Personal care appliance

Abstract

A personal care appliance having a handle including a first rigid portion, a second rigid portion, and an elastic portion between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion. The first rigid portion and the second rigid portion may have an end portion with a first tab and a second tab. The resilient portion has a front surface, a rear surface, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface. A first recess may be formed between the first tab of the first rigid portion and the first tab of the second rigid portion. A second recess may be formed between the second tab of the first rigid portion and the second tab of the second rigid portion. A first portion of an outer peripheral surface of the elastic portion may form a bottom of the first groove, and a second portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic portion may form a bottom of the second groove.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 415,737, filed on October 13, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Background Art

[0003] Personal care appliances such as toothbrushes are often formed of plastic. It is now well known that plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues that must be addressed. Plastic cannot be decomposed, so all plastics ever produced still exist in one form or another. Although recycling has had a small impact on reducing plastics in landfills and oceans, there is still too much plastic in products that consumers use in their daily lives. In addition, plastics are made from materials including coal, salt, crude oil, and toxic substances such as benzene and vinyl hydrochloride. Therefore, many commodity manufacturers are working to reduce their plastic output to reduce the amount of plastic that is in landfills and oceans. The invention described herein attempts to solve these problems by reducing the amount of plastic in oral care appliances such as toothbrushes without negatively affecting the enjoyment of consumers during their use. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an oral care implement that uses less plastic by removing material from the handle of the oral care implement while maintaining a comfortable grip similar to the normal grip that a user associates with an oral care implement. That is, the handle has grooves formed in the peripheral surface between plastic components so that the handle, or a portion thereof, utilizes less plastic than a conventional toothbrush. The grooves serve as a functional feature that enhances the user's ability to handle and manipulate the implement during use. Portions of the handle may be covered with a resilient material to increase gripability and comfort.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention can be a personal care appliance, which includes: a handle, the handle including a first rigid part, a second rigid part and an elastic part located between the first rigid part and the second rigid part; the first rigid part includes a first end part, the first end part includes a first tab and a second tab; the second rigid part includes a second end part, the second end part includes a first tab and a second tab; the elastic part includes a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; wherein a first groove is formed between the first tab of the first rigid part and the first tab of the second rigid part, and a second groove is formed between the second tab of the first rigid part and the second tab of the second rigid part, the first part of the peripheral surface of the elastic part forms the bottom of the first groove, and the second part of the peripheral surface of the elastic part forms the bottom of the second groove.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care appliance, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a first rigid portion, a second rigid portion and an elastic portion located between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion, the elastic portion forming a thumb grip, the thumb grip comprising a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; the first rigid portion comprises a first end portion adjacent to a top portion of the thumb grip, the first end portion comprising a first tab and a second tab; the second rigid portion comprises a second end portion adjacent to a bottom portion of the thumb grip, the second end portion comprising a first tab and a second tab; wherein the first tab and the second tab of each of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion comprise an exposed outer surface; and wherein a portion of the peripheral surface of the thumb grip is recessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the first tab and the second tab of each of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care device, comprising: a rigid component, the rigid component comprising: a first portion extending from a first end to a second end, the first portion forming a neck portion and a head portion of the oral care device; a second portion extending from the first end to the second end, the second portion forming a grip portion of the oral care device; and a core extending between the first end of the first portion and the first end of the second portion, the core comprising an inner surface defining a through hole; a resilient component, the resilient component comprising an elastic body forming a thumb grip portion of the oral care device; and wherein the core of the rigid component is embedded in the elastic body so that no portion of the core of the rigid component is exposed and the elastic body fills the through hole of the core.

[0008] In another aspect, the present invention may be a personal care appliance, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a first rigid part, a second rigid part and an elastic part located between the first rigid part and the second rigid part, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis; the first rigid part comprising a first end part; the second rigid part comprising a second end part; the elastic part comprising a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; wherein a first groove is formed between the first end part of the first rigid part and the second end part of the second rigid part on the first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second groove is formed between the first end part of the first rigid part and the second end part of the second rigid part on the second side of the longitudinal axis, the first part of the peripheral surface of the elastic part located on the first side of the longitudinal axis forms the bottom of the first groove, and the second part of the peripheral surface of the elastic part located on the second side of the longitudinal axis forms the bottom of the second groove.

[0009] 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

[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a personal care appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded front perspective view of a personal care appliance;

[0013] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Close-up of region III;

[0014] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A front perspective view of a rigid body of a personal care appliance;

[0015] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Close-up front view of region VV;

[0016] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A side view of a rigid body;

[0017] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A front view of a personal care appliance;

[0018] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Close-up front view of region VIII;

[0019] Fig. 9 for Figure 7 Close-up rear view of region VIII;

[0020] Fig.10 for Figure 7 Close-up side view of region VIII;

[0021] Fig.11 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line XI of ; and

[0022] Fig.12 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line XII of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] 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.

