EP1504693A1 - Package of toothbrushes - Google Patents

Package of toothbrushes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1504693A1
EP1504693A1 EP04076974A EP04076974A EP1504693A1 EP 1504693 A1 EP1504693 A1 EP 1504693A1 EP 04076974 A EP04076974 A EP 04076974A EP 04076974 A EP04076974 A EP 04076974A EP 1504693 A1 EP1504693 A1 EP 1504693A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toothbrushes
package
toothbrush
visual indicia
calendar year
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04076974A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fulvio Lever Fabergé Italy s.r.l. Guarneri
Ben Victor Jozef Maria Lever Fabergé Jansen
Nicola Millemaci
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Priority to EP04076974A priority Critical patent/EP1504693A1/en
Publication of EP1504693A1 publication Critical patent/EP1504693A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46BRUSHWARE
    • A46BBRUSHES
    • A46B15/00Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0085Brushes provided with an identification, marking device or design
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46BRUSHWARE
    • A46BBRUSHES
    • A46B15/00Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0087Brushes with decoration on or in the handle
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46BRUSHWARE
    • A46BBRUSHES
    • A46B15/00Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0091Container, e.g. bag or box with a collection of various devices
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46BRUSHWARE
    • A46BBRUSHES
    • A46B5/00Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46BRUSHWARE
    • A46BBRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a package comprising a plurality of toothbrushes having different visual indicia.
  • Toothbrushes are used by virtually everyone in at least the western world. Unfortunately, while dental professionals recommend that a toothbrush should be used twice a day for three months only, the majority of people change their toothbrush much less frequently. In Europe, the average is just 1.3 toothbrushes per consumer per year.
  • a new toothbrush removes up to 30% more plaque during brushing than a brush which is three months old.
  • the object of the invention is to provide toothbrushes which by way of visual means indicate to the user at regular periods or dates during a calendar year that a new toothbrush is required.
  • the invention provides a package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, wherein the visual indicia provides as a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year.
  • the package needs to be able to store the brushes which are not being used. For example, should the package comprise four toothbrushes, it will need to be able to store three toothbrushes while the first is being used. It will also need to be able to store the next two while the second is being used, and so on.
  • store is meant that the brushes, in particular the bristles thereof, need to be kept in good condition after purchase, during storage and before use.
  • the toothbrushes each comprise visual indicia which can be used to provide a cue to the user that the brush needs changing at a given time during the year.
  • the package comprises enough toothbrushes to be used by a single user in one calendar year. More preferably the package comprises from two to ten toothbrushes, especially from three to six and most preferably four toothbrushes.
  • the toothbrushes comprise visual indicia which distinguish the brushes from any one other brush. Taking three as an example of the number of brushes, two of the brushes may have identical visual indicia while one brush has a different visual indicia. Accordingly, the brush with different indicia should be used between the brushes with identical indicia. The system will work providing that in any predetermined sequence of use the next toothbrush will have a visual indicia which is different from the brush currently in use.
  • a preferred package which comprises four toothbrushes there may be two brushes with identical indicia. There may also be two sets of two brushes with each set having identical indicia. More preferably each of the four brushes will have different visual indicia.
  • the visual indicia is a visual indication which provides a cue to the user to consider whether the brush currently in use should be changed for the next.
  • the visual indicia may be colour, symbol, design, text or combination thereof.
  • a colour visual indicia might be the colour of the entire toothbrush save the bristles. Alternatively, it may only be the bristles which are differently coloured.
  • Suitable colours might usefully cue the sequential passing of seasons through the year. For example, a package comprising a blue, green, red and yellow toothbrush might cue winter, spring, summer and autumn. When the consumer realises he is using the red toothbrush in October he might be cued to change to the yellow brush and so on through the year.
  • Symbolic indicia may, for example, represent festivals in any particular nation or region.
  • a toothbrush may have a symbol pertaining to Christmas. Should the user realise that he is still using this brush in March he will be cued to change to the next one in the sequence.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Winter include: Christmas, snow, snowman, ice, skis, Jack Frost, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Spring include: lambs, blossom, daffodils, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Summer include: flowers, bees, the sun, the beach, a sailing boat, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Autumn include: falling leaves, shades of brown foliage, etc.
  • Suitable designs might be incorporated into the handle, preferably at the end furthest from the head so as not to interfere with the grip of the brush.
  • Typical designs might be similar to those mentioned under the symbols paragraphs above, i.e. a sun for Summer; a Father Christmas or snowman for Winter; a lamb for Spring and bee, sun or flower for Summer. Such a design would preferably be part of the moulded handle for the brushes.
  • Suitable text might include the names of the seasons, months, common activities or special days in any given national calendar, e.g. President's Day, Thanksgiving, Easter, Summer holidays!, May Day, Michaelmas term, Exam time!, etc.
  • any combination of these indicia may be used provided that they act as a cue to the user that a certain brush should be used at any particular time of the year.
  • the package should comprise enough brushes for a year of toothbrushing.
  • this could also mean that appropriate indicia are used to make sure that a whole year can be covered in any one package.
  • the purpose being that a consumer is purchasing a year's supply of toothbrushes in one go.
  • the package comprises four toothbrushes. Accordingly, the toothbrushes will each represent four periods of the year, e.g. the four seasons.
  • the package is resealable.
  • the package is transparent or at least translucent so that the consumer has opportunity to identify the next brush in the sequence by its visual indicia.
  • the invention provides a method for providing a plurality of toothbrushes for a single person's use for a year, said method providing a package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, and providing a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year by way of visual indicia on the toothbrushes.

