Personal care appliance

Abstract

A personal care appliance having a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function and a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user. The handle portion has a core member and an outer body portion, both of which are formed from a hard plastic material. The core member has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and an aperture extending from the first side to the second side. The outer body portion covers the top and bottom surfaces of the core component but exposes the first and second sides of the core component.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Many personal care products, including toothbrushes, are often made of plastic and are intended for use only for a short period of time, after which they are discarded and replaced. Many plastics are not recyclable, more difficult to recycle, or not accepted by standard local recycling streams. In many industries, there is a current trend to no longer use plastic as a material for product manufacturing or to reduce the amount of plastic used to manufacture products to address environmental concerns. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to find alternative techniques for reducing the amount of plastic used in the manufacture of toothbrushes and other personal care implements. SUMMARY

[0002] The present invention can relate to a personal care implement having a head and a handle. The handle can have a core component, an outer body portion, and a bore extending through a side of the implement.

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion comprising: a core component comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and a bore extending from the first side to the second side; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but leaving the first side and the second side of the core component exposed; and wherein the core component and the outer body portion are both formed of a hard plastic material.

[0004] In another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion comprising: a core component comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and a bore extending from the first side to the second side; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but leaving the first side and the second side of the core component exposed; and wherein the core component is transparent and the outer body portion is opaque.

[0005] In yet another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a main structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the main structure comprising an outer body portion of a handle portion, the outer body portion comprising a top surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion, a bottom surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion, a first side, a second side, and a cavity extending from a first opening in the first side to a second opening in the second side; and a core component positioned within the cavity of the outer body portion, the core component comprising a first side, a second side, a first axial portion defining a bore extending from the first side to the second side, and a second axial portion having a cross-sectional area in the shape of an I-beam.

[0006] In yet another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; and a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of an oral care treatment function, the handle portion extending along a handle axis and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first axial portion comprising a bore that is elongated in the direction of the handle axis extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, and a second axial portion comprising a cross-sectional area comprising an I-beam shape.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis comprising a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising: a plurality of central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of central bristle tufts comprising a first bristle tuft extending along a first bristle axis having a first cross-sectional shape, a second bristle tuft extending along a second bristle axis having a second cross-sectional shape that is the same as the first cross-sectional shape, and a third bristle tuft extending along a third bristle axis having a third cross-sectional shape that is different from the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape, the third bristle tuft positioned between the first bristle tuft and the second bristle tuft in the direction of the head axis; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding the plurality of central bristle tufts.

[0008] In one aspect, the present invention can be a personal care implement comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis comprising a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements comprising: one or more central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the one or more central bristle tufts defining an arrangement of central cleaning elements having an hourglass shape; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding the arrangement of central cleaning elements.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention can be a method of manufacturing a personal care implement, the method comprising: injection molding a core component from a first hard plastic material, the core component comprising a bore extending from a first side surface of the core component to a second side surface of the core component, the core component comprising at least one through hole extending from a front surface of the core component to a back surface of the core component; and injection molding an outer body portion of a main structure onto a top surface and a bottom surface of the core component without covering the first side surface and the second side surface of the core component, the main structure being formed of a second hard plastic material, the outer body portion extending through and filling the at least one through hole in the core component.

[0010] Other applicable areas of the invention will become apparent from the specific embodiments provided below. It should be understood that while the specific embodiments and examples illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, they are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The invention will become more fully understood from the specific embodiments and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 A perspective view of a personal care appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Partially exploded perspective view of personal care appliances;

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Rear perspective view of personal care appliances;

[0015] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Front view of a personal care appliance;

[0016] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Side view of a personal care appliance;

[0017] Figure 6A A perspective view of a core component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 6B for Figure 6A Front view of the core component;

[0019] Figure 6C for Figure 6A Side view of the core component;

[0020] Figure 6D For along Figure 6A A cross-sectional view taken from line VIID-VIID;

[0021] Figure 6E For along Figure 6A A cross-sectional view taken from line VIIE-VIIE;

[0022] Figure 7A A perspective view of an external body component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7B for Figure 7A Front view of the core component;

[0024] Figure 7C for Figure 7A Side view of the core component;

[0025] Figure 7D For along Figure 7A A cross-sectional view taken from line VIID-VIID;

[0026] Figure 8 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of line VV;

[0027] Figure 9 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken from line IX-IX;

[0028] Figure 10 For along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of line XX;

[0029] Figure 11 A close-up front view of the head of a personal care device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0030] Figure 12 A close-up rear view of the head of a personal care device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or its use.

[0032] The description of illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the invention is intended to be interpreted in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered an integral part of the entire written description. Any references to directions or orientations in the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are intended merely for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the 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,” “downward,” “upward,” etc.) should be understood to refer to orientations as described later or as shown in the accompanying drawings discussed. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attach,” “join,” “connect,” “link,” “interconnect,” and similar terms refer to relationships in which, unless otherwise explicitly described, structures are directly or indirectly fixed or attached to each other, either directly or indirectly through intermediate structures, and where such attachments or relationships are movable or rigid. Furthermore, features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should obviously not be limited to such exemplary embodiments that show some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in combination with other features; the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0033] First refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Personal care appliance 100 will be described according to one embodiment of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, personal care appliance 100 is a manual toothbrush. However, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and personal care appliance 100 may take other forms, including electric toothbrushes, tongue scrapers, gum and soft tissue cleaners, water flossers, interdental devices, tooth polishers, specially designed handle appliances with tooth engagement elements, or any other type of appliance commonly used for oral care. Furthermore, in yet other embodiments, the appliance may not be specifically designed for oral care, but may instead be a personal care appliance, including the various types of personal care appliances mentioned herein, and also including hairbrushes, razors, body scrubbers, skin treatment devices, etc. Therefore, it should be understood that unless a particular type of appliance is specified in the claims, the inventive concept discussed herein can be applied to any type of personal care appliance or oral care appliance.

[0034] First refer to Figures 1 to 5Personal care appliance 100 will be described according to one embodiment of the present invention. Personal care appliance 100 may include a head portion 110 extending from a proximal end 111 along a head axis AA to a distal end 112 and a handle portion 120 extending from a proximal end 121 along a handle axis BB to a distal end 122. The head portion 110 of personal care appliance 100 may be configured to perform personal care treatment functions during a personal care treatment process. In one embodiment, the head portion 110 may be configured to perform oral care functions such as teeth cleaning, gum scraping, flossing, etc. A user may hold the handle portion 120 of oral care appliance 100 to manipulate the head portion 110 during a personal care treatment process. The head portion 110 and the handle portion 120 may be joined together to form a single integral structure. In some embodiments, the head portion 110 may be permanently attached to the handle portion 120. In other embodiments, the head portion 110 may be detachable from the handle portion 120.

