Oral care implement and method of forming an oral care implement

An oral care implement comprising:

• a handle;
• a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising:
• a base;
• a resilient bridge coupled to the base and supported above the base, the resilient bridge flexible between:
• (1) a normal state in which a gap exists between a lower surface of the resilient bridge and an upper surface of the base;
• and (2) a flexed state in which a portion of the resilient bridge is moved toward the base and into the gap;
• a loop of movable tooth cleaning elements mounted to the portion of the resilient bridge and extending from an upper surface of the resilient bridge, the loop of movable tooth cleaning elements collectively defining a central cavity having a floor, a first aperture in the floor extending through the resilient bridge from the lower surface of the resilient bridge to the upper surface of the resilient bridge;
• and
• a first fixed tooth cleaning element mounted to the base and having a free end, the first fixed tooth cleaning element extending through the first aperture and into the central cavity;
• wherein the resilient bridge comprises a first component and a second component formed of a resilient material, the first component and the base being an integrally formed monolithic component, the second component of the resilient bridge surrounding the first component of the resilient bridge, the resilient bridge comprising a connection feature extending through the second component on a lower surface of the resilient bridge at a second end of the resilient bridge;
• and
• wherein one of the handle or the base has a recess formed therein, the recess receiving the connection feature and a portion of the second component of the resilient bridge which surrounds the connection feature on the lower surface of the resilient bridge.

An oral care implement comprising:

• a handle;
• a head coupled to the handle and extending along a longitudinal axis, the head comprising:
• a base having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the handle and a distal end;
• a resilient bridge comprising:
• at least one carrier section;
• a curved portion having a convex outer surface, a concave inner surface, a lower end coupled to the distal end of the base and an upper end coupled to the at least one carrier section;
• a second end coupled to the distal end of the handle;
• the resilient bridge flexible between:
• (1) a normal state in which a gap exists between a lower surface of the resilient bridge and an upper surface of the base;
• and (2) a flexed state in which the curved portion is deformed such that a portion of the resilient bridge is moved toward the base and into the gap;
• and
• a plurality of movable tooth cleaning elements mounted to the at least one carrier section of the resilient bridge and extending from an upper surface of the resilient bridge;
• wherein the resilient bridge comprises a first component and a second component formed of a resilient material, the first component and the base being an integrally formed monolithic component, the second component of the resilient bridge surrounding the first component of the resilient bridge, the resilient bridge comprising a connection feature extending through the second component on a lower surface of the resilient bridge at a second end of the resilient bridge;
• and
• wherein one of the handle or the base has a recess formed therein, the recess receiving the connection feature and a portion of the second component of the resilient bridge which surrounds the connection feature on the lower surface of the resilient bridge.