FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is concerned with a handle for a personal care implement, the handle having an outer lateral surface with a three-dimensional surface structure. The present disclosure is further concerned with a personal care implement comprising such handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal care implements, like toothbrushes, are well known in the art. Generally, tufts of bristles for cleaning teeth are attached to a bristle carrier or mounting surface of a brush head intended for insertion into a user's oral cavity. A handle is usually attached to the head, which handle is held by the user during brushing.

In order to use a personal care implement effectively, appropriate maneuverability of the implement is crucial. Generally, the shape, dimensions and bending stiffness of the handle have a significant impact on the maneuverability and user comfort. Usually handles of personal care implements, like toothbrushes, have the shape of a linear rod to be handled and manipulated by a user as needed. However, in the past it has been seen that such handles are neither comfortable to handle nor easy to maneuver in the oral care cavity of the user.

For example, in order to achieve and preserve good oral health, and to prevent gingivitis, it is important to clean teeth and gums thoroughly, in particular in hard to reach areas, e. g. in the region of the back molars. Further, gaps between teeth and periodontium, the so-called gingival groove has to be thoroughly cleaned which requires a good and well-coordinated brushing technique. It is known that a lack of good removal of plaque in the gingival groove can cause gingivitis, i.e. inflammation of the gum tissue. Further, it is known that users/consumers use different brushing techniques, and, therefore, it is critical to identify optimal ergonomics of a toothbrush handle in order to provide good sensory feeling during brushing when using all types of brushing techniques.

Also, it has been seen in the past that toothbrushes can easily slip through the hand if wet during use, which results in less consumer comfort and poor handling performance. Further, the center of gravity of common toothbrushes is relatively close to the toothbrush head, in particular when the head is loaded with toothpaste. If the center of gravity is relatively close to the toothbrush head, the toothbrush gets head loaded and can easily tip over once toothpaste is applied onto the brush head. Toothpaste may soil the surface onto which the brush has been placed. To prevent the loaded toothbrush from tipping over, additional geometrical structures, like roll stops/support structures are necessary. Toothbrushes are known having such structures in the form of edges attached to the head. However, such additional edges are uncomfortable in the mouth during brushing and less appealing.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a handle for a personal care implement, e.g. a handle for a toothbrush, which overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks. It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide a personal care implement comprising such handle. It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide an oral care implement which does not tip over when loaded with toothpaste and placed on a substantially planar surface. Further, the oral care implement shall provide more comfort and improved quality perception as well as better maneuverability in the oral care cavity during brushing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, a handle for a personal care implement is provided, the handle having a longitudinal extension extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being opposite the distal end and closest to a head permanently or releasably attached to the handle, the handle further having an outer lateral surface with a three-dimensional surface structure, wherein the surface structure comprises at least two continuous wave bands with alternating convex and concave curvatures forming wave crests and wave troughs, respectively, the wave bands extending along the longitudinal extension of the handle.

In accordance with one aspect a personal care implement is provided, the personal care implement comprising such handle and a head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to various embodiments and figures, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a top down view of an example embodiment of an oral care implement comprising a handle according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the oral care implement of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows an elevated view of a wave section of the handle of the oral care implement of Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 4 shows cross-sectional views L-L, M-M, N-N, O-O, P-P and Q-Q taken across the longitudinal extension of the handle of the oral care implement of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The handle according to the present disclosure is suitable to be used in connection with a personal care implement, for example in connection with an oral care implement which may be a manual or powered toothbrush.

As used herein "personal care implement" refers to any implement which can be utilized for the purposes of personal hygiene. Some suitable examples include toothbrushes, flossers, toothpicks, razors, shavers, and trimmers. For example, the personal care implement may be manually or battery/electrically operated. If the implement is electrically operated, the implement may comprise a battery located within an inner cavity of a handle housing. For example, electrically operated toothbrushes exhibit the advantage that they assist users during brushing and may facilitate improved cleansing of the teeth and gums, in particular in hard to reach areas in the mouth.

The handle according to the present disclosure has a longitudinal extension extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being opposite the distal end and defined as being the end closest to a head. The head may be permanently attached to the handle. Alternatively, the head can be repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle, e.g. via a snap-fit locking mechanism providing sufficiently strong connection and stability between the head and the handle to enable a user to perform, e.g. a brushing action. If the head is releasably attachable, the handle of the personal care implement may be adapted for use over a longer period of time as compared to common implements, like common toothbrushes which are discarded after about three months of use. The head/brush refill can be exchanged on a regular basis. This provides a cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable personal care implement providing both, high quality handle solutions as well as cost saving opportunities as only the head has to be exchanged/re-purchased after a certain period of use. The handle has an outer lateral surface with a three-dimensional surface structure extending along the longitudinal extension of the handle. The surface structure comprises at least two continuous wave bands with alternating convex and concave curvatures forming wave crests and wave troughs, respectively. In other words, the alternating wave crests and wave troughs form depressions/indentations and elevations, respectively, the depressions and elevations extending in a radial direction from the center of the handle (the radial direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension/direction of the handle).

