Oral Care Implement and Oral Care System

Abstract

Disclosed is oral care implement, comprising: a handle connected to a head at an end and an affixion device at the other end via a hinge; the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to a horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the surface. Another disclosed oral care implement comprises an affixion device connected to the handle via a bi-stable hinge. Further disclosed is an oral care system, comprising: a first device comprising a handle connected to a head at an end; and a second device comprising an affixion device for affixing the second device to a horizontal surface, a connector detachably connectable to the first device, and a hinge connecting the affixion device to the connector. The head in any of the foregoing configurations comprises at least one oral care element.

1 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a handle;   a head at an end of the handle, the head comprising at least one oral care element;   and   an affixion device connected to the handle via a hinge, wherein the affixion device is for affixing the oral care implement to a horizontal surface;   wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to a horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with a longitudinal axis of the handle at a predetermined angle to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The oral care implement of  claim 1   wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the handle substantially orthogonal to the horizontal surface;   wherein the hinge is also configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the handle substantially parallel to the horizontal surface;   wherein:   when the handle is at the position relative to the affixion device at which the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the handle substantially orthogonal to the horizontal surface, the handle is at a first position relative to the affixion device, and   when the handle is at the position relative to the affixion device at which the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the handle substantially parallel to the horizontal surface, the handle is at a second position relative to the affixion device,   wherein the hinge is configured to permit relative rotation of the handle and the affixion device over only a predetermined finite angle.   
     
     
         6 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the affixion device comprises a suction cup defining a chamber and comprising a rim defining an opening of the chamber, and
 wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the suction cup to a position at which, when the rim is affixed to the horizontal surface through the provision of lower pressure inside the chamber than outside the chamber, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         7 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a first side and a second side opposite the first side,
 wherein the at least one oral care element is located at the first side of the head, and   wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to a horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the second side of the head facing the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         8 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is freely rotatable relative to the affixion device between the position and another position. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein a first force required to rotate the handle relative to the affixion device from the position to another position is greater than a second force required to rotate the handle relative to the affixion device from the other position to the position. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is a bi-stable hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care implement of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined position is above and away from the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         12 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a handle;   a head at an end of the handle, the head comprising at least one oral care element;   and   an affixion device connected to the handle via a bi-stable hinge, wherein the affixion device is for affixing the oral care implement to a horizontal surface.   
     
     
         13 . The oral care implement of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to a horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         14 . The oral care implement of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a first position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with a longitudinal axis of the handle substantially orthogonal to the horizontal surface, and so that the handle is rotatable relative to the affixion device to a second position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the handle substantially parallel to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care implement of  claim 10 , wherein the head has a first side and a second side opposite the first side,
 wherein the at least one oral care element is located on the first side of the head, and   wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the suction cup to a position at which, when the affixion device affixes the oral care implement to the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface with the second side of the head facing the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         16 . The oral care implement of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined position is above and away from the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         17 . The oral care implement of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge is configured to permit relative rotation of the handle and the affixion device over only a predetermined finite angle of between 40 and 140 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The oral care implement of  claim 12 , wherein the handle has a longitudinal axis, the hinge is at a first longitudinal end of the handle, and the head is at a second longitudinal end of the handle. 
     
     
         21 . The oral care implement of  claim 12 , wherein a first distance between the hinge and the affixion device is less than 50% of a second distance between the hinge and the head. 
     
     
         22 . The oral care implement of  claim 12 , wherein the oral care implement is a toothbrush and the affixion device comprises a suction cup. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The oral care implement of  claim 22 , wherein the suction cup defines a chamber and comprises a rim defining an opening of the chamber, and wherein the hinge is configured so that the handle is rotatable relative to the suction cup to a position at which, when the rim lies fully on the horizontal surface, the hinge stably supports the head at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal surface. 
     
     
         25 . An oral care system, comprising:
 a first device comprising a handle and a head at an end of the handle, the head comprising at least one oral care element; and   a second device comprising an affixion device for affixing the second device to a horizontal surface, a connector detachably connectable to the first device, and a hinge connecting the affixion device to the connector,   wherein the handle has a longitudinal axis, the connector is detachably connectable to a first longitudinal end of the handle, and the head is at a second longitudinal end of the handle.   
     
     
         26 - 38 . (canceled)