Abstract: A refill head, and oral care implement incorporating the same, wherein the refill head can be uncoupled from a stem of a handle by compressing a portion of a tubular sleeve of the refill head radially inward, therby retracting a locking lug of the refill head radially outward

Abstract: An oral care toothbrush includes a handle having a head at one end of the handle, the head having at least one cleaning element. The head has at least one oral care dispenser. The oral care dispenser is configured to release an oral care material within about five seconds when exposed to water at a temperature of about 35° C. to about 40° C.

Abstract: An oral care implement is described herein. The oral care implement has a base having a handle region, an oral engaging region and a neck between the handle region and the oral engaging region. A recess surrounds the handle and/or the neck and has a first boundary and a second boundary, and the first boundary is further from a distal end than the second boundary. The first boundary has an angle of greater than about 90 degrees with respect to a mold parting line of the oral care implement. The base has a first material, and a collar made of a second material which is different than the first material, is disposed in the recess.

Abstract: An oral care implement such as a toothbrush includes a head defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements supported by the toothbrush head. The tooth cleaning elements preferably include at least one tooth polishing unit having a polishing element including a supporting base and a broadened flexible tooth polishing head extending angularly outwards from the base and defining a polishing surface. In a preferred embodiment, the polishing element is made of an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the polishing element may be comprised of a plurality of individual polishing members.

Abstract: A refill head, and an oral care implement including the same, wherein the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve having a cavity. First and second upper cam surfaces are provided in the cavity that form transverse shoulders within the cavity. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots through which first and second bosses of a stem of a handle of the oral care implement can be passed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush, characterized by forming a hole perforated in an up-down direction on a header of a toothbrush, wherein the hole has placed therein a plate having a brush implanted thereon, and the plate is fixed on top of an elastic member fixed on the edge of the bottom surface portion of the header, so as to enable an elastic movement in up, down, left, right directions, and as the plate having the brush implanted thereon elastically moves similarly on the header according to the shapes of the teeth, the contact area between the teeth and the brush increases and the friction increases, to maximize the tooth brushing effect, minimizes the abrasion of the teeth and the damage of the periodontal tissues due to tooth brushing by adjusting the pressure exerted excessively on the teeth by a user, to enable an easier use of Bass tooth brushing techniques and to aid the user in achieving both cleanliness of gums, and oral hygiene.

Abstract: Methods for producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: Methods of producing a unitary personal care article such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity.

Abstract: A disposable toothbrush 1 includes a handle portion 2; a head portion 10 connected with the handle portion 2 and provided with a plurality of elastomeric bristles 10a at least at the central area of the front surface part; and a fabric medium 20 attached to the front surface part of the head portion 10 while exposing the upper end of the elastomeric bristles 10a, and made of a microfiber material provided with at least one kind of a rapidly releasable agent 21. In the toothbrush, the rapidly releasable agent can be stably attached to the fabric medium, and in use, the rapidly releasable agent can be easily separated from the fabric medium, so that the rapidly releasable agent separated from the fabric medium can be easily dissolved to increase the tooth brushing effects.

Abstract: An ansate implement, especially a toothbrush, having improved tuft retention and a staple for use therewith. The staple has a specially designed topography that provides reliable anchoring and creation from cost effective materials. In one embodiment, the invention is an ansate implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to said handle and having at least one hole extending into the head from a surface; at least one cleaning element positioned in the hole; and a staple located in the hole anchoring the cleaning element in the tuft hole, the staple having a longitudinal axis and a first major surface, wherein a plurality of spaced apart grooves are formed into the first major surface, each of the grooves extending along a linear axis from a bottom edge of the staple toward a top edge of the staple, the linear axis intersecting the longitudinal axis at an acute angle of 40 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: Provided is a core/sheath composite filament for toothbrushes which exhibits excellent hardness, durability and feeling of use when used in toothbrushes, is less prone to falling out when tufted into the tufting plate, and makes it possible to improve stain-removal properties. Also provided is a toothbrush using said core/sheath composite filament. A toothbrush is configured using bundles of bristles configured from core/sheath composite filaments that have a quadrangular cross section in the plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and comprise a core (2), which is formed from a synthetic resin fiber, and a sheath (3), which integrally covers the core (2) and is formed from an elastomer that is compatible with the synthetic resin constituting the core (2). Tufts configured from a plurality of the core/sheath composite filaments (1) are tufted in the center portion of a tufting plate.

Abstract: A refill head for an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, wherein the refill head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the refill head to an oral care implement handle that ensures proper alignment and simplifies the loading and unloading of the refill head to the oral care implement handle. In one embodiment, the refill head comprises a tubular sleeve forming a cavity and first and second upper cam surfaces that form shoulders within the cavity. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots of different configurations that prevent loading of the refill head onto the oral care implement handle in an improper rotational orientation through interaction with first and second bosses on the oral care implement handle.

Abstract: A toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a brush head including one or more cleaning elements; a handle; and a neck connecting the brush head and the handle. The one or more cleaning elements include at least one or more elastomeric cleaning elements having a first plastic material and one or more bristle tuft cleaning elements. The at least one or more cleaning elements are embedded into a second plastic material by over-molding. The Shore hardness of the second plastic material is greater than the Shore hardness of the first plastic material and the brush head is formed from the second plastic material during over-molding of the one or more cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head; an oral member coupled to the body, the oral member comprising a water-soluble material; a reservoir in the body; and a fluid pathway in the body, the fluid pathway in fluid communication with the oral member

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring motion parameters of an object are described in the present disclosure. In an embodiment, a sensor, coupled to a housing, senses motion associated with the housing and provides a sensor output based on the sensed motion. A processing device receives the sensor output, accumulates counts associated with the sensor output, and provides an output once a threshold associated with the accumulated counts is reached. A vibrotactile device, that receives the output from the processing device, provides a haptic output in response to the output from the processing device.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing oral care implement with fluid delivery system. The implement includes a storage member containing a fluid. A channel formed of one or more wicking or capillary members extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver fluid(s) through one or more fluid outlets via capillary action. In one embodiment, the fluid outlet is comprised of a wicking or capillary material and is disposed in the head of the implement. In some embodiments, the implement may include a valve and a specially configured storage cap. A variety of fluids can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, tooth sensitivity, plaque and/or tartar control, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling.

Abstract: A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. A pliant base on the handle can be used to activate the activation device to initiate the illumination circuit.

Abstract: A toothbrush head with a bristle support to which a plurality of tuft-shaped cleaning elements are affixed is described. The bristle support including at least one movable rocker having a first end attached to it on the side remote from a handpiece and having a free second end which is on the side close to the handpiece. Said rocker carrying at least one row of cleaning elements. At least the cleaning elements arranged on the rocker furthest from a longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush head have their free ends inwardly tilted towards said longitudinal center plane at an acute angle.

Abstract: An oral care implement that emits a scent. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a toothbrush comprising: a base component having a gripping region and an oral engaging region, wherein said base component comprises a first scenting agent; and a second component covering at least a portion of said base component in said gripping region, to control a rate of release of said first scenting agent from said base component in said gripping region.

Abstract: A toothbrush apparatus includes a handle with a longitudinal axis and a toothbrush head constructed and arranged to hold multiple bristles. The bristles are formed in a non-circular configuration. The non-circular configuration is on a distal end, or a portion including the distal end, or the entire bristle. A wall defining an elongated bristle body of each bristle tapers from a base end towards a chisel end of the elongated bristle body. The toothbrush head is of an arcuate shape that conforms to a dental arch. The toothbrush apparatus includes one or more bristle carriers for detachably attaching multiple bristles to the toothbrush head. The second end of each of the bristles of predetermined heights defines a first curved trim profile and a perpendicular second curved trim profile. The bristles in the first curved trim profile at a terminal end of the toothbrush head are extended to reach rear teeth.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements for enhanced cleaning of the teeth. The tooth cleaning elements include cleaning elements that define a radial array arrangement for better retention of the dentifrice. A radial array may be strategically disposed in an off-axis arrangement within other cleaning elements on the head.

Abstract: Tooth cleaning devices. An embodiment of a tooth cleaning device includes: an elongated head sized to fit in an oral cavity. The elongated head having a first surface and a neck extending from the head. A first tooth cleaning element having a plurality of upstanding wiping members extends upward from below the first surface and extends radially outward from a center of the first tooth cleaning element. Each upstanding wiping member has a free outermost edge that extends upwards substantially from the first surface to the top of the wiping member. A plurality of upstanding arcuate shaped second tooth cleaning elements secured to the head and located outboard of the first tooth cleaning element are also provided. In addition, a plurality of upstanding third tooth cleaning elements are secured to the head and border an edge of the first surface. The third tooth cleaning elements have a circular cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided with a head platform having an opening extending between first and second faces. A first cavity may be defined between the first face and an upper support ledge and a second cavity may be defined between the second face and a lower support ledge. A channel may be defined between the upper and lower support ledges and an area circumscribed within the upper support ledge may be greater than an area circumscribed within the lower support ledge. First and second plates may be attached to the head platform proximate the first cavity and channel, respectively. A shoulder of the first plate may be received on the upper support ledge such that first cleaning elements extend away from the first face. A shoulder of the second plate may be received on the lower support ledge such that second cleaning elements extend through the second cavity away from the second face.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle and a head mounted to the handle. The head may generally include a membrane attached to it and configured for attachment to a cleaning element. The membrane may be generally dome shaped and may be resiliently flexible when a brushing force is applied. A plurality of cleaning elements is mounted to the membrane. The cleaning elements may be attached using anchor free tufting. In addition, the cleaning elements may be sufficiently spaced so as to allow separation of the melted portion of the cleaning elements. In another arrangement, the head may also include walls or dams positioned between the cleaning elements. The walls prevent the melted portion of the cleaning elements from merging with the melted portion of another cleaning element. This isolation of the molten nylon allows the cleaning elements to move independently of each other.

Abstract: An oral care implement includes a handle, a head mounted to one end of the handle that includes a first face having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom and a second face, a store of dentifrice retained at the head, and a film matrix retained at the head containing at least one rapidly releasable agent. A soft tissue cleaner can be included on the second face. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the film matrix. In addition, dentifrice can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the store of dentifrice. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can include, for example, a flavoring agent, a dentifrice, or a therapeutic agent. The toothbrush can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.

Abstract: A molding process and a mold for manufacturing a toothbrush of plastic material with a resistant inner core, is disclosed. It is provided to manufacture a resistant inner core, and to introduce it into a mold cavity having opposite footprints belonging to a lower half-mold and an upper half-mold and to subsequently inject molten plastic material into the mold cavity for manufacturing at least part of the toothbrush handle. A resistant metal core is placed into a respective footprint of the lower half-mold in contact with at least two support platforms, adapted to support the core in the proximity of a central line of the mold cavity, and before the injection of structural plastic material, to couple the lower half-mold with an upper half-mold having at least one ribbing to contact with the metal core at least in a position between the support platforms and in a position opposite thereto.

Abstract: A composition for dissolving or reducing the viscosity of sputum on a surface of a device includes an effective amount of glycerol and an effective amount of dextran sulfate in a saline solution. The effective amount of glycerol is between about 30-50% and the effective amount of dextran sulfate is between about 10-30%. The composition may further include an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion (12 or 55) and a brushhead portion (14 or 57) with a bristle set (20 or 53) at one end of the brushhead. At least one sensor (16 or 56 is located either on the handle of the toothbrush or on the bristle set back plate (54) of the toothbrush. When the sensor is located on the handle of the toothbrush, the position of the brushhead is determined by a processor (44 or 58) relative to the inside or outside surfaces of the teeth on the basis of the temperature detected by the sensor, either the outside environmental temperature or the skin temperature of the user. When the sensor is located on the bristle set back plate, the determination is made on the basis of the position of the bristle set relative to the cheek of the user.

Abstract: A device with two or more regions configured to clean or treat a working surface is disclosed. Preferably, the device is an oral-care device with a power cleaning head. The power cleaning head comprises two or more regions, wherein at least one of the regions is configured to move and wherein at least one of the regions comprises a squeegee element. Preferably, the regions are configured to independently rotate, oscillate, vibrate or otherwise move while cleaning teeth and gums and can each include bristles, nodules, squeegee elements, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a toothbrush comprises providing an integral head mold configured to simultaneously form bristles and head board in one injection molding process, heating head molding material to a predetermined temperature, filling the integral head mold with the head molding material in an injection molding machine, applying pressure to the integral head mold for a predetermined period and applying a cooling process to the integral head mold to produce a molded integral head. The molded integral head includes bristles molded on a head board.

Abstract: The brush head of the toothbrush has filaments that are pointed at one end and led through clearances in the bristle carrier. These filaments have a length of about 10-20 mm. The tips of the pointed filaments produce a height profile other than that of a plane and the ends of the pointed filaments that are remote from the tips are melted.

