Fluoride dispenser

• US 7,648,050 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stacey Ehlers
• Original Assignee: Stacey Ehlers
• Inventors: Ehlers, Stacey
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US11/000,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 222129-1294, 222/63, 222/144.5, 532/81
• US Class Current: 222/129.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/401 whereby the powder ingredients and the water are delivered to a mixing bowl
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/02 by volume
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing a fluoride treatment includes a housing having a storage container for separately storing a plurality of different flavored fluoride treatments and an input device for inputting a desired flavored fluoride treatment from one of the respective stored fluoride treatments in the storage container. In response to the input, the apparatus includes means for formulating said desired flavored fluoride treatment from said stored fluoride treatments. The apparatus further includes means for entering a volume of the desired flavored fluoride to be dispensed and means for dispensing the formulated desired fluoride treatment in a volume amount entered in said volume entering means to a user for later use thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for allowing a dental patient to formulate his own flavored fluoride at a point of use comprising:

a) a free standing housing having a storage container for separately storing a plurality of different flavored fluoride treatments, a mixing container for mixing and agitating a plurality of selected flavored fluoride treatments, a dispensing mechanism, a mixing bay with an opening in a front wall of said housing, and a receiving bay under said mixing bay;

b) an input device for receiving an authorization code issued by an owner of said apparatus for a dental patient to gain access using said authorization code to said apparatus and to input options for formulating a custom flavored fluoride from one or more of stored fluoride treatments in said storage container;

c) means in response to said input for formulating a selected flavored fluoride treatment from said stored fluoride treatments;

d) means for entering a volume amount of said desired flavored fluoride to be dispensed;

e) means for dispensing said formulated desired fluoride treatment in said volume amount after mixing and agitating in said mixing container into a consumption container, capping and sealing said consumption container within said mixing bay, said consumption container being positioned behind a protective screen covering said front opening of said mixing bay to prevent interference and/or contamination of contents during mixing and dispensing process; and

f) means in said housing for transferring said sealed consumption container from said mixing bay to said pickup bay for retrieval by said patient, said pickup bay having a front opening for allowing said patient to reach into said pickup bay to retrieve the capped and sealed consumption container.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said formulating means includes a ratio selector for selecting a first amount of a first flavored fluoride treatment with respect to a second amount of a second flavored fluoride treatment for use in formulating said desired flavored fluoride treatment.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said mixing container includes an agitator for agitating said mixing container having said plurality of different flavored fluoride treatments contained therein causing said desired flavored fluoride treatment to be uniformly mixed.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said authorization includes an access card and access card reader, wherein a user obtains said access card and inserts said card in said reader thereby obtaining access to said apparatus.

5. An apparatus for allowing a dental patient to formulate his own flavored fluoride at a point of use comprising:

a) a free standing, self-contained housing having a storage container for separately storing a plurality of different flavored fluoride treatments, a mixing container for containing and agitating therein a plurality of selected flavored fluoride treatments, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the mixed fluoride treatments into a consumption container including means for capping and sealing said consumption container within a mixing bay with an opening in a front wall of said housing for viewing the dispensing, capping and sealing of the consumption container, and a receiving bay under said mixing bay for pickup of said capped and sealed consumption container by a dental patient;

b) a front wall of said housing having a selector panel, said opening displaying said dispensing mechanism and consumption container, said opening being covered by a transparent window, and another opening into said pickup bay, said front wall being hinged on one side for opening and closing, with a lock on an opposite side of said front wall;

c) said selector panel being an input device for receiving an authorization code issued by an owner of said apparatus for said dental patient to gain access to said apparatus and to input a desired flavored fluoride treatment from said stored fluoride treatments in said storage container;

c) means in response to said input for formulating said desired flavored fluoride treatment from said stored fluoride treatments;

d) said selector panel having means for entering a volume amount of said desired flavored fluoride to be dispensed and transferring the desired flavored fluoride to said mixing container;

e) means in said housing for dispensing said formulated desired fluoride treatment in said volume amount from said mixing container into said consumption container and sealing said consumption container in said mixing bay behind a transparent protective screen over the front opening to prevent interference or contamination of contents, and for storing in a memory the desired fluoride treatment for said dental patient; and

f) means for transferring said sealed consumption container from said mixing bay to said pickup bay for pickup by said patient.

6. A method in which a dental patient formulates his own flavored fluoride at a point of use comprising the steps of:

a) placing in a dental environment a patient operated dispenser of customized selected flavored fluoride treatments, said dispenser comprising a free standing housing having a storage container for separately storing a plurality of different flavored fluoride treatments, a mixing container for mixing and agitating a plurality of selected flavored fluoride treatments to produce a selected formulated flavored treatment, a dispensing mechanism in a mixing bay having a front opening with a transparent cover to prevent interference and/or contamination, and a receiving bay;

b) a dental practitioner inputting into said housing an authorization code for a dental patient to gain access to said apparatus and to input options for formulating a custom flavored fluoride from one or more of the stored fluoride treatments in said storage container;

c) said dental patient inputting said authorization code to allow access to said dispenser;

d) said dental patient inputting a desired flavored fluoride treatment made from said stored fluoride treatments;

e) said dispenser dispensing said selected desired fluoride treatment after mixing and agitating in said mixing container the selected stored fluoride treatment into a consumption container, capping and sealing said consumption container within said mixing bay and storing in a memory the desired fluoride treatment selected by said dental patient;

f) said sealed consumption container being transferred from said mixing bay to said pickup bay for retrieval by said dental patient; and

g) said dental patient receiving a fluoride treatment using the dispensed desired flavored fluoride treatment.

7. The method of claim 6 in which selection buttons are inactivated and an alarm is sounded in the event the dental patient inputs an incorrect authorization code.