Dentifrice Dispenser and Oral Care System Comprising the Same

Abstract

Disclosed is a dentifrice dispenser, comprising: a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an orifice through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber; and a permanent magnet connected to the container for retaining an oral care implement with the container. Also disclosed is an oral care system, comprising: a dentifrice dispenser according to any preceding claim; and an oral care implement; wherein the oral care implement comprises a second magnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to the permanent magnet.

1 . A dentifrice dispenser, comprising:
 a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an orifice through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber; and   a permanent magnet connected to the container for retaining an oral care implement with the container.   
     
     
         2 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the container. 
     
     
         3 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the permanent magnet is partially or fully embedded between components of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the permanent magnet is partially or fully embedded in material of one component of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a vessel defining the chamber, and a cap device connected to the vessel and defining the orifice, wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the cap device. 
     
     
         6 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the cap device comprises a base defining the orifice and a closure movable relative to the base between a closed position, at which the closure isolates the orifice from an exterior of the dispenser, and an open position, at which the orifice is in fluid communication with the exterior of the dispenser. 
     
     
         7 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the cap device comprises an arm, and wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the arm. 
     
     
         8 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the arm extends from the base. 
     
     
         9 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the base is unitary with the arm. 
     
     
         10 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an arm, and wherein the permanent magnet is mounted on, or is partially or fully embedded in, the arm. 
     
     
         11 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the arm is elongate in a direction extending away from the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the arm is elongate in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the permanent magnet is at a distal end of the arm. 
     
     
         14 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the cap device is formed from a plastic, such as a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         15 . The dentifrice dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises ferromagnetic material, optionally wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises one or more of iron, nickel, cobalt, lodestone, a compound of rare earth elements, an alloy of rare earth elements, an alloy of iron, an alloy of nickel, and an alloy of cobalt. 
     
     
         16 . An oral care system, comprising:
 a dentifrice dispenser according to any preceding claim; and   an oral care implement;   wherein the oral care implement comprises a second magnet or a metal portion that is magnetically attractable to the permanent magnet.   
     
     
         17 . The oral care system of  claim 16 , wherein the oral care implement comprises a handle and a head, and wherein the second magnet or the metal portion is magnetically attractable to the permanent magnet to bring the oral care implement into contact with the dentifrice dispenser with the head aligned or alignable with the orifice. 
     
     
         18 . The oral care system of  claim 17 , wherein the second magnet or the metal portion is comprised in the head. 
     
     
         19 . The oral care system of  claim 16 , wherein the oral care implement is a toothbrush.