Oral care implement, handle therefor, and oral care replacement brush head therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to an oral care implement, a handle thereof and an oral care replacement brush head thereof. A handle for removably coupling to an oral care replacement brush head, the handle comprising: a gripping portion having a distal end; and a rod extending along a rod axis and protruding from a distal end of the gripping portion. The rod includes: a rod body having an outer surface; a rod ring protruding from and extending circumferentially around an outer surface of the rod body, the rod ring configured to hasp-interlock with a sleeve hasp element of a sleeve portion of the oral care replacement brushhead; and a rod rib protruding from and extending axially along an outer surface of the rod body, the rod rib intersecting the rod ring; wherein the rod rib protrudes a first height from an outer surface of the rod body and the rod ring protrudes a second height from the outer surface of the rod body, the second height being less than the first height.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with the application date of November 25, 2019, application number "201980102378.3", and invention name "Oral care device, its handle and oral care replacement brush head". The original application is the Chinese national phase application of international application PCT / CN2019 / 120512. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an oral care implement comprising a handle and an oral care replacement brush head, wherein the handle is adapted to be detachably coupled to the oral care replacement brush head. Background Art

[0003] Toothbrushes with replaceable brush heads have been used for many years, allowing the user to continue using the same handle by replacing the brush head. This is often used for electric toothbrushes, because the expensive electronic circuitry is stored in the handle, making it cost-prohibitive to discard the handle every time the cleaning elements on the brush head wear out and need to be replaced. However, there are also manual toothbrushes that utilize replaceable brush heads, which can be beneficial to the environment, for example, because less plastic waste is added to landfills if only the brush head is replaced every three months or so. The connection mechanism between the handle and the replaceable brush head configured to be attached to the handle still needs to be improved. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an oral care implement comprising a handle and an oral care replacement brush head. The oral care replacement brush head can be changed between a first state in which it is separated from the handle and a second state in which it is connected to the handle. The oral care replacement brush head has a proximal edge surface that defines an opening into a sleeve cavity. The proximal edge surface is inclined downward and away from the cavity axis of the sleeve cavity at a radial distance. Similarly, the handle has a grip portion terminating at a distal end and a rod protruding from the distal end. An annular shoulder that is inclined downward and away from the rod facilitates the mating of the oral care replacement brush head with the handle. The oral care replacement brush head may have a feature of a rod for fixing the oral care replacement brush head to the handle.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention can be an oral care device, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a gripping portion having a distal end and a rod, the rod extending along a rod axis and protruding from the distal end of the gripping portion, so that the distal end of the gripping portion comprises an annular shoulder surface surrounding the rod, the rod comprising a rod interference section and a rod snap element, the annular shoulder surface radially extending from an outer shoulder edge to an inner shoulder edge adjacent to the rod, the annular shoulder surface inclining from the inner shoulder edge to the outer shoulder edge in a direction upward toward the distal end of the rod or downward away from the distal end of the rod as the distance from the rod axis increases; and a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion comprising a sleeve cavity extending along the cavity axis, a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, a sleeve interference section and a sleeve snap element, and the proximal side of the sleeve portion The edge surface extends radially from the outer sleeve edge to the inner sleeve edge, and the proximal edge surface is inclined from the inner sleeve edge to the outer sleeve edge in a direction upward toward the oral treatment portion or downward away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases; the oral care replacement brush head can be changed between the following states: a first state, in which the oral care replacement brush head is separated from the handle; and a second state, in which the rod of the handle is disposed in the sleeve cavity of the sleeve portion so that the proximal edge surface of the oral care replacement brush head is adjacent to the annular shoulder surface of the handle, and the oral care replacement brush head is fixed to the handle by at least the following methods: (1) an interference fit between the rod interference section and the sleeve interference section; and (2) a snap-fit ​​interlock between the rod snap element and the sleeve snap element.

[0006] On the other hand, the present invention can be an oral care replacement brush head for a rod that is detachably connected to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising an oral care treatment portion and a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion comprising: a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis; a sleeve interference section configured to form an interference fit with the rod interference section of the rod; a sleeve snap element configured to snap-fit ​​interlock with the rod snap element of the rod; and a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion extending radially from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, the proximal edge surface inclining from the inner sleeve edge to the outer sleeve edge in a direction upward toward the oral treatment portion or downward away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases.

[0007] On the other hand, the present invention can be an oral care replacement brush head for detachably connecting to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising: an oral care treatment portion, which includes a front surface facing a first direction and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from the front surface; and a sleeve portion, which includes: a distal end connected to the oral care treatment portion; a front surface facing the first direction and a rear surface facing the second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis and configured to receive the rod of the handle; a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface extending from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, wherein a front portion of the outer sleeve edge is located at a first axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, and a rear portion of the outer sleeve edge of the sleeve portion is located at a second axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, the second axial distance being greater than the first axial distance; a sleeve snap element, which is configured to snap-lock with a rod snap element of the rod, the sleeve snap element being surrounded by a wall of the sleeve portion.

[0008] On the other hand, the present invention can be a handle for detachably connecting to an oral care replacement brush head, the handle comprising a gripping portion having a distal end and a rod extending along a rod axis and protruding from the distal end of the gripping portion, the rod comprising: a rod body having an outer surface; a rod ring protruding from the outer surface of the rod body and extending circumferentially around the outer surface, the rod ring being configured to interlock with a sleeve snap-on element of a sleeve portion of the oral care replacement brush head; a rod rib protruding from the outer surface of the rod body and extending axially along the outer surface, the rod rib intersecting the rod ring, and the rod rib protruding from the outer surface of the rod body to a first height and the rod ring protruding from the outer surface of the rod body to a second height, the second height being less than the first height.

[0009] On the other hand, the present invention can be an oral care replacement brush head for a rod that is detachably connected to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising an oral care treatment portion and a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion comprising: a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis and configured to receive the rod of the handle; a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion extending radially from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, the proximal edge surface inclining from the inner sleeve edge to the outer sleeve edge in a direction upward toward the oral treatment portion or downward away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases; and one or more features for securing the oral care replacement brush head to the rod of the handle.

[0010] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an oral care implement according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the handle and the oral care replacement brush head are in an attached state;

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of an oral care implement of , wherein the handle and the oral care replacement brush head of the oral care implement are in a disassembled state;

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A close-up perspective view of Area III;

[0015] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Close-up front view of region III;

[0016] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Close side view of region III;

[0017] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A top view of a handle of an oral care device;

[0018] Figure 7 is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII;

[0019] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 Front view of the oral care replacement brush head;

[0020] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 A side view of an oral care replacement brush head;

[0021] Fig.10 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of an oral care replacement brush head;

[0022] Fig.11 is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI;

[0023] Fig. 12A is shown with Figure 1The handle is aligned with the rod portion and positioned to attach to the rod portion of the Figure 1 A perspective view of an oral care replacement brush head;

[0024] Fig. 12B is along Fig. 12A A cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of ;

[0025] Fig.13A is shown partially inserted into Figure 1 The cavity of the oral care replacement brush head Figure 1 A perspective view of the rod portion of the handle;

[0026] Fig. 13B is along Fig.13A A cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of ;

[0027] Fig.14A is shown in the attached state Figure 1 Oral Care Replacement Brush Heads and Figure 1 a perspective view of a portion of a handle;

[0028] Fig. 14B is along Fig.14A A cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of ;

[0029] Fig.15 is a perspective view of an oral care implement having a handle and an oral care replacement brush head according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Fig.16 yes Fig.15 A perspective view of the handle;

[0031] Fig.17 yes Fig.15 A perspective view of an oral care replacement brush head;

[0032] Fig.18 is along Fig.15 a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of ; and

[0033] Fig.19 yes Fig.16 A close-up view of Area XIX. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0035] The description of the exemplary embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered as part of the entire written description. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is intended only for convenience of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "top" and "bottom" and their derivatives (e.g., "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be understood as referring to the orientation shown in the drawings described later or in the discussion. These relative terms are only for convenience of description and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation unless explicitly indicated. Terms such as "attachment", "attachment", "connection", "connection", "interconnection" and similar terms refer to the relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other or directly or indirectly through an intermediate structure, and the two can be removably or rigidly attached or related, unless otherwise explicitly described as not being the case. In addition, reference is made to exemplary embodiments to illustrate the features and beneficial effects of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should obviously not be limited to such exemplary embodiments that illustrate some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other feature combinations; the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0036] First reference Figure 1 and 2 , an oral care appliance 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the oral care appliance 1000 is a manual toothbrush. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the oral care appliance 1000 may take other structural forms, including electric toothbrushes, tongue scrapers, gum and soft tissue cleaners, water flossers, interdental devices, tooth polishers, special handle appliances with tooth engaging elements, or any other type of appliance commonly used for oral care. In addition, in other embodiments, the appliance may not be dedicated to oral care, but may be used as a personal care appliance, including the various types of oral care appliances mentioned herein, and also including hairbrushes, razors, body wipes, skin treatment devices, etc. Therefore, it should be understood that the inventive concepts discussed herein can be applied to any type of oral care appliance or personal care appliance, unless a specific type of appliance is specified in the claims.

