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 attached to a flexible support on the head and be outwardly movable from the head. The cleaning elements may include a column-shaped bristle at the central portion of the flexible support, and may further include a row of first cleaning elements traversing a central region of the flexible support. The soft tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue and may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. 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.
Abstract:
An oral care implement having a head that achieves an enhanced cleaning action during brushing. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle and comprising a base structure ( 130 ) having a front surface ( 131 ), a rear surface ( 132 ), an island protruding from the rear surface of the base structure, and a passageway extending through the base structure from the front surface of the base structure to a rear surface of the island; a resilient soft tissue cleanser ( 170 ) on the rear surface of the base structure, the resilient soft tissue cleanser comprising an aperture through which the island extends; a mass ( 180 ) of a first resilient material positioned within the passageway so that a first portion ( 181 ) of the mass protrudes from the front surface of the head and a second portion ( 182 ) of the mass protrudes from the island, the island isolating the resilient soft tissue cleanser from the mass; and a plurality of teeth cleaning elements ( 105 ).
Abstract:
An oral care implement implementing a cleaning element arrangement having diverging cleaning elements. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head so as to form a ring about an axis extending from the first surface of the head. Each of the cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis. In one embodiment, a cleaning element wall also extends from the first surface of the head and circumferentially surrounds the plurality of cleaning elements. In another aspect, the invention may be an apparatus for incorporation into an ansate oral care implement that utilizes the aforementioned arrangement of cleaning elements.
Abstract:
An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue, which may include cleaning between the papillae of a user's tongue. The soft tissue cleanser may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. 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:
An oral care implement having a body that appears to float within an aperture of the handle. The body can perform both a decorative and/or utilitarian function depending on its design and/or location on the handle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle; an aperture in the handle; and a grip body disposed within the aperture and enveloping a body, the grip body constructed of a first material and the body constructed of a second material, the second material being harder than the first material.