Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cleansing a person&#39;s mouth. One aspect is an apparatus comprising at least one teeth cleaning tool, a volume of mouth rinse and a container. The container comprises at least one first chamber that is liquid-tight and has the volume of mouth rinse disposed therein. The container further comprises at least one second chamber having the at least one teeth cleaning tool at least partially disposed therein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to the field of portable hygiene dispensers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    At present, several products are associated with oral hygiene, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and fluoride rinses. In many situations, it is either impractical or inconvenient to carry one or more of these products on one&#39;s person for use after a meal or snack. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One illustrative embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising at least one teeth cleaning tool; a volume of mouth rinse and a container. The container comprises at least one first chamber that is liquid-tight and has the volume of mouth rinse disposed therein; and at least one second chamber having the at least one teeth cleaning tool at least partially disposed therein. 
         [0004]    Another embodiment is directed to a method of cleansing the mouth of a person. The method comprises acts of: (A) taking a portable mouth cleansing apparatus along with the person when the person leaves a location to which the person will return to go to sleep the next time the person goes to sleep, the mouth cleaning apparatus comprising a volume of mouth rinse and at least one teeth cleaning tool; and (B) while away from the location to which the person will return to go to sleep, using the apparatus to cleanse the person&#39;s mouth by rinsing the person&#39;s mouth with at least some of the volume of mouth rinse; and/or using the at least one teeth cleaning tool to at least partially clean the person&#39;s teeth. 
         [0005]    Another embodiment is directed to a method of cleansing the mouth of a student attending school for a portion of a day and then returning to the student&#39;s home. The method comprises acts of: (A) taking a portable mouth cleansing apparatus along with the student when the student leaves the student&#39;s home for school, the mouth cleaning apparatus comprising a volume of mouth rinse and at least one teeth cleaning tool; and (B) while at school, using the apparatus to cleanse the student&#39;s mouth by rinsing the student&#39;s mouth with at least some of the volume of mouth rinse; and/or using the at least one teeth cleaning tool to at least partially clean the student&#39;s teeth. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a portable hygiene dispenser according to one illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of one chamber of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of a cap to seal liquid in one chamber of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a second chamber of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a second chamber of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 1-3   
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of parts of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 1-6 , according to one illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a portable hygiene dispenser, according to a second illustrative embodiment of the invention 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a first side of a portable hygiene dispenser, according to a third illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a second side, opposite the first, of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-10 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the first side of the main body of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a cross section view of the main body of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the second side of the main body of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a front view of one chamber cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the chamber cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is a side view of one outer cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  is a front view of the outer cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the second outer cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the second cover of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  is a side view of a cap to seal liquid in one chamber of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 22  is a side view of a dental floss cutter of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 23  is one exploded view of several parts of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-22 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 24  is a second exploded view of several parts of the portable hygiene dispenser of  FIGS. 9-22 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In many situations it is impractical or inconvenient to carry one or more of the products commonly associated with oral care (e.g., toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, and fluoride rinses). One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pocket-sized, portable device that can dispense two or more products related to oral care, hygiene and/or health, including those referenced above. 
         [0031]    One aspect of the invention is directed to a portable dispenser comprised of two separate chambers, one of which can be fully sealed to contain and transport a liquid mouth rinse and the other of which can be arranged to enclose a teeth cleaning tool (e.g., dental floss, a toothpick, or a toothbrush). Numerous configurations of such a dispenser are possible, and the present invention is not limited to any particular configuration. The embodiments described below are specially adapted for use with dental floss as the teeth cleaning tool, but it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited in this respect. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, a nozzle with a resealable cap may be incorporated into the dispenser to dispense the liquid and reseal the chamber. Alternatively, another embodiment is directed to a one-time use product on which a breakable seal or nozzle may be incorporated. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the body of the device that is integral with the chamber designed to contain the liquid may optionally include features to facilitate the transportation or dispensing of the dental floss. 
         [0034]    The liquid mouth rinse used can take any suitable form, as the aspects of the present invention are not limited to any particular type of mouth rinse. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the mouth rinse has a viscosity that is sufficiently low (e.g., below 100 centipoise) to enable the mouth rinse to rinse out the mouth of a user without requiring an applicator tool of any type. The mouth rinse may have one or more active ingredients, examples of which include sodium fluoride, sodium peroxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, eucalyptol, menthol, menthyl salicylate and thymol, although the present invention is not limited in this respect. As stated above, while a mouth rinse including one or more of these active ingredients may advantageously be employed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the aspects of the present invention described herein are not limited to any particular type of mouth rinse. 
         [0035]    One illustrative embodiment of a hygiene dispenser  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 .  FIG. 1  shows a side view of the hygiene dispenser  10 . In this embodiment, a chamber  11  is designed to transport and dispense liquid, a cap  13  is designed to seal one opening of chamber  11 , and a chamber  12  is designed to enclose and dispense a teeth cleaning tool, such as dental floss. In one illustrative example, an indented feature  14  has been incorporated into the outer wall of chamber  11  to indicate where an individual might apply pressure, thereby facilitating the dispensing of liquid, although such a feature is not required. In one embodiment, the dispenser is small enough to be portable (e.g., the dispenser may be sized with no dimension greater than four inches and more preferably no dimension greater than three inches), although all embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this respect. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the hygiene dispenser  10  showing the front  22  of the cap  13  and the front  21  of the chamber  11 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of the chamber  11 . A wall  37  of chamber  11  is designed to form a cavity  36  to transport liquid. In this embodiment, the chamber  11  has an opening  34  incorporated into feature  33  of outer wall  37  at one end to dispense the liquid from the cavity  36 . As represented, feature  33  is shaped to be comfortable against or at least partially inside the mouth of the user of the product. It should be appreciated that other arrangements (e.g., a circular opening into which a nozzle may be secured) can be implemented to transport and/or dispense the liquid, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. 
         [0038]    Feature  33  includes a ridge  35  that serves as an attachment point for cap  13 . Similarly, two raised features  31  and  32  are incorporated into the outer wall  37  of chamber  11  at the opposite end and serve as attach points for the second chamber  12 . Any suitable mechanisms for attachment can be used for the cap  13  and chamber  12 , as the invention is not limited in this respect. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, chamber wall  37  is made of a flexible material, such as plastic, which a user can squeeze to facilitate the dispensing of the liquid. However, the invention is not limited in this respect. As an alternative to carrying liquid directly, chamber  11  can enclose a sealed liquid pouch (with or without an attached nozzle). 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of cap  13 . In this embodiment, nubs  41  and  42  are incorporated into the design to enable the cap  13  to attach to ridge  35  in feature  33  of the outer wall  37  of chamber  11 . Nub  43  matches the opening  34 , thereby sealing liquid in cavity  36  when the cap  13  is attached to chamber  11 . It should be appreciated that there are numerous ways of creating a seal with a cap (e.g., a snap fit, screw-on fit, retractable and sealable sport nozzle), and any of these or other suitable configurations can be used instead of the configuration shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Alternatively, as previously discussed, in the embodiment directed to a one-time use product, a removable or breakable cap can be used to create an opening to the chamber containing the liquid. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of second chamber  12 . Chamber  12  has nubs  54  and  55  that match features  31  and  32  to secure the second chamber  12  to the chamber  11 . It should be appreciated that other attachment techniques are possible. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , solid feature  51  has been incorporated into the inner wall of chamber  12 . Feature  51  includes several features to enable the transportation and dispensing of dental floss. For example, in this embodiment, hole  52  serves as a point where the dental floss can be tied or secured to chamber  12 . Ridges  53  and  56  provide an area around which dental floss can be wound. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a front-view of the same chamber  12 . In this view solid feature  51  is more visible and it can be appreciated how dental floss could be secured in hole  52  and wound around solid feature  51 . It should be understood that the present invention is not intended to limit the function of chamber  12  to carrying dental floss. For example, if solid feature  51  were omitted, chamber  12  could serve to transport toothpicks or other small solid hygienic products. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows the three components previously described, and illustrates how they can be secured to create the dispenser  10 . Cap  13  is secured to chamber  11  via nubs  41  and  42  to create a closed and secure compartment for transporting and dispensing the liquid in cavity  36 . Second chamber  12  is secured to the outer wall of chamber  11  via nubs  51  and  52  which match features  31  and  32 , thereby enclosing dental floss  71  and creating the assembled dispenser  10 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate illustrative embodiment. In this embodiment, some features relating to the transporting and dispensing of liquid are identical to those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 . However, features for securing and dispensing dental floss have been incorporated into the body of the device that includes chamber  11 , and the second chamber is created by attaching cover  84 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , solid feature  82  is incorporated into the body of the device (integral with the outer wall of chamber  11 ). Feature  82  includes several features to enable the transportation and dispensing of dental floss. Hole  83  serves as a point where the dental floss could be tied or secured. Ridge  81  provides an area around which dental floss could be wound. Attach points  85  and  86  enable cover  84  to be secured to chamber  11 , creating the second chamber. 
         [0045]    A third illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 9-24 . In this embodiment, the first chamber designed to transport and dispense liquid is fully integrated into a main body, and the second chamber designed to at least partially enclose and dispense a teeth cleaning tool is formed by a cavity incorporated into the main body and a moveable chamber cover. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the hygiene dispenser  91  and its main components: main body  92 , chamber cover  95 , pull off cap  93 , and hinged cap  94 . It should be understood that having one hinged cap and one pull-off cap is not central to the invention, and alternatives are possible (e.g., two hinged caps, two pull-off caps, caps that snap into place, etc.). 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  shows a front view of same hygiene dispenser  91  with pull off cap  93  and hinged cap  94  attached to main body  92 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the opposite side (i.e., opposite to the side shown in  FIG. 9 ) of hygiene dispenser  91 . In this view, the opposite sides of hinged cap  94  and pull off cap  93  are visible, as well as optional indented feature  1101 , incorporated into main body  92 , to indicate a point where pressure can be applied to facilitate the flow of liquid out of the first chamber fully integrated into main body  92 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the main body  92  and illustrates many features which enable the transportation and dispensing of dental floss. Circular chamber  1202  is recessed into surface  1201  of main body  92  and designed to accommodate a spool of dental floss. Circular spool holder  1203  extends outward from circular cavity  1202  and is sized to fit into the inner opening of a dental floss spool. As such, a dental floss spool can rotate around circular spool holder  1203  to dispense dental floss. Canal  1210  is set into the main body so dental floss on a spool in cavity  1202  can travel out of cavity  1202 , along canal  1210 , and exit the main body  92  at feature  1211 . Features of chamber cover  95 , to be described in turn, match features  1211 ,  1213 , and  1214  of main body  92 , and enable dental floss to be secured and dispensed. Indented feature  1212  is shaped to facilitate a user&#39;s fingers picking up dental floss when the hygiene dispenser  91  is fully assembled. Indented points  1204  and  1205  serve as attach points for chamber cover  95 , and enable chamber cover  95  to rotate toward and away from main body  92  to provide access to circular cavity  1202 . This enables dental floss spools to be removed when all of the dental floss has been used, and new dental floss spools to be inserted, for example. Circular indenture  1213  matches a feature on chamber cover  95  which enables chamber cover  95  to be secured in a closed position against surface  1201  and over circular cavity  1202 , thereby creating a closed chamber. 
         [0050]    Also visible in  FIG. 12  are features associated with the second chamber designed to store and dispense liquid (to be described in turn). Opening  1208  leads to a cavity fully enclosed in the main body  92 , where liquid can be stored. Opening  1208  also serves as an area through which liquid can be refilled. Ridges  1215  on opening  1208  enable a nozzle or cap to be secured to the main body  92 , thereby creating a fully sealed chamber. It should be understood that a number of methods for securing and dispensing a liquid are possible, e.g., standard screw top cap, two-part “sport” nozzle that can move back and forth to open and close, etc., as the invention is not limited in this respect. Surface  1206  is recessed so pull off cap  93  can fit flush with the outer surface of main body  92 . Indented points  1207  and  1209  match features in pull off cap  93  and enable pull off cap  93  to be secured to the main body  92 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows a partial cross section of main body  92 . In this view, the shape and location of cavity  1301  can be appreciated. When in an unsealed or open position, liquid contained in cavity  1301  can flow out of the chamber through opening  1208  as previously described. In one embodiment, chamber wall  1302  is made of a flexible material, such as plastic, which in areas around cavity  1301  a user of the product can squeeze to facilitate the dispensing of the liquid. Also in this side view it can be appreciated how a spool of dental floss can be placed around circular spool holder  1203  and secured in circular cavity  1202 . Chamber cover  95  is sized so that it fits flush against recessed surface  1201 , creating a closed chamber for transporting and dispensing dental floss. As previously described, canal  1210  provides a means for floss to exit main body  92 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows the second side of main body  92 . In this view, indented points  1401  and  1402  are visible. These points match features of hinged cap  94  and enable hinged cap  94  to be secured to main body  92 . Indented feature  1101 , previously described, serves to indicate a pressure point to facilitate the dispensing of liquid, although such a feature is not required. Indented points  1403  and  1405 , like indented points  1207  and  1209  on the opposite side of main body  92 , provide attachment points for securing pull off cap  93  to main body  92 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  shows the front view of chamber cover  95 . Nubs  1505  and  1506  match indented points  1204  and  1205  and enable chamber cover  95  to attach to main body  92 . Feature  1508  is raised slightly to enable a user of the product to open chamber cover  95  when chamber cover  95  is in the closed position, for example to replace a dental floss spool. In this embodiment, feature  1504  extends out from surface  1507  and matches circular spool holder  1203 , enabling the dental floss spool to be secured inside circular cavity  1202 . It should be understood that alternative arrangements, such as omitting feature  1504  and lengthening circular spool holder  1203 , could be employed to secure the spool of dental floss. Nub  1503  extends out from surface  1507  and matches indented point  1213  on main body  92 , as previously described, enabling chamber cover  95  to be secured in a closed position, creating a sealed chamber around the spool of dental floss. Feature  1502  is designed to sit above area  1211 . A slot  1509  incorporated into feature  1502  secures the dental floss against the main body  92  while enabling the dental floss to travel out of canal  1210 . Flat surface  1501  is designed to accommodate a metal dental floss cutter, similar to those employed in existing dental floss dispensers. When chamber cover  95  is secured to main body  92  and closed above circular cavity  1202  containing a spool of dental floss, dental floss travels along canal  1210 , is held in place in area  1501 , travels out of slot  1509 , across and above indented feature  1212 , and is secured in a floss cutter attached to flat surface  1501 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of same chamber cover  95 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 17  shows a side view of hinged cap  94 . Protruding nub  1701  matches indented point  1401  on main body  92  enabling the cap to be secured to main body  92 . When in the closed position, raised feature  1702  sits slightly above curved feature  1508 , enabling a user to lift hinged cap  94  upward, thereby providing access to the dental floss. 
         [0056]      FIG. 18  shows a front view of hinged cap  94 . Like protruding nub  1701 , protruding nub  1801  matches indented point  1402  on main body  92 , enabling hinged cap  94  to be secured to main body  92 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 19  shows a side view of pull off cap  93 . When attached, raised features  1902  and  1901  sit slightly above the surface of main body  92 , enabling the cap to be easily removed, thereby providing access to the cap and chamber containing liquid. 
         [0058]      FIG. 20  shows a front view of same pull off cap. 
         [0059]      FIG. 21  shows a front view of screw-on cap  2101 . While the embodiment of  FIGS. 9-24  includes a closed cap that is unscrewed to enable access to the chamber containing liquid, alternative arrangements are envisioned, e.g., using a sport nozzle that, for example, pulls outward to enable liquid to flow through it, an open nozzle with corresponding closure incorporated into pull off cap, etc. 
