Light-emitting oral care implement and method of forming the same

A light-emitting toothbrush comprising:

• a handle;
• a head having a front surface and a plurality of tuft holes;
• a plurality of bristle tufts mounted to the head within the plurality of tuft holes, the plurality of bristle tufts protruding from the front surface of the head to form a tooth cleaning element field;
• the plurality of bristle tufts comprising at least one light-transmitting tuft comprising a plurality of light-transmitting filaments, each of the light-transmitting filaments comprising:
• a core component formed of a first material having a first transmittance;
• a sheath component formed of a second material having a second transmittance, the sheath component surrounding the core component, the first transmittance being greater than the second transmittance;
• and
• the core component comprising a base portion that protrudes from a lower end of the sheath component;
• the at least one light-transmitting tuft comprising an anchor portion embedded in the head that is formed by the base portions of the light-transmitting filaments, the anchor portion formed of the first material and free of the second material;
• and
• a light source in operable cooperation with the anchor portion of the at least one light-transmitting tuft.

A method of forming a light-emitting oral care implement, the method comprising:

• a) forming a plurality of filaments comprising:
• a core component formed of a first material having a first light transmittance;
• and a sheath component formed of a second material having a second light transmittance, the sheath component surrounding the core component, the first light transmittance being greater than the second light transmittance;
• b) for each of the filaments, removing a portion of the sheath component so that a base portion of the core component is exposed and protrudes from a lower end of a remaining portion of the sheath component, thereby forming a plurality of light-transmitting filaments;
• c) mounting the plurality of light-transmitting filaments to a body of the light-emitting oral care implement;
• and
• d) operably coupling a light source to the base portions of the plurality of light-transmitting filaments within the body;
• wherein for each of the plurality of filaments, the core component having a light emitting portion that protrudes from an upper end of the sheath component.