Abstract: An oral care implement (100) includes an elastomeric component and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the oral care implement (100) includes a handle (120) and a head (110). The elastomeric component is positioned on at least one of the handle (120) and the head (110). The elastomeric component includes a body, a plurality of the first particles (202), and a plurality of the second particles (203). The body comprises a transparent or translucent elastomeric material. The pluralities of first and second particles are embedded in the body of the elastomeric component. The plurality of first particles (202) includes a first color and the plurality of second particles (203) includes a second color. The elastomeric component may form a tissue cleanser (140) on a rear surface of the head, an elastomeric tooth cleaning element (150) on a front surface of the head, and/or a grip (121) on the handle (120).

Abstract: An oral care implement is described. The oral care implement may include a head extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. A central bristle tuft may from a central portion of the first surface. A plurality of perimetric bristle tufts may from the first surface and arranged to circumferentially surround the central bristle tuft. The perimetric bristle tufts may have distal ends that slope downwardly towards the central bristle tuft. The perimetric bristle tufts may be wedge shaped.

Abstract: An oral implement and a method of forming an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a head having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface. In one embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include three different types of tooth cleaning elements, each type of tooth cleaning element being formed of a different material. In one embodiment each of the materials has a different hardness and thus the oral care implement includes three different types of tooth cleaning elements each having a different hardness. In another embodiment, the oral care implement may include bristles and a molded cleaning element that may function as an interdental cleaner. Such a molded cleaning element may include a body and tines extending therefrom.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a handle and an oral care refill head. The oral care refill head is alterable between a first state in which it is separated from the handle and a second state in which it is coupled to the handle. The oral care refill head has a proximal edge surface that defines an opening into a sleeve cavity. The proximal edge surface is inclined with radial distance from a cavity axis of the sleeve cavity. Similarly, the handle has a gripping portion that terminates at a distal end and a stem that protrudes from the distal end. The annular shoulder that is inclined downwardly and away from a stem to facilitate mating of the oral care refill head to the handle. The oral care refill head may have features for securing the oral care refill head to the stem of the handle.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a head having a face with a tuft hole therein. A plurality of bristles are disposed within the tuft hole and arranged in a bristle tuft that extends from the face of the head. The bristle tuft includes a first subset of the bristles and a second subset of the bristles. Each of the bristles has a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile having a major axis and a minor axis, the major axes of the bristles being longer than the minor axes of the bristles. The major axes of the bristles of the first subset may be non-parallel to the major axes of the bristles of the second subset.

Abstract: A personal care implement includes a treatment device having a longitudinal axis and including a treatment portion having at least one treatment element; a connection portion having a main body and a first resilient snap attachment protruding from the main body, the main body formed of a first material having a first hardness and the first resilient snap attachment formed of a second material having a second hardness, the first hardness being greater than the second hardness; and the treatment device is alterable between: (1) a detached state; and (2) an assembled state in which the treatment device is detachably coupled to a grip section such that the first resilient snap attachment cooperates with and engages a first engagement portion of the grip section to secure the treatment device to the grip section.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a head with a bristle bearing surface. The oral care implement may include a central bristle tuft extending from a central portion of the bristle bearing surface, the central bristle tuft terminating in a domed distal surface. Furthermore, the oral care implement may include a plurality of perimetric bristle tufts extending from the bristle bearing surface and arranged to circumferentially surround the central bristle tuft. Each of the perimetric bristle tufts may have an inclined distal surface that slopes downward towards the central bristle tuft. The bristle bearing surface of the head may have a total surface area (TSA), and the toothbrush may include a tooth cleaning element field having X number of tooth cleaning elements that collectively occupy a total cleaning element area (TCEA) such that 1 X × T ? C ? E ? A T ? S ? A = Z and L is in a range of 0.04 to 0.065.

Abstract: An implement having a base structure with a core component and a shell component that surrounds the core component. The core component may include a body formed of a rigid material and decorative elements embedded within the body. The shell component may be formed of a substantially transparent material so that the decorative elements of the core are visible through the shell component.

