Oral care implement with cover member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861188-B2
Application number	US-201315101919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2013
Priority date	Dec 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

An oral care implement having a cover member. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head coupled the handle, the head comprising a first coupling element, and the handle comprising a second coupling element; a store of oral care material located within the body; an outlet located on the head; a cover member comprising a cap portion, a mounting portion, and a third coupling element, the cover member alterable between: (1) a first state in which the first and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the head to seal the outlet; and (2) a second state in which the second and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the handle so that the mounting portion can operate as a stand.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement comprising:
a body comprising a handle and a head coupled to a distal end of the handle, the head comprising a first coupling element, and the handle comprising a second coupling element located at a proximal end of the body;
a store of oral care material located within the body;
an outlet located on the head and in fluid communication with the store;
a cover member comprising a cap portion, a mounting portion, and a third coupling element; and
wherein the cover member is alterable between: (1) a first state in which the first and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the head to seal the outlet with the cap portion; and (2) a second state in which the second and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the proximal end of the body so that the mounting portion can operate as a stand to maintain the oral care implement in an upright orientation.

2. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises an opening formed into a rear surface of the head and further comprising an applicator positioned within the opening, the applicator in fluid communication with the store.

3. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein in the first state the cap portion of the cover member encloses the applicator and in the second state the mounting portion of the cover member is adapted to be positioned on a horizontal support surface to maintain the oral care implement in the upright orientation, and wherein in the upright orientation a longitudinal axis of the body is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal support surface.

4. The oral care implement according to claim 2 further comprising a reservoir located within the handle, the reservoir containing the store of oral care material, and the applicator fluidly coupled to the reservoir.

5. The oral care implement according to claim 4 further comprising a wicking material positioned within the reservoir and fluidly coupled to the applicator, the oral care material flowing from the reservoir to the applicator via capillary action.

6. The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein the first coupling element comprises a third annular wall that extends from the rear surface of the head and circumferentially surrounds a first portion of the applicator, a second portion of the applicator extending beyond a terminal end of the third annular wall.

7. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the mounting portion of the cover member is dish-shaped and comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the cap portion of the cover member comprises a first annular wall that extends from the outer surface of the mounting portion of the cover member.

8. The oral care implement according to claim 7 wherein the third coupling element comprises a second annular wall that extends from the outer surface of the mounting portion of the cover member, the second annular wall concentrically surrounding the first annular wall and spaced from the first annular wall by an annular gap.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the first coupling element comprises a third annular wall that extends from the rear surface of the head, and wherein the third annular wall is positioned within the annular gap when the cover member is coupled to the head.

10. The oral care implement according to claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the mounting portion of the cover member is convex and the inner surface of the mounting portion of the cover member is concave.

11. The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising:
tooth cleaning elements extending from a front surface of the head; and
wherein the outlet is located on a rear surface of the head.

12. The oral care implement according to claim 11 wherein the tooth cleaning elements remain uncovered and exposed when the cover member is in the first and second states.

13. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the body further comprises an end cap that is detachably coupled to the handle, the end cap comprising the second coupling element.

14. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the cooperation between the first and third coupling elements and the cooperation between the second and third coupling elements is one of a snap-fit connection, a threaded connection, a tight-fit connection and an interference-fit connection.

15. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein when the cover member is in the first state, the mounting portion of the cover member is adapted to be positioned on a horizontal support surface such that a longitudinal axis of the body is substantially parallel with the horizontal support surface; and wherein when the cover member is in the second state, the mounting portion of the cover member is adapted to be positioned on the horizontal support surface so that the longitudinal axis of the body is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal support surface.

16. An oral care implement comprising:
a body comprising a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
a reservoir for containing an oral care material, the reservoir located within the handle;
the head having a first surface and a second surface, tooth cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and an outlet located on the second surface of the head and in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a first coupling element located on the second surface of the head;
a second coupling element located at the proximal end of the body;
a cover member comprising a cap portion, a mounting portion, and a third coupling element, the cover member detachably coupled to the body;
wherein the cover member is alterable between: (1) a first state in which the first and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the second surface of the head; and (2) a second state in which the second and third coupling elements cooperate with one another to detachably couple the cover member to the proximal end of the body; and
wherein the tooth cleaning elements remain uncovered by the cover member in both the first and second states.

17. The oral care implement of claim 16 wherein in the first state the cap portion of the cover member seals the outlet, and wherein in the second state the mounting portion of the cover member is adapted to be positioned on a horizontal support surface with the oral care implement in an upright orientation so that the longitudinal axis of the body is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal support surface.

18. An oral care implement comprising:
a body comprising a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
a reservoir for containing an oral care material, the reservoir located within the handle;
the head having a first surface and a second surface, an outlet located on the second surface of the head and in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a first coupling element located on the second surface of the head;
a second coupling element located at the proximal end of the body;
a cover member comprising a cap portion, a mounting portion, and a third coupling element, the cover member detachably coupled to the body;
wherein the cover member is alterable between: (1) a first state in which the first and third

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Jimenez Eduardo J

Classifications

• A46B11/0062 Primary

  Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty · CPC title

• A46B2200/1066

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

• A46B7/04 Primary

  interchangeably {removable bristle carriers} · CPC title

• A46B15/0097

  Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways · CPC title

• A46B11/0082 Primary

  Means for closing, sealing or controlling the flow using capillary action · CPC title