[0024] The description of the illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered to be 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 the 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 interpreted as referring to the orientation as described later or as shown in the accompanying drawings in the discussion. Unless explicitly stated, these relative terms are only for the convenience of description and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation. Unless expressly described otherwise, terms such as "attach", "attach", "connect", "couple", "interconnect" and the like refer to a relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other directly or indirectly through intermediate structures, as well as an attachment or relationship in which the two are movable or rigid. In addition, the features and benefits of the present invention are illustrated by reference to exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should obviously not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

[0025] First refer to Figures 1 to 3 , personal care appliance 100 will be described according to one embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, personal care appliance 100 is an oral care appliance such as a toothbrush, and more particularly a manual toothbrush. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, personal care appliance 100 can take other forms and be used for other purposes. For example, in some alternative embodiments, personal care appliance 100 can be an electric toothbrush. In some other embodiments, personal care appliance 100 can perform other functions, such as as a dental floss device, a tooth scraper, a tongue cleaner or any various other tools commonly used for oral care. In other embodiments, personal care appliance 100 can be an appliance for personal care unrelated to the oral cavity, such as a razor, an applicator, a hairbrush, etc. The invention described herein mainly relates to the handle of personal care appliance 100, so the present invention can be incorporated into different types of appliances with a handle for gripping and used for different functions and purposes.

[0026] The personal care appliance 100 generally includes a handle 110 extending along a longitudinal axis AA and a head 190 coupled to the handle. The handle 110 is designed to minimize the amount of plastic used in oral care appliances without sacrificing the stability, durability, and functionality of the personal care appliance 100. In addition, the design of the handle 110 reduces the amount of plastic used in traditional personal care appliances while also providing ergonomic grooves 120 and 122 for guiding the user into a comfortable gripping position when the user operates the oral care appliance. Figures 7 to 10 The grooves 120, 122 and the manner in which they are formed are described in greater detail.

[0027] The personal care appliance 100 includes a rigid body (also referred to herein as a rigid component or a unitary base structure) 101 and an elastic portion (also referred to herein as a resilient component) 150 extending from a top end 102 to a bottom end 103 along a longitudinal axis AA. In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid body 101 forms a portion of a handle 110 and also forms a head 190 of the personal care appliance 100. The elastic portion 150 can form a thumb grip portion of the handle 110 of the personal care appliance 100. Thus, the handle 110 can include a combination of at least a portion of the rigid body 101 and the elastic portion 150.

[0028] The handle 110 of the personal care appliance 100 is the portion that is gripped by the user during use, and the head 190 of the personal care appliance is the portion that performs a specific function (e.g., teeth cleaning, shaving, applying a composition to a surface, hair brushing, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, the head 190 is formed integrally with the handle 110 as a single unitary structure using molding, milling, machining, or other suitable processes. However, in other embodiments, the handle 110 and the head 190 can be formed as separate components that are operably connected at a later stage of the manufacturing process by any suitable technique known in the art (including but not limited to heat welding or ultrasonic welding, close-fitting assembly, coupling sleeves, threaded engagement, adhesion, or fasteners). In yet other embodiments, the head 190 can be detachable from the handle 110, so that the head can be replaced or replaced to extend the life of the handle 110 and / or enable the use of different heads with different functional components (different bristle structures, or even different uses, such as toothbrush heads and razor heads).

[0029] The head 190 includes a front surface 191 and a rear surface 192 opposite to the front surface 191. In an exemplary embodiment, the personal care appliance 100 is a toothbrush, and therefore the head 190 of the personal care appliance 100 is provided with a universal block, which shows a tooth cleaning element 193 extending therefrom. In particular, the tooth cleaning element 193 is coupled to the head 190 and extends from the front surface 191 of the head 190. In all embodiments, the precise structure, pattern, orientation and material of the tooth cleaning element 193 are not limitations of the present invention. As used herein, the term "tooth cleaning element" is 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 contacting relative surfaces. Common examples of "tooth cleaning elements" include, but are not limited to, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastic protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof and / or structures comprising such materials or combinations. Suitable elastic material comprises any biocompatible resilient material suitable for oral hygiene equipment.In order to provide best comfort and cleaning benefit, the elastic material of the engagement element of tooth or soft tissue has the hardness characteristic in the range of A8 to A25 Shore hardness.A kind of suitable elastic material is the styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS company.However, SEBS material from other manufacturers or other materials in and outside the hardness range can be used.