[0035] The head portion 110 may include a front surface 113 and a rear surface 116. A plurality of dental cleaning elements 130 may extend from the front surface 113 of the head portion 110. The dental cleaning elements 130 may be attached to the head 110 in any manner known in the art, including pins, in-mold tufting (IMT), anchor-free tufting (AFT), or a modified AFT referred to as AMR. While a specific pattern of the dental cleaning element 130 is shown in this exemplary embodiment, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and various different dental cleaning element patterns may be used in other embodiments. Reference will be made below. Figure 11 Details of the pattern of the dental cleaning element in this exemplary embodiment are described. The soft tissue cleaner 140 may be coupled to or positioned on the rear surface 116 of the head portion 110. The soft tissue cleaner 140 may be formed of an elastomeric material such as a thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, etc. In some other embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner 140 may include protrusions, which may take the form of elongated ridges, small pieces, or combinations thereof. Of course, the invention is not so limited, and in some embodiments, the personal care appliance 100 may not include any soft tissue cleaner.

[0036] Unless conflicting with other disclosures or claims provided herein, it should be understood that the term "dental 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 oral soft tissues (e.g., tongue, cheeks, gums, etc.) through relative surface contact. Common examples of "dental cleaning elements" include, but are not limited to, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomer protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof, and / or structures comprising such materials or combinations. Therefore, in some embodiments, any combination of these dental cleaning elements can be used in the field of dental cleaning elements. Furthermore, when bristles are used in one or more of the dental cleaning elements 105, such bristles can be tapered, rounded, spiral, etc.

[0037] In embodiments using elastomeric materials to form the dental cleaning element 130 or soft tissue cleaner 140, suitable elastomeric materials may include any biocompatible elastomeric material suitable for use in oral hygiene devices. To provide optimal comfort and cleaning benefits, the hardness characteristics of the elastomeric material of any such dental cleaning element may be in the range of Shore hardness A10 to A70 in one embodiment, or in the range of Shore hardness A8 to A25 in another embodiment. A suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene / butene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS. However, SEBS materials from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the stated hardness range may be used.

[0038] The handle portion 120 of the personal care appliance 100 may have a special design that results in a reduction of the plastic material used to form the personal care appliance 100, addressing environmental issues related to the use of plastics. Therefore, the handle portion 120 may have gaps, recesses, or slots as described in the following detailed description, to facilitate this reduction of plastic material while having a design that ensures the structural integrity of the personal care appliance 100, among other purposes. These features may also provide the user with additional functional benefits such as pressure control, enhanced grip, and various pivoting movements of the head portion 110 relative to the handle portion 120 for better access to deeper areas of the mouth.

[0039] like Figure 2As best shown, the personal care appliance 100 may include a core component 200 and a main structure 300. The main structure 300 may include an outer body portion 301 of the head portion 110 and handle portion 120 of the personal care appliance 100. Thus, the handle portion 120 may be formed by the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300 and the core component 200. The main structure 300 may be an integral structure including the outer body portion 301 of the handle portion 120 and the head portion 110. The core component 200 may be the main structure 300 fixed to the finished personal care appliance 100, or more specifically, a separate component of the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300. In an alternative embodiment, the entire personal care appliance 100 (except for the dental cleaning element 130 and the soft tissue cleaner 140) may be formed as a single integral structure.

[0040] The handle portion 120 may be an elongated structure extending from the proximal end 122 along the handle axis BB to the distal end 121. As described above, the handle portion 120 is the part of the personal care device that is grasped by the user during use of the personal care device 100. Specifically, the user may wrap his / her hand around the handle portion 120 to manipulate the personal care device 100 during use, such as brushing teeth or performing other operations with the personal care device 100. The handle portion 120 may be formed of hard plastic. In this exemplary embodiment, both the core component 200 and the main structure 300 are formed of hard plastic. The handle portion 120 may be formed of a transparent material, an opaque material, or a mixture of both transparent and opaque materials. In some embodiments, the core component 200 may be transparent or translucent, and the main structure 300 may be opaque. In some embodiments, the core component 200 and the main structure 300 may have different light transmittances. Therefore, in some implementations, the core component 200 and the main structure 300 may have different degrees of transparency, translucency, and / or opacity.

[0041] In various embodiments, examples of rigid plastic materials that can be used to form the core component 200 and the main structure 300 may include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. In some embodiments, a gripping portion formed of an elastomeric material may be positioned along a portion of the outer surface of the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300. In such embodiments, the elastomeric material may be formed of thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, rubber, silicone, etc. Such an elastomeric gripping portion component is not included in this exemplary embodiment.

[0042] In this exemplary embodiment, and as described in more detail below, the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300 may include a cavity 319, and the core component 200 may be positioned within the cavity 319 of the outer body portion 301. The main structure 300 may be injection molded on top of the core component 200 to manufacture the structure. The outer body portion 301 may form the outer or outer surface of the handle portion 120, and the core component 200 may form an internal structure within the outer body portion 301 of the handle portion 120. The outer body portion 301 may include an outer outer surface 304 forming the outer surface or outer surface of the handle portion 120 of the personal care device 100. The outer outer surface 304 of the outer body portion 301 may include gripping features 330 thereon to assist a user in gripping the handle portion 120 of the personal care device 100. The gripping features 330 will be specifically referred to... Figures 7A to 7C The following is a more detailed description.

[0043] Reference Figures 6A to 6E The core component 200 of the handle portion 120 of the personal care appliance 100 will be described in detail below. The core component 200 extends from a proximal end 201 along the longitudinal axis CC to a distal end 202. As described above, the core component 200 can be configured to fit within a cavity 319 formed by the outer body portion 301. The core component 200 can be fixed within the cavity 319 of the outer body portion 301 such that the core component 200 cannot be removed from the cavity 319. That is, although the outer body portion 301 and the core component 200 can be separate components, they can be fixed together in an inseparable manner (except by breakage) to form a final product intended for consumer use.

[0044] The core component 200 may include a top surface 203, a bottom surface 204, a first side surface 205, and a second side surface 206. The first side surface 205 and the second side surface 206 may extend between the top surface 203 and the bottom surface 204. A hole 219 may extend from the first side surface 205 through the core component 200 to the second side surface 206. The hole is elongated along the longitudinal axis CC. The hole 219 may extend through the core component 200 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis CC. The hole 219 may be open along at least a portion of the first side surface 205 and at least a portion of the second side surface 206. Although in this exemplary embodiment, the core component 200 has an odd number of holes 219, alternative embodiments of the core component 200 may include a plurality of holes 219 of similar or different sizes.

[0045] The core component 200 typically includes an upper portion 210 having an inner surface 211 and an outer surface 212, a lower portion 213 having an inner surface 214 and an outer surface 215, and at least one beam portion 216 extending from the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210 to the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213. The upper portion 210 and the lower portion 213 may have a width greater than that of the beam portion 216, measured transversely to the shank axis BB. In some embodiments, the beam portion 215 may extend along a portion of the length of the core component 200, but not throughout the entire core component 200, because the core component 200 includes a hole 219. The hole 219 may be formed to pass only through the beam portion 216, and not through the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 213.

[0046] The beam portion 216 may have a first side surface 217 and a second side surface 218 opposite to the first side surface. Specifically, the first side surface 205 of the core component 200 may include the first side surface 217 of the beam portion 215, and the second side surface 206 of the core component 200 may include the second side surface 218 of the beam portion 215. The top surface 203 of the core component 200 may be formed by the outer surface 212 of the upper portion 210, and the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200 may be formed by the outer surface 215 of the lower portion 213. In this exemplary embodiment, the hole 219 may extend through the core component 200 such that the top of the hole 219 is formed by the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210, and the bottom of the hole 219 is formed by the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213. That is, the hole 219 may be defined by the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210 and the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213, while being open along the side surface of the core component 200.

