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: An oral care implement including an elongated body having a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion defining an outer surface. A grip control component is disposed on the handle portion and includes a pair of transversely spaced apart control surfaces separated by a longitudinally extending channel. The control surfaces are elevated above the outer surface of the handle portion and positioned to engage a user's thumb. The control component is operable to tilt the head portion at an upward or downward angle relative to a vertical plane of a user's teeth when the control component is grasped between the user's thumb and forefinger for producing a proper brushing angle at the gum line.

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 monofilament bristle including: a body portion; a tip portion extending from the body portion and comprising a multi-lobed transverse cross-section, the monofilament bristle extending along a longitudinal axis; co-extruded first and second components, the first component being a first color and forming a first lobe of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section, the second component being a second color, which is different from the first color, and forming a second lobe of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section; and each of the first and second components forming a longitudinal section of the body portion, with an interface between the first and second components extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An oral care product array includes a handle component and multiple refill components therefor. The handle component includes a power source. A first refill component includes a first light generating module which emits light in a first spectrum from the first refill component. A second refill component includes a second light generating module which emits light in a second spectrum from the second refill component. Each refill component has a coupled state, when coupled to the handle component, and a decoupled state, when decoupled from the handle component. When the first refill component is in the coupled state, the first light generating module is powered by the power source to emit light in the first spectrum. When the second refill component is in the coupled state, the second light generating module is powered by the power source to emit light in the second spectrum.

Abstract: A bristle for an oral care implement and an oral care implement including a plurality of such bristles. The bristle may include a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the body having tapered portion having a transverse cross-sectional profile with a perimeter defined by a first linear section and a second linear section that intersect to form a first apex, a third linear section and a fourth linear section that intersect to form a second apex, a first curved section extending between the first and third linear sections, and a second curved section extending between the second and fourth linear sections. The body may also include a cylindrical body portion such that the tapered portion extends from a top end of the cylindrical body portion. The bristle includes various edges and rounded contours for enhanced cleaning.

Abstract: An oral care implement that includes a handle and a head. The head, which has an exposed front surface and an exposed rear surface, may include a support structure having a perimetric wall that defines a central opening and a monolithic cleaning unit including a pad located within the central opening and molded bristles extending from the pad. The support structure and the pad may collectively define the exposed front surface and the exposed rear surface of the head. Furthermore, the support structure may have a maximum thickness of 3 mm or less measured from a front surface of the perimetric wall to a rear surface of the perimetric wall.

Abstract: A monofilament bristle (211) including: a body portion (215); a tip portion (217) extending from the body portion (215) and comprising a multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221), the monofilament bristle (211) extending along a longitudinal axis (219); co-extruded first and second components, the first component being a first color and forming a first lobe (223a) of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221), the second component being a second color, which is different from the first color, and forming a second lobe (223b) of the multi-lobed transverse cross-section (221); and each of the first and second components forming a longitudinal section of the body portion (215), with an interface between the first and second components extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (219).

Abstract: An oral care product array includes a handle component and multiple refill components therefor. The handle component includes a power source. A first refill component includes a first light generating module which emits light in a first spectrum from the first refill component. A second refill component includes a second light generating module which emits light in a second spectrum from the second refill component. Each refill component has a coupled state, when coupled to the handle component, and a decoupled state, when decoupled from the handle component. When the first refill component is in the coupled state, the first light generating module is powered by the power source to emit light in the first spectrum. When the second refill component is in the coupled state, the second light generating module is powered by the power source to emit light in the second spectrum.

Abstract: A light-emitting oral care implement includes a light delivery unit that includes a passageway through a body of the oral care implement and a tuft comprising a plurality of filaments located in the passageway, each of the filaments having a core component and a sheath component. The core component may have a transmittance that is greater than the transmittance of the sheath component. The core component may include a base portion that protrudes from a lower end of the sheath component, the base portion forming an anchor portion of the tuft that anchors the tuft to the body of the oral care implement. Furthermore, the oral care implement may include a light source that transmits lights through the anchor portion of the tuft and through the core components for transmittance from the filaments at a location above a front surface of the body.

Abstract: A monofilament bristle (200) is disclosed that comprises coextruded core (210) and sheath components (220). The sheath component (220) has an outer surface (218) and surrounds a first portion (215) of the core component (210). A second portion (216) of the core component (210) protrudes from a top terminal end (203) of the sheath component (220) to form an exposed tip portion (203). In one embodiment, the exposed tip portion (203) of the core component (210) has an outer surface (217) that includes friction-enhancing features. In another embodiment, the exposed tip portion (203) is tapered and has an outer surface (217) with a first roughness and the outer surface (218) of the sheath component (220) has a second roughness, the second roughness being greater than the first roughness. In a further embodiment, the core component (210) has an outer surface (217) configured to have higher coefficient of friction than the outer surface (218) of the sheath component (220).

Abstract: An oral care implement including an elongated body having a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion defining an outer surface. A grip control component is disposed on the handle portion and includes a pair of transversely spaced apart control surfaces separated by a longitudinally extending channel. The control surfaces are elevated above the outer surface of the handle portion and positioned to engage a user's thumb. The control component is operable to tilt the head portion at an upward or downward angle relative to a vertical plane of a user's teeth when the control component is grasped between the user's thumb and forefinger for producing a proper brushing angle at the gum line.