[0030] The tooth cleaning element 193 of the present invention can be connected to the head 190 in any manner known in the art. For example, nails / anchors, in-mold tufting (IMT), anchor free tufting (AFT), or pressure, temperature, time (PTT) can be used to install the cleaning element / tooth engagement element. In AFT, a plate or film is fixed to the toothbrush head, for example, by ultrasonic welding. The bristles extend through the plate or film. The free end of the bristles on one side of the plate or film performs a cleaning function. The ends of the bristles on the other side of the plate or film are anchored in place by heat melting together. In PTT, filaments are arranged in a cluster pattern, and then each filament is melted together to form a cluster with a mushroom-shaped end. The cluster is then inserted into the preformed hole of the toothbrush head. Next, pressure and heat are applied for a specific amount of time, during which the surface of the toothbrush head is self-shaped to surround the mushroom-shaped end of the cluster, thereby firmly fixing them. Alternatively, the bristles may be mounted to the tuft blocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuft blocks so that the base of the bristles fits within or below the tuft blocks.Any suitable form of cleaning element may be used in the broad practice of the invention.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the head 190 may also include a soft tissue cleaner coupled to or positioned on its rear surface 192. The example of a suitable soft tissue cleaner that can be used and positioned on the rear surface 192 of the head 190 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,143,462 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) issued to the assignee of the present application on December 5, 2006. In certain embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner may include a protuberance that may take the form of an elongated ridge, a bump, or a combination thereof. The soft tissue cleaner may also include a groove or alternatively include a groove to promote tongue cleaning function.

[0032] The rigid body 101 may be formed of a rigid plastic material such as, for example and without limitation, polymers and copolymers of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl compounds, and polyesters (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate). Of course, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in a number of other embodiments, the rigid body 101 may be formed of other materials such as wood, metal, etc. The handle 110 may be formed of a resilient material such as a thermoplastic elastomer on a portion or the entirety of the rigid body 101 to enhance the grip of the handle 110 during use. For example, a portion of the rigid body 101 that is typically gripped by the user's fingers and / or palm during use may be overmolded with a thermoplastic elastomer or its resilient material to further increase comfort for the user. Certain details related to this will be described below.

[0033] As described above, the handle 110 may include a rigid body 101 and an elastic portion 150. The rigid body 101 may include a front surface 111 and a rear surface 112 opposite to the front surface. The rigid body 101 may include a first rigid portion 130 and a second rigid portion 140. The first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 may each be formed of a hard plastic material or any other material determined above. In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid body 101 also includes a rigid core 180 axially located between the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140. That is, the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 may be axially spaced apart from each other by the rigid core 180. The first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 may each be coupled to the rigid core 180 at opposite ends of the rigid core 180. In an exemplary embodiment, the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 and the rigid core 180 may be integrally formed and connected as a unitary structure.

[0034] The handle 110 also includes an elastic portion 150, which in an exemplary embodiment at least partially surrounds and covers the rigid core 180. The elastic portion 150 can be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, examples of which have been provided above. After the rigid body 101 has been formed, the elastic portion 150 can be injection molded onto the rigid core 180. Alternatively, the elastic portion 150 can be formed separately from the rigid core 180 and can be attached to the rigid core 180 later using various techniques as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the rigid core 180 may be omitted. In such embodiments, the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 may be independent and distinct from each other, rather than being formed as a unitary structure such as part of the rigid body 101. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 may be coupled together by attachment to the elastic portion 150. That is, the first rigid portion 130 may be coupled to the top end of the elastic portion 150 and the second rigid portion 140 may be coupled to the bottom end of the elastic portion 150 to form the handle 110. In such embodiments, the proximal portions of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 may be embedded within the elastic portion 150 while remaining spaced apart by the central axial portion of the elastic portion 150. This may result in increased flexibility for the handle 110 as compared to the exemplary embodiment.

[0036] Elastic portion 150 (at Figure 2 and Figure 3 The thumb grip of the handle 110 (shown separately from the rigid body 101 in FIG. 1 ) can be formed to enhance the user's grip when using the personal care appliance 100. That is, the elastic portion 150 can be located at a position along the handle 110 that is aligned with the position where the user's thumb is typically placed during use of the personal care appliance 100. As described, in a second step after forming the rigid body 101, the elastic portion 150 can be injection molded onto the rigid core 180 of the rigid body 101. Figures 7 to 12 1. Additional details regarding the relationship between the elastic portion 150 and the rigid body 101 will be described.

[0037] The elastic portion 150 includes a front surface 152, a rear surface 154, and a peripheral surface 156 located between the front surface 152 and the rear surface 154. The elastic portion 150 may include a plurality of bumps 151 protruding from at least one of the front surface 152 and the rear surface 154 to increase the grip of the elastic portion 150. In some embodiments, the bumps 151 may be located on each of the front surface 152 and the rear surface 154 (see, e.g., Fig.10). The exemplary embodiment depicts a particular arrangement of bumps 151, but bumps 151 may have other arrangements or patterns. In addition, the exact number of bumps 151 may be modified from the number depicted in the accompanying drawings. In addition, in other embodiments, there may be ridges, grooves, bumps and / or combinations thereof located on the front surface 152 and / or the rear surface 154 of the elastic portion 150 to increase the comfort and grip of the user. In other embodiments, only bumps 151 may be omitted. Although not shown in the exemplary embodiment, in some embodiments, the peripheral surface 156 may also include a plurality of bumps.

[0038] The peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion 150 includes a top portion 157, a bottom portion 158, a first side portion 159, and a second side portion 160. In an exemplary embodiment, the top portion 157 of the peripheral surface 156 includes a first notch or recess 161, and the bottom portion 158 of the peripheral surface 156 includes a second notch or recess 162 (at Figure 3 As will be appreciated from viewing the accompanying drawings, recesses 161, 162 may be required to accommodate the rigid body 101. In other embodiments, the rigid body 101 may include additional through holes, such as additional through holes between the top end of the rigid core 180 and the lower end of the first rigid portion 130 and between the bottom end of the rigid core 180 and the top end of the second rigid portion 140. This will allow the elastic portion 150 to pass through the through holes, which will result in Figure 2 and Figure 3 The modification of the overall shape of the resilient portion 150 when exploded from the rigid body 101 as shown (although the overall shape of the handle 110 will be as Figure 1 Keep as shown).

[0039] The elastic portion 150 can be an integral elastic component. In addition, the elastic portion 150 can form a bulbous body that can be used as a thumb grip. Therefore, the front surface 152 and the rear surface 154 of the elastic portion 150 can be convex. However, in some embodiments, the elastic portion 150 can be concave or flat. As described in more detail below, at the transition area between the elastic portion 150 and the rigid body 101, the elastic portion 150 may not be completely flush with the rigid body 101. This can be intended to create a tactile area on the personal care appliance 100 to enable the user to better manipulate and control the movement of the personal care appliance 100 during use. Figure 1 As best shown, in the assembled personal-care appliance 100 , the elastic portion 150 can completely enshroud the rigid core 180 .

[0040] Reference Figures 2 to 6, the rigid body 101 will be further described. The first rigid portion 130 of the rigid body 101 extends from a proximal end 131 to a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first portion 130 of the rigid body 101 forms the top end 102 of the rigid body 101. The first rigid portion 130 includes a neck portion 104 of the handle 110 and a head 190 (although in other embodiments as described above, the head 190 may be formed separately from the rigid portion 130). The second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 extends from a proximal end 141 to a distal end, wherein the distal end of the second portion 140 of the rigid body 101 forms the bottom end 103 of the rigid body 101. The second rigid portion 140 generally forms a grip portion 105 of the handle 110 that is generally grasped by the user's fingers during use. The rigid core 180 extends between the proximal end 131 of the first rigid portion 130 and the proximal end 141 of the second rigid portion 140. The elastic portion 150 covering the rigid core 180 may also be located between the proximal end 131 of the first rigid portion 130 and the proximal end 141 of the second rigid portion 140 .

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid core 180 includes a ring structure having an outer surface 186 and an inner surface 182 defining a through hole 184. The rigid core 180 can have an annular ring shape, such as a ring shape. In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid core 180 has an elliptical shape elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis AA, but other shapes are also possible, such as circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.

[0042] The outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 forms a portion of the exposed outer surface of the rigid body 101. The outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 includes a first side portion 187 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis AA and a second side portion 188 located on a second side of the longitudinal axis AA. The through hole 184 can extend from an opening in the front surface 111 of the rigid body 101 to an opening in the rear surface 112 of the rigid body 101, where the opening is located along the rigid core 180 as shown. Thus, the through hole 184 can extend through the entire thickness of the rigid body 101 from the front surface 111 of the rigid body 101 to the rear surface 112 of the rigid body 101. The inner surface 182 and the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 can be smooth to allow the elastic portion 150 to be easily molded through and around the rigid core 180, although the texture of these surfaces is not a limitation of the present invention in all embodiments.

[0043] Although in the exemplary embodiment, the rigid core 180 includes the through hole 184, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments. In some embodiments, the rigid core 180 can be a solid structure without a through hole. Although the through hole 184 can be advantageous for the purpose of adhering the elastic portion 150 to the rigid body 101, it may also be acceptable for the elastic portion 150 to only surround the rigid core 180 of the rigid body 101 without also extending through the through hole 184. Even when the shape and structure of the rigid core 180 (e.g., whether or not it includes the through hole 184) are modified, the structural relationship between the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 described below can be maintained relative to the rigid core 180 of the rigid body 101. The rigid core 180 can connect the first rigid portion 130 to the second rigid portion 140 so that the rigid body 101 is formed as an integrated, unitary structure.

