Abstract:
An oral care implement and a method of forming the same. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle and a head. The head has a basin cavity formed therein which includes a basin floor and a basin sidewall and which has an open top end. An aperture is formed into the basin floor or the basin sidewall. An applicator is positioned within the basin cavity so that a delivery portion of the applicator protrudes through the aperture. The oral care implement also includes a head plate with a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereon. The head plate is coupled to the head and encloses the open top end of the basin cavity.
Abstract:
An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, which includes a handle and a replacement head utilizing a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to the handle of the oral care implement. The replacement head comprises a head and a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a handle. A protuberance protrudes radially inward from an inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging a boss of a stem on the handle to impede rotation of the tubular sleeve about the stem in a first angular direction. A locking tab protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging an undercut surface of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem. The locking tab is circumferentially spaced from the protuberance so that an first axial channel exists therebetween for receiving a section of the boss.
Abstract:
A refill head, and a powered toothbrush including the same, wherein the refill head comprises a head portion including a movable tuft block that is rotated via operable coupling to a primary drive shaft of the handle. The head portion of the refill head is also receives vibrations from an eccentric that is operated by the primary drive shaft.
Abstract:
A refill head for an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, wherein the refill head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the refill head to an oral care implement handle that ensures proper alignment and simplifies the loading and unloading of the refill head to the oral care implement handle. In one embodiment, the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve forming a cavity and first and second upper cam surfaces that form shoulders within the cavity. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots of different configurations that prevent loading of the refill head onto the oral care implement handle in an improper rotational orientation through interaction with first and second bosses on the oral care implement handle.
Abstract:
An oral care dispenser and oral care system incorporating the system that includes a resilient applicator that optimizes application of the subject fluid to the desired oral surfaces. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser comprising a housing having an internal reservoir containing the fluid. The resilient applicator is coupled to the housing and comprises a dispensing orifice. The resilient applicator comprises a working surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is defined by a polygonal perimeter edge, the polygonal perimeter edge comprising a plurality of apex portions and a plurality of side portions, wherein one of the plurality of side portions forms a distal most-portion of the resilient applicator.
Abstract:
A refill head, and oral care implement incorporating the same, wherein the refill head can be uncoupled from a stem of a handle by compressing a portion of a tubular sleeve of the refill head radially inward, thereby retracting a locking lug of the refill head radially outward.
Abstract:
A refill head, and oral care implement incorporating the same, wherein the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve having a cavity for slidably receiving a stem of a handle of the oral care implement. An aperture in the tubular sleeve defines a latch having a locking lug that operably mates with a locking lug of the stem to axially retain the refill head to the handle. A resilient material seals the aperture to provide increased rigidity to the latch.
Abstract:
A refill head, and an oral care implement including the same, wherein the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve having a cavity. First and second upper cam surfaces are provided in the cavity that form transverse shoulders within the cavity. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots through which first and second bosses of a stem of a handle of the oral care implement can be passed.
Abstract:
An oral care dispenser and oral care system implementing the same. In one embodiment, the dispenser may comprise a collar having an axial passageway in which a drive component is rotatably coupled. The collar comprises a segmented neck portion and a non-segmented body portion that comprises a plurality of protuberances extending into the axial passageway. The drive component comprises at least one resilient arm that interacts with the plurality of protuberances to generate an audible signal during relative rotation.
Abstract:
A refill head for an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, wherein the refill head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the refill head to an oral care implement handle that ensures proper alignment and simplifies the loading and unloading of the refill head to the oral care implement handle. In one embodiment, the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve forming a cavity and first and second upper cam surfaces that form shoulders within the cavity. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots of different configurations that prevent loading of the refill head onto the oral care implement handle in an improper rotational orientation through interaction with first and second bosses on the oral care implement handle.