WO2004092031B1

WO2004092031B1 - Toothpaste dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2004092031B1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/001151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Basil Martin Green
Original assignee: Basil Martin Green; Walt Louis Staphanus V D
Priority date: 2003-04-17
Filing date: 2004-04-16
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: WO2004092031A1; ZA200402909B; GB2418194A; GB0525615D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a toothpaste dispensing device (140) which includes an elongate container body (142) having at least two compartments (144, 146) containing dentifrice compositions and at least two discharge openings (148) defined in the body (142), a discharge opening (148) being provided in flow communication with each compartment (144, 146). The device (140) includes closure means (150, 152) for independently selectively opening or closing the at least two discharge openings (148) thereby to permit the dentifrice composition contents of the at least two compartments (144, 146) to be dispensed separately.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 01 November 2004 (01.11.2004); original claims 1-45 replaced by new claims 1-43 (8 pages)]Claims:

1. A toothpaste dispensing device which includes an elongate container body having at least two compartments, each compartment containing a different dentifrice composition, and at least two discharge openings defined In the body, a discharge opening being provided in flow communication with each compartment; and closure means for independently selectively opening or closing the at least two discharge openings thereby to permit the dentifrice composition contents of the at least two compartments to be dispensed separately.

2. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the container body is longitudinally partitioned by at least one internal dividing wall so as to define the at least two compartments.

3. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the container body is partitioned by an internal dividing wall which extends generally diagonally across the container body between ends of the container body to define two compartments.

4. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 3, in which a discharge opening is defined at each end of the container body.

5. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 4, in which the closure means includes a closure cap received or receivable over each discharge opening.

6. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, inclusive, in which the discharge openings are defined at a common end of the container body.

7. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 6, in which the closure means includes a closure device, which is received or receivable over the discharge openings and which defines dispensing orifices, equal in number to the discharge openings and configured to be located in register with the discharge openings, and includes a plurality of closure caps, equal in number to the dispensing orifices and removably locatable over a dispensing orifice selectively to open or close the orifice and its associated discharge opening.

8. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes indicia formed on an outer surface of the container body at spaced locations to be identifiable with each of the at least two compartments and by which the compartments, and their dentifrice composition contents, are distinguishable by a user.

9. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 7, in which closure caps associated with each compartment are of different colours so that the compartments and their contents are distinguishable.

10. A toothpaste dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the dentifrice compositions of the compartments are of different colours.

1 1. A dentifrice kit, which includes at least two containers, each containing a different dentifrice composition and each having a discharge opening defined at one end thereof, the at least two containers being integrally packaged.

12. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 1 1 , which includes two containers, each container body being generally semi-circular in cross- section such that flat surfaces of the container bodies are locatable flush against one another.

13. A dentrifice kit as claimed in Claim 1 1 or Claim 12, in which the containers are oriented head-to-tail adjacent one another.

14. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 1 1 or Claim 12, in which the at least two containers are interconnected at their ends spaced from their discharge openings.

15. A dentrifice kit as claimed in Claim 14, in which the at least two containers are arranged adjacent one another and which includes a closure device which is configured to be receivable over adjacent discharge openings of adjacent containers and which defines dispensing orifices, equal in number to the containers and configured to be located in register with the discharge openings of adjacent containers, the closure device including a plurality of closure caps, equal in number to the dispensing orifices and each removably locatable over a dispensing orifice for selectively opening or closing the orifice.

16. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the ends of the containers spaced from the discharge openings are welded together.

17. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15, which includes fastening means by which ends of the containers which are spaced from the discharge openings are fastened together thereby to interconnect the containers.

18. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 17, in which the fastening means Is in the form of a clip which defines a grip by which the clip may be turned so as to provide extruding means for facilitating extrusion of the contents of each container.

19. A dentifrice kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 1 to 18, inclusive, which includes retaining means for retaining the at least two containers in side-by-side relationship.

20. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 19, in which the retaining means is provided by a sleeve extending around adjacent containers for at least part of their lengths.

21. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 19, in which the retaining means is provided by a plurality of bands received or receivable around adjacent containers at spaced apart positions along their lengths.

22. A dentrif ice kit as claimed in Claim 19, in which the retaining means includes a helical element received around adjacent containers for at least part of their lengths.

23. A dentrifice kit as claimed in any one of Claims 19 to 21 _» Inclusive, in which the retaining means includes an adhesive applied to neighbouring surfaces of adjacent containers.

24. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 1 1 , in which the at least two containers are integrally packaged in an elongate box which is longitudinally partitioned by at least one internal partioniπg wall.

25. A dentifrice kit, which includes at least two containers, each containing a different dentifrice composition and each having a discharge opening defined at one end thereof, the at least two containers being independently packaged in a packaging and said at least two packagings being interconnected.

26. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 25, in which each container is independently packaged In an elongate box, the at least two boxes being interconnected for at least part of their lengths.

27. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 26, which includes two containers, each packaged in a box, each box tapering towards one end thereof and the two boxes being oriented such that tapered ends of the boxes are opposed and the adjacent interconnected boxes have a roughly rectangular box-shaped form.

28. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 27, in which each container includes a closure cap removably received or receivable over its discharge opening, selectively to open or close the discharge opening.

29. A dentifrice kit as claimed in Claim 28, in which a closure cap of each container is of a different colour so as to distinguish the containers and their contents.

30. A dentifrice kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 1 to 29, inclusive, which includes indicia formed on an outer surface of a body of each container, by which indicia the containers and their dentifrice composition contents may be distinguished by a user.

31 . A dentifrice kit as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 30, inclusive, in which the dentifrice compositions of the containers are of different colours.

32. A closure device for a toothpaste dispenser, the closure device including a body defining coupling means for coupling the body to at least one toothpaste dispenser and having a shoulder portion and a plurality of spaced neck portions which extend outwardly from the shoulder portion, each neck portion defining a dispensing orifice; and a plurality of closure caps, corresponding in number to the neck portions and configured to be removably receivable on a neck portion selectively to open or- close the dispensing orifice thereof.

33- A closure device as claimed in Claim 32, in which each neck portion is circular cylindrical and externally threaded, each cap having a complementary internally threaded side wall such that the cap is screw- threadedly receivable on the neck portion.

34. A closure device as claimed in Claim 32, in which each cap is press-fittingly receivable on the neck portion and includes a tab by which it is connected to the neck portion.

35. A closure device as claimed in any one of Claims 32 to 34, inclusive, in which the coupiing means is provided by a screw-thread defined internally on a side wall of each neck portion, which screw-thread is configured to be engageable with a screw-thread defined on a neck of a conventional toothpaste tube.

36. A closure device as claimed in any one of Claims 32 to 34, inclusive, in which the coupling means is provided by an internal annular groove defined in a side wall of each neck portion and configured to be clipped into engagement with a complementary annular rib defined on a neck of a toothpaste dispenser.

37. A connector for connecting together two toothpaste tubes, which connector includes a body defining at least two spaced apart toothpaste tube engaging formations for releasably engaging two toothpaste tubes and retaining them in a desired spacial relationship.

38. A connector as claimed in Claim 37, in which the toothpaste tube engaging formations are in the form of sockets within which necks of the toothpaste tubes are receivable.

39. A method of preparing a toothpaste dispensing device which includes positioning at least two flexible tubular containers wiτhin an elastic sleeve; introducing a dentifrice composition into an end of each container; and sealing the end of each container.

40. A method as claimed in Claim 39, which includes introducing a different dentifrice composition into each container.

41. A method of packaging toothpaste, which method includes applying indicia or symbols to at least one container containing a dentifrice composition thereby to associate the at least one container with a predetermined time of day.

42. A method as claimed in Claim 41 , which includes integrally packaging at least two containers, each having indicia applied thereto associating each container with a different predetermined time of day.

43. A method as claimed in Claim 41 , which includes independently packaging the at least two containers each in packaging, said at least two packagings being interconnected.