Oral care implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025057307-A1
Application number	US-202418794334-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 5, 2024
Priority date	Aug 14, 2023
Publication date	Feb 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An oral care implement which incorporates a head coupled to a handle. The head has a neck portion and a head portion. The head portion is formed of a base structure, a plurality of tuft blocks mounted on the base structure, and a guard structure covering the base structure. The plurality of tuft blocks each have a plurality of bristle tufts. In some configurations, the head portion may have a wall and a plurality of fingers. The wall may extend in a concave shape which is formed by a plurality of bends located between adjacent tuft blocks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An oral care implement comprising:
a handle; and a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising:
a neck portion; and
a head portion coupled to the neck portion, the head portion comprising:
a base structure;
a plurality of tuft blocks in contact with the base structure, each of the plurality of tuft blocks comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a perimeter extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the front surface of each of the plurality of tuft blocks; and
a guard structure, the guard structure encapsulating the base structure and surrounding the perimeter of a first one of the plurality of tuft blocks.

2 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tuft blocks comprises a plurality of tuft holes formed in the front surface, the plurality of tuft holes receiving the plurality of bristle tufts.

3 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the base structure comprises an aperture, a coupling portion of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks extending through the aperture.

4 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of tuft blocks comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and a coupling portion, the front portion in contact with a front surface of the base structure and the rear portion in contact with a rear surface of the base structure, the coupling portion joining the front portion to the rear portion.

5 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the base structure has a front surface and an opposite rear surface, a first portion of the front surface of the base structure in direct surface contact with the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks.

6 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks comprises a plurality of protuberances extending from the rear surface of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks, wherein the guard structure covers the rear surface of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks, the plurality of protuberances remaining exposed.

7 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the front surface of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks and the guard structure are flush at an interface.

8 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the head portion comprises a concave wall and a plurality of fingers extending from the wall.

9 . The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of fingers each comprise a horizontal portion extending from the wall along a horizontal plane, and wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprise a bend and a tip portion, the tip portion of the fingers diverging from the horizontal plane at the bend.

10 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the base structure has a front surface and an opposite rear surface, the guard structure encapsulating the rear surface of the base structure.

11 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the base structure has a front surface and an opposite rear surface, the base structure and the plurality of tuft blocks collectively covering an entirety of the rear surface of the base structure.

12 . A head of an oral care implement comprising:
a neck portion; and a head portion coupled to the neck portion, the head portion comprising:
a base structure having a front surface and an opposite rear surface;
a plurality of tuft blocks, each of the plurality of tuft blocks comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the front surface of each of the plurality of tuft blocks; and
a guard structure, the guard structure encapsulating the base structure;
wherein a first portion of the front surface of the base structure is in direct surface contact with a first one of the plurality of tuft blocks.

13 . The head according to claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of tuft blocks comprises a plurality of tuft holes formed in the front surface, the plurality of tuft holes receiving the plurality of bristle tufts.

14 . The head according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of tuft holes extend through the base structure.

15 . The head according to claim 12 wherein the base structure comprises an aperture, a coupling portion of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks extending through the aperture.

16 . The head according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of tuft blocks comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and a coupling portion, the front portion in contact with the front surface of the base structure and the rear portion in contact with the rear surface of the base structure, the coupling portion joining the front portion to the rear portion.

17 . The head according to claim 12 wherein a first portion of the front surface of the base structure is in direct surface contact with the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks.

18 . The head according to claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of tuft blocks comprises a perimeter extending from the front surface to the rear surface.

19 . The head according to claim 18 wherein the base structure intersects the perimeter of the first one of the plurality of tuft blocks.

20 . A method of manufacturing a head of an oral care implement comprising:
a) providing a base structure, the base structure comprising a front surface and an opposite rear surface; b) forming a first tuft block comprising a plurality of tuft holes extending from a front surface, the first tuft block in contact with a first portion of the front surface of the base structure or a first portion of the rear surface of the base structure; and c) encapsulating the front and rear surfaces of the base structure while leaving the front surface of the first tuft block exposed to form a head subassembly.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Van Dijk Joppe Gideon
• Snijder Tim Anton
• Van De Water Thomas
• Lluch Sicard Salvador

Classifications

• A61C17/3481

  Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights · CPC title

• A61C17/222

  Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle · CPC title

• A46D3/00

  Preparing, {i.e. Manufacturing} brush bodies · CPC title

• A46D1/08

  Preparing uniform tufts of bristles · CPC title

• A46B13/023

  with means for inducing vibration to the bristles · CPC title