TOOTH SHADE GUIDE AND PACKAGE COMBINATION

Abstract: A tooth shade guide device and package combination comprises a device frangibly attached to the package.

Description: TOOTH SHADE GUIDE AND PACKAGE COMBINATION The present invention concerns a tooth shade guide device and packaging combination wherein the guide device and package are frangibly attached to one another. Shade guide devices for self and professional assessment of the colour of teeth are well known in the art. Some shade guides are designed to be used by manufacturers of false teeth where the desired tooth colour is measured and then recorded to match the false tooth with neighbouring natural teeth. An example of such a device is disclosed in US 4 207 678 (Jeanette) which describes a dental shade holder and individual shade guides which individually represent different shades. To obtain a comparison between a natural tooth and an artificial tooth a dental practitioner selects which guide corresponds more closely to the colour of the natural tooth and then identifies a false tooth accordingly. The differently coloured shade guides are arranged along a single side of the holder and may be arranged in any specific order of colour. Another shade guide device is disclosed in US 4 919 617 (Antons) which describes a similar holder with a plurality of shade guides attached along one side of said holder. The individual shade guides are attached to the holder by way of a finger which is perforated. This allows for removal of the guide to allow for improved comparison with the natural tooth. Shade guide devices comprising a more basic lay out are also known m the art and are included m several tooth-whitening products to allow the user to self assess the colour of his teeth. Such devices usually consist of a handle on which is displayed varying shades of white, usually ranging from perfect white to a dark cream colour. The guides are included m the packaged product and have to be manufactured separately from the remainder of the package and included when the contents of the product are packaged together before shipping. Accordingly, the present invention provides a tooth shade guide device and package combination, characterised m that the guide device and the package are frangibly attached to one another . By package is meant the outer packaging of a product, for example, the outer cardboard packaging which is usually discarded soon after purchase. It is an essential feature of the invention that the package is frangibly attached to the shade guide. In this way the guide can be removed from the packaging and used to assess the shade of the teeth later. The guide is preferably attached by way of a perforated link thus allowing the guide and package to be manufactured m one piece but it is conceivable for the two to be attached after manufacture through the use of an adhesive. According to a further aspect the invention provides a blank capable of being formed into a package suitable for use as a toothpaste package and additionally comprising a shade guide frangibly attached thereto. The invention shall now be described with reference to the figures . Figure 1 shows a tooth shade guide device (2) and package (1) combination wherein the shade guide comprises a plurality of individual shade guides (3) to enable self assessment of the colour of the teeth. The device (2) is in the form of a perforated portion which is frangibly removable from the remainder of the package. Figure 2 shows a blank capable of forming a tooth shade guide device and package combination wherein the device is attached to the blank with an adhesive. The portion of the blank attached to the device is capable of being torn off from the remainder of the package to release a shade guide device ready for use.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A tooth shade guide device and package combination, characterised in that the device is frangibly attached to the package . 2. A tooth shade guide and package combination according to claim 1, characterised in that the device is in the form of a tear-off portion of the package. 3. A tooth shade guide according to claim 1, characterised in that the device is attached to the package by way of an adhesive. 4. A blank capable of being formed into a tooth shade guide device and package combination according to any preceding claim.

Inventors: MAINI ANNA, MAINI, ANNA
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, UNILEVER N.V.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61C19
IPC codes: A61C19, B65D5