Abstract:
An oral care dispenser system in one embodiment includes a toothbrush and removable dispenser. The dispenser includes an elongated housing with reservoir containing an oral care material, an applicator at a distal end, and an actuator at a proximal end. An elevator disposed in the housing forms a movable wall of the reservoir. The elevator is operably coupled to a drive screw via an extension member threadably engaged with the screw. Rotating the drive screw in a first direction with the actuator distally advances the elevator in the housing to dispense the oral care material. The elevator is retractable by rotating the actuator in a second direction without uncoupling elevator from the extension member.
Abstract:
A toothbrush (100) having an arrangement of cleaning elements (130) for improved oral care and dentifrice retention. In one aspect, the invention is a toothbrush comprising a first set (140) of cleaning elements forming a loop that extends from the distal periphery of the head to the proximal periphery of the head. The loop has the shape of a racetrack and comprises a first par- elliptical wall (141) of cleaning elements at the distal periphery of the head and a second par- elliptical wall of cleaning elements located at the proximal periphery of the head. The par elliptical walls are connected first and second arcuate rows (142, 143) of cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the first and second arcuate rows are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis so that peripheral convex surfaces of the first and second arcuate rows face the longitudinal axis.
Abstract:
An oral care implement having a multi-component handle, and method of manufacturing the same. The invention can be an oral care implement having a handle which comprises at least four components constructed of different materials. The invention may also be an oral care implement having a handle comprising a core structure constructed of a first rigid material and an elongated handle body constructed of a second rigid material, the core structure disposed within a through slot of the elongated handle body; and a grip cover constructed of a resilient material that covers a front surface, a rear surface and a proximal end surface of the elongated handle body. The grip cover may be used to conceal through-holes in the elongated handle body that result from supporting the core structure during the injection molding of the elongated handle body about the core structure.
Abstract:
An oral care implement (1000) includes a handle (100) and an oral care refill head (200). The oral care refill head (200) is alterable between a first state in which it is separated from the handle (100) and a second state in which it is coupled to the handle (100). The oral care refill head (200) has a proximal edge surface (222) that defines an opening (230) into a sleeve cavity (221). The proximal edge surface (222) is inclined with a radial distance from a cavity axis (B-B) of the sleeve cavity (221). Similarly, the handle (100) has a gripping portion (110) that terminates at a distal end (112) and a stem (120) that protrudes from the distal end (112). The annular shoulder surface (116) is inclined downwardly and away from a stem (120) to facilitate mating of the oral care refill head (200) to the handle (100). The oral care refill head (200) may have features for securing the oral care refill head (200) to the stem (120) of the handle (100).
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 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:
An oral care implement having an turbine-like arrangement of cleaning elements. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface, the first surface comprising an elliptical zone and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spirals spreading out from the elliptical zone; and for each spiral, an arcuate cleaning element wall extending outward from the first surface of the head along the spiral. 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 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:
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 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.