Abstract:
An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser is provided to effectively cleanse the soft tissue of the mouth with comfort and a reduced risk of injury to the user. In one construction, a projection is formed of a combination of a hard material and a soft material. The rigid material provides stability for cleaning debris from the tongue or other tissue while the soft material provides comfort and a reduced risk of injury.
Abstract:
An oral care implement that includes a handle and an oral care refill head. The oral care refill head is alterable between a first state in which it is separated from the handle and a second state in which it is coupled to the handle. The oral care refill head has a proximal edge surface that defines an opening into a sleeve cavity. The proximal edge surface is inclined with radial distance from a cavity axis of the sleeve cavity. Similarly, the handle has a gripping portion that terminates at a distal end and a stem that protrudes from the distal end. The annular shoulder that is inclined downwardly and away from a stem to facilitate mating of the oral care refill head to the handle. The oral care refill head may have features for securing the oral care refill head to the stem of the handle.
Abstract:
An oral care implement is provided. The implement comprises: a handle having a core (118) comprising recycled material and a cover (112) enveloping the core (118); and a head comprising at least one cleaning element, the head (120) being connected to, or connectable to, the handle. Also provided is a method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising: providing recycled material; and enveloping the recycled material with cover material to form a handle of the oral care implement, the handle having a core comprising the recycled material and a cover comprising the cover material enveloping the core.
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 handle includes a support structure formed of clarified polypropylene and a body formed of thermoplastic elastomer disposed on the support structure. The support structure includes a web having a thickness in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of the toothbrush handle of less than 2 millimeters and at least one rib depending from the web and having a thickness in a second direction, orthogonal to the axis and angled relative to the first direction, of less than about 2 millimeters. The body at least partially covers the web and the at least one rib. The handle has a light transmissivity of greater than 40% through a portion of the handle at which the body covers the web and the at least one rib.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an oral care implement, comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head at an end of the handle; the body having a cavity therein for storing an oral care fluid; the head having at least one oral care element extending therefrom, and a fluid outlet through which the oral care fluid is dispensable to an exterior of the oral care implement; a passageway fluidly connecting the cavity with the fluid outlet; a mechanism for introducing air into the cavity from the exterior of the oral care implement; and a control valve on the head movable relative to the head between a first position for preventing fluid flow from the cavity through the fluid outlet and a second position for permitting fluid flow from the cavity through the fluid outlet.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an oral care implement, comprising: a body comprising a handle, a head having at least one oral care element extending therefrom, and at least one fluid outlet; a reservoir in the body and for storing an oral care fluid; and a pump in the body for pumping the oral care fluid from the reservoir towards the fluid outlet, wherein the pump comprises an umbrella check valve circumferentially surrounding a duckbill check valve. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing an oral care implement, comprising: providing a body comprising a base having first and second holes extending therethrough; and fitting to the body a unitary component comprising first and second valves at a position at which the first valve blocks the first hole and the second valve blocks the second hole, wherein the first valve comprises an umbrella check valve that circumferentially surrounds the second valve.