# US 9,872,558 B2 · Oral care implement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,558 B2 - Document ID: US9872558B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/491,315 - Filed: 2017-04-19 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-20 - Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872558B2 ## CPC - A46B 15/0081: {Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper} - A46B 1/00: Brush bodies and bristles moulded as a unit - A46B 3/005: {Bristle carriers and bristles moulded as a unit (A46B1/00 takes precedence)} - A46B 9/005: {where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper} - A46B 9/026: {where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat (A46B9/005 takes precedence)} - A46B 9/028: {Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone} - A46B 9/04: {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes - A46B 9/06: Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber - A46B 15/0002: {Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process} - A46B 15/0032: {with protrusion for polishing teeth} - A46B 15/0055: {Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors} - A46B 15/0075: {Brushes with an additional massage device} - A46D 3/00: Preparing, {i.e. Manufacturing} brush bodies - A61B 17/244: {for cleaning of the tongue} - A61H 13/00: Gum massage - B29C 45/1671: {with an insert} - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - B29L 2031/425: {Toothbrush} - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - A46D: MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle, the head having a first face, a second face, and at least one port extending through the head from the first face to the second face; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material and a plurality of tissue engaging elements extending from the pad; and an elastomeric tooth cleaning element extending from the first face of the head, the elastomeric tooth cleaning element integrally formed with the pad and extending through the port in the head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head, the head having a first face, a second face, and at least one port extending through the head from the first face to the second face; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material and a plurality of tissue engaging elements extending from the pad; and an elastomeric tooth cleaning element extending from the first face of the head, the elastomeric tooth cleaning element integrally formed with the pad and extending through the port in the head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the soft tissue cleanser is injection molded onto the second face of the head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tufts of bristles and the elastomeric tooth cleaning element collectively form a field of tooth cleaning elements, and wherein the elastomeric tooth cleaning element is located inboard of one or more of the plurality of tufts of bristles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The oral care implement of claim 3 wherein the first face of the head has a peripheral portion and a central portion that is inboard of the peripheral portion, wherein the elastomeric tooth cleaning element extends from the central portion of the first face of the head and a subset of the plurality of tufts of bristles extend from the peripheral portion of the first face of the head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The oral care implement of claim 4 wherein the subset of the plurality of tufts of bristles surrounds the elastomeric tooth cleaning element, the peripheral portion of the first face of the head being free of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The oral care implement of claim 4 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of tufts of bristles comprises a distal bristle tuft positioned on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head adjacent the distal end of the head and a proximal bristle tuft positioned on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head adjacent the proximal end of the head. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the pad has a bottom surface that is in contact with the second face of the head and an opposite top surface, and wherein the plurality of tissue engaging elements extends from the top surface of the pad. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The oral care implement of claim 7 wherein the body comprises a raised portion, the raised portion having an upstanding wall and a top surface that is flush with the top surface of the pad. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of the ports extending through the head from the first face to the second face; and a plurality of the elastomeric tooth cleaning elements extending from the first face of the head, each of the elastomeric tooth cleaning elements integrally formed with the pad and extending through one of the ports in the head. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The oral care implement of claim 9 wherein each of the bristles of the plurality of tufts of bristles extends a greater distance from the first face of the head than each of the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The oral care implement of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements extends the same distance from the first face of the head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric tooth cleaning element forms an elastomeric wall extending from the first face of the head, the elastomeric wall having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The oral care implement of claim 12 wherein the first and second major surfaces of the elastomeric wall are substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The oral care implement of claim 12 wherein the elastomeric wall has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the pad of the soft tissue cleanser covers a substantial entirety of the second face of the head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the pad has a top surface from which the tissue engaging elements extend, a periphery of the top surface of the pad being flush with an exposed surface of the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of tissue engaging elements is located axially between the elastomeric tooth cleaning element and the proximal end of the head and a second subset of the plurality of tissue engaging elements is located axially between the elastomeric tooth cleaning element and the distal end of the head. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis; and wherein a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head and that intersects the first and second faces of the head also intersects the elastomeric tooth cleaning element and at least one of the tissue engaging elements of the soft tissue cleanser. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The oral care implement of claim 1 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein at least one of the plurality of tissue engaging elements of the soft tissue cleanser is intersected by a plane that includes the longitudinal axis of the head and that is perpendicular to the first face of the head. ### Claim 20 An oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head, the head having a first face, a second face, and a plurality of ports extending through the head from the first face to the second face; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; and a monolithic mass of elastomeric material coupled to the head, the monolithic mass of elastomeric material comprising: a pad having a bottom surface in contact with the second face of the head and an exposed top surface; a plurality of protrusions extending from the exposed top surface of the pad; and a plurality of elastomeric walls protruding from the first face of the head, each of the plurality of elastomeric walls integrally formed with the pad and extending from the bottom surface of the pad through one of the plurality of ports. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein the first face of the head has a peripheral portion and a central portion that is inboard of and surrounded by the peripheral portion, wherein at least a portion of each of the elastomeric walls is located on the central portion of the first face of the head, the elastomeric walls at least partially surrounded by a subset of the bristles that are located on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The oral care implement of claim 21 wherein the head extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the subset of the bristles comprises a distal bristle tuft positioned on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head adjacent the distal end of the head and a proximal bristle tuft positioned on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head adjacent the proximal end of the head. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein each of the bristles extends a greater distance from the first face of the head than each of the plurality of elastomeric walls. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein the body comprises a raised portion, the raised portion having an upstanding wall and a top surface that is flush with the exposed top surface of the pad. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein a periphery of the exposed top surface of the pad is flush with an exposed surface of the body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein the monolithic mass of elastomeric material is injection molded onto the body. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein one or more of the elastomeric walls has a first major surface and an opposite second major surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The oral care implement of claim 20 wherein one or more of the elastomeric walls has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 29 An oral care implement comprising: a body comprising a handle and a head, the head extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the head having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a plurality of ports extending through the head from the first face to the second face, the first face of the head having a peripheral portion and a central portion that is inboard of the peripheral portion; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; a monolithic mass of elastomeric material injection molded onto the body, the monolithic mass of elastomeric material comprising: a soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad and a plurality of tissue engaging elements, the pad having a bottom surface positioned on the second face of the head and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, the plurality of tissue engaging elements extending from the top surface of the pad; and a plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements extending from the first face of the head, the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements integrally formed with the pad, each of the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements extending through one of the plurality of ports; wherein each of the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements forms an elastomeric wall having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface; wherein each of the plurality of tufts of bristles extends a greater distance from the first face of the head than each of the elastomeric tooth cleaning elements; wherein at least one of the tissue engaging elements is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the head; and wherein a subset of the plurality of tufts of bristles is located on the peripheral portion of the first face of the head and at least a portion of each of the elastomeric tooth cleaning elements is located on the central portion of the first face of the head, the subset of the plurality of tufts of bristles comprising a distal bristle tuft located adjacent the distal end of the head, a proximal bristle tuft located adjacent the proximal end of the head, and peripheral bristle tufts located between the distal and proximal ends of the head. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The oral care implement of claim 29 wherein each of the plurality of elastomeric tooth cleaning elements is surrounded by the subset of the plurality of tufts of bristles.