US20150296966A1 - Oral care system - Google Patents

Oral care system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150296966A1
US20150296966A1 US14/648,344 US201214648344A US2015296966A1 US 20150296966 A1 US20150296966 A1 US 20150296966A1 US 201214648344 A US201214648344 A US 201214648344A US 2015296966 A1 US2015296966 A1 US 2015296966A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
head
grip structure
oral care
lock
care implement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/648,344
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Douglas Hohlbein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Colgate Palmolive Co
Original Assignee
Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Colgate Palmolive Co filed Critical Colgate Palmolive Co
Assigned to COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY reassignment COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HOHLBEIN, DOUGLAS
Assigned to COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY reassignment COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HOHLBEIN, DOUGLAS
Publication of US20150296966A1 publication Critical patent/US20150296966A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0058—Mechanical joint or hinge made up of several components
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0075—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being adjustable and stable during use
    • A46B5/0083—Mechanical joint allowing adjustment in at least one plane
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0091—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body promoting relative motion during use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/02—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware specially shaped for holding by the hand
    • A46B5/026—Grips or handles having a nonslip section
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

  • the grip structure comprises a sleeve having an interior cavity, and a portion of the body is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve.
  • at least a portion of the body may comprise a sleeve having an interior cavity, and a portion of the grip structure is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve.
  • the lock comprises a lock element in the form of a C-clip or a collar.
  • the body 140 may instead or additionally be constructed of one or more of the following hard or rigid materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, cellulosics, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and a thermoplastic.
  • hard or rigid materials polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, cellulosics, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and a thermoplastic.
  • the handle 110 of the implement 100 of this embodiment comprises, in addition to the body 140 , a grip structure 150 , or “grip”.
  • the grip structure 150 forms a portion of an exterior surface 111 of the handle 110 , and comprises a plurality of protrusions 158 , such as one or more of nubs, bumps, ridges and ribs.
  • the protrusions 158 provide the grip structure 150 with a textured surface, which aids a user's holding and manipulating of the implement 100 during an oral care session.
  • FIG. 3 A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 .
  • the second embodiment comprises all of the above-described elements of the first embodiment of the present invention, and the like elements are indicated in FIG. 3 with the same reference numerals as used in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
  • the elements common to the two embodiments will not be described in detail again with reference to FIG. 3 . All of the above-described possible variations to the first embodiment are equally applicable to the second embodiment.
  • the oral care implement 100 of the system of the second embodiment differs from the implement 100 of the first embodiment only in the form and construction of the grip structure 150 .
  • the grip structure 150 consists of only one piece.
  • the grip structure consists of two or more pieces connected together. More specifically, the grip structure 150 has a first piece 151 constructed of resilient material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer and/or SEBS, and a second piece 152 constructed of hard or rigid material, in this case a hard plastic, such as polypropylene.
  • the hard or rigid material may alternatively or additionally comprise any of the plastics discussed above.
  • the grip structure 150 consists of two pieces 151 , 152 connected together. More specifically, the grip structure 150 has a first piece 151 constructed of resilient material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer and/or SEBS, and the second piece 152 constructed of hard or rigid material, in this case a hard plastic, such as polypropylene.
  • the hard or rigid material may alternatively or additionally comprise any of the plastics discussed above.
  • the first piece 151 forms most of the exterior surface of the grip structure 150 .
  • the first piece 151 may form all of the exterior surface of the grip structure 150 .
  • the grip structure 150 is connected to the head 120 by way of the second piece 152 being connected to, or mounted on, the head 120 .
  • the first piece 151 is not directly connected to the head 120 , but only is connected to the head 120 indirectly via the second piece 152 . Since both the head 120 and the second piece 152 of the grip structure 150 are formed of a hard material, the grip structure 150 is able easily to rotate relative to the head 120 with the head 120 and the second piece 152 contacting one another. However, since the first piece 151 is constructed of a resilient material, the grip structure 150 has a comfortable exterior surface for gripping. Preferably, the coefficient of friction of the exterior surface of the first piece 151 is greater than the coefficient of friction of the exterior surface 156 of the second piece 152 .
  • a user is able to move the lock element 200 in a direction towards the head 120 and parallel to the axis A-A from the first position to a second position on the oral care implement 100 , to place the lock in its second state.
  • This movement is relative to the handle 110 , grip structure 150 and head 120 .
  • the lock element 200 is at the second position, i.e. the lock is in its second state, the protrusion 201 at the interior of the lock element 200 engages both the groove in the grip structure 150 and a groove 129 formed in the exterior surface of a proximal portion 121 of the head 120 . Accordingly, the grip structure 150 becomes prevented from rotating relative to the head 120 . That is, the lock element 200 prevents the grip structure 150 from rotating relative to the head 120 .
  • the user is able to move the lock element 200 from its second position to its first position, thereby removing the protrusion 201 from the groove 129 and permitting the grip structure 150 to rotate freely relative to the head 120 .
  • the oral care implement 100 of the fifth embodiment may be manufactured substantially in accordance with the above-described method of manufacture of the third embodiment, differing only in that the grip structure 150 of the handle 110 is connected to the head 120 rather than to a body of the handle 110 .
  • the first portion 155 of the grip structure 150 of the handle 110 is disposed within the sleeve of the head 120 .
  • the lock is provided by attaching the lock element 200 to the implement 100 at either the first position or the second position.
  • the grip structure 150 comprises first and second sections 152 a , 152 b , each of which preferably is constructed of one or more hard or rigid materials, such as hard plastic.
  • the hard or rigid material may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above.
  • Each of the first and second sections 152 a , 152 b has a respective interior surface 153 a , 153 b .
  • the grip structure 150 is connected to the body 140 by way of the first portion 145 of the body 140 being sandwiched between the first and second sections 152 a , 152 b , so that the interior surfaces 153 a , 153 b of the first and second sections 152 a , 152 b face the exterior surface 143 of the first portion 145 of the body 140 .
  • the combination of the annular recess 154 and the annular protrusion 147 creates an interference fit between the body 140 and the grip structure 150 , whereby the grip structure 150 is immovable relative to the body 140 in the direction of the axis A-A.
  • the recess 154 and protrusion 147 may be non-annular.
  • the oral care implement 100 of the sixth embodiment may be manufactured by providing the head 120 and the handle 110 , the handle 110 having a body 140 connected to the head 120 ; providing the head 120 with one or more cleaning elements 130 that extend from a surface 124 of the head 120 , the cleaning elements each having a distal end 131 furthest from the surface 124 of the head 120 ; and connecting the grip structure 150 to the body 140 by sandwiching the first portion 145 of the body 140 between first and second sections 152 a , 152 b of the grip structure 150 and connecting the first and second sections 152 a , 152 b to each other.
  • the second section 152 b includes the groove 159 .
  • the head 120 may include various oral surface engaging elements, such as inter-proximal picks, brushes, a flossing element, a plaque scraper, tongue cleansers and soft tissue massagers.
  • oral surface engaging elements such as inter-proximal picks, brushes, a flossing element, a plaque scraper, tongue cleansers and soft tissue massagers.
  • the lock element 200 is movable between first and second positions on the implement 100 . In other embodiments, this need not be possible. In such other embodiments, in the first state, the lock element 200 may be detached from the oral care implement 100 , and, in the second state, the lock element 200 may be attached to the oral care implement 100 at one of the above-described second positions on the oral care implement 100 thereby to prevent the grip structure 150 from rotating relative to the head 120 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
  • Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
US14/648,344 2012-11-30 2012-11-30 Oral care system Abandoned US20150296966A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2012/067167 WO2014084840A1 (en) 2012-11-30 2012-11-30 Oral care system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150296966A1 true US20150296966A1 (en) 2015-10-22

Family

ID=47521142

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/648,344 Abandoned US20150296966A1 (en) 2012-11-30 2012-11-30 Oral care system

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20150296966A1 (es)
EP (1) EP2925187A1 (es)
CN (1) CN105188470A (es)
AU (1) AU2012395805A1 (es)
BR (1) BR112015012407A2 (es)
IN (1) IN2015DN02068A (es)
MX (1) MX2015006483A (es)
RU (1) RU2015120378A (es)
TW (1) TW201440688A (es)
WO (1) WO2014084840A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106659290A (zh) * 2014-06-19 2017-05-10 高露洁-棕榄公司 口腔护理器具

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110146015A1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2011-06-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral Care Implement Having Multi-Component Handle

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3661018A (en) * 1970-06-05 1972-05-09 Richard K Keefer Electric brusher
US4875248A (en) * 1988-03-23 1989-10-24 Colgate-Palmolive Company Adjustable toothbrush
DE29622429U1 (de) * 1996-12-24 1997-03-20 Braun Christoph Zahnbürste
US7845042B2 (en) * 2002-08-09 2010-12-07 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
KR100625801B1 (ko) * 2004-10-28 2006-09-20 김남수 범용 칫솔을 장착 가능하게 한 전동 칫솔
GB0427209D0 (en) * 2004-12-11 2005-01-12 Dean Heera Improvements relating to brushes
WO2006099693A1 (en) * 2005-03-21 2006-09-28 Sasenko Sadikovic Eccentric-simmetrical rotary girder of the toothbrush with its internal conduit for the toothpaste supply of the brushes sheafs
CN201468389U (zh) * 2009-09-06 2010-05-19 许景天 可旋转刷柄牙刷

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110146015A1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2011-06-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral Care Implement Having Multi-Component Handle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2014084840A1 (en) 2014-06-05
IN2015DN02068A (es) 2015-08-14
CN105188470A (zh) 2015-12-23
RU2015120378A (ru) 2017-01-10
MX2015006483A (es) 2015-08-14
EP2925187A1 (en) 2015-10-07
AU2012395805A1 (en) 2015-04-23
BR112015012407A2 (pt) 2017-07-11
TW201440688A (zh) 2014-11-01

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, NEW YORK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HOHLBEIN, DOUGLAS;REEL/FRAME:029533/0371

Effective date: 20121129

AS Assignment

Owner name: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, NEW YORK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HOHLBEIN, DOUGLAS;REEL/FRAME:035761/0486

Effective date: 20121129

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION