An abrasive mop is proposed which comprises a tube-like carrier element and is characterized by at least two annular abrasive mop segments, which are slid onto the carrier element and are connected to the carrier element by a connective medium.

A fin toothbrush includes a contoured neck and a back fin. The back fin moves soft tissue, such as the cheek or tongue of a user's mouth, thereby providing greater access to teeth when brushing. In one embodiment, the back fin is located at the back of the brush head and neck and extends in a direction that is opposite of the bristles. The back fin also has an elongated curved shape so as to provide a smooth surface to the tongue and soft tissues when brushing. When the toothbrush is positioned to brush the back teeth, the back fin pushes the cheek away from the teeth, thereby allowing the teeth to be easily cleaned. The toothbrush also includes a contoured neck, which provides space and relief to prevent the neck of the toothbrush from rubbing against soft tissues.

To provide method for manufacturing interdental cleaner configured to suppress leakage of elastomer from space for forming slip resistance portion in mold to outside of space in step of filling elastomer into mold. Method for manufacturing interdental cleaner includes first step of molding base portion having handle portion and shaft portion (40) by filling composite material into first mold, and second step of forming cleaning portion and slip resistance portion by filling elastomer into second mold (200) with the base portion situated in second mold (200). In first step, what is molded has handle portion including base (24), recessed portion (26), and bulge portion (28) bulging from surface of the recessed portion (26). In second step, cleaning portion and slip resistance portion are formed by filling elastomer into second space from portion of base portion distant from bulge portion (28) toward shaft portion (40).

To provide method for manufacturing interdental cleaner configured to suppress leakage of elastomer from space for forming slip resistance portion in mold to outside of space in step of filling elastomer into mold. Method for manufacturing interdental cleaner includes first step of molding base portion having handle portion and shaft portion (40) by filling composite material into first mold, and second step of forming cleaning portion and slip resistance portion by filling elastomer into second mold (200) with the base portion situated in second mold (200). In first step, what is molded has handle portion including base (24), recessed portion (26), and bulge portion (28) bulging from surface of the recessed portion (26). In second step, cleaning portion and slip resistance portion are formed by filling elastomer into second space from portion of base portion distant from bulge portion (28) toward shaft portion (40).

A system comprises a fully automated fabrication cell (20) for forming overmolded oral care implements. The cell (20) includes a cluster of process stations (21) including injection molding machines operable to first form oral care implement preforms and then overmold the preforms with an overlay to create fully formed oral care implement bodies. In one example, the overlay may be a flexible elastomeric or rubber material while the preform may comprise a more rigid plastic material. Transfer of the preforms and bodies between the process stations (21) is fully automated and performed by a computer-operated robot (40) having a jointed articulated arm. A grasping tool (60) disposed on an end of the arm (42) releasably engages and transports a plurality of preforms and/or bodies simultaneously. The tool provides two different methods for engaging and holding the toothbrush skeletons/bodies. A programmable controller (130) automatically controls the robotic arm (42)'s operation and movement.

To provide method for manufacturing interdental cleaner for suppressing elastomer from insufficiently filling into space around shaft portion in filling the elastomer into mold. Method for manufacturing interdental cleaner includes first step of molding base portion having handle portion and shaft portion (40) by filling composite material into first mold, and second step of forming cleaning portion, slip resistance portion and coupling portion by filling elastomer into second mold (200) from distal end portion side of shaft portion (40) with base portion situated in second mold (200), second mold (200) having second space for forming cleaning portion, slip resistance portion and coupling portion. What is used as second mold (200) in second step has ratio no less than 40% of a flow path area in second space for elastomer around distal end portion of handle portion to flow path area in second space for elastomer around proximal end portion of shaft portion (40).

To provide method for manufacturing interdental cleaner for suppressing elastomer from insufficiently filling into space around shaft portion in filling the elastomer into mold. Method for manufacturing interdental cleaner includes first step of molding base portion having handle portion and shaft portion (40) by filling composite material into first mold, and second step of forming cleaning portion, slip resistance portion and coupling portion by filling elastomer into second mold (200) from distal end portion side of shaft portion (40) with base portion situated in second mold (200), second mold (200) having second space for forming cleaning portion, slip resistance portion and coupling portion. What is used as second mold (200) in second step has ratio no less than 40% of a flow path area in second space for elastomer around distal end portion of handle portion to flow path area in second space for elastomer around proximal end portion of shaft portion (40).

A swab includes a core wire section having a proximal end and a distal end, an integral tip formed on the distal end, and at least one sleeve element received on the core wire section. The at least one sleeve element has a layer of fibers covering the sleeve and disposed on the at least one sleeve element by flocking, the layer of fibers being configured to absorb a quantity of a specimen in the layer of fibers.

A swab includes a core wire section having a proximal end and a distal end, an integral tip formed on the distal end, and at least one sleeve element received on the core wire section. The at least one sleeve element has a layer of fibers covering the sleeve and disposed on the at least one sleeve element by flocking, the layer of fibers being configured to absorb a quantity of a specimen in the layer of fibers.

Example aspects of a method of providing a cosmetic brush for use in the application of cosmetics are disclosed. The method can comprise the steps of extruding a plurality of elongate brush bristles each having a triangular transverse cross section, such that each of said elongate brush bristles defines three substantially parallel edges along the length of each of said the bristles; and combining said plurality of said bristles to provide a brush head configured for the application of cosmetics.