Oral care implement
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An oral care implement comprising:
- a handle;
a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface, a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head, and a head plate, the head plate comprising a lower surface, an upper surface that forms the front surface of the head, and a plurality of through holes extending from the lower surface to the upper surface;
a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head;
the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a conical tuft comprising a bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity along a cavity axis, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head;
the plurality of tooth cleaning element further comprising;
a first set of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the head;
a second set of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to a second lateral edge of the head; and
each peripheral tooth cleaning element of the first and second sets comprising an elastomeric sleeve portion and a bristle tuft portion extending through a sleeve cavity of the elastomeric sleeve portion along a sleeve axis, the bristle tuft portion protruding from a distal end of the elastomeric sleeve portion;
further comprising an integrally formed mass of elastomeric material, wherein the integrally formed mass of elastomeric material comprises the elastomeric sleeve portions of the first and second sets;
wherein each of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprise a cleaning portion protruding from the upper surface of the head plate and an anchor portion located adjacent the lower surface of the head plate; and
wherein the integrally formed mass of elastomeric material comprises at least one elastomeric base strip comprising a first end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the first set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements and a second end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the second set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements.
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Abstract
An oral care implement that includes a handle (120) and a head (100) with a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface. In one embodiment the plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft (130) that is formed by a wall of bristles. The tooth cleaning elements may also include first and/or second sets of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the head. The peripheral tooth cleaning elements may include elastomeric sleeve portions (144, 154) and bristle tuft portions (145, 155). The elastomeric sleeve portions may be formed as a part of an integrally formed elastomeric component (170).
205 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An oral care implement comprising:
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a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface, a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head, and a head plate, the head plate comprising a lower surface, an upper surface that forms the front surface of the head, and a plurality of through holes extending from the lower surface to the upper surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a conical tuft comprising a bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity along a cavity axis, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning element further comprising; a first set of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the head; a second set of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to a second lateral edge of the head; and each peripheral tooth cleaning element of the first and second sets comprising an elastomeric sleeve portion and a bristle tuft portion extending through a sleeve cavity of the elastomeric sleeve portion along a sleeve axis, the bristle tuft portion protruding from a distal end of the elastomeric sleeve portion; further comprising an integrally formed mass of elastomeric material, wherein the integrally formed mass of elastomeric material comprises the elastomeric sleeve portions of the first and second sets; wherein each of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprise a cleaning portion protruding from the upper surface of the head plate and an anchor portion located adjacent the lower surface of the head plate; and wherein the integrally formed mass of elastomeric material comprises at least one elastomeric base strip comprising a first end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the first set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements and a second end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the second set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An oral care implement comprising:
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a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface and a head plate, the head plate comprising a lower surface, an upper surface that forms at least a portion of the front surface of the head, and a plurality of through holes extending from the lower surface to the upper surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the upper surface of the head plate, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a cleaning portion protruding from the upper surface of the head plate and an anchor portion located adjacent the lower surface of the head plate; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a first set of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the head, each of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements of the first set comprising an elastomeric sleeve portion protruding from the upper surface of the head plate, the cleaning portion protruding from the elastomeric sleeve portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An oral care implement comprising:
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a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface and a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head, and a head plate, the head plate comprising a lower surface, an upper surface that forms the front surface of the head, and a plurality of through holes extending from the lower surface to the upper surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a conical tuft comprising a bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity along a cavity axis, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning element further comprising; at least one peripheral tooth cleaning element located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the head; at least one peripheral tooth cleaning element located adjacent to a second lateral edge of the head; and each peripheral tooth cleaning element comprising an elastomeric sleeve portion and a bristle tuft portion extending through a sleeve cavity of the elastomeric sleeve portion along a sleeve axis, the bristle tuft portion protruding from a distal end of the elastomeric sleeve portion; wherein each of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprise a cleaning portion protruding from the upper surface of the head plate and an anchor portion located adjacent the lower surface of the head plate; and further comprising at least one elastomeric base strip comprising a first end and a second end, the first end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the first set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements and the second end connected to one of the elastomeric sleeve portions of the second set of the peripheral tooth cleaning elements. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification