Patent Publication Number: US-2021161283-A1

Title: Oral care implement

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Toothbrushes and other oral care products are typically manufactured out of plastic. Toothbrushes are only intended to be used for approximately three months, after which they are discarded. Because basically everyone uses a toothbrush, this adds a large amount of plastic to our landfills and oceans Plastic is a material that is made to last forever. As a result, plastic cannot biodegrade and instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time. As plastic sits in landfills, toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans and animals leach out. There is a current trend in many industries to move away from plastic as a material for product manufacture or to reduce the amount of plastic that is used to manufacture the product. Thus, there is a continuing need to find alternative techniques for reducing the amount of plastic used in the manufacture of toothbrushes and other oral care implements and/or personal care implements. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention may be directed to an oral care implement having a head and a handle. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from an exposed front surface of the head. The handle has an open thumb gripping passageway extending between an exposed first surface of the handle and an exposed second surface of the handle opposite the exposed first surface. The handle also has a plurality of slots defining open slot passageways from the exposed first surface of the handle to the exposed second surface of the handle. The open thumb gripping passageway may be defined by an elastomeric ring portion that is fitted into an aperture in a rigid base component. The open thumb gripping passageway may be a void space in the handle. The open slot passageways may be elongated along the handle and may serve to reduce a total amount of virgin material needed to manufacture the oral care implement. 
     In one aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from an exposed front surface of the head; a handle extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the head coupled to the distal end of the handle, the handle comprising: a neck region comprising the distal end; and a palm gripping region comprising the proximal end, the palm gripping region comprising: a plurality of elongated longitudinal slots defining open slot passageways from an exposed front surface of the handle to an exposed rear surface of the handle; and a plurality of longitudinal beams, wherein adjacent ones of the longitudinal beams are separated by one of the plurality of elongated longitudinal slots, each of the longitudinal beams having a transverse cross-section comprising: (1) a maximum height, measured along a height axis extending from the exposed front surface of the handle to the exposed rear surface of the handle; and (2) a maximum width, measured along a width axis that is perpendicular to the height axis, the maximum height being greater than the maximum width. 
     In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from an exposed front surface of the head; a handle formed of one or more materials having a material volume and comprising a plurality of voids collectively defining a void volume; and wherein a ratio of the void volume to the material volume is greater than or equal to 0.25:1.0. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a handle extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the handle having a length measured from the proximal end to the distal end and a palm gripping region extending from the proximal end to a midpoint along the length, the palm gripping region comprising: a left-side longitudinal beam comprising a portion of an exposed left-side surface of the handle, a right-side longitudinal beam comprising a portion of an exposed right-side surface of the handle, and at least one middle longitudinal beam disposed between the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams; and a first elongated slot defining a first open slot passageway from an exposed front surface of the handle to an exposed rear surface of the handle, the first elongated slot located between the left-side longitudinal beam and the middle longitudinal beam; and a second elongated slot defining a second open slot passageway from the exposed front surface of the handle to the exposed rear surface of the handle, the second elongated slot located between the right-side longitudinal beam and the middle longitudinal beam. 
     In a further aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from an exposed front surface of the head; a handle extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the head coupled to the distal end of the handle, the handle comprising: a neck region comprising the distal end; a palm gripping region comprising the proximal end; and a thumb gripping region located between the neck and palm gripping regions, the thumb gripping region comprising a ring portion of a body component formed of a first material, a ring component formed of a second material coupled to the ring portion of the body component, and an open thumb gripping passageway extending from an exposed front surface of the handle to an exposed rear surface of the handle; and wherein the ring component and the body component of the thumb gripping region both form portions of an exposed outer surface of the handle; and wherein the first and second materials are different from one another in at least one characteristic selected from color, texture, and rigidity. 
     In a still further aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a handle comprising: a body component formed of a first material, the body component comprising: a neck region; a palm gripping region; and a thumb gripping region located between the neck and palm gripping regions, the body component comprising an aperture along the thumb gripping region that extends from an opening in a front surface of the body component of the handle to an opening in a rear surface of the body component of the handle; and a ring component formed of a second material and coupled to the body component, the ring component comprising: an annular wall portion located within the aperture of the body component, the annular wall portion having an inner surface that defines an open thumb gripping passageway that extends from an exposed front surface of the handle to an exposed rear surface of the handle; and a front annular flange covering a first portion of the front surface of the body component and protruding from an exposed portion of the front surface of the body component. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: a head; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from an exposed front surface of the head; and a handle comprising: an open thumb gripping passageway extending between an exposed first surface of the handle and an exposed second surface of the handle opposite the exposed first surface; and a plurality of slots defining open slot passageways from the exposed first surface of the handle to the exposed second surface of the handle, first and second slots of the plurality of slots separated from one another by a middle longitudinal beam that forms a continuous and uninterrupted portion of the exposed first surface of the handle and a continuous and uninterrupted portion of the exposed second surface of the handle. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an oral care implement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the oral care implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the oral care implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the oral care implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the oral care implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a close-up view of area VII of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up view of area VIII of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a close-up view of area X of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top,” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  concurrently, an oral care implement  100  will be described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement  100  is a manual toothbrush. However, the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the oral care implement  100  can take on other structural forms, including being a powered toothbrush, a tongue scraper, a gum and soft tissue cleanser, a water pick, an interdental device, a tooth polisher, a specially designed ansate implement having tooth engaging elements, or any other type of implement that is commonly used for oral care. Furthermore, in still other embodiments the implement may not be specifically used for oral care, but could instead be a personal care implement which includes the various types of oral care implements noted herein and also includes hairbrushes, razors, body scrubbers, skin treatment devices, or the like. Thus, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts discussed herein can be applied to any type of oral care implement or personal care implement unless a specific type of implement is specified in the claims. 
     The oral care implement  100  generally comprises a head  110  and a handle  120 . The handle  120  is an elongated structure that is gripped by a user during use of the oral care implement  100 . Specifically, a user wraps his/her hand around the handle  120  to manipulate the oral care implement  100  during use in order to brush teeth or perform other operations with the oral care implement  100 . The handle  120  of the oral care implement  100  has a specific design that results in a reduction in plastic material used to form the oral care implement  100  to address environmental concerns related to the use of plastic. Thus, the handle  120  has voids or recesses or slots, described in detail below, to facilitate this reduction in plastic material while having a design that ensures that the structural integrity of the oral care implement  100  is maintained. 
     The head  110  of the oral care implement  100  has an exposed front surface  111  and an exposed rear surface  112  opposite the exposed front surface  111 . There are a plurality of tooth cleaning elements  105  extending from the exposed front surface  111  of the head  110 . In the exemplified embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements  105  comprises a plurality of bristle tufts  106  and a plurality of elastomeric cleaning elements  107 . The bristle tufts  106  and the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  collectively form a cleaning element field on the head  110 . The particular arrangement and/or pattern and/or location of the various bristle tufts  106  and elastomeric cleaning elements  107  is not to be limiting of the present invention in all embodiments. Thus, the bristle tufts  106  and the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  could be positioned at locations other than that which is depicted in the drawings. Furthermore, in some embodiments the oral care implement  100  may include only bristle tufts  106  and none of the elastomeric cleaning elements  107 . Thus, various permutations of the plurality of tooth cleaning elements  105  are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. 
     Furthermore, where it does not conflict with the other disclosure provided herein or the claims, it should be appreciated that the term “tooth cleaning elements” may be used in a generic sense to refer to any structure that can be used to clean, polish, or wipe the teeth and/or soft oral tissue (e.g. tongue, cheek, gums, etc.) through relative surface contact. Common examples of “tooth cleaning elements” include, without limitation, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomeric protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof, and/or structures containing such materials or combinations. Thus, any combination of these tooth cleaning elements may be used within the tooth cleaning element field in some embodiments. Furthermore, where bristles are used for one or more of the tooth cleaning elements  105 , such bristles can be tapered, end-rounded, spiral, or the like. 
     In embodiments that use elastomeric materials to form one or more of the tooth cleaning elements  105 , suitable elastomeric materials may include any biocompatible resilient material suitable for uses in an oral hygiene apparatus. To provide optimum comfort as well as cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of any such tooth cleaning element may have a hardness property in the range of A10 to A70 Shore hardness in one embodiment, or A8 to A25 Shore hardness in another embodiment. One suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS Corporation. Nevertheless, SEBS material from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the noted hardness range could be used. 
     The tooth cleaning elements  105  may be coupled to the head  110  in any manner known in the art, including staples, in-mold tufting (IMT), anchor-free tufting (AFT), or a modified AFT known as AMR. In the exemplified embodiment, the bristle tufts  106  are secured to the head using staples/anchors and the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  are secured to the head  110  via an injection molding process, as will be described further below with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . 
     The handle  120  of the oral care implement  100  extends along a longitudinal axis A-A from a proximal end  121  to a distal end  122 . The head  110  is coupled to the handle  120  at the distal end  122  of the handle  120 . In the exemplified embodiment, the head  110  and the handle  120  are integrally formed as a unitary and monolithic structure. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment the head  110  is not detachable from the handle  120 . However, in other embodiments the head  110  and the handle  120  may be separately formed and later coupled together. In some embodiments, the head  110  may be detachably coupled to the handle  120  such that the head  110  is a refill head that can be replaced upon deterioration of the tooth cleaning elements  105 . 
