Patent Description:
<CIT> refers to a toothbrush comprising a handle, a brushing structure, and a frame member. In a first configuration, the brushing structure has three longitudinal rows of pyramid-shaped projections. In a second configuration, a brushing projection has laterally extending fin-shaped projections. In a third configuration, laterally extending projections of triangular cross-section and disposed in spaced-apart arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush are used. In a fourth configuration, longitudinally extending projections of triangular cross-section disposed side-by-side are used.

<CIT> refers to a teeth cleaning appliance in which a rubber block is fixed and dovetailed to a handle. A top part of this rubber block consists of longitudinal ribs which are disposed adjacently and consecutively and are independent from one another, and of cross ribs arranged between cross rows of the longitudinal ribs.

<CIT> refers to an oral hygiene device comprising a handle member, which is symmetrically oriented about a longitudinal handle axis, and a head member, which includes a nodule support surface. In one configuration, nodules, which extend from the nodule support surface, are rectangular in shape and are arranged linearly along the nodule support surface in a direction generally in alignment with the longitudinal handle axis. Mounted upon each nodule are a plurality of annular projections with each including a corresponding nipple-like projection formed along an upper surface of the nodule.

<CIT> refers to a tongue cleaner device that includes a plurality of resilient teeth. Each tooth has a concave curved side inclined more than <NUM>° from the horizontal and an opposite ramped side. The curved side and the ramped side meet in a respective ridge. The ridge of each tooth preferably has a plurality of extremities. Each extremity is small and rounded in shape to fit into small spaces on a tongue surface.

<CIT> refers to an oral care implement in which a head has a rear side having a rear surface on which is provided one or more tissue-cleaning pads. Each tissue-cleaning pad further comprises an outer surface having a plurality of edge regions that are at least partially raised from the rear surface, and at least one additional edge region that is substantially flush with the rear surface. The pads are interconnected by bridges and are radially arranged around a central axis. The outer surface of each pad further comprises a plurality of bar-shaped protrusions that are arranged along the outer surface and that are directionally oriented toward the central axis. The bar-shaped protrusions extend a height from the rear surface.

<CIT> refers to a toothbrush that comprises a handle. From the handle, a part protrudes. On the part, one or more wavy roughnesses are disposed.

The present invention provides an oral care implement as defined in claim <NUM>.

The present invention is directed to an oral care implement including a handle and a head. The oral care implement may be formed entirely out of a resilient or flexible material. The head includes a base structure and a monolithic cleaning unit. The monolithic cleaning unit includes a block portion extending from a front surface of the base structure and a plurality of protuberances extending from a distal end of the block portion. The block portion may have a greater height than the protuberances. The protuberances may include central protuberances that extend from a distal surface of the block portion and peripheral protuberances that surround the block portion and extend from the front surface of the base structure. The monolithic cleaning unit includes ribs extending between adjacently positioned protuberances. The oral care implement may be suitable for babies.

The oral care implement comprises: a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a base structure and a monolithic cleaning unit, the monolithic cleaning unit comprising; a block portion extending from a front surface of the base structure to a distal surface, the block portion having a first height measured from the front surface of the base structure to the distal surface; and a plurality of protuberances extending from the distal surface of the block portion, at least one of the plurality of protuberances having a second height measured from the distal surface of the block portion to a distal end of the protuberance, the second height being equal to or less less than the first height.

The oral care implement may comprise: a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a base structure and a cleaning unit, the cleaning unit comprising; a block portion extending from a front surface of the base structure to a distal surface; and a plurality of protuberances extending from the distal surface of the block portion; and wherein the head, including the base structure and the cleaning unit, is a monolithic structure formed from a flexible material.

Another exemplary oral care implement may comprise: a handle; a head having a longitudinal axis coupled to the handle, the head comprising a base structure and a monolithic cleaning unit, the monolithic cleaning unit comprising; a block portion extending from a front surface of the base structure to a distal surface; a plurality of central protuberances extending directly from the distal surface of the block portion; and a plurality of peripheral protuberances extending from the front surface of the base structure and surrounding the block portion, the plurality of peripheral protuberances comprising a first portion that extends radially from an outer surface of the block portion and a second portion that protrudes from the distal surface of the block portion.

Another exemplary oral care implement may comprise: a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising: a base structure; and a monolithic cleaning unit coupled to the base structure, the monolithic cleaning unit comprising; a plurality of protuberances, each of the protuberances having a first height measured from a front surface of the base structure to a distal end of the protuberance; and a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs having a second height measured from the front surface of the base structure to a distal end of the rib, the second height being less than the first height, and wherein each of the ribs extends between and is coupled to two of the protuberances.

Referring first to <FIG>, an oral care implement <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The oral care implement <NUM> generally comprises a handle <NUM> and a head <NUM> coupled to the handle <NUM>. In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement <NUM> is, in its entirety including both the handle <NUM> and the head <NUM>, formed out of a single material. Thus, the oral care implement <NUM> is a monolithic structure. In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement <NUM> is formed from an injection molding process, but it could be formed in other ways such as extrusion, 3D printing, or the like. In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement <NUM> is formed from a flexible or resilient material, such as an elastomeric material including without limitation thermoplastic elastomers such as food-grade silicone or other rubber-like materials. However, the invention should not be so limited in all embodiments and in other embodiments the handle <NUM> may be formed of a different material than portions of the head <NUM>. Thus, for example, the handle <NUM> and a base structure of the head <NUM> could be formed of a rigid material (e.g., hard plastic) and a cleaning unit of the head <NUM> could be formed of one of the flexible materials noted above. In still other embodiments, the handle <NUM> could be formed of a rigid material (e.g., hard plastic) and the head <NUM> could be formed of a flexible material. However, in the exemplified embodiment the entire oral care implement <NUM> is a monolithic structure formed of a single elastomeric material.

In the exemplified embodiment, the handle <NUM> comprises an elongated gripping portion <NUM> and first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> extending from opposing sides of the elongated gripping portion <NUM>. The oral care implement <NUM>, in the exemplified embodiment, is intended to have the appearance of a butterfly. Thus, the first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> have the appearance of butterfly wings. The first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> may help to support the oral care implement <NUM> on a horizontal surface without the head <NUM> contacting the horizontal surface to avoid contamination. Furthermore, the first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> may ensure that a baby cannot insert too much of the oral care implement <NUM> into his/her mouth, thereby avoiding choking. Finally, the first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> may enhance the ability of the oral care implement <NUM> to be gripped by an adult who is assisting a child in using the oral care implement <NUM> to clean oral surfaces and teeth. The first and second appendages <NUM>, <NUM> can be bent relative to the elongated gripping portion <NUM> which can enable the handle <NUM> to be more easily gripped by an adult.

The head <NUM> comprises a base structure <NUM> and a monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. As noted above, in some embodiments the base structure <NUM> and the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> are formed together as a monolithic structure. In other embodiments, the base structure <NUM> and the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> may be separately formed and later coupled together. For example, the base structure <NUM> may be formed from a hard plastic and the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> formed from a flexible or elastomeric material that is coupled to the base structure <NUM>. However, in preferred embodiments the base structure <NUM> and the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> are part of a monolithic, unitary, integral structure formed from a flexible or otherwise resilient material. In still other embodiments, the base structure <NUM> and the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> may be formed separately, but both formed out of flexible or resilient materials such as a thermoplastic elastomer.

Referring to <FIG>, the head <NUM> of the oral care implement <NUM> will be described in greater detail. The base structure <NUM> comprises a front surface <NUM>, a rear surface <NUM> opposite the front surface, and a side surface <NUM> extending between the front and rear surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. In the exemplified embodiment, the rear surface <NUM> is smooth and has no features extending therefrom. However, in other embodiments the rear surface <NUM> could have protruding features, such as nubs or the like that are generally used for tongue and soft tissue cleaning.

In the exemplified embodiment, the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> extends from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>. The monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> is generally comparable to the bristles or other cleaning elements used on a conventional oral care implement. Thus, conventional oral care implements use nylon or other material to form bristles that are clustered together into tufts that are attached to a base structure. Such conventional oral care implements may also include rubber elements known as lamella. However, in such conventional oral care implements the bristles may detach from the base structure during normal use and even more so if the head is used as a chew toy as may occur when the oral care implement is intended for use by a baby (infant or toddler). Bristles detaching from the base structure can be a choke hazard for a baby and are therefore undesirable.

Thus, many baby toothbrushes use only rubber features extending from a base structure as the "cleaning elements" or "bristles. " However, when such rubber features are elongated in their extension from the base structure, they may still be detached from the base structure when extensively chewed by a baby or young child. The monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> described herein is intended to avoid any possibility of the baby or child detaching the "bristles" or "cleaning elements" from the remainder of the toothbrush.

In that regard, the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> comprises a block portion <NUM> and a plurality of protuberances <NUM>. The plurality of protuberances <NUM> form the "cleaning elements" of the oral care implement <NUM>. Specifically, the plurality of protuberances <NUM> are the portion of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> that come into contact with a user's teeth (or gums, particularly for babies that likely do not yet have teeth) during use. Thus, the plurality of protuberances <NUM> are intended to resemble the cleaning elements or bristles on a more traditional toothbrush while removing any potential choke hazards. In this way, a child can get used to the concept of using a toothbrush without fear of choking on any of its components. Even if the oral care implement <NUM> is used as a baby chew toy, it is extremely unlikely that any part of the oral care implement will become detached and form a choke hazard.

In the exemplified embodiment, the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> is a single, monolithic structure that includes the block portion <NUM> and the protuberances <NUM>. The monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> may be formed from a resilient, flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer including without limitation food-grade silicone or the like.

The block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> extends from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to a distal surface <NUM>. As seen in the cross-section views, the block portion <NUM> is a solid block of material that extends from the base structure <NUM>. In this embodiment, the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> is a planar surface. The distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> forms a platform that is elevated relative to the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>. The block portion <NUM> also comprises an outer surface <NUM> that extends from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to the distal surface <NUM>. The block portion <NUM> may take on any of a number of different shapes, including being square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, circular, or arch-shaped (which is the shape of the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> in the exemplified embodiment).

The plurality of protuberances <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> extend or protrude from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. In the exemplified embodiment, the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> comprises twenty-five of the protuberances <NUM> including fourteen peripheral protuberances <NUM> and eleven central protuberances <NUM>. Of course, the invention is not to be particularly limited by the number of protuberances <NUM> in all embodiments and this can be modified in many ways including adjusting the diameter of the protuberances <NUM>, adjusting the spacing between the protuberances <NUM>, and adjusting the surface area of the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> of the head <NUM>. Each of the protuberances <NUM> comprises a maximum diameter D1 that is between <NUM> and <NUM>, more specifically between <NUM> and <NUM>, and still more specifically approximately <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the plurality of protuberances <NUM> comprises a plurality of peripheral protuberances <NUM> and a plurality of central protuberances <NUM>. Each of the peripheral protuberances 151extends directly from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to a distal end <NUM>. However, the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are coupled to the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> along a portion of their length. Thus, although the peripheral protuberances <NUM> extend directly from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>, each of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> also extends directly from the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> in a direction away from a longitudinal axis A-A of the head <NUM>.

The peripheral protuberances <NUM> are arranged in a circumferentially spaced apart manner about the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> such that the peripheral protuberances <NUM> collectively surround the block portion <NUM>. The peripheral protuberances <NUM> comprise a first portion <NUM> that extends radially from the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> that extends upwardly from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. Thus, the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are positioned alongside of the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> and are in fact coupled to the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. Stated another way, the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are not spaced apart from the block portion <NUM> but the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are coupled to the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> along the entire height of the block portion <NUM>.

The peripheral protuberances <NUM> have a height measured from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to the distal ends <NUM> that is greater than a height of the block portion <NUM> measured from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. As a result, the second portion <NUM> (which is a distal portion) of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> protrude beyond the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. This makes the second portion <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> available to contact a user's gums and other oral surfaces when the head <NUM> is placed into the user's mouth. Furthermore, by maintaining the peripheral protuberances <NUM> in a coupled relationship with the block portion <NUM>, it would be extremely difficult if not impossible for a baby or toddler to detach the peripheral protuberances <NUM> from the remainder of the oral care implement <NUM>.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first portions <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are in the shape of a truncated cylinder that has been cut by a single plane oriented parallel to the cylinder's axis of symmetry. The second portions <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are cylindrical in shape, although the distal ends <NUM> may be rounded. The outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM> of the first portions <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> collectively form an entirety of an outer surface <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, the outer surface <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> comprises a plurality of linear or arcuate segments formed by the block portion <NUM> and a plurality of dome-shaped segments formed by the peripheral protuberances <NUM>, arranged in an alternating fashion.

The peripheral protuberances <NUM> also serve to hide most of the block portion <NUM> from view, which gives the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> an appearance that more closely resembles the appearance of the cleaning elements or bristles of a traditional toothbrush. Specifically, although the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are spaced apart about the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>, the spacing is quite close together. As a result, the block portion <NUM> is very minimally visible if it is visible at all, particularly when viewed in side profile. Thus, in giving the oral care implement <NUM> a quick glance one would not even know that the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> includes the block portion <NUM>.

Each of the central protuberances <NUM> extends directly from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> to a distal end <NUM>. The central protuberances <NUM> have a cylindrical shape with a nub-like appearance having a rounded distal end <NUM>. The central protuberances <NUM> are arranged in a spaced apart manner along the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. The peripheral protuberances <NUM> surround the central protuberances <NUM> and the peripheral protuberances <NUM> are spaced apart from the central protuberances <NUM>.

The central protuberances <NUM> and the peripheral protuberances <NUM> extend to the same height above the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>. Thus, the distal ends <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> and the distal ends <NUM> of the central protuberances <NUM> form a flat trim profile such that the distal ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the peripheral and central protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> lie in a common plane. Of course, the peripheral and central protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> could extend to different heights in other embodiments and thus the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments. Furthermore, some of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> may be taller than others such that the peripheral protuberances <NUM> have varying heights and some of the central protuberances <NUM> may be taller than others such that the central protuberances <NUM> have varying heights.

The plurality of protuberances <NUM> are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows. Specifically, the plurality of protuberances <NUM> comprise a first column C1 of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> on a first side of the block portion <NUM>, a second column C2 of the peripheral protuberances 151on a second side of the block portion <NUM>, a third column C3 of the central protuberances <NUM> adjacent to the first column C1 and the fourth column C4 of the central protuberances <NUM> adjacent to the second column C1, the third and fourth columns C3, C4 of the central protuberances <NUM> being between the first and second columns C1, C2 of the peripheral protuberances <NUM>. The first column C1 is spaced a first distance from the third column C3, the second column C2 is spaced a second distance from the fourth column C4, and the third column C3 is spaced a third distance from the fourth column C4. In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second distances are the same and are greater than the third distance. The protuberances <NUM> are also arranged in seven rows in the exemplified embodiment, although fewer or greater than seven rows could be used in other embodiments depending on the surface area of the head <NUM> and the spacing between the protuberances <NUM>.

As noted above, the plurality of peripheral protuberances <NUM> surround the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> and the plurality of central protuberances <NUM>. Furthermore, a peripheral portion <NUM> of the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> surrounds the block portion <NUM>. The peripheral protuberances <NUM> extend from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> along the peripheral portion <NUM> of the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>.

The monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> also comprises a plurality or ribs <NUM> extending from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> in the spaces between the protuberances <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> extend from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to a distal end <NUM>. Each of the ribs <NUM> extends or is elongated in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A. As noted above, the protuberances <NUM> are arranged in rows. The ribs <NUM> extend between protuberances <NUM> in the same row, but there are no ribs extending between protuberances <NUM> in different rows. Each of the ribs <NUM> extends between two of the protuberances <NUM> that are adjacent to one another in the same row and every protuberance is connected to at least one adjacent protuberance by one of the ribs <NUM>. More specifically, in the exemplified embodiment each protuberance <NUM> is connected to at least one but no more than two of the other protuberances <NUM> by the ribs <NUM>. Each of the ribs <NUM> extends between pairs of adjacent protuberances in a single row. By connecting the protuberances <NUM> to one another, the ribs <NUM> make the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> more robust so that it is quite difficult for one of the protuberances <NUM> to become detached from the block portion <NUM>. This can be an important feature in some embodiments because it eliminates a potential choking hazard that may exist if any of the protuberances <NUM> were to become detached from the block portion <NUM>.

When viewed in a top plan view as depicted in <FIG>, portions of the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> are exposed between the protuberances <NUM> and the ribs <NUM>. The protuberances <NUM> and the ribs <NUM> collectively form walls that extend transversely across the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. The adjacently positioned walls are spaced apart and a channel <NUM> exists between the walls. The channels <NUM> allow for saliva and other contaminants to be easily washed off of the head <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, relative heights of portions of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> will be described. The block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> has a first height H1 measured from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the protuberances <NUM> has a second height H2 measured from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to the distal end of the protuberance <NUM>. This includes the peripheral protuberances <NUM> and the central protuberances <NUM>. The second height H2 is not the full height of the peripheral protuberances <NUM>, but rather the height of the second portion <NUM> of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> that protrudes beyond the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>.

Although in the exemplified embodiment every one of the protuberances <NUM> has the second height H2, in other embodiments at least one of the protuberances <NUM> may have the second height H2, such that the protuberances <NUM> may have various different heights as mentioned above. This is true of both the peripheral protuberances <NUM> and the central protuberances <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> have a third height H3 measured from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to the distal end <NUM> of the ribs <NUM>. In the exemplified embodiment he first height H1 is greater than the second height H2, and the second height H2 is greater than the third height H3. In some embodiments, the first height H1 may be greater than or equal to the second height H2, with the third height H3 being less than the second height H2. Thus, the protuberances <NUM> extend beyond the distal ends <NUM> of the ribs <NUM> such that the ribs <NUM> are recessed relative to the distal ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the protuberances <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first height H1 may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, the second height H2 may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, and the third height H3 may be between <NUM> and <NUM>. In some embodiments, a ratio of the first height H1 to the second height H2 may be between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>, and more specifically between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>. In other embodiments a ration of the first height H1 to the second height H2 may be between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>. These relative heights allow for the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> to have an appearance that closely resembles the cleaning elements of a more conventional toothbrush while ensuring that no part thereof is detached from the remainder of the oral care implement during normal use.

