Magnetic holder and kit comprising personal care implement and magnetic holder

Abstract

The kit includes a personal care implement comprising a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, and a magnetic holder to which the personal care implement is magnetically attachable and detachable. The magnetic holder includes a timer that is activated by detaching the personal care implement from the magnetic holder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a kit, the kit comprising a personal care tool and a magnetic holder, the personal care tool comprising a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, the personal care tool being magnetically attachable to and detachable from the magnetic holder. The present disclosure also relates to a magnetic holder for releasably holding a personal care tool, the personal care tool comprising a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material. Background Art

[0002] The head and handle of oral care tools such as manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes, e.g., battery-powered toothbrushes, are well known in the art. Generally, a tuft of bristles used to clean teeth is attached to a bristle carrier or mounting surface of a brush head intended for insertion into a user's oral cavity. The handle is typically attached to the head, which is held by the user during brushing. The head is either permanently connected to the handle or can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle.

[0003] In order to effectively clean the teeth, proper brushing technique must be applied, including brushing for a sufficiently long time and polishing of all teeth in the mouth. If the teeth are not brushed for a sufficiently long period of time, this results in a reduced efficiency in plaque removal on the tooth surfaces. However, in order to achieve and maintain good oral health, and to prevent gingivitis, it is important to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums, especially in hard-to-reach areas (e.g., in the area of ​​the back molars).

[0004] Dentists generally recommend brushing teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day. However, in the past it has been seen that users often brush their teeth in much shorter time periods, especially if using a manual toothbrush.

[0005] Methods for tracking a user's dental care activities are known, such methods typically include receiving a video image of the user's face during a brushing session, and are therefore relatively complex and not suitable for use with a manual toothbrush. In addition, timers that track a user's brushing time are known, however, such timers typically require a microcontroller that includes a wireless module that provides a connection between the toothbrush and the timer. Likewise, such timers are relatively complex and not suitable for use in conjunction with a manual toothbrush. Typically, toothbrush guidance devices or components do not provide feedback to the user, or require integration with a smartphone application or other complex technology, which makes the guidance device complex and expensive.

[0006] In addition, after using the oral care implement / after brushing teeth, the user usually stores the wet implement / toothbrush in a toothbrush cup for drying. However, in a typical toothbrush cup, the discharged fluid is collected and accumulated at the bottom of the cup, and the fluid remains in contact with the toothbrush for a long period of time. Since the cup is open only on one side, the toothbrush dries relatively slowly. Bacteria living under humid conditions / in a humid environment can grow rapidly, contaminating the toothbrush and eventually making the brush unhygienic. Therefore, a solution is needed that is not only used to guide the user through the oral care routine, but also for hygienically storing and drying a manual toothbrush, so that residual water, toothpaste slurry and saliva can be discharged from the toothbrush. The brush should dry quickly to inhibit bacterial growth.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a tool for personal care tools that overcomes at least one of the above disadvantages, in particular, it provides a simple toothbrush guidance and monitoring system for transparent oral health control while enabling hygienic and dry storage of personal care tools. In addition, the tool should be suitable for use in combination with ordinary manual personal care tools that do not include electronic components. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to one aspect, a kit is provided, comprising a personal care tool and a magnetic holder, the personal care tool comprising a portion at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, the personal care tool being magnetically attachable to and detachable from the magnetic holder, wherein the magnetic holder comprises a timer that is activated by detaching the personal care tool from the magnetic holder.

[0009] According to one aspect, a magnetic holder is provided for releasably holding a personal care tool comprising a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, wherein the magnetic holder comprises a timer activated by removing the personal care tool from the magnetic holder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to various embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 An example embodiment of a kit including a personal care implement according to the present disclosure and a magnetic holder to which the personal care implement is magnetically attached is shown;

[0012] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 The magnetic holder,

[0013] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1An exploded view of the magnetic retainer, and

[0014] Figure 4 Shows Figure 1 A magnetic retainer that changes its state over time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] A kit according to the present disclosure includes a personal care implement including a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material and a magnetic holder, the personal care implement being repeatedly magnetically attachable to and detachable from the magnetic holder.

[0016] The personal care implement according to the present disclosure may be any type of personal care implement, such as a wet shaving razor, a trimmer, a grooming device, or a manually or electrically operated oral care implement, such as a toothbrush.

[0017] The personal care tool may include a head and a handle, the head being permanently attached to the handle, or being repeatedly attachable to and removable from the handle. The head may be any type of head, such as a razor blade cartridge or an oral care head, including but not limited to a brush head, an interdental brush or toothpick, a tongue / tissue cleaner, and a chemical applicator. The brush head may include at least one tooth cleaning element, such as a bristle tuft and / or an elastomeric element, fixed to a mounting surface of the head.

[0018] The portion of the personal care implement at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may be a handle. If the handle is at least partially made of such magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, such handle will be able to be magnetically attached to a magnetic holder. Such a magnetic holder may be a wall holder for holding and storing personal care implements.

[0019] The personal care tool can be an oral care tool, which includes a handle and a head, to which at least one tooth cleaning element (e.g., a bristle tuft) and / or an elastomeric element can be fixed. The head can be repeatedly attached to the handle and can be removed from the handle. Although the head can be made of non-magnetic or non-ferromagnetic materials, the handle can be made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic materials. For example, the head can be injection molded from a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene.

[0020] The oral care tool can be a manual toothbrush. The oral care tool can also be a proximal pick, a plaque scraper, or a tissue / tongue cleaner. The head of the oral care tool can be attached to the handle via a snap-fit ​​locking mechanism. For example, the handle can include a connector that can be inserted into the hollow portion of the head, or the head can include a connector that can be inserted into the hollow portion of the handle. Alternatively, a connector can be provided as another (i.e., separate) component of the oral care tool. For example, such a connector can be inserted into the hollow portion of the handle and the hollow portion of the head, respectively, thereby providing a sufficiently strong connection and stability between the head and the handle to enable the user to perform a brushing action.

[0021] The magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the personal care implement allows for hygienic storage of the implement. For example, if the personal care implement is an oral care implement, the oral care implement can be magnetically attached to a magnetic holder, such as a magnetic wall holder. Residual water, toothpaste slurry, and saliva can be drained from the oral care implement. The oral care implement can be dried relatively quickly. Therefore, bacterial growth can be significantly reduced, making the oral care implement more hygienic. Compared to a conventional toothbrush stored in a toothbrush cup, where the drained fluid is collected and accumulated at the bottom of the cup, the personal care implement according to the present disclosure can be exposed to humid conditions for a significantly shorter period of time.

[0022] The kit according to the present disclosure comprises a personal care tool according to the present disclosure and a magnetic holder for attaching and holding the personal care tool. The magnetic holder may have the form of a flat disc that can be attached to a wall, for example using double-sided tape, for safe and hygienic storage of the personal care tool. Such a flat disc may represent an easy-to-clean surface. The flat disc may at least partially include a TPE layer to enhance the friction between the personal care tool and the magnetic holder.

[0023] The user only needs to bring the personal care tool close to the magnetic holder, and then the personal care tool is automatically attached. No precise positioning or threaded connection, such as with a common toothbrush holder, is required. If, for example, magnetic properties are provided only in the handle of the personal care tool rather than in the head, the head portion will not be accidentally attached to the magnetic holder, thereby reducing the risk of the magnetic holder being soiled. The magnetic holder can have a disc form with a diameter of about 30 mm to about 70 mm, or about 40 mm to about 60 mm, or about 50 mm to about 55 mm, or about 52 mm.

[0024] The magnetic holder may comprise a housing, such as a waterproof housing, having a small form factor, such as made of a hard plastic material, in which the magnet may be embedded. For example, the magnet may be a neodymium (NdFeB) magnet.

[0025] According to the present disclosure, the magnetic holder includes a timer, which is activated by removing the personal care tool from the magnetic holder. For this purpose, the magnetic holder may include a printed circuit board assembly (PCB-A), preferably a battery-driven printed circuit board assembly (PCB-A), which includes a microcontroller. The magnetic holder may also include a device for detecting the presence of the personal care tool. The device for detecting the presence of the personal care tool can be a Hall sensor, a reed contact sensor, a switch, a light sensor, a proximity sensor and / or a movable magnet, which exhibits a signal that can be detected by the microcontroller. Such a device for detecting the presence of the personal care tool enables the timer of the magnetic holder to be seamlessly, noiselessly and effortlessly activated and deactivated by only removing / disassembling the personal care tool from the holder and returning / attaching the personal care tool to the holder from the holder.

[0026] The removal and reattachment of the personal care implement may be identified by an energy-saving sensor, such as a reed contact sensor that opens and closes an electrical circuit by applying an electromagnetic field.

[0027] A reed contact sensor represents an electrical switch that is operated by an applied magnetic field. A reed contact sensor consists of a pair of ferromagnetic flexible metal contacts in a sealed glass housing. The contacts are normally open and close when a magnetic field is present.

