Oral care system, kit and method

Abstract

An oral care system that includes an oral care implement and a dispenser, an oral care method, and a method of applying an oral care agent to an oral surface. In one embodiment, the invention may be an oral care system including a toothbrush having a handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cantilevered top portion. The system may also include a dispenser having a longitudinally elongated housing having a distal end with an applicator thereon and an opposite proximal end. There may be a reservoir disposed in the housing for holding an oral care agent. The reservoir can be in fluid communication with the applicator. The dispenser may be removably attached to the cantilevered top portion of the handle of the toothbrush.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care system comprising:
 a toothbrush comprising:
 a handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cantilevered top portion; and 
 a head connected to the distal end of the handle; and 
   a dispenser comprising:
 a longitudinally elongated housing having a distal end with an applicator thereon and an opposite proximal end; and 
 a reservoir disposed in the housing for holding an oral care agent, the reservoir in fluid communication with the applicator, wherein the dispenser is removably attached to the cantilevered top portion of the handle of the toothbrush; and 
   wherein the applicator is configured to dispense and apply the oral care agent from the reservoir to an oral surface of a user through the applicator which remains positioned on the distal end of the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises open sides and a contiguous open bottom formed below the cantilevered top portion, the dispenser being insertable into and removable from the handle through the open sides and bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a longitudinally extending cavity formed below the top portion of the handle and adapted to receive the dispenser, the cavity accessible through open lateral sides and an open bottom in the handle of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises an enclosed distal sheath portion, the applicator being disposed in the enclosed distal sheath portion when the dispenser is mounted in the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally elongated housing of the dispenser further comprises a locking lug that engages a corresponding mounting tab on the top portion of the handle to secure the dispenser to the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting tab is disposed in the top portion of the handle and wherein the longitudinally elongated housing of the dispenser comprises a mounting recess that receives the mounting tab on the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises a plug that is detachable from the applicator when the dispenser is removed from the handle, wherein the plug is removably received in a socket formed in the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . An oral care system comprising:
 a toothbrush comprising:
 a handle for gripping defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, and cantilevered top portion fixedly attached to the distal end of the handle and extending rearward to the proximal end; 
 a neck attached to the distal end of the handle; 
 a head connected to the neck and having a plurality of tooth engaging elements; and 
 a user removable portion of the handle defining an oral care agent dispenser, the dispenser comprising:
 a longitudinally elongated housing having a distal end with an applicator therein and a proximal end; and 
 a reservoir disposed in the housing for holding the oral care agent, the reservoir in fluid communication with the applicator, wherein the dispenser is removably attached to the top portion of the handle and movable from a storage state being mounted in the handle to an application state being completely dismounted from the handle for dispensing the oral care agent into an oral cavity of the user; 
 
   wherein the applicator is configured to dispense and apply the oral care agent from the reservoir to an oral surface of the user through the applicator which remains positioned on the distal end of the dispenser.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein only the distal end of the handle includes an enclosed sheath portion defining a cavity and the applicator is seated in the sheath portion when the dispenser is in the storage state mounted in the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the handle comprises a window, the applicator of the dispenser being visible through the window when the dispenser is in the storage state mounted in the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the handle comprises open sides and a contiguous open bottom formed below the top portion, the dispenser being insertable into and removable from the handle through the open sides and bottom. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the handle comprises a longitudinally extending cavity formed below the top portion of the handle adapted to receive the dispenser, the cavity accessible through open lateral sides and an open bottom in the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser housing further comprises a locking lug that engages a corresponding mounting tab on the top portion of the handle to secure the dispenser to the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting tab is disposed in the top portion of the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the dispenser housing comprises a mounting recess that receives the mounting tab on the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the applicator is constructed of bristles, a porous material, or a fibrillated material. 
     
     
         17 . An oral care system comprising:
 a toothbrush comprising:
 a handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cantilevered top portion; and 
 a head connected to the distal end of the handle; and 
   a dispenser comprising:
 a longitudinally elongated housing having a distal end with an applicator and an opposite proximal end; and 
 a reservoir disposed in the housing for holding an oral care agent, the reservoir in fluid communication with the applicator, wherein the dispenser is removably attached to the top portion of the toothbrush handle. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the applicator is constructed of bristles, a porous material, or a fibrillated material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises open sides and a contiguous open bottom formed below the top portion, the dispenser being insertable into and removable from the handle through the open sides and bottom; and wherein the handle comprises a longitudinally extending cavity formed below the top portion of the handle and adapted to receive the dispenser, the cavity accessible through open lateral sides and an open bottom in the toothbrush handle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the dispenser housing further comprises a locking lug that engages a corresponding mounting tab on the top portion of the handle to secure the dispenser to the handle, and wherein the dispenser housing comprises a mounting recess that receives the mounting tab on the handle.