Oral Care System, Kit and Method

Abstract

An oral care system wherein a dispenser is mounted to the handle of an oral care implement. The dispenser holds an oral care material and is alterable between a storage state wherein a dispensing end of the dispenser nests within the handle and an application state wherein the dispensing end of the dispenser is un-nested and exposed for oral care use.

1 . An oral care system comprising:
 an oral care implement comprising:
 a head having one or more oral surface engaging elements; and 
 a handle having a longitudinal axis, the handle including:
 first and second flanges spaced apart from one another and extending along the longitudinal axis from a base portion of the handle in a direction away from the head to define a space between opposing inner surfaces of the first and second flanges; and 
 a transverse wall at the base portion of the handle defining a cavity; and 
 
   a dispenser pivotably mounted in the space between opposing inner surfaces of the first and second flanges and having a reservoir containing an oral care material, the dispenser including an applicator configured to dispense the oral care material from the reservoir, wherein the dispenser is pivotable between a storage state in which the applicator of the dispenser is received within the cavity and an application state in which the applicator is exposed for application to an oral surface of a user.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care system of  claim 1 , wherein when the dispenser is in the storage state, the dispenser is flushly positioned between the flanges so that the handle has a substantially smooth contour. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second flanges each have an outer surface, wherein the dispenser has an outer surface, whereby when the dispenser is in the storage state, an exposed portion of the outer surface of the dispenser is flush with the outer surfaces of the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care system of  claim 3 , wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second flanges are transversely convex, and wherein the exposed portion of the outer surface of the dispenser is transversely convex. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care system of  claim 4 , wherein when the dispenser is in the storage state, the outer surfaces of the first and second flanges and the exposed outer surface of the dispenser define a substantially elliptical transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser has lateral surfaces that oppose the inner surfaces of the first and second flanges in the storage state and application states, wherein at least one of the inner surfaces of the first and second flanges includes one of a protrusion or an indentation, and wherein at least one of the lateral surfaces of the dispenser includes the other of the protrusion or the indentation that mates with the protrusion or the indentation of the first and second flanges in the storage state, thereby maintaining the dispenser in the storage state when subjected to forces applied by a user during brushing. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is pivotably and translationally mounted to the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the dispenser contacts the base portion when the dispenser is in the storage state, whereby the applicator is substantially sealed within the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care system of  claim 1 , wherein the oral care material comprises a tooth whitening agent or a tooth sensitivity agent.