Oral care implement

An oral care implement comprising:

• an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a head portion defining a distal end, a handle portion defining a proximal end, and a neck portion extending therebetween;
• a foldable bristle carrier assembly comprising first and second bristle carrier sections hingedly coupled together by a flexible web;
• the first and second bristle carrier sections are structured and made of a rigid plastic material;
• an actuator operably coupled to the bristle carrier assembly, the actuator alterable between a first state and a second state;
• wherein moving the actuator from the first state to the second state causes the first and second bristle carrier sections to pivot inwards about the flexible web to a folded position;
• and
• wherein moving the actuator from the second state to the first state causes the first and second bristle carrier sections to pivot outwards about the flexible web to an upright open position.

A method for operating an oral care implement with angularly adjustable bristles, the method comprising:

• a) providing an elongated oral care implement comprising a longitudinal axis, a head defining a distal end, a handle defining a proximal end, a foldable bristle carrier assembly comprising first and second bristle carrier sections each having a plurality of bristles and hingedly coupled together about a common pivot axis, the first and second bristle carrier sections are structured and made of a rigid plastic material, and an actuator operably coupled to the bristle carrier assembly;
• b) placing the actuator in a first state, thereby causing the bristles of the first and second bristle carrier sections to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the head of the oral care implement;
• and
• c) altering the actuator to a second state, thereby causing each of the first and second bristle carrier sections to pivot inwards about the common pivot axis so that the bristles of the first and second bristle carrier sections assume a wedge-shaped folded position.