     The handle  120  comprises a neck region  123  that comprises the distal end  122 , a palm gripping region  124  that comprises the proximal end  121 , and a thumb gripping region  125  located between the neck region  123  and the palm gripping region  124 . The palm gripping region  124  is the region of the handle  120  that a user&#39;s palm and fingers (generally the pinky, ring finger, and middle finger) wraps around during normal use. The thumb gripping region  125  is the region that a user&#39;s thumb (and index/pointer finger) rests upon during use. The neck region  123  is the region that connects the handle  120  to the head  110 . 
     More specifically, the handle  120  may have a length L measured from the proximal end  121  to the distal end  122 . The palm gripping region  124  may be the region of the handle  120  extending from the proximal end  121  to a distance that is approximately one-half (i.e., between 40% and 60%) of the length L of the handle  120 . The neck region  123  may be the region of the handle  120  extending from the distal end  122  to a distance that is approximately one-quarter (i.e., between 15% and 35%) of the length L of the handle  120 . The thumb gripping region  125  is the remaining region of the handle  120  that is located between the neck region  123  and the palm gripping region  124 . As used in relation to the various regions of the handle  120 , the term approximately includes a distance/length that is plus or minus 10% from the measurement noted herein (thus, for example, the palm gripping region  124  may have a length that is between 40% and 60% of the length L, the neck region  123  may have a length that is between 15% and 35% of the length L, and the thumb gripping region  125  may be the remaining region of the handle  120 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , in the exemplified embodiment the oral care implement  100  comprises a body component  101  and an elastomeric component  102 . The body component  101  is formed of a hard plastic and the elastomeric component  102  is formed of an elastomeric material. The hard plastic may be, for example without limitation, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or the like in various different embodiments. The elastomeric material may be, for example without limitation, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, silicone, or the like. In the exemplified embodiment, the body component  101  forms the entirety of the palm gripping region  124  of the handle  120  whereas the body component  101  and the elastomeric component  102  collectively form the neck region  123  and the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  120  as well as the head  110 . 
     The body component  101  comprises a head portion  180  and a handle portion  185 . The head portion  180  of the body component  101  has a front surface  181  that forms the front surface  111  of the head  120  and a rear surface  182  that may form a portion of the rear surface  112  of the head  110 . As will be discussed below, the elastomeric portion  102  may cover a portion of the rear surface  182  of the head portion  180  of the body component  101  to form a tongue or soft tissue cleaner of the oral care implement  100 . 
     The elastomeric component  102  comprises an elastomeric ring portion  109 , an elastomeric cleaning element portion  115 , and an elastomeric connector portion  116  extending between the elastomeric ring portion  109  and the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115 . In the exemplified embodiment, the elastomeric component  102  is an integral and monolithic component formed via a single shot injection molding technique (although multiple shots could be used in other embodiments to modify color, texture, softness, or the like of the elastomeric component  102 ). Thus, the elastomeric component  102  is formed as an integral mass of elastomeric material in the exemplified embodiment. In other embodiments, the various portions of the elastomeric component  102  could be formed as separate injection molding shots and they may be separated from one another. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  120  comprises the elastomeric ring portion  109 , the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115  is located on and/or forms a part of the head  110 , and the elastomeric connector portion  116  extends along the neck region  123  to connect the elastomeric ring portion  109  to the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115  comprises a tongue cleaner  190  having a pad portion  191  having a front surface  192  and a rear surface  193 , a plurality of tongue cleaning protrusions  194  extending from the rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191 , and the plurality of elastomeric cleaning elements  107  extending from the front surface  192  of the pad portion  191 . The pad portion  191  is located on the rear surface  182  of the head portion  180  of the body component  101 . The rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191  forms at least a portion of the rear surface  112  of the head  110  (with the rear surface  182  of the head portion  180  of the body component  101  forming the rest of the rear surface  112  of the head  110  in embodiments where the rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191  does not form the entirety of the rear surface  112  of the head  110 ). In that regard, in the exemplified embodiment the head  110  is formed by the head portion  180  of the body component  101  and the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115  of the elastomeric component  102  which is coupled to the head portion  180  of the body component  101 . The rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191  is disposed within a recess formed into the rear surface  182  of the head portion  180  of the body component  101  so that the rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191  is flush with the rear surface  182  of the head portion  180  in the exemplified embodiment. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the tongue cleaning protrusions  194  comprise a plurality of nubs and a plurality of ridges arranged in alternating arcuate rows along the pad portion  191  (best illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). However, the particular arrangement and style of the tongue cleaning protrusions  194  is not to be limiting of the invention in all embodiments. Thus, in other embodiments the tongue cleaning protrusions  194  could comprise nubs but no ridges, or ridges but no nubs, or some other combination of elements protruding from the rear surface  193  of the pad portion  191  designed to clean that papillae of the tongue. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the head portion  180  of the body component  101  comprises a plurality of passageways  183  extending through the thickness of the head portion  180  from the front surface  181  to the rear surface  182 . The elastomeric cleaning elements  107  of the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115  of the elastomeric component  102  extend through the passageways  183  in the head portion  180 . Specifically, the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  extend from the front surface  192  of the pad portion  191 , through the passageways  183  in the head portion  180  of the body component  101 , and then protrude from the front surface  111  of the head  110  (which is formed by the front surface  181  of the head portion  180  of the body component  101 ). The bristle tufts  106  are also illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  as being disposed within tuft holes  184  in the head portion  180  of the body component  101 . Thus, the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  and the bristle tufts  106  all protrude from the front surface  111  of the head  110  for contact with and cleaning of the teeth and other oral surfaces. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  will be further described. The elastomeric tooth cleaning elements  107  have a cylindrical base portion  170  and a wedge-shaped tip portion  171 . The cylindrical base portion  170  tapers as it extends from the front surface  111  of the head  110  towards a distal end  172  of the elastomeric tooth cleaning element  107 . The elastomeric cleaning elements  107  taper more significantly along the wedge-shaped tip portion to the distal end  172  to create the wedge shape thereof. The cylindrical base portion  170  maintains a strong base for the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  that minimizes their flexibility slightly, while the wedge-shaped tip portion  171  facilitates a wiping action on the teeth with the elastomeric cleaning elements  107  during use. 
     Referring briefly to  FIGS. 1-3 and 6 , the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  120  comprises an open thumb grip passageway  130 . Thus, in its final manufactured state at which point it is ready for packaging and retail sale and/or use by a consumer, there is an aperture formed through the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  120 . The open thumb grip passageway  130  extends from a front opening  131  in an exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to a rear opening  132  in an exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . The open thumb grip passageway  130  is left as a void space and it is not filled with any material. This results in a reduction in material used to form the oral care implement  100  as compared to conventional oral care implements that do not include such an empty void space. As a user rests his/her thumb on the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  120 , portions of the thumb may extend through the front opening  131  of the open thumb grip passageway  130 , depending on how much pressure is being applied by the thumb. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the oral care implement  100  in its final assembled and manufactured state in a package  300 , which is illustrated generically. Thus, stated another way,  FIG. 1  illustrates a packaged oral care implement  1000  that comprises the package  300  and the oral care implement  100  contained in the package  300 . The package  300  may be any container, blister pack, box, or the like intended to contain the oral care implement  100  prior to it being opened by a consumer. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 , the thumb gripping region  125  and the open thumb grip passageway  130  thereof will be further described. The thumb gripping region  125  comprises a ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 , the elastomeric ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102 , and the open thumb grip passageway  130  which, as discussed above, extends from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . As described further below, the elastomeric ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  and the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  both form portions of the exposed front and rear surfaces  126 ,  127  of the handle  120 . 
     The ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  comprises an inner surface  200 , an outer surface  201 , a front surface  202 , and a rear surface  203 . The outer surface  201  forms a portion of an exposed left-side surface  204 A of the handle  120  and a portion of an exposed right-side surface  204 B of the handle  120 . Thus, the outer surface  201  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  is at least partially exposed (i.e., not covered by the elastomeric component  102  or any other component). The inner surface  200  defines or faces an aperture  205  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed through the body component  101 . 
     The front surface  202  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  comprises a recessed portion  206  and an elevated portion  207 . Similarly, the rear surface  203  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  comprises a recessed portion  208  and an elevated portion  209 . The recessed portions  206 ,  208  may be ring-shaped in some embodiments and they are recessed or sunken relative to the elevated portions  207 ,  209 . The ring-shaped recessed portions  206 ,  208  are portions of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  that are immediately adjacent to the inner surface  200 . The elevated portions  207 ,  209  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  form portions of the exposed front and rear surfaces  126 ,  127  of the handle  110  while the recessed portions  206 ,  208  are covered and therefore not exposed. 
     The elastomeric ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  is disposed within the aperture  205  of the body component  101 . More specifically, the elastomeric ring portion  109  comprises an annular wall portion  210  that abuts against and covers the inner surface  200  of the ring portion  186 , a front annular flange  211  that covers or overlies the recessed portion  206  on the front surface  202  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 , and a rear annular flange  212  that covers or overlies the recessed portion  208  on the rear surface  203  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 . 
     The front annular flange  211  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  circumscribes the open thumb grip passageway  130  and forms a portion of the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120 . The rear annular flange  212  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  circumscribes the open thumb grip passageway  130  and forms a portion of the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . Furthermore, the front annular flange  211  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  protrudes from the elevated portion  126  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 . The rear annular flange  212  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  protrudes from the elevated portion  127  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 . Stated another way, the front annular flange  211  extends beyond or sticks out past the elevated portion  126  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  and the rear annular flange  212  extends beyond or sticks out past the elevated portion  127  of the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101 . Thus, when a user places his/her thumb on the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  110 , the thumb contacts the elastomeric ring portion  109  before contacting the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  (if it contacts the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  at all). This makes the thumb gripping region  125  soft to the touch to provide a comfortable brushing experience for the user. 
     Thus, the elastomeric ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  and the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  each form a portion of the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  along the thumb gripping region  125  and a portion of the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120  along the thumb gripping region  125 . The portion of the elastomeric ring portion  109  that forms a portion of the exposed front and rear surface  126 ,  127  of the handle  120  along the thumb gripping region  125  is elevated relative to (or protrudes from or protrudes relative to) the portion of the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  that forms a portion of the exposed front and rear surfaces  126 ,  127  of the handle  120  along the thumb gripping region  125 . 
     Due to the elastomeric ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  sticking out past the ring portion  186  of the body component  101 , a user&#39;s thumb and index finger may only contact the elastomeric ring portion  109  during use, which will enhance the user&#39;s comfort during use of the oral care implement  100 . The elastomeric ring portion  109  comprises a top surface  260  and a bottom surface  261  that are elevated relative to the elevated portions  207 ,  209  of the front and rear surfaces  206 ,  208  of the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  which are immediately adjacent to the elastomeric ring portion  109 . Furthermore, the elastomeric ring portion  109  comprises an upper outer surface  262  that extends from the top surface  260  to the elevated portion  207  of the front surface  206  of the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  and a lower outer surface  263  that extends from the bottom surface  261  to the elevated portion  209  of the rear surface  207  of the ring portion  186  of the body component  101 . 
     This structure of the elastomeric ring portion  109  provides some flexibility in that portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102 . Thus, as a user manipulates the oral care implement  100 , the user can flex and move the portions of the elastomeric ring portion  109  that protrude from the body component  101 . This can allow different users to grip the oral care implement  100  in different ways. Specifically, some users may want to force their thumb into the open thumb grip passageway  130  and this can be done by forcing the portions of the elastomeric ring portion  109  that protrude from the body component  101  to flex and increase the size of the front and/or rear openings  131 ,  132 . Other users may gently position their thumb on the elastomeric ring portion  109  without causing it to flex at all. 
     The elastomeric ring portion  109  has an inner sidewall surface  188  that faces or defines the open thumb grip passageway  130 . Thus, the open thumb grip passageway  130  is surrounded and bounded by the inner sidewall surface  188  of the elastomeric ring portion  109 . As mentioned above, there is no material in the open thumb grip passageway  130 , but rather the open thumb grip passageway  130  remains as a void or empty space after manufacture of the oral care implement  100  is complete. Thus, even when placed in a package for sale, the open thumb grip passageway  130  will remain. 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 9 , a transverse cross-section (taken in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A of the handle  120 ) of the thumb gripping region  125  is illustrated. The transverse cross-section is taken along a midpoint of the length of the thumb gripping region  125 . The transverse cross-section has a minimum width W 1  of the open thumb grip passageway  130 , a maximum width W 2  of a first sidewall defining the open thumb grip passageway  130 , and a maximum width W 3  of a second sidewall defining the open thumb grip passageway  130 . In the exemplified embodiment, the minimum width W 1  of the open thumb grip passageway  130  is substantially equal to or greater than each of the maximum width W 2  of the first sidewall and the maximum width W 3  of the second sidewall. As used in this context, the term substantially equal includes the minimum width W 1  being up to 10% less or 10% more than the maximum widths W 2 , W 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a thickness T 1  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  changes in a direction going from the front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . Specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the thickness T 1  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  increases from the front surface  126  to a midpoint region M 1  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  and then decreases from the midpoint region M 1  of the elastomeric ring portion  109  to the rear surface  127 . Thus, the width W 1  of the open thumb grip passageway  130  decreases from the front opening  131  to the midpoint region M 1  and then increases from the midpoint region M 1  to the rear opening  132 . Stated another way, the width W 1  of the open thumb grip passageway  130  increases from the midpoint region M 1  to each of the front and rear openings  131 ,  132  of the open thumb grip passageway  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-14 , the palm gripping region  124  of the handle  120  will be described in greater detail. As noted above, the palm gripping region  124  of the handle  120  is the region of the handle  120  that comprises the proximal end  121  and extends approximately 40%-60% of the length L of the handle  120 . Thus, the palm gripping region  124  is the lower-most half (or so) of the handle  120  that is furthest from the head  110 . 
