Oral care implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301823-B2
Application number	US-201013997314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2010
Priority date	Dec 23, 2010
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

An oral care implement that rotates about a longitudinal axis. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and having a flat base surface; a mechanical vibratory device operatively connected to a power source, the mechanical vibratory device comprising an eccentric imparting movement to the head when activated; and wherein the flat base surface is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle so that the oral care implement can stand in a self-supporting upright orientation on a horizontal flat surface, and wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates about the longitudinal axis while maintaining the self-supporting upright orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement comprising:
a head comprising a front surface;
a plurality of bristles extending from the front surface of the head, the front surface of the head disposed within a reference plane;
a handle extending along a longitudinal axis, a proximal end of the handle comprising a flat base surface;
a mechanical vibratory device operatively connected to an electric power source, the mechanical vibratory device comprising an eccentric rotatable about a rotational axis to impart vibration to the head when the mechanical vibratory device is activated;
wherein the head is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and extends along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle;
wherein the flat base surface is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle so that the oral care implement can stand in a self-supporting upright orientation on a substantially horizontal flat surface,
wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates about the longitudinal axis while maintaining the self-supporting upright orientation; and
wherein the rotational axis is inclined relative to the reference plane so that the eccentric diverges from the reference plane with increased distance from the proximal end of the handle.

2. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising a neck connecting the head to a distal end of the handle, and wherein the mechanical vibratory device is positioned in the neck.

3. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein the neck extends along a longitudinal axis that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

4. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the eccentric is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle.

5. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates about the longitudinal axis while maintaining the self-supporting upright orientation and translates along the substantially horizontal flat surface.

6. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the handle comprises an elongated gripping portion and a base portion detachably coupled to the elongated gripping portion, the base portion comprising the flat base surface.

7. The oral care implement according to claim 6 wherein the electric power source is a battery located in the handle, the base portion comprising an electrical lead that abuts against a pole of the battery when the base portion is attached to the elongated gripping portion of the handle.

8. The oral care implement according to claim 6 wherein the base portion comprises a waist having a transverse cross-sectional area that is less than a transverse cross-sectional area of the flat base surface.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 6 wherein the flat base surface has a first diameter, and wherein a bottom end of the elongated gripping portion has a second diameter that is substantially equal to the first diameter.

10. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates at a rate of between about 20 and about 60 revolutions per minute.

11. An oral care implement comprising:
a head comprising a front surface;
a plurality of bristles extending from the front surface of the head, the front surface of the head disposed within a reference plane;
a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and having a flat base surface;
a mechanical vibratory device operatively connected to an electric power source, the mechanical vibratory device comprising an eccentric rotatable about a rotational axis to impart movement to the head when the mechanical vibratory device is activated;
wherein the head is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and extends along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle;
wherein the flat base surface is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle so that the oral care implement can stand in a self-supporting upright orientation on a substantially horizontal flat surface, and wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates about the longitudinal axis while maintaining the self-supporting upright orientation; and
wherein the rotational axis is inclined relative to the reference plane.

12. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the movement imparted to the head is a vibrational movement.

13. The oral care implement according to claim 11 further comprising a neck disposed between and connecting the handle to the head, the mechanical vibratory device positioned in the neck.

14. The oral care implement according to claim 13 wherein the neck extends along a longitudinal axis that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

15. The oral care implement according to claim 14 wherein the eccentric is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle.

16. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the eccentric is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle.

17. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates about the longitudinal axis while maintaining the self-supporting upright orientation and translates along the substantially horizontal flat surface.

18. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the handle comprises an elongated gripping portion and a base portion detachably coupled to the elongated gripping portion, the base portion comprising the flat base surface.

19. The oral care implement according to claim 18 wherein the electric power source is a battery located in the handle, the base portion comprising an electrical lead that abuts against a pole of the battery when the base portion is attached to the elongated gripping portion of the handle.

20. The oral care implement according to claim 18 wherein the flat base surface has a first diameter, and wherein a bottom end of the elongated gripping portion has a second diameter that is substantially equal to the first diameter.

21. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the base portion comprises a waist having a transverse cross-sectional area that is less than a transverse cross-sectional area of the flat base surface.

22. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein when the oral care implement stands in the self-supporting upright orientation and the mechanical vibratory device is activated, the oral care implement rotates at a rate of between about 20 and about 60 revolutions per minute.

23. An oral care implement comprising:
a head having a front surface;
a plurality of bristles extending from the front surface of the head in a first direction;
a handle extending along a longitudinal axis, a proximal end of the handle comprising a flat base surface;
a neck connecting the head to a distal end of the handle, the neck extending along a longitudinal axis th

Assignees

• Jimenez Eduardo J
• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Jimenez Eduardo J

Classifications

• A61C2203/00

  Means for making patients feel at ease during dental treatment, e.g. dental instruments in the form of toys · CPC title

• A61C17/3481 Primary

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

• A46B13/02

  power-driven {carriers} · CPC title

• A61C17/34 Primary

  driven by electric motor · CPC title

• A61C2204/002

  using batteries · CPC title