Oral Hygiene Implement

• US 20170156835A1
• Filed: 02/22/2017
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Norbert, Fritsch, Thomas, Utsch, Joern, Stegmann, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 10,675,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Abstract

An oral hygiene implement has a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole. The neck section has a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity. The through hole defines a first and a second opening in the head section housing. A cap element, separately made from the head section housing, is connected with the head section housing to essentially cover the first opening. A carrier element, separately made from the head section housing, is arranged to cover the second opening. Between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the cap there is a circumferential gap that allows water, saliva, or toothpaste to escape an interior of the head section during use.

Claims

1. An oral hygiene implement comprising:

a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and having a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity;

a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole;

wherein the through hole defines a first and a second opening in the head section housing; and

wherein a cap element separately made from the head section housing is connected with the head section housing to essentially cover the first opening and a carrier element separately made from the head section housing is arranged to essentially cover the second opening, and

wherein there is a circumferential gap extending between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the cap element, the circumferential gap being structured and configured to allow water, saliva, or toothpaste to escape an interior of the head section.

2. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap element is connected to the head section housing from the inside, in particular by means of at least a first connector structure.

3. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap element has been made in an injection molding process by which the cap element became connected with the head section housing.

4. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a first projection being integral with the head section housing extends from an inner side of the head section housing into the through hole.

5. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least a second projection being integral with the head section housing extends from an inner side of the head section housing into the through hole, the first and the second projections being arranged on top of each other and with a distance with respect to the through hole direction.

6. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein a circumferential gap comprises a plurality of segments.

7. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap element is made from a material that is different to the material from which the head section housing is made.

8. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap element has a circumferential flange for structurally strengthening the cap element.

9. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier element is movably mounted at the head section.

10. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fixation element that interlocks the cap element with respect to the head section housing.

11. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 10, wherein the fixation element engages around at least one projection extending from an inner side of the head section housing into the through hole.

12. The oral hygiene implement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap element has an at least partly structured or textured outer surface.

22. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1, wherein the circumferential gap comprises multiple segments.

23. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1, wherein the circumferential gap comprises four segments equidistantly spaced from one another.

13. An oral hygiene device comprising an oral hygiene implement detachably attached to a handle section, the oral hygiene implement comprising:

a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and having a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity;

a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole;

wherein the through hole defines a first opening and a second opening in the head section housing;

wherein a cap element is connected with the head section housing to essentially cover the first opening and a carrier element is arranged to essentially cover the second opening; and

wherein there is a circumferential gap extending between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the cap element, the circumferential gap being structured and configured to allow water, saliva, or toothpaste to escape an interior of the head section.

14. The oral hygiene device according to claim 13, wherein the device is an electric toothbrush.

15. The oral hygiene device according to claim 13, wherein the carrier element is movably mounted on an axle such that the carrier element is adapted to rotate around a rotation axis defined by the axle.

16. The oral hygiene device according to claim 13, wherein the cap element is separably made from the head section housing.

17. The oral hygiene device according to claim 13, wherein the cap element is connected to the head section housing by injection molding.

18. A method of manufacturing an oral hygiene implement comprising a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and having a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity;

a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole, the method comprising the steps of;

providing a first mold plate defining at least parts of an outer side of the neck section housing and of the head section housing, the first mold plate comprising at least a first shaping projection;

providing a second mold plate defining at least parts of the outer side of the neck section housing and of the head section housing, the second mold plate comprising at least a second shaping projection;

providing a core defining at least parts of an inner side of the neck section housing and of the head section housing, the core comprising a shaping front portion, wherein the core has a depression at its shaping front portion that defines a first projection radially extending from the inner side of the head section housing into the through hole;

moving the first mold plate, the second mold plate, and the core together so that the first shaping projection, the second shaping projection, and the shaping front portion define the inner side of a through hole through the head section housing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the shaping front portion defines at least a portion of the inner side of the head section housing distal to the neck section; and

injecting a plastic material into the mold cavity.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising the further steps of providing a cap element separately made from the head section housing and connecting the cap element to the head section housing to cover the first opening and providing a carrier element separately made from the head section housing and connecting the carrier element to the head section housing to cover the second opening.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first mold plate, the second mold plate, and the core further define a cap element, wherein the cap element is connected with the head section housing during the step of injecting a plastic material into the mold cavity.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein after the cap element is connected with the head section housing during the step of injecting a plastic material into the mold cavity there is a circumferential gap extending between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the cap element, the circumferential gap being sized and configured to allow water, saliva, or toothpaste to escape an interior of the head section during use of the oral hygiene implement.