[0047] In this exemplary embodiment, beam portion 216 can conceptually be divided into a first beam portion 216A located on a first side of hole 219 and a second beam portion 216B located on a second side of hole 219. Therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, hole 219 can be located between the first beam portion 216A and the second beam portion 216B. Thus, the first beam portion 216A and the second beam portion 216B can be spaced apart from each other through hole 219. First beam portion 216A can extend from a first end 238 of hole 219 toward the proximal end 201 of core member 200, and second beam portion 216B can extend from a second end 239 of hole 219 toward the distal end 202 of core member 200. While in this exemplary embodiment beam portion 216 is divided into two beam portions 216A and 216B, in various other embodiments, beam portion 216 can be divided into any number of portions, including having an odd number of beam portions or more than two beam portions. For example, core component 200 may include a beam portion 216 and a hole 219, or core component 200 may include three beam portions 216 and two holes 219, such that each hole 219 separates the two beam portions 216 from each other.

[0048] As described above, the beam portion 216 can extend from the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213 to the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210. That is, the beam portion 216 can be connected to the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213 and to the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210. The first side surface 217 and the second side surface 218 of the beam portion 216 can be recessed relative to the side edges of the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 213 of the core member 200. The beam portion 216 can be elongated from the proximal end 201 of the core member 200 along the longitudinal axis CC to the distal end 202 of the core member 200.

[0049] like Figure 6EAs best shown, in some embodiments, the core component 200 may include a first recess 207 and a second recess 208, both of which may be elongated along the longitudinal axis CC. Thus, a first side surface 217 of the beam portion 216 may be recessed relative to the first side surface 206 of the upper portion 210 and the first side surface 207 of the lower portion 213 of the core component 200, and a second side surface 218 of the beam portion 216 may be recessed relative to the second side surface 228 of the upper portion 210 and the second side surface 229 of the lower portion 213 of the core component 200. The first recess 207 may be defined by the first side surface 217 of the beam portion 216, a portion of the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210, and a portion of the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213. The second recess 208 may be defined by the second side surface 218 of the beam portion 216, a portion of the inner surface 211 of the upper portion 210, and a portion of the inner surface 214 of the lower portion 213. In this exemplary embodiment, the first recess 207 and the second recess 208 can be formed into a U-shape. However, it should be understood that the first recess 207 and the second recess 208 can have other shapes.

[0050] The core component 200 or a portion thereof may include an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region. Specifically, for any cross-section taken through the core component 200 that intersects one of the beam portions 216, the core component 200 may have an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region. This is due to the fact that the sides of the beam portion 216 are recessed relative to the sides of the upper portion 210 and the lower portion 213, thus forming an I-beam-like shape.

[0051] The bore 219 divides the core component 200 into different segments. In some embodiments, the core component 200 may have at least a first axial portion 232 including the bore 219 and a second axial portion including a beam portion 216. The division of the core component 200 is generally caused by the location of the bore 219. In this exemplary embodiment, the bore 219 divides the core component 200 into a first axial portion 232 including the bore 219, a second axial portion 231 extending from the first axial portion 232 to a distal end 202, and a third axial portion 230 extending from the first axial portion 232 to a proximal end 201. The core component 200 may be configured such that the first axial portion 232 is axially located between the second axial portion 230 and the third axial portion 231. In this exemplary embodiment, the first axial portion 232 includes the bore 219, the second axial portion 231 includes a second beam portion 216B, and the third axial portion includes a first beam portion 216A.

[0052] In some embodiments, the second axial portion 230 and the third axial portion 231 may include an I-beam structure. In some embodiments, the first axial portion 232 may also have an I-beam structure, although the hole 219 extends through at least a portion of the vertical wall portion of the I-beam structure. In other embodiments, the first axial portion 232 may have flat top and bottom surfaces, but no vertical wall portion, and therefore no I-beam structure.

[0053] Although the segmental portions of the personal care appliance 100 are referred to as the first axial portion, the second axial portion, and the third axial portion, it should be understood that the portions can be referred to by their location, such that the first axial portion 232 can be referred to as the central axial portion, the second axial portion 231 can be referred to as the distal axial portion, and the third axial portion 230 can be referred to as the proximal axial portion.

[0054] The second axial portion 230 and the third axial portion 231 may include additional features, such as additional cleaning elements or elements that facilitate the assembly of the personal care appliance 100. In this exemplary embodiment, the second axial portion 230 and the third axial portion 231 include a through-hole 221 and a connection feature 222. The through-hole 221 extends from the top surface 203 of the core component 200 to the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200. The through-hole 221 may be configured to allow material from the outer body portion 301 to pass through the core component 200 during manufacturing to facilitate a secure attachment between the outer body portion 301 and the core component 200. In some embodiments, the second axial portion 231 may include a first through-hole 221A positioned adjacent to a second end 239 of the hole 219 and a first connection feature 222A located at the proximal end 201 of the core component 200. The third axial portion 230 may include a second through-hole 221B positioned adjacent to a first end 238 of the hole 219 and a second connection feature 222B located at the distal end 202 of the core component 200. The first connecting feature 222A and the second connecting feature 222B can be protrusions extending axially from the body of the core component 200, etc. The first connecting feature 222A and the second connecting feature 222B can be used to enhance the attachment between the core component 200 and the main structure 300. The connecting feature 222 can be any feature known in the art. In some embodiments, the connecting feature 222 is a structural feature having a shape configured to mate with or be nested within a corresponding feature located inside the main structure 300.

[0055] The core component 200 may include a rib 220 that is elongated along the longitudinal axis CC. The rib 220 may protrude from the top surface 203 of the core component 200, the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200, or both the top surface 203 and the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200. The rib 220 may be configured to be nested within a channel in the outer body portion 301, as further described below. In this exemplary embodiment, the core component 200 includes two ribs 220A and 220B, wherein one rib 220A is located on and protrudes from the top surface 203, and one rib 220B is located on and protrudes from the bottom surface 204. While in some embodiments the rib 220 may protrude from any portion of the top surface 203 or the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200, in this exemplary embodiment, the rib 220 is positioned along a first (or central) axial portion 232. In one embodiment, rib 220 may be located between through holes 221A and 221B, although this is not necessary, and in other embodiments, rib 220 may be used in other locations.

[0056] The first axial portion 232 of the core component 200 may include a first length L1. The second axial portion 231 of the core component 200 may include a second length L2. The third axial portion 230 of the core component 200 may include a third length L3. The third length L3 may be greater than the second length L2. The first length L1 may be greater than the second length L2.

[0057] As described above, in some embodiments, the core component 200 may be formed of a rigid plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or other materials with similar properties and hardness. In some embodiments, the core component 200 may be formed of a transparent material. In other embodiments, the core component 200 may be formed of a transparent or translucent material. In still other embodiments, the core component 200 may be formed of an opaque material. This can be determined based on the desired aesthetics of the final product, material costs, etc.