The wave bands extend along the longitudinal extension of the handle, for example over a length from about 90 mm to about 140 mm, or from about 100 mm to about 130 mm, or from about 110 mm to about 120 mm. The three-dimensional surface structure may feature 10 to 14 wave bands, or 12 wave bands, for example, the wave bands being circumferentially arranged next to each other. Such structure may provide enhanced grip properties. The surface structure may also extend over the overall circumference of the handle to provide superior and comfortable handling properties. In other words, a multiplicity of wave bands may be circumferentially arranged next to each other. If a user holds the handle in its hand, various grip styles and rotational handle positions are possible, all grip styles benefitting from the same overall pleasant feel and improved handling properties during use.

The wave bands may be separated from each other by a bridge/edge extending along the longitudinal extension of the handle. Two neighboring bridges/edges may define the width extension of a band.

The alternating convex and concave curvatures extending along the length extension of the handle in connection with the bridges/edges also provide the handle with improved anti-slip properties during use, in particular if the implement is used in wet conditions. Handling properties, manoeuvrability and rotatability during use are significantly improved. If the personal care implement is an oral care implement, water, paste and slurry can easily drain off during and after use as each wave band can be provided with no edges along its longitudinal extension.

A maximum width extension may range from about 3 mm to about 6 mm, or from about 4 mm to about 5 mm, or may be about 4.4 mm, while a minimum width extension may range from about 1 mm to about 3 mm, or may be about 1.5 mm. The one or more edges may extend along the length extension of the handle in a substantially sinusoidal manner when seen in a top down view onto the outer lateral surface of the handle. In other words, the continuous wave bands may be positioned in a way that the maximum width of one wave band is adjacent the minimum width of the neighboring wave band. If at least two bridges/edges are arranged in a sinusoidal and anticyclic manner in relation to each other, such surface structure provides further anti-slip properties through its unique surface pattern/structure. Also, the surface structure prevents unintentional rolling/tumbling when the brush is placed on a surface, e.g. with toothpaste on the brush head. If the width of a wave band is about one third of the handle's diameter, such structure provides superior roll stop properties. For example, the width of the wave band may be about 4 mm at a handle diameter of about 11.5 mm.

The wave crest and/or the wave trough may have a height from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm, or about 0.15 mm. A wave crest and a neighboring wave trough - forming one wave section - may have a length from about 8 mm to about 15 mm, or from about 11 mm to about 12 mm, or about 11.5 mm. Such structure may provide superior rinsability as slurry and paste can hardly accumulate in indentations formed by the smoothly alternating convex and concave curvatures. Further, such wave bands provide the right space to securely place the thumb tip/finger tips or other parts of the fingers into the indentations formed by the wave troughs. The wave bands may act as an integrated thumb rest during use of the personal care implement. The handle is provided with improved handling properties, e.g. with anti-slip properties to improve maneuverability of the personal care implement under wet conditions, e.g. when the user brushes his teeth. There is no need for the provision of a separate/additional thumb rest, e.g. being made from a thermoplastic elastomer material and/or from a polypropylene. This surface geometry helps rotating the handle in the hand, while providing a save position for the fingers as the alternating concave and convex curvatures work as a grip structure avoiding slipping of the implement.

The wave bands may be arranged in a manner, so that wave crests and wave troughs alternate along the circumference of the handle. In other words, a wave band is shifted to the next neighboring band by half of a wave section. Such surface structure provides a uniform pattern. A user can grip the handle in any manner and orientation if wave bands are provided over the overall circumference of the handle. The indentations provided by wave troughs serve as thumb rests while the bridges separating each wave band from the other band may serve as a roll stop. The handle may have a substantially cylindrical shape allowing for universal handling and easy rotatability of the handle in the hand during use.

