Toothbrush

Abstract

An oral hygiene implement, typically a toothbrush, having an oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition comprising 100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of a plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.

1 . An oral hygiene implement, having at least one elastomeric oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition comprising 100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of a plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture. 
     
     
         2 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  being a toothbrush comprising a grip handle and an integral or replaceable head with bristles extending from one surface of its head, and the at least one elastomeric oral hygiene element comprises thermoplastic elastomeric lamellae extending from the opposite surface of the head. 
     
     
         3 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  wherein the plasticizing oil comprises medical white oil. 
     
     
         4 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 10+/−2% of the plasticiser. 
     
     
         5 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 70 weight % or more of menthol and/or one or more derivative thereof. 
     
     
         6 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 5  wherein the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises 40-60 weight % of menthol, in mixture with 20-35 weight % of menthone, 5-8 weight % of one or more menthyl ester particularly menthyl acetate, and 1-5 weight of menthofuran. 
     
     
         7 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 6  wherein the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises the composition: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Minimum 
                   Maximum 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Total menthol 
                    52 wt. % 
                    56 wt. % 
                 
                     
                   Menthone 
                    22 wt. % 
                    30 wt. % 
                 
                     
                   Menthyl esters 
                   5.8 wt. % 
                   7.8 wt. % 
                 
                     
                   Menthofuran 
                   1.7 wt. % 
                   3.7 wt. % 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         8 . An oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic flavouring substance comprises peppermint oil. 
     
     
         9 . A process for making an oral hygiene implement comprising a plastics material handle part and an oral hygiene element, comprising co-moulding the plastics material handle part and an oral hygiene element made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a hardness in the range ShoreA 20-50 and a composition comprising;
 100-200 parts of a thermoplastic elastomer base material and 10-100 parts of a plasticiser comprising a mixture of a plasticising oil and a lipophilic flavouring substance which comprises menthol and/or derivatives thereof, the lipophilic flavouring substance being 5-15 wt % of the mixture.   
     
     
         10 . An article comprising an oral hygiene implement according to  claim 1  provided in packaging comprising a packaging layer having a surface on which is printed matter incorporating a pigment, and this printed matter is covered by a barrier layer comprising at least one layer each of polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene, the barrier layer being situated between the printed matter and the oral hygiene implement. 
     
     
         11 . An article according to  claim 10  wherein the barrier layer comprises two layers of polyethylene sandwiching a layer of polyvinyl alcohol intermediate between these two layers of polyethylene. 
     
     
         12 . An article according to  claim 10  wherein the barrier layer has a thickness 40-60 microns.