[0044] The first rigid portion 130 includes a first end portion 132 positioned adjacent to the top end of the rigid core 180. The first end portion 132 of the first rigid portion 130 includes a proximal end 131 of the first rigid portion 130. The first end portion 132 of the first rigid portion 130 may include a first tab 134 terminating at a first distal end 135, a second tab 136 terminating at a second distal end 137, and an end surface 138 extending between the first tab 134 and the second tab 136. The first tab 134 includes an outer surface 170, and the second tab 136 includes an outer surface 171. The outer surfaces 170, 171 form a portion of the exposed outer surface of the first rigid portion 130 of the rigid body 101 of the handle 110. More specifically, the rigid body 101 may include a first side 108 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis AA and a second side 109 located on a second side of the longitudinal axis AA, wherein the first side 108 and the second side 109 form a portion of an exposed outer surface of the rigid body 101 between the front surface 111 and the rear surface 112. The outer surface 170 of the first tab 134 may form a portion of the first side 108 of the first rigid portion 130 of the rigid body 101, and the outer surface 171 of the second tab 136 may form a portion of the second side 109 of the first rigid portion 130 of the rigid body 101.

[0045] The first tab 134 can be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis AA, and the second tab 136 can be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis AA. The distal end 135 of the first tab 134 protrudes outwardly from a first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180. Therefore, the first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 is recessed relative to the outer surface 170 of the first tab 134. In addition, the distal end 137 of the second tab 136 protrudes outwardly from a second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180. Therefore, the second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 is recessed relative to the outer surface 171 of the second tab 136.

[0046] Although the present invention is shown and described with tabs 134, 135, 144, 145, in some embodiments, the tabs may be omitted, and the end surfaces of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140 may be horizontal rather than arcuate, or have other shapes (wavy, linear but angled relative to the longitudinal axis, etc.). In such embodiments, the end surfaces of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140 may still be axially spaced apart to form the grooves 121, 122 as described herein by having the first and second rigid portions 130, 140 protrude from or relative to the resilient portion 150 while being spaced apart to create a groove or recessed area as shown. For example, the ends of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140 may be aligned with the distal ends of the tabs 134, 135, 144, 145, rather than having an arcuate shape, while maintaining the space between the first and second rigid portions 130, 140, and also maintaining the grooves / recesses on the opposite sides of the handle 110.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the end surface 138 of the first end portion 132 of the first rigid portion 130 is arcuate. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the end surface 138 is concave. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the end surface 138 may be flat, V-shaped, square / rectangular shaped (including 3 sides of the square / rectangular shape), or any other shape.

[0048] The second rigid portion 140 includes a second end portion 142 positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the rigid core 180. The second end portion 142 of the second rigid portion 140 includes a proximal end 141 of the second rigid portion 140. The second end portion 142 of the second rigid portion 140 may include a first tab 144 terminating at a first distal end 145, a second tab 146 terminating at a second distal end 147, and an end surface 148 extending between the first tab 144 and the second tab 146. The first tab 144 includes an outer surface 172, and the second tab 146 includes an outer surface 173. The outer surfaces 172, 173 form a portion of the exposed outer surface of the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 of the handle 110. More specifically, the outer surface 172 of the first tab 144 can form a portion of the first side 108 of the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 , and the outer surface 173 of the second tab 146 can form a portion of the second side 109 of the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 .

[0049] The first tab 144 of the second rigid portion 140 can be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis AA (i.e., on the same side as the first tab 134 of the first rigid portion 130). The second tab 146 of the second rigid portion 140 can be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis AA (i.e., on the same side as the second tab 136 of the first rigid portion 130). The distal end 145 of the first tab 144 protrudes outwardly from a first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180. Therefore, the first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 is recessed relative to the outer surface 172 of the first tab 144. In addition, the distal end 147 of the second tab 146 protrudes outwardly from a second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180. Therefore, the second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 is recessed relative to the outer surface 173 of the second tab 146.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the end surface 148 of the second end portion 142 of the second rigid portion 140 is arcuate. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the end surface 148 is concave. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the end surface 148 may be flat, V-shaped, square / rectangular shaped (including 3 sides of the square / rectangular shape), or any other shape.

[0051] As described above, the first tabs 134, 144 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 are located on the first side of the longitudinal axis AA. In addition, the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144 are axially spaced from each other. In addition, because the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144 protrude or project outwardly from the first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180, a first channel 175 is formed between the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144. The first side portion 187 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 forms the bottom of the first channel 175.

[0052] As described above, the second tabs 136, 146 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101 are located on the second side of the longitudinal axis AA. In addition, the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146 are axially spaced from each other. In addition, because the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146 protrude or project outwardly from the second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180, a second channel 176 is formed between the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146. The second side portion 188 of the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 forms the bottom of the second channel 176.

[0053] Reference Figures 7 to 12 , various views of an assembled personal care appliance 100 are provided, the assembled personal care appliance 100 including an elastic portion 150 coupled to a rigid core 180 of a rigid body 101. As discussed above, the elastic portion 150 can be injection molded onto the rigid body 101 to cover / mask the rigid core 180. As shown in Fig.11 and Fig.12 , the resilient portion 150 extends into and through the through hole 184 of the rigid core 180 and also covers the entire outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180. As described herein, the resilient portion 150 is a unitary body and thus it fills the through hole 184 of the rigid core 180 while covering the entire rigid core 180.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the elastic portion 150 is not flush with the outer surfaces of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140. More specifically, the elastic portion 150 is not flush with the outer surfaces 170, 171, 172, 173 of the first and second tabs 134, 136, 144, 146 of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140. Instead, the first side portion 159 of the elastic portion 150 is recessed relative to the outer surfaces 170, 172 of the first tabs 134, 144 of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140. Therefore, the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144 of the first and second rigid portions 130, 140 protrude relative to the first side portion 159 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion 150. The height H of the first tabs 134, 144 at the distal ends 135, 145 as measured from the first side portion 159 to the outer surfaces 170, 172 突片1 It may be 0.5 mm to 3 mm, and more specifically 2 mm to 3 mm. As a result, a first groove 120 (briefly mentioned above) is formed between the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140, wherein the first side portion 159 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion (or elastic body) 150 forms the bottom of the first groove 120. The first groove 120 may be located on the first side of the longitudinal axis.

[0055] Similarly, the second side portion 160 of the elastic portion 150 is recessed relative to the outer surfaces 171, 173 of the second tabs 136, 146 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140. Therefore, the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 protrude relative to the second side portion 160 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion 150. The height H of the second tabs 136, 146 at the distal ends 137, 147 as measured from the second side portion 160 to the outer surfaces 171, 173 is 突片2 It may be 0.5 mm to 3 mm, and more specifically 2 mm to 3 mm. As a result, a second groove 122 (mentioned briefly above) is formed between the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140, wherein the second side portion 160 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion (or elastic body) 150 forms the bottom of the second groove 122. The second groove 122 may be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis AA.

[0056] The resilient portion 150 includes an exposed annular portion 165 about the longitudinal axis AA. The exposed annular portion 165 includes a portion of the front surface 152, a portion of the first side 159 between the first tabs 134, 144, a portion of the rear surface 154, and a portion of the second side 160 between the second tabs 136, 146. The exposed annular portion 165 can be oriented perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis AA.

[0057] The first groove 120 may have a first height H1 measured between the distal ends 135, 145 of the first tabs 134, 144 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140. The second groove 122 may have a second height H2 measured between the distal ends 137, 147 of the second tabs 136, 146 of the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140. The first height H1 and the second height H2 may be the same, although not required in all embodiments. The first height H1 and the second height H2 may be sized and configured so that the index finger tip of the user fits within the first groove 120 and the second groove 122. In some embodiments, the first height H1 and the second height H2 may be 1 mm to 10 mm, and more specifically 2 mm to 8 mm. When the user's thumb is placed on the front surface 152 of the elastic portion (i.e., the thumb grip), the grooves 120, 122 provide a nesting position for the user's index finger tip (or a portion thereof), which may increase the user's ability to grip and control the personal care appliance 100 during use. Thus, as a user operates the personal-care appliance 100, the first groove 120 and the second groove 122 can help promote an ergonomic grip by guiding the user into a comfortable gripping position.

[0058] The first side 159 and the second side 160 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion (or thumb grip) 150 are recessed relative to the exposed outer surfaces 170, 171, 172, 173 of the first tabs 134, 144 and the second tabs 136, 146. The greater the height of the recess between the thumb grip 150 and the first tabs 134, 144 and the second tabs 136, 146, the deeper the grooves 120, 122 are formed. In some embodiments, the distal ends 135, 145, 137, 147 of the first tabs 134, 144 and the second tabs 136, 146 can be rounded or tapered (e.g., Fig.10 144, 136, 146 can allow for a more comfortable grip by the user. The configurations and structures described herein allow for the ability to grasp using a precision grip, which can provide the user with better control and movement of the personal care appliance 100 during use.

[0059] Steering Fig.11 and Fig.12 In an exemplary embodiment, the inner surface 182 and the outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 may be V-shaped. The rigid core 180 includes a front surface 106 and a rear surface 107 opposite the front surface. The inner surface 182 of the rigid core 180 includes a first linear portion 194 extending inwardly from the front surface 106 into the through hole 184 and a second linear portion 195 extending inwardly from the rear surface 107 into the through hole 184. The first linear portion 194 and the second linear portion 195 intersect at a vertex 196. In an exemplary embodiment, the vertex 196 is sharp, although it may be rounded in other embodiments. The outer surface 186 of the rigid core 180 includes a first linear portion 197 extending from the front surface 106 and a second linear portion 198 extending from the rear surface 107, wherein the first linear portion 197 and the second linear portion 198 intersect at a vertex 199. In an exemplary embodiment, the vertex 199 is sharp, but it may be rounded in other embodiments.

