Light-emitting oral care implement
First Claim
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1. A light-emitting oral care implement comprising:
- a head and a handle, the head further comprising a chamber, a socket formed into a floor of the chamber;
a plurality of cleaning elements secured to a plate such that ends of the cleaning elements are fused together, the plate positioned over the chamber and non-movably coupled to the head, the cleaning elements extending outwardly from a first side of the head;
a soft tissue cleaner on a second side of the head opposite the first side; and
a light source positioned within the socket of the chamber, the socket having a size and shape that corresponds to a size and shape of the light source, a top surface of the light source being flush with the floor of the chamber, and wherein light from the light source is emitted through the plate and through the soft tissue cleaner.
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Abstract
An oral care implement comprises a head with a plurality of cleaning elements, and a light source incorporated into or adjacent the head. The light source is incorporated prior to the attachment of the cleaning elements for ease of manufacturing and a cost-effective assembly. The cleaning elements are preferably pre-formed and attached to the head after the incorporation of the light source so that the provision of the light source does not require any post-processing that might impair the integrity of the head or cleaning elements.
23 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A light-emitting oral care implement comprising:
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a head and a handle, the head further comprising a chamber, a socket formed into a floor of the chamber; a plurality of cleaning elements secured to a plate such that ends of the cleaning elements are fused together, the plate positioned over the chamber and non-movably coupled to the head, the cleaning elements extending outwardly from a first side of the head; a soft tissue cleaner on a second side of the head opposite the first side; and a light source positioned within the socket of the chamber, the socket having a size and shape that corresponds to a size and shape of the light source, a top surface of the light source being flush with the floor of the chamber, and wherein light from the light source is emitted through the plate and through the soft tissue cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16)
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12. A method of forming a light-emitting oral care implement comprising the steps of forming an oral care implement having a head and a handle, the head comprising a chamber, the method further comprising:
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securing a plurality of cleaning elements to a plate to form a preformed plate of cleaning elements; forming a soft tissue cleaner on a second side of the head opposite a first side of the head; positioning a light source in the chamber; assembling the preformed plate of cleaning elements onto the head such that the plate is positioned over the chamber and the cleaning elements extend outwardly from the first side of the head; wherein the chamber further comprises a floor and a peripheral sidewall, and wherein assembling the preformed plate of cleaning elements onto the head further comprises welding an outer peripheral edge of the plate to the peripheral sidewall, a front surface of the plate being substantially flush with a front surface of the head; and wherein the light source is positioned in the chamber such that light from the light source is emitted through the plate and through the soft tissue cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification