  12 C as shown. 
     FIG. 5  is a main view of the brush unit  14 , shown removed from the package as seen from the same viewpoint as in  FIG. 1 . The generally cylindrical solid plastic handle portion  14 A has brush bristles molded into the left hand end to form the brush portion  14 B. 
     FIG. 6  is a left hand end view of the brush unit of  FIG. 5  showing the elongated cross-sectional shape of brush portion  14 B, which in combination with the angled end shape seen in  FIG. 5 , facilitates the dental cleaning function, particularly in the upper front and between-the-teeth regions. 
     FIG. 7  is a right hand end view of the brush unit  14  of  FIG. 5 , showing the generally circular cross-sectional shape of handle  14 A, becoming oval shape at the brush end. 
     FIG. 8  is a lower side view of the brush unit  14  of  FIG. 5 , showing the narrower dimension of the brush portion  14 B as seen from this viewpoint. 
     FIG. 9  is a three-dimensional view of the brush unit  14  of  FIGS. 5-8  held by a user between a thumb  20  and a finger  22 ; typically with the elongated cross-sectional shape of the brush portion  14 B oriented in a vertical direction. 
     FIG. 10  is a main view of an enclosed brush unit  24  in a second embodiment of the present invention directed to a re-usable product. The solid plastic handle portion  24 A, which is fitted at the left hand end with brush bristles in the same manner as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 , is further configured to fit into a firm cover cap portion  24 B, typically made to provide a firm friction fit that effectively seals off the region around the brush bristles inside, and can be made to contain a quantity of cleaning material. 
     FIG. 11  is a left hand end view of the brush unit  24  of  FIG. 9 , showing the oval cross-sectional shape of the cap portion  24 . 
     FIG. 12  is a right hand end view of the subject of  FIG. 9  showing the circular cross-sectional shape of the handle portion and the oval shape of the cap portion. 
     FIG. 13  is a lower side view of the brush unit  24  of  FIG. 9 , showing the substantially uniform thickness of the main handle portion  24 A and the cover portion  24 B as seen from this viewpoint. 
     FIG. 14  is a three-dimensional view showing the brush unit  24  of  FIG. 9  after removal of the cover cap  24 B in deployment by the user holding the handle portion  24 A between the thumb  20  and finger  22 . 
     FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a brush unit  26  that constitutes a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the handle portion  26 A is made hollow to contain cleaning material  16  in paste form. As shown, a passageway is provided leading to a central opening in the bristle pack of the brush portion  26 B. 
     FIG. 16  shows the brush unit  26  of  FIG. 14  having been compressed between the thumb  20  and finger  22  of the user causing the cleaning material  16  to move through the passageway to the bristles of the brush portion  26 B for performing the dental cleaning function. 
     FIG. 17  is a four times enlarged cross-section taken at  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16  showing the bristles of the brush-head portion  26 B embedded between two concentric sleeves of the plastic handle portion  26 A, the inner sleeve providing the passageway through which cleaning material  16  is conducted to the brush-head portion  26 B, which for this embodiment is configured with the central passageway surrounded by bristles as shown, instead of the solid area of bristles utilized in solid-handle versions (e.g.  FIG. 6 ). 
   The hollow-handle embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15-17  can be directed to either a one-time disposable product or a re-usable product. 
     FIG. 18  is a front view of a container  28  for brush units and cleaning material of the present invention, shown closed. 
     FIG. 19  is a top view of the container  28  of  FIG. 18 , directed to disposable embodiments of the invention, shown with the cover  28 A opened to perpendicular, and containing an array of six packaged brush/cleaning material units  12  as in  FIG. 1 . These may be procured attached together as shown, and there may be several layers of such six-packs (or other designated multi-pack size). 
     FIG. 20  is a top view of a container  20 , similar to container  18  ( FIG. 19 ) but directed to re-usable embodiments of the invention and shown with a row of twelve brush units  14  as in  FIGS. 5-8  along with an amount of cleaning material in a sealable compartment  32 . 
   In a similar manner, container  20  could similarly store brush units of different types such as brush unit  24  ( FIGS. 11-14 ) and unit  26  ( FIGS. 15-17 ). The container  20  could also be provided with a mirror located internally or externally. 
   With regard to the cleaning material  16 , this is selected to effectively dissolve and remove residual material when used immediately after exposure to staining substances, without harmful abrasive action, and to be of a neutral harmless composition that is totally harmless to ingest. The invention could be practiced with cleaning material in powder, liquid, paste or even in solidified form; preferably it may include a breath-freshener and/or distinctive pleasant flavoring. 
   With regard to the bristles in the bristle head brush, these are made to provide a desired degree of firmness, and may include a mixture of bristles of differing composition and may include auxiliary complementary bristle head structure such as resilient support members. While the embodiments shown are of oval (as in  FIGS. 6 ,  17 ) or otherwise elongated cross-section in shape, other shapes could be utilized: e.g. round or polygon shapes. The angled cutoff shape shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  9  and  14  is considered to be advantageous, however the invention could be practiced with the end of the bristles cutoff perpendicular to the main body. 
   As an important marketing feature, the cleaning material  16  can be formulated to also serve as a breath-freshener by the inclusion of suitable ingredients such as mint. Furthermore, the cleaning material can be formulated to provide a distinctive pleasant flavor, or offered in a variety of flavors, with or without the breath-freshening feature 
   As a highly important marketing feature, exposed regions of the package and/or the brush handle may be utilized for advertising or promotional material such as logos and sponsors messages in situations where either the disposable or the re-usable embodiments are sold or offered free as promotional media, for example in restaurants, hotels and the like, alone or along with items already offered such as mints, candy etc. For such commercial purposes, the units may be packed and shipped in bulk quantities that can then be readily dispensed in smaller quantities or individually. 
   For retail marketing, the units may be suitably packaged in singles or in multiples as required. Typically the multiple units are made in a manner to facilitate bulk handling and shipping while enabling removal of groups or single units at retail or point of usage. 
   The invention may be practiced with configurations other than those shown as illustrative embodiments, with regard to the shape of the handle, brush and cover cap portions. 
   In a simplified version of the disposable embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , instead of providing the cleaning material separately as shown, it could be already applied onto the brush bristles ready for a single usage as a disposable product. 
   Packaged units could further include convenience items such as tissues, wet-wipes, dental floss or the like. 
   The invention may be embodied and practiced in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential. characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all variations, substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.