[0028] The use of a reed contact sensor allows the magnetic holder to identify differences in the magnetic field by removing and reattaching a portion of the personal care implement at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material. Attaching the personal care implement to the magnetic holder causes a closed loop of magnetic field lines, thereby adjusting the reed contact to its open position; no electrical contact is provided.

[0029] If the personal care implement is detached from the magnetic holder, the magnetic field is "disturbed" by the absence of the magnet and the reed contact changes its state from open to closed. This signal can be detected by the microcontroller and activate the timer / start the brushing cycle from the beginning.

[0030] Alternatively, removal and reattachment of the personal care implement may be detected using a movable NdFeB magnet that has as a primary function to attract the personal care implement and as a secondary function to connect the electrical contacts.

[0031] The magnets can be assembled into a flexible spring configuration that allows small movements toward the personal care tool when close to its surface, while breaking electrical contacts or releasing a micro switch that can be used as a trigger signal to enable or disable a software function.

[0032] The magnets (e.g., NdFeB magnets) of the magnetic holder for holding / fixing / attaching the personal care tools to their surface and the printed circuit board assembly can be placed in a waterproof housing with a small and compact form factor. The housing can be placed on, for example, a bathroom mirror, tile or other wall element with double-sided tape.

[0033] The magnetic holder may be equipped with at least one or more batteries, for example 2x AAA Duracell batteries. These batteries may be primary or secondary batteries, for example charged in an external charger or charged inside the device. For example, the batteries may be charged in the magnetic holder, for example by connecting the holder to an external power source via a cable (e.g. USB), or by inductive / wireless charging, such as Qi (which is an open standard for wireless power transmission). If a bayonet lock is provided in the housing of the magnetic holder, i.e. by twisting the housing in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the batteries can be easily replaced. Alternatively, in order to easily open the housing of the magnetic holder and to provide simple access to the batteries, a thread, a dovetail guide or a clamp may be provided.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, the timer is activated by simply detaching the personal care tool from the magnetic holder. For example, the pull-off force of the personal care tool perpendicular to the magnetic holder can be higher or about 3N.

[0035] The timer may be preconfigured so that it is activated after a predetermined period of time after the personal care implement is detached from the magnetic holder. Such a predetermined period of time will be referred to as the "initial introduction phase" hereinafter. In other words, the timer is activated after a defined waiting period of time, allowing the user to, for example, wet the toothbrush, add toothpaste and prepare themselves before starting the cleaning process.

[0036] Such predetermined time period may be from about 2 seconds to about 20 seconds, or from about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds, or from about 8 seconds to about 12 seconds, or about 10 seconds.

[0037] The magnetic holder may include at least one or more light sources, at least two light sources, six or twelve light sources. These light sources may activate at least one or more light indication segments, which may be arranged in a circular or rectangular shape, for example. The at least one light source may be a light emitting diode (LED). For example, the light indication segment may be used to guide the user through the tooth brushing process.

[0038] This induction process may begin with removing the personal care implement from the magnetic holder. The initial introduction phase may allow the user to prepare for use of the personal care implement, such as by placing toothpaste on the brush head, wetting the brush head with water before starting the timer.

[0039] The magnetic holder may include multiple light indicating segments, such as six light indicating segments. These light indicating segments may be activated one by one after a predetermined time period. In other words, the light indicating elements may be changed one by one within a predetermined time period. Such a predetermined time period may be from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds, or about 20 seconds. If the magnetic holder includes six light indicating segments, each light indicating segment is illuminated, for example, by one or 2 light sources, and the predetermined time period of each light indicating segment is set to 20 seconds, the guided process is suitable for the recommended 2-minute brushing time. Different light indicating elements may be illuminated with different colors, for example, using six RGB-LEDs (red, green, blue LEDs), optionally in combination with additional white LEDs. In addition, different segments may pulsate to indicate which of these segments / six the user should currently brush.

[0040] When all light indication segments have been activated and the predetermined time period for all segments has expired, a first visual, audible and / or tactile signal may be given by the magnetic holder. Similarly, if the personal care tool is attached to the magnetic holder before all light indication segments have been activated and before the predetermined time period for all segments has expired, a further signal, such as a second visual, audible and / or tactile signal, preferably different from the first signal may be given by the magnetic holder.

[0041] In other words, if the user stops the brushing process before the end of the predetermined total time frame of, for example, 2 minutes, and reattaches the personal care tool to the magnetic holder, a signal may be activated. If the user puts the toothbrush back after the predetermined time frame of, for example, 2 minutes of brushing time, another, for example, different signal may be activated to provide the user with a reward for complying with oral care hygiene.

[0042] Utilizing such magnetic holders and kits according to the present disclosure, a system is provided that enables an effortless brushing guidance system giving visual feedback as well as a reward system, even for manual devices / tools without electronic components, while allowing hygienic storage. Tool / brush usage can be easily monitored for transparent oral health control.

[0043] For example, the magnetic holder can be provided with six light indication segments, wherein the six light indication segments are arranged in a circle representing the tooth segments in the oral cavity (upper left / upper middle / upper right / lower left / lower middle / lower right). Once the user reaches the recommended / optimal brushing time of 2 minutes, the user can be notified by a visual signal or "visual reward", for example, by a pleasant flashing of all LEDs, by a rotating clock effect of multiple colors, etc. In addition, or alternatively, sound or tactile feedback can be given. For example, sound feedback can be given by a piezoelectric buzzer, a speaker, a motor resonance beep and / or a motor beep. Tactile feedback can be given, for example, using a motor vibration of electromagnetic vibration.

[0044] Instead of using a light source / LED in combination with a light indicating element activated / illuminated by the light source, a display showing a guiding element, such as an abstract representation of the brushing area, teeth (still or animated) or comic elements, for example for child training purposes, can be used to provide user feedback. For example, such a display can be a LED / TFT, LCD, OLED, elnk display, electrochromic display or electroluminescent display.

[0045] Additionally, wireless connectivity for data transfer and personalization purposes may be provided within the magnetic holder. For example, the magnetic holder may include Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity and / or other mesh networking protocols, such as Thread. The magnetic holder / timer may be customized, for example, based on the total brushing time required, the initial introduction phase, the colors displayed, and the predetermined time periods of the segments.

[0046] Additionally, the magnetic holder may include a night light function and a proximity sensor and / or a watch function, for example using a low power segment such as an electrochromic display, an elnk display or a low energy LED.

[0047] Typically, especially in the field of personal care, users are accustomed to products having a certain weight that ensures high product quality and provides a comfortable feeling during use of the product. The magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the handle of the personal care tool may have a relatively high density and therefore a relatively heavy weight, which provides such benefits to the personal care tool. In addition, the magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the handle may have a higher density than the non-magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the head. Therefore, the center of mass may be located in the handle, which enables the user to perform a well-coordinated use / brushing technique with an improved feeling during use / brushing.

[0048] The personal care implement may include a head that can be repeatedly attached to and detached from a handle. While the high quality and relatively expensive handle of the personal care implement may be suitable for use over a longer period of time compared to a conventional manual toothbrush that is discarded after about three months of use, the relatively inexpensive toothbrush replacement may be replaced periodically, for example, after about three months. This may provide a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable personal care implement, providing a high quality handle with improved gripping properties, and a solution for purchasing only new head replacements without the need to purchase a corresponding handle.

[0049] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material forming at least a portion of the handle may comprise an amorphous thermoplastic resin. The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may also comprise aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate. Furthermore, the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may additionally or alternatively comprise iron oxide. The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may also comprise glass fibers which may be premixed with at least a portion of the amorphous thermoplastic resin.

[0050] Alternatively, the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material forming at least a portion of the handle may not contain aluminum oxide, but may contain iron oxide. The amount of iron oxide used in the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may be up to about 70% by weight, or up to about 67% by weight. If iron oxide is used instead of aluminum oxide, such material composition provides improved magnetic properties and therefore provides a higher magnetic attraction between the personal care tool and the magnetic holder. In addition, if iron oxide is used instead of aluminum oxide, the adverse wear effects that often occur in the mold due to the abrasive properties of aluminum oxide during the molding step can be significantly reduced.

[0051] Such magnetic / ferromagnetic materials may allow the weight of the handle to be controlled in any position, for example by filler variation. Due to the relatively high weight of the handle, control of the overall personal care tool may be required. It is now possible to use the mass / weight distribution of the material to adapt the moment of inertia of the finished tool.

[0052] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may include about 13 wt % to about 30 wt % amorphous thermoplastic resin; about 3 wt % to about 25 wt % aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate; and about 45 wt % to about 67 wt % iron oxide.

[0053] Alternatively, the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may comprise from about 13 wt % to about 30 wt % amorphous thermoplastic resin; and up to about 70 wt % iron oxide.

[0054] Such compositions provide a material density that is about three times the density of standard plastic materials (e.g., polypropylene) used for toothbrushes. At higher weight and higher thermal conductivity, the material can drive value perception, particularly in combination with a plated coating. Such a coating can be made of real metal. The plated coating can be applied in a selective plating process. During this coating process for multi-component plastic parts, the metal layer is deposited only on the hard material, while the additional overmolded soft component can remain unaffected.