         [0060]      FIG. 22  shows a side view of the floss cutter  2201 . Like floss cutters currently used in dental floss dispensers, in one embodiment, the bottom section of floss cutter  2201  is in the shape of a clip, enabling it to fit around an edge, in this case plastic ridge  1501 . The top portion of floss cutter  2201  includes a raised edge  2202  to facilitate the cutting of dental floss. It should be appreciated that alternate mechanisms to cut the floss can be employed, as the invention is not limited to use of any particular mechanism. 
         [0061]      FIG. 23  shows an exploded side view of the main components of the dispenser  91 . Pull off cap  93  is shown in an attached, closed position. In this view, hinged cap  94  is secured to main body  92 , but in the open position. Chamber cover  95  is secured to main body  92  and in the open position. A spool of dental floss  2301  is illustratively shown in a position conducive to inserting it into circular cavity  1202  as previously described. The open center of the dental floss spool  2302  will fit around feature  1504  as previously described to enable the dental floss spool to rotate and dispense floss. Floss cutter  2201  is attached to chamber cover  95  on plastic ridge  1501  as previously described. 
         [0062]      FIG. 24  shows a second exploded view of the main components of dispenser  91 . In this view chamber cover  95  is shown in the closed position. Dental floss  2401  extends out of slot  1509  on chamber cover  95  and is secured in the floss cutter  2201  at raised ridge  2202 . Hinged cap  94  is shown fully detached from main body  92 . To seal and close the chamber which will contain liquid, screw on cap  2101  is screwed onto opening  1208 , and cover  93  is pushed closed against main body  92 . 
         [0063]    It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the three embodiments described above as other configurations for creating two or more separate chambers for transporting two or more different hygiene products are possible. 
         [0064]    As should be appreciated from the foregoing, one embodiment of the invention is directed to a portable dispenser comprised of at least two separate chambers that each can be sealed separately to contain and transport a liquid mouth rinse or a teeth cleaning tool. A closure mechanism for each chamber can be incorporated into or attached to the dispenser. 
         [0065]    Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a portable dispenser comprised of at least two separate chambers that each can be sealed separately to contain and transport a liquid mouth rinse or a teeth cleaning tool. In this second embodiment, features related to the transport of a teeth cleaning tool can be incorporated into the body of the dispenser that is integral with the chamber designed to contain and transport a liquid mouth rinse. 
         [0066]    Another embodiment is directed to a portable dispenser comprised of two separate chambers. One chamber may be fully sealed to contain and transport liquid and may have a feature that facilitates dispensing the liquid, refilling the liquid and resealing the chamber (e.g., a removable cap). The second chamber may be designed to enclose dental floss, and may include features incorporated into the chamber design to facilitate the transportation, refilling or dispensing of dental floss (e.g., a cylindrical spool holder and a wedge, serration or other cutter for cutting the dental floss). 
         [0067]    It should be appreciated that there are numerous uses for the embodiments of the present invention described herein. One example is for use by students that head off to school for a day and then return home. Aspects of the present invention can be employed to enable the student to take along a portable mouth cleansing apparatus (e.g., taking any of the forms described above or variations thereof) to school and using the apparatus to cleanse the student&#39;s mouth (e.g., after lunch or at another time) prior to returning home. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention that are disposable, the apparatus can be disposed of after a single use, whereas embodiments of the present invention that are adapted for multiple uses (e.g., refillable with a mouth rinse, able to add new spools of floss, etc.) can be taken back home by the student. 
         [0068]    In addition to students, others can make use of a portable mouth cleansing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, a person leaving for the day (e.g., from their home, a hotel room or other place where they will return to go to sleep) may take along a portable mouth cleansing apparatus for use during the day prior to returning. 
         [0069]    Having described several embodiments of the invention in detail, various modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined by the following claims and equivalents thereto.