Abstract: A personal care implement or toothbrush includes a sensor for detecting a position of the toothbrush and orientation display for providing content to a user. The display may be configured to present content in a mirror-image format. The personal care implement may be configured to operate in one or more modes of operation. One or more components may be included for setting variables associated with the modes of operation, for changing an orientation of the displayed content between a mirror-image format and forward-facing format, and for changing the particular mode of operation.

Abstract: An improved antimicrobial electric toothbrush and method includes a handle, a tip, and a plurality of bristle tufts and a drive mechanism. The bristle tufts may include four tufts of 10.5 mm length and another four tufts of 5.5 mm length. The tips of the bristle tufts may additionally be spaced apart and includes a cone shaped tip. The size and diameters of the bristle tufts may be combined with the reciprocating movement of the bristle tufts such that the bristle tips can reach into the crevices and tight spaces between the teeth and between the teeth and gums where no conventional toothbrush can reach. A second component of the apparatus may include an improved brush design with two counter rotating arrays of bristle tufts for use in polishing the teeth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toothbrush having a cleaning element formed of a plastic injection molded component, comprising an attachment segment for attachment in the head region of the toothbrush and a cleaning segment for cleaning teeth, and having at least one indentation in the region of the cleaning segment, around which the cleaning segment has an increased bending flexibility.

Abstract: An oral care implement may include a base portion sized for insertion into an oral cavity and a plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements extending from the base portion, wherein each of the plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements comprises an edge, wherein at least one of the edges comprises a micro edge, and wherein the plurality of flexible, elastomeric elements comprises an element density of less than about 5 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toothbrush that is produced by AFT and has a head part and at least one carrier element connected thereto. A front surface of the head part is formed by the top surfaces of the at least one carrier element and has a non-planar three-dimensional configuration, or is capable of assuming such a configuration during intended use. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

Abstract: A bristle configuration providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. At least one elongated bristle tuft is formed to at least partially enclose an area, and a complementary-shaped tuft is provided in the at least partially enclosed area. The elongated tuft and the complementary tuft have angled profiles angled to a different degree, and preferably also in a different direction. A series of elongated tufts with angled profiles may be provided to form an overall bristle profile providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. In addition, one or more tufts may be provided along the elongated tufts to form another tuft pattern along the pattern formed by the elongated tufts. In one embodiment, the other tuft pattern presents a contoured bristle profile angled to a different degree from the profile of the elongated tufts along with the other tuft pattern is provided.

Abstract: An eating/oral care device has a concave or curved head and spaced-apart, broad protrusions in the interior space of the head, for children or challenged adults having difficulty with a conventional fork or spoon. The protrusions are fewer and more spaced-apart, and have a larger diameter to length to ratio, than toothbrush or other conventional bristles. The protrusions have a lower diameter to length ratio than nubs or bumps. The head may be an elongated, curved arm, having low or no sidewalls and an upwardly-extending rear end serving as a food and safety stop. Multiple longitudinal rows of protrusions may extend along the curved upper surface of the arm. The preferred utensil handle is spherical, which allows the user to grasp the device comfortably and naturally in various orientations, and to handle the utensil in a way that improves food-pick-up and aiming at the mouth.

Abstract: A toothbrush designed to enable horizontal brushing of the contact line between the teeth and the gums, which is composed of a handle and a brush. One end of the handle has a protruding arm, which constitutes an extension of the handle's longitudinal axis and ends in a ball. The brush is convex-concave/bean shaped with protruding bristles on one side and a hollow socket attached to the other side; the socket has an opening that faces the handle. To attach the brush to the handle, the ball is inserted into the cavity in the socket, so that a ball and socket joint is formed that enables the user to spatially change the angle between the brush and the handle.

Abstract: A toothbrush training system for children includes an instrumented toothbrush with physics sensors, along with optional feedback elements, interacting with a dynamic audio-visual instructional program providing guidance, assessment and feedback on proper brushing procedures. The system provides instruction on tooth brushing technique in combination with monitoring and corrective feedback based on that technique in the context of an audio-visual game environment. The instructional program uses an animated character to illustrate the desired toothbrush positioning and movement for cleaning specific tooth surfaces. The content and progress of the audio-visual presentation may be dynamically altered based on data received from the toothbrush to adjust the presentation in response to a comparison of the instructional information and the actual tooth brushing movement performed by the user.

