Individual tooth toothbrush
First Claim
1. A toothbrush comprising:
- an elongated handle portion extending in a longitudinal direction;
a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is spaced from the first end in the longitudinal direction, wherein a bent surface is provided on the head portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein the bent surface bends as it extends in the longitudinal direction;
a fist plurality of bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the bent surface, the first plurality o bristle tufts being arranged in a first plurality of rows oriented transverse to the longitudinal direction; and
a second plurality of bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the bent surface, the second plurality of bristle tufts being arranged in a second plurality of rows oriented transverse to the longitudinal direction,wherein each of the first plurality of bristle tufts comprise relatively long bristles, and each of the second plurality of bristle tufts comprise relatively short bristles, andwherein all of the bristles of the first plurality of bristle tufts extend substantially an equal distance from the bent surface, and wherein all of the bristles of the second plurality of bristle tufts extend substantially an equal distance from the bent surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toothbrush for cleaning individual teeth includes a longitudinally extending handle portion (10) connected to a curved head portion (20). The head portion (20) carries a plurality of relatively long, soft bristle tufts (31) arranged in transverse rows and a plurality of relatively short, hard bristle tufts (32) arranged in transverse rows sandwiched between the transverse rows of the plurality of relatively long, soft bristle tufts (31). The curved head portion (20) has a small radius of curvature of between 1.4 and 1.8 centimeters, optimally 1.5 centimeters, while the relatively long, soft bristle tufts (31) each extend radially from the curved head portion (20) by a distance of between 0.8 and 1.2 centimeters, optimally 1 centimeter. In this manner, the entire arrangement (30) of bristle tufts is made to converge substantially on the area of an individual tooth and its surrounding gum line.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A toothbrush comprising:
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an elongated handle portion extending in a longitudinal direction; a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is spaced from the first end in the longitudinal direction, wherein a bent surface is provided on the head portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein the bent surface bends as it extends in the longitudinal direction; a fist plurality of bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the bent surface, the first plurality o bristle tufts being arranged in a first plurality of rows oriented transverse to the longitudinal direction; and a second plurality of bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the bent surface, the second plurality of bristle tufts being arranged in a second plurality of rows oriented transverse to the longitudinal direction, wherein each of the first plurality of bristle tufts comprise relatively long bristles, and each of the second plurality of bristle tufts comprise relatively short bristles, and wherein all of the bristles of the first plurality of bristle tufts extend substantially an equal distance from the bent surface, and wherein all of the bristles of the second plurality of bristle tufts extend substantially an equal distance from the bent surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A toothbrush for cleaning individual teeth, comprising:
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an elongated handle portion extending in a longitudinal direction; a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is spaced from the second end in the longitudinal direction, wherein a concave surface is provided on the head portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein the concave surface bends as it extends in the longitudinal direction; a first plurality of bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the concave surface; a second plurality f bristle tufts secured to the head portion and extending from the concave surface; wherein the concave surface defines part of a circular cylinder having a radius of curvature of between 1.4 and 1.8 centimeters, wherein the first plurality of bristle tufts comprise bristles which extend between 0.8 and 1.2 centimeters from the concave surface substantially towards a center of curvature of the concave surface, and wherein the second plurality of bristle tufts comprise bristles which extend from the concave surface substantially towards the center of curvature of the concave surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A toothbrush for cleaning individual teeth, comprising:
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an elongated handle portion extending in a longitudinal direction; a head portion connected to the handle portion, the head portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is spaced from the second end in the longitudinal direction, wherein a bent surface is provided on the head portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein the bent surface bends as it extends in the longitudinal direction; and a plurality of bristle tufts, each of the plurality of bristle tufts being secured to the head portion and extending in a direction from the bent surface to a free end; wherein at least a first one of the plurality of bristle tufts is secured to the head portion at a portion near the first end, at least a second one of the plurality of bristle tufts is secured to the head portion at a position near the second end, wherein an angle of between 60 and 100 degrees is formed between the direction of the first one of the plurality of bristle tufts and the direction of the second one of the plurality of bristle tufts, and wherein the free end of the first one of the plurality of bristle tufts is spaced from the free end of the second one of the plurality of bristle tufts by a distance not more than about 1.2 centimeters in the longitudinal direction, whereby the plurality of bristle tufts are made to converge substantially on the area of an individual tooth and its surrounding gum line. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification