Toothbrush package with sequentially dated toothbrushes

Abstract

A package comprises two or more toothbrushes which are dated to indicate a service period such as by designating a starting date and/or an ending date, or some other date in the service period. The service periods are sequential and add up, ideally, to one complete year so that a package, purchased at any time during a year, provides toothbrushes that can be used for twelve sequential months. Providing sequentially dated toothbrushes provides an indication to the user to discard used toothbrushes at the ends of the service periods thereby promoting dental health as recommended by dentists and toothbrush manufacturers. The service period indicator may be numbers, letters, words, symbols, colors, figures or any combination that suggests a period of service of a particular toothbrush and may be placed at any suitable location on each toothbrush. Suitable instructions, placed on and/or in the package or separate from the package, are preferably provided to inform potential users of the meanings of the indicators.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A package having therein at least two toothbrushes, each of the toothbrushes having a word thereon designating a different service period, the service periods being sequential.  
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the service periods are of equal duration.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the toothbrushes comprises three toothbrushes and the service period comprises four months.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the toothbrushes comprises four toothbrushes and the service period comprises three months.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the service periods accumulate to one year.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein the package includes instructions that at least one word designates a sequential service period.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the word provides an indicator designating the service period, the indicator comprising at least one number.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the word comprises a first name of a month designating the start of the service period and further comprising a second word of a subsequent month designating the end of the service period.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the word designating the service period comprises a word designating a starting date of the service period.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the word indicating the service period comprises a word indicating an ending date of the service period.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the service periods accumulate to one year.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11  wherein the package includes instructions that the words on the toothbrushes designate sequential service periods.  
     
     
         13 . A package having therein at least two toothbrushes, each of the toothbrushes having at least one word thereon designating a different service period, the service periods adding up to a year.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the service periods are of equal duration.  
     
     
         15 . A package having therein at least two toothbrushes, each of the toothbrushes having an indicator thereon designating a different service period, the service periods being sequential, the package including instructions that the indicators on the toothbrushes designate sequential service periods.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the service periods add up to one year.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16  wherein the service periods are of equal duration.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the indicator comprises at least one number.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the indicator comprises at least one letter.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the toothbrushes provides a first section of a first color and the indicator comprises a second section of a second color different than the first color.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the indicator comprises a three dimensional figure.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the indicator comprises a two dimensional figure.  
     
     
         23 . The method of packaging dated toothbrushes of the type having an indicator thereon indicating a service period, comprising 
 selecting a first toothbrush having an first indicator designating a first service period;    selecting a second toothbrush having a second indicator designating a second service period sequential to the first service period;    placing the first and second toothbrushes in a single package and sealing the same; and    instructing potential users that the indicators on the toothbrushes designate sequential service periods.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein there is at least one additional toothbrush having a third service period sequential to the second service period, the service periods are of equal duration and add up to one year.  
     
     
         25 . The method of packaging dated toothbrushes of the type having an indicator thereon indicating a service period, comprising 
 selecting a plurality of toothbrushes, each having an indicator designating different service periods, the service periods adding up to one year;    placing the toothbrushes in a single package and sealing the same; and    instructing potential users that the indicators on the toothbrushes designate sequential service periods.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the service periods are of equal duration.