Oral Care Implement Having Diverging Cleaning Elements

Abstract

An oral care implement implementing a cleaning element arrangement having diverging cleaning elements. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head so as to form a ring about an axis extending from the first surface of the head. Each of the cleaning elements extend from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis. In one embodiment, a cleaning element wall also extends from the first surface of the head and circumferentially surrounds the plurality of cleaning elements. In another aspect, the invention may be an apparatus for incorporation into an ansate oral care implement that utilizes the aforementioned arrangement of cleaning elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and an axis extending from the first surface;   a plurality of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and arranged in a ring about the axis, wherein each of the cleaning elements extends from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis; and   wherein the plurality of cleaning elements form a cleaning element tuft that extends from a single tuft hole formed in the head.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements collectively define a funnel shaped cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the axis is substantially normal to the first surface of the head. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements diverge from the axis at an angle in a range of 3 to 5 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements are formed as an angled wall of densely packed bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the oral care implement comprises a body that includes the handle and the head and a plate secured to the body, the plate having the single tuft hole of the head formed therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care implement of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements comprise first ends located on a first side of the plate that perform a cleaning function and second ends opposite the first ends that are melted together to form a melt matte, wherein the melt matte is sandwiched between the plate and the body. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  further comprising a central cleaning element extending from the first surface of the head along the axis, a distal end of the central cleaning element extending beyond distal ends of the plurality of cleaning elements of the cleaning element tuft. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care implement of  claim 8  wherein the distal end of the central cleaning element has a cross sectional area which decreases with increasing distance from the first surface of the head. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a longitudinal axis, the plurality of cleaning elements being arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care implement of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning element wall extending from the first surface of the head and surrounding the cleaning element tuft, wherein the cleaning element wall is formed by densely packed bristles. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care implement of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements are formed as an angled wall of densely packed bristles. 
     
     
         13 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a handle;   a head connected to the handle, the head comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;   a continuous wall of cleaning elements extending from the first surface of the head and forming a ring about an axis, wherein each of the cleaning elements extends from the first surface of the head at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from the axis; and   a prophy cup extending from the first surface of the head and surrounding the continuous wall of cleaning elements.   
     
     
         14 . The oral care implement of  claim 13  wherein the prophy cup is formed by a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         15 . The oral care implement of  claim 13  further comprising a tuft hole formed in the head, each cleaning element of the continuous wall of cleaning elements extending from the tuft hole. 
     
     
         16 . The oral care implement of  claim 13  wherein the oral care implement comprises a body that includes the handle and the head and a plate secured to the body, the plate having a plurality of tuft holes formed therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The oral care implement of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of cleaning elements comprise first ends located on a first side of the plate that perform a cleaning function and second ends opposite the first ends that are melted together to form a melt matte, wherein the melt matte is sandwiched between the plate and the body. 
     
     
         18 . The oral care implement of  claim 13  further comprising a central cleaning element extending from the first surface of the head along the axis. 
     
     
         19 . An oral care implement comprising:
 a body comprising a handle and a head;   a plate having a front surface, an opposite rear surface, and a plurality of tuft holes extending therethrough, the plate secured to the head of the body;   a plurality of cleaning elements arranged in a cleaning element tuft that extends from a single one of the tuft holes, a first portion of the cleaning element tuft melted together to form a melt matte located between the rear surface of the plate and the head of the body and a second portion of the cleaning element tuft extending through the single one of the tuft holes and from the front surface of the plate; and   each of the cleaning elements of the cleaning element tuft extending from the front surface of the plate at an inclined orientation so as to radially diverge from an axis.   
     
     
         20 . The oral care implement of  claim 19  further comprising a cleaning element wall extending from the front surface of the plate and surrounding the cleaning element tuft, wherein the cleaning element wall is formed by densely packed bristles.