Oral care implement

摘要

An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, comprising a flexible head formed of a plurality of flexibly connected segments. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. The head can be formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments constructed of a rigid material and separated by a channel containing an elastomeric material. An elastomeric cleaning element comprising, a base portion and an upper portion extends form a front surface of the head. The elastomeric cleaning element extends from and is connected to the elastomeric material of the channel so that the base portion overlies a portion of each of the front surfaces of the segments on opposing sides of the channel. In another embodiment, the invention can be the elastomeric cleaning element itself, irrespective of the type of head in which it is incorporated. In yet another embodiment, the base portion can be tapered.

主权项

1. An oral care implement comprising:
a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head formed by a plurality of segments constructed of a rigid material, the plurality of segments including a first segment and a second segment, each of the first and second segments comprising a front surface, wherein the first and second segments are spaced apart so that a channel exists between the first and second segments; an elastomeric material in the channel connecting the first and second segments, the first and second segments being flexible relative to one another between a normal state and a flexed state; and an elastomeric cleaning element comprising: a base portion connected to and extending from the elastomeric material disposed in the channel, the base portion overlying a portion of each of the front surfaces of the first and second segments when the first and second segments are in the normal state; and an upper portion extending from the base portion; wherein the elastomeric cleaning element is an elastomeric wall, the upper portion of the elastomeric cleaning element comprising a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the first and second major surfaces being substantially parallel to one another, the base portion of the elastomeric cleaning element comprising a first surface that extends obliquely from the first major surface and a second surface that extends obliquely from the second major surface.