Oral care implement
First Claim
1. An oral care implement comprising:
- a handle;
a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front surface and a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head;
a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head;
the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a first conical tuft comprising a first bristle wall having an inner surface defining a first cavity along a first cavity axis, the first cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head, wherein the first bristle wall of the first conical tuft terminates in a first annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface from a first high point to a first low point;
the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a second conical tuft comprising a second bristle wall having an inner surface defining a second cavity along a second cavity axis, the second cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head, wherein the second bristle wall of the second conical tuft terminates in a second annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface from a second high point to a second low point; and
the first and second conical tufts arranged on the head such that the first and second high points are adjacent to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An oral care implement that includes a conical tuft of bristles. In one embodiment, the invention is an oral care implement that includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the head having a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface of the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft that has a bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head. Furthermore, in some embodiments the bristle wall terminates in an annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface of the head. In some embodiments, the head includes more than one of the conical tufts, such as two of the conical tufts or four of the conical tufts.
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Citations
20 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 and a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a first conical tuft comprising a first bristle wall having an inner surface defining a first cavity along a first cavity axis, the first cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head, wherein the first bristle wall of the first conical tuft terminates in a first annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface from a first high point to a first low point; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a second conical tuft comprising a second bristle wall having an inner surface defining a second cavity along a second cavity axis, the second cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head, wherein the second bristle wall of the second conical tuft terminates in a second annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface from a second high point to a second low point; and the first and second conical tufts arranged on the head such that the first and second high points are adjacent to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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 that extends from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a first conical tuft comprising a first bristle wall having an inner surface defining a first cavity along a first cavity axis, the first cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a second conical tuft comprising a continuous bristle wall having an inner surface defining a second cavity along a second cavity axis, the second cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; and the first and second conical tufts arranged on a transverse axis of the head that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a third conical tuft comprising a third bristle wall having an inner surface defining a third cavity along a third cavity axis, the third cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a fourth conical tuft comprising a fourth bristle wall having an inner surface defining a fourth cavity along a fourth cavity axis, the fourth cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head; and the third and fourth conical tufts located on the longitudinal axis of the head. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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 that extends from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; and the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a first conical tuft comprising a first bristle wall having an inner surface defining a first cavity along a first cavity axis, the first cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head, wherein the first bristle wall of the first conical tuft terminates in a first annular top surface that is inclined relative to the front surface from a first high point to a first low point. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification