US Patent Application Number US 20130048020 A1 Titled  “Oral care implement” sounds to be related to some dental implants or likewise but after going through the patent application one can easily find out that the  patent application filed by  Colgate-Palmolive Company revealed technology that would allow chemicals to be embedded into the heads of standard toothbrushes and slowly released during use. So the morning brush could soon give a hit of caffeine, and even painkillers according to a patent  application filed by Colgate.

Let us Analyze this interesting  patent application .

WHY WAS THERE A  NEED OF THIS INVENTION: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

In Colgate’s application, the company described the technology as ”an oral care implement [that] includes a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response when in contact with tissues or surfaces of a mouth of a user.”

The patent application says that while consumers may seek to clean their tongue or teeth, there has not been a toothbrush which provides a chemical sensory response in a mouth to enhance a user’s brushing experience. Further, consumers have not been provided with a visual method to select a toothbrush which provides a sensory response.

Hence, there is a need for a toothbrush that provides a biochemical sensory effect when in contact tissues of the mouth and supports a method to visually communicate the sensory effect to a user prior to use.

ALL ABOUT THE INVENTION :

The company describes its invention as an oral care implement comprising: a handle and a head; a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response in an oral cavity during use; and an elastomeric element comprising a shape that is visually representative of the sensory response.

The company added that “the oral care implement may also include a soft tissue cleaner provided with the sensory material.”

Image credit: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The Figure in patent application refers to the sensory material 300  which according to application can be any suitable biocompatible medication or chemical for oral use. The material 300  can be released inside the mouth, lips, or cheeks by way of several, methods. In one embodiment of the invention , the material is a sensate that provides a biochemical sensory response to the inside tissue and surfaces of the mouth.

The firm showed off plans for everything from mint and apple flavoured patches to a caffeine patch to wake up the weary in the morning. Each patch would last around three months, the application shows.

In the patent application, toothbrushes would be delineated by differently shaped tongue cleaners, the drawing show – an apple shape means apple flavor, a snowflake means a cooling sensation while a mint leaf releases mint.The firm could also expand the offering to include drugs such as aspirin, and the application even reveals a ‘diet toothbrush’ with a patch that releases an appetite suppressant.

The word “caffeine” was mentioned only once in the company’s application. That sentence read: “Other homeopathic teething or inflammation soothing additive include, but are not limited to Belladonna (atropa belladonna), caffeine and PassifloraIncarnata (Passionflower).”

The application also showed drawings that seemed to depict a toothbrush with various flavors or “sensory materials” such as lemon and mint.

WHAT IS CLAIMED BY COLGATE-CLAIMS OF PATENT APPLICATION

CLAIMS

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a handle and a head;

a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response in an oral cavity during use; and

at least one communicative element that is visually representative of the sensory response.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the releasable sensory material comprises a sensate.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the releasable sensory material comprises a flavor.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the releasable sensory material is contained in an elastomer.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the releasable sensory material is embedded in the elastomer.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising a surface coating of the releasable sensory material.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the releasable sensory material and the at least one communicative element are physically separated.

8. An oral care implement comprising:

a handle and a head;

a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response in an oral cavity during use; and

an elastomeric element comprising a shape that is visually representative of the sensory response.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the elastomeric element is a tissue cleanser coupled to the head, the elastomeric element comprising a plurality of tissue engaging elements.

10. The oral care implement according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of tissue engaging elements comprise projections.

11. The oral care implement according to claim 10, wherein the head includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a second side of the head opposite the first side, the elastomeric element coupled to the second side of the head.

12. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the elastomeric element comprises the releasable sensory material.

13. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the releasable sensory material comprises one of a flavoring, a sensate, or a medication.

14. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the releasable sensory material is a biocompatible chemical or biocompatible medication.

15. The oral care implement according to claim 8, further comprising a surface coating of the releasable sensory material.

16. The oral care implement according to claim 8, wherein the sensory response comprises a biochemical trigeminal sensor response.

17. The oral care implement according to claim 16 wherein biochemical trigeminal sensory response is selected from a group consisting of cooling sensation, a heating sensation and a tingle sensation.

18. A method of providing a trigeminal sensory response in an oral cavity of a user comprising the steps of:

contacting the oral cavity with an oral care implement including a sensory material that invokes a trigeminal sensory response during use in the oral cavity.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the oral care implement further comprises at least one communicative element that is visually representative of the trigeminalsensory response.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sensor material is incorporated within an elastomer.

INFERENCE:

This patent application sounds and seems to be interesting but if the patent gets granted or anytime in future such variety of toothbrushes are available it is difficult to say that it will ever become popular amongst common man as most people brush their teeth to SUBTRACT food flavors, not to ADD them.

However, such an invention might prove useful  if applied in  drug delivery or for medication purposes.

PATENT APPLICATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

A Patent is available for all types of innovation, as long as nothing similar has been invented anywhere else in the world. A device, substance or process can be Patented if it is proven to be new, inventive and useful.

For a Patent to be successfully granted, IP Australia must examine it and the invention must also:

• be novel, meaning the idea of technology cannot exist publicly anywhere else;
• be patent eligible subject matter, as some things cannot be patented;
• surpass an inventive step test, so that the invention is not obvious, and
• have a specific, substantial and credible use.

An Australian patent holder can exclude anyone from  using the patented technology in Australia.

This exclusion can apply to manufacturing, as well as selling that technology and any commercial activity around the technology.

Patent application cost $370

Total cost including attorney fees $8,000

Duration 20 years

Renewal every year

Source: IP Australia – Intellectual Property Report 2013 p.32

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