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;
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 continuous 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; and
a central cleaning element located within the cavity;
wherein the continuous bristle wall of the conical tuft terminates in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the front surface, the head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the annular top surface comprises a plurality of peak portions and a plurality of valley portions located on each side of the longitudinal axis.
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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 continuous 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. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements may also include a central cleaning element located within the cavity. The conical tuft may terminate in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include arcuate cleaning elements arranged in a loop about the conical tuft.
198 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 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 continuous 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; and a central cleaning element located within the cavity; wherein the continuous bristle wall of the conical tuft terminates in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the front surface, the head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the annular top surface comprises a plurality of peak portions and a plurality of valley portions located on each side of the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An oral care implement comprising:
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a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front 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; and wherein the bristle wall of the conical tuft terminates in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the front surface; wherein the bristle wall of the conical tuft terminates in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the front surface, the head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the annular top surface comprises a plurality of peak portions and a plurality of valley portions located on each side of the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An oral care implement comprising:
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a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a front 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; and the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising a plurality of arcuate cleaning elements arranged in a spaced apart manner about a loop that surrounds the conical tuft; wherein the plurality of arcuate cleaning elements comprises a first, second, third, and fourth arcuate cleaning element, the first and third arcuate cleaning elements intersecting a longitudinal axis of the head; wherein the bristle wall of the conical tuft terminates in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the front surface, the head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the annular top surface comprises a plurality of peak portions and a plurality of valley portions located on each side of the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification