Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080276393 | Light-Emitting Oral Care Implement - An oral care implement comprises a head with a plurality of cleaning elements, and a light source incorporated into or adjacent the head. The light source is incorporated prior to the attachment of the cleaning elements. For ease of manufacturing and a cost-effective assembly. The cleaning elements are preferably preformed and attached to the head after the incorporation of the light source so that the provision of the light source does not require any post-processing that might impair the integrity of the head or cleaning elements. | 11-13-2008 |
20080313835 | Oral Care Instrument Including An Oral Care Agent - An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents. | 12-25-2008 |
20090183332 | TOOTHBRUSH - A toothbrush includes a handle and a head. The head is in the form of a peripheral frame having an open central area. A plurality of cleaning element carrying support members are mounted across the frame over the open central area to form an open lattice pattern having through holes to facilitate the cleaning of the head. The cleaning elements are bristles laser welded to the support members. | 07-23-2009 |
20100024144 | Oral Care Implement - An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with tooth cleaning elements extending from fixed pods. Additional tooth cleaning elements extend from one or more central pods suspended between the fixed pods via a bridge. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central pods to move from an initial position toward the head during use. The central pods, the bridge and outer portions of the fixed pods may be formed as a unitary structure. When a single central pod is employed, a flexible section may be disposed in the middle of the central pod so that cleaning elements extending from either end of the central pod can move toward one another during use. | 02-04-2010 |
20100180393 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT - An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head having a base structure. A pair of fixed pods extend from a first face of the base structure of the head and a movable pod is supported by and between the pair of fixed pods above the first face of the base structure by at least one suspension member. The movable pod comprises cleaning elements, thereby facilitating a greater degree of cleaning action during an oral care session. | 07-22-2010 |
20100192319 | TOOTHBRUSH - A toothbrush includes a handle and a head. The head is in the form of a peripheral frame having an open central area. A plurality of cleaning element carrying support members are mounted across the frame over the open central area to form an open lattice pattern having through holes to facilitate the cleaning of the head. The cleaning elements are bristles laser welded to the support members. | 08-05-2010 |
20110247160 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT - An oral care implement and method for forming the same is provided. The oral care implement comprises a handle and a head having a base structure. A unitary assembly comprising a top portion of a first pod, a top portion of a second pod, a third pod comprising a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the third pod, and at least one suspension member is formed. The unitary assembly is subsequently attached to the base structure of the handle to form the first pod extending from a first face of the base structure and the second pod extending from the first face of the base structure. The third pod is disposed between and supported above the first face by the first and second pods by the at least one suspension member so that a gap exists between a bottom surface of the third pod and the first face of the base structure. | 10-13-2011 |
20110256509 | LIGHT-BASED TOOTHBRUSH - Described herein are light-based devices for use in the detection of plaque or delivery of a whitening effect; and, inter alia, toothpaste formulations containing ultraviolet brighteners that provide a whitening or bleaching effect when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. | 10-20-2011 |
20110308026 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT - An oral care implement and method for forming the same is provided. The oral care implement comprises a handle and a head having a base structure. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the base structure. One end of each of the plurality of cleaning elements is connected to one another. At least one of the plurality of cleaning elements is a spiral bristle. | 12-22-2011 |
20120077146 | ORAL CARE INSTRUMENT INCLUDING AN ORAL CARE AGENT - An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents. | 03-29-2012 |
20120189986 | GENERATING A CHEMICAL AGENT IN SITU - A method of cleaning teeth by providing a device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The device may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The device may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte. | 07-26-2012 |
20130019427 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT HAVING ONE OR MORE MOVING PIECES - An oral care implement is provided having a head frame and a cleaning elements assembly attached thereto with tooth cleaning elements extending from one or more carriers. One or more central carriers can be suspended via a flexible bridge between a pair of support carriers attached to the head frame. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central carriers to move from an initial position toward the head frame during use. The bridge may include rigid supports and flexible elastomeric supports. The carriers and the bridge can be formed as a unitary assembly attached to the head frame, such as via mechanical connections. The mechanical connections could include snap-fit connections. | 01-24-2013 |
20130149663 | ORAL CARE INSTRUMENT INCLUDING AN ORAL CARE AGENT - An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents. | 06-13-2013 |
20130227803 | LIGHT-EMITTING ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT - An oral care implement comprises a head with a plurality of cleaning elements, and a light source incorporated into or adjacent the head. The light source is incorporated prior to the attachment of the cleaning elements for ease of manufacturing and a cost-effective assembly. The cleaning elements are preferably pre-formed and attached to the head after the incorporation of the light source so that the provision of the light source does not require any post-processing that might impair the integrity of the head or cleaning elements. | 09-05-2013 |
20130247316 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT - An oral care implement having a cleaning element carrier. In one embodiment, the implement comprises a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and a base structure with a front surface; a cleaning element carrier having a top surface and a bottom surface supported above the front surface of the base structure so that a gap exists between the bottom surface of the cleaning element carrier and the front surface of the base structure; a plurality of first cleaning elements extending from the top surface of the cleaning element carrier; at least one second cleaning element extending from the front surface of the base structure beyond the top surface of the cleaning element carrier; and wherein the second cleaning element and the cleaning element carrier are in transverse alignment. | 09-26-2013 |
20130305471 | Oral Care Implement Having Fluid Delivery System - An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on one surface thereof and a reservoir containing at least one active agent. A capillary channel extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver active agent(s) to one or more outlets. In one aspect, a vibration-producing device is provided to vibrate at least a portion of the implement to enhance the function of tooth cleaning elements and the delivery of the active agent through capillary action. A variety of active agents can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling. | 11-21-2013 |
20140047654 | ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT HAVING ONE OR MORE MOVING SECTIONS - An oral care implement is provided having a head frame and a cleaning elements assembly attached thereto with tooth cleaning elements extending from one or more carriers. One or more central carriers can be suspended via a flexible bridge between a pair of support carriers attached to the head frame. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central carriers to move from an initial position toward the head frame during use. The bridge may include rigid supports and flexible elastomeric supports. The carriers and the bridge can be formed as a unitary assembly attached to the head frame, such as via mechanical connections. The mechanical connections could include snap-fit connections. | 02-20-2014 |
20140068882 | Oral Care Implement Having Fluid Delivery System - An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on one surface thereof and a reservoir containing at least one active agent. A capillary channel extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver active agent(s) to one or more outlets. In one aspect, a vibration-producing device is provided to vibrate at least a portion of the implement to enhance the function of tooth cleaning elements and the delivery of the active agent through capillary action. A variety of active agents can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling. | 03-13-2014 |
20140106309 | GENERATING A CHEMICAL AGENT IN SITU - A method of cleaning teeth by providing a device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The device may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The device may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte. | 04-17-2014 |