Bristle tuft assemblies and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. One disclosed bristle tuft assembly comprises a bristle tuft, a retention material and a support surface. The support surface is permeable to the retention material when the retention material is in a molten state. The retention material is fused into the support surface. The bristle tuft is connected to the support surface via the retention material.
A46B 3/06 - Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier by welding together bristles made of metal wires or plastic materials
A46B 5/04 - Brush bodiesHandles integral with brushware shaped as gloves or finger-stalls
A46B 5/06 - Brush bodiesHandles integral with brushware in the form of tapes, chains, flexible shafts, springs, or the like
A46B 9/04 - Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups for toothbrushes
A46D 3/04 - Machines for inserting or fixing bristles in bodies
A46B 3/02 - Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier by pitch, resin, cement, or other adhesives
This disclosure relates to oral care mouthpieces and methods of forming oral care mouthpieces. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a base shaped to a dental arch. The base elastically deforms in response to pressure variations in the mouthpiece, The mouthpiece also includes a set of one or more supports attached to the base and placed to allow the base to elastically deform in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of oral care elements attached to the set of one or more supports and placed to transmit pressure to the dental arch when the base elastically deforms in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece.
An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.
Bristle tuft assemblies and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. One disclosed bristle tuft assembly comprises a bristle tuft, a retention material and a support surface. The support surface is permeable to the retention material when the retention material is in a molten state. The retention material is fused into the support surface. The bristle tuft is connected to the support surface via the retention material.
A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.
B67B 7/86 - Cutting devices, i.e. devices including at least one cutting element having one or more cutting edges for piercing through the wall of a closed container, e.g. can openers with spout or means to deform or bend the material of the container to form a spout
A61C 17/00 - Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prosthesesSaliva removersDental appliances for receiving spittle
6.
Oral care implement substrates for oral care devices
This disclosure relates to oral care implements and device and their methods of manufacture. A disclosed oral care implement includes a substrate having a first mounting surface and a second surface which is different than the first mounting surface, and a plurality of oral care elements extending from the first mounting surface. The oral care elements each form at least one return path through the first mounting surface. The plurality of oral care elements are attached to the second surface.
This disclosure relates to oral care mouthpieces and methods of forming oral care mouthpieces. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a base shaped to a dental arch. The base elastically deforms in response to pressure variations in the mouthpiece, The mouthpiece also includes a set of one or more supports attached to the base and placed to allow the base to elastically deform in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of oral care elements attached to the set of one or more supports and placed to transmit pressure to the dental arch when the base elastically deforms in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece.
A46B 13/06 - Brushes with driven brush bodies power-driven with reservoir or other means for supplying substances with brush driven by the supplied medium
This disclosure relates to oral care appliances and methods of forming oral care appliances. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a flexible membrane and a set of oral care elements attached to the flexible membrane. The set of oral care elements have a composition with a hardness of at least 50 Shore Type A (shA). Each oral care elements in the set of oral care elements has a minimum stiffness value higher than 4 x 10-8newton meters and lower than 6 x 10-3 newton meters. The stiffness value and hardness of the oral care elements are both critical values for the disclosed appliances and methods. The stiffness value can be expressed as the product of the Young modulus of the oral care element and the moment of inertia of the oral care element divided by the length of the oral care element.
This disclosure relates to oral care mouthpieces and methods of forming oral care mouthpieces. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a base shaped to a dental arch. The base elastically deforms in response to pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of one or more supports attached to the base and placed to allow the base to elastically deform in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of oral care elements attached to the set of one or more supports and placed to transmit pressure to the dental arch when the base elastically deforms in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece.
A connecting element, a base unit and a cleaning head for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The connecting element is configured to engage operatively with the cleaning head and the base unit to form a first connection and a second connection respectively.
−3 newton meters. The stiffness value and hardness of the oral care elements are both critical values for the disclosed appliances and methods. The stiffness value can be expressed as the product of the Young modulus of the oral care element and the moment of inertia of the oral care element divided by the length of the oral care element.
A61C 7/00 - Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
A61C 17/02 - Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets
B29C 45/16 - Making multilayered or multicoloured articles
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
B29C 45/00 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mouldApparatus therefor
A46D 1/00 - BristlesSelection of materials for bristles
This disclosure relates to oral care mouthpieces and methods of forming oral care mouthpieces. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a base shaped to a dental arch. The base elastically deforms in response to pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of one or more supports attached to the base and placed to allow the base to elastically deform in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of oral care elements attached to the set of one or more supports and placed to transmit pressure to the dental arch when the base elastically deforms in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece.
An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.
A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.
B67B 7/20 - Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for breaking vacuum seals between lids or covers and bodies of preserving jars, e.g. by wedge action
B67B 7/86 - Cutting devices, i.e. devices including at least one cutting element having one or more cutting edges for piercing through the wall of a closed container, e.g. can openers with spout or means to deform or bend the material of the container to form a spout
A61C 17/00 - Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prosthesesSaliva removersDental appliances for receiving spittle
19.
