TITLE OF THE INVENTION

ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to an oral care implement having a head with two or more bristled faces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Oral care implements, particularly toothbrushes, are typically used by applying toothpaste to a bristled section on a front face of the oral care implement followed by brushing regions of the oral cavity, e.g., the teeth, tongue, and/ or gums. Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional toothbrush 10, which has a head 12 and a handle 14. As shown, the head has bristles 16 extending from a front face of its head platform 18. The overall thickness Hl of the head, including the bristles, ranges from 15 mm to 20 mm to permit comfortable use of the toothbrush by most adults.

[0003] Some toothbrushes have a tongue cleaner on a second face that is opposite to the first face. This configuration permits the user to use a single device for cleaning their teeth, as well as their tongue, by rotating the toothbrush as needed to change the active face. Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a conventional combination toothbrush/ tongue cleaner device 30, which is generally the same as toothbrush 10 except that it includes a tongue cleaner 20 on its rear face. The overall thickness H2 of the head ranges from 16 mm to 20 mm to accommodate the tongue cleaner and to permit comfortable use of the device by most adults. As shown in Fig. 2, the head platform of conventional toothbrushes has a thickness T of 5 mm to 8 mm.

[0004] There is a continuing need for alternative oral care implements that can provide multiple cleaning functions in a single device. Further, there is a need for alternative oral care implements that can simultaneously perform multiple functions during use while comfortably fitting within a user's mouth.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This

summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] The present invention pertains to an oral care implement having a head with two or more bristled faces. Optionally, the oral care implement has a head containing tooth cleaning elements including bristles on a first face thereof and soft tissue cleaning elements including bristles on a second face thereof.

[0007] In one embodiment, an oral care implement includes a head platform having a plurality of faces with bristles extending therefrom. In one configuration, the oral care implement has a pair of opposite bristled faces and the head platform has a thickness of 5 mm or less.

[0008] In another embodiment, an oral care implement having a plurality of faces with bristles extending therefrom is formed by affixing a first AFT-tufted carrier plate to a first face of a head platform and affixing a second AFT-tufted carrier plate to a second face of the head platform. In a further embodiment, an oral care implement having a plurality of faces with bristles extending therefrom is formed by in-mold tufting bristles in a first face and affixing an AFT-tufted carrier plate to a second face of the head platform.

[0009] These and other aspects of the disclosure will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of toothbrushes known in the art.

[0011] Fig. 3 is a side view of a head portion of an oral care implement according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0012] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the oral care implement head of Fig. 3.

[0013] Fig. 5 is an exploded section view of the oral care implement head of Fig. 3 taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

[0014] Fig. 6 illustrates a method for forming an oral care implement having a plurality of bristled heads according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an oral care implement head according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0016] Fig. 8 is an exploded section view of the oral care implement head of Fig. 7 taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

[0017] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an oral care implement head according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 10 is an exploded section view of the oral care implement head of Fig. 9 taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

[0019] Fig. 11 illustrates a method for forming an oral care implement having a plurality of bristled heads according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0020] Fig. 12 is cross-sectional view of a mold for injection molding the body of an oral care implement having a plurality of bristled heads according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

[0021] Fig. 13 illustrates a method for forming an oral care implement having a plurality of bristled heads according to one or more aspects of an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The various aspects summarized previously may be embodied in various forms. The following description shows by way of illustration various combinations and configurations in which the aspects may be practiced. It is understood that the described aspects and/ or embodiments are merely examples, and that other aspects and/ or embodiments may be utilized and that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a head 112 of an oral care implement 110, which may be placed on the handle of a conventional toothbrush, such as handle 14 of conventional toothbrush 10 shown in Fig. 1. Head 112 generally includes a head platform 118 having a first face 119, a second face 121, a first set of cleaning elements 116 and a second set of cleaning elements 122. The first set of

cleaning elements extend outwardly from the first face and the second set of cleaning elements extend outwardly from the second face.

