Oral care implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10278484-B2
Application number	US-201615387011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2012
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

An oral care implement is provided. The oral care implement may include a handle comprising a core and a cover enveloping the core. The cover may be formed from a substantially translucent first rigid material. The core may be formed from a second rigid material and a plurality of elements, the plurality of elements suspended within the second rigid material and visible through the cover. In other embodiments the core may include a foamed material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement, comprising:
a handle having a core and a cover surrounding an entirety of the core so that no portion of the core is exposed; and
a head comprising at least one cleaning element, the head being connected to the handle; and
wherein the head and the cover of the handle are integrally formed as a unitary part;
wherein a first portion of the cover is made from a first material and a second portion of the cover is made from a second material;
wherein the first material is a hard material and the second material is an elastic material; and
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of the second portions spaced apart from one another along the handle.

2. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a foamed material.

3. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the cover is at least partially transparent.

4. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the cover is overmolded onto the core.

5. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises one or more sections that are overmolded onto the cover and out of contact with the core.

6. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the head comprises at least one tooth cleaning element and the oral care implement comprises a toothbrush.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Hohlbein Douglas

Classifications

• A46B5/028

  Handles featuring an adjustable thumbrest · CPC title

• A46B2200/1066

  Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) · CPC title

• A46B9/04

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• A46D3/005

  by moulding or casting a body around bristles or tufts of bristles · CPC title

• A46B5/02 Primary

  specially shaped for holding by the hand · CPC title