[0058] Reference Figures 7A to 7D The main structure 300 will be described in detail below. As described above, the main structure 300 comprises an outer body portion 301 of a handle 120 and a head portion 110 of the personal care appliance 100 in a single, integral structure. The outer body portion 301 is connected to the head portion 110 via a neck portion 316 of the main structure 300. Therefore, the main structure 300 is a single, integral, elongated structure comprising the outer body portion 301 of the handle portion 120, the neck portion 316, and the head portion 110. The main structure 300 may be formed of a rigid plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other rigid plastic materials with similar hardness values. The main structure 300 may be opaque and may have one or more colors to produce a desired aesthetic effect.

[0059] The main structure 300 extends along the longitudinal axis DD from the proximal end 302 forming the bottommost end of the outer body portion 301 to the distal end 303 forming the topmost end of the head portion 110. The outer body portion 301 may include an outer surface 304, an inner surface 305 (which defines / defines a cavity 319), a first side surface 323, and a second side surface 324. As described, the outer body portion 301 includes a cavity 319 extending laterally from the first side surface 323 through the outer body portion 301 to the second side surface 324. Specifically, the cavity 319 extends from a first opening 321 in the first side surface 323 (… Figures 7A to 7D Not shown in the image, but... Figure 9 and Figure 10 (as indicated in the middle) extends to the second opening 322 in the second side 324. The core component 200 can be seen through the first opening 321 and / or the second opening 322.

[0060] The outer body portion 301 may include an upper strip portion 310 and a lower strip portion 313. The upper strip portion 310 may include an outer surface 311 and an inner surface 312, and the lower strip portion 313 may include an outer surface 314 and a lower surface 315. The inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 and the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313 may together form the inner surface 305 of the outer body portion 301. The inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 and the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313 may include one or more channels 307 configured to receive ribs 220A and 220B of the core component 200 to further facilitate attachment between the core component 200 and the main structure 300. The ribs 220A and 220B nested within the channels 307 may further lock the core component 200 to the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300. The outer surface 304 of the outer body portion 301 is typically formed by the outer surface 311 of the upper strip portion 310 and the outer surface 314 of the lower strip portion 313. The inner surface 305 of the outer body portion is typically formed by the inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 and the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313. In some embodiments, the outer surface 311 of the upper portion 210 forms the outer top surface 308 of the personal care appliance 100, and the outer surface 314 of the lower strip portion 313 forms the outer bottom surface 309 of the personal care appliance 100.

[0061] The inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 and the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313 are spaced apart from each other by the cavity 319. In some embodiments, the cavity 319 may be exposed through a first opening 321 and a second opening 322 of the outer body portion 301. When the personal care appliance 100 is in its finished state, the first side 205 and the second side 206 of the core component 200 may be exposed through the first opening 321 and the second opening 322. In alternative embodiments, the cavity 319 may be only partially exposed, or only on one side 323, 324.

[0062] As described above, the outer body portion 301 may include gripping features 330 located on the outer surface 304. Gripping features 330 may include protruding features 331, recessed features 332, or any combination thereof. Gripping features 330 may be located on any portion of the outer body portion 310. In this exemplary embodiment, gripping features 330 include a central region having protruding features 331 and a peripheral region having recessed features 332. Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, gripping features 330 include a first grouping 332a of recessed features, a second grouping 332b of recessed features, and a grouping of protruding features 331 axially located between the first grouping 332a and the second grouping 332b of recessed features. Gripping features 330 thus provide both aesthetic enhancement and grip enhancement. In this exemplary embodiment, gripping features 330 are all rhomboid, although the invention is not so limited, and gripping features 330 may take other shapes, including, for example, but not limited to, star-shaped, circular, square, rhomboid, etc.

[0063] The outer body portion 301 may include one or more filling portions 306 extending from the inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 through the cavity 319 to the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313. The filling portions 306 may be cylindrical or other shapes. See below for reference. Figure 8 As shown, the filling portion 306 can fill the through hole 221 of the core component 200 to further enhance the connection between the core component 200 and the main structure 300.

[0064] As described, the head portion 110 is part of the main structure 300. The head portion 110 may include a recess for receiving a head plate having cleaning elements / bristles attached thereto, such as... Figure 7D and Figure 8 The best example shown is in the middle.

[0065] Reference Figures 8 to 10 Multiple cross-sections of the personal care appliance 100 are provided to illustrate the relationship between the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300 and the core component 200. As described above, Figure 9As best viewed from above, at least a portion of the core component 200 may include an I-beam-shaped cross-sectional area formed by the upper portion 210, lower portion 213, and beam portion 216 of the core component 200. In this exemplary embodiment, the second axial portion 230 and the third axial portion 231 of the core component 200 include I-beam-shaped cross-sectional areas. It should be understood that the personal care appliance 100 may continue to include I-beam-shaped cross-sectional areas when the outer body portion 301 covers the top of the core component 200. Thus, in one embodiment, a portion of the handle portion 120 of the personal care appliance 100 may include an I-beam-shaped cross-sectional area. In one embodiment, the main structure 300 and the core component 200 may be formed having, as Figures 8 to 10 The shape shown is a single, integrated, monolithic structure.

[0066] The outer body portion 301 may cover a portion of the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200. In one embodiment, the outer body portion 301 may cover the entirety of the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200, such that the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200 are concealed in the final assembled product. In this exemplary embodiment, the outer body portion 301 covers the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200, as well as the proximal end 201 and distal end 202 of the core component 200. However, in this exemplary embodiment, the first side 205 and the second side 206 of the core component are exposed through the first opening 321 and the second opening 322, making the first recess 207 and the second recess 208 visible to the user. The first connection feature 222A and the second connection feature 222B of the core component 200 may be covered by the outer body portion 301.

[0067] The inner surface 305 of the outer body portion 301 may be configured to contact at least a portion of the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200. In this exemplary embodiment, the inner surface 312 of the upper strip portion 310 is configured to contact the top surface 203 of the core component 200, and the inner surface 315 of the lower strip portion 313 is configured to contact the bottom surface 204 of the core component. As described above, the ribs 220A and 220B of the core component 200 may be nested within the channels 307 in the upper strip portion 310 and the lower strip portion 313.

[0068] As described above, the core component 200 may include a first through-hole 221A and a second through-hole 221B, each of which extends from the top surface 203 of the core component to the bottom surface 204 of the core component 200. The through-holes 221A and 221B may be in spatial or fluid communication with the aperture 219 of the core component 200. The filling portion 306 of the outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300 may extend into and through the first through-hole 221A and the second through-hole 221B, such that the first through-hole 221A and the second through-hole 221B are filled by the filling portion 306 of the outer body portion 301. Therefore, a portion of the filling portion 306 of the outer body portion 301 may be exposed to the aperture 219, making a portion of the filling portion 306 visible to a user peering into the aperture 219.

[0069] When the personal care appliance 100 is in an assembled state, the core component 200 and the outer body portion 301 can be configured to deflect into the aperture 219 of the core component 200 in response to a force applied to the handle portion 120 and the head portion 110 of the personal care appliance 100. In some embodiments, when the handle portion 120 is held in a fixed position, the applied force is an excessively downward force applied to the head portion 110. That is, if an excessively downward force is applied to the head portion 110, the personal care appliance 100 may bend at a position along the aperture 219, which can be used to indicate to the user that excessive pressure has been applied.

[0070] Reference Figure 11 The following describes a dental cleaning element 130 on the head portion 110 of a personal care appliance 100. In this exemplary embodiment, the plurality of dental cleaning elements 130 are bristles. The invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in some alternative embodiments, one or more dental cleaning elements or "clusters" of cleaning elements may be formed as sheets from an elastomeric material. The front surface 113 of the head portion 110 may include a peripheral portion 150 adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 110 and a central portion 151 surrounded by the peripheral portion 150. The plurality of dental cleaning elements 130 may include a plurality of peripheral bristle clusters 150 positioned on the peripheral portion 114 of the front surface 113 of the head portion 110 and a plurality of central bristle clusters 151 positioned on the central portion 115 of the front surface 113 of the head portion 110. The plurality of peripheral bristle clusters 150 may be arranged in a ring-like manner such that the peripheral bristle clusters 150 collectively surround the central bristle cluster 151.

[0071] A plurality of peripheral bristle tufts 150 may include one or more distal bristle tufts 152 positioned adjacent to the distal end 112 of the head portion 110 and one or more proximal bristle tufts 153 adjacent to the proximal end 111 of the head portion 110. One or more proximal bristle tufts 153 may collectively form a U-shape. One or more distal bristle tufts 152 may collectively form a U-shape.

[0072] In this exemplary embodiment, one or more distal bristle tufts 152 may include a central distal bristle tuft 160 positioned adjacent to the distal end 112 of the head portion 110, a first distal lateral tuft 161 positioned on one side of the central distal bristle tuft 160, and a second distal lateral tuft 162 positioned on the opposite side of the central distal bristle tuft 160. Each of the central distal bristle tuft 160, the first distal lateral tuft 161, and the second distal lateral tuft 162 may be arcuate, having a concave inner surface of a central portion 115 facing the front surface 113 of the head portion 110 and a convex outer surface facing the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 110.

[0073] In this exemplary embodiment, one or more proximal bristle tufts 153 may include a central proximal bristle tuft 163 positioned adjacent to the proximal end 111 of the head portion 110, a first proximal lateral tuft 164 positioned on one side of the central proximal bristle tuft 163, and a second proximal lateral tuft 165 positioned on the opposite side of the central proximal bristle tuft 163. Each of the central proximal bristle tuft 163, the first proximal lateral tuft 164, and the second proximal lateral tuft 165 may be arcuate, having a concave inner surface of the central portion 115 facing the front surface 113 of the head portion 110 and a convex outer surface facing the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 110.

[0074] The plurality of peripheral bristle tufts 150 may further include a first central peripheral bristle tuft 166 and a second central peripheral bristle tuft 167. The first central peripheral bristle tuft 166 may be located on a first side of the head axis AA, and the second central peripheral bristle tuft 167 may be located on a second side of the head axis AA. The first central peripheral bristle tuft 166 may be located between a first distal lateral tuft 161 and a first proximal lateral tuft 164. The second central peripheral bristle tuft 167 may be located between a second distal lateral tuft 162 and a second proximal lateral tuft 165. The first central peripheral bristle tuft 166 and the second central peripheral bristle tuft 167 may include a convex inner surface facing the head axis AA and a concave outer surface facing the outer peripheral edge of the head portion 110.

[0075] Therefore, the bristle clusters 160 to 167 of the peripheral bristle cluster 150 can collectively form a ring structure surrounding the central bristle cluster 151 and the central portion 115 of the front surface 113 of the head portion 110.

[0076] The plurality of central bristle tufts 151 may include a first bristle tuft 170, a second bristle tuft 171, and a third bristle tuft 172. The first bristle tuft 170 may have a first cross-sectional shape, the second bristle tuft 171 may have a second cross-sectional shape, and the third bristle tuft 172 may have a third cross-sectional shape. The first, second, and third cross-sectional shapes may be... Figure 11 The shape is visible in the image, such as when viewed from a top plan view. The third bristle tuft 172 may be axially positioned between the first bristle tuft 171 and the second bristle tuft 172, such that the third bristle tuft 172 is centrally located on the front surface 113 of the head portion 110. The first bristle tuft 170 may be partially surrounded by the distal bristle tuft 152, and the second bristle tuft 171 may be partially surrounded by the proximal bristle tuft 153. In some embodiments, the first bristle tuft 170 may extend along a first bristle axis, the second bristle tuft 171 may extend along a second bristle axis, and the third bristle tuft 172 may extend along a third bristle axis.

[0077] The first and second cross-sectional shapes may be identical to each other but rotated relative to each other. The first, second, and third cross-sectional shapes may be any shape known in the art, including circles, rectangles, stars, rings, hourglasses, pears, etc. In this exemplary embodiment, the first and second cross-sectional shapes are circles or arc segments, and the third cross-sectional shape is rectangular and elongated in the direction of the head axis AA. Specifically, the first and second cross-sectional shapes may be circles or arc segments. The first and second cross-sectional shapes may be arc segments, each including a linear portion 180 and an arcuate portion 181. The linear portions of the first and second cross-sectional shapes may face each other and may face the third bristle tuft 172. The third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft 172 may differ from the first cross-sectional shape of the first bristle tuft 170 and the second cross-sectional shape of the second bristle tuft 171. In one embodiment, the third cross-sectional shape may be an hourglass shape. The third bristle tuft 172 may include a concave first side surface 182 and a concave second side surface 183.

[0078] A first central bristle tuft 166 of a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts 150 can be positioned adjacent to a first side surface 182 of a third bristle tuft 172 of a plurality of central bristle tufts 151. The convex inner surface of the first central bristle tuft 166 can face the concave first side surface 182 of the third bristle tuft 172. A second central bristle tuft 167 of a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts 150 can be positioned adjacent to a second side surface 183 of the third bristle tuft 172 of a plurality of central bristle tufts 151. The convex inner surface of the second central bristle tuft 167 can face the concave second side surface 183 of the third bristle tuft 172.

[0079] A plurality of central bristle tufts 151 may collectively define the arrangement of a central cleaning element. The arrangement of the central cleaning elements may collectively have an hourglass shape. The invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the arrangement of the central cleaning elements may have different shapes, such as pear-shaped, ring-shaped, star-shaped, or elliptical arrangements, to name just a few. The arrangement of the central cleaning elements may include a bulbous distal portion (formed by the arcuate portion 181 of the first bristle tuft 170 of the plurality of central bristle tufts 151), a bulbous proximal portion (formed by the arcuate portion 181 of the second bristle tuft 171 of the plurality of central bristle tufts 151), and a non-bulb-shaped central portion (formed by the third bristle tuft 172 of the plurality of central bristle tufts 151) located between the bulbous proximal portion and the bulbous distal portion. In this exemplary embodiment, the outermost surface portions of the bulbous proximal and bulbous distal portions of the central cleaning element are positioned further away from the head axis AA than the outermost surface portion of the non-bulb central portion of the central cleaning element.

[0080] As used herein, it should be understood that a bristle tuft is an assembly of bristles or cleaning elements disposed within a single tuft opening in the head portion 110 of a personal care appliance 100.