The handle may have a substantially flat bottom surface at the distal end of the handle (with mold draft of 0°), the bottom surface extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle. Such configuration allows the handle to be placed onto its bottom surface in an upright position. For example, after use of an oral care implement, the user usually stores the wet implement in a toothbrush beaker for drying. However, in a classical toothbrush beaker, drained fluids get collected and accumulated at the bottom of the beaker, and, the fluids stay in contact with the implement for a longer period of time. Since the beaker is open on one side only, the toothbrush dries relatively slowly. Bacteria living in wet conditions/in a wet environment can grow quickly, contaminate the implement and finally render the implement unhygienic. However, a handle which can be placed on its bottom surface provides a solution for hygienic storage and drying, thereby enabling remaining water, toothpaste slurry and saliva to drain off. The implement can dry quickly thereby inhibiting bacterial growth and rendering the oral care implement more hygienic. The implement according to the present disclosure is exposed to wet conditions over a significantly shorter period of time.

The bottom surface may have a substantially circular shape with a certain diameter. The dimeter may be from about 9 mm to about 14 mm, or about 11.5 mm allowing for an appealing design, improved maneuverability and comfortable haptic, and good stability if the implement is placed in an upright position.

A surface structure according to the present disclosure can be provided by conventional manufacturing techniques, like injection molding. For example, the handle including the surface structure may be made from PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene) and/or SAN (styrene acrylonitrile resin), e.g. my injection molding. The PET material may be transparent, translucent and/or opaque. The PP material may be translucent and/or opaque. The SAN material may be transparent, translucent and/or opaque.

The handle and/or the surface structure may be provided with a high-gloss surface finish and/or may be polish-eroded to allow for easy rinse off of water, paste and other residues to keep the implement clean and hygienic. Further, a combination of a surface structure with varying surface angles according to the present disclosure with a high-gloss surface finish enhances light reflections providing improved product appeal.

If the personal care implement is a toothbrush, tooth cleaning elements, e.g. bundle of filaments forming one or a plurality of tufts, may be attached to the head by means of a hot tufting process. One method of manufacturing the head with tufts of filaments embedded in the head may comprise the following steps: In a first step, tufts are formed by providing a desired amount of filaments. In a second step, the tufts are placed into a mold cavity so that ends of the filaments which are supposed to be attached to the head extend into said cavity. The opposite ends of the filaments not extending into said cavity may be either end-rounded or non-end-rounded. For example, the filaments may be not end-rounded in case the filaments are tapered filaments having a pointed tip. In a third step the head is formed around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process, thereby anchoring the tufts in the head. Alternatively, the tufts may be anchored by forming a first part of the head - a so-called “sealplate” - around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process before the remaining part of the oral care implement is formed. Before starting the injection molding process the ends of the tufts extending into the mold cavity may be optionally melted or fusion-bonded to join the filaments together in a fused mass or ball so that the fused masses or balls are located within the cavity. The tufts may be held in the mold cavity by a mold bar having blind holes that correspond to the desired position of the tufts on the finished head of the oral care implement. In other words, the tufts attached to the head by means of a hot tufting process are not doubled over a middle portion along their length and are not mounted in the head by using an anchor/staple. The tufts are mounted on the head by means of an anchor-free tufting process.

Alternatively, the head for the oral care implement may be provided with a bristle carrier having at least one tuft hole, e.g. a blind-end bore. A tuft comprising a plurality of filaments may be fixed/anchored in said tuft hole by a stapling process/anchor tufting method. This means, that the filaments of the tuft are bent/folded around an anchor, e.g. an anchor wire or anchor plate, for example made of metal, in a substantially U-shaped manner. The filaments together with the anchor are pushed into the tuft hole so that the anchor penetrates into opposing side walls of the tuft hole thereby anchoring/fixing/fastening the filaments to the bristle carrier. The anchor may be fixed in opposing side walls by positive and frictional engagement. In case the tuft hole is a blind- end bore, the anchor holds the filaments against a bottom of the bore. In other words, the anchor may lie over the U-shaped bend in a substantially perpendicular manner. Since the filaments of the tuft are bent around the anchor in a substantially U-shaped configuration, a first limb and a second limb of each filament extend from the bristle carrier in a filament direction. Filament types which can be used/are suitable for usage in a stapling process are also called “two-sided filaments”. Heads for oral care implements which are manufactured by a stapling process can be provided in a relatively low-cost and time-efficient manner.

The following is a non-limiting discussion of an example embodiment of an oral care implement and parts thereof in accordance with the present disclosure, where reference to the Figures is made.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a top down and perspective view of a personal care implement 10, respectively, in this specific embodiment a manual oral care implement, i.e. toothbrush 10. Toothbrush 10 comprises a handle 12 and a head 14 being integrally formed with the handle 12.

The handle 12 of toothbrush 10 has a longitudinal extension 16 extending between a distal end 18 and a proximal end 20. The proximal end 20 is opposite the distal end 18 and closest to the head 14 permanently attached to the handle 12.

