Oral care implement
AssigneeCocgate Palmolive Company
InventorDavid Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oral care implement such as a toothbrush includes a head and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements supported by the toothbrush head. The tooth cleaning elements preferably include an elastomeric scrubbing element having a base portion and a tooth engaging portion comprising a plurality of cleansing members circumferentially spaced apart on the base portion. In one embodiment, the base portion has a circumferentially continuous sidewall to stiffen the scrubbing element. The cleansing members project outwards and preferably upwards from the base portion in one embodiment to collectively define a central cavity for retaining dentifrice. Embodiments of the oral care implement may include a circular bristle field arranged circumferentially around and associated with the scrubbing element.
Claims21
1-17. (canceled)
An oral care implement comprising:
- a head defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one flexible elastomeric tooth scrubbing element including:
- a supporting base portion attached to the toothbrush head, the base portion having a circumferentially continuous sidewall;
- and
- a tooth engaging portion comprising a plurality of cleansing members circumferentially spaced apart on the base portion, the cleansing members projecting outwards from the base portion and collectively defining a central cavity for retaining dentifrice, a top portion of the cleansing members being terminated with a top end having an angled scrubbing surface configured for engaging the teeth and gums.
An oral care implement comprising:
- a head;
- and
- at least one flexible elastomeric tooth scrubbing element comprising:
- a base portion attached to the toothbrush head, the base portion having a circumferentially continuous sidewall;
- and
- a tooth engaging portion comprising a plurality of arcuate cleansing members circumferentially spaced apart on the base portion, the cleansing members projecting upwards from the base portion and collectively defining an interior central cavity for retaining dentifrice, a top portion of the cleansing members being terminated with a top end having an angled scrubbing surface configured for engaging the teeth and gums.
An oral care implement comprising:
- an elongated head;
- and
- at least one cleaning-polishing unit comprising:
- a flexible elastomeric tooth scrubbing element having a cylindrical configuration and including a supporting base portion attached to the toothbrush head, the base portion having a circumferentially continuous sidewall, and a tooth engaging portion comprising a plurality of cleansing members circumferentially spaced apart on the base portion, the cleansing members projecting upwards from the base portion and collectively defining a central cavity for retaining dentifrice, a top portion of the cleansing members being terminated with a top end having an angled scrubbing surface configured for engaging the teeth and gums;
- and
- a bristle element operably associated with the tooth scrubbing element and including a plurality of bristle tufts disposed proximate to the scrubbing element and circumferentially spaced apart around the scrubbing element in a circular pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.