Oral care system

Abstract

An oral care system is provided. The system comprises a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends; a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle; and a lock movable between a first state and a second state; wherein, when the lock is in the first state, the grip structure is freely rotatable about an axis relative to the head and, when the lock is in the second state, the grip structure is prevented from rotating relative to the head.

1 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends;   a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle; and   a lock movable between a first state and a second state;   wherein, when the lock is in the first state, the grip structure is freely rotatable about an axis relative to the head and, when the lock is in the second state, the grip structure is prevented from rotating relative to the head;   wherein the lock comprises a lock element that is attached to, or is attachable to, the oral care implement;   wherein, in the first state, the lock element is detached from the oral care implement, and wherein, in the second state, the lock element is attached to the oral care implement at a second position on the oral care implement that prevents the grip structure from rotating relative to the head.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the lock element engages the grip structure and one of the head and a body of the handle that is not rotatable relative to the head when in the second state. 
     
     
         3 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends;   a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle; and   a lock movable between a first state and a second state;   wherein, when the lock is in the first state, the grip structure is freely rotatable about an axis relative to the head and, when the lock is in the second state, the grip structure is prevented from rotating relative to the head;   wherein the lock comprises a lock element that is attached to, or is attachable to, the oral care implement;   wherein, when the lock element is attached to the oral care implement at a second position, the lock element is either a) mounted on one of the head and a body of the handle that is not rotatable relative to the head, and engages a feature on the grip structure, thereby preventing the grip structure from rotating relative to the head, or alternatively b) mounted on the grip structure, and engages a feature on one of the head and a body of the handle that is not rotatable relative to the head, thereby preventing the grip structure from rotating relative to the head, wherein the feature comprises one or more of a groove, a channel, a hole, a gap and a protrusion.   
     
     
         4 . The oral care implement of  claim 3 , wherein the groove, channel, hole, gap or protrusion extends radially out from and/or radially into the grip structure or the one of the head and a body of the handle that is not rotatable relative to the head. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lock element is in the form of a C-clip.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The oral care implement of  claim 3  wherein, in the first state, the lock element is detached from the oral care implement, and wherein, in the second state, the lock element is attached to the oral care implement at the second position on the oral care implement that prevents the grip structure from rotating relative to the head. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein, in the first state, the lock element is attached to the oral care implement at a first position on the oral care implement. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care implement of  claim 9  wherein, when the lock element is attached to the oral care implement at the second position, the lock element is mounted on one of the head and a body of the handle that is not rotatable relative to the head, and engages a feature on the grip structure, thereby preventing the grip structure from rotating relative to the head. 
     
     
         11 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The oral care system of  claim 9  wherein the lock element is movable in a direction parallel to the axis between the first and second positions on the oral care implement. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element has a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and
 wherein the axis passes through the cleaning element at a point on the cleaning element between the surface of the head and the distal end of the cleaning element.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein, when the lock is in the first state, the grip structure is freely rotatable through at least 360 degrees about the axis relative to the head. 
     
     
         20 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the head. 
     
     
         21 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a body connected to the head, and wherein the grip structure is connected to the body so as to be rotatable relative to the body about the axis when the lock is in the first state. 
     
     
         22 . The oral care implement of  claim 21 , wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body, and wherein the body comprises two parts and the grip structure is disposed between the two parts so that the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body by the two parts. 
     
     
         23 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The oral care system implement of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the grip structure comprises a sleeve having an interior cavity, and wherein a portion of the body is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . The oral care implement of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the body comprises a sleeve having an interior cavity, and wherein a portion of the grip structure is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve. 
     
     
         28 . The oral care implement of  claim 22 , wherein the body is immovable relative to the head or unitary with the head. 
     
     
         29 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is at least partly constructed of resilient material, such as thermoplastic elastomer and/or SEBS. 
     
     
         34 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is at least partly constructed of hard or rigid material, such as hard plastic. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure comprises a first piece constructed of resilient material and a second piece constructed of hard or rigid material, such as hard plastic. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The oral care implement of  claim 34 , wherein the hard or rigid material comprises one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, cellulosics, SAN, acrylic, ABS and a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         40 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises one or other of a tooth cleaning element and a soft tissue cleaning element. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A kit of parts for an oral care system, the kit of parts comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends;   a handle connectable to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle; and   a lock that is movable between a first state and a second state when the handle is connected to the head;   wherein, when the lock is in the first state, the grip structure is freely rotatable about an axis relative to the head and, when the lock is in the second state, the grip structure is prevented from rotating relative to the head;   wherein the lock comprises a lock element in the form of a C-clip.   
     
     
         43 . The kit of parts of  claim 42 , wherein the cleaning element has a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and
 wherein the axis passes through the cleaning element at a point on the cleaning element between the surface of the head and the distal end of the cleaning element.   
     
     
         44 .- 59 . (canceled)