Oral care appliance and a method for controlling pressure therein
An oral care appliance and a method of controlling pressure in the oral care appliance are disclosed. The pressure inside a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance is controlled by an actuator. The actuator is triggered when a targeted threshold value of an operational characteristic is reached. Automatic control of the pressure in the mouthpiece enhances both cleaning efficiency and user comfort.
An oral care appliance and a method of controlling pressure in the oral care appliance are disclosed. The pressure inside a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance is controlled by an actuator. The actuator is triggered when a targeted threshold value of an operational characteristic is reached. Automatic control of the pressure in the mouthpiece enhances both cleaning efficiency and user comfort.
An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.
A46B 5/00 - Brush bodiesHandles integral with brushware
A46B 13/06 - Brushes with driven brush bodies power-driven with reservoir or other means for supplying substances with brush driven by the supplied medium
A46B 15/00 - Other brushesBrushes with additional arrangements
A61C 17/22 - Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups or the like
A61C 17/02 - Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets
22.
Connecting element, a base unit and a cleaning head for use in an oral care appliance
A connecting element, a base unit and a cleaning head for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The connecting element is configured to engage operatively with the cleaning head and the base unit to form a first connection and a second connection respectively.
This disclosure relates to an oral care appliance and a method for use in oral care for cleaning the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece forming a closed or nearly closed cavity. The mouthpiece is adapted to deform in response to pressure variations inside the cavity and create an action on the teeth. This disclosure includes a description of depression chambers and associated methods that can contribute to the operation of the oral care appliance by affecting the aforementioned pressure variations.
A cartridge and method to authorize and adjust the operation of an oral care appliance are disclosed. The oral care appliance along with the cartridge may be used for cleaning, whitening, removing plaque, or in other general oral care applications for providing oral care hygiene.
A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.
An oral care appliance and a method of use are disclosed. The oral care appliance includes a mouthpiece with one or more enclosed compartments between an outer surface and an inner surface of the mouthpiece. The inner surface comprises at least one flexible membrane surrounding the one or more enclosed compartments. The oral care appliance also includes a control unit configured to regulate pressure variations in the one or more enclosed compartments to deform the flexible membrane and thereby perform an oral care action.
A connecting element, a base unit and a cleaning head for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The connecting element is configured to engage operatively with the cleaning head and the base unit to form a first connection and a second connection respectively.
An oral care appliance in which a cleaning agent is injected from a supply tank and a method for use of such an appliance in oral care for the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece is disclosed herein.
A mixing system adapted for installation within an oral care appliance and a method of preparing an oral care composition to be delivered to a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Some of the disclosed systems and methods allow for the generation of an on-demand oral care composition for use in dental cleaning.
An oral care appliance to provide oral care treatment and to analyze a liquid from the oral cavity of the user is disclosed. A method of using the oral care appliance for analyzing the liquid to adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on the analysis is also disclosed.
A mixing system adapted for installation within an oral care appliance and a method of preparing an oral care composition to be delivered to a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Some of the disclosed systems and methods allow for the generation of an on-demand oral care composition for use in dental cleaning.
A cartridge and method to authorize and adjust the operation of an oral care appliance are disclosed. The oral care appliance along with the cartridge may be used for cleaning, whitening, removing plaque, or in other general oral care applications for providing oral care hygiene.
B08B 3/04 - Cleaning involving contact with liquid
A46B 11/00 - Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
A46B 15/00 - Other brushesBrushes with additional arrangements
B65D 85/00 - Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
A61C 17/22 - Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups or the like
33.
Method of injecting a cleaning agent and associated oral care appliance
An oral care appliance in which a cleaning agent is injected from a supply tank and a method for use of such an appliance in oral care for the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece is disclosed herein.
A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.
B67B 7/20 - Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers for breaking vacuum seals between lids or covers and bodies of preserving jars, e.g. by wedge action
B67B 7/86 - Cutting devices, i.e. devices including at least one cutting element having one or more cutting edges for piercing through the wall of a closed container, e.g. can openers with spout or means to deform or bend the material of the container to form a spout
A61C 17/00 - Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prosthesesSaliva removersDental appliances for receiving spittle
An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.
This disclosure relates to an oral care appliance and a method for use in oral care for cleaning the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece forming a closed or nearly closed cavity. The mouthpiece is adapted to deform in response to pressure variations inside the cavity and create an action on the teeth. This disclosure includes a description of depression chambers and associated methods that can contribute to the operation of the oral care appliance by affecting the aforementioned pressure variations.
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously cleaning multiple teeth, such as one or both dental arches. The Dental Cleaning Apparatus (DCA) includes a cleaning engine enclosed in a main housing, a fluid tube, and a mouthpiece. The cleaning engine includes a fluid circuit having a number of pumps and solenoid valves, and a programmable controller to control the solenoid valves and other operations. The fluid tube includes a number of separate tubes for injection and evacuation of cleaning fluid from the interior of mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is generally made from a flexible and supple material, such as silicone, and may have bristles of various shapes. The cleaning engine alternates the mouthpiece between a relaxation state and a contraction state to effectively scrub the surface of all enclosed teeth simultaneously. It may automatically learn and adjust the vacuum pressure needed for each user to optimize cleaning.
patents