[0055] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may comprise about 27.5 wt % amorphous thermoplastic resin, about 17 wt % aluminum oxide, about 51 wt % iron oxide, and about 4.5 wt % glass fiber. Alternatively, the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may comprise about 27.5 wt % amorphous thermoplastic resin, about 67 wt % iron oxide, and about 4.5 wt % glass fiber. The magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the handle may have a relatively high density (about 2.5 g / cm 3 ), which is a standard plastic material used for toothbrushes such as polypropylene (about 0.9 g / cm 3 ) is about three times the density of ). The weight of the material is relatively high, which provides the user with a high-quality perception and a comfortable feeling during use of the product.

[0056] The amorphous thermoplastic resin may comprise a styrene resin, such as styrene acrylonitrile "SAN". The amorphous thermoplastic resin may be selected from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene and styrene acrylonitrile.

[0057] The amorphous thermoplastic resin may include about 17 weight percent styrene acrylonitrile and 10.5 weight percent of a mixture including polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.

[0058] It has been found that such a composition provides a high specific gravity molding material suitable for injection molding or extrusion. A high specific gravity molding material having high surface hardness, excellent coating properties and excellent thermal conductivity can be provided.

[0059] The use of molding materials with a relatively high specific gravity is known. Such molding materials usually contain a polymer resin and a high-density filler such as iron oxide. However, in such molding materials, the amount of iron oxide that can be included is limited due to the relatively poor thermal conductivity characteristics of the molding material. Therefore, on the one hand, the lower thermal conductivity leads to relatively long cycle times during manufacturing to allow the molding material to cool after molding. On the other hand, if the heavy polymeric material is filled with high thermal conductivity additives, such as metal powders or fibers, the addition of these materials leads to a tight process window in molding because the molten material solidifies immediately when it contacts the cold wall of the tool. This rapid solidification leads to high injection speeds and a low ratio of flow length to wall thickness at the production part.

[0060] It has been found that the above molding material has a high specific gravity and optimally controlled thermal conductivity to reduce or extend the time required for the molding material to cool during or after injection molding. In addition, it has been found that a relatively high percentage of iron oxide can be maintained in the molding material while improving the thermal conductivity of the molding material.

[0061] The addition of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate can provide improved thermal conductivity to the molding material compared to a material containing only styrene resin and iron oxide. This improved thermal conductivity can lead to shorter cycle times because the molding material may require less time to cool after molding.

[0062] Another benefit of adding aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate to the material is that the total amount of iron oxide in the molding material can be increased compared to iron oxide and resin in the past. The improvement in the properties of the molding material comes from the addition of relatively small amounts of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate. The material composition containing a relatively high percentage (i.e., about 45% to about 67% by weight, preferably about 51% by weight) of iron oxide (magnetite) provides good magnetic properties and a relatively heavy weight of the overall material.

[0063] Styrene acrylonitrile "SAN" provides high heat resistance properties. The acrylonitrile units in the chain give SAN a glass transition temperature greater than 100°C. The properties of SAN can allow for reduced cycle times due to relatively early and faster transition temperatures. Amorphous polymers are suitable for the heavy resin composites of the present disclosure due to the glass transition temperature Tg at which amorphous polymers transition from a viscous or rubbery state to a hard state in a reversible manner. With injection molding of the heavy resin material of the present disclosure, the temperature of the material melt is above the Tg region (viscous state or rubbery state). During cooling, the composite reaches a high Tg temperature early and reaches dimensional stability (glassy state). Due to the high Tg of the material, the material remains dimensionally stable, so overmolding of the heavy resin material is possible.

[0064] Polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate provide high-quality surface properties for the handle, including improved optical properties and high impact strength. Once heated, polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate represent high-temperature resistant melts with low viscosity and high melt flow index (MFI). As a result, the processability of magnetic / ferromagnetic materials during molding is improved.

[0065] It is well known that heavy resin materials tend to show high shrinkage effects for products with thick walls / dimensions. However, it has been found that glass fibers added to magnetic / ferromagnetic materials provide improved stability and low shrinkage effects to the material composition.

[0066] The material composition can be prepared by blending an amorphous thermoplastic resin with aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder or aluminum silicate powder with iron oxide powder. Increasing the amount of iron oxide in the material composition also has the advantage of providing a lower cost molding material because iron oxide powder is cheaper than other fillers. Amorphous thermoplastic resin, glass fiber, aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate powder and iron oxide powder can be blended by using a single-shaft extruder, a double-shaft extruder, a kneader, a Banbury mixer, a roller extruder or other such extruders. After blending, the material is heated to become flowable. The flowable material can then be molded into a handle or a part of the handle by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[0067] In an additional step, the handle or a portion of the handle may be plated to add an improved appearance and pleasing feel.Thermoplastic elastomers are well suited for electroplating because they allow both hard and soft composite components to be formed in one operation to be selectively plated.

[0068] For example, the handle may include a thumb rest made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and / or a polypropylene material. These materials can be easily injection molded on a heavy resin material as discussed above. Such thumb rests can provide improved gripping properties for the handle, such as anti-slip properties to improve the manipulability of the oral care tool under wet conditions, such as when the user is brushing his teeth. The thumb rest may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A hardness of about 30 to about 60, or about 40, so as to prevent the oral care tool from being too slippery when used under wet conditions. At least a portion of the thumb rest may have a concave shape having an angle α of about 20° to about 25° or about 24° relative to the area of ​​the rest of the thumb rest. The thumb rest or gripping area may be attached to the front surface of the handle in an area near the proximal end (i.e., closest to the head). The thumb rest may include a plurality of ribs extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the oral care tool. Such ribs may allow the user / consumer to use the oral care tool with even more control. The user / consumer can better grip and manipulate the handle of the oral care implement during brushing.Such a handle can provide further improved control and greater comfort during brushing, especially under wet conditions.

[0069] In addition, the handle can be made of at least two or at least three different materials, each material forming a different part of the handle. For example, a first material according to the present disclosure, i.e., a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, can be injection molded into a first component of the handle, thereby forming the underlying infrastructure of the oral care tool. For example, a second component of a polypropylene material can be injection molded above the first component, and / or a third component, such as a thermoplastic elastomer material, can be at least partially injection molded above the first component and / or the second component.

[0070] The third component of thermoplastic elastomer material can form a thumb rest on the front surface of the oral care implement and / or a palm grip on the rear surface opposite the front surface for the user / consumer's fingers and thumb to grasp. This handle configuration can even further resist slipping during use. The thermoplastic elastomer material can extend through a hole provided in the underlying base structure and / or the second component of the handle.

[0071] Alternatively, the portion of the personal care tool that is at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material can be a magnetic ring, a magnetic sheet or a magnetic clamp attached to the personal care tool, a metal ring, a metal sheet or a metal clamp attached to the personal care tool, and / or a movable magnet attached to the personal care tool. As another alternative, the personal care tool can include a housing, such as a handle housing made of a magnetic metal.

[0072] The tooth cleaning element of oral care tool, for example, the filament bundle forming one or more clusters, can be attached to the head by hot tufting process.A method for manufacturing a head with filament clusters embedded in the head may include the following steps: in the first step, a cluster is formed by providing a desired amount of filaments. In the second step, the cluster is placed in a mold cavity so that the end of the filament that should be attached to the head extends into the cavity. The opposite end of the filament that does not extend into the cavity can be end rounding or non-end rounding. For example, in the case where the filament is a tapered filament with a sharp top, the filament can be non-end rounding. In the third step, a head is formed around the end of the filament extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process, so that the cluster is anchored in the head. Alternatively, the cluster can be anchored by forming the first part of the head (so-called "sealing plate") around the end of the filament extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process before the rest of the oral care tool is formed. Before starting the injection molding process, the ends of the tufts extending into the mold cavity may be optionally melted or fusion bonded to join the filaments together in a fusion or molten ball so that the fusion or molten ball is located in the cavity. The tufts can be held in the mold cavity by a molding rod having a blind hole corresponding to the desired position of the tufts on the finished head of the oral care tool. In other words, the tufts attached to the head by the hot tufting process are not superimposed on the middle portion along their length and are not installed in the head using anchors / pins. The tufts are installed on the head by an anchorless tufting process.

[0073] Alternatively, the head of the oral care tool may be provided with a bristle carrier having at least one tuft hole (e.g., a blind hole). A tuft comprising a plurality of filaments may be fixed / anchored in the tuft hole by a binding process / anchoring tufting method. This means that the filaments of the tuft are bent / folded in a substantially U-shaped manner around an anchor, such as one made of metal, such as an anchor cable or an anchor plate. The filaments are pushed into the tuft hole together with the anchor so that the anchor penetrates into the opposite side walls of the tuft hole, thereby anchoring / fixing / fastening the filaments to the bristle carrier. The anchor may be fixed in the opposite side walls by positive friction engagement. In the case where the tuft hole is a blind hole, the anchor holds the filament against the bottom of the hole. In other words, the anchor may be located above the U-shaped bend in a substantially vertical manner. Since the filaments of the tuft are bent around the anchor in a substantially U-shaped configuration, the first branch and the second branch of each filament extend from the bristle carrier in the direction of the filament. The type of filaments that can be used / suitable for use in a binding process is also referred to as “double-sided filaments.” Heads for oral care implements manufactured by a binding process can be provided in a relatively low cost and time-efficient manner.

