Abstract:
An oral care system comprising a toothbrush and a dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal reservoir containing an oral care material; a drive component rotatably disposed within the housing and comprising a drive screw, the drive component being axially retained relative to the housing through mechanical interference; and an elevator coupled to the drive screw so that rotation of the drive component in a first rotational direction causes the elevator to axially advance along the drive screw in a first axial direction to dispense the oral care material from a dispensing orifice.
Abstract:
An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, which includes a handle and a replacement head utilizing a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to the handle of the oral care implement. The replacement head comprises a head and a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a handle. A protuberance protrudes radially inward from an inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging a boss of a stem on the handle to impede rotation of the tubular sleeve about the stem in a first angular direction. A locking tab protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging an undercut surface of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem. The locking tab is circumferentially spaced from the protuberance so that an first axial channel exists therebetween for receiving a section of the boss.
Abstract:
An oral care dispenser and oral care system incorporating the system that includes a resilient applicator that optimizes application of the subject fluid to the desired oral surfaces. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser comprising a housing having an internal reservoir containing the fluid. The resilient applicator is coupled to the housing and comprises a dispensing orifice. The resilient applicator comprises a working surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is defined by a polygonal perimeter edge, the polygonal perimeter edge comprising a plurality of apex portions and a plurality of side portions, wherein one of the plurality of side portions forms a distal most-portion of the resilient applicator.
Abstract:
An oral care implement body to which a replacement head can be detachably coupled. In one embodiment, the oral care implement body includes a gripping portion having a shoulder, a stem extending from the shoulder along a longitudinal axis, and a boss protruding from an outer surface of the stem. The boss may have a locking rib section having an undercut surface that is axially spaced from the shoulder and a positioning rib section extending from the locking rib section to the shoulder. The undercut surface may circumferentially protrude from a first side surface of the positioning rib section. The locking rib section may extend along a first rib axis and the positioning rib section may extend along a second rib axis, the first rib axis oriented obliquely to the second rib axis.
Abstract:
A dispenser that includes a resilient applicator that optimizes application of a subject fluid to a desired surface. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser comprising a housing having an internal reservoir containing the fluid. The resilient applicator is coupled to the housing and comprises a dispensing orifice. The resilient applicator comprises a working surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is defined by a polygonal perimeter edge, the polygonal perimeter edge comprising a plurality of apex portions and a plurality of side portions, wherein one of the plurality of side portions forms a distal most-portion of the resilient applicator.
Abstract:
An oral care dispenser and oral care system incorporating the system that includes a resilient applicator that optimizes application of the subject fluid to the desired oral surfaces. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser comprising a housing having an internal reservoir containing the fluid. The resilient applicator is coupled to the housing and comprises a dispensing orifice. The resilient applicator comprises a working surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is defined by a polygonal perimeter edge, the polygonal perimeter edge comprising a plurality of apex portions and a plurality of side portions, wherein one of the plurality of side portions forms a distal most-portion of the resilient applicator.
Abstract:
An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, which includes a handle and a replacement head utilizing a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to the handle of the oral care implement. The replacement head comprises a head and a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a handle. A protuberance protrudes radially inward from an inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging a boss of a stem on the handle to impede rotation of the tubular sleeve about the stem in a first angular direction. A locking tab protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the tubular sleeve for engaging an undercut surface of the boss to prevent axial disengagement of the tubular sleeve from the stem. The locking tab is circumferentially spaced from the protuberance so that a first axial channel exists therebetween for receiving a section of the boss.
Abstract:
A replacement head for an oral care implement, such as a powered toothbrush, wherein the replacement head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to an oral care implement body. In one embodiment, the invention can be a replacement head comprising: a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto; a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, and a distal end to which the head is coupled, the tubular sleeve comprising a locking tab for engaging an undercut surface of a locking section of a boss.
Abstract:
An oral care system comprising a toothbrush and a dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal reservoir containing an oral care material; a drive component rotatably disposed within the housing and comprising a drive screw, the drive component being axially retained relative to the housing through mechanical interference; and an elevator coupled to the drive screw so that rotation of the drive component in a first rotational direction causes the elevator to axially advance along the drive screw in a first axial direction to dispense the oral care material from a dispensing orifice.