Field of the invention The present invention relates to an oral care implement having elastomeric protrusions for cleaning tongue.

Background of the invention

Most people believe that oral hygiene includes cleaning the teeth and the gums.

However, it is generally recognized that complete oral hygiene must include the removal of coating deposited on the tongue, preferably including the back of the tongue.

Surface of tongue has numerous ridges, peaks, protrusions, furrows, grooves and folds of various shapes and sizes. This lack of evenness makes cleaning the tongue difficult. Food particles and other debris often become trapped or encrusted in these non-uniform surfaces resulting in a visibly unpleasant coating on the tongue surface. It is believed that such accumulated particles are a source of bad breath in healthy individuals.

Elimination of such particles from the surface of the tongue is therefore important for reduction of oral odors and overall hygiene.

Many people do not employ a separate tongue cleaning implement at all. They simply use the bristles of the toothbrush to scrub or otherwise scour the tongue surface in an attempt to remove the coating. Conventional toothbrushes are generally not designed to for cleaning tongue and other soft tissues of the mouth. The unique structure of the tongue requires adequate scrubbing in order to dislodge and free any material deposited on the tongue surface.

Tongue scrapers are the most commonly used implement for cleaning tongue surface. While tongue scraper enables the user to scrape out the coating on tongue, these may not always effectively remove trapped material in a manner which is gentle on the tongue. It is advantageous to have an oral care implement which provides for improved cleaning of the tongue and which is also gentle on the tongue. Some such implements are known in the art. EP2050355 B1 (Colgate-Palmolive Company, 2014) discloses a tongue cleanser having a plurality of nubs in which each of the nubs has a height that is greater than a width of the nub at the base portion of the nub. The tongue cleanser provides for removal of microbial and other debris from soft tissue surfaces in the mouth. It is thus an object of the disclosed invention to provide an oral care implement that provides convenient and effective cleansing of the tongue.

It is yet another object of the disclosed invention to provide an oral care implement that cleans both macroscopic and microscopic portions of tongue effectively.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an oral care implement that can be readily cleaned and reused.

It is yet another object of the disclosed invention to provide an oral care implement that achieves a desired scrubbing effect, yet providing such an effect in a manner which is pleasing to the user.

The present inventors have found that an oral care implement with elastomeric protrusions having a width at base portion greater than the height of the protrusions provides effective scrubbing of the surface of the tongue.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention disclosed is an oral care implement having a head, a handle and a plurality of elastomeric protrusions, said protrusion having a base portion extending from a face of the head or from the handle and ending in a tip portion characterised in that the protrusions has a width at the base portion that is greater than a height of the protrusions and wherein the protrusions has an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head. According to a second aspect of the invention disclosed is an oral care implement according to the first aspect for use in providing improved cleaning of the tongue.

A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages is provided in the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features.

Brief description of the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the head of an oral care implement illustrating an embodiment of a tongue cleaning feature according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the head of an oral care implement illustrating another embodiment of a tongue cleaning feature according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 discloses a plan view of an embodiment of an oral care implement according to the present invention. Shown is a head (1 ) connected and extending along a longitudinal axis (a-a) from a handle (2). Head (1 ) has a plurality of tongue engaging elastomeric protrusions (3) having a circular cross-section. Each protrusion (3) has a base portion (4) extending from the face of the head (5) and ends in a tip portion (6). The protrusions has a width (W) of 0.9 millimetres at the base portion (4) of the protrusions. Height of the protrusions (H) is the vertical distance from the base (4) of the protrusions to the tip portion (6). The height of the protrusions is 0.8 millimetres. The head also has plurality of curved ridges (7) extending from the face of the head (5). The ridges are arranged along the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the head having their concave side facing the handle and the ridges alternates with rows of elastomeric protrusion. The face of the head (5) has an elastomeric pad (8) embedded in a basin on the face of the head and the elastomeric protrusions (3) and elastomeric ridges (7) extends from the pad.

Figure 2 is another embodiment of the oral care implement of the disclosed invention. Figure 2 discloses a plan view of an embodiment of an oral care implement according to the present invention. Shown is a head (1 ) connected and extending along a longitudinal axis (a-a) from a handle (2). Head (1 ) has a plurality of tongue engaging elastomeric protrusions (3), the elastomeric protrusions have an oval shape in transverse cross section parallel to the face of the head. Each protrusion (3) has a base portion (4) extending from the face of the head (5) and ends in a tip portion (6).

The elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head, has a first width and a second width, said first width is greater than the second width. The first longer width (W) measures in the range of 1.14 to 1 .3 millimetres at the base portion (4) of the protrusions. The protrusions have a second width which is shorter than the first width and measures from 0.63 to 0.69 millimetres. Height of the protrusion (H) is the vertical distance from the base (4) of the protrusion to the tip portion (6). The height of the protrusions is in the range 1 .1 to 1 .135 millimetres. The first width of the protrusions is parallel to the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the head. In addition to said elastomeric protrusions, the head also has plurality of continuous ridges (7) extending from the face of the head (5). The continuous ridge has a substantially oval ring shaped configuration. The ridges are arranged along the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the head and alternates with rows of elastomeric protrusions. The face of the head (5) has an elastomeric pad (8) embedded in a basin on the face of the head and the elastomeric protrusions (3) and elastomeric ridges (7) extends from the pad.