[0024] In the configuration shown in Fig. 3, head platform 118 includes only two faces from which cleaning elements extend. It is understood that the head platform could include more than two faces from which cleaning elements extend. Further, it is understood that the faces having cleaning elements could be arranged in various configurations that may or may not be opposite to another face. For instance, another configuration of head 112 could include a head platform with three faces from which cleaning elements extend that are arranged in a generally triangular arrangement. However, as discussed further below, the configuration of head platform 118 with opposite faces, a relatively thin platform height HP, and a relatively thin overall height H3 provides various advantages during use.

[0025] Cleaning elements 116 and 122 as shown may extend perpendicularly from their respective faces 119 and 121. Further, the cleaning elements may extend in opposite directions from each other. However, it is understood that the cleaning elements may be configured in other orientations. For example, the cleaning elements can be angled with respect to their face and with respect to each other.

[0026] Cleaning elements 116 and 122 may include a variety of oral cleaning elements, such as tooth cleaning elements, which can be used for wiping, cleaning and massaging the user's teeth and gums, and soft tissue cleaning elements, which can be used for scrubbing, scraping and massaging the user's tongue, inside of cheeks, etc. Any suitable form of oral cleaning elements may be used. However, as discussed further below, it is preferable to include filament bristles with both the tooth cleaning elements and the soft tissue cleaning elements. The term "oral cleaning elements" is used in a generic sense and generally refers to filament bristles, elastomeric fingers or walls that have any desirable shape, tissue engaging projections such ridges and nubs, etc. As used herein, a "nub" is generally meant to include a column-like protrusion (without limitation to the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion), which is upstanding from a base surface.

[0027] Preferably, cleaning elements 116 and 122 include filament bristles, either alone or in combination with other types of oral cleaning elements. Cleaning

elements 116 are generally tooth cleaning elements, which may include elastomeric fingers or walls along with filament bristles. As such, cleaning elements 116 have a height H4 from 10 mm to 13 mm, which provide sufficient length and flexibility for engaging gaps and crevices between the user's teeth and between their teeth and gums and for brushing or wiping away particles engaged by the cleaning elements.

[0028] Cleaning elements 122 are generally soft tissue cleaning elements, which may include tissue engaging projections, such as ridges and nubs, and/or elastomeric fingers or walls along with relatively short filament bristles. Such tissue engaging elements can help reduce a major source of bad breath and improve hygiene. Cleaning elements 122 have a height H5 from 1 mm to 6 mm and preferably from 1.5 mm to 4 mm.

[0029] Filament bristles having a height in the range of 1 mm to 6 mm and preferably in the range of 1.5 mm to 4 mm are relatively short in comparison to their column width, which preferably is in the range of 0.06 to 0.18 mm +/- to 0.02 mm for individual filaments and in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm +/- 0.2 mm for individual bundles of bristles. As such, filament bristles of cleaning elements 122 have a relatively high column strength in comparison with filament bristles of tooth cleaning elements 116, which are longer and more flexible than tissue cleaning elements 122. Due to their thin diameter and their high column strength, the relatively short tissue cleaning elements and, in particular, the relatively short filament bristles are able to penetrate very well into the user's soft oral tissues.

[0030] In the configuration shown in Fig. 3, oral cleaning elements 122 are able to engage soft tissues within the user's mouth, such as the inside of their cheeks, while the user simultaneously cleans their teeth. Thus, more effective oral cleaning is provided by oral cleaning implement 110 than conventional toothbrush 10 or conventional combination toothbrush/ tongue cleaner 30. This is true even though combination device 30 includes soft elastomeric tongue cleaning projections 20, which can penetrate a user's soft oral tissues, but do not penetrate as well as relatively short, thin filament bristles 122, and which fail to provide the brushing action of filament bristles 122.

[0031] In general, soft tissue cleaning elements 122 enable the removal of microflora and other debris from the tongue and other soft tissue surfaces within the mouth. The tongue, in particular, is prone to develop bacterial coatings that are known to harbor organisms and debris that can contribute to bad breath. These microfloras can be found in the recesses between the papillae on most of the tongue's upper surface as well as along other soft tissue surfaces in the user's mouth. When engaged or otherwise pulled against a tongue surface, for example, the filament bristles of tissue cleaning elements 122 can provide for gentle engagement with the soft tissue while reaching downward into the recesses of adjacent papillae of the tongue and while providing a brushing action within the recesses.

