초록 ▼

The present invention is methods and devices for encouraging, educating, entertaining, and or motivating children to brush their teeth. In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more characters are used, each with its own look and personality. The characters are used in a variety of forms an

The present invention is methods and devices for encouraging, educating, entertaining, and or motivating children to brush their teeth. In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more characters are used, each with its own look and personality. The characters are used in a variety of forms and media as the shape of functional devices, advertising, education and entertainment. The characters may also be animated. The characters and their images, associated slogans and brand name may be used on a line of merchandise. The invention in a preferred embodiment includes a toothpaste dispenser or a toy in the shape of one of the characters. The toothpaste dispenser or toy, in a preferred embodiment, is able to talk to, play a song or otherwise communicate with the child to give entertaining, educational or motivating messages to the child regarding brushing their teeth. The invention in another embodiment includes one or more of the characters in the form of finger and or hand puppets. In a preferred embodiment of the hand puppet, the hand puppet has a body in the shape of a smile and toothbrush legs. In another embodiment of the invention, the character is presented in several media including, but not limited to, television, movies, websites, video games, board games, books, magazines, coloring books, stuffed animals, toys, puppets or figurines.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A toothpaste dispenser having an appearance of a character, the toothpaste dispenser comprising: a base;a support extending from a first end essentially vertically from the base; anda toothpaste tube holder located at a second end of the support opposite the first end, the toothpaste tube holder

1. A toothpaste dispenser having an appearance of a character, the toothpaste dispenser comprising: a base;a support extending from a first end essentially vertically from the base; anda toothpaste tube holder located at a second end of the support opposite the first end, the toothpaste tube holder capable of being removably coupled to a toothpaste tube, wherein the base comprises a plurality of indentations therein each to receive a first end of a toothbrush and the toothpaste holder comprises a plurality of hooks each correspondingly located thereon to receive a second end of the toothbrush, the toothpaste tube comprises at least one of facial and body features, the dispenser comprising a plurality of toothbrushes, each having a shape of the character's leg, the indentations and hooks located on the dispenser for the toothbrushes to appear as legs extending from the toothpaste tube. 2. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least indentation therein to receive a first end of a toothbrush and the toothpaste holder comprises at least one hook correspondingly located thereon to receive a second end of the toothbrush. 3. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste tube comprises at least one of facial and body features. 4. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste tube holder is cylindrically concave and sized to receive a toothpaste tube with a flip-top cap and frictionally retain the toothpaste tube therein. 5. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste tube holder has a plurality of air holes located annularly therein. 6. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste tube holder is cylindrically concave and wherein an internal surface of the cylindrical tube holder has threads sized to mate with threads on a dispensing end of the toothpaste tube. 7. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste tube comprises a dispenser having a conduit there through to dispense toothpaste from the toothpaste tube. 8. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein each of the toothbrushes comprises a bendable knee with a plurality of detents that locks in a shape in one of a plurality of configurations. 9. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein each of the toothbrushes comprise a friction surface. 10. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the toothbrushes comprises a floss holder located at an end of the toothbrush opposite the bristles thereof. 11. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 10, wherein the floss holder includes a first ridge and a second ridge located at an end of the toothbrush and has a slot formed between the first ridge and the second ridge, the floss holder further includes a groove located at approximately a right angle to the first ridge, second ridge and a slot between the ridges, the groove has a width and a depth slightly wider and deeper than a diameter of floss used in the floss holder, the floss usable by pulling the floss taught across the slot. 12. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a communication system operable to track and communicate to a user at least one of time spent brushing and a number of times teeth were brushed. 13. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the toothpaste dispenser comprises animated at least one of facial and body features. 14. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 13, wherein the animated feature comprises one of a mouth and eyelids. 15. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 14, wherein the dispenser comprises at least one sensor that detects usage and causes the animated features to move in response to usage. 16. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser dispenses toothpaste that changes from a first color to another color as the user brushes with the toothpaste. 17. A toothpaste dispenser having an appearance of a character, the toothpaste dispenser comprising: a base;a plurality of toothbrushes;a support extending from a first end essentially vertically from the base; anda toothpaste tube holder located at a second end of the support opposite the first end, the toothpaste tube holder capable of being removably coupled to a toothpaste tube, wherein the toothpaste tube comprises at least one of facial and body features, the base comprises at least one indentation therein to receive a first end of a toothbrush and the toothpaste holder comprises at least one hook correspondingly located thereon to receive a second end of the toothbrush, the toothbrushes having a shape of the character's leg, the at least one indentation and the at least one hook located on the dispenser for the toothbrushes to appear as legs extending from the toothpaste tube. 18. The toothpaste dispenser of claim 17, wherein each of the toothbrushes comprises a bendable knee with a plurality of detents that locks in a shape in one of a plurality of configurations. 19. A toothpaste dispenser having an appearance of a character, the toothpaste dispenser comprising: a base;a support extending from a first end essentially vertically from the base; anda toothpaste tube holder located at a second end of the support opposite the first end, the toothpaste tube holder capable of being removably coupled to a toothpaste tube, wherein the toothpaste dispenser comprises animated at least one of facial and body features, including a mouth and eyelids, and wherein the dispenser comprises at least one sensor that detects usage and causes the animated features to move in response to usage.