Replacement Head for An Oral Care Implement, And Oral Care Implement And Method Of Utilizing The Same

• US 20150020325A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Hideaki, Torihama, Takashi, Mintel, Thomas, Fattori, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/023 with means for inducing vibration to the bristles
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/042 Clip or snap connection for bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

A replacement head for an oral care implement, such as a powered toothbrush, wherein the replacement head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to an oral care implement body. In one embodiment, the invention can be a replacement head comprising: a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto; a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, and a distal end to which the head is coupled, the tubular sleeve comprising a locking tab for engaging an undercut surface of a locking section of a boss.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising:

an electric toothbrush main body including a bar-shaped stem which has a leading end part, vibrates by a vibration source provided inside the electric toothbrush main body, and extends along a center axis; and

a replacement brush to be attached so as to cover said stem, wherein

said stem includes a protruding part region which protrudes outward from an outer peripheral face of the stem,

said replacement brush includes;

a tubular part having an open trailing end;

a brushing member formed outside a leading end side of said tubular part; and

an open sidewall formed from a trailing end side toward the leading end side of said tubular part to define an opening region having a leading end side which is closed and a trailing end side which is opened at said open trailing end,

said open sidewall has a bulging wall protruding toward said opening region, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said protruding part region is located inside said opening region, and said bulging wall comes into contact with said protruding part region at a trailing end side of said protruding part region.

2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein

said replacement brush has a holding part formed inside the leading end side of said tubular part to hold said leading end part side of said stem, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said holding part of said tubular part holds said leading end part of said stem.

3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein said open sidewall has:

a first sidewall extending from said open trailing end toward the leading end side;

a second sidewall formed at a position opposed to said first sidewall in a circumferential direction about said center axis to extend from said open trailing end toward the leading end side; and

a third sidewall formed on leading end sides of said first sidewall and second sidewall to connect between said first sidewall and said second sidewall,

said bulging wall is formed on the trailing end side of said first sidewall so as to protrude toward said second sidewall side,

said protruding part region has such a shape as to extend from the trailing end side toward the leading end side, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said third sidewall comes into contact with the leading end part side of said protruding part region.

4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein

said first sidewall is formed so as to extend in an inclined direction relative to said center axis when being seen laterally,

said protruding part region has an inclined wall face extending in an inclined direction relative to said center axis when being seen laterally, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said first sidewall comes into contact with said inclined wall face.

5. The electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein said second sidewall has:

an inclined sidewall region formed on said third sidewall side and inclined in parallel to said first sidewall; and

a parallel sidewall region formed on said open trailing end side in parallel to said center axis when being seen laterally.

6. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, one of an outer peripheral face of said stem and an inner circumferential face of said tubular part is formed with a rib extending in a direction of said center axis, and the other is formed with a guide groove accepting said rib.

7. The electric toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein said rib and said guide groove are formed in regions opposed to said protruding part region and said open sidewall with said center axis interposed in between.

8. The electric toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein said rib and said guide groove are formed in regions other than the regions opposed to said protruding part region and said open sidewall with said center axis interposed in between.

9. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said open sidewall is formed at a position opposed to said brushing member with said center axis interposed in between.

10. A replacement brush used for an electric toothbrush main body including a bar-shaped stem which has a leading end part, vibrates by a vibration source provided inside the electric toothbrush main body, and extends along a center axis,

the replacement brush being attached so as to cover said stem, wherein

said stem includes a protruding part region which protrudes outward from an outer peripheral face of the stem,

said replacement brush includes:

a tubular part having an open trailing end;

a brushing member formed outside a leading end side of said tubular part; and

an open sidewall formed from a trailing end side toward the leading end side of said tubular part to define an opening region having a leading end side which is closed and a trailing end side which is opened at said open trailing end,

said open sidewall has a bulging wall protruding toward said opening region, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said protruding part region is located inside said opening region, and said bulging wall comes into contact with said protruding part region at a trailing end side of said protruding part region.

11. The replacement brush according to claim 10, wherein said replacement brush has a holding part formed inside the leading end side of said tubular part to hold said leading end part side of said stem, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said holding part of said tubular part holds said leading end part of said stem.

