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EP-3582652-B1 - ORAL CARE IMPLEMENT

EP3582652B1EP 3582652 B1EP3582652 B1EP 3582652B1EP-3582652-B1

Inventors

  • WAINLESS, Daniel
  • JIMENEZ, EDUARDO J.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20170314

Claims (4)

  1. An oral care implement (100) comprising: a head (120) extending along a longitudinal axis (A-A) from a proximal end (123) to a distal end (124), the head (120) comprising a first surface (121); a plurality of tooth cleaning elements (130) extending from the first surface (121) of the head (120) and arranged in a tooth cleaning element field (131), the tooth cleaning element field (131) comprising: a first group of tooth cleaning elements (140), the tooth cleaning elements of the first group (140) terminating in distal ends (141) that collectively form a first cleaning surface (S1) that is concave in both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; a second group of tooth cleaning elements (150) located adjacent the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140), the tooth cleaning elements of the second group (150) terminating in distal ends (151) that collectively form a second cleaning surface (S2) that is convex in both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; and a third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) disposed within the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140) and protruding through the first cleaning surface (S1), the tooth cleaning elements of the third group (160) extending from the first surface (121) in an inclined manner towards the proximal end (123) of the head (120) or towards the distal end (124) of the head (120).
  2. The oral care implement (100) according to claim 1 wherein the second group of tooth cleaning elements (150) are located adjacent the distal end (124) of the head (120) and the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140) are located between the second group of tooth cleaning elements (150) and the proximal end (123) of the head (120).
  3. The oral care implement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) divides the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140) into a first subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (170) located between the second group of tooth cleaning elements (150) and the third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) and a second subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (180) located between the third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) and the proximal end (123) of the head (120), the third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) extending across an entirety of a width of the tooth cleaning element field (131) and isolating the first subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (170) from the second subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (180).
  4. The oral care implement (100) according to claim 3 wherein the head (120) comprises a first axial section (101) adjacent the distal end (124) of the head (120) and having only the second group of tooth cleaning elements (150) located thereon, a second axial section (102) adjacent the first axial section (101) and having only the first subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (170) of the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140) located thereon, a third axial section (103) adjacent the second axial section (102) and having only the third group of tooth cleaning elements (160) located thereon, and a fourth axial section (104) located between the third axial section (103) and the proximal end (123) of the head (120) and having only the second subgroup of tooth cleaning elements (180) of the first group of tooth cleaning elements (140) located thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND A toothbrush is used to clean the teeth by removing plaque and debris from the tooth surfaces. In typical oral care implements, bristles are bundled together in a bristle tuft and mounted within tuft holes. While substantial efforts have been made to modify the cleaning elements of toothbrushes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the oral cleaning process, the industry continues to pursue arrangements of cleaning elements that will improve upon the existing technology. Therefore, a need exists for an oral care implement having an improved arrangement of tooth cleaning elements. WO 96/01578 A1 describes a toothbrush with a head extending along a longitudinal axis from a rear end to a front end. The head comprises a flat upper surface and bristle tufts positioned thereon. Each bristle has a free end and an anchored end, the latter being held within the head. US 2007/283518 A1 describes a toothbrush head with a centre portion containing rows of toothbrush bristles in pairs of tufts that are angled towards each other along the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush head. BRIEF SUMMARY The invention is disclosed in the claims. An example useful for understanding the present invention may be directed to an oral care implement having an arrangement of tooth cleaning elements thereon. The oral care implement may include a head extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the head and are arranged in groups including a first group of tooth cleaning elements that terminate in distal ends that form a concave cleaning surface and a second group of tooth cleaning elements that terminate in distal ends that form a convex cleaning surface. Furthermore, there may also be a third group of tooth cleaning elements extending transversely across the head and dividing the first group of tooth cleaning elements into first and second subgroups of tooth cleaning elements. The third group of tooth cleaning elements may be inclined relative to a surface of the head from which they extend. The invention is an oral care implement comprising the features according to claim 1, being: a head extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the head comprising a first surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged in a tooth cleaning element field, the tooth cleaning element field comprising: a first group of tooth cleaning elements, the tooth cleaning elements of the first group terminating in distal ends that collectively form a first cleaning surface that is concave in both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; a second group of tooth cleaning elements located adjacent the first group of tooth cleaning elements, the tooth cleaning elements of the second group terminating in distal ends that collectively form a second cleaning surface that is convex in both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction; and a third group of tooth cleaning elements disposed within the first group of tooth cleaning elements and protruding through the first cleaning surface, the tooth cleaning elements of the third group extending from the first surface in an inclined manner towards the proximal end of the head or towards the distal end of the head. An example useful for understanding the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the head comprising a first surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged in a tooth cleaning element field, the tooth cleaning element field comprising: a first group of tooth cleaning elements, the tooth cleaning elements of the first group terminating in distal ends that collectively form a first concave cleaning surface; and a third group of tooth cleaning elements disposed within the first group of tooth cleaning elements and protruding through the first concave cleaning surface, the tooth cleaning elements of the third group extending from the first surface in an inclined manner. Yet another example useful for understanding the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the head comprising a first surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged in a tooth cleaning element field, the tooth cleaning element field comprising a first group of tooth cleaning elements and a third group of tooth cleaning elements, the third group of tooth cleaning elements dividing the first group of tooth cleaning elements into a first subgroup of tooth cleaning elements and a second subgroup of tooth cleaning elements; and wherein the tooth cleaning elements of the first subgroup of tooth cleaning elements terminate in distal ends that collectively form a cle