Oral care implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9655436-B2
Application number	US-201414333169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 20, 2002
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head; a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material positioned within the receiving cavity, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a base surface that is flush with the second face of the head and a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement comprising:
a head and a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis, a first face, and a second face opposite the first face;
a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material, a plurality of apertures extending through the pad;
a plurality of protuberances extending from the second face of the head, each of the protuberances extending into one of the apertures and being exposed through the aperture within which the protuberance extends, a top surface of each of the protuberances being free of elastomer;
a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head; and
wherein the plurality of apertures and the plurality of protuberances are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the head.

2. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of projections extend beyond an outer surface of the pad.

3. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of projections are formed integrally with the pad out of the elastomeric material.

4. The oral care implement according to claim 3 wherein a first group of the plurality of projections is located between a first one of the plurality of protuberances and a distal end of the head.

5. The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein a second group of the plurality of projections is located between the plurality of protuberances and opposing lateral sides of the head.

6. The oral care implement according to claim 5 wherein a third group of the plurality of projections is located between a second one of the plurality protuberances and a proximal end of the head.

7. The oral care implement according to claim 6 wherein a third one of the plurality the protuberances is located centrally between the proximal and distal ends of the head and between the opposing lateral sides of the head.

8. The oral care implement according to claim 7 wherein a top surface of the third one of the plurality of protuberances is flush with a front surface of the pad.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the pad of the soft tissue cleanser surrounds each of the plurality of protuberances.

10. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the pad is injection molded onto the second face of the head to bond the pad to the head.

11. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the head further comprises a peripheral side surface extending between the first and second faces of the head, wherein the pad has a peripheral edge, and wherein a portion of the second face of the head substantially surrounds the pad and extends between the peripheral edge of the pad and the peripheral side surface of the head.

12. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of projections are located between a first protuberance of the plurality of protuberances and a second protuberance of the plurality of protuberances in a direction of the longitudinal axis.

13. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of projections are located between the plurality of protuberances and opposing first and second lateral edges of the head.

14. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of projections are arranged in longitudinal rows in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head.

15. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of projections is located between a distal-most one of the protuberances and a distal end of the head.

16. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of projections are formed integrally with the pad out of the elastomeric material, the plurality of projections extending from a front surface of the pad.

17. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein a top surface of each of the plurality of protuberances is flush with a front surface of the pad.

18. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising an opening formed through the head and extending from the first face of the head to the second face of the head, and wherein a portion of the elastomeric material that is unitary with the pad extends into and through the opening in the head and forms a tooth cleaning element extending from the first face of the head.

19. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein a top surface of the plurality of protuberances is flush with a front surface of the pad.

20. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of protuberances is shaped in the form of a cylinder.

21. An oral care implement comprising:
a head and a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis, a first face, and a second face opposite the first face; and
a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head, wherein the pad is injection molded onto the second face of the head to bond the pad to the head;
a plurality of protuberances extending from the second face of the head, each of the protuberances extending into and through one of the plurality of apertures, at least a top surface of the plurality of protuberances being exposed; and
wherein the plurality of apertures and the plurality of protuberances are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the head.

22. The oral care implement according to claim 21 wherein a first group of the plurality of projections is located between a first one of the plurality of protuberances and a distal end of the head.

23. The oral care implement according to claim 22 wherein a second group of the plurality of projections is located between each of the plurality of protuberances and opposing lateral sides of the head.

24. The oral care implement according to claim 23 wherein a third group of the plurality of projections is located between a second one of the plurality of protuberances and a proximal end of the head.

25. The oral care implement according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of protuberances are located centrally between the proximal and distal ends of the head and between the opposing lateral sides of the head.

26. The oral care implement according to claim 25 wherein a top surface of the plurality of protuberances is flush with a front surface of the pad.

27. The oral care implement according to claim 26 wherein the plurality of projections are formed integrally with the pad out of the elastomeric material.

28. The oral care implement according to claim 21 wherein at least some of the plurality of projections are located between a first protuberance of the plurality of protuberances and a second protuberance of the plurality of protuberances in a direction of the longitudinal axis.

29. The oral care implement according to claim 21 wherein at least some of the plurality of projections are located between the plurality of protuberances and opposing first and second lateral edges of the head.

30. The oral care implement according to claim 21 wherein the plurality of projections are arranged in longitudinal rows in a d

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co
• Colgate—Palmolive Company

Inventors

• Hohlbein Douglas J

Classifications

• A46B15/0081 Primary

  Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper · CPC title

• A46B15/0032

  with protrusion for polishing teeth · CPC title

• A46B1/00

  Brush bodies and bristles moulded as a unit · CPC title

• A46B15/0075

  Brushes with an additional massage device · CPC title

• A46B9/028

  Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone · CPC title