Method of packaging dated toothbrushes

Abstract

A package comprises two or more toothbrushes which are dated to indicate a service period such as by designating a starting date and / or an ending date, or some other date in the service period. The service periods are sequential and add up, ideally, to one complete year so that a package, purchased at any time during a year, provides toothbrushes that can be used for twelve sequential months. Providing sequentially dated toothbrushes provides an indication to the user to discard used toothbrushes at the ends of the service periods thereby promoting dental health as recommended by dentists and toothbrush manufacturers. The service period indicator may be numbers, letters, words, symbols, colors, figures or any combination that suggests a period of service of a particular toothbrush and may be placed at any suitable location on each toothbrush. Suitable instructions, placed on and / or in the package or separate from the package, are preferably provided to inform potential users of the meanings of the indicators.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10 / 390,321, filed Mar. 17, 2003.[0002] This invention is a package of toothbrushes and method, and more particularly, a toothbrush package in which the toothbrushes each have at least one indicator thereon indicating a service period. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is well known that people employ toothbrushes long beyond their useful life, at least as recommended by dentists and toothbrush manufacturers. Toothbrush bristles gradually become soft and gradually lose their ability to clean teeth and gums in an optimal fashion. The degradation of toothbrush bristles is so slow that users are not aware of it until there is an abrupt realization that the toothbrush one is using has become old and inefficient. Dentists propose, and toothbrush manufacturers promote, replacement of toothbrushes after three months use. Without doubt, the average toothbrush is discarded after being used substantially longer than recommended....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] A further object of this invention is to provide a method encouraging use of sequentially dated toothbrushes during the service periods indicated thereon.

Problems solved by technology

Toothbrush bristles gradually become soft and gradually lose their ability to clean teeth and gums in an optimal fashion.

The degradation of toothbrush bristles is so slow that users are not aware of it until there is an abrupt realization that the toothbrush one is using has become old and inefficient.

These devices have the disadvantage of requiring the user's active intervention by modifying the device at the outset of use.

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