[0037] The oral care implement 1000 generally includes a handle 100 and an oral care replacement brush head 200. The handle 100 is the portion of the oral care implement 1000 that is gripped by the user during use of the oral care implement 1000, and the oral care replacement brush head 200 is the portion of the oral care implement 1000 that contains a processing portion for performing a treatment, such as oral cleaning, on the user. The oral care replacement brush head 200 can be in a first state (such as a second state) in which the oral care replacement brush head 200 is separated from the handle. Figure 2 ) and a second state in which the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100 (as shown in Figure 1 Thus, the oral care replacement brush head 200 is replaceable such that once the treatment portion thereof wears out, it can be replaced with a new oral care replacement brush head by attaching the new oral care replacement brush head to the same universal handle 100. This can reduce costs and waste, which consumers may find desirable in today's climate.

[0038] The handle 100 generally includes a gripping portion 110 extending from a proximal end 111 to a distal end 112 and a rod 120 extending or protruding from the distal end 112 of the gripping portion 110. The gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 is a portion that is usually gripped and manipulated by the user to perform a processing function during the user of the oral care appliance 1000. In an exemplary embodiment, the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 has a circular or annular / oval cross-sectional shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments, and the gripping portion 110 can be in any desired shape, including having additional recesses, contours, etc., to enhance grippability. The rod 120 of the handle 100 is a portion for connecting the handle 100 to the oral care replacement brush head 200, as will be described in more detail below. Therefore, the rod 120 has a feature that helps to attach the handle 100 to the oral care replacement brush head 200. The stem 120 includes a stem body 121 having several different sections that provide different functions in achieving an acceptable coupling between the handle 110 and the oral care replacement brush head 200 .

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the rod 120 and the gripping portion 110 are integrally formed into a single integral part. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, the entire handle 100 is formed by a first material. In some embodiments, the first material may have a first hardness. In some embodiments, the first material may be a metal or a metal alloy. In other embodiments, the first material may be wood or hard plastic. In other embodiments, the gripping portion 110 and the rod 120 may be formed by different materials. Therefore, for example, the gripping portion 110 may be formed by a metal or a metal alloy, and the rod 120 may be formed by a hard plastic. In other embodiments, the gripping portion 110 may be formed by a hard plastic, and the rod 120 may be formed by a metal or a metal alloy. In other embodiments, the gripping portion 110 may be formed by wood, and the rod 120 may be formed by a metal, a metal alloy, a hard plastic, or a combination thereof. Therefore, in some embodiments, the materials used to form the different parts of the handle 100 may have some differences.

[0040] The oral care replacement brush head 200 includes an oral care treatment portion and a sleeve portion 220. The sleeve portion 220 includes a sleeve cavity 221 configured to receive at least a portion of the stem 120 of the handle 100 for the purpose of coupling the oral care replacement brush head 200 to the handle 100. The oral care replacement brush head 200 extends from a proximal end 201 formed by a proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 to a distal end 202 formed by a distal end of the oral care treatment portion 210. The oral care treatment portion 210 includes a brush head body 211 located at the distal end of the sleeve portion 220. The brush head body 211 may be integrally formed as a unitary component with the sleeve portion 220. The brush head body 211 has a front surface 212 facing a first direction and a rear surface 213 facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. The oral care treatment portion 210 also includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 214 protruding from the front surface 212 of the brush head body 211 in the first direction.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements 214 include a plurality of bristle tufts 215 and a plurality of elastomeric cleaning elements 216. The bristle tufts 215 and the elastomeric cleaning elements 107 together form a cleaning element zone on the brush head body 211. In all embodiments, the specific arrangement and / or pattern and / or position of the various bristle tufts 215 and the elastomeric cleaning elements 216 should not limit the present invention. Therefore, the bristle tufts 215 and the elastomeric cleaning elements 216 may be positioned outside the positions depicted in the figure. In addition, in some embodiments, the oral care replacement brush head 200 may only include bristle tufts 215 without the elastomeric cleaning elements 216. Therefore, within the scope of the present invention described herein, various arrangements of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements 214 are possible.

[0042] In addition, when it is contradictory with other disclosures provided herein or in the claims, it should be understood that the term "tooth cleaning element" can be used in a general sense to refer to any structure that can be used to clean, polish or wipe teeth and / or soft oral tissues (e.g., tongue, cheek, gums, etc.) by contact with relative surfaces. Common examples of "tooth cleaning elements" include, but are not limited to, bristle tufts, filamentous bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomeric protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof, and / or structures comprising such materials or combinations. Therefore, in some embodiments, any combination of these tooth cleaning elements can be used in the tooth cleaning element zone. In addition, in the case where bristles are used for one or more tooth cleaning elements 214, such bristles can be tapered, rounded, spiral, etc.

[0043] In the embodiment using elastomeric material to form one or more tooth cleaning elements 214, suitable elastomeric material can include any biocompatible elastic material applicable to oral hygiene equipment. In order to provide optimal comfort and cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of any such tooth cleaning element can have in the range of A10 to A70 Shore hardness in one embodiment, or in the hardness characteristics of A8 to A25 Shore hardness in another embodiment. A kind of suitable elastomeric material is the styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS company. However, SEBS materials from other manufacturers or other materials in and outside the proposed hardness range can also be used.

[0044] The tooth cleaning elements 214 can be coupled to the brush head body 211 by any means known in the art, including stapling, in-mold tufting (IMT), anchor-free tufting (AFT), or modified AFT known as AMR. In an exemplary embodiment, the bristle tufts 215 are secured to the brush head body 211 using stapling / anchors, and the elastomeric cleaning elements 216 are secured to the brush head body 211 by an injection molding process.

[0045] The oral care replacement brush head 200 may be formed of a second material different from the first material used to form the handle 100. For example, the second material may be a hard plastic. Therefore, in some embodiments, the handle 100 or at least the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 may be formed of a metal or metal alloy, and the oral care replacement brush head 200 may be formed of a hard plastic. Of course, other material combinations may be used in other embodiments as needed. In some embodiments, the material used to form the handle 100 and / or its rod 120 may have a first hardness, and the material used to form the oral care replacement brush head 200 or its sleeve portion 220 may have a second hardness, wherein the first hardness of the first material is greater than the second hardness of the second material. Therefore, the handle 100 may be formed of a harder material than the oral care replacement brush head 200. In some embodiments, regardless of the material used to form the other parts of the handle 100 and the oral care replacement brush head 200, the rod 120 may be formed of a harder material than the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200.

[0046] refer to Figures 3 to 5, the rod 120 of the handle 100 will be described in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As noted above, the rod 120 includes a rod body 121 that protrudes from the distal end 112 of the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 and terminates at the distal end 113 of the handle 100. The rod 120 (and its rod body 121) extends along the rod axis AA from the distal end 112 of the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 to the distal end 113 of the handle 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod body 121 includes a rod base section 122, a rod guide section 123, and a rod interference section 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod base section 122, the rod guide section 123, and the rod interference section 124 all form part of the integral rod body 121.

