Oral care implement

• US 8,800,091 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Hohlbein, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/965,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 151/06, 151/10, 151/11, 151/671, 151/87, 151/88, 601/139, 601/141, 606/161, D41/04, D41/05, D41/08
• US Class Current: 15/111
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 1/00 Brush bodies and bristles moulded as a unit
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0032 with protrusion for polishing teeth
• 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 15/0075 Brushes with an additional massage device
• 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 3/005 Bristle carriers and bristles moulded as a unit A46B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• 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 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/06 Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 3/00 Preparing, i.e. Manufacturing brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/244 for cleaning of the tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 13/00 Gum massage
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head; a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material positioned within the receiving cavity, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a base surface that is flush with the second face of the head and a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head.

Claims

1. An oral care implement comprising:

a head having a longitudinal axis and a handle;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head;

a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and

a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material that is injection molded into the receiving cavity to bond the soft tissue cleanser to the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and a plural it of projections extending beyond the second face of the head, the plurality of apertures aligned along the longitudinal axis.

2. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the soft tissue cleanser further comprises a base having a front surface and an opposing rear surface, each of the apertures extending through the front and rear surfaces of the base.

3. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of nubs.

4. The oral care implement of claim 3 wherein the plurality of nubs are conically shaped.

5. The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the receiving cavity has a generally oval shape that corresponds to a shape of the head.

6. An oral care implement comprising:

a head having a longitudinal axis and a handle;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head;

a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face;

a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material that is injection molded into the receiving cavity to bond the soft tissue cleanser to the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a base having a front surface and an opposing rear surface and a plurality of apertures extending through the front and rear surfaces of the base, the plurality of apertures aligned along the longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of protuberances extending from a floor of the receiving cavity, each of the plurality of protuberances extending into a respective one of the plurality of apertures.

7. The oral care implement of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of protuberances has a top surface that is flush with the front surface of the base of the soft tissue cleanser.

8. The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the soft tissue cleanser further comprises a plurality of projections protruding from the front surface of the base and extending beyond the top surfaces of the plurality of protuberances.

9. The oral care implement of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of protuberances has a constant cross-sectional area along its length.

10. The oral care implement of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of protuberances extends substantially perpendicular from the floor of the receiving cavity.