Oral Care Implement Having Diverging Cleaning Elements

Abstract

An oral care implement implementing a cleaning element arrangement having diverging cleaning elements. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head so as to form a ring about an axis extending from the first surface of the head. Each of the cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis. In one embodiment, a cleaning element wall also extends from the first surface of the head and circumferentially surrounds the plurality of cleaning elements. In another aspect, the invention may be an apparatus for incorporation into an ansate oral care implement that utilizes the aforementioned arrangement of cleaning elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and an axis extending from the first surface; and   a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged in a ring about the axis, wherein each of the cleaning elements extends from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis;   a cleaning element wall extending from the first surface of the head, the cleaning element wall circumferentially surrounding the plurality of cleaning elements; and   the cleaning elements extending beyond a top surface of the cleaning element wall.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements are spaced-apart bristle tufts and the cleaning element wall is an elastomeric wall. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning elements are spaced from a top inner edge of the cleaning element wall during periods of non-use and wherein the cleaning elements are forced into contact with the top inner edge of the cleaning element wall during periods of use. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the axis is substantially normal to the first surface of the head. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the cleaning elements abut a top inner edge of the cleaning element wall during periods of non-use. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning element wall comprises one or more gaps located along a longitudinal axis of the head, the cleaning element wall being free of gaps that are not located along the longitudinal axis of the head. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning element wall comprises a plurality of arcuate sections that collectively define a loop, each arcuate section separated from an adjacent arcuate section by a gap. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care implement of  claim 7  wherein the cleaning element wall comprises only two arcuate sections, and wherein the arcuate sections are arranged so that the gaps are located along a longitudinal axis of the head. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements form a funnel shaped cavity and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another along the ring. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care implement of  claim 9  further comprising a central cleaning element extending from the first surface of the head along the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements diverge from the axis at an angle in a range of 3 to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the axis extends from the first surface of the head along a longitudinal axis of the head; and wherein the head comprises a distal region, a middle region and a proximal region; and wherein the axis is located within the middle region of the head. 
     
     
         13 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the head comprises a distal region, a middle region and a proximal region; 
 the distal region comprising a first set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head; 
 the proximal region comprising a second set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head; 
 the cleaning element wall located within the middle region; 
 wherein the cleaning element wall forms a loop comprising one or more gaps located along a longitudinal axis of the head, wherein the cleaning element wall is free of gaps that are not located along the longitudinal axis of the head; and 
 wherein the loop formed by the cleaning element wall extends a substantial entirety of a width of the head. 
 
     
     
         14 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning element wall extends from the first surface in a substantially normal direction to the first surface. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning element wall forms a loop, and wherein the loop and the ring are concentrically arranged about the axis. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the cleaning elements being at least six bristle tufts and the cleaning element wall being an elastomeric wall; 
 the axis extending substantially normal to the first surface of the head; 
 the cleaning element wall forming a loop, and the loop and the ring concentrically arranged about the axis; 
 the bristle tufts forming a funnel shaped cavity; 
 a central cleaning element extending from the first surface of the head along the axis; 
 the head comprising a distal region, a middle region and a proximal region, the distal region comprising a first set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head, the proximal region comprising a second set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head; and the elastomeric wall located within the middle region; 
 the elastomeric wall comprising one or more gaps located along a longitudinal axis of the head, wherein the elastomeric wall is free of gaps along lateral sides of the head; and 
 wherein the plurality of bristle tufts are taller than adjacent cleaning elements of the first and second sets. 
 
     
     
         17 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface and second surface opposite the first surface; and   a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and forming a ring about an axis, wherein each of the cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis.   
     
     
         18 . The oral care implement of  claim 17  further comprising a cleaning element wall extending from the first surface of the head and surrounding the plurality of cleaning elements so as to form a loop that surrounds the ring, the cleaning element wall being shorter than the plurality of cleaning elements. 
     
     
         19 . The oral care implement of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements are bristle tufts and the cleaning element wall is constructed of an elastomer. 
     
     
         20 . The oral care implement of  claim 17  wherein the cleaning elements are spaced from a top inner edge of the cleaning element wall during periods of non-use and wherein the cleaning elements are forced into contact with the top inner edge of the cleaning element wall during periods of use. 
     
     
         21 . The oral care implement of  claim 17  wherein the cleaning element wall comprises a plurality of arcuate sections that collectively define the substantially closed loop, each arcuate section separated from an adjacent arcuate section by a gap; and wherein the cleaning element wall comprises only two arcuate sections, and wherein the arcuate sections are arranged so that the gaps are located along a longitudinal axis of the head. 
     
     
         22 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the second surface;   a hollow cleaning element cone extending from the first surface of the head, the hollow cleaning element cone circumferentially surrounding an axis extending from the first surface of the head, wherein the hollow cleaning element cone extends from the first surface of the head so as to radially diverge from the axis; and   a cleaning element wall extending from the first surface of the head and circumferentially surrounding the hollow cleaning element cone.   
     
     
         23 . The oral care implement of  claim 22  further comprising:
 the hollow cleaning element cone terminating in a cleaning end and the cleaning element wall terminating in a top surface 
 the cleaning end of the hollow cleaning element cone being at a first height above the first surface of the head; 
 the top surface of the cleaning element wall being at a second height above the first surface of the head; and 
 wherein the first height is greater than the second height 
 
     
     
         24 . The oral care implement of  claim 22  wherein the hollow cleaning element cone diverges from the axis at an angle in a range of 3 to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The oral care implement of  claim 22  wherein the hollow cleaning element cone is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart cleaning elements, wherein each of the cleaning, elements of the hollow cleaning element cone extend from the first surface of the head so as to radially diverge from the axis; and wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart cleaning elements are bristle tufts. 
     
     
         26 . The oral care implement of  claim 22  wherein the cleaning element wall is constructed of an elastomer; and wherein the hollow cleaning element cone is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bristle tufts. 
     
     
         27 . The oral care implement of  claim 22  further comprising:
 wherein the cleaning element wall forms a loop comprising one or more gaps located along a longitudinal axis of the head, wherein the cleaning element wall is free of gaps that are not located along the longitudinal axis of the head; 
 wherein the head comprises a distal region, a middle region and a proximal region; and wherein the axis is located within the middle region of the head; 
 a first set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head in the distal region and a second set of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head in the proximate region; and 
 wherein the loop extends a substantial entirety of a width of the head and is located entirely within the middle region. 
 
     
     
         28 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface;   a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged equidistant from an axis extending from the first surface of the head, wherein the cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis; and   a cleaning element wall extending from the first surface of the head and circumferentially surrounding the plurality of cleaning elements.