Oral Care Instrument

Abstract

An oral hygiene implement is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle; a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. The head has a plurality of contact elements. A sealing element is positioned between the handle and the neck. The sealing element is translucent. An indication element is positioned between the adjacent the sealing element. A light emitting source provides electromagnetic energy to the indication element, and the electromagnetic energy passes through the sealing element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral hygiene implement comprising a handle, a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head, the head comprising a plurality of contact elements, the oral hygiene implement further comprising:
 an indication element disposed between the handle and the neck wherein the indication element at least partially surrounds the handle having an outer periphery wherein the indication element provides a signal to a user indicating one or more conditions wherein the signal is a light;   an output source in signal communication with the indication element wherein the output source emits a light; and   a reflective core disposed within the indication element, wherein the reflective core redirects light from the output source to the outer periphery of the indication element and wherein the reflective core comprises a polished area having a face   wherein the light emitted by the indication element is greater than about 20 percent of the light provided by the output source.   
     
     
         2 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises an outer shell with an insert having a base portion disposed therein. 
     
     
         3 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 2 , wherein the insert further comprises a forward portion, the forward portion comprising a transmission element in signal communication with the reflective core. 
     
     
         4 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 2 , wherein the indication element is sandwiched between a first portion and a second portion of a sealing element. 
     
     
         5 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and/or the second portion comprise a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and/or the second portion are translucent. 
     
     
         7 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion and/or the second portion comprise a first color. 
     
     
         8 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 7 , wherein the output source comprises a light emitting device capable of emitting a second color, and wherein the first color and the second color are different. 
     
     
         9 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 8 , wherein the light emitted goes through the first portion and/or the second portion. 
     
     
         11 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 7 , wherein the output source comprises a light emitting device capable of emitting a second color, and wherein the first color and the second color are similar. 
     
     
         12 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 11 , wherein the light emitted goes through the first portion and/or the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and/or the second portion are transparent. 
     
     
         14 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective core comprises a polished area having an outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 14 , wherein the outer periphery of the indication element comprises a first plurality of sides and wherein the outer surface of the polished area has a second plurality of sides. 
     
     
         16 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of sides are substantially parallel to the second plurality of sides. 
     
     
         17 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of sides are at an angle with the second plurality of sides. 
     
     
         18 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 14 , wherein the outer surface of the polished area is at a uniform distance from the outer periphery of the indication element. 
     
     
         19 . The oral hygiene implement of  claim 14 , wherein the outer surface of the polished area is variably space from the outer periphery of the indication element. 
     
     
         20 . An oral hygiene implement comprising a handle, a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head, the head comprising a plurality of contact elements, the oral hygiene implement further comprising:
 an indication element having an outer periphery;   an output source in signal communication with the indication element; and   a reflective core disposed within the indication element, wherein the reflective core redirects light from the output source to the outer periphery of the indication element.