Abstract:
An oral care implement is provided, in one embodiment, with a plurality of spaced-apart tissue cleaning pads (400) radially arranged around a central axis (450) to form a grouping, each pad having an inner region (420, 430) close to the central axis and an outer region spaced away from the central axis, the inner region (420, 430) being raised relative to the outer region and having scraping surfaces along certain edge regions for improved cleaning of the soft tissue in an oral cavity Each pad further preferably includes one or more protrusions (920, 930) along an upper surface thereof.
Abstract:
An oral care implement such as a toothbrush includes a head defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements supported by the toothbrush head. The tooth cleaning elements preferably include at least one tooth polishing unit having a polishing element including a supporting base and a broadened flexible tooth polishing head extending angularly outwards from the base and defining a polishing surface. In a preferred embodiment, the polishing element is made of an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the polishing element may be comprised of a plurality of individual polishing members.
Abstract:
An oral care system comprising an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, and dispenser containing a fluid detachably coupled to the toothbrush. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a reservoir containing a fluid and a rotatable actuator for dispensing the fluid from the dispenser; and the dispenser is alterable between: (i) a storage state in which the dispenser is detachably coupled to the toothbrush and a mechanical interference between a portion of the rotatable actuator and a portion of the toothbrush prohibits rotation of the rotatable actuator relative to the toothbrush; and (ii) an application state in which a user can rotate the rotatable actuator to dispense the fluid from the dispenser.
Abstract:
A powered operating device such as a powered toothbrush includes a test button for momentarily testing the operability of the device. The test button simultaneously presses against both the on portion and the off portion of the switch which controls the operation of the device. While pressure is applied to the test button, the device is placed in its operative condition and when the pressure is released, the geometric structure of the test button held by the package releases the on portion of the switch at the same time or just before the off portion. Thus, assuring that the switch turns off.
Abstract:
An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tooth cleaning elements may be flexibly mounted in the head for movement from an initial position with respect to the head during use. The soft tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue. The soft tissue cleanser may include a face having hills and valleys upon which the projections are located. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.
Abstract:
A toothbrush (10) includes a head (14) having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin flexible dome shaped membrane (24). An air space (28) is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane can be capable of flexing to alter its shape during use and then resuming the original shape. In a second embodiment, the head (114) and/or handle (112) have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothrush and orientation of the cleaning elements (124). Alternatively the toothbrush includes a resilient spring-like longitudinal hinge (222) collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections having extending cleaning elements (228) wherein the hinge urges the sections to return to their original position after the hinge has been opened as a result of the cleaning elements contacting teeth.