Unit-Dose Oral Care Compositions for Flavor and Benefit Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dentifrice compositions, typically formulated as pastes, are not cost-effective for offering multiple flavors or formulations within a single kit, limiting consumer options for selecting multiple benefit agents or flavors without storing multiple tubes.

Innovation Solution

A kit comprising a first unit-dose oral care composition with a specific flavor and a second unit-dose oral care composition with a different flavor, or a first unit-dose oral care composition with a specific benefit agent and a second unit-dose oral care composition with a different benefit agent, allowing for improved oral health outcomes and customization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dentifrice compositions are formulated as paste in a tube, then the composition can be stored and used repeatedly, but it is not cost-effective to offer multiple flavors or formulations within a single kit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of flavors and formulationsVSAvoidnumber of tubes to store

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the traditional single-tube dentifrice system into multiple separate unit-dose packets, each containing a specific flavor or formulation. This segmentation allows consumers to select and use only the varieties they want without storing multiple full-sized tubes, resolving the contradiction between offering variety and avoiding storage complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple flavors or formulations are offered in separate tubes, then consumers can select different options, but the consumer must store multiple tubes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer selection optionsVSAvoidstorage space required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable unit-dose packets that are individually wrapped and sealed. Each packet is designed for single use and then discarded, eliminating the need for consumers to store multiple reusable tubes while still providing access to various flavors and formulations. This resolves the contradiction between consumer selection options and storage space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If dentifrice composition is formulated to avoid reactivity in the tube, then the composition remains stable during storage, but the composition must retain reactivity in the oral cavity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during storageVSAvoidreactivity in oral cavity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates reactive ingredients such as peroxide compounds and enzymes directly into the unit-dose packets in a stable, pre-formulated state. The packet structure and formulation maintain stability during storage through proper encapsulation and controlled environments, while ensuring that upon contact with oral moisture and heat, the ingredients become activated and reactive. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction between storage stability and oral cavity reactivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12251460B2Kits comprising unit-dose oral care compositions

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Kits comprising unit-dose oral care compositions with two or more flavors. Kits comprising unit-dose oral care compositions with two or more benefit agents. An oral care regimen comprising applying water to a toothbrush and picking up a unit-dose oral care composition without the consumer having to handle the unit-dose oral care composition.