Valves for personal care devices

• US 8,444,416 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Chenvainu, Alexander T., Christman, Thomas A., Klawuhn, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): EIDE, HEIDI MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/114,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,947 Days
• Field of Search: 137/512.15, 137/846, 137/849, 433/80, 132112-116, 151/671
• 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 and comprising a plurality of tooth-cleaning elements; and

a valve body positioned on the head, wherein the valve body comprises an upper portion and a base, wherein the upper portion defines a plurality of lumens, each lumen terminating in a valve having an exit; and

a mixing member disposed above the valves and wherein the mixing member and the valves move relative to each other to create a shear force in the fluid that exits the valves.

2. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprise a plurality of bristles extending from said head.

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

4. The oral care device of claim 3, wherein the reservoirs are disposed within the body.

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

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each valve is a slit valve.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each valve is a duckbill valve.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the base forms a seal with an outlet of the head.

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

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

11. 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.

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

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is a power toothbrush.

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

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

16. 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.

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

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixing member further comprises a shearing member.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lumens including a first lumen and a second lumen.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first lumen dispenses a first media and the second lumen dispenses a second media, which is different from the first media.