[0032] The columnar filament construction of the bristles also enables the soft tissue cleaning elements to follow the natural contours of the oral tissue surfaces, such as the tongue, cheeks, lips, and gums of a user. In addition, the filament bristles are able to flex as needed to traverse and clean the soft tissue surfaces in the mouth along they are moved. The flexibility of the filament bristle tissue cleaning elements, their small diameter, and their relatively high column strength allow them to effectively penetrate soft oral tissues and to engage and brush out microflora and other debris much better than other types of tissue cleaning elements.

[0033] Conventional combination toothbrush/ tongue cleaner devices, such as device 30 shown in Fig. 2, have failed to provide filament bristles in tongue cleaner 20. This is because conventional techniques for affixing filament bristles to a toothbrush, such as the conventional method of stapling folded bristle bundles into a head, would require a much thicker head than would be comfortable for most adult users in order to accommodate bristles on opposite sides of the toothbrush. As such, conventional toothbrush/ tongue cleaner devices include a pad of elastomeric tongue cleaning elements glued to the back of the toothbrush head, or a plurality of hard projections molded on the back of the toothbrush head. However, such conventional devices fail to provide filament bristle soft tissue cleaning elements 122 along with filament bristle tooth cleaning elements 116 on the head of the same device while having a head thickness small enough for comfortable use by an adult.

[0034] To further enhance the effectiveness of oral care implement device 110, device 110 can optionally include a vibratory device (not shown) to vibrate the oral care implement or a portion thereof, such as the head 112 or a portion thereof. The vibration-producing device can be used to vibrate tooth cleaning elements 116 and/ or soft tissue cleaning elements 122.

[0035] A wide variety of vibratory devices can be used to produce vibrations over a wide range of frequencies to meet the needs of a particular application. Various types of vibratory devices are commercially available, such as transducers. One example of a vibratory device provides frequencies in the range of about 100 to 350 kHz. The vibration frequencies may be of different waveforms, including sinusoid, square, saw tooth and the like. Nevertheless, other values and waveforms are possible. A vibratory device may be located in head of the toothbrush or neck thereof. When activated, vibratory device is powered by battery (and controlled by electronics on circuit board or switching system) so as to induce vibrations in head of the toothbrush and thereby enhances teeth-cleaning action imparted by the tooth cleaning elements.

[0036] In alternate embodiments, a vibratory device may include a micro motor attached to a shaft, with the shaft coupled to an eccentric rotating about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. In still other embodiments, a vibratory-producing device includes an eccentric that is driven by a micro motor in a translatory manner.

[0037] A switch, such as a button, toggle switch, rotating dial, or the like, can be provided for activating the vibratory device. A vibratory device often has a power source, such as a battery. Activating the switch can cause the vibration- producing device to operate for a user-defined interval (e.g., during the time that a button is depressed or a switch is in an engaged position), or alternatively can activate a timing circuit that causes the vibratory device to operate for a predetermined interval. If a timing circuit is used, the associated interval either may be preset or may be adjustable, e.g., by a user-activated rotating dial.

[0038] Figs. 4-6 illustrate a method 210 for forming an oral cleaning device, such as oral care implement 110, having a pair of faces that include filament bristles

(i.e., tufted faces), which permits the head to have an overall thickness of 20 mm or less. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, method 210 can be practiced via anchor-free tufting (AFT) techniques. Accordingly, head 112 includes a first carrier plate 128 to which tooth cleaning elements 116 are affixed via AFT processing and a second carrier plate 132 to which oral cleaning elements 122 are affixed via AFT processing. The carrier plates have a plurality of cutouts (not shown) through which clusters of bristle filaments 116, and optionally elastomeric cleaning elements 116, are guided. The rear ends of the bristle filaments are melted to affix them to their respective carrier plate. The melted portions form a base 131 that adheres to the carrier plate and bonds the bristle bundles to each other. If elastomeric cleaning elements are also provided, they can be melted along with the bristles or glued to the carrier plate.

