A head unit configured to couple to a handle of an electric toothbrush, wherein the handle generates vibrational energy transferred to the head unit, the head unit comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a base adjacent to the proximal end, an exterior wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the exterior encases a plurality of hollow chambers, wherein each of the plurality of hollow chambers are separated by a scaffold, wherein the scaffold connects to the exterior wall; and a bulb having an exterior surface configured to transfer the vibrational energy to an object.

An oral care implement including a handle and a replacement head that is detachably coupled to the handle. The oral care implement may include a handle having a longitudinal axis that includes a gripping portion and a stem extending from the gripping portion. The gripping portion may have a shoulder that circumferentially surrounds the stem and an annular rib protruding from the shoulder. The replacement head may have a sleeve portion terminating in a proximal edge that is formed from a resilient material. The replacement head may be detachably coupled to the handle so that the annular rib of the shoulder and the proximal edge of the sleeve portion that is formed of elastomeric material are in contact with one another.

An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis (26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y- and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.

An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis (26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y- and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.

A toothbrush (10) includes a brush assembly (16) with at least three bristle arrangements (12), each having opposing inwardly-directed bristles (122, 124, 126) for simultaneously contacting facial and lingual surfaces (52, 54), and preferably also occlusal surfaces (56) of the teeth (50). Flexible linkages (14), interconnecting the bristle arrangements (12), maintain a relative spacing between the bristle arrangements (12) while allowing variation of an effective curvature of the brush assembly (16) such that the bristle arrangements (12) can ride along, and conform to a non-uniform curvature of, the arch of teeth. The toothbrush (TO) preferably also includes an actuation mechanism (22) for generating to-and-fro motion of the brush assembly (16) along the arch of teeth, most preferably combined with a more rapid small-amplitude oscillatory motion.

An electrical appliance for personal care includes a handle with a longitudinal axis, and a plug-on part which can be attached to the handle, wherein a vibration unit having an electric motor and an eccentric element is arranged in the handle, wherein a plug-like coupling structure protrudes from the handle, which plug-like coupling structure forms an interface with a substantially mirror-inverted socket-like coupling structure of the plug-on part, wherein the interface has at least two stages with different circumferential geometry, wherein at least one of the stages has a rotation-preventing means between the handle and the plug-on part, and wherein a stop surface of the handle for the plug-on part extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

An electrical appliance for personal care includes a handle with a longitudinal axis, and a plug-on part which can be attached to the handle, wherein a vibration unit having an electric motor and an eccentric element is arranged in the handle, wherein a plug-like coupling structure protrudes from the handle, which plug-like coupling structure forms an interface with a substantially mirror-inverted socket-like coupling structure of the plug-on part, wherein the interface has at least two stages with different circumferential geometry, wherein at least one of the stages has a rotation-preventing means between the handle and the plug-on part, and wherein a stop surface of the handle for the plug-on part extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a longitudinal axis, a carrier element mounted for driven movement, a motion transmitter that has a first end for transferring a drive force to the carrier element, which first end is provided at a position being offset from the longitudinal axis, and the motion transmitter has a second end positioned essentially on on the longitudinal axis or is arranged for being positioned essentially on the longitudinal axis during operation, wherein the motion transmitter has a first coupling part comprising the first end, which first coupling part essentially extends along a centre axis arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second coupling part comprising the second end, which first coupling part is fixedly connected with a first connecting portion of an elastic pivot element that allows that the first coupling part and the second coupling part can pivot with respect to each other at least in a first pivoting plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by the centre axis, and wherein the first coupling part is made from a plastics material, including reinforced plastics materials, having a Young's modulus of at least 5000 MPa or from a metal material, and at least the first connecting portion, in particular the whole elastic pivot element, is made from a plastics material having a Young's modulus of not more than 3000 MPa, optionally of not more than 1000 MPa, further optionally of not more than 500 MPa.

The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a longitudinal axis, a carrier element mounted for driven movement, a motion transmitter that has a first end for transferring a drive force to the carrier element, which first end is provided at a position being offset from the longitudinal axis, and the motion transmitter has a second end positioned essentially on on the longitudinal axis or is arranged for being positioned essentially on the longitudinal axis during operation, wherein the motion transmitter has a first coupling part comprising the first end, which first coupling part essentially extends along a centre axis arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second coupling part comprising the second end, which first coupling part is fixedly connected with a first connecting portion of an elastic pivot element that allows that the first coupling part and the second coupling part can pivot with respect to each other at least in a first pivoting plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by the centre axis, and wherein the first coupling part is made from a plastics material, including reinforced plastics materials, having a Young's modulus of at least 5000 MPa or from a metal material, and at least the first connecting portion, in particular the whole elastic pivot element, is made from a plastics material having a Young's modulus of not more than 3000 MPa, optionally of not more than 1000 MPa, further optionally of not more than 500 MPa.

An oral care implement including a handle and a replacement head that is detachably coupled to the handle. The oral care implement may include a handle having a longitudinal axis that includes a gripping portion and a stem extending from the gripping portion. The gripping portion may have a shoulder that circumferentially surrounds the stem and an annular rib protruding from the shoulder. The replacement head may have a sleeve portion terminating in a proximal edge that is formed from a resilient material. The replacement head may be detachably coupled to the handle so that the annular rib of the shoulder and the proximal edge of the sleeve portion that is formed of elastomeric material are in contact with one another.