Capsular toothpaste container and dispenser

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 the numeral 10. The toothpaste capsule 10, in one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3 includes a capsular wall 12 which defines an interior storage space 14. The capsular wall 12 is flexible, pliable, and/or otherwise deformable. For example, the capsular wall 12 is made from a material such as natural or synthetic polymers which allow the capsular wall to exhibit soft pliable characteristics. The capsular wall 12, 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. The capsular wall 12 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 in FIG. 8. The rotary die press 20 utilizes two gelatin ribbons 22. The gelatin ribbons are fed through a pair of dies 24. The pair of dies 24 have cavities 26 which are filled with toothpaste by an injection needle 28. The toothpaste is fed to the injection needle 28 from a toothpaste reservoir 29. The pair of dies 24 form the filled toothpaste capsule 10. 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 in FIG. 2, the capsular wall 12 forms a toothpaste flow path 16. The flow path 16 is defined by a first wall 17 and a second wall 18. When the capsular wall is in an undeformed state the first wall 17 and the second wall 18 of the flow path 16 are substantially in contact with each other. As the capsular wall 12 of a toothpaste filled toothpaste capsule 10 is deformed, pressure is generated inside the storage space 14. When the pressure reaches the deformation threshold of capsular wall 12, the first wall 17 will separate from the second wall 18 of the toothpaste flow pathway 16. Toothpaste 19 is then allowed to extrude and/or to flow through the toothpaste flow pathway 16.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the capsular wall 12 is associated with a needle 30. The needle 30 includes a flow path 34 which extends through the center of the needle 30. At one end of the needle 30 is a tip 31. The needle tip 31 is adjacent to an orifice 32 that is in fluid communication with the flow path 34.

In one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4A, the needle has cutting structures. These cutting structures extend away from the flow path 34 of the needle and form cutting splines 33. In one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4B, the needle cutting splines 33a are a pair of cutters which extend away from the flow path opening 34 in opposite directions. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 4C the needle 30b does not include cutting splines.

As shown in FIG. 3, the capsular toothpaste capsule 10 and needle 30 assembly is formed by a needle 30 being forced through the capsular wall 12 such that the orifice 32 and associated tip 31 is entirely contained within the storage space 14.

Forcing a needle 30 having cutting splines 33 through the capsular wall 12 creates, in one embodiment of the invention, a toothpaste flow pathway 16. The toothpaste flow pathway 16 may have various configurations and includes a center 42. If the needle 30 includes cutting splines 33, the toothpaste flow pathway 16 will include slits extending away from the center 42 which are positionally related to the position of the cutting splines 33 that formed the slits.

The toothpaste flow pathway 16 extends from the outer surface 40 of the capsular wall 12 to an inner surface 41 of the capsular wall 12. It should be noted that if the needle 30 is not forced entirely across the capsular wall 12, then an area of weakness is formed between the interior storage space 14 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 the interior storage space 14 by deformation of the capsular wall 12. The rupturing of the area of weakness allows toothpaste to be extruded from the interior storage space 14.

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 in FIG. 8.

The dimensions of the toothpaste capsule 10 may, for example, be in the range of about ⅛^th of an inch to about 2 inches in length, width, height, and/or diameter. The capsular wall 12, in one embodiment of the invention, may be formed into a variety of shapes. For example, the toothpaste capsule may be pyramidal 10a as shown in FIG. 6, spherical 10b as shown in FIG. 10A, ovoid 10c as shown in FIG. 10B, cubic 10d as shown in FIG. 10C, or diamond shaped 10e as shown in FIG. 10D.

Filling an empty capsular toothpaste capsule 10 can be accomplished by placing the toothpaste capsule 10 in a holding apparatus 50 as shown in FIG. 11. The holding apparatus 50 maintains the capsular wall 12 in a stable orientation such that a needle 30 can be forced through the capsular wall 12 into the interior storage space 14. The holding apparatus 50 may also retain the toothpaste capsule 10 as the needle 30 is withdrawn from the capsular wall 12. Once inside the interior storage space 14, toothpaste 19 can be injected into the interior storage space 14.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gas inside an empty toothpaste capsule 10f, as shown in FIG. 11A, can be vented as the toothpaste 19 is injected. Venting can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the cutting splines 33 may be used to provide a ventilation pathway between the interior storage space 14 and an exterior of the toothpaste capsule 10. This may be accomplished by slightly rotating the needle 30 after insertion into the interior storage space 14. After filling the toothpaste capsule 10, the needle 30 is withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 11C, and the toothpaste capsule 10 has a substantially sealed toothpaste flow pathway 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the toothpaste flow pathway 16 is substantially sealed by first wall 17 and the second wall 18 being is close proximity and/or in contact with one another. For example, the physical characteristics of the capsular wall 12 may be selected for their elastic or semi-elastic properties. These properties cause the first wall 17 and the second wall 18 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.