Plaque removing toothbrush
First Claim
1. A toothbrush head and a handle, the head having a surface, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, tufts of bristles extending generally upwardly from said surface, the tufts arranged in three group of rows wherein each row of said three groups is transverse to said longitudinal axis and is longitudinally spaced from next adjacent rows, the tufts of each row of the first group being shorter in height than those of the other rows, the tufts in each row of the second group so arranged that the endmost tuft in each row thereof tilts laterally outwardly toward a respective side of said head and the remaining tufts of each row of said second group extend substantially perpendicularly to said head surface, some of said first and second groups alternating with each other along the longitudinal axis of the head, said third group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of said head.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toothbrush whose tufts comprise three distinct kinds of rows, with each row oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head. The tufts of the first kind are the shortest. The endmost tufts on each row of the second kind tilt laterally outwardly by about 12 degrees. The tufts of the third kind are nearest the end of the head farthest from the handle and diverge from each other, with each tuft thereof tilting laterally at an angle of about 30 degrees and forwardly at about 14 degrees. In a first embodiment, each row of the first kind comprises a single, wide tuft. In a second embodiment, each row of the first kind has a plurality of laterally spaced round tufts. In a third embodiment, each row of the first kind comprises a plurality of laterally spaced rectangular tufts. All of the tufts may also be considered as defining four functional groups of tufts, with each of these four groups performing a specific function during brushing. The arrangement and orientation of the tufts yields a uniform cleaning action substantially independent of brushing direction or technique.
179 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A toothbrush head and a handle, the head having a surface, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, tufts of bristles extending generally upwardly from said surface, the tufts arranged in three group of rows wherein each row of said three groups is transverse to said longitudinal axis and is longitudinally spaced from next adjacent rows, the tufts of each row of the first group being shorter in height than those of the other rows, the tufts in each row of the second group so arranged that the endmost tuft in each row thereof tilts laterally outwardly toward a respective side of said head and the remaining tufts of each row of said second group extend substantially perpendicularly to said head surface, some of said first and second groups alternating with each other along the longitudinal axis of the head, said third group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of said head.
- 12. A toothbrush head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts defining (1) a bristle bar group of tufts for cleaning the broad surfaces of the teeth, said bristle bar group defined by longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located substantially medially of the head, (2) an interproximal group of spaced apart bristle tufts for cleaning crevices between teeth and defined by longitudinally spaced rows having laterally spaced tufts and located substantially medially of the head (3) a gumline bristle group of laterally spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the head periphery, each said gumline tuft tilting laterally outwardly (4) a leading tip group having spaced apart tufts for cleaning the teeth at the back of the mouth, said latter group including two tufts which tile laterally and which are located nearest the free end of the head.
Specification