Oral care implement

• US 9,033,899 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Gatzemeyer, John, Patel, Madhusudan, Gittins, Elizabeth, Trivedi, Harsh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stout, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US14/153,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20140123424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 600572-582, 600/584, 600/569
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/001 with integral reservoirs A46B11/0003, A46B11/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0093 Arrangements for catching drips or overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0048 Drip collector, e.g. collecting the liquids dripping from the brush during a brushing process
• 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 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers

Abstract

A toothbrush comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head; an oral member coupled to the body, the oral member comprising a water-soluble material; a reservoir in the body; and a fluid pathway in the body, the fluid pathway in fluid communication with the oral member.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a body comprising a handle and a head;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head;

an oral member coupled to the body, the oral member comprising an inner water-insoluble porous material and an exterior water-soluble material, the water insoluble porous material being positioned between the water-soluble material and a front of the head;

a reservoir in the body; and

a fluid pathway in the body, the fluid pathway in fluid communication with the water-insoluble porous material and the reservoir.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble porous material is in the form of a non-woven pad or membrane.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a replaceable cartridge.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway includes a fibrous material, ceramic, porous plastic, or combination thereof.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble material is on the water-insoluble porous material.

6. The toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the water-insoluble porous material is in the form of a first layer and the water-soluble material is in the form of a second layer.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the oral member is located on the head.

8. The toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the oral member is located on a rear surface of the head, and the plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from a front surface of the head.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the oral member comprises a plurality of tissue cleaning projections extending therefrom.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble material dissolves away during use of the toothbrush.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is located in a neck of the body, the neck located between the handle and the head.

12. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway includes a fibrous material, ceramic, porous plastic, or combination thereof, and wherein the fluid pathway comprises a distribution of larger and smaller capillaries.

13. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the oral member is located in a basin cavity of the head.

14. A toothbrush comprising:

a handle;

a head;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head;

an oral member comprising an inner water-insoluble porous material and an exterior a water-soluble material, the water insoluble porous material being positioned between the water-soluble material and a front of the head, the oral member located on the head;

a reservoir; and

a fluid pathway fluidly coupling the oral member and the reservoir.

15. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the fluid pathway includes a fibrous material, ceramic, porous plastic, or combination thereof.

16. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the oral member is located on a rear surface of the head, and the plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from a front surface of the head.

17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein the oral member is located in a basin cavity of the head.

18. A toothbrush comprising:

a body comprising a handle and a head;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head;

an oral member coupled to the body, the oral member comprising an inner porous material and an exterior erodible or dissolvable material, the porous material being positioned between the erodible or dissolvable material and a front of the head;

a reservoir in the body; and

a fluid pathway in the body, the fluid pathway in fluid communication with the porous material and the reservoir.

19. The toothbrush of claim 18, wherein the erodible or dissolvable material is exposed on a rear surface of the head.