Means for aiding the dispensing of proper amounts of toothpaste and discouraging use of excessively dispensed amounts

Abstract

A device designed to promote the placement on a toothbrush of not more than a predetermined amount of toothpaste. A preferred embodiment physically encourages the relative positioning of a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste such that when toothpaste is squeezed from its tube it is dispensed substantially on top of and across the toothbrush's bristle bunches rather than lengthwise along the top of the bunches. The device is designed to provide visual encouragement to an individual to stop dispensing toothpaste when an appropriate amount has been dispensed. Furthermore, the device generally prevents any excessively dispensed toothpaste from remaining on the toothbrush.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A means for discouraging the dispensing of toothpaste beyond a predetermined amount from a toothpaste container onto bristle bunches of a toothbrush by encouraging, through physical guidance provided by a device, the establishment of a defined relative orientation and proximity of such bunches and an opening through which toothpaste is dispensed from the toothpaste container before the toothpaste is dispensed.  
     
     
         2 . The means of  claim 1  wherein the device comprises at least one component that otherwise restricts the placing of the bristle bunches proximate to the opening through which toothpaste is dispensed in a manner that would be advantageous for use of the toothbrush and toothpaste in combination to promote dental hygiene.  
     
     
         3 . The means of  claim 2  wherein the orientation and proximity are such that the direction in which the toothpaste is expelled from the container is generally across the breadth of the bristle bunches of a toothbrush.  
     
     
         4 . The means of  claim 2  wherein the orientation and proximity are such that the direction in which the toothpaste is expelled from the container causes a substantial portion of the toothpaste to become embedded in the bristle bunches of the toothbrush.  
     
     
         5 . The means of  claim 4  wherein the toothpaste is dispensed into the bristle bunches depthwise towards the inner face of the handle, such that, once an amount within a range of predetermined amounts has been dispensed, the dispensing of additional amounts will create back-pressure against the flow of such additional amounts from the container, thereby providing tactile feedback to an individual dispensing such additional amounts to suggest that it would not be advantageous to continue doing so.  
     
     
         6 . A method that establishes the size of the opening through which toothpaste is dispensed from a toothpaste container such that when the measured area of such opening is multiplied by a predetermined length of dispensed toothpaste it yields a volume of toothpaste that is advantageous for a particular purpose.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein an object of the method is to limit the use of fluoridated toothpaste dispensed into contact with the bristle bunches of a toothbrush to be used to enhance the cleaning of a person's teeth and to that end factors in the level of fluoride and fluoride-related components in the toothpaste.  
     
     
         8 . A method, whose object is to discourage the dispensing of toothpaste from its container beyond a predetermined amount, which requires an individual, after having dispensed such predetermined amount of toothpaste from a toothpaste container by applying pressure to a portion of the container so as to force out such amount through an opening in the container, the individual is required to apply a greater degree of pressure, as discernible to the individual, in order to dispense additional toothpaste.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the requirement for an increase in pressure is produced by limiting the movement of toothpaste that has already been dispensed away from the opening through which toothpaste is dispensed from the toothpaste container, thereby creating back-pressure.  
     
     
         10 . A method for enhancing the beneficial use of toothpaste in combination with a toothbrush as an aid in the cleaning of teeth as part of a toothbrushing process, as well as a method for discouraging the waste or other unintended disposition of such toothpaste, such method comprising a process whereby, as it is dispensed from its container, a substantial portion of one or more unified portions of the dispensed toothpaste is forced into the bristle bunches of the toothbrush rather than simply on top of such bunches, thereby discouraging the separation of such one or more unified portions of the toothpaste from the bunches prior to the toothpaste serving its intended purpose as a dentifrice.  
     
     
         11 . A device, an object of which is to discourage the dispensing of toothpaste from a toothpaste container into advantageous contact with the bristle bunches of a toothbrush unless a predetermined relative proximity and orientation have been established between such bunches and the opening through which toothpaste is dispensed from such container, such device 
 comprising at least one component that otherwise discourages the placing of the bristle bunches of the toothbrush proximate to the opening through which toothpaste is dispensed in a manner that would be advantageous for dispensing toothpaste onto the such bristles,    not comprising one or more elements that physically inhibit the dispensing of amounts of toothpaste in excess of predetermined amounts, and    having an object of preventing the over-dispensing of toothpaste onto the bristle bunches.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , one of whose objects is to prevent the overuse of fluoridated toothpaste, overuse of which can have deleterious health effects,  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  that further comprises at least one component which serves to limit to a predetermined amount the toothpaste that remains in advantageous contact with the bristle bunches of a toothbrush when the amount of toothpaste that has been dispensed from its container exceeds such predetermined amount.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein amounts of toothpaste which have come into contact with the bristle bunches of the toothbrush are diverted away from ongoing contact with such bristle bunches by a combination of elements within a group of elements comprising 
 the shape of at least one component of the device,  
 the relative orientation of the bristle bunches of the toothbrush, the toothpaste container, and the opening of such container through which toothpaste is dispensed, and  
 the propulsive force of additional amounts of toothpaste being dispensed from the toothpaste container which causes to be moved the earlier-expelled amounts of toothpaste.  
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  which comprises at least one element that, in combination with the removal of the toothbrush and the bristle bunches from the aforementioned predetermined relative proximity and orientation, causes the removal of amounts of excess toothpaste from immediate proximity to the bristle bunches of the toothbrush.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12  whose shape is complementary to the shape of an existing closing means of a toothpaste container such that the device and the closing means can be advantageously combined with each other and the toothpaste container simultaneously.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12  which additionally serves as a closing means for the toothpaste container.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12  which comprises at least one component that is shaped in a fashion that is complementary to an element of the toothpaste container so as to permit secure engagement between the device and the container, and wherein their secure engagement serves the objects of the invention, namely facilitating a predetermined relative proximity and orientation of the container, its opening, and the bristle bunches prior to dispensing of toothpaste onto such bunches, and discouraging such dispensing in the absence of such proximity and orientation.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12  which is physically integrated with the container in a manner such that the device is not intended to be disengaged from such integration after manufacture and distribution of the container and device to consumers.  
     
     
         20 . A device, an object of which is to encourage the dispensing of toothpaste from a toothpaste container, into advantageous contact with the bristle bunches of a toothbrush, in amounts that do not exceed a predetermined amount, wherein at least one element of such device provides such encouragement by providing visual guidance as to a proper length of a ribbon of toothpaste that should be forcibly dispensed from such container in order to achieve such predetermined amount, such element serving as a visual guide in essentially immediate proximity to the bristle bunches as the toothpaste is dispensed.