Oral care implement
An oral care implement having electrodes thereon. In one aspect, the oral care implement may include a handle and a head, the head having a front surface and an opposite rear surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements may extend from the front surface of the head. A soft tissue cleaner may be located on the rear surface of the head, the soft tissue cleaner including a protuberance field. A first electrode and a second electrode are each operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electrical charges. The first and second electrodes may be spaced apart from one another and substantially surround the protuberance field. In other embodiments, the first and second electrodes may be embedded within or otherwise located within the protuberance field.
1 . An oral care implement comprising:
a handle;
a head coupled to the handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and an exposed outer surface of the head, the exposed outer surface comprising a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a lateral surface extending between the first and second major surfaces;
a first elongated groove formed in the first major surface of the head, the first elongated groove being elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head;
a first electrode disposed within the first elongated groove; a second electrode on the head;
wherein each of the first and second electrodes is operably coupled to a power source; and
wherein the first electrode comprises an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the first major surface of the head
wherein the first elongated groove comprises a first width and a first depth, the first depth being measured between the first major surface of the head and an exposed of the first electrode, and wherein the first depth is greater than the first width.
2 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising a first row of tooth cleaning elements coupled to the head and arranged along a first axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head and a second row of tooth cleaning elements coupled to the head and arranged along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head, the first elongated groove and the first electrode being located between the first and second rows of tooth cleaning elements.
3 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first elongated groove comprises a contoured floor and an upstanding sidewall extending from the floor to the first major surface of the head, at least a portion of the upstanding sidewall being exposed.
4 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising a second elongated groove formed in the first major surface of the head, the second elongated groove being elongated in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head, and wherein the second electrode is disposed within the second elongated groove.
5 . The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein the second electrode comprises an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the first major surface of the head.
6 . The oral care implement according to claim 4 further comprising:
a first row of tooth cleaning elements coupled to the head and arranged along a first axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head;
a second row of tooth cleaning elements coupled to the head and arranged along a second axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head;
a third row of tooth cleaning elements coupled to the head and arranged along a third axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head;
wherein the first elongated groove and the first electrode are located between the first and second rows of tooth cleaning elements; and
wherein the second elongated groove and the second electrode are located between the second and third rows of tooth cleaning elements.
7 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 further comprising a second elongated groove that is elongated in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head being formed into the second major surface of the head, and wherein the second electrode is disposed within the second elongated groove.
8 . The oral care implement according to claim 7 wherein the first and second elongated grooves are axially offset from one another such that no plane that is perpendicular to the first major surface and the second major surface intersects both of the first and second elongated grooves.
9 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein all electrodes on the head are bounded axially by a distal-most cleaning element and a proximal-most cleaning element that extends from the head.
10 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein a ratio of the first depth to the first width is between 1.5:1 and 3:1.
11 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes is a sacrificial electrode.
12 . An oral care implement comprising:
a handle;
a head coupled to the handle, the head having an exposed outer surface;
a first depression formed in the exposed outer surface of the head;
a first electrode disposed within the first depression and comprising an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the exposed of the head;
a second electrode on the head;
each of the first and second electrodes operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electrical charges; and
wherein the first depression comprises a first width, the exposed surface of the first electrode is recessed a first depth from the exposed of the head, and wherein the first depth is greater than the first width.
13 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 wherein a ratio of the first depth to the first width is between 4:1 and 1:1.
14 . The oral care implement according to claim 13 wherein the ratio of the first depth to the first width is between 3:1 and 1.5:1.
15 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 wherein one of the first and second electrodes is a sacrificial electrode formed from zinc.