[0047] Therefore, the rod base section 122, the rod guide section 123, and the rod interference section 124 each form an axial portion of the rod body 121. Specifically, the rod base section 122 is a section extending from the distal end 112 of the grip portion 110, the rod guide section 123 extends from one end of the rod base section 122, and the rod interference section 124 extends from one end of the rod guide section 123. The rod guide section 123 is located between the rod base section 122 and the rod interference section 124. The rod interference section 124 includes the distal end 113 of the handle 100.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the rod 120 includes a rod snap-on element 130 and a rod rotation alignment element 140. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod snap-on element 130 and the rod rotation alignment element 140 are located on the rod base section 122 of the rod 120. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the rod snap-on element 130 and the rod rotation element 140 are completely located on the rod base section 122, so that no portion of the rod snap-on element 130 or the rod rotation element 140 extends onto the rod guide section 123 of the rod 120. Of course, in other embodiments, it is possible that the rod snap-on element 130 and / or the rod rotation alignment element 140 are partially or completely located on the rod guide section 123 or the rod interference section 124. In addition, the rod snap-on element 130 and the rod rotation alignment element 140 are arranged so that they intersect, as described in more detail below.

[0049] The rod body 121 has an outer surface 125 extending along each of the rod base 122, the rod guide 123, and the rod interference section 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod snap element 130 includes a rod ring 131 that protrudes from the outer surface 125 of the rod body 120 and extends circumferentially around the outer surface. More specifically, the rod ring 131 protrudes from the outer surface 125 of the rod body 120 along the rod base section 122 of the rod body 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod ring 131 is an annular protrusion that extends continuously around the rod base section 122 of the rod 120. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the rod ring 131 does not form a closed geometric shape because the rod ring 131 does not extend from the rod base section 122 of the rod along the entire circumference of the rod 120.

[0050] In addition, although in the exemplary embodiment, the rod ring 131 extends continuously around the rod base section 122 of the rod 120 (for most of the rod base section 122 but not the entire circumference), the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the rod ring 131 may include spaced ring segments protruding from the outer surface 125 of the rod along the rod base section 122 of the rod 120. Therefore, the rod ring 131 of the rod snap element 130 extends from the annular or circumferential portion of the outer surface 125 of the rod 120, and the rod ring can be a complete ring or a portion of a complete ring. The rod ring 131 can also be formed by a plurality of spaced discrete ridges arranged around a ring shape. In addition, although in the exemplary embodiment, the rod ring 131 is described and shown as a ridge, in other embodiments, the rod ring 131 can be a groove having the same shape (i.e., a complete or partial annular groove that is continuous or formed by spaced groove segments).

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the rod rotation alignment element 140 is positioned on the rod base section 122, as previously noted. More specifically, the rod rotation alignment element 140 and the rod snap element 130 are positioned on the rod base section 122 of the rod 120 such that a reference plane RP1 transverse to the rod axis AA intersects both the rod rotation alignment element 140 and the rod snap element 130. The entire rod snap element 130 may be located on the first reference plane RP1. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod rotation alignment element 140 includes a rod rib 141 protruding from the outer surface 125 of the rod body 121. In addition, the rod rib 141 is elongated in the axial direction of the rod body 121, such that the rod rib 141 is elongated in a direction parallel to the rod axis AA. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod rib 141 has a rectangular shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments, and the rod rib 141 may have other shapes while still performing its intended function as described herein.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the rod rib 141 of the rod rotation alignment element 140 extends directly from the distal end 112 of the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 and terminates at a free distal end 142, which is located on the rod base section 122 at a distance from the rod guide section 123. The rod rib 141 has a first side surface 143 and a second side surface 144, each of which extends from the distal end 112 of the gripping portion 110 of the handle 100 to the free distal end 142. The rod rib 141 of the rod rotation alignment element 140 may extend to at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the length of the rod base section 122 of the rod 120.

[0053] The rod rib 141 of the rod rotation alignment element 140 extends along the rod base section 122 in such a manner that it intersects the rod loop 131 of the rod snap element 130. Thus, as mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment, the rod loop 131 does not form a complete loop, but in fact the rod loop 131 forms a portion of a loop having a first end 132 and a second end 133 that are circumferentially spaced apart from each other by a certain gap. The rod rib 141 extends along and within the gap between the first end 132 and the second end 133 of the rod loop 131, and protrudes above and below the rod loop 131. In other words, the rod loop 131 terminates at the opposing first and second side surfaces 143, 144 of the rod rib 141. There is no gap or space between the first end 132 of the rod loop 133 and the first side surface 143 of the rod rib 141, and there is no gap or space between the second end 133 of the rod loop 133 and the second side surface 144 of the rod rib 141. In practice, the rod ring 131 ends at the rod rib 141 .

[0054] Brief reference Figure 6 , the rod rib 141 protrudes a first height H1 from the outer surface 125 of the rod body 121. The rod ring 131 protrudes a second height H2 from the outer surface 125 of the rod body 121. In an exemplary embodiment, the first height H1 is greater than the second height H2 (or the second height H2 is less than the first height H1). In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of H1 to H2 is at least 2:1, so that the first height is at least twice the second height.

[0055] Reference again Figures 3 to 5 In an exemplary embodiment, the rod 120 includes an annular groove 126 in the outer surface 125 of the rod body 121. Specifically, the annular groove 126 is formed in the rod body 121 between the rod guide section 123 and the rod interference section 124. The annular groove 126 forms a V-shaped cut or notch in the rod body 121 between the rod guide section 123 and the rod interference section 124. In other embodiments, the annular groove 126 may be omitted.

[0056] refer to Figure 5 and 7, the handle 100 will be further described. First, the distal end 112 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100 will be further described. In an exemplary embodiment, the distal end 112 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100 includes an annular shoulder surface 116 surrounding the rod 120. In addition, in an exemplary embodiment, the annular shoulder surface 116 is located in a third reference plane RP3. The third reference plane RP3 is inclined relative to the rod axis AA. When the Figure 5 , the annular shoulder surface 116 includes a high point 117 and a low point 118. The low point 118 is located closer to the proximal end 111 of the grip portion 110 than the high point 117. In addition, the high point 117 is circumferentially aligned with the rod rotational alignment element 140. Therefore, the high point 117 and the rod rotational alignment element 140 are located at the same rotational position about the rod axis AA, but in other embodiments, the high point 117 and the rod rotational alignment element 140 may be located at different radial distances from the axis and / or at different axial positions.

[0057] As noted above, the rod guide section 123 is an axial section of the rod body 121 between the rod base section 122 and the rod interference section 124. The rod guide section 123 has a conical shape, wherein the width of the rod guide section 123 decreases as the rod guide section 123 is farther from the rod base section 122 and closer to the rod interference section 124. More specifically, the rod guide section 123 has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers as the distance from the distal end 112 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100 increases. The rod guide section 123 has a rather significant taper that can be noticed simply by observing the rod.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, the rod interference section 124 is also tapered. Specifically, the rod interference section 124 has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers as the distance from the distal end 112 of the grip section 110 of the handle 100 increases. However, as can be seen in the figure, the taper of the rod interference section 124 is quite small, making it almost imperceptible in the figure. Nevertheless, in this embodiment, the rod interference section 124 does taper as described. In other words, the rod interference section 124 has a first transverse width W1 adjacent to the rod guide section 123 and a second transverse width W2 at the distal end 113 of the handle 100, the first transverse width W1 being greater than the second transverse width W2. In an exemplary embodiment, the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the rod guide section 123 has a greater taper than the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the rod interference section 124.

[0059] refer to Figures 8 to 11, the oral care replacement brush head 200 will be further described. As previously mentioned, the oral care replacement brush head 200 includes an oral care treatment portion 210 and a sleeve portion 220. Specifically, the oral care treatment portion 210 includes a brush head body 211 having a front surface 212 and an opposite rear surface 213, and tooth cleaning elements 214 extend from the front surface. The oral care replacement brush head 200 extends from a proximal end 201 formed by a proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 to a distal end 202 formed by the end of the oral care treatment portion 210.

[0060] In this embodiment, the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 defines an opening 230 into the sleeve cavity 221. Therefore, the sleeve cavity 221 is open at the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220. The sleeve cavity 221 extends along the cavity axis BB. In addition, in this embodiment, the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is located in a second reference plane RP2 that is inclined relative to the cavity axis BB. This allows the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 to engage the annular shoulder surface 116 of the handle 100 when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100.

[0061] Due to the inclined orientation of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220, the front portion 203 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is located at a first axial distance D1 from the distal end 249 of the sleeve portion 220. The rear portion 204 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is located at a second axial distance D2 from the distal edge 249 of the sleeve portion 220. The second axial distance D2 is greater than the first axial distance D1. This is because the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is angled upward in a direction from the rear surface 205 of the sleeve portion 220 (which generally faces the same direction as the rear surface 213 of the brush head body 211) to the front surface 206 of the sleeve portion 220 (which generally faces the same direction as the front surface 212 of the brush head body 211). Thus, when viewed in side profile, the front portion 203 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is a high point of the proximal edge surface 222, and the rear portion 204 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 is a low point of the proximal edge surface 222. The front portion 203 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 includes an inner vertex 248 having an acute angle θ.

[0062] The brush head body 211 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 extends along a brush head longitudinal axis CC that is inclined relative to the cavity axis BB. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, the brush head longitudinal axis CC is inclined forward, extending from the proximal end of the brush head body 211 adjacent to the sleeve portion 220 to the distal end of the brush head body 211 (the distal end is also the distal end 202 of the oral care replacement brush head 200).

[0063] The sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 100 includes a sleeve interference section 223, a sleeve guide section 224, a sleeve snap element 225, and a sleeve rotation alignment element 226. The sleeve guide section 224 is located between the sleeve interference section 223 and the sleeve snap element 225. The sleeve guide section 224 is also located between the sleeve interference section 223 and the sleeve rotation alignment element 226. In addition, the sleeve guide section 224 is located between the sleeve interference section 223 and the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220. The sleeve interference section 223 forms the most distal section of the sleeve cavity 221 and includes the end wall 219 of the sleeve cavity 221.

[0064] As seen in the figure, the sleeve cavity 221 has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers with the distance from the proximal end 201 of the sleeve portion 220 in the sleeve guide section 224. In other words, the sleeve guide section 224 includes a portion of the sleeve cavity 221 that tapers with increasing distance from the proximal end 201 of the sleeve portion 220. This enables the portion of the sleeve cavity 221 associated with or aligned with the sleeve guide section 224 to receive the rod guide section 123 of the rod 120 of the handle 100 when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100.

[0065] In addition, although it is not easy to see in the figure, the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity 221 also tapers in the sleeve interference section 223 as the distance from the proximal end 201 of the sleeve portion 220 increases. Therefore, the sleeve cavity 221 tapers along both the sleeve guide section 224 and the sleeve interference section 223. However, the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity 221 in the sleeve guide section 224 has a greater degree of taper than the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity 221 in the sleeve interference section 223.

[0066] The sleeve cavity 221 is defined by the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve snap element 225 includes a sleeve ring 228 protruding from the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220. In addition, the sleeve ring 228 extends circumferentially around the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220. However, the sleeve ring 228 does not extend along the entire circumference of the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220. In fact, the sleeve ring 228 is interrupted by the sleeve rotation alignment element 226, as further described below. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve ring 228 of the sleeve snap element 225 is a continuous protrusion extending from the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion along the entire circumference of the sleeve portion 220 except for the location of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226. However, the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments, and the sleeve ring 228 of the sleeve snap element 225 may include a plurality of ring segments spaced apart from each other. Additionally, in yet another embodiment, the sleeve snap element 225 may include grooves rather than ridges while still forming a snap interlock with the stem snap element 130 described above.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve snap-on element 225 is spaced a distance from the proximal end 222 of the sleeve portion 220 toward the oral treatment portion 210. Thus, the sleeve snap-on element 225 is surrounded by the wall of the sleeve portion 220. In other words, the sleeve snap-on element 225 is surrounded on all sides by a portion of the wall of the sleeve portion 220. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve snap-on element 225 does not extend to the proximal end 222 of the sleeve portion 220.

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 includes a sleeve groove 229 formed in an inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220 defining the sleeve cavity 221. Thus, the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 is located in the sleeve cavity 221. The sleeve groove 229 extends axially from an open groove end 231 in the proximal edge 201 of the sleeve portion 220 to a closed groove end wall 232. The open groove end 231 of the sleeve groove 229 of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 forms a portion of an opening 230 into the sleeve cavity 221 at the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220. Thus, the sleeve groove 229 of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 extends upward from the front portion 203 of the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220. In the circumferential direction, the sleeve groove 229 has a first side wall 233 and a second side wall 234. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve rotational alignment element 226 is circumferentially aligned with the front surface 212 of the head body 211 of the oral treatment portion 210 of the oral care replacement brush head 200. However, in other embodiments, the sleeve rotational alignment element 226 may be located at other circumferential positions.

[0069] The sleeve snap element 225 and the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 are positioned on the sleeve such that a fourth reference plane RP4 transverse to the cavity axis AA intersects both the sleeve snap element 225 and the sleeve rotation alignment element 226. Thus, the sleeve snap element 225 and the sleeve rotation element 226 are at least partially axially aligned with each other, and the sleeve snap element 225 intersects the sleeve rotation alignment element 226. The sleeve snap element 225 extends from a first end 235 that terminates at a first side wall 233 of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 to a second end 236 that terminates at a second side wall 234 of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226. As previously mentioned, in an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve groove 229 of the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 creates a space or gap in the sleeve ring 228 of the sleeve snap element 225.

[0070] The sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 has an outer surface 207 including a front surface 205 and a rear surface 206. The outer surface 207 extends from the distal end 249 of the sleeve portion 220 to the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220. In an exemplary embodiment, there are no openings, holes, slits, etc. formed in the outer surface 207 of the sleeve portion 220. Therefore, there are no relief grooves, etc. extending from the outer surface 207 to the inner surface 227 to form a passage from the outer surface 225 into the cavity 221. In an exemplary embodiment, the entire connection between the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100 is achieved by features, elements, and components located within or forming part of the sleeve cavity 221.

[0071] Figures 12A to 14B The process of coupling the oral care replacement brush head 200 to the handle 100 is shown in partial perspective view and matching cross-sectional view. Fig. 12A and 12B As shown, the first step is to align the opening 230 of the sleeve cavity 221 with the shaft 120 of the handle 100 , and more specifically with the distal end 113 of the handle 100 .

[0072] Next, refer to Fig.13A and 13B , lower the oral care replacement brush head 200 so that the rod 120 of the handle 100 enters the sleeve cavity 221 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200. The rod rotation alignment element 140 must be rotationally / circumferentially aligned with the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 so that the rod 120 is inserted into the sleeve cavity 221 to a depth of Fig.13A and 13B. Specifically, the rod interference section 124 and the rod guide section 123 of the rod 120 can pass through the opening 230 in the proximal end 222 of the sleeve portion 220 without regard to the relative rotational orientation of the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100. However, if the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100 are not properly oriented relative to each other, the rod rib 141 of the rod rotational alignment element 140 will collide with the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 and prevent the rod 120 from being further inserted into the sleeve cavity 221. If such a collision occurs, this should prompt the user to rotate the oral care replacement brush head 200 relative to the handle 100 until the rod rotational alignment element 140 is aligned with the sleeve rotational alignment element 226. When this is achieved, the rod 120 will be able to be further inserted into the sleeve cavity 221 so that the rod rotational alignment element 140 fits and nests within the sleeve rotational alignment element 226, as shown in FIG. Fig. 13B as shown in .

[0073] exist Fig.13A and 13B , the rod 120 of the handle 100 is partially nested within the sleeve cavity 221 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 to the point where the rod snap element 130 abuts against the sleeve snap element 225. As previously noted, in the exemplary embodiment, both the rod snap element 130 and the sleeve snap element 225 are ridges. Fig. 13B To the extent shown, additional force is required by the user to force the rod clasp element 130 to move axially past the sleeve clasp element 225. In other embodiments, at least one of the rod clasp element 130 and the sleeve clasp element 225 may be a groove rather than a ridge.

[0074] refer to Fig.14A and 14B , showing the oral care replacement brush head 200 in a second state fully coupled to the handle 100. As can be seen, the stem snap element 130 has passed over the sleeve snap element 225, thereby forming a snap-fit ​​interlock between the stem snap element 130 and the sleeve snap element 225. This may be achieved by the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 flexing slightly outwardly as the stem snap element 130 passes over the sleeve snap element 225. Once the snap-fit ​​interlock between the stem snap element 130 and the sleeve snap element 225 is achieved, the oral care replacement brush head 200 is securely coupled to the handle 100 such that a force to overcome the snap-fit ​​interlock needs to be applied to the oral care replacement brush head 200 and / or the handle 100 in an opposite direction in order to separate the oral care replacement brush head 200 from the handle 100.

