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: 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: 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: A toothbrush that enhances cleaning and user comfort while brushing. In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises a cleaning element support member, or base member, that permits a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. In an embodiment, the support member comprises a head support having an overhanging portion and a portion free of an overhang.

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 that enhances cleaning and user comfort while brushing. In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises a cleaning element support member, or base member, that permits a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. In an embodiment, the support member comprises a head support having an overhanging portion and a portion free of an overhang.

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: An oral care implement is disclosed that comprises a handle and a head. The head comprises a base structure having a front surface. A cleaning element carrier is provided that includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The cleaning element carrier is supported so that the bottom surface of the cleaning element carrier is spaced from the front surface of the base structure. At least a portion of the cleaning element carrier is movable relative to the base structure in a direction towards the front surface of the base structure. A plurality of first cleaning elements are mounted to the cleaning element carrier and extend from the top surface of the cleaning element carrier. A plurality of second cleaning elements are mounted to the base structure and extend from the front surface of the base structure and beyond the top surface of the cleaning element carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a connection component configured to connect the apparatus to any one of a plurality of different apparatuses. A toothbrush may include at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of an oral care region, and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of a plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter. Another toothbrush may include a processor configured to receive first data from an external source component and output second data corresponding to the received first data to at least one output device in response, and the at least output device configured to output the second data from the processor.

Abstract: An oral care implement and method for forming the same is provided. The oral care implement comprises a handle and a head having a base structure. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the base structure. One end of each of the plurality of cleaning elements is connected to one another. At least one of the plurality of cleaning elements is a spiral bristle.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral care implement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method that includes molding a head platform having an opening extending between a first face and a second face, a first cavity defined between the first face and an upper support ledge, a second cavity defined between the second face and a lower support ledge, a channel defined between the upper and lower support ledges, an area circumscribed within the upper support ledge greater than an area circumscribed within the lower support ledge; providing a first plate having a first shoulder and cleaning elements; providing a second plate having a second shoulder and cleaning elements; inserting the second plate through the first cavity until the second shoulder is received on the lower support ledge; inserting and affixing the first plate within the first cavity, the first shoulder received on the upper support ledge.

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 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: A method of forming an oral care implement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method that includes molding a head platform having an opening extending between a first face and a second face, a first cavity defined between the first face and an upper support ledge, a second cavity defined between the second face and a lower support ledge, a channel defined between the upper and lower support ledges, an area circumscribed within the upper support ledge greater than an area circumscribed within the lower support ledge; providing a first plate having a first shoulder and cleaning elements; providing a second plate having a second shoulder and cleaning elements; inserting the second plate through the first cavity until the second shoulder is received on the lower support ledge; inserting and affixing the first plate within the first cavity, the first shoulder received on the upper support ledge.

Abstract: Toothbrushes comprising components with light transmitting and structural characteristics provide enhanced visual and other sensory effects. The components in combination are generally chemically compatible and function to provide areas of varying visibility of features. At least one of the components may include a scenting agent.

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: 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.