Abstract: A personal care device including a body portion; a cleaning unit having a set of cleaning elements, the set of cleaning elements extending in an axis of alignment; a controller and an actuator assembly arranged to be driven by the controller. The actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to generate first and second periodic movements, wherein the first and second periodic movements operate at different frequencies or out-of-phase with each other. The first periodic movement causes the cleaning elements to move in a first direction about a central axis of the personal care device or along a line that is tangential to a platen of the cleaning unit. The second periodic movement causes the cleaning elements to move in a second direction that is different than the first direction, wherein the second direction is normal to the platen of the cleaning unit.

Abstract: A power toothbrush device (100) including a brush head member (104) having a set of bristles (116); a body portion (102) coupled with the brush head member; and a drivetrain assembly (122). The drivetrain assembly includes an actuator (840) configured to generate periodic linear movement and a drivetrain shaft (124, 824) configured to transmit the generated periodic linear movement to the brush head member. The set of bristles are configured to be driven in a first direction (TM) at an amplitude equal to or greater than 0.25 mm and less than 3 mm and a frequency equal to or greater than 0.25 Hz and less than 520 Hz in the first direction. The drivetrain shaft is further configured to periodically rotate the set of bristles in a second direction (SM) about a central axis of the power toothbrush device.

Abstract: A brushing component is provided. The brushing component comprises an inner group of angled bristle tufts arranged with rotational symmetry about a point of symmetry. The brushing component also comprises a set of outer groups of angled bristle tufts surrounding the inner group and having rotational symmetry with respect to a second point of symmetry. The first and second points of symmetry are both positioned on a longitudinal axis of the support surface. The proposed component provides improved brushing performance to an increased proportion of the user's oral surface over conventional brushing components.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23); a plurality of retention rings (50) each comprising an upper portion (51), a lower portion (53), an exterior wall (55) and an interior wall (57), and each configured to receive the proximal end of at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein at least one of the plurality of retention rings comprises a transverse projection (71, 72) extending from the exterior and/or interior wall of the retention ring; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of each of the plurality of retention rings and the proximal end of each of the plurality of bristle tufts.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a supporting portion (42) of a brush neck (40); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), wherein each of the plurality of bristle tufts comprises a proximal end head portion (26) melted into a first shape within a mold; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of the hard brush neck and the proximal end head portions, wherein the first shape of the proximal end head portion is configured to engage the elastomeric matrix such that the bristle tufts are retained within the elastomeric matrix.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a brush head includes the steps of providing a plurality of bristle tuft retention elements, and inserting at least one bristle tuft into each of the bristle tuft retention elements. The proximal end of each bristle tuft is secured into each bristle tuft retention element. The platen portion of the brush neck is positioned in relation to the proximal ends of the bristle tufts in the retaining elements to define a space in relation to the proximal ends of the bristle tufts. A flexible material is injected into the space to create a flexible material matrix that at least partially encompasses the neck and the proximal ends of the bristle tufts. At least a portion of an exterior of the flexible material matrix is coated with a protective coating.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23); a plurality of retention rings (50) each comprising an upper portion (51), a lower portion (53), an exterior wall (55) and an interior wall (57), and each configured to receive the proximal end of at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein at least one of the plurality of retention rings comprises a transverse projection (71, 72) extending from the exterior and/or interior wall of the retention ring; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of each of the plurality of retention rings and the proximal end of each of the plurality of bristle tufts.

Abstract: A personal care appliance (10), or power toothbrush, comprises a handle (16) including a drive train (20), a motor controller (18), and an attachment (12) that includes a resonant structure (14). The motor controller (18) controls an operation of the drive train (20) to produce at least one of a first mechanical stimulus and a second mechanical stimulus, the first mechanical stimulus comprising a first cleaning motion (42) having a first resonant frequency, the second mechanical stimulus comprising a second movement having a second resonant frequency. The resonant structure (14) implements the first cleaning motion (42) and an additional resonant motion (44,46,48,50,52,60) as well as the cleaning motion (42).

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23); a plurality of retention rings (50) each comprising an upper portion (51), a lower portion (53), an exterior wall (55) and an interior wall (57), and each configured to receive the proximal end of at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein at least one of the plurality of retention rings comprises a transverse projection (71, 72) extending from the exterior and/or interior wall of the retention ring; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of each of the plurality of retention rings and the proximal end of each of the plurality of bristle tufts.

Abstract: A whitening smart pen apparatus (10) for automatically dispensing a teeth whitening substance onto one or more teeth of a user comprises a fluid reservoir (16), a nozzle (18) having an output port (26), a fluid dispenser (20), a sensor (22) and a controller (24). The fluid dispenser dispenses the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle and is output via the output port. The sensor, positioned in an advance dispensing direction of the nozzle, senses a target surface that comprises either (i) a tooth surface (12) or (ii) other surface (14). The controller (24) is configured for (i) controlling a gating of the fluid dispenser (20) to dispense the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir (16) in response to the sensor (22) detecting the tooth surface (12), and (ii) stopping or disabling the gating of the fluid dispenser to stop or disable a dispensing of the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir in response to the sensor (22) detecting the other surface (14).

