Oral Hygiene Implements

Abstract

Oral hygiene implements, such as manual or electric toothbrushes or refills, include a head portion sized for insertion into a human mouth that includes a base and a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the base to define a field of elastomeric bristles. The field can include a first elastomeric element that includes a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric element different than the first elastomeric element that includes a second elastomeric material. The elastomeric elements extending from the base can define many “sharp,” yet compliant edges, such as those having a tip radius of less than about 0.006 inch, for enhanced cleaning with reduced abrasion.

1 . An oral hygiene implement comprising:
 a head portion sized for insertion into a human mouth, the head portion comprising:   a base; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the base, each elastomeric element defining one or more edges, wherein a total number of edges defined by the plurality of elastomeric elements having a tip radius of less than about 0.006 inch is greater than about 250.   
   
   
       2 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the total number of edges is greater than about 300. 
   
   
       3 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more edges are substantially exposed, having an intra- and/or inter-element spacing to its nearest neighbor of about 0.010 inch or more. 
   
   
       4 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein one or more elastomeric elements have a long axis running in a direction of extension, and wherein the edges are defined along the direction of extension. 
   
   
       5 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein one or more elastomeric elements have a long axis running in a direction of extension, and wherein the edges are defined in a direction perpendicular to extension. 
   
   
       6 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements comprise a first elastomeric element comprising a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric element comprising a second elastomeric material. 
   
   
       7 . The implement of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements further comprise a third elastomeric element comprising a third elastomeric material. 
   
   
       8 . The implement of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements further comprise a fourth elastomeric element comprising a fourth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       9 . The implement of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements further comprise a fifth elastomeric element comprising a fifth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       10 . The implement of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of elastomeric elements further comprise a sixth elastomeric element comprising a sixth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       11 . The implement  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements has a Shore A hardness of about 8 Shore A to about 95 Shore A. 
   
   
       12 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the Shore A hardness is from about 35 Shore A to about 92 Shore A. 
   
   
       13 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements comprises a thermoplastic or a crosslinked material, and wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of a styrenic block copolymer, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a silicone, a polyether amide, a polyether polyester, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements comprises a filler, and wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of oil, abrasives, tackifiers, plasticizers, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements has a first maximum transverse cross-sectional thickness of between about 0.003 inch and about 0.250 inch. 
   
   
       16 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements is of a form selected from the group consisting of rings, projections, ladders, cups, fins, and curtains. 
   
   
       17 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements has a transverse cross-section, taken perpendicular to a direction of extension, that is circular, triangular, rectangular, square or sinusoidal in form. 
   
   
       18 . The implement of  claim 10 , wherein each head portion includes more than a single first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth element. 
   
   
       19 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises one or more bristles, such as bristles arranged in one or more turfs, extending from the base. 
   
   
       20 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion and/or base portion is configured to be vibrated and/or oscillated, such as by an electrically driven motor in communication with the head portion and/or base portion. 
   
   
       21 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the implement is in the form of a manual toothbrush. 
   
   
       22 . An oral hygiene implement comprising:
 a head portion sized for insertion into a human mouth, the head portion comprising:   a base; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the base defining a field of elastomeric elements, wherein the field comprises a first elastomeric element comprising a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric element different than the first elastomeric element and comprising a second elastomeric material.   
   
   
       23 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second elastomeric elements differ in shape. 
   
   
       24 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second elastomeric materials are different. 
   
   
       25 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein each elastomeric element defines one or more edges, and wherein a total number of edges defined by the plurality of elastomeric elements having a tip radius of less than about 0.006 inch is greater than about 250. 
   
   
       26 . The implement of  claim 25 , wherein the total number of edges is greater than about 300. 
   
   
       27 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the field further comprises a third elastomeric element comprising a third elastomeric material, such as one that is different from the first and second elastomeric material. 
   
   
       28 . The implement of  claim 27 , wherein the field further comprises a fourth elastomeric element comprising a fourth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       29 . The implement of  claim 28 , wherein the field further comprises a fifth elastomeric element comprising a fifth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       30 . The implement of  claim 29 , wherein the field further comprises a sixth elastomeric element comprising a sixth elastomeric material. 
   
   
       31 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements has a Shore A hardness of about 6 Shore A to about 95 Shore A. 
   
   
       32 . The implement of  claim 31 , wherein the Shore A hardness is from about 35 Shore A to about 92 Shore A. 
   
   
       33 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements comprises a thermoplastic or crosslinked material, and wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of a styrenic block copolymer, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a silicone, a polyether amide, a polyether polyester, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       34 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements comprises a filler, and wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of oil, abrasives, tackifiers, plasticizers, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       35 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements has a maximum transverse cross-sectional thickness of between about 0.003 inch and about 0.250 inch. 
   
   
       36 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth elements is in the form selected from the group consisting of rings, projections, ladders, cups, fins, and curtains. 
   
   
       37 . The implement of  claim 30 , wherein each brush portion includes more than a single first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth element. 
   
   
       38 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the field further comprises one or more bristles, such as bristles arranged in one or more turfs, extending from the base. 
   
   
       39 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the head portion and/or base portion is configured to be vibrated and/or oscillated, such as by an electrically driven motor in communication with the head portion and/or base portion. 
   
   
       40 . The implement of  claim 22 , wherein the implement is in the form of a manual toothbrush. 
   
   
       41 . An oral hygiene implement comprising:
 a head portion sized for insertion into a human mouth, the head portion comprising:   a base; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the base defining a field of elastomeric elements, wherein the field comprises a first elastomeric element comprising a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric material surrounding the first elastomeric material.   
   
   
       42 . The implement of  claim 41 , wherein the second elastomeric material completely surrounds the first elastomeric material. 
   
   
       43 . The implement of  claim 41 , wherein the second elastomeric material surrounds a terminal end of the first elastomeric material. 
   
   
       44 . The implement of  claim 41 , wherein the first elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness greater than the second elastomeric material. 
   
   
       45 . An oral hygiene implement comprising:
 a head portion sized for insertion into a human mouth, the head portion comprising:   a base; and   a plurality of elastomeric elements extending from the base defining a field of elastomeric elements, wherein the field comprises a first elastomeric element comprising a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric element comprising a second elastomeric material, and wherein the first elastomeric element has a first coefficient of friction and the second elastomeric element has a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction.