Method of forming a product array and product array formed by the same

Abstract

A method of forming a product array or a product array formed thereby. The method may include selecting a first oral care material having a first oral care benefit, mounting a first plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising at least one first type of tooth cleaning element that provides the first oral care benefit to a first toothbrush, and forming a first oral care kit comprising the first oral care material and the first toothbrush. The method may also include selecting a second oral care material having a second oral care benefit that is different than the first oral care benefit, mounting a second plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising at least one second type of tooth cleaning element that provides the second oral care benefit to a second toothbrush, and forming a second oral care kit comprising the second oral care material and the second toothbrush.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a product array of a plurality of oral care kits, the method comprising:
 a) selecting from a plurality of oral care materials, a first oral care material that provides a first oral care benefit and a second oral care material that provides a second oral care benefit, the first oral care benefit being different than the second oral care benefit;   b) selecting from a plurality of types of tooth cleaning elements, a first type of tooth cleaning element that provides the first oral care benefit and a second type of tooth cleaning element that provides the second oral care benefit;   c) mounting a first plurality of tooth cleaning elements to a head portion of a first toothbrush, the first plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising at least one of the first type of tooth cleaning element;   d) mounting a second plurality of tooth cleaning elements to a head portion of a second toothbrush, the second plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising at least one of the second type of tooth cleaning element;   e) forming a first oral care kit comprising the first oral care material and the first toothbrush; and   f) forming a second oral kit comprising the second oral care material and the second toothbrush.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 wherein step e) comprises:
 e-1) providing the first oral care material into a reservoir of a first dispenser; 
 e-2) detachably coupling the first dispenser to the first toothbrush to form a first oral care system; and 
 e-3) packaging the first oral care system in a first package to form the first oral care kit; and 
 
 wherein step f) comprises:
 f-1) providing the second oral care material into a reservoir of a second dispenser; 
 f-2) detachably coupling the second dispenser to the second toothbrush to form a second oral care system; and 
 f-3) packaging the second oral care system in a second package to form the second oral care kit. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 wherein step e) comprises:
 e-1) providing the first oral care material into a reservoir of a first dispenser; and 
 e-3) packaging the first dispenser and the first toothbrush in a first package to form the first oral care kit; and 
 
 wherein step f) comprises:
 f-1) providing the second oral care material into a reservoir of a second dispenser; and 
 f-3) packaging the second dispenser and the second toothbrush in a second package to form the second oral care kit. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 wherein step c) comprises:
 c-1) forming a first cleaning element assembly comprising a first head plate having a plurality of first openings, the first plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending through the plurality of first openings and comprising first portions extending from a front surface of the first head plate and anchor portions adjacent the rear surface of the first head plate, the anchor portions of the first plurality of tooth cleaning elements melted together to form a first melt matte; 
 c-2) positioning the first head plate of the first cleaning element assembly into a first basin of the head portion of the first toothbrush; and 
 c-3) attaching the first head plate of the first cleaning element assembly to the head portion of the first toothbrush; and 
 
 wherein step d) comprises:
 d-1) forming a second cleaning element assembly comprising a second head plate having a plurality of second openings, the second plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending through the plurality of second openings and comprising first portions extending from a front surface of the second head plate and anchor portions adjacent the rear surface of the second head plate, the anchor portions of the second plurality of tooth cleaning elements melted together to form a second melt matte; 
 d-2) positioning the second head plate of the second cleaning element assembly into a second basin of the head portion of the second toothbrush; and 
 d-3) attaching the second head plate of the second cleaning element assembly to the head portion of the second toothbrush. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second oral care benefits are selected from the group consisting of tooth whitening, anti-bacterial, tooth anti-sensitivity, and oral malodor treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second types of tooth cleaning elements is selected from a group consisting of a spiral bristle, a tapered bristle, an elastomeric tooth cleaning element, a charcoal bristle, a bristle comprising an anti-bacterial additive, and an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the first oral care material is a tooth whitening agent and the first type of tooth cleaning element is a spiral bristle. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the second oral care material is a tooth anti-sensitivity agent and the second type of tooth cleaning element is a tapered bristle or an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 if the first oral care material is a tooth whitening agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a spiral bristle or an elastomeric tooth cleaning element; 
 if the first oral care material is an anti-sensitivity agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a tapered bristle or an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less; 
 if the first oral care material is a breath freshening agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a charcoal bristle; and 
 if the first oral care material is an anti-bacterial agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a bristle containing an anti-bacterial additive. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a product array of a plurality of oral care kits, the method comprising:
 a) providing a plurality of toothbrushes, each of the plurality of toothbrushes comprising a head portion and a reservoir;   b) selecting from a plurality of oral care materials, a first oral care material that provides a first oral care benefit and a second oral care material that provides a second oral care benefit, the first oral care benefit being different than the second oral care benefit;   c) selecting from a plurality of cleaning element assemblies, a first cleaning element assembly comprising a first type of tooth cleaning element that provides the first oral care benefit and a second cleaning element assembly comprising a second type of tooth cleaning element that provides the second oral care benefit;   d) coupling the first cleaning element assembly to the head portion of a first toothbrush of the plurality of toothbrushes and filling the reservoir of the first toothbrush with the first oral care material; and   e) coupling the second cleaning element assembly to the head portion of a second toothbrush of the plurality of toothbrushes and filling the reservoir of the second toothbrush with the second oral care material.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of toothbrushes are structurally identical. 
     
