Oral care implement and method of manufacturing an oral care implement

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an oral care implement, comprises: (a) providing a head and a first part of a handle connected to the head, the first part having a first surface; (b) providing the head with at least one cleaning element; and (c) attaching a second part of the handle to the first part of the handle, which second part has a second surface and houses an assembly comprising a timer and a user-notification device that is configured to output a notification in dependence on a state of the timer, so that the first part is connected to the head at a distal end of the handle, the second part defines a proximal end of the handle, and the first and second surfaces together define an exterior surface of the handle.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A method of manufacturing an oral care implement, comprising:
 (a) providing a head and a first part of a handle connected to the head, the first part having a first surface;   (b) providing the head with at least one cleaning element; and   (c) attaching a second part of the handle to the first part of the handle, which second part has a second surface and houses an assembly comprising a timer and a user-notification device that is configured to output a notification in dependence on a state of the timer, so that the first part is connected to the head at a distal end of the handle, the second part defines a proximal end of the handle, and the first and second surfaces together define an exterior surface of the handle.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  comprising, prior to step (c), a step of inserting at least part of the assembly into a cavity of the second part of the handle. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the assembly comprises a printed circuit board upon which the timer and the user-notification device are mounted, and the step of inserting comprises inserting the printed circuit board into the cavity of the second part of the handle so that the printed circuit board lies in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the assembly and the cavity of the second part are shaped to prevent rotation of the assembly relative to the second part about a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the assembly comprises one or more elements that prevent movement of the assembly relative to the second part in a direction with a component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , comprising, after the step of locating the assembly in the cavity and prior to step (c), a step of providing the one or more elements to the assembly. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the step of providing the one or more elements comprises soldering or adhering the one or more elements to a portion of the assembly. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein step (c) comprises bringing one or more electrically-conductive contacts of the assembly into surface contact with one or more respective electrically-conductive contacts comprised in the first part. 
     
     
         56 . An oral care implement, comprising:
 a head carrying at least one cleaning element; and   a handle having a distal end, a proximal end, a first part and a second part attached to the first part, wherein a first surface of the first part and a second surface of the second part together define an exterior surface of the handle;   wherein the first part is connected to the head at a distal end of the handle and the second part defines the proximal end of the handle; and   wherein the second part houses an assembly comprising a timer and a user-notification device that is configured to output a notification in dependence on a state of the timer.   
     
     
         57 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein the assembly comprises a printed circuit board upon which the timer and the user-notification device are mounted. 
     
     
         58 . The oral care implement of  claim 57 , wherein the printed circuit board lies in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         59 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein at least part of the assembly is located in a cavity of the second part, and wherein the assembly and the cavity of the second part are shaped to prevent rotation of the assembly relative to the second part about a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         60 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein at least part of the assembly is located in a cavity of the second part, and wherein the assembly comprises one or more elements disposed relative to the cavity to prevent movement of the assembly relative to the second part in a direction with a component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implement. 
     
     
         61 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein the assembly comprises one or more electrically-conductive contacts in surface contact with one or more respective electrically-conductive contacts comprised in the first part. 
     
     
         62 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , comprising a power source and a motor that is connectable to the power source; wherein at least one of the power source and the motor is disposed in the first part; wherein the power source is disposed between the motor and the assembly; and wherein the motor and the assembly are electrically connected in parallel to the power source. 
     
     
         63 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein the assembly comprises a controller, such as a microcontroller; and wherein the controller has an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to track time. 
     
     
         64 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein the timer is configured such that a state of the timer changes over time, and wherein the user-notification device is configured to output a first predetermined notification when the timer is in a first state and to output a second predetermined notification when the timer is in a second state, which second predetermined notification is of a different form to the first predetermined notification; and wherein the second predetermined notification has a different duration, pattern or frequency to the first predetermined notification. 
     
     
         65 . The oral care implement of  claim 56 , wherein the user-notification device comprises a device configured to output a notification, or notifications, by emitting visible light; and wherein the device comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     
     
         66 . A kit of parts for an oral care implement, the kit of parts comprising:
 a head carrying at least one cleaning element;   a first part of a handle, which first part is connected to the head and has a first surface; and   a second part of the handle, which second part has a second surface and houses an assembly comprising a timer and a user-notification device that is configured to output a notification in dependence on a state of the timer;   wherein the second part is attachable to the first part so that the first part is connected to the head at a distal end of the handle, the second part defines a proximal end of the handle, and the first and second surfaces together define an exterior surface of the handle.   
     
     
         67 . The kit of parts of  claim 66 , wherein the second part is detachably couplable to the first part.