[0039] The carrier plates 128 and 132 are relatively thin (e.g., 1 mm or less) and are received into corresponding recesses 124 and 126 formed in the faces 119 and 121 of the head platform 112. The carrier plates may be affixed to the head platform via appropriate methods such as ultrasonic welding, laser welding, hot air welding gluing, a snap-fit connection in combination with overmolding, or any other plastic joining technique. Other suitable plastic joining techniques will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. Preferably, carrier plates 128 and 132 are affixed via ultrasonic welding to membrane 134 of the head platform, which provides a non-visible, high strength bond to the head platform at a relatively low manufacturing cost.

[0040] As illustrated in Fig. 6, a method 210 for forming such an oral cleaning device can include the step 212 of molding an oral care implement head platform 118 having a first cavity 124 on a first side and second cavity 126 on a second side. It can further include the steps 214 of guiding tooth cleaning elements 116 including bristles into cutouts of first carrier plate 128 via AFT processing and the step 216 of guiding soft tissue cleaning elements 122 including bristles into cutouts of second carrier plate 132 via AFT processing. The method also includes the step 218 of inserting the first carrier plate 128 into the first cavity 124 and affixing it to head platform 118 and the step 220 of inserting the second carrier plate 132 into the second cavity 126 and affixing it to head platform 118.

[0041] As noted above, the carrier plates are preferably affixed via ultrasonically welding them to the head platform, such as welding them to platform 134 of the head platform. However, they may be affixed via other methods, such as gluing them to the head platform or snap fitting them into the head platform and overmolding another material around portions of the head platform and the carrier plates. It is understood that the steps of method 210 may be performed in various orders and that many steps may be performed simultaneously. For instance, steps 214 and 216 can be sequentially in any order or can be performed simultaneously.

[0042] Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, a head portion 312 is shown of an oral care implement 310, which generally includes the same aspects and features as oral care implement 110 and head portion 112 except as discussed hereafter. Like numbers in Figs. 7 and 8 refer to like features of Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, head platform 318 includes a support rib 336 disposed between first cavity 324 and second cavity 326. Gaps 338 and 340 are formed on each side of support rib 336, which are openings connecting first cavity 324 and second cavity 326. Each of the carrier plates 328 and 332 include a rim 333 and 335 along the portion that is received into its corresponding cavity 324 and 326 of the head platform. Each rim includes a pair of recesses 342 and 344 or 346 and 348, which engage support rib 336 of the head platform when attached thereto.

[0043] The configuration of Figs. 7 and 8 permit opposing carrier plates 328 and 332 to be attached directly to each other. Such a configuration permits head platform 318 to be even thinner than head platform 118. Having a thinner head platform provides the advantage of permitting tooth cleaning elements 316 and/ or soft tissue cleaning elements 322 to be longer than in the configuration of Figs. 4 and 5 while maintaining the overall height of the toothbrush head at height H3 shown in Fig. 3. In addition, directly attaching carrier plates 328 and 332 to each other and to support rib 338 provides the advantages of increased stability and support. Preferably, carrier plates 328 and 332 are ultrasonically welded to each other and to support rib 338. However, other acceptable attachment mechanisms may be utilized.

[0044] Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, a head portion 412 is shown of an oral care implement 410, which generally includes the same aspects and features as oral

care implements 110 and 310 and head portions 112 and 312 except as discussed hereafter. Like numbers refer to like features of Figs. 4 and 5 and 7 and 8. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, head platform 418 includes a support ledge 458 disposed between first cavity 424 and second cavity 426. Support ledge 458 outlines an opening 460, which connects first cavity 424 and second cavity 426. Each of the carrier plates 428 and 432 include a rim 452 and 462 along the portion that is received into its corresponding cavity 424 and 426 of the head platform. The rims 452 and 462 are disposed inside of the outer edge of their respective carrier plate to form shoulders 450 and 454. The shoulders and rims of each carrier plate engage support ledge 458 of the head platform when attached thereto.

[0045] As with Figs. 7 and 8, the configuration of Figs. 9 and 10 permit opposing carrier plates 428 and 432 to be attached directly to each other in an alternative configuration from Figs. 7 and 8. Such a configuration also permits head platform 418 to be thinner than head platform 118 and provides similar advantages to the configuration of Figs. 7 and 8. In addition, due to its location proximate the rim regions of each carrier plate, support ledge 458 provides significant support to each of the carrier plates. Preferably, carrier plates 428 and 432 are ultrasonically welded to each other and to support ledge 458. However, other acceptable attachment mechanisms may be utilized.