[0060] A first linear portion 194 of the inner surface 182 may intersect a first linear portion 197 of the outer surface 186 at a point along the front surface 106. The first linear portions 194, 197 may be oriented to converge as they move at an acute angle toward the front surface 106. A second linear portion 195 of the inner surface 182 may intersect a second linear portion 198 of the outer surface 186 at a point along the rear surface 107. The second linear portions 195, 198 may be oriented to converge as they move at an acute angle toward the rear surface 107.

[0061] The cross-sectional area of ​​the through hole 184 may decrease from the front opening of the through hole 184 to the center point of the through hole 184, and may similarly decrease from the rear opening to the center point of the through hole 184. This may further help retain the elastic portion 150 coupled to the rigid body 101 after injection molding on the rigid body 101. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the through hole 184 may be constant.

[0062] As mentioned previously, by designing the first tabs 134, 144 and the second tabs 136, 146 to be spaced apart from each other (as opposed to being fully connected) by at least a portion of the first side 159 and the second side 160 of the outer peripheral surface 156 of the elastic portion 150, the personal care appliance 100 reduces the total plastic used. This spacing distance not only reduces the total amount of plastic, but it also forms the first groove 120 and the second groove 122. The first groove 120 and the second groove 122 have a first height H1 and a second height H2 measured between the first tabs 134, 144 and the second tabs 136, 146 in the direction of the longitudinal axis AA. The first height H1 and the second height H2 of the grooves 120, 122 can be designed to accommodate the user's fingers. The first groove 120 and the second groove 122 can also have a height H1 measured from the first side 159 and the second side 160 of the elastic portion 150 to the outer surface of the first tab 134, 144 and the second tab 136, 146 in the direction of the transverse axis BB. 突片1 , H 突片2 The height can be designed to accommodate the user's fingers during operation of the personal care appliance 100. A transverse axis BB perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AA can intersect the elastic portion 150 without intersecting the first rigid portion 130 and the second rigid portion 140 of the rigid body 101. The transverse axis BB can of course intersect the rigid core 180 of the rigid body 101.

[0063] In some embodiments, the handle 110 can have a cavity 149 in the rear surface of the second rigid portion 140 . Fig.12 The cavity 149 best shown in the figure can further reduce the amount of plastic used in the formation of the handle 110. In some embodiments, the cavity 149 can be partially or completely filled with an elastic material, similar to the process used to fill the rigid core 180. The elastic material in the cavity 149 can have a smooth surface texture, or can include ridges or bumps, and / or can include a texture to enhance gripability.

[0064] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing individual values ​​and each value within a range. Any value within a range can be selected as the endpoint of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that a definition in the present disclosure conflicts with a definition of the cited reference, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples (including currently preferred modes for carrying out the present invention), those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many variations and permutations of the above-described systems and techniques. 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 described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A personal care appliance, comprising: a handle comprising a first rigid portion having a first end portion, a second rigid portion having a second end portion, and a resilient portion at least partially located between the first end portion of the first rigid portion and the second end portion of the second rigid portion, the handle extending along a longitudinal axis; The elastic portion includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; A first groove is formed between the first end portion of the first rigid part and the second end portion of the second rigid part on the first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second groove is formed between the first end portion of the first rigid part and the second end portion of the second rigid part on the second side of the longitudinal axis, a first portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic part located on the first side of the longitudinal axis forms the bottom of the first groove, and a second portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic part located on the second side of the longitudinal axis forms the bottom of the second groove.

2. A personal care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the first rigid portion includes a first tab located on the first side of the longitudinal axis and a second tab located on the second side of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end portion of the first rigid portion includes a first tab located on the first side of the longitudinal axis and a second tab located on the second side of the longitudinal axis.

3. A personal care appliance according to claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the elastic part includes a first side located on the first side of the longitudinal axis and a second side located on the second side of the longitudinal axis, the first side includes the first portion of the outer peripheral surface, and the second side includes the second portion of the outer peripheral surface, the first tabs of the first rigid part and the second rigid part are located on the first side of the longitudinal axis and are axially spaced apart by the first portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic part, and the second tabs of the first rigid part and the second rigid part are located on the second side of the longitudinal axis and are axially spaced apart by the second portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic part.

4. A personal care appliance according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first end portion of the first rigid part includes a first arcuate end surface extending between the first tab and the second tab of the first rigid part, and wherein the second end portion of the second rigid part includes a second arcuate end surface extending between the first tab and the second tab of the second rigid part, the first arcuate end surface is adjacent to the top end of the elastic part, and the second arcuate end surface is adjacent to the bottom end of the elastic part.

5. A personal care appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic portion are recessed relative to the outer surfaces of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion located at the distal end of the first end portion of the first rigid portion and the distal end of the second end portion of the second rigid portion.

6. The personal care appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the elastic portion is a bulbous body such that the front surface and the rear surface of the elastic portion are convex, and further comprising a plurality of protrusions extending from each of the front surface and the rear surface of the elastic portion.

7. The personal care appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the handle further comprises a rigid core comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining a through hole, and wherein the elastic portion is a unitary body filling the through hole and covering the entire outer surface of the rigid core.

8. A personal care appliance according to claim 7, wherein the first end portion of the first rigid part includes a first tab and a second tab, and wherein the second end portion of the first rigid part includes a first tab and a second tab, wherein the first tab and the second tab of each of the first rigid part and the second rigid part terminate at a distal end protruding from the outer surface of the rigid core, and wherein the first rigid part, the second rigid part and the rigid core are integrally connected to form an integral base structure of the personal care appliance.

9. The personal-care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis intersects the resilient portion of the handle but does not intersect the first and second rigid portions of the handle.

10. The personal-care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the resilient portion of the handle has an elliptical shape that is elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

11. The personal-care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first rigid portion forms a head of the personal-care appliance, and further comprising a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the head.

12. The personal-care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the resilient portion comprises an outer surface having an exposed annular portion about the longitudinal axis.

13. A personal care appliance, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a first rigid portion, a second rigid portion, and a resilient portion located between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion, the resilient portion forming a thumb grip, the thumb grip comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface; the first rigid portion including a first end portion adjacent to a top portion of the thumb grip, the first end portion including a first tab and a second tab; the second rigid portion including a second end portion adjacent to a bottom portion of the thumb grip, the second end portion including a first tab and a second tab; wherein the first tab and the second tab of each of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion include an exposed outer surface; as well as wherein a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip is recessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the first tab and the second tab of each of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion.

14. A personal care appliance according to claim 13, wherein the handle includes a longitudinal axis, and the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip includes a first side located on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a second side located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first tabs of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion are located on the first side of the longitudinal axis and are axially spaced apart by at least a portion of the first side of the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip, and the second tabs of the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion are located on the second side of the longitudinal axis and are axially spaced apart by at least a portion of the second side of the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip.

15. A personal care appliance according to claim 14, wherein a first groove is formed between the first tab of the first rigid part and the first tab of the second rigid part, and a portion of the first side surface of the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip forms the bottom of the first groove, and wherein a second groove is formed between the second tab of the first rigid part and the second tab of the second rigid part, and a portion of the second side surface of the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip forms the bottom of the second groove.

16. A personal care appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the first tab and each of the second tabs of each of the first rigid part and the second rigid part terminate at a distal end positioned along the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip, and wherein the distal end of each of the first tab and each of the second tabs of each of the first rigid part and the second rigid part protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the thumb grip.

17. The personal care appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the handle further comprises a rigid core comprising a ring structure having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a through hole, and wherein the elastic portion is a unitary body filling the through hole and covering the entire outer surface of the ring structure.

18. A personal care appliance according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the first end portion of the first rigid part includes a first arcuate end surface extending between the first tab and the second tab of the first rigid part, and wherein the second end portion of the second rigid part includes a second arcuate end surface extending between the first tab and the second tab of the second rigid part.

19. A personal care appliance comprising: A rigid component, the rigid component comprising: a first portion extending from the first end to the second end, the first portion forming a neck portion and a head portion of the oral care implement; a second portion extending from the first end to the second end, the second portion forming a gripping portion of the oral care implement; and a core extending between the first end of the first portion and the first end of the second portion, the core including an inner surface defining a through hole; a resilient member including a resilient body forming a thumb grip of the oral care implement; and The core of the rigid component is embedded in the elastic body, and the elastic body fills the through hole of the core.

20. The personal-care appliance of claim 19, wherein the first end of the first portion of the rigid component and the first end of the second portion of the rigid component have an arcuate shape.

21. A personal care appliance according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the elastic body includes a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface, the peripheral surface includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first end of the first portion of the rigid component is adjacent to the top portion of the elastic body, and the first end of the second portion of the rigid component is adjacent to the bottom portion of the elastic body, at least a portion of the first side portion and the second side portion of the elastic body are exposed, and wherein the exposed portions of the first side portion and the second side portion of the elastic body are recessed relative to the rigid component.

22. The personal-care appliance of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein no portion of the core of the rigid component is exposed.

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