Oral care implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11375802-B2
Application number	US-201816225688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

An oral care implement has an overall length extension extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being opposite the proximal end. The oral care implement comprises a head at the proximal end and a handle, the handle being at least partially made from a material having a density being higher than the density of the material of the head. The oral care implement has a center of gravity located at a distance measured from the distal end, and the ratio of said distance to the overall length extension of the oral care implement is from about 0.30 to about 0.45, preferably from about 0.35 to about 0.42, further preferably from about 0.38 to about 0.41.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement having an overall length extension extending between a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the oral care implement comprising a head made of a non-magnetic and/or non-ferromagnetic material and disposed at the proximal end and a handle at least partially made from a material having a density that is higher than the density of the material of the head, the oral care implement having a center of gravity located at a distance measured from the distal end, wherein a ratio of said distance to the overall length extension of the oral care implement is from about 0.30 to about 0.45, wherein the material of the handle comprises a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material selected from a group consisting of amorphous thermoplastic resin, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, boron nitride, aluminum silicate, and any combination thereof, wherein the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material of the handle comprises from about 13 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic resin; from about 3 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or aluminum silicate; and from about 45 weight percent to about 67 weight percent of iron oxide.

2. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the overall length extension of the oral care implement is from about 180 mm to about 220 mm.

3. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the oral care implement has a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, and the head has at least one cleaning element extending from the front side, and the handle has a cross-sectional area extending substantially perpendicular to the overall length extension of the oral care implement, the cross-sectional area has a height extension extending between the front side and the back side, and the oral care implement has an axis of rotation when the oral care implement is placed with the back side on a surface, and the center of gravity is below the axis of rotation and closer to the back side than to the front side when measured along the height extension of the handle.

4. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the head is at least partially made from a material having a density from about 0.5 g/cm 3 to about 1.2 g/cm 3 , and the handle is at least partially made from a material having a density from about 2.1 g/cm 3 to about 3.1 g/cm 3 .

5. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile and any mixture thereof.

6. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material comprises about 27.5 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, about 17 weight percent of aluminum oxide, about 51 weight percent of iron oxide, and about 4.5% glass fiber.

7. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous thermoplastic resin comprises about 17% weight percent styrene acrylonitrile, and 10.5 weight percent of a blend comprising polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.

8. The oral care implement of claim 1 , wherein the material of the head comprises polypropylene.

9. A kit comprising the oral care implement of claim 1 and a magnetic holder for attaching and holding the oral care implement.

10. A method for manufacturing an oral care implement of claim 1 , the method comprising steps:
providing an amorphous thermoplastic resin;
providing aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate;
providing iron oxide;
mixing the amorphous thermoplastic resin, aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate and iron oxide into a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic molding material;
heating the molding material mixture into a flowable molding material;
molding the flowable molding mixture into a handle or part of a handle so that the handle comprises from about 13 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, from about 3 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or aluminum silicate, and from about 45 weight percent to about 67 weight percent of iron oxide;
providing a non-magnetic and/or non-ferromagnetic material; and
molding the non-magnetic and/or non-ferromagnetic material into a head or part of a head.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amorphous thermoplastic resin comprises styrene acrylonitrile, polybutylene terephthalate and/or polyethylene terephthalate.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the amorphous thermoplastic resin is blended with glass fiber.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amorphous thermoplastic resin is provided in a range from about 13 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, the aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate is provided in a range from about 3 weight percent to about 25 weight percent and the iron oxide is provided in a range from about 45 weight percent to about 67 weight percent.

14. The method of claim 10 , the method comprising a step of electroplating the handle ( 12 , 600 , 610 ) with a thermoplastic elastomer or a polypropylene material.

15. An oral care implement comprising:
a head made of a non-magnetic and/or non-ferromagnetic material and disposed at the proximal end; and
a handle at least partially made from a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material selected from a group consisting of from about 13 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, from about 3 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or aluminum silicate, and from about 45 weight percent to about 67 weight percent of iron oxide.

16. An oral care implement having a proximal end, a distal end opposite to the proximal end, and a length extension extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the oral care implement comprising:
a head made of a non-magnetic and/or non-ferromagnetic material and disposed at the proximal end; and a handle at least partially made from a magnetic and/or ferromagnetic material selected from a group consisting of from about 13 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, from about 3 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or aluminum silicate, and from about 45 weight percent to about 67 weight percent of iron oxide,
wherein the oral care implement has a center of gravity located at a distance measured from the distal end, and wherein a ratio of said distance to the overall length extension of the oral care implement is from about 0.30 to about 0.45.

Assignees

• Gillette Co Llc

Inventors

• Jungnickel Uwe

Classifications

• A46B2200/1066

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

• A46B17/08

  Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture · CPC title

• A46B17/02

  Devices for holding brushes in use · CPC title

• A46B5/026 Primary

  Grips or handles having a nonslip section · CPC title

• A46B5/021

  Grips or handles specially adapted to conform to the hand · CPC title