US20060113332A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20060113332A1
Application number: US11/001,427
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry Withers; Robert Denya
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-30
Filing date: 2004-11-30
Publication date: 2006-06-01

Abstract

A toothpaste capsule which includes a capsular wall defining an interior storage space. The capsular wall is composed of a material that allows the wall to be flexible and/or pliable such that the capsular wall can be deformed. The capsular wall also includes a toothpaste dispensing pathway. The toothpaste dispensing pathway is extendable through the capsular wall such that when a toothpaste capsule containing toothpaste is deformed, the toothpaste dispensing pathway will allow toothpaste to flow to an area exterior to the capsule. The toothpaste dispensing pathway in capsular wall may be an incision or defined area of weakness in the capsular wall. In the case of an incision, the incision is defined by opposing walls in contact with each other.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to personal hygiene product containers and dispensers. In particular, the invention relates to a capsular container and dispenser for toothpaste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Preventative dental care and maintenance is a hallmark of modern society. Intrinsically associated with dental care and maintenance is the use of toothpaste and toothbrushes by an almost universal population segment of persons in developed countries. A typical toothpaste formulation includes cleaning and polishing agents as well as a variety of other components such as fluoride, peroxides, stabilizers, viscosity modifying agents, preservatives, and water. Toothpaste is conventionally packaged in a tube container formed from a receptacle having an open cylindrical end and a necked dispensing end. The tube container is manufactured from plastic and/or metal materials. The empty tube container is filled with toothpaste by injecting toothpaste into the open cylindrical end. Once the empty tube container is filled the open cylindrical end is crimp sealed. The toothpaste is then dispensable through the necked dispensing end which typically has a screw type cap.

Conventional toothpaste tubes suffer from numerous problems. For example, conventional toothpaste tubes are made from a substantially non-degradable material which creates additional unwanted volume at waste management facilities. Because of the mixed use of materials in the tube, for example, plastic and metal, recycling of the materials is cost prohibitive.

Conventional toothpaste tubes often contain several fluid ounces of toothpaste. This quantity of toothpaste can yield tens or even hundreds of individual use portions. This large quantity of toothpaste often leads to waste since a volume of the toothpaste is virtually impossible to recover from the tube due to the configuration of the tube. Furthermore, if a user wishes to transport only a limited volume of toothpaste for purposes of a trip, the user is forced to transport much more toothpaste than will actually be needed.

In addition, conventional toothpaste tubes are susceptible to forming hardened toothpaste deposits in and around the dispensing end of the tube. These hardened toothpaste deposits must be removed by a user prior to dispensing fresh toothpaste onto a toothbrush. Over the life cycle of the toothpaste tube the discarded hardened toothpaste can amount to a substantial wasted volume of toothpaste product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention in a preferred form is a toothpaste capsule which includes a capsular wall defining an interior storage space. The capsular wall is composed of a material that allows the wall to be flexible and/or pliable such that the capsular wall can be deformed. The capsular wall may be made from materials that are readily degradable or dissolvable in aqueous solutions. The capsular wall also includes a toothpaste dispensing pathway. The toothpaste dispensing pathway is extendable through the capsular wall such that when a toothpaste capsule containing toothpaste is deformed, the toothpaste dispensing pathway will allow toothpaste to flow to an area exterior to the capsule. The toothpaste dispensing pathway in the capsular wall may be an incision or defined area of weakness in the capsular wall. In the case of an incision, the incision is defined by opposing walls in contact with each other such that the toothpaste capsule is substantially sealed.

The present invention also encompasses a toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly which includes a toothpaste capsule having a capsular wall defining a storage space and a filling needle having an injection pathway and an injection orifice. The injection pathway of the filling needle is fluidly connected to a toothpaste reservoir. The needle injection orifice protrudes into the capsular storage space. The interior storage space of the toothpaste capsule may in some cases be substantially filled with toothpaste.

An object of the invention is to provide a convenient, easy to use, portable and inexpensive toothpaste storage and dispensing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single or limited use capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new, simplified, and improved toothpaste storage and dispensing device in substantially sealed soft capsular form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device having an incision consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a toothpaste storage and dispensing device capsular wall which includes a toothpaste flow pathway consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device and needle assembly which is consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 4A through 4C show cross sectional views of needle configurations consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device and needle assembly which includes a toothpaste filling consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a pyramidal shaped capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a portion of the capsular wall of a toothpaste storage and dispensing device having a toothpaste flow pathway filled with toothpaste consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a rotary die press capable of producing capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing devices consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a toothpaste fill reservoir, a reservoir line, a needle and a toothpaste storage and dispensing device assembly consistent with the present invention;

FIGS. 10A through 10D show various shape configurations of the capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device consistent with the present invention; and

FIGS. 11A through 11C respectively show a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device in a retentive tray, a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device being filled with toothpaste, and a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device substantially filled toothpaste consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like components throughout the figures, a capsular toothpaste storage and dispensing device in accordance with the present invention is designated by thenumeral10. Thetoothpaste capsule10, in one embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 3 includes acapsular wall12 which defines aninterior storage space14. Thecapsular wall12 is flexible, pliable, and/or otherwise deformable. For example, thecapsular wall12 is made from a material such as natural or synthetic polymers which allow the capsular wall to exhibit soft pliable characteristics. Thecapsular wall12, in one embodiment of the invention, is formed from, for example, gelatin, collagen, lactic acid, starch based plastics, water soluble biopolymers, and/or polylactic acid. In addition, synthetic plastics and/or silicones known in the container arts may be used. Thecapsular wall12 may be formed of materials that are biodegradable and/or are readily dissolvable in aqueous solutions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the capsular wall is made of gelatin, wherein the gelatin capsule is formed using a rotary die press as shown inFIG. 8. The rotary diepress20 utilizes twogelatin ribbons22. The gelatin ribbons are fed through a pair ofdies24. The pair ofdies24 havecavities26 which are filled with toothpaste by aninjection needle28. The toothpaste is fed to theinjection needle28 from a toothpaste reservoir29. The pair of dies24 form the filledtoothpaste capsule10. It should be understood that other methods of manufacturing the toothpaste capsule may be used. For example, a two-part capsule and a capsule formed of solidified liquid may be utilized.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 2, thecapsular wall12 forms atoothpaste flow path16. Theflow path16 is defined by afirst wall17 and asecond wall18. When the capsular wall is in an undeformed state thefirst wall17 and thesecond wall18 of theflow path16 are substantially in contact with each other. As thecapsular wall12 of a toothpaste filledtoothpaste capsule10 is deformed, pressure is generated inside thestorage space14. When the pressure reaches the deformation threshold ofcapsular wall12, thefirst wall17 will separate from thesecond wall18 of thetoothpaste flow pathway16.Toothpaste19 is then allowed to extrude and/or to flow through thetoothpaste flow pathway16.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 3, thecapsular wall12 is associated with aneedle30. Theneedle30 includes aflow path34 which extends through the center of theneedle30. At one end of theneedle30 is atip31. Theneedle tip31 is adjacent to anorifice32 that is in fluid communication with theflow path34.

In one embodiment of the invention as shown inFIG. 4A, the needle has cutting structures. These cutting structures extend away from theflow path34 of the needle and form cutting splines33. In one embodiment of the invention as shown inFIG. 4B, the needle cutting splines33aare a pair of cutters which extend away from the flow path opening34 in opposite directions. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 4C theneedle30bdoes not include cutting splines.

As shown inFIG. 3, thecapsular toothpaste capsule10 andneedle30 assembly is formed by aneedle30 being forced through thecapsular wall12 such that theorifice32 and associatedtip31 is entirely contained within thestorage space14.

Forcing aneedle30 havingcutting splines33 through thecapsular wall12 creates, in one embodiment of the invention, atoothpaste flow pathway16. Thetoothpaste flow pathway16 may have various configurations and includes acenter42. If theneedle30 includes cuttingsplines33, thetoothpaste flow pathway16 will include slits extending away from thecenter42 which are positionally related to the position of the cutting splines33 that formed the slits.

Thetoothpaste flow pathway16 extends from theouter surface40 of thecapsular wall12 to aninner surface41 of thecapsular wall12. It should be noted that if theneedle30 is not forced entirely across thecapsular wall12, then an area of weakness is formed between theinterior storage space14 and the end of the partial toothpaste flow pathway formed by the partially inserted needle. The area of weakness will rupture when sufficient pressure is generated within theinterior storage space14 by deformation of thecapsular wall12. The rupturing of the area of weakness allows toothpaste to be extruded from theinterior storage space14.