Abstract: A toothbrush handle includes a support structure formed of clarified polypropylene and a body formed of thermoplastic elastomer disposed on the support structure. The support structure includes a web having a thickness in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of the toothbrush handle of less than 2 millimeters and at least one rib depending from the web and having a thickness in a second direction, orthogonal to the axis and angled relative to the first direction, of less than about 2 millimeters. The body at least partially covers the web and the at least one rib. The handle has a light transmissivity of greater than 40% through a portion of the handle at which the body covers the web and the at least one rib.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a head and a handle. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from an exposed front surface of the head. The handle has an open thumb gripping passageway extending between an exposed first surface of the handle and an exposed second surface of the handle opposite the exposed first surface. The handle also has a plurality of slots defining open slot passageways from the exposed first surface of the handle to the exposed second surface of the handle. The open thumb gripping passageway may be defined by a ring component that is fitted into an aperture in a body component. The open thumb gripping passageway may be a void space in the handle. The open slot passageways may be elongated along the handle and may serve to reduce a total amount of virgin material needed to manufacture the oral care implement.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a head and a handle. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from an exposed front surface of the head. The handle has an open thumb gripping passageway extending between an exposed first surface of the handle and an exposed second surface of the handle opposite the exposed first surface. The handle also has a plurality of slots defining open slot passageways from the exposed first surface of the handle to the exposed second surface of the handle. The open thumb gripping passageway may be defined by a ring component that is fitted into an aperture in a body component. The open thumb gripping passageway may be a void space in the handle. The open slot passageways may be elongated along the handle and may serve to reduce a total amount of virgin material needed to manufacture the oral care implement.

Abstract: An oral care implement used for treatment of a user's oral cavity. The oral care implement may include a body having a longitudinal axis, a first hard plastic component, and a second hard plastic component. The first hard plastic component may have a front surface having a perimeter portion and a central portion that is surrounded by the perimeter portion, the central portion being recessed relative to the perimeter portion. The second hard plastic component may be positioned on the central portion of the first hard plastic component and surrounded by the perimeter portion of the first hard plastic component. The second hard plastic component may have an outer surface with a plurality of grooves that are elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A personal care implement includes a treatment device having a longitudinal axis and including a treatment portion having at least one treatment element; a connection portion having a main body and a first resilient snap attachment protruding from the main body, the main body formed of a first material having a first hardness and the first resilient snap attachment formed of a second material having a second hardness, the first hardness being greater than the second hardness; and the treatment device is alterable between: (1) a detached state; and (2) an assembled state in which the treatment device is detachably coupled to a grip section such that the first resilient snap attachment cooperates with and engages a first engagement portion of the grip section to secure the treatment device to the grip section.

Abstract: A toothbrush handle includes a support structure formed of clarified polypropylene and a body formed of thermoplastic elastomer disposed on the support structure. The support structure includes a web having a thickness in a first direction orthogonal to an axis of the toothbrush handle of less than 2 millimeters and at least one rib depending from the web and having a thickness in a second direction, orthogonal to the axis and angled relative to the first direction, of less than about 2 millimeters. The body at least partially covers the web and the at least one rib. The handle has a light transmissivity of greater than 40% through a portion of the handle at which the body covers the web and the at least one rib.

Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.

Abstract: Described herein is an oral care implement comprising a body having a head portion, a gripping portion, and a neck portion located between the head and gripping portions, a plurality of tooth engaging elements extending from the head portion, the body comprising a first component formed of a first hard plastic having a first ductility; and a second component formed of a second hard plastic having a second ductility that is greater than the first ductility.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a head with a front surface and a plurality of contact elements extending from the head. The plurality of contact elements are arranged in a pattern that may have the visual appearance of a flower. Specifically, the pattern may comprise a first set of contact elements arranged in a first loop about a reference axis and a second set of contact elements arranged in a second loop that surrounds the first loop. The pattern may also include a third set of contact elements arranged in a third loop that surrounds the second loop. Each of the contact elements of the first, second, and third sets may be inclined relative to the front surface of the head so as to diverge from the reference axis.

Abstract: An oral care implement including a handle and a head. The oral care implement may be formed entirely out of a resilient or flexible material. The head may include a base structure and a monolithic cleaning unit. The monolithic cleaning unit may include a block portion extending from a front surface of the base structure and a plurality of protuberances extending from a distal end of the block portion. The block portion may have a greater height than the protuberances. The protuberances may include central protuberances that extend from a distal surface of the block portion and peripheral protuberances that surround the block portion and extend from the front surface of the base structure. The monolithic cleaning unit may include ribs extending between adjacently positioned protuberances. The oral care implement may be suitable for babies.