     
         12 . A product array comprising:
 a first oral kit comprising:
 a first oral care material that provides a first oral care benefit; 
 a first toothbrush comprising a first type of tooth cleaning element that provides the first oral care benefit; and 
 a first package containing the first oral care material and the first toothbrush; and 
   a second oral care kit comprising:
 a second oral care material that provides a second oral care benefit, the first oral care benefit being different than the second oral care benefit; 
 a second toothbrush comprising a second type of tooth cleaning element that provides the second oral care benefit; and 
 a second package containing the second oral care material and the second toothbrush. 
   
     
     
         13 . The product array according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 the first oral care kit comprising a first dispenser having a reservoir containing the first oral care material, the first package containing the first dispenser; and 
 the second oral care kit comprising a second dispenser having a reservoir containing the second oral care material, the second package containing the second dispenser. 
 
     
     
         14 . The product array according to  claim 13  wherein the first dispenser is configured for detachable coupling to the first toothbrush and the second dispenser is configured for detachable coupling to the second toothbrush. 
     
     
         15 . The product array according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 a first basin in a head portion of the first toothbrush; 
 a first cleaning element assembly comprising a first head plate having a plurality of first openings, a first plurality of cleaning elements extending through the plurality of first openings and comprising first portions extending from a front surface of the first head plate and anchor portions adjacent a rear surface of the first head plate, the anchor portion of the first plurality of tooth cleaning elements melted together to form a first melt matte, the first plurality of cleaning elements comprising the first type of tooth cleaning element; 
 the first head plate of the first cleaning element assembly positioned in the first basin of the head portion of the first toothbrush, the first head plate of the first cleaning element assembly attached to the head portion of the first toothbrush; 
 a second basin in a head portion of the second toothbrush; 
 a second cleaning element assembly comprising a second head plate having a plurality of second openings, a second plurality of cleaning elements extending through the plurality of second openings and comprising first portions extending from a front surface of the second head plate and anchor portions adjacent a rear surface of the second head plate, the anchor portion of the second plurality of tooth cleaning elements melted together to form a second melt matte, the second plurality of cleaning elements comprising the second type of tooth cleaning element; and 
 the second head plate of the second cleaning element assembly positioned in the second basin of the head portion of the second toothbrush, the second head plate of the second cleaning element assembly attached to the head portion of the second toothbrush. 
 
     
     
         16 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein the first and second toothbrushes are structurally identical. 
     
     
         17 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein each of the first and second oral care benefits are selected from the group consisting of tooth whitening, anti-bacterial, tooth anti-sensitivity, and oral malodor treatment. 
     
     
         18 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein each of the first and second types of tooth cleaning elements is selected from a group consisting of a spiral bristle, a tapered bristle, an elastomeric tooth cleaning element, a charcoal bristle, a bristle comprising an anti-bacterial additive, and an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less. 
     
     
         19 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein the first oral care material is a tooth whitening agent and the first type of tooth cleaning element is a spiral bristle. 
     
     
         20 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein the second oral care material is a tooth anti-sensitivity agent and the second type of tooth cleaning element is a tapered bristle or an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less. 
     
     
         21 . The product array according to  claim 12  wherein:
 if the first oral care material is a tooth whitening agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a spiral bristle or an elastomeric tooth cleaning element; 
 if the first oral care material is an anti-sensitivity agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a tapered bristle or an end-rounded bristle having a diameter of 5 mils or less; 
 if the first oral care material is a breath freshening agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a charcoal bristle; and 
 if the first oral care material is an anti-bacterial agent, the first type of tooth cleaning element is a bristle containing an anti-bacterial additive.