ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT AND REFILL HEAD THEREFOR

• US 20140341636A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Fattori, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3409 characterized by the movement of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/1624 Related to joint component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/608 Pivoted

Abstract

A refill head (100), and oral care implement incorporating the same, wherein the refill head (100) can be uncoupled from a stem (220) of a handle (200) by withdrawing the refill head (100) from the stem of a handle (200) along the longitudinal axis of the oral care implement, which results in locking members (134) on the refill head (100) disengaging from an engagement rib (230) on the stem (220). The locking members (134) and engagement rib (230) may be aligned with or angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the oral care implement. A portion of the stem may be visible through a portion of the refill head to reinforce the proper connection between the refill head and the handle.

Claims

1. A refill head for an oral care implement having a handle stem, comprising:

a) a sleeve having an attachment axis, a first opening and a wall defining a cavity for receiving a handle stem;

b) a plurality of resilient engagement members arranged around the wall and extending upwardly relative to the first opening for engaging a handle stem, the plurality of resilient engagement members extending along an engagement axis; and

c) opposing locking members provided on the engagement members, each locking member further comprising a first cam surface to facilitate engagement of the engagement members with a handle stem and a second cam surface to facilitate disengagement of the engagement members with a handle stem.

2. The refill head of claim 1, wherein the resilient engagement members are configured to spread apart during the engagement and disengagement of the refill head with a handle stem.

3. The refill head of claim 2, wherein the resilient engagement members are configured to approach each other while the refill head is engaged with a handle stem.

4. The refill head of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resilient engagement members are integral with the wall.

5. The refill head of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sleeve further comprises a second opening partially surrounding the resilient engagement members into which the resilient engagement members move during engagement of the refill head with a handle stem.

6. The refill head of claim 5, wherein the second opening extends upwardly along the wall from the first opening.

7. The refill head of claim 6, wherein the second opening further comprises a first linear section extending along the engagement axis for receiving a portion of a handle stem and a second curved section attached to the first linear section that partially surrounds the resilient engagement members.

8. The refill head of claim 7, wherein the first linear section and second curved sections form the appearance of an umbrella around the resilient engagement members.

9. The refill head of claim 8, wherein the second opening defines bridges adjacent the resilient engagement members.

10. The refill head of claim 9, wherein the resilient engagement members pivot about the bridges during engagement of the refill head with a handle stem.

11. The refill head of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a plurality of alignment ribs circumferentially arranged around an inner wall of the sleeve.

12. An oral care implement comprising:

a) a handle stem and a refill head having a sleeve coaxially aligned with the handle stem;

b) the sleeve having an attachment axis, a first opening and a wall defining a cavity for receiving the handle stem; and

c) a plurality of resilient engagement members arranged around the wall for engaging the handle stem, the plurality of resilient engagement members extending along an engagement axis;

d) wherein a portion of the handle stem is visible through a second opening in the sleeve when the refill head is attached to the handle stem.

13. The oral care implement of claim 12, the second opening partially surrounding the resilient engagement members into which the resilient engagement members move during engagement of the refill head with the handle stem.

14. The oral care implement of claim 13, wherein the resilient engagement members extend upwardly relative to the first opening, and wherein the second opening extends upwardly along the wall from the first opening.

15. The oral care implement of claim 14, wherein the second opening further comprises a first linear section extending along the engagement axis for receiving a portion of the handle stem and a second curved section attached to the first linear section that partially surrounds the resilient engagement members.

16. The oral care implement of claim 15, wherein the second opening defines bridges adjacent the resilient engagement members.

17. The oral care implement of claim 16, wherein the resilient engagement members pivot about the bridges during engagement of the refill head with a handle stem.

18. The oral care implement of claim 17, further comprising opposing locking members provided on the resilient engagement members, each locking member further comprising a first cam surface to facilitate engagement of the resilient engagement members with the handle stem and a second cam surface to facilitate disengagement of the resilient engagement members with the handle stem.

31. The oral care implement of any one of claims 18 to 30, further comprising a plurality of alignment ribs circumferentially arranged around an inner wall of the sleeve.

19. An oral care implement comprising:

a) a handle stem and a refill head having a sleeve coaxially aligned with the handle stem;

b) the sleeve having an attachment axis, a first opening and a wall defining a cavity for receiving the handle stem;

c) a plurality of resilient engagement members arranged around the wall and extending upwardly relative to the first opening for engaging the handle stem, the plurality of resilient engagement members extending along an engagement axis; and

d) opposing locking members provided on the engagement members, each locking member further comprising a first cam surface to facilitate engagement of the engagement members with the handle stem and a second cam surface to facilitate disengagement of the engagement members with the handle stem.

20. The oral care implement of claim 19, wherein the handle stem further comprises an engagement rib having an opening that is engaged by the resilient engagement members.

21. The oral care implement of claim 20, wherein the engagement rib extends along the handle stem in a first direction aligned with the engagement axis and the resilient engagement members engage the opening in the engagement rib from a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

22. The oral care implement of claim 20, wherein the engagement rib tapers outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis.

23. The oral care implement of any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the resilient engagement members are configured to spread apart during the engagement and disengagement of the refill head with the handle stem, and are configured to approach each other while the refill head is engaged with the handle stem.

24. The oral care implement of any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the resilient engagement members are integral with the wall.

25. The oral care implement of any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the sleeve further comprises a second opening partially surrounding the resilient engagement members into which the resilient engagement members move during engagement of the refill head with the handle stem.

26. The oral care implement of claim 25, wherein a portion of the handle stem is visible through the second opening in the sleeve when the refill head is attached to the handle stem

27. The oral care implement of claim 25, wherein the second opening extends upwardly along the wall from the first opening.

28. The oral care implement of claim 25, wherein the second opening further comprises a first linear section extending along the engagement axis for receiving a portion of the handle stem and a second curved section attached to the first linear section that partially surrounds the resilient engagement members.

29. The oral care implement of claim 25, wherein the second opening defines bridges adjacent the resilient engagement members.

30. The oral care implement of claim 29, wherein the resilient engagement members pivot about the bridges during engagement of the refill head with a handle stem.