The handle 12 has an outer lateral surface 22 with a three-dimensional surface structure 24. The surface structure 24 comprises at least two continuous wave bands 26 with alternating convex and concave curvatures forming wave crests 28 and wave troughs 30, respectively. The wave bands 26 extend along the longitudinal extension 16 of the handle 12. The surface structure 24 may comprise from 10 to 14, preferably 12 continuous wave bands 26. The alternating convex and concave curvatures forming wave crests 28 and wave troughs 30, respectively, are illustrated in cross sectional views L-L to Q-Q of Fig. 4 in connection with Fig. 1.

One wave crest 28 and one neighboring wave trough 30 form one wave section 36 (see Fig. 3). Each wave section 36 may have a length from about 8 mm to about 15 mm, or from about 11 mm to about 12 mm, or about 11.5 mm. The alternating wave crests 28 and wave troughs 30 form depressions/indentations and elevations, respectively. The wave crests 28 extend from the center 52 of the handle in a radial direction 54 to provide enhanced grip properties. While wave crests 28 may provide anti-slip properties, the wave troughs 30 may serve as indentations for placing and resting the fingers/thumb.

The wave crest 28 may have a height 38 from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm, or from about 0.15 mm to about 1.5 mm, or from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, or about 0.15 mm. The wave trough 30 may have a height 40 from about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm, or from about 0.15 mm to about 1.5 mm, or from about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, or about 0.15 mm.

The wave bands 26 are separated from each other by an edge/bridge 32 extending along the longitudinal extension 16 of the handlel2. Two neighboring edges 32 defining the width extension 34 of a band 26 (see Fig. 3). The maximum width extension 341 may be from about 3 mm to about 6 mm, or from about 4 mm to about 5 mm, or about 4.4 mm. The minimum width extension 342 may be from about 1 mm to about 3 mm, or about 1.5 mm.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the edges 32 extend along the length extension 16 of the handle 12 in a substantially sinusoidal manner when seen in a top down view onto the outer lateral surface 22 of the handle 12. The edges 32 are arranged in a sinusoidal and anticyclic manner in relation to each other so that a maximum width 341 of one wave band 26 is adjacent to the minimum width 342 of the neighboring wave band 26. In other words, a wave band 26 is shifted to its next neighboring one by half of a wave section 36. Consequently, wave crests 28 and wave troughs 30 alternate along a circumference 42 of the handle 12 and provide a uniform pattem/surface structure 24. Through the alternating structure improved anti-slip properties are provided. The wave bands 26 may act as integrated thumb rests during use of the toothbrush 10. The toothbrush 10 can be held and rotated in any position while still providing the same grip benefits. Also, the surface structure 24 prevents unintentional rolling/tumbling when the brush 10 is placed on a surface, e.g. with toothpaste on the brush head 14. If the width 34 of a wave band 26 is about one third of the handle's diameter 50, such structure provides superior roll stop properties. For example, the width 34 of the wave band 26 may be about 4 mm at a handle diameter 50 of about 11.5 mm.

The handle 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape 44 with a substantially flat bottom surface 46 at the distal end 18 of the handle 12. The bottom surface 46 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension 16 of the handle 12. The bottom surface 46 has a substantially circular shape 48. The diameter 50 of the circular bottom surface 46 may be from about 9 mm to about 14 mm, or about 11.5 mm. The handle 12 can be easily placed onto the bottom surface 46 in an upright position for hygienic storage and drying, thereby enabling remaining water, toothpaste slurry and saliva to drain off. The toothbrush 10 can dry quickly thereby inhibiting bacterial growth and rendering the brush more hygienic. The toothbrush 10 is exposed to wet conditions over a significantly shorter period of time.

The toothbrush 10 maybe manufactured by injection molding. For example, the handle 12 including the surface structure 24 may be made from any of the following materials: PET (Polyethylene terephtbalate), PP (polypropylene) and/or SAN (styrene acrylonitrile resin). The material may be transparent, translucent and/or opaque, with or without metallic effects.

Further, the handle 12 may be provided with a high-gloss surface finish and/or may be polish-eroded to allow for easy rinse off of water, paste and other residues to keep the implement clean and hygienic. A surface structure 24 with varying surface angles provided by the alternating wave crests and wave troughs according to the present disclosure together with a high-gloss surface finish enhances light reflections providing improved product appeal.

In the context of this disclosure, the term "substantially" refers to an arrangement of elements or features that, while in theory would be expected to exhibit exact correspondence or behavior, may, in practice embody something slightly less than exact. As such, the term denotes the degree by which a quantitative value, measurement or other related representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”