12. The replacement brush according to claim 11, wherein said open sidewall has:

a first sidewall extending from said open trailing end toward the leading end side;

a second sidewall formed at a position opposed to said first sidewall in a circumferential direction about said center axis to extend from said open trailing end toward the leading end side; and

a third sidewall formed on leading end sides of said first sidewall and second sidewall to connect between said first sidewall and said second sidewall,

said bulging wall is formed on the trailing end side of said first sidewall so as to protrude toward said second sidewall side,

said protruding part region has such a shape as to extend from the trailing end side toward the leading end side, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said third sidewall comes into contact with the leading end part side of said protruding part region.

13. The replacement brush according to claim 12, wherein said first sidewall is formed so as to extend in an inclined direction relative to said center axis when being seen laterally,

said protruding part region has an inclined wall face extending in an inclined direction relative to said center axis when being seen laterally, and

in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, said first sidewall comes into contact with said inclined wall face.

14. The replacement brush according to claim 13, wherein said second sidewall has:

an inclined sidewall region formed on said third sidewall side and inclined in parallel to said first sidewall; and

a parallel sidewall region formed on said open trailing end side in parallel to said center axis when being seen laterally.

15. The replacement brush according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein in the attached state of said replacement brush to said stem, one of an outer peripheral face of said stem and an inner circumferential face of said tubular part is formed with a rib extending in a direction of said center axis, and the other is formed with a guide groove accepting said rib.

16. The replacement brush according to claim 15, wherein said rib and said guide groove are formed in regions opposed to said protruding part region and said open sidewall with said center axis interposed in between.

17. The replacement brush according to claim 15, wherein said rib and said guide groove are formed in regions other than the regions opposed to said protruding part region and said open sidewall with said center axis interposed in between.

18. The replacement brush according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein said open sidewall is formed at a position opposed to said brushing member with said center axis interposed in between.

19. An oral care implement comprising:

a body comprising;

a gripping portion comprising a shoulder;

a stem extending from the shoulder along a longitudinal axis; and

a boss protruding from an outer surface of the stem, the boss comprising a locking rib section having an undercut surface that is axially spaced from the shoulder and a positioning rib section extending from the locking rib section to the shoulder, the undercut surface circumferentially protruding from a first side surface of the positioning rib section;

a replacement head comprising;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity and a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity;

a slot in the tubular sleeve comprising a locking slot section spaced from the proximal edge and an entry slot section that extends from the proximal edge to the locking slot section; and

a locking tab comprising a distal edge that forms a first lateral wall of the entry slot section and an upper edge that forms a bottom wall of the locking slot section;

wherein the tubular sleeve is detachably coupled to the stem in a locked state in which;

the stem is located within the cavity of the tubular sleeve,

the positioning rib section is located within the entry slot section, and

the locking rib-section is located within the locking slot section, the upper edge of the locking tab engaging the undercut surface of the locking rib section.

20. The oral care implement according to claim 19 wherein the upper edge of the locking tab is concave arcuate and the undercut surface of the locking rib section is convex arcuate.

21. The oral care implement according to claim 20 wherein the locking slot section comprises a top wall that is concave arcuate and the locking rib section comprises an upper surface that is convex arcuate, and wherein in the locked state the upper surface of the locking rib section engages the top wall of the locking slot section.

22. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the locking slot section extends along a first slot axis and the entry slot section extends along a second slot axis, and wherein the first slot axis is oriented obliquely to the second slot axis.

23. The oral care implement according to claim 22 wherein the locking slot section comprises a first lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the first slot axis and a second lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the second slot axis.

24. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 22 to 23 wherein the distal edge extends substantially parallel to the second slot axis.

25. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 24 wherein in the locked state the distal edge of the locking tab engages a first side surface of the positioning rib section of the boss.

26. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 25 wherein the locking tab circumferentially protrudes into the slot.

27. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 26 wherein the replacement head further comprises a protuberance circumferentially protruding into the slot, the protuberance terminating in a distal edge that forms a second lateral wall of the entry slot section that is opposite the first lateral wall of the entry slot section.

28. The oral care implement according to claim 27 wherein in the locked state the distal edge of the protuberance engages a second side surface of the positioning rib section.

29. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 28 wherein a bottom edge of the locking tab forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve.

30. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 29 wherein the locking rib section extends along a first rib axis and the positioning rib section extends along a second rib axis, the first rib axis oriented obliquely to the second rib axis.

31. The oral care implement according to claim 30 wherein the first rib axis is oriented obliquely relative to and non-intersecting with the longitudinal axis of the stem.

32. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 31 wherein the locking rib section comprises an outer surface and the positioning rib section comprises an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the oblique rib section and the positioning rib section being substantially continuous with one another.

33. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 32 wherein the locking rib section and the positioning rib section are integral with one another.

34. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 33 further comprising an indexing rib extending radially outward from the outer surface of the stem, the indexing rib extending axially upward from the shoulder.

35. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 34 wherein the shoulder of the body is an annular shoulder that forms a distal end of the gripping portion.

36. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 35 wherein in the locked state a gap exists between a second side surface of the positioning rib section and a second lateral wall of the locking slot section.

37. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 19 to 36 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a resilient section, the resilient section comprising the locking tab and the receiving slot.

38. The oral care implement according to claim 37 wherein the locking rib section has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of the entry slot section.

39. An oral care implement body to which a replacement head can be detachably coupled, the oral care implement body comprising:

a gripping portion having a shoulder;

a stem extending from the shoulder along a longitudinal axis; and

a boss protruding from an outer surface of the stem, the boss comprising a locking rib section having an undercut surface that is axially spaced from the shoulder and a positioning rib section extending from the locking rib section to the shoulder, the undercut surface circumferentially protruding from a first side surface of the positioning rib section.

40. The oral care implement body according to claim 39 wherein the locking rib section extends along a first rib axis and the positioning rib section extends along a second rib axis, the first rib axis oriented obliquely to the second rib axis.

41. The oral care implement body according to claim 40 wherein the second rib axis is substantially perpendicular to the transverse shoulder.

42. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 40 to 41 wherein the positioning rib section comprises a first side surface and a second side surface, the first and second side surfaces of the positioning rib section extending substantially parallel to the second rib axis.

43. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 40 to 42 wherein the locking rib section comprises a first side surface and a second side surface, the first and second side surfaces of the locking rib section extending substantially parallel to the first rib axis.

44. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 40 to 43 wherein the locking rib section comprises an upper surface that is convex arcuate.

45. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 44 wherein the undercut surface of the locking rib section is concave arcuate.

46. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 45 wherein the locking rib section comprises an outer surface and the positioning rib section comprises an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the oblique rib section and the positioning rib section being substantially continuous with one another.

47. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 46 wherein the locking rib section and the positioning rib section are integral with one another.

48. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 47 further comprising an indexing rib extending radially outward from the outer surface of the stem, the indexing rib extending axially upward from the shoulder.

49. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 48 wherein the shoulder of the body is an annular shoulder that forms a distal end of the gripping portion.

50. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 49 wherein the locking rib section has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of the positioning rib section.

51. The oral care implement body according to any one of claims 39 to 50 further comprising a power source and a vibratory element operably coupled to the power source.

52. The oral care implement body according to claim 51 wherein the vibratory element is located within the stem.

53. A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body, the replacement head comprising:

a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, the tubular sleeve comprising a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity;

a slot in the tubular sleeve for mating with a boss of the stem, the slot comprising;

(1) a locking slot section for receiving a locking rib section of the boss of the stem, the locking slot section axially spaced from the proximal edge; and

(2) an entry slot section for receiving a positioning rib section of the boss of the stem, the entry slot section extending from the proximal edge to the locking slot section; and

a locking tab comprising a distal edge that forms a first lateral wall of the entry slot section and an upper edge that forms a bottom wall of the locking slot section, the upper edge capable of engaging an undercut surface of the locking rib section of the boss.

54. The replacement head according to claim 53 wherein the upper edge of the locking tab is concave arcuate.

55. The replacement head according to claim 54 wherein the upper edge extends from the distal edge.

56. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 55 wherein the locking slot section comprises a top wall that is concave arcuate.

57. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 56 wherein the locking slot section extends along a first slot axis and the entry slot section extends along a second slot axis, and wherein the first slot axis is oriented obliquely to the second slot axis.

58. The replacement head according to claim 57 wherein the locking slot section comprises a first lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the first slot axis and a second lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the second slot axis, the first and second lateral walls of the locking slot section being opposite one another.

59. The replacement head according to claim 58 wherein the locking slot section further comprises a transition wall extending from the entry slot section to the second lateral wall of the locking slot section, the transition wall extending substantially parallel to the first slot axis.

60. The replacement head according to any one of claims 57 to 59 wherein the distal edge of the locking tab extends substantially parallel to the second slot axis.

61. The replacement head according to any one of claims 57 to 60 wherein the replacement head further comprises a protuberance circumferentially protruding into the slot, the protuberance terminating in a distal edge that forms a second lateral wall of the entry slot section that is opposite the first lateral wall of the entry slot section.

62. The replacement head according to claim 61 wherein the distal edge of the protuberance extends substantially parallel to the second slot axis.

63. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 62 wherein the locking tab circumferentially protrudes into the slot.

64. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 63 wherein a bottom edge of the locking tab forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve.

65. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 64 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a resilient section, the resilient section comprising the locking tab and the receiving slot.

66. The replacement head according to claim 65 wherein the entry slot section has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of the locking slot section.

67. The replacement head according to claim 53 wherein the upper edge of the locking tab is concave arcuate.

68. The replacement head according to any one of claims 53 to 67 wherein the locking slot section comprises a top wall that is concave arcuate.

69. The replacement head according to claim 53 wherein:

the locking slot section comprises a top wall that is concave arcuate;

the upper edge of the locking tab being concave arcuate;

the locking slot section extending along a first slot axis that extends from the bottom wall of the locking slot section to the top wall of the locking slot section;

the entry slot section extending along a second slot axis that extends from the proximal edge to a central region of the locking slot section, the first slot axis oriented obliquely to the second slot axis.

70. The replacement head according to claim 69 wherein the top wall of the locking slot section is concave arcuate for about 180 degrees and the bottom wall of the locking slot section is concave arcuate for about 90 degrees.

71. The replacement head according to any one of claims 69 to 70 wherein:

the bottom wall of the locking slot section extends from the first lateral wall of the entry slot section to a first lateral wall of the locking slot section,

the first lateral wall of the locking slot section extending from the bottom wall of the locking slot section to the top wall of the locking slot section, the first lateral wall of the locking slot section oriented substantially parallel to the first slot axis,

the locking slot section comprising a second lateral wall that extends from the top wall of the locking section to a transition wall, the second lateral wall of the locking section oriented substantially parallel to the second slot axis,

the transition wall of the locking slot section extending from the second lateral wall of the locking slot section to a second lateral wall of the entry slot section, the transition wall of the locking slot section oriented substantially parallel to the first slot axis, and

the first and second lateral walls of the entry slot section oriented substantially parallel to the second slot axis.

72. An oral care implement comprising:

a body comprising;

a gripping portion;

a stem extending from the gripping portion along a first longitudinal axis; and

a boss protruding radially outward from an outer surface of the stem, the boss comprising a locking section having an undercut surface and an positioning section extending from the first section to the gripping portion; and

a replacement head comprising;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity and a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, the tubular sleeve comprising a resilient section;

a protuberance protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the resilient section; and

a locking tab protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the resilient section, a first axial channel existing between the protuberance and the locking tab; and

wherein the tubular sleeve is detachably coupled to the stem in a locked state in which;

the stem is located within the cavity of the tubular sleeve,

the positioning section of the boss is located within the first axial channel to prevent rotation of the tubular sleeve relative to the stem, and

the locking tab engages the undercut surface of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem.

73. The oral care implement according to claim 72 wherein the resilient section comprises a latch formed into the tubular sleeve, the protuberance and the locking tab located on the latch.

74. The oral care implement according to claim 73 wherein the latch comprises a free bottom edge and first and second side edges extending upward from the free bottom edge.

75. The oral care implement according to claim 74 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve.

76. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 74 to 75 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch comprises a chamfered portion.

77. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 74 to 76 wherein the protuberance and the locking tab are spaced from the outer surface of the stem when the tubular sleeve is in the locked state.

78. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 74 to 77 wherein the resilient section flexes radially outward to allow at least one of the locking tab and the protuberance to move over the boss as the tubular sleeve is alternated between the locked state and an unlocked state.

79. The oral care implement according to claim 78 wherein the tubular sleeve is moved from the locked state to the unlocked state by axially translating the tubular sleeve relative to the stem.

80. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 78 wherein the locking section of the boss comprises a bottom portion comprising the undercut surface, the bottom portion of the locking section circumferentially protruding from the positioning section.

81. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 80 wherein the locking tab comprises an upper edge that engages the undercut surface, the upper edge of the locking tab being concave arcuate.

82. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 81 wherein the resilient section comprises a latch that is connected to the tubular sleeve via a flexure portion.

83. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 82 wherein the locking tab engages a first side surface of the positioning section of the boss and the protuberance engages a second side surface of the positioning section of the boss in the locked state.

84. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 83 wherein the locking section of the boss has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of the first axial channel.

85. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 84 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises at least one indexing slot, the stem comprises at least one indexing rib protruding radially outward from the outer surface of the stem, the at least one indexing rib located within the at least one indexing slot and engaging first and second radial walls of the at least one indexing slot to prevent rotation of the tubular sleeve relative to the stem in the locked state.

86. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 85 wherein the undercut surface of the locking section of the boss is the only undercut surface on the stem that is capable of mechanically engaging a feature of the tubular sleeve to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem in the locked state.

87. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 86 wherein the protuberance protrudes a first distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve and the locking tab protrudes a second distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve, the second distance being substantially the same as the first distance.

88. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 87 wherein the locking section is an elongated oblique rib and the positioning section is an elongated axial rib.

89. The oral care implement according to claim 88 wherein the elongated oblique rib extends along a first rib axis and the elongated axial rib extends along a second rib axis, the first rib axis oriented obliquely to the second rib axis, the first rib axis oriented obliquely relative to and non-intersecting with the first longitudinal axis.

90. The oral care implement according to any one of claims 72 to 89 wherein the replacement head comprises a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto and the body comprises a motion inducing element for imparting motion to the plurality of tooth cleaning elements.

91. A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body, the replacement head comprising:

a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, and a resilient section;

a protuberance protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the resilient section;

a locking tab protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the resilient section, a first axial channel existing between the protuberance and the locking tab; and

wherein the resilient section can flex radially outward from the tubular sleeve.

92. The replacement head according to claim 91 wherein the resilient section comprises a latch formed into the tubular sleeve, the protuberance and the locking tab located on the latch.

93. The replacement head according to claim 92 wherein the latch comprises a free bottom edge and first and second side edges extending upwardly from the free bottom edge.

94. The replacement head according to claim 93 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve.

95. The replacement head according to any one of claims 93 to 94 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch comprises a chamfered portion.

96. The replacement head according to any one of claims 92 to 95 wherein the latch is connected to the tubular sleeve via a flexure portion.

97. The replacement head according to any one of claims 91 to 96 wherein the locking tab comprises an upper edge for engaging an undercut surface of a boss of the stem, the upper edge being concave arcuate.

98. The replacement head according to any one of claims 91 to 97 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises at least one indexing slot for receiving an indexing rib of the stem.

99. The replacement head according to any one of claims 91 to 98 wherein the protuberance protrudes a first distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve and the locking tab protrudes a second distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve, the second distance being substantially the same as the first distance.

100. An oral care implement comprising:

a body comprising;

a gripping portion;

a stem extending from the gripping portion along a first longitudinal axis; and

a boss protruding radially outward from an outer surface of the stem, the boss comprising a locking section having an undercut surface and an positioning section extending from the first section to the gripping portion; and

a replacement head comprising;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity and a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, the tubular sleeve comprising a resilient section; and

a locking tab protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the resilient section; and

wherein the tubular sleeve is detachably coupled to the stem in a locked state in which;

the stem is located within the cavity of the tubular sleeve,

the positioning section of the boss is located adjacent the positioning section of the boss, and

the locking tab engages the undercut surface of the locking section of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem.

101. A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body, the replacement head comprising:

a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements;

a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, the tubular sleeve comprising a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity;

a slot in the tubular sleeve for mating with a boss of the stem, the slot comprising;

(1) a locking slot section for receiving at least a portion of the boss of the stem; and

(2) a locking tab comprising an upper edge that forms a bottom wall of the locking slot section, the upper edge capable of engaging the boss; and

wherein the locking slot section extends along a first slot axis oriented obliquely relative to a longitudinal axis of the replacement head by an angle.

102. The replacement head according to claim 101 wherein the upper edge of the locking tab is concave arcuate.

103. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 102 wherein the locking slot section comprises a top wall that is concave arcuate.

104. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 103 wherein the angle is between 5 and 20 degrees.

105. The replacement head according to claim 101 wherein the locking slot section comprises a first lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the first slot axis and a second lateral wall that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the first and second lateral walls of the locking slot section being opposite one another.

106. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 105 wherein the distal edge of the locking tab extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

107. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 106 wherein the replacement head further comprises a protuberance circumferentially protruding into the slot.

108. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 107 wherein a bottom edge of the locking tab forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve.

109. The replacement head according to any one of claims 101 to 108 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a resilient section, the resilient section comprising the locking tab and the slot.