[0074] The following is a non-limiting discussion of example embodiments of a kit including a personal care implement and a magnetic holder including a timer according to the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0075] Figure 1 A kit 1 is shown, which includes a personal care tool 10 (in this case a manual oral care tool 10) and a magnetic holder 100 to which the personal care tool 10 can be magnetically attached and magnetically detachable. The magnetic holder 100 can have the form of a flat disc that can be attached to a wall, for example using double-sided tape, for safe and hygienic storage of the personal care tool 10. The flat disc can at least partially include a TPE layer to enhance the friction between the personal care tool 10 and the magnetic holder 100.

[0076] The manual oral care tool 10 includes a handle 12 and a head 14 that can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle 12. The handle 12 can be molded from a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material and represents a portion that is at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material. In addition, the handle 12 may also have been electroplated with any additional material (e.g., a polyethylene material or a thermoplastic elastomer) to produce a soft area, such as a thumb rest 16. The soft area / thumb rest 16 can improve the comfort and feel of the handle 12. Alternatively or in addition, the handle 12 may have a metal layer 18 directly located on the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material of the present disclosure to further improve the appearance of the handle 12 through another electroplating step. For example, the metal layer 18 may have a ring form around the outer circumference of the handle 12.

[0077] Alternatively, the portion of the personal care tool 10 that is at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material can be a magnetic ring, a magnetic sheet or a magnetic clamp attached to the personal care tool, a metal ring, a metal sheet or a metal clamp attached to the personal care tool 10 and / or a movable magnet attached to the personal care tool 10.

[0078] The magnetic holder 100 includes a timer that can be activated by removing the personal care implement 10 from the magnetic holder 100 .

[0079] Figure 2 and Figure 3 1 and 2 show a front view and an exploded view of the magnetic retainer 100, respectively. Figure 3As shown, the magnetic holder 100 includes a magnet 170, a housing cover 105, and a housing bottom 190 that can be attached to the housing cover 105 to provide a housing cavity, for example using a bayonet lock, a screw or a snap function. A battery-driven printed circuit board assembly (PCB-A) 110 including a microcontroller 120 is disposed in the housing cavity. The battery 180 that powers the PCB-A is a primary battery in this case, but can also be a secondary battery that is charged in an external charger or inside the device. The magnetic holder 100 also includes a device 130 for detecting the presence of the personal care tool 10. The device 130 for detecting the presence of the personal care tool 10 can be a Hall sensor, a reed contact sensor, a switch, a light sensor, a proximity sensor and / or a movable magnet that exhibits a signal that can be detected by the microcontroller 120.

[0080] The magnetic holder 100 includes a plurality of light sources 140, in this case six light emitting diodes (LEDs) 140. When the timer is activated, i.e. when the personal care tool 10 is detached from the magnetic holder 100, the light guide 150 and the light diffuser 155 for uniform light distribution guide the light from the LED to several light indicating elements 160 disposed in the housing 105. In this case, the magnetic holder 100 includes six light indicating elements 161, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166 arranged in a circle. These six light indicating elements 160 represent tooth segments / parts (upper left / upper middle / upper right / lower left / lower middle / lower right) in the oral cavity. Via the tape 198, the magnetic holder 100 can be attached to the wall to hygienically store the personal care tool 10. Optionally, a real-time module 195 can be further disposed in the housing cavity to enable the control and monitoring of the time of expiration in the event that the battery 180 powering the PCB-A 110 runs out of power during brushing. If new batteries are inserted, the previously recorded times will immediately be displayed again.

[0081] like Figure 4 As shown, when the personal care tool 10 is detached from the magnetic holder 100, the light indication segments 160 are activated one by one after a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be about 20 seconds. If the magnetic holder includes six light indication segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, and the predetermined time period of each light indication segment is set to 20 seconds, the guided process is suitable for the recommended 2-minute brushing time.

[0082] For example, the timer is preconfigured so that it is activated after a predetermined period of time after the personal care tool 10 is removed from the magnetic holder 100, allowing the user to wet the toothbrush, add toothpaste, and prepare themselves before starting the cleaning process. The predetermined period of time can be about 2 seconds to about 20 seconds, about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds, or about 8 seconds to about 12 seconds, or about 10 seconds.