[0075] Additionally, when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100, the stem rib 141 of the stem rotational alignment element 140 nests within the sleeve groove 229 of the sleeve rotational alignment element. This not only ensures that the oral care replacement brush head 200 is initially coupled to the handle 100 in the correct rotational orientation, but also prevents the oral care replacement brush head 200 from rotating relative to the handle 100 after the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100. As noted herein, unless the stem alignment element 140 and the sleeve alignment element 226 are circumferentially aligned with each other (i.e., at the same rotational position about the stem axis AA and the cavity axis BB), the oral care replacement brush head 200 cannot be changed from the first state (whereby it is separated from the handle 100) to the second state (whereby it is coupled to the handle 100).

[0076] In addition, when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is coupled to the handle 100, there is an interference fit between the stem interference section 124 and the sleeve interference section 123. In some embodiments, this means that there is pressure applied by the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 to the outer surface 129 of the stem interference section 124 of the stem 120, even if the pressure is slight. Specifically, the outer dimension of the stem interference section 124 (i.e., the width measured in a direction transverse to the stem axis AA) can be slightly larger than the inner dimension of the sleeve interference section 223 (i.e., the width of the sleeve cavity 221 measured along the sleeve interference section 223 in a direction transverse to the cavity axis BB). Therefore, when the stem interference section 124 is nested in the sleeve cavity 221 along the sleeve interference section 223, the stem interference section 124 fits tightly in the sleeve cavity. This interference fit between the stem interference section 124 and the sleeve interference section 223 can prevent relative movement (rocking, shaking, wobbling, etc.) between the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100 during use of the oral care implement 1000. In some embodiments, the interference fit formed between the stem interference section 124 and the sleeve interference section 223 can extend up to 25% or more of the total length of the stem 120.

[0077] Furthermore, as previously mentioned, in the exemplary embodiment, the rod 120 includes an annular groove 126. Thus, when the rod 120 is disposed within the sleeve cavity 221, an annular space 160 is formed between the bottom of the annular groove 126 and the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220. Furthermore, although in the exemplary embodiment, the annular groove 126 is formed in the rod 120, in other embodiments, an annular groove aligned with the annular space 160 may be formed in the inner surface 227 of the sleeve portion 220 rather than in the rod 120. Thus, when the rod 120 is nested within the sleeve cavity 220, the annular groove 126 may be formed in one of the sleeve portion 220 or the rod 120 to form the annular space 160. In either case, the annular space 160 is located at an axial position between an interference fit and a snap fit interlock. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the annular space 160 is adjacent to the interference fit and is located along the junction of the sleeve interference section 124 and the sleeve guide section 123.

[0078] In addition, when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is in the second state and coupled to the handle 100, the rod guide section 123 of the rod 120 is nested within the sleeve guide section 224 of the sleeve portion 220. The sleeve guide section 224 is configured to axially orient the rod 120 within the sleeve cavity 221 by interaction between the rod guide section 123 of the rod 120 and the sleeve guide section 224 of the sleeve portion 220 during insertion of the rod 120 into the sleeve cavity 221. In the second state, a gap 161 may exist between the rod guide section 123 and the sleeve guide section 224.

[0079] Finally, when the oral care replacement brush head 200 is in the second state and coupled to the handle 100, the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 is adjacent to or abuts the shoulder 116 at the distal end 112 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100. More specifically, the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 abuts the annular shoulder surface 116 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100. The snap-fit ​​interlock between the stem snap element 130 and the sleeve snap element 225 biases or forces the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 against (to abut against) the annular shoulder surface 116 of the grip portion 110 of the handle 100. As previously noted, the annular shoulder surface 116 lies on the third reference plane RP3, and the proximal edge surface 222 lies on the second reference plane RP2. When the oral care replacement brush head 200 is attached to the handle 100, the second reference plane RP2 and the third reference plane RP3 are parallel to each other.

[0080] Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment, there are multiple features and / or contact points between the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100 that help facilitate coupling therebetween. The multiple features include: (1) an interference fit between the sleeve interference section 223 and the stem interference section 124; (2) a snap fit interlock between the sleeve snap element 225 and the stem snap element 130; (3) engagement between the sleeve rotation alignment element 226 and the stem rotation alignment element 140 to prevent relative rotation between the handle 100 and the oral care replacement brush head 200; and (4) abutment between the proximal edge surface 222 of the sleeve portion 220 of the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the annular shoulder surface 116 at the distal end 112 of the handle portion 110 of the handle 100. Various embodiments may include any one or more of these four features in accordance with the teachings set forth herein to achieve an acceptable coupling between the oral care replacement brush head 200 and the handle 100.

[0081] refer to Figures 15 to 19 , an oral care implement 2000 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Except for the differences described below, oral care implement 2000 is the same as oral care implement 1000 described above. Therefore, where features of oral care implement 2000 are not described in detail herein, it should be understood that the features of oral care implement 1000 are applicable. Features of oral care implement 2000 that are the same as features of oral care implement 1000 are numbered similarly, but 300 and 400 series numbers are used for oral care implement 2000, while 100 and 200 series numbers are used for oral care implement 1000. The disclosure of the present invention should be deemed to include combinations of the features of oral care implements 1000, 2000 described herein, as long as they do not conflict.

[0082] The oral care implement generally includes a handle 300 and an oral care replacement brush head 400. Details of the oral care implement 2000 that are different from the oral care implement 1000 relate to features based on the connection and coupling between the handle 300 and the oral care replacement brush head 400. Specifically, the handle 300 includes a grip portion 310 and a rod 320. The grip portion 310 extends from a proximal end 311 to a distal end 312. The rod 320 extends along a rod axis DD and protrudes from the distal end 312 of the grip portion 310. Therefore, the distal end 312 of the grip portion 310 includes an annular shoulder surface 316 surrounding the rod 320.

[0083] The rod 320 includes a rod body 321 that protrudes from the distal end 312 of the gripping portion 310 of the handle 300 and terminates at the distal end 313 of the handle 300. The rod 320 (and its rod body 321) extends along the rod axis AA from the distal end 312 of the gripping portion 310 of the handle 300 to the distal end 313 of the handle 300. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod body 21 includes a rod base section 322, a rod guide section 323, and a rod interference section 324. In an exemplary embodiment, the rod base section 322, the rod guide section 323, and the rod interference section 324 all form part of the integral rod body 121.

[0084] In the exemplary embodiment, the rod 320 includes a rod snap-on element 330 and a rod rotation alignment element 340. In the exemplary embodiment, the rod snap-on element 330 and the rod rotation alignment element 340 are located on the rod base section 322 of the rod 320. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the rod snap-on element 330 and the rod rotation element 340 are completely located on the rod base section 322, so that no portion of the rod snap-on element 330 or the rod rotation element 340 extends onto the rod guide section 323 of the rod 320. Of course, in other embodiments, it is possible that the rod snap-on element 330 and / or the rod rotation alignment element 340 are partially or completely located on the rod guide section 323 or the rod interference section 324. In addition, the details of the rod snap-on element 130 and the rod rotation alignment element 140 described above are applicable to the rod snap-on element 330 and the rod rotation alignment element 340.

[0085] The annular shoulder surface 316 of the distal end 312 of the grip portion 310 of the handle 300 extends radially from an outer shoulder edge 317 to an inner shoulder edge 318, wherein the inner shoulder edge 318 is adjacent to the rod 320 and the outer shoulder edge 317 is adjacent to the outer surface 325 of the handle 300. In this embodiment, the annular shoulder surface 316 slopes downward and away from the rod 320. That is, the entire annular shoulder surface 316 slopes downward and away from the rod 320. As used herein, the term downward means away from the distal end 313 of the handle 310 and toward the proximal end 311 of the handle 310. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, the annular shoulder surface 316 slopes downward away from the rod 320 and away from the distal end 313 of the handle 310 as the distance from the rod axis DD increases. In some alternative embodiments, it is possible to slope the annular shoulder surface 316 in the opposite direction. Therefore, in other embodiments, the annular shoulder surface 316 may slope upward toward the distal end of the rod 320 as the distance from the rod axis DD increases. Inner shoulder edge 318, which is an annular edge around stem 320, is located further away from proximal end 311 of handle 310 than outer shoulder edge 317, which is also an annular edge around stem 320. Thus, in some embodiments, annular shoulder surface 316 may be a conical surface.

[0086] The annular shoulder surface 316 also has high points and low points as discussed above with respect to the oral care implement 1000. However, in this embodiment, the annular shoulder surface 316 does not lie entirely in a single plane. In fact, in this embodiment, the outer shoulder edge 317 lies in a fifth reference plane RP5 that is inclined relative to the rod axis DD. In addition, the inner shoulder edge 318 lies in a sixth reference plane RP6 that is inclined relative to the rod axis DD.

[0087] In a similar manner, the oral care replacement brush head 400 includes an oral care treatment portion 410 and a sleeve portion 420. The sleeve portion 420 includes a sleeve cavity 421 extending along a cavity axis EE. The sleeve portion 420 of the oral care replacement brush head 400 includes a sleeve interference section 423, a sleeve guide section 424, a sleeve snap element 425, and a sleeve rotational alignment element 426. The details of these features described above with respect to the oral care implement 1000 and the replacement brush head 200 are applicable, except for the differences described below.

[0088] The sleeve portion 420 includes a proximal edge surface 422 defining an opening into the sleeve cavity 421. In an exemplary embodiment, the proximal edge surface 422 of the sleeve portion 420 extends radially from the outer sleeve edge 423 to the inner sleeve edge 424, wherein the inner sleeve edge 424 is closer to the cavity axis EE than the outer sleeve edge 423. In addition, in an exemplary embodiment, the proximal edge surface 422 slopes downwardly away from the oral treatment portion 410 as the radial distance from the cavity axis EE increases. That is, the entire proximal edge surface 422 slopes downwardly and away from the cavity axis EE, wherein the radial distance from the cavity axis EE increases. As used herein, the term downwardly means that the proximal edge surface 422 slopes in a direction away from the oral treatment portion 410 of the oral care replacement brush head 400. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, as the proximal edge surface 422 extends further away from the cavity axis EE, the proximal edge surface 422 also extends further away from the oral treatment portion 410 of the oral care replacement brush head 400. Therefore, the proximal edge surface 422 forms a funnel shape. Each of the inner sleeve edge 424 and the outer sleeve edge 423 forms an annular edge surrounding the cavity axis EE. The inner sleeve edge 424 is closer to the cavity axis EE and closer to the oral care treatment portion 410 than the outer sleeve edge 423. In other embodiments, the proximal edge surface 422 can be inclined upward toward the oral care treatment portion 410.

[0089] The proximal edge surface 422 has high points and low points as discussed above with respect to the oral care implement 1000, which enables the proximal edge surface 422 to cooperate with the annular shoulder surface 316 when the oral care replacement brush head 400 is coupled to the handle 300. The outer sleeve edge 423 of the proximal edge surface 422 is located in the seventh reference plane RP7 inclined relative to the cavity axis EE (when the oral care replacement brush head 400 is attached to the handle 300, the seventh reference plane is the same plane as the fifth reference plane RP5 where the outer shoulder edge 317 of the annular shoulder surface 316 is located). In addition, the inner sleeve edge 424 of the proximal edge surface 422 is located in the eighth reference plane RP8 inclined relative to the cavity axis EE. Except for the outer sleeve edge 423 of the proximal edge surface 422, the seventh reference plane RP7 does not intersect with any part of the oral care replacement brush head 400. Therefore, except for the outer sleeve edge 423, no part of the proximal edge surface 422 is located on the seventh reference plane RP7. Inner sleeve edge 424 is not located in the seventh reference plane RP7 where outer sleeve edge 423 is located, and does not intersect the seventh reference plane, while outer sleeve edge 423 is not located in the eighth reference plane RP8 where inner sleeve edge 424 is located, and does not intersect the eighth reference plane. The entire proximal edge surface 422, except inner sleeve edge 424, is located on one side of the eighth reference plane RP8, and the rest of the oral care replacement brush head 400 is located on the other side of the eighth reference plane RP8.

[0090] In this embodiment, a front portion 456 of an outer sleeve edge 423 of a proximal edge surface 422 of the sleeve portion 420 is located at a first axial distance D1 from a distal end 459 of the sleeve portion 420. Additionally, a rear portion 457 of an outer sleeve edge 423 of a proximal edge surface 422 of the sleeve portion 420 is located at a second axial distance D2 from the distal end 459 of the sleeve portion 420. In an exemplary embodiment, the second axial distance D2 is greater than the first distance D1 (optimally at Fig.18 Thus, when viewed in profile (and Fig.18 When viewed in a cross-sectional view of the sleeve portion 420, a front portion 456 of the outer sleeve edge 423 of the proximal edge surface 422 of the sleeve portion 420 is a high point of the proximal edge surface 422, and a rear portion 457 of the outer sleeve edge 423 of the proximal edge surface 422 of the sleeve portion 420 is a low point of the proximal edge surface 422.

[0091] When the oral care replacement brush head 400 is in the second state (i.e., coupled to the handle 300), the stem 320 of the handle 300 is disposed within the sleeve cavity 421 of the sleeve portion 420 of the oral care replacement brush head 400, such that the proximal edge surface 422 of the oral care replacement brush head 400 is adjacent to (or in abutting contact with) the annular shoulder surface 316 of the handle 300. In addition, the interference fit and snap fit interlocks described in detail above but not repeated here for the sake of brevity can achieve the fixation of the oral care replacement brush head 400 to the handle 300. In an exemplary embodiment, when the oral care replacement brush head 400 is coupled to the handle 300, the fifth reference plane RP5 and the seventh reference plane RP7 are parallel to each other and inclined relative to each of the sixth reference plane RP6 and the eighth reference plane RP8, and the sixth reference plane RP6 and the eighth reference plane RP8 are also inclined relative to each other.

[0092] The use of a specific numerical value as a prefix to the term "reference plane" is not necessarily consistent in the description and the claims. In fact, the numerical value used in the description is only used to distinguish one reference plane from another. The same is true in the claims, but the prefixes of the reference planes in the claims are only listed in order when they appear in the claims, rather than in a way that corresponds to the way the same reference plane is described in the description.

[0093] The range used throughout the text is used as a shorthand way of expressing each value within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the endpoint of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition in the present disclosure conflicts with a definition in the cited reference, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0094] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples (including currently preferred modes for carrying out the present invention), it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are numerous variations and permutations of the systems and techniques described above. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be broadly interpreted as set forth in the appended claims.

[0095] The present invention relates to the following embodiments:

[0096] 1. An oral care device, comprising:

[0097] A handle comprising:

[0098] a gripping portion having a distal end; and

[0099] a rod having a distal end, the rod extending along a rod axis and projecting from the distal end of the gripping portion such that the distal end of the gripping portion includes an annular shoulder surface surrounding the rod, the rod including a rod interference section and a rod snap element;

[0100] The annular shoulder surface extends radially from the outer shoulder edge to the inner shoulder edge adjacent to the rod, the annular shoulder surface slopes from the inner shoulder edge to the outer shoulder edge in a direction upward toward the distal end of the rod or downward away from the distal end of the rod as the distance from the rod axis increases;

[0101] Oral care replacement brush heads, which include:

[0102] Oral care treatment components; and

[0103] a sleeve portion comprising a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis, a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, a sleeve interference section, and a sleeve snap element, and

[0104] The proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion extends radially from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, the proximal edge surface being inclined from the inner sleeve edge to the outer sleeve edge in a direction upwardly toward the oral treatment portion or downwardly away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases;

[0105] The oral care replacement brush head can be changed between the following states:

[0106] a first state, wherein the oral care replacement brush head is detached from the handle; and

[0107] In a second state, the rod of the handle is disposed in the sleeve cavity of the sleeve portion so that the proximal edge surface of the oral care replacement brush head is adjacent to the annular shoulder surface of the handle, and the oral care replacement brush head is fixed to the handle by at least: (1) an interference fit between the rod interference section and the sleeve interference section; and (2) a snap-fit ​​interlock between the rod snap element and the sleeve snap element.

[0108] 2. The oral care implement of embodiment 1, wherein the oral care treatment portion comprises a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from a brush head body.

