Novel brush filaments

• US 4,802,255 A
• Filed: 08/10/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Hanak, Joseph A., Breuer, Miklos M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US07/083,336
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167.1, 15/159 A, 15/186, 15/187, 15/188, 15/110, 428/361, 428/368, 428/375, 428/378, 8/149, 8/150, 8/516
• US Class Current: 15/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/001 with means indicating the remaining useful life of brush
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/00 Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles making artificial bristles D01D, D01F
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 1/023 Bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments

Abstract

Novel, improved filaments for brushes. The filaments include a colored region provided by a dye colorant and the colored region is adapted to provide a color intensity which can change in response to increased use of the filament to provide a signal indicative of filament wear. The filaments are particularly useful in toothbrushes.

Claims

1. A monofilament for a toothbrush, said filament having a longitudinal surface defining the maximum width (W) of the cross-sectional area of the filament which includes a first colored region provided by a dye colorant and which extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal surface, said first colored region being arranged in association with another portion of the cross-sectional area providing at least one different colored region, said first colored region providing a color intensity which can change in response to increased use of the filament to provide a signal indicative of wear.

2. A filament of claim 1 where the first colored region extends along the entire longitudinal surface.

3. A filament of claim 1 where the first colored region extends inwardly into a portion of the cross-sectional area for a distance equivalent to about 20 percent or less of the value W/2.

4. A filament of claim 3 where the colored region provides an annular ring extending inwardly for a substantially uniform distance.

5. A filament of claim 3 including a dye or a pigment substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the filament.

6. A filament of claim 3 where the first colored region extends inwardly into a portion of the cross-sectional area for a distance equivalent to about 10 percent or less of the value W/2.

7. A filament of claim 6 where the colored region provides an annular ring extending inwardly for a substantially uniform distance.

8. A filament of claim 6 including a dye or a pigment substantially uniform dispersed throughout the filament.

9. A filament of claim 1 where the dye colorant is a food dye.

10. A toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments of claim 1.

11. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 2.

12. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 3.

13. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 4.

14. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 5.

15. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 6.

16. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 7.

17. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 8.

18. A toothbrush of claim 10 where said filaments are filaments of claim 9.