[0083] When all light indication segments 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 have been activated and the predetermined time periods for all segments 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 have expired, a first visual, audible and / or tactile signal may be given to the user by the magnetic holder 100 .

[0084] Similarly, if the personal care tool 10 is reattached to the magnetic holder 100 before all of the light indication segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 have been activated or before a predetermined time period for all of the segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 has expired, a second visual, audible and / or tactile signal may be given to the user by the magnetic holder 100.

[0085] Figure 4 The sequential steps show how the magnetic holder 100 / timer changes its state over time. At step 200, the personal care implement 10 is detached from the magnetic holder 100 and the timer is in the "initial introduction phase". The "initial introduction phase" is pre-configured so that the timer is activated after a predetermined time period, which can be set to 10 seconds. This allows the user to wet the oral care implement 10, add toothpaste thereon and prepare themselves for the cleaning process.

[0086] Steps 210 , 220 , 230 and 240 show how the light indicating elements 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 are each activated one after another after a predetermined time period, which may be set to 20 seconds.

[0087] Step 260 illustrates a first visual signal that will be given to the user if the personal care tool 10 is not reattached to the magnetic holder 100 before all light indication segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 have been activated and before a predetermined time period for all segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 has expired.

[0088] In contrast to step 260, step 250 shows a second visual signal, different from the first visual signal, which is given to the user by the magnetic holder 100 when the personal care tool 10 is reattached to the magnetic holder 100 before all light indication segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 have been activated and / or a predetermined time period for all segments 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 has not expired.

[0089] In the context of this disclosure, the term "substantially" refers to an arrangement of elements or features that, while theoretically expected to exhibit exact uniformity or behavior, may in practice render something somewhat less precise. Likewise, the term represents the degree to which a quantitative value, measurement, or other related representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

[0090] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​cited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Claims

1. A kit (1), comprising a personal care tool (19) and a magnetic holder (100), wherein the personal care tool (19) comprises a part at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material (13), the personal care tool (10) being magnetically attachable to and magnetically detachable from the magnetic holder (100), wherein The magnetic holder (100) includes a timer that is activated by detaching the personal care implement (10) from the magnetic holder (100).

2. A kit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic holder (100) comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCB-A) (110), preferably a battery-driven printed circuit board assembly (PCB-A) (110), and the printed circuit board assembly comprises a microcontroller (120).

3. A kit (1) according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic holder (100) includes a device (130) for detecting the presence of the personal care tool (10), preferably the device (130) is a Hall sensor, a reed contact sensor, a switch, a light sensor, a proximity sensor and / or a movable magnet, which exhibits a signal that can be detected by the microcontroller (120).

4. A kit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the personal care tool (10) comprises a handle (12), and the part of the personal care tool at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material (13) is at least a part of the handle (12).

5. A kit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the part of the personal care tool that is at least partially made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material (13) is a magnetic ring, a magnetic sheet or a magnetic clamp attached to the personal care tool (10), a metal ring, a metal sheet or a metal clamp attached to the personal care tool (10) and / or a movable magnet attached to the personal care tool (10).

6. The kit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the timer is activated after a predetermined period of time after detaching the personal care implement (10) from the magnetic holder (100).

7. A kit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined time period is from about 2 seconds to about 20 seconds, preferably from about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds, further preferably from about 8 seconds to about 12 seconds, even more preferably about 10 seconds.

8. The kit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic holder (100) comprises at least one light source (140), preferably at least two light sources (140), more preferably six or twelve light sources (140).

9. The kit (1) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one light source (140) is a light emitting diode (LED).

10. A kit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic holder (100) comprises several light sources (140) activating at least one, preferably a plurality of light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166), the light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166) being preferably arranged in a circular or rectangular shape.

11. A kit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic holder (100) comprises a plurality of light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166), preferably six light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166), each of which is activated one after another after a predetermined time period.

12. Kit (1) according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined period of time is about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds, preferably about 20 seconds.

13. A kit (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a first visual, auditory and / or tactile signal is given by the magnetic holder (100) when all light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166) have been activated and a predetermined time period for all segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166) has expired.

14. A kit (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein if the personal care tool (10) is attached to the magnetic holder (100) before all light indication segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166) are activated and / or before a predetermined time period with respect to all segments (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166) expires, a second visual, auditory and / or tactile signal is given by the magnetic holder (100).

15. A magnetic holder (100) for releasably holding a personal care tool (10), the personal care tool (10) comprising a portion at least partially made of a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material (13), wherein the magnetic holder (100) comprises a timer, which is activated by removing the personal care tool (10) from the magnetic holder (100).

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