     The palm gripping region  124  of the handle  120  comprises a plurality of elongated slots  220  and a plurality of longitudinal beams  250  that are separated from one another by the plurality of elongated slots  220 . More specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the plurality of longitudinal beams  250  comprises a left-side longitudinal beam  251  that comprises a portion of an exposed left-side surface  128  of the handle  120 , a right-side longitudinal beam  252  that comprises a portion of an exposed right-side surface of the handle  120 , and a middle longitudinal beam  253  disposed between the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252 . In alternative embodiments, there could be more than one of the middle longitudinal beams  253  each separated from one another by elongated slots as described herein. In the exemplified embodiment, the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252  extend along curved beam axes whereas the middle longitudinal beam  253  extends along a linear beam axis. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the at least one middle longitudinal beam  253  comprises a central longitudinal beam that extends along the longitudinal axis A-A of the handle  120 . Furthermore, the middle longitudinal beam  253  has a maximum width that is greater than the maximum width of each of the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252 . In that regard, the middle longitudinal beam  253  has a bulbous portion  254  that is centrally located along the length of the middle longitudinal beam  253 . The bulbous portion  254  is a widened portion having rounded outer surfaces. In the exemplified embodiment, the middle longitudinal beam  253  extends continuously and unimpeded along the longitudinal axis A-A from a first end to a second end. Stated another way, the middle longitudinal beam  253  extends continuously and unimpeded from the ring portion  186  of the handle portion  185  of the body component  101  in the thumb gripping region  125  to the proximal end  121  (or an area adjacent to the proximal end  121 ) of the handle  120 . Thus, the middle longitudinal beam  253  is a continuously extending structure that is integral with and forms a part of the body component  101 . Top and bottom surfaces of the middle longitudinal beam  253  form unbroken and continuous portions of the exposed front and rear surfaces  126 ,  127  of the handle  120 . 
     The plurality of elongated slots  220  comprises a first elongated slot  221  located between the left-side longitudinal beam  251  and the middle longitudinal beam  253  and a second elongated slot  222  located between the right-side longitudinal beam  253  and the middle longitudinal beam  253 . The first and second elongated slots  221 ,  222  are regions of the handle  120  that are devoid of any material. Thus, the slots  221 ,  222  are the result of a dearth of material in the spaces between the adjacent longitudinal beams  250 . An inner surface  265  of the left-side longitudinal beam  251  and a first surface  266  of the middle longitudinal beam  253  forms walls of the first elongated slot  221 . An inner surface  267  of the right-side longitudinal beam  251  and a second surface  268  of the middle longitudinal beam  253  form walls of the second elongated slot  222 . 
     The first elongated slot  221  defines a first open slot passageway  223  extending from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . The first elongated slot  221  extends from a first slot end  224  to a second slot end  225  along a first longitudinal slot axis B-B. The first elongated slot  221  comprises a floor  228 , a first slot portion  229  extending from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the floor  228 , and a second slot portion  230  extending from the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120  to the floor  228 . In the exemplified embodiment, the floor  228  comprises a first transverse floor portion  226  extending between the left-side longitudinal beam  251  and the middle longitudinal beam  253  at or adjacent to the first slot end  224  and a second transverse floor portion  227  extending between the left-side longitudinal beam  251  and the middle longitudinal beam  253  at or adjacent to the second slot end  225 . The first and second transverse floors portions  226 ,  227  may be connected to one another (i.e., the floor  228  may extend continuously from the first slot end  224  to the second slot end  225 ) or they may be completely separated. 
     Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment there is a first aperture  231  formed into the floor  228  of the first elongated slot  221 . The first aperture  231  forms a passageway from the first slot portion  229  of the first elongated slot  221  to the second slot portion  230  of the first elongated slot  221 . Due to the existence of the first aperture  231 , the first open slot passageway  223  is formed that extends continuously from the exposed front surface  126  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . Specifically, there is a passageway (the first open slot passageway  223 ) that exists through the palm gripping section  124  of the handle  120  along at least a portion of the first elongated slot  221 . The first aperture  231  extends continuously and unimpeded from a first end to a second end in a direction of the first slot axis B-B. 
     The second elongated slot  222  defines a second open slot passageway  232  extending from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . The second elongated slot  222  extends from a first slot end  233  to a second slot end  234  along a second longitudinal slot axis C-C. The second elongated slot  222  comprises a floor  235 , a first slot portion  236  extending from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the floor  235 , and a second slot portion  237  extending from the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120  to the floor  235 . In the exemplified embodiment, the floor  235  comprises a first transverse floor portion  238  extending between the right-side longitudinal beam  252  and the middle longitudinal beam  253  at or adjacent to the first slot end  233  and a second transverse floor portion  239  extending between the right-side longitudinal beam  252  and the middle longitudinal beam  253  at or adjacent to the second slot end  234 . The first and second transverse floors portions  238 ,  239  may be connected to one another (i.e., the floor  235  may extend continuously from the first slot end  233  to the second slot end  234 ) or they may be completely separated. 
     Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment there is a second aperture  240  formed into the floor  235  of the second elongated slot  222 . The second aperture  240  forms a passageway from the first slot portion  236  of the second elongated slot  222  to the second slot portion  237  of the second elongated slot  222 . Due to the existence of the second aperture  240 , the second open slot passageway  232  is formed that extends continuously from the exposed front surface  126  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . Specifically, there is a passageway (the second open slot passageway  232 ) that exists through the palm gripping section  124  of the handle  120  along at least a portion of the second elongated slot  222 . The second aperture  240  extends continuously and unimpeded from a first end to a second end in a direction of the second slot axis C-C. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 10 , in the exemplified embodiment each of the first and second apertures  231 ,  240  are arcuate shaped. More specifically, the first and second apertures  231 ,  240  have an arcuate shape with concave surfaces thereof facing one another. The first and second apertures  231 ,  240  could be modified to have different shapes in alternative embodiments, such as being rectangular, triangular, wavy-shaped, or the like as may be desired. The first and second apertures  231 ,  240  are elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis A-A of the handle  120 . In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second apertures  231 ,  240  extend for somewhere between 40% and 60% of the length of the first and second elongated slots  221 ,  222 , respectively. However, the lengths of the first and second apertures  231 ,  240  could be increased to further decrease the amount of plastic used to form the oral care implement  100  or decreased if needed to increase structural integrity of the oral care implement  100 . The first and second apertures  231 ,  240  are aligned with one another in the exemplified embodiment. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 11 , a height of the floor  228  increases with distance from the first aperture  231  towards the first and second slot ends  224 ,  225  of the first elongated slot  221 . The height of the floor  235  similarly increases with distance from the aperture  240  towards the first and second slot ends  233 ,  234  of the second elongated slot  222 . Thus, stated another way, the floor  228  of the first elongated slot  221  forms a ramp surface adjacent opposing ends of the aperture  231  and the floor  235  of the second elongated slot  222  forms a ramp surface adjacent opposing ends of the aperture  240 . Ramping or sloping the surfaces of the floors  228 ,  235  on opposing ends of the apertures  231 ,  240  creates a path for water to travel while rinsing to prevent toothpaste and bacteria from building up in the region of the elongated longitudinal slots  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a transverse cross-section of the longitudinal beams  251 ,  252 ,  253  is depicted. As shown, the left-side longitudinal beam  251  has a maximum height H 1 , measured along a height axis D-D that extends from the exposed front surface  126  of the handle  120  to the exposed rear surface  127  of the handle  120 . The left-side longitudinal beam  251  also has a maximum width W 4 , measured along a width axis E-E that is perpendicular to the height axis. The maximum height H 1  of the left-side longitudinal beam  251  is greater than the maximum width W 4  of the left-side longitudinal beam  251 . The right-side longitudinal beam  252  has a maximum height H 2  measured along the height axis D-D and a maximum width W 5  measured along the width axis E-E. The maximum height H 2  of the right-side longitudinal beam  252  is greater than the maximum width W 5  of the right-side longitudinal beam  252 . The middle longitudinal beam  253  has a maximum height H 3  measured along the height axis D-D and a maximum width W 6  measured along the width axis E-E. The maximum height H 3  of the middle longitudinal beam  253  is greater than the maximum width W 6  of the middle longitudinal beam  253 . Furthermore, the maximum height H 3  of the middle longitudinal beam  253  is greater than the maximum heights H 1 , H 2  of each of the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252 . The maximum width W 6  of the middle longitudinal beam  253  is also greater than the maximum widths W 4 , W 5  of the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252 . The first and second elongated slots  221 ,  222  may have maximum widths that are greater than the maximum widths W 4 , W 5  of the left-side and right-side longitudinal beams  251 ,  252  but less than the maximum width W 6  of the middle longitudinal beam  253 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 9, and 10 , in the exemplified embodiment, the palm gripping region  124  has a maximum width W 7  measured from the exposed left-side surface  128  of the handle  120  to the exposed right-side surface  129  of the handle  120 , with the maximum width W 7  of the palm gripping region  124  being the maximum width of the handle  120 . The thumb gripping region  125  also has a maximum width W 8  measured from the exposed left-side surface  128  of the handle to the exposed right-side surface  129  of the handle  120 . The maximum width W 7  may be greater than the maximum width W 8 . Furthermore, the handle  120  may comprise a narrowed waist  126  at the juncture of the thumb gripping region  125  and the palm gripping region  124 . The narrowed waist  167  may comprise a maximum width W 9  measured between the exposed left-side surface  128  of the handle  120  and the exposed right-side surface  129  of the handle  120  such that the maximum width W 9  of the narrowed waist  167  may be less than the maximum width W 7  of the palm gripping region  124  and the maximum width W 8  of the thumb gripping region  125 . 
