Method of manufacturing an oral care implement

Abstract

Provided is a method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising: providing a member and providing a group of non-parallel tooth cleaning elements that together define therebetween a conically-shaped cavity, wherein the tooth cleaning elements extend through a passage formed in the member so that respective first portions of the tooth cleaning elements are disposed on a first side of the member and respective second portions of the tooth cleaning elements are disposed on a second side of the member; and then fixing together the second portions of the tooth cleaning elements at the second side of the member.

1 . A method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising:
 providing a member and providing a group of non-parallel tooth cleaning elements that together define therebetween a conically-shaped cavity, wherein the tooth cleaning elements extend through a passage formed in the member so that respective first portions of the tooth cleaning elements are disposed on a first side of the member and respective second portions of the tooth cleaning elements are disposed on a second side of the member; and   fixing together the second portions of the tooth cleaning elements at the second side of the member;   wherein the providing comprises:   inserting the tooth cleaning elements into the passage, so that each of the tooth cleaning elements has a first portion on the first side of the member and has a second portion on the second side of the member, and   then arranging the tooth cleaning elements so that together the tooth cleaning elements define therebetween the conically-shaped cavity.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising inserting a plurality of picks of the tooth cleaning elements into the passage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the inserting comprises disposing the plurality of picks in the passage at respective different orientations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising inserting the plurality of picks in the passage from respective different directions. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising inserting all the tooth cleaning elements into the passage with all the tooth cleaning elements being substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the arranging comprises moving at least some of the tooth cleaning elements relative to others of the tooth cleaning elements to cause the tooth cleaning elements to define therebetween the conically-shaped cavity. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the arranging comprises allowing at least some of the tooth cleaning elements to move relative to others of the tooth cleaning elements to cause the tooth cleaning elements to define therebetween the conically-shaped cavity. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing comprises melting together the second portions of the tooth cleaning elements to form a melt matte at the second side of the member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing comprises fixing the second portions of the tooth cleaning elements to the member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising bringing into contact with one another plural tooth cleaning elements of the group so that an apex of the cavity is defined by the plural tooth cleaning elements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has an apex on the second side of the member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has an apex in the passage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has the shape of one of a full cone, a truncated cone, a right cone, a circular cone, an elliptical cone, or a pyramid. 
     
     
         18 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has an opening defined by distal ends of a plurality of the tooth cleaning elements, and wherein the cavity reduces in cross-sectional area as distance into the cavity from the opening increases. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of non-parallel tooth cleaning elements together define a wall around the cavity, the wall having a proximal end adjacent the member and a distal end distal from the member, the distal end of the wall being defined by distal ends of a plurality of the tooth cleaning elements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the wall is a continuous wall. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the wall is free of gaps therein. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a thickness of the wall measured from an interior side of the wall facing the cavity to an opposite exterior side of the wall is less at the distal end of the wall than at the proximal end of the wall. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the group of tooth cleaning elements comprises a tuft of bristles. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein some or all of the group of tooth cleaning elements are tapered bristles. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the passage is a tapered passage. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises part of a head of an oral care implement, and the group of non-parallel tooth cleaning elements extends from a first surface of the head. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a plate or membrane, and the method further comprises providing the plate or membrane in a head of an oral care implement so that the group of non-parallel tooth cleaning elements extends from a first surface of the head. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising providing a soft tissue cleaner to form at least part of a second surface of the head, which second surface of the head is opposite to the first surface of the head. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)