[0081] Reference Figure 12 The head portion 110 may include a soft tissue cleaner 140 located on the posterior surface 116 of the head portion 110. In some embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner 140 may include a plurality of protrusions. In this exemplary embodiment, the soft tissue cleaner 140 is a tongue cleaning element comprising a plurality of small pieces 141 and at least one ridge 142. The plurality of small pieces 141 may be arranged in a circular group, and at least one ridge 142 may be arranged in a central region on the posterior surface 116 of the head portion 110. However, the specific arrangement and type of protrusions do not constitute a limitation on the invention in all embodiments. Thus, in other embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner 140 may include small pieces 141 but without ridges 142, or include ridges 142 but without small pieces 141, or include some other combination of elements designed to clean the tongue papillae protruding from the posterior surface 116 of the head portion 110. In some embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner 140 may be formed of the same material as the outer body portion. In this exemplary embodiment, the soft tissue cleaner 140 may be formed of an elastomeric material.

[0082] In some embodiments, the personal care appliance 100 of the present invention can be manufactured by injection molding. The injection molding method may include the following steps: (1) injection molding a core component 200 from a first hard plastic material, which may be transparent; and (2) injection molding a main structure 300 such that an outer body portion 301 of the main structure 300 is formed on the top surface 203 and bottom surface 204 of the core component 200, without covering the first side surface 205 and the second side surface 206 of the core component 200; and (3) extending the outer body portion 301 through and filling at least one through-hole 221 in the core component 200. The main structure 300 may be formed from a second hard plastic material or from a generally opaque material.

[0083] As used throughout, "range" is used as a shorthand to describe the individual values ​​within a range and each value. Any value within a range can be chosen as an endpoint of the range. Furthermore, all references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In the event of any conflict between the definitions in this disclosure and those in the cited references, the definitions in this disclosure shall prevail.

[0084] While the invention has been described with reference to specific examples including the currently preferred mode of implementation, those skilled in the art will understand that various variations and substitutions of the above-described system and techniques are possible. It should be understood that other embodiments can be utilized, and structural and functional modifications can be made, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should be interpreted broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

[0085] Exemplary Claims Set

[0086] Exemplary claim 1. A personal care appliance comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion including: a core component including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a hole extending from the first side surface to the second side surface; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but exposing the first side surface and the second side surface of the core component; and wherein both the core component and the outer body portion are formed of a rigid plastic material.

[0087] Exemplary claim 2. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 1, wherein the handle portion extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of the core component includes an I-beam shaped cross-sectional area.

[0088] Exemplary claim 3. A personal care device according to exemplary claim 1 or exemplary claim 2, wherein the handle portion extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the core component includes a distal axial portion, a proximal axial portion and a central axial portion located between the distal axial portion and the proximal axial portion, and wherein the central axial portion of the core component includes the hole.

[0089] Exemplary claim 4. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 3, wherein the distal axial portion and the proximal axial portion of the core component have an I-beam shape.

[0090] Exemplary claim 5. A personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 3 or exemplary claim 4, wherein the central axial portion of the core component comprises: a lower portion having an inner surface forming the bottom of the hole and an outer surface forming the bottom surface of the core component; and an upper portion having an inner surface forming the top of the hole and an outer surface forming the top surface of the core component; and wherein the outer body portion covers the outer surfaces of the lower portion and the upper portion of the core component.

[0091] Exemplary claim 6. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 5, wherein the outer body portion covers the entire outer surface of the lower portion and the upper portion of the core component, such that no part of the outer surface of the lower portion and the upper portion of the core component is exposed.

[0092] Exemplary claim 7. The personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 6, wherein the core component is transparent or translucent, and the outer body portion is opaque.

[0093] Exemplary claim 8. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 7, wherein the core component includes at least one through-hole extending from the top surface of the core component to the bottom surface of the core component, and wherein the outer body includes a filling portion filling the at least one through-hole of the core component.

[0094] Exemplary claim 9. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 8, wherein the through-hole is spatially coupled to the hole such that the filling portion of the outer body is exposed to the hole.

[0095] Exemplary claim 10. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 9, wherein the core component includes a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the outer body portion surrounds and covers the entire distal end and the proximal end of the core component.

[0096] Exemplary claim 11. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 10, wherein the handle portion extends along a longitudinal axis and the core component includes a rib projecting from the top surface of the core component, the rib being elongated along the longitudinal axis and nested within a channel in the outer body portion.

[0097] Exemplary claim 12. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 11, wherein the hole is elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the personal care appliance.

[0098] Exemplary claim 13. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 12, wherein the outer body portion includes an upper strip portion including an outer surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface; a lower strip portion including an outer surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, the inner surfaces of the upper strip portion and the lower strip portion being spaced apart from each other to define cavities open on opposite sides of the outer body portion, and wherein the core member is positioned within the cavities of the outer body portion.

[0099] Exemplary claim 14. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 13, wherein the outer body portion includes a top surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion and a bottom surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion, the outer body portion including a gripping feature protruding from at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

[0100] Exemplary claim 15. The personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 14 further includes a main structure, said main structure being an integral component of the outer body portion forming the handle portion and the head portion.

[0101] Exemplary claim 16. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 15, wherein the head portion includes a front surface and a rear surface, and further includes a plurality of bristles extending from the head portion.

[0102] Exemplary claim 17. A personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 16, wherein the head portion extends along a head axis, wherein the plurality of bristles includes a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion and a plurality of central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts surrounding the plurality of central bristle tufts, and wherein the plurality of central bristle tufts includes a first bristle tuft having a first cross-sectional shape extending along a first bristle axis; a second bristle tuft having a second cross-sectional shape having the same as the first cross-sectional shape extending along a second bristle axis; and a third bristle tuft having a third cross-sectional shape having a different from the first and second cross-sectional shapes extending along a third bristle axis, the third bristle tuft being located between the first bristle tufts and the second bristle tufts in the direction of the head axis.

[0103] Exemplary claim 18. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 17, wherein the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape are circular or arc segments, and wherein the third cross-sectional shape is rectangular, and the third bristle tuft is elongated in the direction of the head axis.

[0104] Exemplary claim 19. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 18, wherein the third cross-sectional shape includes a top side facing the first bristle tuft, a bottom side facing the second bristle tuft, and a first side side and a second side side extending between the top side and the bottom side side, wherein the first side side and the second side side are concave.

[0105] Exemplary claim 20. A personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 19, wherein the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts comprises: a first peripheral bristle tuft located on a first side of the head axis and aligned with a first side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft; and a second peripheral bristle tuft located on a second side of the head axis and aligned with a second side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft, the first peripheral bristle tuft and the second peripheral bristle tuft comprising convex inner surfaces facing a concave first side and a concave second side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft.

[0106] Exemplary claim 21. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 20, wherein the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts further comprises one or more proximal bristle tufts forming a U-shape at the proximal end adjacent to the head portion and one or more distal bristle tufts forming a U-shape at the distal end adjacent to the head portion.

[0107] Exemplary claim 22. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 21, wherein the core component and the outer body portion are configured to deflect into the orifice in response to a force applied to the handle portion and the head portion of the personal care appliance.

