Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle and a head. The head includes a first section having cleaning elements extending outwardly from its outer surface. A ball joint is mounted to the head adjacent to the first section. The ball joint also includes cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface. The head includes resilient material urging the ball joint so be in its initial position after the pivotal movement of the ball joint cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin resilient flexible dome shaped membrane. An air space is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original shape during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original shape randomly during use. In a further practice of the invention the head and/or handle have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothbrush and orientation of the cleaning elements. Alternatively the toothbrush includes a longitudinal hinge collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections, each of which has outwardly extending cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having multiple cleaning elements. One group of the cleaning elements is flexibly mounted on the head and another group may be fixedly mounted on the head. The flexibly mounted cleaning elements are attached to a flexible membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original orientation during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original orientation randomly during use.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin resilient flexible dome shaped membrane. An air space is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original shape during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original shape randomly during use. In a further practice of the invention the head and/or handle have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothbrush and orientation of the cleaning elements. Alternatively the toothbrush includes a longitudinal hinge collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections, each of which has outwardly extending cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle and a head. The head includes a first section having cleaning elements extending outwardly from its outer surface. A ball joint is mounted to the head adjacent to the first section. The ball joint also includes cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface. The head includes resilient material urging the ball joint so be in its initial position after the pivotal movement of the ball joint cleaning elements.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue, which may include cleaning between the papillae of a user's tongue. The soft tissue cleanser may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle having an elongated head mounted to the handle. The head has a longitudinally central portion which comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned segments connected to each other by a joint. Cleaning elements are mounted to the segments and extend outwardly from the outer surface of the head. A shelf-like protrusion extends laterally outwardly from each side of the central section. Further cleaning elements are flexibly mounted to the protrusions. Preferably the shelf-like protrusions are covered with an elastomer. The central section is made of a harder material than the material of the covered protrusions.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tooth cleaning elements may be flexibly mounted in the head for movement from an initial position with respect to the head during use. The soft tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue. The soft tissue cleanser may include a face having hills and valleys upon which the projections are located. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tooth cleaning elements may be attached to a flexible support on the head and be outwardly movable from the head. The cleaning elements may include a column-shaped bristle at the central portion of the flexible support, and may further include a row of first cleaning elements traversing a central region of the flexible support. The soft tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue and may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle and a head. The head includes a first section having cleaning elements extending outwardly from its outer surface. A ball joint is mounted to the head adjacent to the first section. The ball joint also includes cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface. The head includes resilient material urging the ball joint so be in its initial position after the pivotal movement of the ball joint cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush head is provided with a plurality of separate cleaning areas. The distal end and the proximal end of the head include cleaning elements mounted to generally non-movable bases. The central portion of the head includes resilient pods carrying cleaning elements in such a manner that the cleaning elements are capable of bending away from their initial position and then returning to their initial position. In another aspect of the invention the pods are made as a separate unitary subassembly wherein the cleaning elements are bristles in an IMT procedure. The unitary subassembly is secured to the remainder of the cleaning head of the brush during the molding operation of the remainder of the head and the handle. In this aspect of the invention non-movable bases may be provided or may be omitted.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin resilient flexible dome shaped membrane. An air space is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original shape during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original shape randomly during use. In a further practice of the invention the head and/or handle have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothbrush and orientation of the cleaning elements. Alternatively the toothbrush includes a longitudinal hinge collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections, each of which has outwardly extending cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having multiple cleaning elements. One group of the cleaning elements is flexibly mounted on the head and another group may be fixedly mounted on the head. The flexibly mounted cleaning elements are attached to a flexible membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original orientation during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original orientation randomly during use.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle and a head. The head includes a first section having cleaning elements extending outwardly from its outer surface. A ball joint is mounted to the head adjacent to the first section. The ball joint also includes cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface. The head includes resilient material urging the ball joint so be in its initial position after the pivotal movement of the ball joint cleaning elements.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle having an elongated head mounted to the handle. The head has a longitudinally central portion which comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned segments connected to each other by a joint. Cleaning elements are mounted to the segments and extend outwardly from the outer surface of the head. A shelf-like protrusion extends laterally outwardly from each side of the central section. Further cleaning elements are flexibly mounted to the protrusions. Preferably the shelf-like protrusions are covered with an elastomer. The central section is made of a harder material than the material of the covered protrusions.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle having an elongated head mounted to the handle. The head has a longitudinally central portion which comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned segments connected to each other by a joint. Cleaning elements are mounted to the segments and extend outwardly from the outer surface of the head. A shelf-like protrusion extends laterally outwardly from each side of the central section. Further cleaning elements are flexibly mounted to the protrusions. Preferably the shelf-like protrusions are covered with an elastomer. The central section is made of a harder material than the material of the covered protrusions.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a handle and a head. The head includes a first section having cleaning elements extending outwardly from its outer surface. A ball joint is mounted to the head adjacent to the first section. The ball joint also includes cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface. The head includes resilient material urging the ball joint so be in its initial position after the pivotal movement of the ball joint cleaning elements.