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a supporting portion (42) of a brush neck (40); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), wherein each of the plurality of bristle tufts comprises a proximal end head portion (26) melted into a first shape within a mold; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of the hard brush neck and the proximal end head portions, wherein the first shape of the proximal end head portion is configured to engage the elastomeric matrix such that the bristle tufts are retained within the elastomeric matrix.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including a neck (40) having a brush neck (42); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands with a free end (25) and a proximal end (23), the proximal end having a proximal end head portion (26); a plurality of retention rings (50), each configured to receive the proximal end of at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts; an elastomeric matrix (30) bonded to at least a portion of the brush neck, the plurality of retention rings, and the proximal end of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein the proximal end head portion of each of the plurality of bristle tufts is configured to comprise a space (27) between the proximal end head portion and the respective retention ring.

Abstract: A brush head having a distal end, including: an elastomeric matrix including a first surface, and a plurality of retention rings disposed in the elastomeric matrix, each of which includes a first end, a second end positioned closer to the first surface of the elastomeric matrix than the first end, an interior wall with a central longitudinal axis, and an exterior wall. The interior wall of at least a first retention ring is generally circular in shape; the interior wall of at least a second retention ring is generally non-circular in shape; the exterior wall is generally non-circular in shape; and at least one of the interior wall or the exterior wall includes a taper. The brush head can also include a plurality of bristle tufts, each of which is inserted into one of the plurality of retaining rings.

Abstract: A brush head (100), including: an elastomeric matrix (30) including a first surface (32); a plurality of retention rings (50) disposed in the elastomeric matrix, each of which includes a first end (51), a second end (53) positioned closer to the first surface of the elastomeric matrix than the first end, an interior wall (55) forming an interior space (59) with a central longitudinal axis (111), and an exterior wall (57). At least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall of at least a first retention ring of the plurality of retention rings (50) includes a taper (61, 67, 73, 63, 69, 71). A plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands, having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), is retained at its proximal end within the interior space of one of the plurality of retention rings.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including: a supporting portion (42) of a brush neck (40); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), wherein each of the plurality of bristle tufts comprises a proximal end head portion (26) melted into a first shape within a mold; and an elastomeric matrix (30) comprising at least a portion of the hard brush neck and the proximal end head portions, wherein the first shape of the proximal end head portion is configured to engage the elastomeric matrix such that the bristle tufts are retained within the elastomeric matrix.

Abstract: A method (200) for manufacturing a brush head (100). The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of polypropylene bristle tuft retention rings (50), and inserting a respective nylon bristle tuft (21) into each of the bristle tuft retention rings. Heat is applied to each bristle tuft proximal end (23) at a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt the bristle tuft proximal end and create a proximal head portion (26). The platen (42) of the brush head is positioned in relation to the retaining rings (50) and proximal head portions (26) to define a space (92) in relation to the proximal head portions for injection of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the thermoplastic elastomer is injected into the space to create an elastomeric matrix (30) that at least partially encompasses the neck and the proximal head portions.

Abstract: A whitening smart pen apparatus (10) for automatically dispensing a teeth whitening substance onto one or more teeth of a user comprises a fluid reservoir (16), a nozzle (18) having an output port (26), a fluid dispenser (20), a sensor (22) and a controller (24). The fluid dispenser dispenses the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle and is output via the output port. The sensor, positioned in an advance dispensing direction of the nozzle, senses a target surface that comprises either (i) a tooth surface (12) or (ii) other surface (14). The controller (24) is configured for (i) controlling a gating of the fluid dispenser (20) to dispense the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir (16) in response to the sensor (22) detecting the tooth surface (12), and (ii) stopping or disabling the gating of the fluid dispenser to stop or disable a dispensing of the teeth whitening substance from the fluid reservoir in response to the sensor (22) detecting the other surface (14).

Abstract: A brush head assembly (100) including: a hard platen (24); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25); and an elastomeric matrix (30) bonded to the hard platen, where each of the bristle tufts is bonded directly to the elastomeric matrix without a retention element. A brush head assembly (100) includes: a hard platen (24) with a plurality of bristle tuft holes (28); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), where each of the plurality of bristle tufts are inserted into a respective one of the bristle tuft holes; and an elastomeric matrix (30) that at least partially encompasses the hard platen and the proximal end of the bristle tufts.

Abstract: A brush head assembly (100) including: a hard platen (24); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25); and an elastomeric matrix (30) bonded to the hard platen, where each of the bristle tufts is bonded directly to the elastomeric matrix without a retention element. A brush head assembly (100) includes: a hard platen (24) with a plurality of bristle tuft holes (28); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), where each of the plurality of bristle tufts are inserted into a respective one of the bristle tuft holes; and an elastomeric matrix (30) that at least partially encompasses the hard platen and the proximal end of the bristle tufts.

Abstract: A brush head (32) including a neck (40) having a brush neck (42); a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which includes a plurality of bristle strands with a free end (25) and a proximal end (23), the proximal end having a proximal end head portion (26); a plurality of retention rings (50), each configured to receive the proximal end of at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts; an elastomeric matrix (30) bonded to at least a portion of the brush neck, the plurality of retention rings, and the proximal end of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein the proximal end head portion of each of the plurality of bristle tufts is configured to comprise a space (27) between the proximal end head portion and the respective retention ring.