초록 ▼

A toothpaste dispensing system includes a low-profile toothpaste dispenser with a housing, a pumping system disposed in the housing, the pumping system having a inlet and an outlet, the pumping system having a rest state and an active state, the pumping system ejecting toothpaste as it transitions f

A toothpaste dispensing system includes a low-profile toothpaste dispenser with a housing, a pumping system disposed in the housing, the pumping system having a inlet and an outlet, the pumping system having a rest state and an active state, the pumping system ejecting toothpaste as it transitions from the rest state to the active state, and a low-force activator coupled to the pumping system to transition the pumping system from the rest state to active state. The system also includes a toothpaste refill coupled to the inlet of the pump. The dispenser and refill may be all or part of a dental hygiene kit.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A toothpaste dispensing system, comprising: a dispenser including: a low-profile housing; a pumping system disposed in the housing, the pumping system having an inlet and an outlet, the pumping system having a rest state and an active state, the pumping system ejecting toothp

What is claimed is: 1. A toothpaste dispensing system, comprising: a dispenser including: a low-profile housing; a pumping system disposed in the housing, the pumping system having an inlet and an outlet, the pumping system having a rest state and an active state, the pumping system ejecting toothpaste as it transitions from the rest state to the active state; a low-force activator coupled to the pumping system to transition a pump from the rest state to the active state; and a carrier disposed within the housing, the carrier having a holder and moveable between a loading position, wherein the holder is spaced from the inlet of the pumping system, and an operative position, wherein the holder is adjacent the inlet of the pumping system; and a toothpaste refill disposed on the carrier and coupled to the inlet of the pumping system. 2. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein: the low-profile housing includes a base that is disposable on a surface, and a combination of the dispenser and the toothpaste refill has a center of mass and a center of volume, the center of mass being closer to the surface when the base is disposed on the surface than the center of volume. 3. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 2, wherein: the toothpaste refill has a first state wherein the refill is full of the toothpaste and a second state wherein the refill is empty, and the center of mass of the combination of the dispenser and the toothpaste refill is closer to the surface when the base is disposed on the surface than the center of volume with the toothpaste refill in either the first state or the second state. 4. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the toothpaste refill includes a guide that mates with the holder. 5. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 4, wherein: the holder includes arms, the guide includes spaced flanges, and the arms of the holder are received between the spaced flanges to limit movement of the refill relative to the carrier. 6. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein: the pumping system includes an inlet piece with a male profile; and the toothpaste refill has a passage with a valve in communication therewith, the male profile of the inlet port engaging the valve to move the valve from a closed position to an open position when the male profile is disposed within the passage of the refill. 7. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein the valve remains in the open position after the male profile is withdrawn from the inlet port. 8. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein: the activator moves between a first position and a second position; and the pumping system provides a unit dose when the activator moves between the first position and the second position. 9. The toothpaste dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein the unit dose is a child's size dose. 10. A toothpaste refill for use with a toothpaste dispenser including a housing, a pumping system having an inlet, and a carrier having a holder; wherein the carrier is moveable between a loading position, wherein the holder is spaced from the inlet of the pumping system, and an operative position, wherein the holder is adjacent the inlet of the pumping system, the refill comprising: a wall that defines a pouch; a guide attached to the wall and having a passage therethrough, the guide being adapted to mate with the holder to limit movement of the refill relative to the carrier; a valve disposed within the pouch and in communication with the passage in the guide; and a volume of toothpaste disposed in the pouch. 11. The toothpaste refill according to claim 10, wherein the holder includes a pair of arms and a connector has a pair of spaced flanges, each of the flanges cooperating with one of opposite sides of the arms when the guide is disposed on the holder. 12. The toothpaste refill according to claim 10, wherein the valve has a first, closed state and a second, open state, the valve capable of transition once from the closed state to the open state.