Detailed description of the invention

Disclosed oral care implement includes elastomeric protrusions. Oral care implement

Disclosed oral care implement includes a head extending from a handle along a longitudinal axis. Plurality of elastomeric protrusion extends from a face of the head or the handle. The head preferably has a plurality of tooth cleaning members. Preferably the tooth cleaning members are bristles or elastomeric walls. Preferably the bristle are grouped into bristle tuft and is anchored to a bristle bearing face of the head opposing a face of the head having the plurality of elastomeric protrusions. Elastomeric protrusion

Disclosed oral care implement includes plurality of elastomeric protrusion. By elastomeric protrusion it is meant to include a tongue engaging element which extends vertically upwards from a face of the head and is columnar. Each protrusion has a base portion extending from a face on the head or handle and ending in a tip portion. The protrusions have a width at the base portion that is greater than a height of the protrusions. Preferably the width at the base portion of the protrusions is from 0.5 millimetres to about 2 millimetres. The width at the base portion of the protrusions is preferably not more than 1.5 millimetres, more preferably not more than 1 .4 millimetres, still preferably not more than 1 .3 millimetres, further preferably not more than 1.1 millimetres more preferably not more than 0.9 millimetres but preferably the width at the base portion of the protrusions is not less than 0. 7 millimetres, more preferably not less than 0.8 millimetres, still more preferably not less than 0.9 millimetres. Preferably the tip portion of the protrusions has a width substantially the same as the base portion and preferably within a range from 0.5 to 0.8 millimetres. The elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head has a first width and a second width at the base portion, said first width is greater than the second width. Preferably the first width measures from 1.13 to 1 .3 millimetres, preferably from 1 .14 to 1 .3 millimetres, still more preferably from 1 .14 to 1.28 millimetres. Preferably the second width measures from 0.62 to 0.7 millimetres, more preferably from 0.63 to 0.7 millimetres, still more preferably from 0.63 to 0.69 millimetres.

Height of the protrusion is the vertical distance measured from the base of the protrusion to the tip portion. Preferably the height of the protrusions is from 0.5 millimetres to about 1.9 millimetres. The height of the protrusions is preferably not more than 1.2 millimetres, more preferably not more than 1 .15 millimetres, still preferably not more than 1 .1 millimetres, further preferably not more than 1 .0 millimetres but preferably the height of the protrusions is not less than 0. 7 millimetres, more preferably not less than 0.8 millimetres, still more preferably not less than 0.9 millimetres.

In the elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head preferably the height of the protrusions measures 1 .10 to 1 .15 millimetres, preferably 1 .10 to 1 .14 millimetres, still preferably 1.10 to 1 .13 millimetres and still preferably from 1.10 to 1 .12 millimetres.

Preferably the ratio of the width at the base portion to the height of the elastomeric protrusions is from 1 .01 to 1.27:1 , more preferably 1.01 :1 to 1.15:1 , more preferably the ratio of the width at the base portion to the height of the protrusions is from 1 .12:1 to 1 .14:1 . Preferably in the above ratios, the width at the base portion is the first width of the elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head.

The protrusions have a width at the base portion that is greater than a height of the protrusions, preferably the first width is greater than the height of the protrusions but it is also possible that both the first width and the second width is greater than the height of the protrusions.

Preferably the first width of the elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the head. Preferably the ratio of the first width to the second width axis is 1.8:1 to 1 .9:1 , preferably 1.8 to 1 .87:1.

Preferably at least 80% of the total number of protrusions on the face of the head or the handle has a width at the base portion greater than a height of the protrusions, more preferably at least 85% and most preferably at least 90% of the total number of protrusions on the face of the head or the handle has a width at the base portion greater than a height of the protrusions. Preferably the number of protrusions range from 30 to 90 protrusions per square centimetre (200 to 500 protrusions per square inch), more preferably 30 to 80 and most preferably between 47 to 70 protrusion per square centimetre (300 to 450 protrusions per square inch).

Preferably the protrusions are disposed on the head in transverse rows in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head (a-a). Preferably adjacent protrusions of two transverse rows are in a staggered relationship. Disclosed protrusions are oval shaped in a transverse cross section along a plane parallel to the face of the head. The base portion of each protrusion is preferably spaced apart from the base portion of an adjacent protrusion. Preferably the space between the base portions of two adjacent protrusions is in the range 0.5 millimetres to 0.8 millimetres preferably 0.6 to 0.8 millimetres.

Preferably the face of the head or handle bearing the elastomeric protrusions further includes plurality of elastomeric ridges (9) extending therefrom. Preferably the elastomeric ridge is curved. The elastomeric ridges may be continuous or

discontinuous. Continuous elastomeric ridge preferably has an oval ring shaped configuration. Preferably the elastomeric protrusions are alternating with elastomeric ridges. Preferably one row of elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section alternates with one row of elastomeric ridge with an oval ring shaped configuration, it is also possible that more than one row of elastomeric protrusions having an oval shape in a transverse cross section arranged in a transverse rows in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head (a-a) are placed between two elastomeric ridge with an oval ring shaped configuration.

Preferably the elastomeric material is any material suitable for use in an oral hygiene implement. The elastomeric material preferably has a hardness in the range of A30 to A50 shore hardness, more preferably the shore hardness is A35 to A50. Preferably the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic material. The face of the head bearing the elastomeric protrusions and preferably the ridges includes an elastomeric pad. The elastomeric pad is preferably embedded in a basin on the face of the head. The protrusions and preferably the elastomeric ridge extends from the elastomeric pad.

According to a second aspect of the invention disclosed is an oral care implement according to the first aspect for use in providing improved cleaning of the tongue.

Process of making the oral care implement

Oral care implement according to the present invention is preferably made by moulding the protrusions to the head although other manufacturing processes may be used. Preferably the tissue cleanser is moulded within a basin or a receiving cavity in the face of the head.