[0108] Exemplary claim 23. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 22, wherein the handle portion extends along a handle axis and wherein the core component includes a first recess in a first side and a second recess in a second side, the first recess and the second recess being elongated in the direction of the handle axis.

[0109] Exemplary claim 24. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 23, wherein the core component includes a lower portion having an inner surface, an upper portion having an inner surface, and at least one beam portion extending from the inner surface of the lower portion to the inner surface of the upper portion, the at least one beam portion including a first side surface recessed relative to a first side edge of the upper portion and the lower portion, and a second side surface recessed relative to a second side edge of the upper portion and the lower portion.

[0110] Exemplary claim 25. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 24, wherein the handle portion extends along a handle axis, and wherein the at least one beam portion includes a first beam portion and a second beam portion, the hole being axially located between the first beam portion and the second beam portion.

[0111] Exemplary claim 26. A personal care appliance comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion including: a core component including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a hole extending from the first side surface to the second side surface; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but exposing the first side surface and the second side surface of the core component; and wherein the core component and the outer body portion have different light transmittances.

[0112] Exemplary claim 27. A personal care appliance comprising: a main structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the main structure including an outer body portion of a handle portion, the outer body portion including a top surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion, a bottom surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a cavity extending from a first opening in the first side surface to a second opening in the second side surface; and a core component positioned within the cavity of the outer body portion, the core component including a first side surface, a second side surface, a first axial portion including a hole extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, and a second axial portion having an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region.

[0113] Exemplary claim 28. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 27, wherein the main structure and the core component have different light transmittance.

[0114] Exemplary claim 29. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 27 or exemplary claim 28, wherein both the main structure and the core component are formed of a rigid plastic material.

[0115] Exemplary claim 30. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 27 to 29, wherein the cavity, the first opening, the second opening, and the hole are elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0116] Exemplary claim 31. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 27 to 30, wherein the main structure includes a head portion integrally formed with the outer body portion of the handle portion.

[0117] Exemplary claim 32. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 27 to 31, wherein the core component includes a third axial portion having an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region, the first axial portion being axially located between the second axial portion and the third axial portion.

[0118] Exemplary claim 33. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 32, wherein the second axial portion is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the handle portion and has a first length, and the third axial portion is positioned adjacent to the proximal end of the handle portion and has a second length, the first length being greater than the second length.

[0119] Exemplary claim 34. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 33, wherein the first axial portion has a third length greater than the second length.

[0120] Exemplary claim 35. A personal care appliance comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; and a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during the performance of an oral care treatment function, the handle portion extending along a handle axis and including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first axial portion including an elongated hole extending from the first side surface to the second side surface in the direction of the handle axis, and a second axial portion including an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region.

[0121] Exemplary claim 36. The personal care appliance of exemplary claim 35 further includes a main structure forming an outer body portion of the head portion and the handle portion, the handle portion further including a core component positioned within a cavity of the outer body portion, wherein the core component is transparent or translucent, and the outer body portion is opaque.

[0122] Exemplary claim 37. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 36, wherein both the core component and the outer body portion are formed of a rigid plastic material.

[0123] Exemplary claim 38. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 35 to 37, wherein the handle portion further comprises a third axial portion, the third axial portion comprising an I-beam shaped cross-sectional region, the first axial portion being located between the second axial portion and the third axial portion.

[0124] Exemplary claim 39. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 35 to 38, wherein the handle portion further comprises an upper portion forming an upper boundary of the hole and a lower portion forming a lower boundary of the hole, the lower portion being configured to deflect into the hole in response to an excessively downward force applied to the head portion when the handle portion is held in a fixed position.

[0125] Exemplary claim 40. A personal care appliance comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during the performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis and comprising a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of dental cleaning elements extending from said front surface, said plurality of dental cleaning elements comprising: a plurality of central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of said front surface of said head portion, said plurality of central bristle tufts comprising a first bristle tuft having a first cross-sectional shape extending along a first bristle axis, a second bristle tuft having a second cross-sectional shape having the same as said first cross-sectional shape extending along a second bristle axis, and a third bristle tuft having a third cross-sectional shape having a different from said first cross-sectional shape and said second cross-sectional shape extending along a third bristle axis, said third bristle tufts being located between said first bristle tufts and said second bristle tufts in the direction of said head axis; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of said front surface of said head portion, said plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding said plurality of central bristle tufts.

[0126] Exemplary claim 41. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 40, wherein the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape are circles or arc segments.

[0127] Exemplary claim 42. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 41, wherein the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape are arc segments, such that each of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape includes a linear portion and an arc portion, the linear portion of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape facing the third bristle tuft.

[0128] Exemplary claim 43. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 40 to 42, wherein the third cross-sectional shape includes a top end facing the first bristle tuft, a bottom end facing the second bristle tuft, and a first side and a second side extending between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the first side and the second side are concave.

[0129] Exemplary claim 44. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 43, wherein the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts include a first peripheral bristle tuft located on a first side of the head axis and aligned with the first side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft, and a second peripheral bristle tuft located on a second side of the head axis and aligned with the second side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft, the first peripheral bristle tuft and the second peripheral bristle tuft including convex inner surfaces facing a concave first side and a second side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tuft.

[0130] Exemplary claim 45. A personal care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 40 to 44, wherein the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts comprises one or more proximal bristle tufts forming a U-shape proximally adjacent to the head portion and one or more distal bristle tufts forming a U-shape distally adjacent to the head portion, the one or more proximal bristle tufts at least partially surrounding the first bristle tuft, and the at least one distal bristle tuft at least partially surrounding the second bristle tuft.

[0131] Exemplary claim 46. A personal care appliance comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during the performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis including a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of dental cleaning elements extending from the front surface, the plurality of dental cleaning elements comprising: one or more central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the one or more central bristle tufts defining an arrangement of a central cleaning element having an hourglass shape; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding the arrangement of the central cleaning element.

[0132] Exemplary claim 47. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 46, wherein the arrangement of the central cleaning element includes a bulbous distal portion, a bulbous proximal portion, and a non-bulb-shaped central portion located between the bulbous distal portion and the bulbous proximal portion.

[0133] Exemplary claim 48. The personal care appliance according to exemplary claim 47, wherein the outermost surface portions of the bulbous proximal portion and the bulbous distal portion of the arrangement of the central cleaning element are positioned further away from the head axis than the outermost surface portion of the non-bulb central portion of the arrangement of the central cleaning element.

[0134] Exemplary claim 49. A method of manufacturing a personal care appliance, the method comprising: injection molding a core component from a first rigid plastic material, the core component including a hole extending from a first side surface of the core component to a second side surface of the core component, the core component including at least one through-hole extending from a front surface of the core component to a rear surface of the core component; and injection molding an outer body portion of a main structure onto a top surface and a bottom surface of the core component without covering the first side surface and the second side surface of the core component, the main structure being formed of a second rigid plastic material, the outer body portion extending through and filling the at least one through-hole in the core component.

[0135] Exemplary claim 50. The method according to exemplary claim 49, wherein the first hard plastic material is transparent or translucent, and the second hard plastic material is opaque.

[0136] Exemplary claim 51. The method according to exemplary claim 49, wherein at least a portion of the core component comprises an I-beam shape.

Claims

1. A personal care appliance comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion comprising: a core component comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and a bore extending from the first side to the second side; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but leaving the first side and the second side of the core component exposed; and wherein both the core component and the outer body portion are formed of a hard plastic material.

2. The personal care appliance of claim 1, wherein the handle portion extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of the core component comprises a cross-sectional area of an I-beam shape.

3. The personal care appliance of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the handle portion extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the core component comprises a distal axial portion, a proximal axial portion, and a central axial portion located between the distal axial portion and the proximal axial portion, and wherein the central axial portion of the core component comprises the bore.

4. The personal care appliance of claim 3, wherein the distal axial portion and the proximal axial portion of the core component have an I-beam shape.

5. The personal care appliance of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the central axial portion of the core component comprises: a lower portion having an inner surface forming a bottom of the bore and an outer surface forming the bottom surface of the core component; and an upper portion having an inner surface forming a top of the bore and an outer surface forming the top surface of the core component; and wherein the outer body portion covers the outer surface of the lower portion and the outer surface of the upper portion of the core component.

6. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core component is transparent or translucent, and the outer body portion is opaque.

7. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 67, wherein the core component comprises at least one through hole extending from the top surface of the core component to the bottom surface of the core component, and wherein an outer body comprises a fill portion filling the at least one through hole of the core component.

8. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bore is elongate in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the personal care appliance. an upper strip portion comprising an outer surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; 9. The personal care appliance of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the outer body portion comprises: a lower strip portion comprising an outer surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the inner surface of the upper strip portion and the inner surface of the lower strip portion being spaced apart from each other to define a cavity open on opposite sides of the outer body portion, and wherein the core component is positioned within the cavity of the outer body portion. ​ 10. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a main structure that is a unitary piece forming the outer body portion of the handle portion and the head portion.

11. The personal care implement of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the head portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and further comprising a plurality of bristles extending from the head portion, the head portion extending along a head axis, wherein the plurality of bristles comprises a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion and a plurality of central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts surrounding the plurality of central bristle tufts, and wherein the plurality of central bristle tufts comprises: first bristle tufts extending along a first bristle axis having a first cross-sectional shape; second bristle tufts extending along a second bristle axis having a second cross-sectional shape that is the same as the first cross-sectional shape; and third bristle tufts extending along a third bristle axis having a third cross-sectional shape that is different from the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape, the third bristle tufts being located between the first bristle tufts and the second bristle tufts in the direction of the head axis.

12. The personal care appliance of claim 11, wherein the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape are a circle or a circular arc segment, and wherein the third cross-sectional shape is a rectangle, the third bristle tufts being elongated in the direction of the head axis, wherein the third cross-sectional shape comprises a top side facing the first bristle tufts, a bottom side facing the second bristle tufts, and a first side and a second side extending between the top side and the bottom side, wherein the first side and the second side are concave.

13. The personal care appliance of claim 12, wherein the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts comprise: first peripheral bristle tufts located on a first side of the head axis and aligned with the first side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tufts; and second peripheral bristle tufts located on a second side of the head axis and aligned with the second side of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tufts, the first and second peripheral bristle tufts comprising convex inner surfaces facing the concave first and second sides of the third cross-sectional shape of the third bristle tufts.

14. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the core piece and the outer body portion are configured to deflect into the aperture in response to a force applied to the handle portion and the head portion of the personal care appliance.

15. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the handle portion extends along a handle axis, and wherein the core piece comprises a first recess in a first side and a second recess in a second side, the first and second recesses being elongated in the direction of the handle axis.

16. The personal care appliance of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the core piece comprises a lower portion having an inner surface, an upper portion having an inner surface, and at least one beam portion extending from the inner surface of the lower portion to the inner surface of the upper portion, the at least one beam portion comprising a first side surface that is recessed relative to a first side edge of the upper portion and the lower portion, and a second side surface that is recessed relative to a second side edge of the upper portion and the lower portion.

17. A personal care appliance comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user, the handle portion comprising: a core component comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side, a second side, and a bore extending from the first side to the second side; an outer body portion covering the top surface and the bottom surface of the core component but leaving the first side and the second side of the core component exposed; and wherein the core component and outer body component have different light transmittances.

18. A personal care implement comprising: a main structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the main structure comprising an outer body portion of a handle portion, the outer body portion comprising a top surface forming an outer top surface of the handle portion, a bottom surface forming an outer bottom surface of the handle portion, a first side, a second side, and a cavity extending from a first opening in the first side to a second opening in the second side; a core component positioned within the cavity of the outer body portion, the core component comprising a first side, a second side, a first axial portion comprising a bore extending from the first side to the second side, and a second axial portion having a cross-sectional area of an I-beam shape.

19. The personal care implement of claim 18, wherein at least one of: the main structure and the core component have different light transmittances; and the main structure and the core component are both formed of a hard plastic material.

20. The personal care implement of any one of claims 18 to 19, wherein the cavity, the first opening, the second opening, and the bore are elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

21. The personal care implement of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the core component comprises a third axial portion having a cross-sectional area of an I-beam shape, the first axial portion being axially positioned between the second axial portion and the third axial portion.

22. The personal care implement of claim 21, wherein the second axial portion is positioned adjacent a distal end of the handle portion and has a first length, and the third axial portion is positioned adjacent a proximal end of the handle portion and has a second length, the first length being greater than the second length, and wherein the first axial portion has a third length that is greater than the second length.

23. A personal care implement comprising: a head portion configured to perform a personal care treatment function; and a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of an oral care treatment function, the handle portion extending along a handle axis and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first axial portion comprising an elongated bore in the direction of the handle axis extending from the first side surface to the second side surface, and a second axial portion comprising a cross-sectional area of an I-beam shape.

24. A method of manufacturing a personal care implement, the method comprising: injection molding a core part from a first hard plastic material, the core part including a bore extending from a first side of the core part to a second side of the core part, the core part including at least one through-hole extending from a front surface of the core part to a back surface of the core part; and injection molding an outer body portion of a main structure onto a top surface and a bottom surface of the core part without covering the first side and the second side of the core part, the main structure formed from a second hard plastic material, the outer body portion extending through and filling the at least one through-hole in the core part.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the core part comprises an I-beam shape.

26. A personal care implement comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis, the head including a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements including: a plurality of central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of central bristle tufts including a first bristle tuft extending along a first bristle axis having a first cross-sectional shape, a second bristle tuft extending along a second bristle axis having a second cross-sectional shape that is the same as the first cross-sectional shape, and a third bristle tuft extending along a third bristle axis having a third cross-sectional shape that is different than the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape, the third bristle tuft being positioned between the first bristle tuft and the second bristle tuft in a direction of the head axis; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding the plurality of central bristle tufts.

27. A personal care implement comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a user during performance of a personal care treatment function; and a head extending along a head axis, the head including a head portion having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements including: one or more central bristle tufts positioned along a central portion of the front surface of the head portion, the one or more central bristle tufts defining an arrangement of central cleaning elements having an hourglass shape; and a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts positioned along a peripheral portion of the front surface of the head portion, the plurality of peripheral bristle tufts collectively surrounding the arrangement of central cleaning elements.

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