US 12,685,384 B2Granted

Oral care implement

AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company

InventorsEduardo Jimenez, Bruce Cummings, Renee Marie Riethmiller

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Abstract

An oral care implement that is designed for users with reduced dexterity in their hands. In particular, the oral care implement includes a handle portion that includes a gripping portion configured to be gripped by the hand of a user and a grip stop protruding from the gripping portion in a cantilevered manner. The grip stop may be positioned near the end of the handle adjacent to the head of the oral care implement to stop movement of the user's hand upwards towards the head. The grip stop extends from the gripping portion a distance that is greater than a width or diameter of an adult finger to ensure it functions as a stop. In one embodiment, the grip stop may be rotatably or pivotably coupled to the gripping portion so that its exact circumferential position can be modified to enhance user comfort.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An oral care implement comprising:

a handle portion extending from a handle proximal end to a handle distal end along a handle axis, the handle portion comprising:
a gripping portion configured to be gripped by a hand of a user and extending along the handle axis;
and
a grip stop protruding from the gripping portion in a cantilevered manner, the grip stop comprising:
a post portion protruding from the gripping portion;
a first flange portion extending from the post portion in a first axial direction;
and a second flange portion extending from the post portion in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, the grip stop pivotably coupled to the gripping portion so as to be pivotable about the handle axis, the grip stop configured to contact the hand of the user to prevent movement of the hand, relative to the gripping portion, in a direction from the handle proximal end to the handle distal end.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/252,953Filed 1 Nov 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Nov 2020
Published: US 2023/0413982 A128 Dec 2023
Granted: 21 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A46B 5/025
Specially shaped for holding by the hand: grips or handles specially adapted for handicapped persons
A46B 5/021
Specially shaped for holding by the hand: grips or handles specially adapted to conform to the hand
A46B 5/026
Specially shaped for holding by the hand: grips or handles having a nonslip section
A46B 9/04
Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups: arranged like in or for toothbrushes