Bottle for dental hygiene product with timing mechanism

• US 20060238338A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Fresh LLC (HRB Winddown, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Growmax Investments Limited
• Inventors: Nanda, Puneet
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/34 Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/248 the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A packaging system includes a bottle that holds a dental hygiene product. A closure is configured to be removably coupled to the bottle. The bottle defines an opening when the closure is removed from the bottle. The timing mechanism is coupled to at least one of the bottle and closure. The timing mechanism includes a sensory device and a timer. The timing mechanism measures a time period and provides an output after a preset period of time has elapsed.

Claims

1. A packaging system, comprising:

a bottle holding a dental hygiene product;

a closure configured to be removably coupled to the bottle, the bottle defining an opening when the closure is removed from the bottle; and

a timing mechanism coupled to at least one of the bottle and closure, the timing mechanism including a sensory device and a timer, the timer being configured to determine a period of time and the sensory device configured to indicate when the period of time.

2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the timing mechanism is attached to the bottle.

3. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the timing mechanism is attached to the closure.

4. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the sensory device comprises at least one selected from the following:

light, vibrator, and auditory device.

5. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the dental hygiene product is mouthwash.

6. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising means for activating the timing mechanism.

7. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising means for activating the timing mechanism as the closure is removed from the bottle.

8. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising means for modifying the period of time.

9. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said period of time is about 30 seconds.

10. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the sensory device is positioned within a wall of the closure.

11. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising one ore more sensors positioned on the closure configured to detect the presence of a liquid within the closure, wherein the timing mechanism is configured to activate when said sensor detects a liquid within the closure.

12. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a configured to detect the presence of a liquid within the closure when a liquid physically contacts the sensor.

13. A packaging system, comprising:

a bottle holding a dental hygiene product;

a closure configured to be removably coupled to the bottle, the bottle defining an opening when the closure is removed from the bottle, the closure further defining a space into which the dental hygiene product can be poured; and

a timing mechanism positioned within the closure the timing mechanism including a sensory device, a timer, a circuit and a pair of contacts exposed to the space into which the dental hygiene product is poured, the timer being configured to be activated when the dental hygiene product is poured into the closure completing the circuit by electrically connecting the pair of contacts.

14. The packaging system of claim 14, wherein the sensory device comprises at least one selected from the following:

light, vibrator, and auditory device.

15. The packaging system of claim 14, wherein the dental hygiene product is mouthwash.

16. A packaging system, comprising:

a bottle;

a closure configured to be removably coupled to the bottle, the bottle defining an opening when the closure is removed from the bottle, the closure further defining a space into which contents from the bottle product can be poured; and

a timing mechanism positioned within the closure the timing mechanism including a sensory device, a timer, and means for activating the timer and sensory device when the product is poured into the closure.

17. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the sensory device comprises at least one selected from the following:

light, vibrator, and auditory device.

18. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the sensory device is a light.

19. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein the product is mouthwash.

20. A method of using a dental hygiene product, the method comprising:

removing a cap from a bottle in which the dental hygiene product is stored;

pouring the dental hygiene product into a cap to activate a timing mechanism provided within or on the cap;

transferring the dental hygiene product from the cap to a user'"'"'s mouth; and

using the dental hygiene product for a period of time that is indicated by the timing mechanism.