[0109] 3. The oral care implement of embodiment 2, wherein the brush head body is located at a distal end of the sleeve portion and extends along a brush head longitudinal axis that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0110] 4. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 2 to 3, wherein the brush head body is integrally formed with the sleeve portion as a unitary component.

[0111] 5. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, further comprising:

[0112] an annular groove formed in one of the sleeve portion or the rod; and

[0113] Wherein in the second state, an annular space is formed between the bottom of the annular groove and an opposing surface of the other of the sleeve portion or the rod.

[0114] 6. The oral care implement of embodiment 5, wherein the annular space is located at an axial position between the interference fit and the snap-fit ​​interlock.

[0115] 7. The oral care implement of embodiment 5, wherein the annular space is axially adjacent to the interference fit.

[0116] 8. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, further comprising:

[0117] The rod includes a rod rotation alignment element;

[0118] The sleeve portion includes a sleeve rotation alignment element; and

[0119] Wherein in the second state, the rod rotation alignment element cooperates with the sleeve rotation alignment element to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the oral care replacement brush head.

[0120] 9. The oral care implement of embodiment 8, wherein the sleeve portion is configured to enable the oral care replacement brush head to change from the first state to the second state unless the stem rotational alignment element and the sleeve rotational alignment element are circumferentially aligned with each other.

[0121] 10. An oral care implement according to any one of embodiments 8 to 9, wherein the rod rotational alignment element and the rod snap-on element are positioned on the rod so that a first reference plane transverse to the rod axis intersects both the rod rotational alignment element and the rod snap-on element.

[0122] 11. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 8 to 10, further comprising:

[0123] The rod rotational alignment element includes a rod rib protruding from an outer surface of the rod body and extending axially along the outer surface; and

[0124] The rod snap element includes a rod ring that protrudes from the outer surface of the rod body and extends circumferentially around the outer surface.

[0125] 12. The oral care implement of embodiment 11, wherein the stem ribs intersect the stem ring.

[0126] 13. An oral care implement according to any one of embodiments 11 to 12, wherein the stem rib protrudes a first height from the outer surface of the stem body, and the stem ring protrudes a second height from the outer surface of the stem body, and the second height is less than the first height.

[0127] 14. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 1 to 13, further comprising:

[0128] The outer sleeve edge is located in a second reference plane inclined relative to the cavity axis; and

[0129] The outer shoulder edge lies in a third reference plane that is inclined relative to the rod axis.

[0130] 15. The oral care implement of embodiment 14, wherein in the second state, the second reference plane and the third reference plane are substantially parallel to each other.

[0131] 16. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 14 to 15, wherein in the second state, the proximal edge surface abuts the annular shoulder surface.

[0132] 17. The oral care implement of embodiment 16, wherein in the second state, the snap-fit ​​interlock between the stem snap element and the sleeve snap element biases the proximal edge surface against the annular shoulder surface.

[0133] 18. An oral care implement according to any one of embodiments 14 to 17, wherein the rod includes a rod rotational alignment element, wherein when viewed in side profile, the annular shoulder surface includes a high point and a low point, the low point is closer to the proximal end of the gripping portion than the high point, and wherein the high point is circumferentially aligned with the rod rotational alignment element.

[0134] 19. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 14 to 18, further comprising:

[0135] the rod including a rod guide section having a transverse cross-section that tapers with distance from the distal end of the grip portion;

[0136] The sleeve portion has a sleeve guide section, wherein the sleeve cavity has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers in the sleeve guide section with distance from a proximal end of the sleeve portion; and

[0137] In the second state, the rod guiding section is nested in the sleeve guiding section.

[0138] 20. The oral care implement of embodiment 19, wherein in the second state, there is a gap between the rod guiding section and the sleeve guiding section.

[0139] 21. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 19 to 20, further comprising:

[0140] The transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity tapers in the sleeve interference section with distance from the proximal end of the sleeve portion; and

[0141] The transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity in the sleeve guide section has a greater tapering degree than the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity in the sleeve interference section.

[0142] 22. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 19 to 21, wherein the sleeve guiding section is located between the sleeve interference section and the sleeve snap element.

[0143] 23. An oral care implement according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the annular shoulder surface of the handle slopes downwardly away from the distal end of the rod as the distance from the rod axis increases, and wherein the proximal edge surface of the oral care replacement brush head slopes downwardly away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases.

[0144] 24. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the oral care implement is a manual toothbrush.

[0145] 25. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the stem is formed of a first material and the sleeve portion is formed of a second material, the first material having a greater hardness than the second material.

[0146] 26. The oral care implement of embodiment 24, wherein the first material is a metal or metal alloy and the second material is a plastic.

[0147] 27. The oral care implement of any one of embodiments 24 to 26, wherein the grip portion of the handle is formed from the first material, the grip portion and the stem being formed as a single, unitary component.

[0148] 28. An oral care replacement brush head for a stem removably coupled to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising:

[0149] Oral care treatment components; and

[0150] The sleeve part comprises:

[0151] a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis;

[0152] a sleeve interference section configured to form an interference fit with the rod interference section of the rod;

[0153] A sleeve snap-on element configured to snap-interlock with the rod snap-on element of the rod; and a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion extending radially from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, the proximal edge surface inclining from the inner sleeve edge toward the outer sleeve edge in a direction upward toward the oral treatment portion or downward away from the oral treatment portion as the distance from the cavity axis increases.

[0154] 29. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 28, wherein the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity tapers in the sleeve interference zone with distance from the proximal edge of the sleeve portion.

[0155] 30. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 29, wherein the sleeve interference section forms a distal-most section of the sleeve cavity.

[0156] 31. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 29 to 30, wherein the sleeve portion includes a sleeve guide section, and the sleeve guide section is configured to axially orient the rod within the sleeve cavity through interaction with the rod guide section of the rod during insertion of the rod into the sleeve cavity.

[0157] 32. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 31 wherein the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity in the sleeve guide section tapers with distance from the proximal edge of the sleeve portion.

[0158] 33. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 32, wherein the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity in the sleeve guide section has a greater taper than the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve cavity in the sleeve interference section.

[0159] 34. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 31 to 33, wherein the sleeve guide section is located between the sleeve interference section and the proximal edge.

[0160] 35. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 34, wherein the sleeve guide section is located between the sleeve interference section and the sleeve snap element.

[0161] 36. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 28 to 35, wherein the sleeve portion includes a sleeve rotational alignment element, which is configured to cooperate with the stem rotational alignment element of the stem to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the oral care replacement brush head.

[0162] 37. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 36, wherein the sleeve portion is configured such that the stem cannot be fully inserted into the sleeve cavity unless the stem alignment element and the sleeve alignment element are circumferentially aligned with each other.

[0163] 38. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 36 to 37, wherein the sleeve rotational alignment element and the sleeve snap element are positioned on the sleeve so that a first reference plane transverse to the cavity axis intersects both the sleeve rotational alignment element and the sleeve snap element.

[0164] 39. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 36 to 38, wherein the sleeve rotational alignment element includes a sleeve groove in the inner surface of the sleeve portion defining the sleeve cavity, and the sleeve groove extends axially from an open groove end in the proximal edge of the sleeve portion to a closed groove end wall.

[0165] 40. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 39 wherein the sleeve snap element comprises a sleeve ring that protrudes from and extends circumferentially around the inner surface of the sleeve portion.

[0166] 41. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 28 to 40 wherein the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface lies in a second reference plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0167] 42. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 28 to 41, wherein the oral care treatment portion comprises a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from a brush head body.

[0168] 43. An oral care replacement brush head according to embodiment 42, wherein the brush head body is located at the distal end of the sleeve portion and extends along a longitudinal axis of the brush head that is inclined relative to the cavity axis; and wherein the brush head body is integrally formed with the sleeve portion as an integral component.

[0169] 44. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 28 to 40, further comprising:

[0170] The oral care treatment portion is coupled to a distal end of the sleeve portion, the oral care treatment portion comprising a front surface facing a first direction, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from the front surface;

[0171] The sleeve portion includes a front surface facing the first direction and a rear surface facing a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;

[0172] A front portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is located at a first axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, and a rear portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is located at a second axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, the second axial distance being greater than the first axial distance.

