Valves for personal care devices

• US 20060240380A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Christman, Thomas A., Chenvainu, Alexander T., Klawuhn, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/80
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0079 Arrangements for preventing undesired leakage or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0086 Means for closing or sealing, e.g. toothpaste outlet when brush not in use thereby preventing leakage or drying out
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0032 with protrusion for polishing teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/28 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 19/40 Lubricating
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/443 Lubricating strips attached to the razor head
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/446 Shaving aid stored in the razor handle

Abstract

Dual valves are described herein. The dual valves have a plurality of lumens disposed within a unitary body. The dual valves can be used, for example, in personal care products such as toothbrushes and razors to dispense fluids such as dentifrice and shaving aids.

Claims

1. An oral care device, the device comprising:

a body, constructed to be held by a user, including two or more passageways through which fluids can flow, and

a head, extending from the body and being sized to fit in a user'"'"'s mouth, the head including an outlet, in fluid communication with the passageways, through which the fluids can be dispensed to the user'"'"'s mouth, and

disposed within the outlet to control fluid flow therefrom, a single, unitary valve body defining a plurality of lumens, each lumen being in fluid communication with one of the passageways and terminating in a valve.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each lumen shares a common wall with an adjacent lumen.

3. The oral care device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bristles extending from said head.

4. The oral care device of claim 1, further comprising reservoirs, in communication with the passageways, configured to contain a supply of each of the fluids.

5. The oral care device of claim 4, wherein the reservoirs are disposed within the body.

6. The oral care device of claim 4, wherein the reservoirs are disposed within a docking station in fluid communication with the body.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises tapered lumens.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the valves comprise slit valves.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the valves comprise duckbill valves.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is substantially cylindrical.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the top of the cylinder is domed.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second valves comprise a sealing means.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body further comprises ribs positioned transversely to at least one of the valves, wherein the ribs apply force to the valve to close the valve.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lumens tapers from a relatively wide cross-sectional area at a proximal end to a relatively narrow cross-sectional area at a distal end.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the common wall extends entirely from the proximal end to the distal end.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the common wall extends partially from the proximal end to the distal end.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one valve comprises a slit opening

18. The device of claim 1, wherein each valve comprises a slit opening, and wherein the slit openings are co-linear.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein each valve comprises a slit opening, and wherein the slit openings are substantially parallel.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen has an elliptical cross-section.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen has a circular cross-section.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen has a D-shaped cross-section.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one valve comprises an opening comprising a cross-slit.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen has a cross sectional area of at least about 0.0003 inches².

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body has a height of between about 0.100 inches and about 0.500 inches.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises an elastomer.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body dispenses media at a rate of between about 0.2 ml/minute and about 6.0 ml/minute.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a toothbrush.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the device is a power toothbrush.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the device is a manual toothbrush.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is disposed in the center of the head.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fluids comprises a dentifrice.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is disposed in the center of the head and the plurality of bristles are disposed surrounding the valve body.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is disposed within the head and at least 1 tuft of bristles or cleaning element is adjacent to the valve body.

35. The device of claim 1, wherein the first lumen includes a first media and the second lumen includes a second media, which is different from the first media.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the media dispensed from the first and second lumens chemically reacts with each other upon dispensing.

37. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is substantially round.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is elongated.

39. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is substantially elliptical.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein the head oscillates.

41. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises multiple heads.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein one head is stationary and one head moves.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein the valve is positioned in the stationary head.

44-83. -83. (canceled)