In some examples that are useful to understand the invention, the block portion <NUM> of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> may be omitted such that the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> may comprise only the protuberances <NUM> and the ribs <NUM>. In such examples, the protuberances <NUM> and the ribs <NUM> may all extend directly from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM>, and the ribs <NUM> will help to ensure that the protuberances <NUM> are not easily detached from the base structure <NUM> to prevent a choking hazard.

Referring to <FIG>, an example of an oral care implement <NUM> which is useful to understand the invention is illustrated. The oral care implement <NUM> comprises a handle <NUM> and a head <NUM>, the head <NUM> comprising a base structure <NUM> and a monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. The oral care implement <NUM> is identical to the oral care implement <NUM> except with regard to the structure, shape, and details of the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM>. Thus, the description of the handle <NUM> and the base structure <NUM> of the oral care implement <NUM> is applicable to the handle <NUM> and the base structure <NUM> of the oral care implement <NUM>. Those features will not be described herein in the interest of brevity.

Referring to <FIG>, the monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> will be further described. The monolithic cleaning unit <NUM> comprises a block portion <NUM> and a plurality of protuberances <NUM>. The block portion <NUM> extends from a front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to a distal surface <NUM>. The block portion <NUM> also comprise an outer surface <NUM>. In this example, the block portion <NUM> is in the shape of the number eight having a rounded proximal portion <NUM>, a rounded distal portion <NUM>, and a waist portion <NUM> between the proximal and distal portions.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> is not flat and planar as it was with the earlier described embodiment. Rather, the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> is curved, and more specifically concave. Moreover, in the example the block portion <NUM> comprises two concave sections such that the proximal portion <NUM> has a concave distal surface <NUM> and the distal portion <NUM> has a concave distal surface <NUM>. The two concave sections meet at the waist portion <NUM>.

The plurality of protuberances <NUM> comprises a plurality of peripheral protuberances <NUM> that circumferentially surround the block portion <NUM> and a plurality of central protuberances <NUM>. Each of the peripheral protuberances <NUM> extends directly from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to a distal end <NUM> whereas each of the central protuberances <NUM> extends directly from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to a distal end <NUM>. The peripheral protuberances <NUM> are coupled to the outer surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> and protrude from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>.

In this example, each of the protuberances <NUM> appears to be tapered as they extend towards their distal ends <NUM>, <NUM>. However, the protuberances <NUM> may have a constant diameter in other examples. Moreover, similar to the previously described embodiment, at least one of the protuberances <NUM> has a height measured from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to the distal end <NUM>, <NUM> of the protuberance <NUM> that is less than the height of the block portion <NUM> measured from the front surface <NUM> of the base structure <NUM> to the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM>. In some of the examples, each of the protuberances <NUM> has a height measured from the distal surface <NUM> of the block portion <NUM> to the distal end <NUM>, <NUM> of the protuberance <NUM> that is less than the height of the block portion <NUM>. As discussed previously, this helps to ensure that the protuberances <NUM> do not become detached from the remainder of the oral care implement <NUM> during normal use thereof, which could be a choking hazard because the oral care implement <NUM> is intended for use by babies and young children.

Claim 1:
An oral care implement (<NUM>) comprising:
a handle (<NUM>);
a head (<NUM>) coupled to the handle (<NUM>), the head (<NUM>) comprising a base structure (<NUM>) and a monolithic cleaning unit (<NUM>), the monolithic cleaning unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a block portion (<NUM>) extending from a front surface (<NUM>) of the base structure (<NUM>) to a distal surface (<NUM>), the block portion (<NUM>) having a first height (H1) measured from the front surface (<NUM>) of the base structure (<NUM>) to the distal surface (<NUM>); and
a plurality of protuberances (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the distal surface (<NUM>) of the block portion (<NUM>), at least one of the plurality of protuberances (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a second height (H2) measured from the distal surface (<NUM>) of the block portion (<NUM>) to a distal end (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the protuberance (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the second height (H2) being equal to or less than the first height (H1);
characterized in that the monolithic cleaning unit (<NUM>) further comprises a plurality of ribs (<NUM>) extending from the distal surface (<NUM>) of the block portion (<NUM>), each of the ribs (<NUM>) extending between two of the protuberances (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that are adjacent to one another.