# US 2024/0189084 A1 · Oral care implement and replacement head thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0189084 A1 - Document ID: US20240189084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/583,855 - Filed: 2024-02-21 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-28 - Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company; Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company; Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideaki YOSHIA; Takashi TORIHAMA; Thomas MINTEL; Joseph FATTORI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240189084A1 ## CPC - A61C 17/222: {Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle} - A46B 5/0095: {Removable or interchangeable brush heads} - A46B 7/042: {Clip or snap connection for bristle carriers} - A61C 17/3481: {Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights} - A46B 13/023: {with means for inducing vibration to the bristles} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body. The replacement head may include a head having at least one treatment element and a tubular sleeve extending from the head and defining a cavity having an axis that receives a stem of the oral care implement body. The tubular sleeve may have a proximal edge that defines an opening into the cavity. A slot in the tubular sleeve is configured to mate with a boss of the stem of the oral care implement body. The slot may include an entry slot section extending from the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve towards the head and a locking slot section extending from the entry slot section towards the head. The locking slot section may have a first lateral wall that is oblique to the cavity axis and a second lateral wall that is parallel to the cavity axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body, the replacement head comprising: a head having at least one treatment element for performing an oral care function; a tubular sleeve extending from the head and defining a cavity that is configured to receive a stem of the oral care implement body, the tubular sleeve comprising a proximal edge that defines an opening into the cavity, the cavity having a cavity axis; a slot in the tubular sleeve for mating with a boss of the stem of the oral care implement body, the slot comprising: an entry slot section extending from the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve towards the head; and a locking slot section extending from the entry slot section towards the head, the locking slot section comprising a first lateral wall that is oblique to the cavity axis and a second lateral wall that is parallel to the cavity axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The replacement head according to claim 1 wherein the locking slot section of the slot further comprises a top wall that extends between a top end of the first lateral wall and a top end of the second lateral wall, the top wall being arcuate and having a concave inner surface that faces downwardly towards the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The replacement head according to claim 2 wherein the top wall is concave arcuate for about 180° and forms a U-shaped top portion of the locking slot section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The replacement head according to claim 1 wherein the locking slot section further comprises a bottom wall that extends from a bottom end of the first lateral wall in a direction towards the second lateral wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The replacement head according to claim 4 wherein the bottom wall is concave arcuate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The replacement head according to claim 4 wherein the bottom wall extends from the first lateral wall of the locking slot section to a first lateral wall of the entry slot section, the first lateral wall of the entry slot section extending from the bottom wall to the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The replacement head according to claim 1 wherein the locking slot section of the slot has a width measured between the first and second lateral walls, and wherein the width decreases moving in a direction from the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve towards the head along an entirety of a length of the second lateral wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The replacement head according to claim 1 wherein the first and second lateral walls are located on opposite sides of the cavity axis. ### Claim 9 A replacement head for detachable coupling to an oral care implement body, the replacement head comprising: a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto; a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, and a resilient section; a protuberance protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the resilient section; a locking tab protruding radially inward from the inner surface of the resilient section, a first axial channel existing between the protuberance and the locking tab; and wherein the resilient section can flex radially outward from the tubular sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The replacement head according to claim 9 wherein the resilient section comprises a latch formed into the tubular sleeve, the protuberance and the locking tab located on the latch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The replacement head according to claim 10 wherein the latch comprises a free bottom edge and first and second side edges extending upwardly from the free bottom edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The replacement head according to claim 11 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch forms a portion of the proximal edge of the tubular sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The replacement head according to claim 11 wherein the free bottom edge of the latch comprises a chamfered portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The replacement head according to claim 10 wherein the latch is connected to the tubular sleeve via a flexure portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The replacement head according to claim 9 wherein the locking tab comprises an upper edge for engaging an undercut surface of a boss of the stem, the upper edge being concave arcuate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The replacement head according to claim 9 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises at least one indexing slot for receiving an indexing rib of the stem. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The replacement head according to claim 9 wherein the protuberance protrudes a first distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve and the locking tab protrudes a second distance from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve, the second distance being substantially the same as the first distance. ### Claim 18 An oral care implement comprising: a body comprising: a gripping portion; a stem extending from the gripping portion along a first longitudinal axis; and a boss protruding radially outward from an outer surface of the stem, the boss comprising: a locking section having an undercut surface and a positioning section extending from the locking section to the gripping portion; and a replacement head comprising: a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity and a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, the tubular sleeve comprising a resilient section; and a locking tab protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the resilient section; and wherein the tubular sleeve is detachably coupled to the stem in a locked state in which: the stem is located within the cavity of the tubular sleeve, the positioning section of the boss is located adjacent the locking tab, and the locking tab engages the undercut surface of the locking section of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem.