Oral care implement

• US 10,639,467 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Wainless, Daniel, Johansson, Patrik, Khan, Soniya
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Yogesh P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sparks, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/634,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20180369566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 433 32
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0003 containing only one dose of substance, e.g. single-use toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0068 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for solid substance that dissolves gradually
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0024 with means generating ions
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0081 Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

An oral care implement having electrodes thereon. In one aspect, the oral care implement may include a handle and a head, the head having an exposed outer surface. A first depression is formed in the exposed outer surface of the head. A first sacrificial electrode is disposed within the first depression and has an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the head. A second electrode is located on the head. Each of the first and second electrodes is operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electrical charges.

Claims

1. An oral care implement comprising:

a handle;

a head coupled to the handle, the head having an exposed outer surface;

a first depression formed in the exposed outer surface of the head;

a first sacrificial electrode disposed within the first depression and having an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the head;

a second depression formed in the exposed outer surface of the head;

a second electrode disposed within the second depression and having an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the head; and

each of the first and second electrodes operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electrical charges;

wherein the first depression is a first elongated groove and the second depression is a second elongated groove, each of the first and second elongated grooves extending from a first open end to a second open end.

2. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising:

the first depression having a first width; and

the exposed surface of the first sacrificial electrode recessed a first depth from the exposed outer surface, the first depth being greater than or equal to the first width.

3. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein the first depth is greater than the first width.

4. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein first elongated groove extends along a first groove axis, the first elongated groove defined by opposing upstanding sidewalls and a floor comprised of the exposed surface of the first sacrificial electrode.

5. The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein the second depression has a second width, the exposed surface of the second sacrificial electrode recessed a second depth from the exposed outer surface, the second depth being greater than or equal to the second width.

6. The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein the second elongated groove extends along a second groove axis, the second elongated groove defined by opposing upstanding sidewalls and a floor comprised of the exposed surface of the second electrode.

7. The oral care implement according to claim 6 wherein the head extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end adjacent a neck of the oral care implement to a distal end;

and wherein each of the first and second groove axes extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8. The oral care implement according to claim 1

wherein the second electrode is a second sacrificial electrode.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of the first electrode and a plurality of the second electrode;

and wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed on the head in an alternating arrangement.

10. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the exposed outer surface of the head comprises a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a side surface extending between the front and rear surfaces;

and wherein the first electrode is at least partially located on the front surface of the head and the second electrode is at least partially located on the rear surface of the head.

11. The oral care implement according to claim 10 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the first electrode extending across the front surface of the head transversely to the longitudinal axis and the second electrode extending across the rear surface of the head transversely to the longitudinal axis, a portion of each of the first and second electrodes extending onto the side surface of the head with the first and second electrodes spaced apart in a longitudinal direction.

12. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the portions of the first and second electrodes at least partially overlap on the side surface of the head so that a reference plane parallel to the front surface of the head intersects the portions of each of the first and second electrodes.

13. The oral care implement according to claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of the first electrode located on the front surface of the head in a spaced apart manner, each of the plurality of first electrodes being elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;

a plurality of the second electrode located on the rear surface of the head in a spaced apart manner, each of the plurality of second electrodes being elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

wherein each of the plurality of first and second electrodes comprises a portion that extends onto the side surface of the head, the portions of the first and second electrodes at least partially overlapping so as to be intersected by the reference plane; and

wherein the portions of the plurality of first and second electrodes extend onto the side surface of the head in an alternating arrangement.

14. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising:

a tooth cleaning element field extending from the exposed outer surface of the head and comprising a distal-most cleaning element and a proximal-most cleaning element;

wherein the head extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the head to a distal end of the head; and

wherein the first sacrificial electrode is located on a transverse reference plane located between the proximal-most and distal-most tooth cleaning elements.