Abstract: [Problem] Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a spherical brush having highly dense brush bristles for easy cleaning of periodontal pockets and a cylindrical brush having the brush bristles highly dense brush bristles at a ball portion of a tip thereof, and a brush manufactured by the manufacturing method. [Solution means] A fiber bundle, which is composed of a number of short fibers prepared by cutting long fibers, is gripped between a set of U-shaped wires arranged to crisscross with each other to form a loop. The open ends of the U-shaped wires are pulled and twisted in opposite directions, so that the fibers at the portion gripped by the U-shaped wires are compressed to reduce the size of their bundled areas.

Abstract: A toothbrush including a handle, a head and a moving mechanism, where the head includes a head base; and at least two bristles sets: two outer bristles sets and a middle bristles set located therebetween. The moving mechanism connects to the two outer bristles sets for rotating thereof in respect to a main axis of the toothbrush for shifting the bristle sets between at least two positions: an open position, in which the outer bristles sets are angularly shifted away from the main axis; and a closed position, in which the outer bristles sets not angularly shifted away from the main axis, wherein in the closed position the bristles of all bristles sets are more dense than in the other positions providing a substantially harder toothbrush thereby allowing a user to change hardness level of the toothbrush by changing the position of the outer bristles sets.

Abstract: An interproximal squirt brush, includes a solution container having a solution chamber for containing a solution and a hollow nozzle head having an opening communicating with the solution chamber; and a brush head having an elongated retention portion replaceably coupling at the opening of the nozzle head and a brush portion extended from the retention portion, wherein a clearance is formed between the opening and the retention portion of the brush head for enabling the solution from the solution chamber being discharged to the brush portion of the brush head along the retention portion.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a head frame and a cleaning elements assembly attached thereto with tooth cleaning elements extending from one or more carriers. One or more central carriers can be suspended via a flexible bridge between a pair of support carriers attached to the head frame. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central carriers to move from an initial position toward the head frame during use. The bridge may include rigid supports and flexible elastomeric supports. The carriers and the bridge can be formed as a unitary assembly attached to the head frame, such as via mechanical connections. The mechanical connections could include snap-fit connections.

Abstract: A toothbrush has a body having one end provided with a toothbrushing element and another opposite end, the body also having at least a part formed so that when the toothbrush is inclined, even close to a horizontal position, it automatically turns back to a substantially vertical orientation to prevent a contact of the toothbrushing element with a supporting surface.

Abstract: A toothbrush head having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface is described herein. The head has a first portion, a second portion, and an opening between the first portion and the second portion. The opening extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. A first plurality of contact elements are positioned on the first portion and the second portion. A second plurality of contact elements are positioned on the first portion and the second portion. Each of the second plurality of contact elements has an elastomer.

Abstract: An oral hygiene implement includes a cleaning element carrier and a body. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The cleaning element carrier has a first area and a second area wherein the second area is disposed inboard of the first area. The first area is attached to the body while the second area is unattached to the body. A bending element is disposed between the first area and the second area, thereby allowing the second area to bend/flex while the first area stays fixed to the body.

Abstract: Compositions for a foaming oral cleaner and related methods and products are disclosed. In one such method, a foaming oral cleaner may be dispensed onto a cleaning surface of a tongue cleaning device in a manner to foam the foaming oral cleaner. A surface of the tongue may be brushed using a tongue brush of the tongue cleaning device, thereby applying the foaming oral cleaner to the surface of the tongue. The brushing of the surface of the tongue can dislodge and loosen material on the surface of the tongue. The surface of the tongue can be scraped using a tongue scraper of the tongue cleaning device to scrape dislodged and loosened material from the surface of the tongue. The foaming oral cleaner may be a composition comprising water, a foaming agent, a sweetener, a flavoring agent, an antimicrobial agent comprising a biologically active enzyme, a preservative, and a coloring agent.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a handle with a longitudinal axis, a toothbrush head, constructed and arranged to hold bristles and a plurality of bristles, whereby said bristles are formed in a non-circular configuration whereby the non circular configuration is on at least one of a distal end, a portion including the distal end or the entire bristle.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements, such as tufts of bristles, extending from the head. Each tooth cleaning element is supported for rotation about primarily only one axis. Each tooth cleaning element is rotatable independent of the other tooth cleaning element(s).