Patent Abstract:
An oral care package includes a package wrapping a tooth pick (or preferably a combined pick and flossing device) impressed within or adjacent to a stick of chewing gum in such manner that the pick (or pick/floss device) may be easily removed from the package first and used to dislodge matter from between the teeth and along the gums of the user prior to chewing the gum.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/103,485 filed Oct. 7, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to oral hygiene appliances and processes and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an oral care package containing chewing gum, tooth pick and a dental floss tool housed within a package which together provides a suitable utility for cleaning the occlusions on top of the teeth and between the gums when one does not have access to typical oral care products. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    In the case where one does not have access to oral care products such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss, and mouth wash to permit complete oral hygiene, there is often a need to clean one&#39;s teeth and freshen one&#39;s breath. Previously, toothpicks have been routinely used for removal of food particles lodged between teeth. Toothpicks are typically used after meals to remove food particles but are not typically carried on one&#39;s person. 
         [0006]    Also, there exist a number of flossing devices which aid in removal of food from one&#39;s teeth and massage and toughen the gums. Chewing gum is also known to aid in teeth cleaning and oral hygiene through mastication by removing particles of food left in irregular surfaces and occlusions of the upper most surfaces of the teeth. While these utilities exist in the marketplace, there is a need to improve the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the invention is to provide an oral care package which includes a combined chewing gum, tooth pick and flossing device in a unique package. 
         [0008]    A further object is to provide a package wrapping a tooth pick (or combined pick and flossing device) impressed within a stick of gum in such manner that the pick/floss may be easily removed from the package first and used to dislodge matter from between the teeth of the user prior to chewing the gum. 
         [0009]    Another object is to provide various mechanisms for packaging the combined elements to meet the purposes and advantages of the present invention. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention is directed to an oral care kit. The package includes a package wrapping a tooth pick (or preferably a combined pick and flossing device) impressed within or adjacent to a stick of gum in such manner that the pick (or pick/floss device) may be easily removed from the package first and used to dislodge matter from between the teeth of the user and to massage the gums prior to chewing the gum which may contain additional anti-carries chemicals or compounds. 
         [0011]    Other and further objects and advantages will either be understood or will be pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view a preferred embodiment of the present invention with components thereof adjacent thereto; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  shows a plan view of a dental tool impressed into a stick of gum; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  shows a side sectional view of  2 A; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2C  shows a plan view of another dental tool impressed into a stick of gum; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2D  shows a side sectional view of  2 C; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  shows a wrapped stick of gum and dental tool; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  shows the dental tool exposed in a partially opened wrapper; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  shows the dental tool removed from the stick of gum with the impression in the gum exposed in the open wrapper; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3D  shows the stick of gum removed from the wrapper; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  shows another wrapped stick of gum having a dental tool therein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  shows the stick of gum and dental tool partially exposed in a partially opened wrapper; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4C  shows the dental tool and the stick of gum removed from a wrapper configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4D  shows the dental tool and the stick of gum in another wrapper configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  shows another configuration of a wrapped stick of gum having a dental tool therein; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  shows the stick of gum and dental tool exposed in a partially opened wrapper disposed in a tray; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  shows the dental tool removed from the stick of gum with the impression in the gum exposed in the open wrapper; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5D  shows the stick of gum being removed from the wrapper; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view another preferred embodiment of the present invention with components thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings, the oral care package of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral  10 . Like numerals indicate corresponding parts in the various views of the components described herein. The components generally include a package  11  having one or more wrappers  12 , each of which includes paper or foil covering  14 , a stick of gum  16  and the dental tool  17 . 
         [0031]    The packaging wrappers  12  can include a number of components as set forth herein. As seen in  FIG. 3B , the wrapper  12  can include a conventional multi-fold wrap  14 A which can be made of a waxed-paper or foil or other suitable material. Here, the stick of gum  16  can be disposed between a first fold  18  and a second fold  20  with the dental tool  17  depressed into the first fold and thereby causing an impression  21  in gum  16 . A third fold  22  can be disposed over the dental tool  17  to enclose about the gum  16  and dental tool  17  once ends of the folds  18 ,  20  and  22  are folded over along fold lines  23  and  25 . Once enfolded, the tool  17  and gum  16  are aided from becoming contaminated. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4B-C  depict another multi-fold wrap  14 B having folds  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  which separate gum  16  (with fold folds  32  and  34  containing gum  16 ) and tool  17 .  FIG. 14C  depicts another multi-fold wrap  14 C which shows accordion like folds  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  which separately contain the gum  16  and tool  17 . Still another version of the wrapper  12  can be seen in  FIGS. 5A-D  wherein the gum  16  includes tool  17  depressed therein and can be contained within a tray  50  having a biodegradable film  52  sealed to an edge of the tray  50  to contain the gum  16  and tool  17 . The film  52  can be formed with a tab  54  to aid in removal from tray  50 . 
         [0033]    Another embodiment of the invention is seen in  FIG. 6  wherein the package  11  can also include a corrugated insert wrapper  13  which has a plurality of longitudinal spaces defined therein to receive or contain one or more conventional wood, plastic, or composition toothpicks  60 . 
         [0034]    The gum itself  10  can preferably be any of suitable kind or types of chewing gum of which preferably can be naturally or sugar free sweetened or un-sweetened and can preferably contain one or more anti-carries additive(s). 
         [0035]    It is also contemplated that there are many gums on the market which may be effective tooth cleaning properties. The gum  16  can be provided with appropriate ingredients to enable cleaning action on irregular surfaces of teeth and/or attract into itself and entrap food material from the teeth whether it be material on the teeth or between the teeth and whether it be material in the nature of a film of material or whether it be material in the nature of particles of food or the like. 
         [0036]    The dental tool  17  can be of any suitable configuration provided it is a length to permit it to be easily accessed and/or disposed in the wrapper  12  and or gum  16  as the embodiments contemplate. The tool  17  can preferably include a flossing end  17 A as seen in many of the figures. However, a conventional toothpick can be employed in lieu of tool  17 .  FIG. 2C  depicts an alternative tool  17  configuration. 
         [0037]    In operation, the user extracts the tool  17  for use in removing any food from one&#39;s teeth. Then, a piece of chewing gum  16  can also then be removed from the wrapper  12  to further aid in cleaning and oral hygiene including the freshening of breath. The use of the invention is well suited for use after meals when there is most likely to be foreign matter such as food particles on or between the teeth in addition to any film of material which generally forms as a coating on the teeth at frequent intervals and contribute to bad breath. 
         [0038]    According to the present invention, this method of use provides that the teeth and oral cavity will be beneficially affected with the result that decay will be greatly reduced and the teeth will be left in cleaner and healthier condition. It is apparent that the above invention is readily subject to modifications, derivations, and improvements and is intended as illustrative and the claims to the invention should be entitled to any of the same.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0