Oral care implement

Abstract

An oral care implement is provided. The implement comprises: a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle; wherein the grip structure is rotatable relative to the head about an axis that 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.

1 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle;   wherein the grip structure is rotatable relative to the head about an axis that 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,   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,   wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body,   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.   
     
     
         2 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle;   wherein the grip structure is rotatable relative to the head about an axis that 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,   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,   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.   
     
     
         3 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   a handle connected to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle;   wherein the grip structure is rotatable relative to the head about an axis that 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,   wherein the grip structure is at least partly constructed of resilient material, such as thermoplastic elastomer and/or SEBS,   wherein the grip structure is at least partly constructed of hard or rigid material, such as hard plastic.   
     
     
         4 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the point is spaced from the distal end of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the point is closer to the distal end of the cleaning element than to the surface of the head. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is rotatable through 360 degrees about the axis relative to the head. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is not biased to an angular position relative to the head. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the head. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care implement of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The oral care implement of  claim 2  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. 
     
     
         13 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the body is immovable relative to the head and unitary with the head. 
     
     
         18 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . 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, and wherein the grip structure is connected to the body by way of the second piece of the grip structure being connected to the body. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The oral care implement of  claim 3 , wherein the hard or rigid material comprises one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, cellulosics, SAN, acrylic, ABS and a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         29 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises at least one of a tooth cleaning element and a soft tissue cleaning element. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A kit of parts for an oral care implement, the kit of parts comprising:
 a head having a surface from which a cleaning element extends, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   a handle connectable to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle;   wherein the handle is connectable to the head with the grip structure being rotatable relative to the head about an axis that 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,   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,   wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body,   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.   
     
     
         33 . A method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a head;   (b) providing the head with a cleaning element that extends from a surface of the head, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   (c) connecting a handle to the head, the handle comprising a grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle, the handle being connected to the head so that the grip structure is rotatable relative to the head about an axis;   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,   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,   wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body,   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.   
     
     
         34 . A method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a head and a handle, the handle having a body connected to the head;   (b) providing the head with a cleaning element that extends from a surface of the head, the cleaning element having a distal end furthest from the surface of the head; and   (c) connecting a grip structure to the body, the grip structure forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the handle and being connected to the body so as to be rotatable relative to the body about an axis;   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,   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,   wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the body,   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.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein step (c) is carried out after step (b). 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein step (b) is carried out after step (c). 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the point is spaced from the distal end of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the point is closer to the distal end of the cleaning element than to the surface of the head. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the grip structure is axially fixed relative to the head. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34  wherein at least a portion of the grip structure comprises a sleeve having an interior cavity, and wherein step (c) comprises disposing a portion of the body within the interior cavity of the sleeve, and wherein step (c) comprises sandwiching the portion of the body between two sections of the grip structure, and then connecting the two sections of the grip structure to each other. 
     
     
         43 .- 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the cleaning element comprises at least one of a tooth cleaning element and a soft tissue cleaning element. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled)