US 12,458,479 B2
Oral care implement and handle thereof
Jiang Zhou, Yangzhou (CN); Yanmei Ji, Jiangsu (CN); and Tonny He, Yangzhou (CN)
Assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, NY (US)
Appl. No. 18/256,714
Filed by Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, NY (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 10, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CN2020/135086
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/120671, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0041580 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. A61C 17/22 (2006.01); A46B 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 17/227 (2013.01) [A46B 15/0012 (2013.01); A61C 17/221 (2013.01); A61C 17/222 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An oral care implement handle comprising:
a gripping portion having a housing defining an internal chamber and a distal end surface;
a rocker unit comprising:
a stem extending from the distal end surface of the gripping portion and configured to be detachably coupled to an oral care refill head;
a motor operably coupled to the stem to impart movement to the stem, the motor having a motor axis; and
a motor chassis supporting the motor and comprising a contact element; and
a power source positioned within the internal chamber;
a control unit operably coupled to the motor and the power source, the control unit comprising an actuator element, the control unit configured to initiate generation of a user perceptible signal upon the actuator element being actuated; and
a first resilient element operably coupled to the motor chassis that biases the rocker unit into a normal position;
the rocker unit pivotably mounted within the internal chamber so as to be pivotable relative to the housing about a fixed pivot axis so that upon a pressure being applied to the oral care refill head that exceeds a pressure threshold, the bias of the first resilient element is overcome and the rocker unit is altered from the normal position to an excessive pressure position in which the contact element actuates the actuator element.