In one embodiment of the invention, the capsular wall is formed from a gelatin solution that is plasticized with, for example, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin. The capsular toothpaste capsule is formed, filled and sealed in one continuous operation utilizing the rotary die incapsulator press as shown inFIG. 8.

The dimensions of thetoothpaste capsule10 may, for example, be in the range of about ⅛^thof an inch to about 2 inches in length, width, height, and/or diameter. Thecapsular wall12, in one embodiment of the invention, may be formed into a variety of shapes. For example, the toothpaste capsule may be pyramidal10aas shown inFIG. 6, spherical10bas shown inFIG. 10A, ovoid10cas shown inFIG. 10B, cubic10das shown inFIG. 10C, or diamond shaped10eas shown inFIG. 10D.

Filling an emptycapsular toothpaste capsule10 can be accomplished by placing thetoothpaste capsule10 in a holdingapparatus50 as shown inFIG. 11. The holdingapparatus50 maintains thecapsular wall12 in a stable orientation such that aneedle30 can be forced through thecapsular wall12 into theinterior storage space14. The holdingapparatus50 may also retain thetoothpaste capsule10 as theneedle30 is withdrawn from thecapsular wall12. Once inside theinterior storage space14,toothpaste19 can be injected into theinterior storage space14.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gas inside an empty toothpaste capsule10f, as shown inFIG. 11A, can be vented as thetoothpaste19 is injected. Venting can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, as shown inFIG. 11B, the cutting splines33 may be used to provide a ventilation pathway between theinterior storage space14 and an exterior of thetoothpaste capsule10. This may be accomplished by slightly rotating theneedle30 after insertion into theinterior storage space14. After filling thetoothpaste capsule10, theneedle30 is withdrawn, as shown inFIG. 11C, and thetoothpaste capsule10 has a substantially sealedtoothpaste flow pathway16. As shown inFIG. 1, thetoothpaste flow pathway16 is substantially sealed byfirst wall17 and thesecond wall18 being is close proximity and/or in contact with one another. For example, the physical characteristics of thecapsular wall12 may be selected for their elastic or semi-elastic properties. These properties cause thefirst wall17 and thesecond wall18 to spring back into contact after having been formed by the cutting splines.

While preferred embodiments of the foregoing invention have been set forth for the purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A toothpaste capsule comprising:

a capsular wall defining an interior storage space substantially filled with toothpaste, said capsular wall being deformable; and

a toothpaste dispensing pathway extending through a portion of the capsular wall.

2. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the interior storage space is reduced in volume when the capsular wall is deformed.

3. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the capsular wall includes gelatin.

4. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the capsular wall includes plastic.

5. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispensing pathway is defined by an opening having a center and slits, said slits radially extend from said center.

6. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispensing pathway is defined by an elongated opening.

7. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispensing pathway is substantially closed when the capsular wall is undeformed.

8. A toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly comprising:

a toothpaste having a capsular wall defining a storage space, said capsular wall being deformable;

a toothpaste dispensing pathway extending through the capsular wall;

a filling needle having an injection pathway which includes an injection orifice, said injection pathway being fluidly connected to a toothpaste reservoir, said needle injection orifice protrudes into the capsular storage space.

9. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the capsular wall includes gelatin.

10. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the capsular wall is biodegradable.

11. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the capsular wall is biodegradable.

12. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the toothpaste dispensing pathway includes a center and a plurality of slits extending out from the center, said center and slits extend from an outer surface of the capsular wall toward an inner surface of the capsular wall.

13. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the plurality of slits are in contact with a plurality of edged splines on the needle.

14. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the capsule is retained in a holding tray.

15. The toothpaste capsule and filling needle assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the storage space is partially filled with toothpaste.

16. A toothpaste capsule comprising:

a flexible capsular wall defining an interior storage space, said interior storage space, said capsular wall being about ⅛^thof an inch to about 2 inches in diameter.

an incision in the capsular wall, said incision having opposing walls in contact with each other, said incision extends from an exterior surface of the capsular wall toward the interior storage space.

17. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 16, wherein the incision has a center and at least one slit extending out from the center.

18. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 16, wherein the capsular wall is biodegradable.

19. The toothpaste capsule ofclaim 16, wherein the capsular wall includes gelatin.