[0046] In an alternative configuration (not shown), the head platform can include both a support ledge 458 and a support rib 338 to securely affix the carrier plates to the head platform while permitting the carrier plates to be attached to each other as well. It is further understood that other configurations may be employed to maintain a relatively thin head platform to which the carrier plates can be affixed while optionally permitting the carrier plates to be affixed to each other.

[0047] Fig. 11 illustrates a method 510 for forming an oral care implement in which the carrier plates can be attached to the head platform and to each other. Method 520 generally includes the same steps and features as method 210, except that it includes the additional step 522 of affixing the first carrier plate to the second carrier plate. Step 522 can be performed along with step 520 when the second carrier plate is affixed to the head platform.

[0048] Referring now to Fig. 12, a mold 650 is shown for forming an oral care implement according to aspects of the invention, such as oral care implement 110 shown in Fig. 3. As opposed to previously discussed configurations of oral care implements, mold 650 is configured to affix soft tissue cleaning elements 122 to head platform 118 via in-mold tufting (IMT) techniques. Further, mold 650 is configured to form a cavity in head platform 118 for receiving a carrier plate, such as carrier plate 128, to which tooth cleaning elements 116 are attached via anchor free tufting (AFT) techniques. Thus, mold is 650 is configured to provide an oral cleaning implement that takes advantage of both AFT and IMT techniques to provide an oral care implement, such as oral care implement 110 shown in Fig. 3.

[0049] As shown, mold 650 includes a cavity side 654 of the injection mold, which outlines the front portion of oral care implement 110 including a portion of front face 119. Mold 650 further includes a core side 652, which outlines the rear portion of oral care implement 110 except for rear face 121. An insert block 656 forms the rear face 121 and a tip portion of head platform 118. The insert block includes soft tissue cleaning elements 122 placed in the mold prior to molding the handle and the platform head. The soft tissue cleaning elements 122 include filament bristles having balled ends disposed within the cavity of the mold. During injection molding, the balled ends are molded into the platform head. The tooth cleaning elements 116 can be affixed thereafter as discussed along with Figs. 4 and 5. Likewise, the tooth cleaning elements 116 could be disposed within the cavity of the mold for injection molding into the platform head, with the soft tissue cleaning elements 122 being affixed thereafter.

[0050] Referring now to Fig. 13, a method 710 is shown for forming an oral care implement 110 using mold 650 of Fig. 12. Method 710 includes the step 712 of placing balled end bristle tufts into insert block 656. It further includes the step 714 of molding a platform head 118 around the balled ends of the bristle tufts at a first face 121 of the head platform while forming a cavity at a second face 119 of the head platform. Step 714 may optionally include molding the handle or a portion of the handle at the same time. The method also includes the step 718 of attaching tooth cleaning elements 116 that include bristles onto a head plate via AFT tufting. In

addition, the method includes the step 718 of inserting the head plate into the cavity of the head platform and affixing it to the head platform.

[0051] Method 710 provides an advantageous method of forming oral care implement 110. Affixing soft tissue cleaning elements 122 via IMT techniques securely attaches the soft tissue cleaning elements to the head platform while permitting the head platform to have a height T of 3 mm to 5 mm. Affixing the tooth cleaning elements 116 via AFT techniques provides design flexibility for the tooth cleaning elements along with securely connecting the tooth cleaning elements to the head platform. In an alternative configuration, the tooth cleaning elements 116 can be affixed via IMT techniques and the soft tissue cleaning elements 122 can be affixed via AFT techniques.

[0052] In other embodiments, the first carrier plate 128 with tooth cleaning elements 116 and the second carrier plate 132 with tissue cleaning elements 122 can be inserted into a mold, with a handle subsequently being injection molded about the first and second carrier plates 128, 132.

[0053] It will be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, the foregoing description and examples are intended to illustrate, but not limit the scope of the invention. Other aspects, advantages and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and these aspects and modifications are within the scope of the invention and described and claimed herein.