Abstract: A therapeutic formulation in the form of a beadlet, suitable for oral administration and adapted to provide immediate and sustained release of therapeutic material. Each beadlet comprises an extruded-spheronized inner core containing at least one medicament e.g. a slow release vitamin, an outer layer containing at least one medicament e.g. a fast release vitamin and a controlled release coating between the inner core and the outer layer which coating controls the release of the inner core medicament.

Abstract: A tongue-cleaning device comprised of a handle and a head, the head having tongue cleaning elements made of both a relatively harder material and a relatively softer material.

Abstract: An electrically powered toothbrush comprising a handle which contains an electric motor and power supply, a head part connected to the handle to be driven in motion by the electric motor by a transmission means between the motor and the oral head part. The head part is flexibly and resiliently connected to the handle such that the head part can move resiliently under pressure of the oral hygiene part against a tooth surface. The motor is moveably mounted within the handle and the assembly of motor and transmission means is pivotally connected to the handle at a pivot point between the brush head and the motor. Suitably the handle is in two parts with a flexible connection between the parts.

Abstract: A toothbrush head comprising a flexible bristle carrier such as an elastomer or gel pad or flexibly linked segments, on which bristles are mounted, with a support which supports the carrier at its base near the handle and at the opposite tip part, leaving the carrier unsupported thereby in a region longitudinally between these parts, the carrier being flexible such that it can deform under the forces of toothbrushing so that both its longitudinal and widthways sections become distorted. Preferably the support is also flexible.

Abstract: An injection moulding process for making a moulded article particularly a toothbrush consisting partly of a hard first plastics material by providing a first injection mould introducing a component into the cavity adjacent to the surface; injecting a plastics material into the cavity so that the plastic material is fixed to the component and the component forms part of the outer surface of the article. In a second moulding operation another material such as an elastomer may be injected. A toothbrush product made by this process is also described.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush having a replaceable head section with a plug part which is engageable with a socket in its handle to connect its driveable head to its motor in the handle. The head section has a resiliently deformable end surface, and there is an engaging concavity and convexity in the respective meeting end surfaces of the plug part and the socket. The concavity and convexity engage to facilitate locking together of the head and handle. A separate replaceable head section for such a toothbrush is also provided.

Abstract: An injection moulding process for making a toothbrush involving a stack mould assembly of at least three mould blocks (1, 2, 3, 4) arranged for use along a longitudinal stack axis (A—A), with two end mould blocks (3, 4), and an intermediate mould block (1, 2), with part mould cavities (11A, 21, 31, 41, 51) in the blocks. Plastic toothbrush skeletons are made in a cavity (11A, 21, 31) between the intermediate block (1, 2) and one end block (3), then elastomer parts are made in a cavity (41, 51) between the intermediate block (1, 2) and the other end block (4). Preferably the intermediate block (1) rotates so its part cavity (11A) faces the other end block (4). Stack mould assemblies (1, 2, 3, 4) for this process are provided. The assembly (1, 2, 3, 4) provides a compact mould with high output.

Abstract: A dental cleaning implement such as a toothbrush, having longitudinally disposed first and second parts flexibly joined together. Between the first and second parts is a rotatable member such that when the implement bends the first parts adjacent to the member bear upon the member. The rotatable member has circumferentially disposed relatively softer and harder regions, so that as the member is rotated the parts can be caused to bear compressibly upon selected softer or harder regions.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a head which carries a dental cleaning tool, and a grip handle, the head and handle being disposed along a longitudinal head-handle axis, the toothbrush having a resiliently flexible structure which can resiliently bend under the action of toothbrushing pressure and having adjustment means comprising a longitudinally moveable stiffening member which can be moved longitudinally into greater or lesser engagement with the resiliently flexible structure.