[0173] 45. An oral care replacement brush head according to embodiment 44, wherein the front portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is a high point of the proximal edge surface, and the rear portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is a low point of the proximal edge surface when viewed in side profile.

[0174] 46. ​​The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 44 to 45, wherein the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprises a plurality of bristle tufts.

[0175] 47. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 44 to 46 wherein the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface lies in a second reference plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0176] 48. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 44 to 47, wherein the oral care processing portion includes a brush head body, the brush head body including the front surface from which the plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend, and the brush head body extends along a longitudinal axis of the brush head that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0177] 49. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 48, wherein the brush head longitudinal axis extends obliquely forward from the proximal end of the brush head body to the distal end of the brush head body.

[0178] 50. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 28 to 49, wherein the proximal edge surface slopes downwardly away from the oral care treatment portion with increasing distance from the cavity axis.

[0179] 51. An oral care replacement brush head for a stem removably coupled to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising:

[0180] an oral care treatment portion comprising a front surface facing in a first direction, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from the front surface; and

[0181] The sleeve part comprises:

[0182] a distal end to which the oral care treatment portion is coupled;

[0183] a front surface facing the first direction and a rear surface facing a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;

[0184] a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis and configured to receive the stem of the handle;

[0185] a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface extending from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, wherein a forward portion of the outer sleeve edge is located at a first axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion and a rearward portion of the outer sleeve edge of the sleeve portion is located at a second axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, the second axial distance being greater than the first axial distance;

[0186] A sleeve snap element is configured to snap-interlock with the rod snap element of the rod, the sleeve snap element being surrounded by a wall of the sleeve portion.

[0187] 52. An oral care replacement brush head according to embodiment 51, wherein the sleeve snap-on element includes at least one of the following: (1) a sleeve annular groove formed in the inner surface of the sleeve portion, the sleeve annular groove extending circumferentially around the inner surface of the sleeve portion, the sleeve annular groove including a sleeve groove bottom; and (2) a sleeve ring protruding from the inner surface of the sleeve portion and extending circumferentially around the inner surface of the sleeve portion.

[0188] 53. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 51 to 52, wherein the front portion of the outer sleeve edge is a high point of the outer sleeve edge and the rear portion of the outer sleeve edge is a low point of the outer sleeve edge when viewed in side profile.

[0189] 54. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 51 to 53, wherein the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprises a plurality of bristle tufts.

[0190] 55. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 51 to 54, wherein the outer sleeve edge lies in a second reference plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0191] 56. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 51 to 55, wherein the oral care processing portion includes a brush head body, the brush head body including the front surface from which the plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend, and the brush head body extends along a longitudinal axis of the brush head that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0192] 57. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 56, wherein the brush head longitudinal axis extends obliquely forward from the proximal end of the brush head body to the distal end of the brush head body.

[0193] 58. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 51 to 57, wherein the sleeve portion comprises a sleeve interference section configured to form an interference fit with a stem interference section of the stem.

[0194] 59. An oral care replacement brush head according to any one of embodiments 51 to 58, wherein the sleeve portion includes a sleeve rotation alignment element, which is configured to cooperate with the rod rotation alignment element of the rod to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the oral care replacement brush head; and wherein the sleeve rotation alignment element extends upward from the inner sleeve edge of the sleeve portion.

[0195] 60. An oral care replacement brush head according to embodiment 59, wherein the sleeve rotational alignment element includes a sleeve groove in the inner surface of the sleeve portion, the sleeve groove extending axially from an open groove end in the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion to a closed groove end wall, and the sleeve groove intersects with the sleeve snap element.

[0196] 61. A handle for removably coupling to an oral care replacement brush head, the handle comprising:

[0197] a gripping portion having a distal end; and

[0198] a rod extending along a rod axis and protruding from the distal end of the gripping portion, the rod comprising:

[0199] a rod body having an outer surface;

[0200] a stem ring protruding from and extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the stem body, the stem ring being configured to snap-interlock with a sleeve snap element of a sleeve portion of the oral care replacement brush head;

[0201] a rod rib protruding from an outer surface of the rod body and extending axially along the outer surface, the rod rib intersecting the rod ring; and

[0202] The lever rib protrudes from the outer surface of the lever body at a first height, and the lever ring protrudes from the outer surface of the lever body at a second height, the second height being smaller than the first height.

[0203] 62. An oral care replacement brush head for a stem removably coupled to a handle, the oral care replacement brush head comprising:

[0204] Oral care treatment components; and

[0205] The sleeve part comprises:

[0206] a sleeve cavity extending along a cavity axis and configured to receive the stem of the handle;

[0207] a proximal edge surface defining an opening into the sleeve cavity, the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion extending radially from an outer sleeve edge to an inner sleeve edge, the proximal edge surface slopes from the inner sleeve edge to the outer sleeve edge as distance from the cavity axis increases in a direction either upwardly toward the oral treatment portion or downwardly away from the oral treatment portion; and

[0208] One or more features for securing the oral care replacement brush head to the stem of the handle.

[0209] 63. The oral care replacement brush head of embodiment 62 wherein the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface lies in a second reference plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis.

[0210] 64. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 62 to 63, further comprising:

[0211] The oral care treatment portion is coupled to a distal end of the sleeve portion, the oral care treatment portion comprising a front surface facing a first direction, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements protruding from the front surface;

[0212] The sleeve portion includes a front surface facing the first direction and a rear surface facing a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;

[0213] A front portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is located at a first axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, and a rear portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is located at a second axial distance from the distal end of the sleeve portion, the second axial distance being greater than the first axial distance.

[0214] 65. An oral care replacement brush head according to embodiment 64, wherein the front portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is a high point of the proximal edge surface, and the rear portion of the outer sleeve edge of the proximal edge surface of the sleeve portion is a low point of the proximal edge surface when viewed in side profile.

[0215] 66. The oral care replacement brush head of any one of embodiments 62 to 65, wherein the proximal edge surface slopes downwardly away from the oral care treatment portion with increasing radial distance from the cavity axis.

Claims

1. A handle for removably attaching to an oral care replacement brush head, the handle comprising: a gripping portion having a distal end; and a rod extending along a rod axis and protruding from the distal end of the gripping portion, the rod comprising: a rod body having an outer surface; a stem ring protruding from and extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the stem body, the stem ring being configured to snap-interlock with a sleeve snap element of a sleeve portion of the oral care replacement brush head; and a rod rib protruding from the outer surface of the rod body and extending axially along the outer surface of the rod body, the rod rib intersecting the rod ring; The rod rib protrudes from the outer surface of the rod body to a first height, and the rod ring protrudes from the outer surface of the rod body to a second height, the second height being smaller than the first height.

2. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the rod body includes a rod base section, a rod guide section and a rod interference section, the rod base section extends axially from the distal end of the gripping portion to the rod guide section, the rod guide section extends from one end of the rod base section to the rod interference section, and the rod interference section extends to the distal end of the handle. 3 . The handle of claim 2 , wherein the stem rib protrudes from the stem base section and extends axially for at least 70% of the length of the stem base section.

4. The handle of any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the rod guiding section has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers with increasing distance from the distal end of the gripping portion of the handle. 5 . The handle of claim 4 , wherein the rod interference section has a transverse cross-sectional area that tapers with increasing distance from the distal end of the grip portion of the handle. 6 . The handle of claim 5 , wherein the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the rod guiding section has a greater taper than the transverse cross-sectional area of ​​the rod interference section.

7. The handle according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the rod body comprises an annular groove in the outer surface, the annular groove being formed in the rod body between the rod guiding section and the rod interference section.

8. The handle of claim 7, wherein the annular groove forms a V-shaped cutout in the stem body.

9. A handle according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the stem ring extends continuously around the stem base section.

10. The handle of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grip portion further comprises an annular shoulder surface surrounding the stem.

11. The handle of claim 10, wherein the annular shoulder surface lies in a reference plane that is inclined relative to the shaft axis, the annular shoulder surface including a high point and a low point.

12. The handle of claim 11, wherein the high point is circumferentially aligned with the lever rib.

13. The handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lever rib has a rectangular shape.

14. A handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grip portion is formed from a first material, the grip portion and the stem being formed as a single integral component.

15. The handle of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stem rib extends directly from the distal end of the grip portion, wherein the stem rib is elongated in a direction parallel to the stem axis.

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