Landscapes

  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

A package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, wherein the visual indicia provides a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a package comprising a plurality of toothbrushes having different visual indicia.
  • Toothbrushes are used by virtually everyone in at least the western world. Unfortunately, while dental professionals recommend that a toothbrush should be used twice a day for three months only, the majority of people change their toothbrush much less frequently. In Europe, the average is just 1.3 toothbrushes per consumer per year.
  • Further, a new toothbrush removes up to 30% more plaque during brushing than a brush which is three months old.
  • The object of the invention is to provide toothbrushes which by way of visual means indicate to the user at regular periods or dates during a calendar year that a new toothbrush is required.
  • Accordingly, and in a first aspect, the invention provides a package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, wherein the visual indicia provides as a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year.
  • The package needs to be able to store the brushes which are not being used. For example, should the package comprise four toothbrushes, it will need to be able to store three toothbrushes while the first is being used. It will also need to be able to store the next two while the second is being used, and so on. By store is meant that the brushes, in particular the bristles thereof, need to be kept in good condition after purchase, during storage and before use.
  • The toothbrushes each comprise visual indicia which can be used to provide a cue to the user that the brush needs changing at a given time during the year. Preferably, the package comprises enough toothbrushes to be used by a single user in one calendar year. More preferably the package comprises from two to ten toothbrushes, especially from three to six and most preferably four toothbrushes.
  • The toothbrushes comprise visual indicia which distinguish the brushes from any one other brush. Taking three as an example of the number of brushes, two of the brushes may have identical visual indicia while one brush has a different visual indicia. Accordingly, the brush with different indicia should be used between the brushes with identical indicia. The system will work providing that in any predetermined sequence of use the next toothbrush will have a visual indicia which is different from the brush currently in use.
  • In a preferred package which comprises four toothbrushes, there may be two brushes with identical indicia. There may also be two sets of two brushes with each set having identical indicia. More preferably each of the four brushes will have different visual indicia.
  • The visual indicia is a visual indication which provides a cue to the user to consider whether the brush currently in use should be changed for the next.
  • The visual indicia may be colour, symbol, design, text or combination thereof.
  • A colour visual indicia might be the colour of the entire toothbrush save the bristles. Alternatively, it may only be the bristles which are differently coloured.
  • Suitable colours might usefully cue the sequential passing of seasons through the year. For example, a package comprising a blue, green, red and yellow toothbrush might cue winter, spring, summer and autumn. When the consumer realises he is using the red toothbrush in October he might be cued to change to the yellow brush and so on through the year.
  • Symbolic indicia may, for example, represent festivals in any particular nation or region. For example, a toothbrush may have a symbol pertaining to Christmas. Should the user realise that he is still using this brush in March he will be cued to change to the next one in the sequence.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Winter include: Christmas, snow, snowman, ice, skis, Jack Frost, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Spring include: lambs, blossom, daffodils, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Summer include: flowers, bees, the sun, the beach, a sailing boat, etc.
  • Suitable symbols indicating events or periods of the year around Autumn include: falling leaves, shades of brown foliage, etc.
  • Suitable designs might be incorporated into the handle, preferably at the end furthest from the head so as not to interfere with the grip of the brush. Typical designs might be similar to those mentioned under the symbols paragraphs above, i.e. a sun for Summer; a Father Christmas or snowman for Winter; a lamb for Spring and bee, sun or flower for Summer. Such a design would preferably be part of the moulded handle for the brushes.
  • Suitable text might include the names of the seasons, months, common activities or special days in any given national calendar, e.g. President's Day, Thanksgiving, Easter, Summer holidays!, May Day, Michaelmas term, Exam time!, etc.
  • Of course any combination of these indicia may be used provided that they act as a cue to the user that a certain brush should be used at any particular time of the year.
  • Preferably, the package should comprise enough brushes for a year of toothbrushing. Preferably, this could also mean that appropriate indicia are used to make sure that a whole year can be covered in any one package. The purpose being that a consumer is purchasing a year's supply of toothbrushes in one go. For example, in the ideal scenario the package comprises four toothbrushes. Accordingly, the toothbrushes will each represent four periods of the year, e.g. the four seasons.
  • In a preferred embodiment the package is resealable.
  • In a further preferred embodiment the package is transparent or at least translucent so that the consumer has opportunity to identify the next brush in the sequence by its visual indicia.
  • In a second aspect of the invention the invention provides a method for providing a plurality of toothbrushes for a single person's use for a year, said method providing a package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, and providing a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year by way of visual indicia on the toothbrushes.

