WO2006021762A2

WO2006021762A2 - Bi-layered oral healthcare composition for pouch-like devices

Info

Publication number: WO2006021762A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne Hirschowitz; Acer Morgan; Alan Profit
Original assignee: Fingadent International Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-23
Filing date: 2005-08-22
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: WO2006021762A3

Abstract

An integrated oral healthcare system comprising an outer layer of orally acceptable material, which is impermeable or permeate to the oral healthcare composition and an inner layer of material which is impermeable to the oral healthcare composition, said inner and outer layers are adapted for single or multiple finger use, wherein the oral healthcare composition is a breath freshening composition containing between 2-7 % by weight of each of the following: a flavour agent, Croduret 40LD and Crillet 1 Super (Polysorbate 20).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO ORAL COMPOSITIONS USED IN ORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to improved oral cleaning devices.

PCT published application WO 02/069753 describes an oral cleaning device comprising a hollow tube of non-woven polypropylene of various grades closed at one end resulting in a conical shape which is formed by ultra-sonic welding two sheets of material and the resulting elongated tube having no corners, sharp angles or rough margins and allowing easy opening of the unsealed edge by means of major and minor tags that will enable the easy insertion of a finger into the device which may be used for the massaging of the gums, cleaning of the teeth and the administering of solutions and compounds of the teeth and supporting tissues, which may have a therapeutic effect. The outer sleeve is described as being made from non- woven polypropylene. No specifics are given as to the optimum choice for such a selection of inner and outer layers and orally non-medicinal compositions. Information is also provided concerning a hygienic inner layer, but no information is provided as to the exact nature of the inner layer nor how the inner layer is best adapted to be retained on the finger.

In addition, no specific information is provided on the exact nature of the tooth, gum or mouth cleansing agents, other than such an agent may be in the form of a liquid, gel or dry powder.

US Patent (Hansen) also describes an oral cleaning device adapted for finger use. This patent describes the use of interwoven polypropylene mixtures with cellulose as the material of choice for the outer sleeve, but is silent upon the exact nature of the composition of the oral cleaning solutions to be employed therein.

US Patent 6,721,987 (McDevitt) also describes an oral cleaning device made of an elastomeric non-woven material which is adapted to fit on the finger. Various oral cleaning additives are applied to the wipe to aid the oral cleaning process.

All prior art references are herein incorporated by reference.

There is a need to provide an optimised integrated oral healthcare device, wherein the choice of oral cleaning compositions are optimal for ease of manufacture, cost of manufacture arid effectiveness. The above problem is ingeniously solved by the provision of an integrated oral healthcare system comprising an outer layer of orally acceptable material, which is impermeable or permeable to the oral healthcare composition and an inner layer of material which is impermeable to the oral healthcare composition, said inner and outer layers are adapted for single or multiple finger use, wherein the oral healthcare composition is a breath freshening composition containing between 2-7% by weight of each of the following: a flavour agent, Croduret 40LD and Crillet 1 Super (Polysorbate 20). This oral healthcare composition is provided on the outer layer in the case where the outer layer is impermeable to the oral healthcare composition or the oral healthcare composition is absorbed in the outer layer or provided between the inner and outer layers in the case where the outer layer is permeable to the oral healthcare composition.

Preferably, an integrated oral healthcare system comprising an outer layer of co- and/or homo-polymeric polypropylene which is non-woven, woven or knitted, and an inner layer of polyethylene, said inner and outer layers are adapted for single or multiple finger use, wherein an oral healthcare composition is absorbed in or on the outer layer or provided between the inner and outer layers and the oral composition is a breath freshening composition.

Suitable outer layers forming the integrated oral healthcare system are polypropylene such as co- and/or homo-polymeric polypropylene which are non-woven, woven or knitted, which can be of an abrasive nature, but are sufficiently soft and flexible that it cannot harm the surfaces to which the oral healthcare composition is to be applied and are approvable by regulatory bodies such as the FDA. The preferred material is non- woven polypropylene, in particular Daltex from Don and Low. Spec No. A040BIU00. Thickness 30-60gms, preferably 35-55gms, more preferably 35-50gms, even more preferably 35-45gms, and most preferably 40 ±2gms. Preferred dimensions and shape for the outer layer are provided in figures 1-8. The outer layer of the integrated oral healthcare system is suitably formed from two sheets of orally acceptable material connected along the adjoining edges by ultrasonic welding with the additional capability for inclusion of an oral healthcare composition impervious lining. The body of the integrated oral healthcare system can be specially shaped for greatest ease of use and efficacy. Robustness can be ensured by combining the orally acceptable nature of the optimum texture and structure, with a shape and an effective method of strong and highly specialised ultrasonic welding. The design is made possible by the combination of the ultrasonic welding technique employed by a welding machine and the use of a specially designed "drum".

The use of this special "drum" in the welding machine is the crucial aspect of the manufacture of the device. The "drum" holds the product blueprint in actual size. This enables the device to be manufactured reliably in the precise shape referred to above and in the figures provided herein after to the high quality and tolerances required. Furthermore the "drum" also facilitates the products optional unique bulk storage and dispensing arrangements of the present invention (see "Second aspect of the Invention" below).

By orally acceptable it should be understood that the outer layer material is suitable for use in the buccal cavity and is approvable for such use by regulatory bodies such as the FDA.

The use of polypropylene material also provides that all of the outer side of the tubular body provides a face that has abrasive qualities and combined with the texture and structure forms an effective vehicle for carrying and applying oral cleaning compositions. Furthermore, polypropylene can be provided in the grade specified here within to provide an abrasiveness to accommodate differing requirements.

The integrated oral healthcare system is designed and manufactured to fit snugly and securely onto the finger without any awkward or inconvenient protrusions or rough edges to prevent damage to the surface. Ingeniously, the inner lining of polyethylene provides a suction effect upon the finger.

The face with an abrasive surface can include additional items such as bristles and protrusions and the oral healthcare system could be re-useable. The outer layer may be formed from two orally acceptable materials having different rigidities, the arrangement of the materials being such that the opening is adapted to open on opposite faces of the tubular body on being moved relative to one another. In the present invention, the tubular body has one closed end and is arranged in the form of a pouch.

The use of the non-woven polypropylene design with its associated hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, and a plurality of pockets, means that the oral healthcare system can be impregnated with an oral healthcare composition, with the pockets acting as a reservoir. Such a composition can be in the form of a liquid, a gel or even a dry powder.

The product and manufacturing design make the oral healthcare system an economic proposition for every day use.

In the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing arrangement of the oral healthcare system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, said arrangement comprising a plurality of oral healthcare systems in accordance with the first aspect of the invention joined to one another so as to define an elongate strip, wherein each such oral healthcare system is connected to an adjoining oral healthcare system by at least one bridging member arranged to rupture and allow adjoining oral healthcare systems to be separated for use.

Preferably, adjoining oral healthcare systems are arranged such that the open end of each oral healthcare system is adjacent a closed end or ends of a neighbouring device or oral healthcare systems.

In a preferred embodiment, dispensing arrangements in accordance with the second aspect of the invention comprise a pair of flexible sheets joined together so as to define the tubular bodies of the oral healthcare system.

Each adjacent oral healthcare system is joined to its neighbour by at least one portion of material forming a bridging member. In an embodiment, each oral healthcare system is joined to its neighbour by at least a pair of bridging members. Preferably, one of each pair of bridging members is stronger than the other and adjacent oral healthcare systems are arranged such that, when pulled away from one another, the weaker bridging member ruptures before the stronger and the resulting unequal force exerted upon one of the said pair of oral healthcare systems causes its opening to gape, thereby to facilitate the insertion of a finger into the oral healthcare system.

Preferably, each oral healthcare system is provided with at least one handle located at its opening and arranged to facilitate its removal from a dispenser.

In a further aspect of the invention, each oral healthcare system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, or a dispensing arrangement in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, is formed by a process involving ultrasonic welding of adjacent sheets of tube forming material. In a further aspect, made possible by the manufacturing design, the present invention provides a bulk dispenser for multiple dispensing of oral healthcare systems in accordance with the described above in a low cost and handy package. Said dispenser comprises a container for accommodating a dispensing arrangement in accordance with the second aspect of the invention and a means of defining an opening through which said dispensing arrangement can pass, wherein the opening is dimensioned and arranged such that a first oral healthcare system in accordance with the invention can be pulled through the opening, but further pulling of the first oral healthcare system causes the bridging member or members between it and the adjacent oral healthcare system in the dispensing arrangement to rupture, releasing said first oral healthcare system.

The oral healthcare system is also available in other packaging arrangements e.g. single sachets, multiple sachets etc.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a medicinal or cosmetic applicator (the "oral healthcare system") in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the applicator shown in Figures 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a dispenser for medicinal or cosmetic applicators in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 shows the dispenser in an assembled state;

Figure 5 shows a portion of a dispensing arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a medicinal or cosmetic applicator in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a second perspective view of the applicator shown in Figures 6; and

Figure 8 shows the preferred dimensions and shape of the improved oral healthcare system.

The oral healthcare system depicted in Figure 1 is in the form of a pouch 10. The pouch 10 is formed from first and second scallop shaped sheets 12 and 14 of non- woven polypropylene, secured along their adjacent edges by ultrasonic welding. An opening 16 into the pouch 10 is defined by a gap in the resulting weld line. The opening 16 leads into a cavity defined within the pouch 10. The opening 16 and the cavity are sized to receive a human finger as depicted in Figure 1.

The first scalloped shaped sheet 12 consists of a textured material having a roughened outer surface 13 suitable for oral cleaning application. In alternative embodiments of the invention the roughened surface may include bristles or protrusions to enhance the effect of the oral healthcare system as it moves over the surface being treated.

Suitably, the textured material of the first sheet 12 has greater rigidity than the material, which forms the second sheet 14 of the oral healthcare system. This difference in rigidity allows a user to open the opening 16 by gripping the oral cleaning system on opposite sides of the pouch 10 and gently sliding the two sheets 12 and 14 relative to one another. This sliding action opens the opening 16, allowing a finger to be inserted into the opening 16 and the cavity within the pouch.

The sheets 12 and 14 also define a pair of handle portions 17, which extend outwardly from the opposite sides of the opening 16.

The pouch 10 is used by inserting a finger through the opening 16 and into the cavity within the pouch 10 such that the pad of the finger locates against the inner surface of the first sheet 12 of the pouch 10. Thereafter, the pouch 10 is pressed against the surface to which the oral cleaning composition is to be applied and, while retaining the pouch 10 on the finger, the outer surface 13 of the first sheet 12 is pressed into contact with and rubbed over the surface, to thereby remove dirt, dust and other foreign matter from the surface.

It is envisaged that the oral healthcare system can also be used without an oral cleaning composition, e.g. Paste or gel for removal of oral cleaning composition and polishing. However, the pouch 10 and, in particular, the first sheet 12 can be impregnated with an oral cleaning agent in a wet, gel or dry form.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the oral healthcare system is of a tubular construction having two open ends. The openings at each end of the tube being sized to allow a finger to be inserted in this way allowing the oral healthcare system to be used in a similar way as is described above with reference to the pouch 10 depicted in the accompanying drawings. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a dispenser 30 for oral cleaning pouches 10, as depicted in Figures 1 and 2. In this dispenser 30, the pouches 10 are connected to one another in a side by side fashion, in the form of an elongated strip 22 (see figure 5). The leading side edge 20 of each of the pouches 10 is joined to the trailing side edge 32 of the next pouch 10 in the strip 22 by a pair of bridges 33 and 34 of unequal thickness; bridge 33 being thicker than bridge 34. The elongate strip 22 is folded, concertina-wise, into the dispenser 30. The dispenser 30 is in the form of a conventional rectangular cubical box comprising a Hd 24 and base tray 26. The latter are secured to one another by frictional engagement once the strip 22 of pouches 10 has been placed in the base tray 26. An opening 27 is formed through the Hd 24 and is dimensional so as to allow the pouches 10 to be pulled through it, from the interior of the dispenser 30, and separated for use.

To extract a pouch from the dispenser, a user should grasp the free handle 17 of the first pouch 10 in the strip 22 and pull it and the first pouch 10 out of the dispenser 30 through the opening 27. The friction between the emerging pouch 10 and the Hd 24 is not so great that it prevents the pouch 10 from being pulled out of the dispenser 30 by the handle 17. However, once the first pouch 10 has emerged from the dispenser 30, the grip exerted by the opening 27 upon the strip 22 of pouches 10 is such that, if the user continues to pull on the first pouch 10, rather than cause the second pouch 10 in he strip 22 to follow the first out of the dispenser 30, the bridges 33 and 34 are caused to rupture to thereby release the first pouch 10 from the strip 22 and dispenser 30. The thinner of the two bridges 33 and 34 ruptures first and the resulting uneven force on the first pouch 10 causes its opening 16 to gape, allowing the easy insertion of a finger. The process can then be repeated for each consecutive pouch 10 in the strip 22, until all of the pouches 10 have been removed from the dispenser 30.

Claims

■ 1. An integrated oral healthcare system comprising an outer layer of orally acceptable material, which is impermeable or permeable to the oral healthcare composition and an inner layer of material which is impermeable to the oral healthcare composition, said inner and outer layers are adapted for single or multiple finger use, wherein the oral healthcare composition is a breath freshening composition containing between 2-7% by weight of each of the following: a flavour agent, Croduret 40LD and Crillet 1 Super (Polysorbate 20).