Oral care implement

• US 8,561,247 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Moskovich, Robert, Waguespack, Kenneth, Russell, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US13/162,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 151/671, 152/01, 300/21
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• 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 3/04 by mouldable materials, e.g. metals, cellulose derivatives, plastics A46B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 3/06 by welding together bristles made of metal wires or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0025 Brushes with elastically deformable heads that change shape during use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0029 Head made of soft plastics, rubber or rubber inserts in plastics matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes

Abstract

An oral care implement and method for forming the same is provided. The oral care implement comprises a handle and a head having a base structure. A unitary assembly comprising a top portion of a first pod, a top portion of a second pod, a third pod comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the third pod, and at least one suspension member is formed. The unitary assembly is subsequently attached to the base structure of the handle to form the first pod extending from a first face of the base structure and the second pod extending from the first face of the base structure. The third pod is disposed between and supported above the first face by the first and second pods by the at least one suspension member so that a gap exists between a bottom surface of the third pod and the first face of the base structure.

Claims

1. An oral care implement comprising:

a handle;

a head attached to the handle, the head having a base structure having a first face;

a first pod extending from the first face of the base structure and comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the first pod, the first pod being non-movable with respect to the base structure;

a second pod extending from the first face of the base structure and comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the second pod, the second pod being non-movable with respect to the base structure;

a third pod disposed between and supported above the first face by the first and second pods by at least one suspension member, the third pod being movable with respect to the base structure, a gap existing between a bottom surface of the third pod and the first face of the base structure, a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the third pod; and

wherein a top portion of the first pod, a top portion of the second pod, the third pod, and the at least one suspension member are formed as a unitary assembly that is subsequently attached to the base structure.

2. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the first pod, the second pod and the third pod are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head.

3. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the first pod forms a proximal-most portion of the head and the second pod forms a distal-most portion of the head.

4. The oral care implement of claim 1 further comprising:

the first pod, the second pod and the base structure comprising a rigid material; and

the at least one suspension member comprising a resilient material.

5. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the third pod has a transverse width that is substantially equal to a transverse width of the base structure.

6. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the first pod forms a proximal-most portion of the head and the second pod forms a distal-most portion of the head;

and wherein the third pod is the only pod disposed between the first and second pods.

7. An oral care implement comprising:

a handle;

a head attached to the handle, the head having a base structure having a first face;

a unitary assembly comprising;

a top portion of a first pod;

a top portion of a second pod;

a third pod comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the third pod; and

at least one suspension member;

the unitary assembly attached to the base structure so that;

the first pod extends from the first face of the base structure, the first pod being non-movable with respect to the base structure;

the second pod extends from the first face of the base structure, the second pod being non-movable with respect to the base structure; and

the third pod is disposed between and supported above the first face by the first and second pods by the at least one suspension member so that a gap exists between a bottom surface of the third pod and the first face of the base structure, the third pod being movable with respect to the base structure.

8. The oral care implement of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the first pod and a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the second pod.

9. The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the first pod, the second pod and the third pod are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head.

10. The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the first pod forms a proximal-most portion of the head and the second pod forms a distal-most portion of the head.

11. The oral care implement of claim 7 further comprising:

the first pod, the second pod and the base structure comprising a rigid material; and

the at least one suspension member comprising a resilient material.

12. The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the third pod has a transverse width that is substantially equal to a transverse width of the base structure.

13. The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the first pod forms a proximal-most portion of the head and the second pod forms a distal-most portion of the head;

and wherein the third pod is the only pod disposed between the first and second pods.

14. The oral care implement of claim 7 further wherein a base portion of the first pod, a base portion of the second pod, and the base structure are as unitary structure formed of a rigid material.

15. A method of forming an oral care implement having a handle and a head comprising:

a) forming a unitary assembly comprising a top portion of a first pod, a top portion of a second pod, a third pod resiliently coupled to the first and second pods and comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the third pod, and at least one suspension member; and

b) ultrasonically welding the unitary assembly to a base structure of the head to form the first pod extending from a first face of the base structure and the second pod extending from the first face of the base structure, and the third pod is disposed between and supported above the first face by the first and second pods by the at least one suspension member so that a gap exists between a bottom surface of the third pod and the first face of the base structure;

wherein upon completion of step b) the first pod is substantially non-movable with respect to the base structure, the second pod is substantially non-movable with respect to the base structure, and the third pod is movable with respect to the base structure.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein upon completion of step b) the first pod, the second pod and the third pod are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein upon completion of step b) the first pod forms a proximal-most portion of the head and the second pod forms a distal-most portion of the head.