Claims (9)

  1. A package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, wherein the visual indicia provides a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at pre-determined periods in the calendar year.
  2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicia is a colour, text, symbol, design or combination thereof.
  3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each toothbrush has a different visual indicia.
  4. A package according to any preceding claim comprising four toothbrushes.
  5. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pre-determined periods in the calendar year are the seasons.
  6. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pre-determined periods in the calendar year are national or regional festivals.
  7. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pre-determined periods in the calendar year are presented to the consumer by the media.
  8. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pre-determined periods in the calendar year are substantially evenly spaced throughout the year.
  9. A method for providing a plurality of toothbrushes for a single person's use for a year, said method providing a package containing a plurality of toothbrushes to be used sequentially throughout the calendar year, said package capable of storing any number of the said toothbrushes until such a time as they are required, each toothbrush being distinguished from at least one other toothbrush by visual indicia, and providing a cue to the user to change the brush to the next one in the sequence at predetermined periods in the calendar year by way of visual indicia on the toothbrushes.
EP04076974A 2003-08-04 2004-07-08 Package of toothbrushes Withdrawn EP1504693A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04076974A EP1504693A1 (en) 2003-08-04 2004-07-08 Package of toothbrushes

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03077433 2003-08-04
EP03077433 2003-08-04
EP04076974A EP1504693A1 (en) 2003-08-04 2004-07-08 Package of toothbrushes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1504693A1 true EP1504693A1 (en) 2005-02-09

Family

ID=33553830

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04076974A Withdrawn EP1504693A1 (en) 2003-08-04 2004-07-08 Package of toothbrushes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1504693A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8245844B2 (en) 2009-03-16 2012-08-21 Colgate-Palmolive Company Display package
US8261909B2 (en) 2009-09-18 2012-09-11 Colgate-Palmolive Company Display package for a plurality of products

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2489707A (en) * 1946-09-27 1949-11-29 Floyd G Eubanks Toothbrush with identification means
DE4034864A1 (en) * 1990-03-09 1991-09-12 Beate Bolz Tooth brush with replaceable bristle set - has moulded grip, long handle, and fixture on back of handle and bristle set
JP2001039471A (en) * 1999-07-29 2001-02-13 Yamagata Gravure:Kk Tooth bush package

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2489707A (en) * 1946-09-27 1949-11-29 Floyd G Eubanks Toothbrush with identification means
DE4034864A1 (en) * 1990-03-09 1991-09-12 Beate Bolz Tooth brush with replaceable bristle set - has moulded grip, long handle, and fixture on back of handle and bristle set
JP2001039471A (en) * 1999-07-29 2001-02-13 Yamagata Gravure:Kk Tooth bush package

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 19 5 June 2001 (2001-06-05) *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8245844B2 (en) 2009-03-16 2012-08-21 Colgate-Palmolive Company Display package
US8261909B2 (en) 2009-09-18 2012-09-11 Colgate-Palmolive Company Display package for a plurality of products
US8511467B2 (en) 2009-09-18 2013-08-20 Colgate-Palmolive Company Display package for a plurality of products

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