     As noted above, one purpose in the structure and of the oral care implement  100  is to reduce the total amount of plastic being used to form the oral care implement  100  while still ensuring that the oral care implement  100  has structural integrity and will withstand the wear and tear associated with normal use. In that regard, in some embodiments the oral care implement  100  may have a material volume, which is a volume of all of the materials used to form the oral care implement. In some embodiments, the material volume may be in a range of 13 cm 3  to 16 cm 3 , or more specifically 14 cm 3  to 15 cm 3 , and still more specifically 14 cm 3  to 14.5 cm3. The handle  120  of the oral care implement  100  may have a material volume in a range of 10 cm 3  to 15 cm3, and more specifically 12 cm 3  to 14 cm 3 . The oral care implement  100  may also have a void volume, with is the volume of all of the void spaces of the oral care implement including the open thumb grip passageway  130  and the first and second elongated slots  221 ,  222 . Thus, the plurality of voids that make up the void volume includes the open thumb grip passageway  130  and the first and second elongated slots  221 ,  222  in the exemplified embodiment. In some embodiments, the void volume may be in a range of 3 cm 3  to 6 cm 3 , more specifically 4 cm 3  to 5 cm 3 , and still more specifically 4 cm 3  to 4.5 cm 3 . The void volume of the oral care implement  100  is also the void volume of the handle  120  of the oral care implement. 
     In some embodiments a ratio of the void volume of the oral care implement  100  to a material volume of the oral care implement  100  is greater than 0.25:1. In some embodiments a ratio of the void volume of the oral care implement  100  to the material volume of the oral care implement  100  is in a range of 0.25:1 to 0.5:1, or 0.25:1 to 0.4:1, or 0.3:1 to 0.5:1. In some embodiments, a ratio of the void volume of the handle  120  to the material volume of the handle  120  may be greater than 0.3:1, or may be in a range of 0.33:1 to 0.4:1. In some embodiments, the difference between leaving the void spaces empty and filling them in with plastic results in a reduction in the weight of the oral care implement  100  of approximately 25%, or between 25% and 35%. 
     The invention has been described herein above whereby the oral care implement  100  includes a body component  101  and an elastomeric component  102 . However, in alternative embodiments the elastomeric component  102  may be omitted and the oral care implement  100  may not include any elastomeric materials. Thus, the elastomeric connector portion  116  and the elastomeric cleaning element portion  115  may be omitted in some embodiments (although the oral care implement  100  may still include a tongue or soft tissue cleanser formed from a rigid material). Moreover, in such embodiments the ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  may simply be a ring component  199  (labeled only in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) without regard to its material of construction. The ring component  199  as described herein is intended to be identical in structure to the ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102  described herein. However, the term ring component  199  is intended to capture the structure of the ring portion  109  and its interaction with the body component  101  regardless of its material of construction. 
     Specifically, the thumb gripping region  125  of the handle  102  may comprise the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  formed of a first material and the ring component  199  formed of a second material. The ring component  199  may be identical in structure to the ring portion  109  of the elastomeric component  102 , but possibly different in terms of material of construction. In such embodiments, the first material and the second material may be different from one another in at least one characteristic. In some embodiments, the characteristics may be selected from color, texture, elasticity, and rigidity (i.e., hardness). 
     Thus, in some embodiments the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  may be formed of a hard plastic such as polypropylene and the ring component  199  may be formed of an elastomeric component (which is the case in the embodiment described in detail above). In other embodiments, the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  may be formed of a hard plastic and the ring component  199  may also be formed of a hard plastic. In some embodiments, the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  and the ring component  199  may be formed of the same hard plastic material. In such embodiments, the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  and the ring component  199  may differ based on characteristics other than material of construction, such as color or texture, for example. In some embodiments, the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  may comprises a first color and the ring component  199  may comprises a second color. In some embodiments the ring portion  186  of the body component  101  may be formed from a first shot during an injection molding process and the ring component  199  may be formed from a second shot during the injection molding process, with the ring component  199  being injection molded onto the ring portion  186  of the body component  101 . The ring component  199  is disposed within the aperture  205  in the ring portion  185  of the body component  101  of the thumb gripping region  125  and the ring component  199  defines or otherwise surrounds the open thumb grip passageway  130 . 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.