Toothbrush

• US 5,446,940 A
• Filed: 06/08/1994
• Issued: 09/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Kemp, James H., Crawford, John C., Mintel, Thomas E., Curtis, John P., Heinzelman, Bert D., Lamond, Donald R., Rustogi, Kedar N., Edelman, Laura H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brinson, Patrick F.
• Application Number:
  US08/253,444
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167.1, 15/111, 15/DIG. 5, 15/106, 15/159.1, 15/110
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• 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: A46B 9/025 the bristles or the tufts being arranged in an angled position relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/026 where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat A46B9/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/05 Varied length bristle

Abstract

A toothbrush whose tufts comprise three distinct groups of rows, with each row oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head. The tufts of the first group 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 group are nearest the end of the head farthest from the handle and diverge from each other. In one embodiment, each tuft of the third kind tilts laterally at an angle of about 30 degrees and forwardly at about 14 degrees. In a first embodiment, each row of the first group comprises a single, wide tuft. In a second embodiment, each row of the first group has a plurality of laterally spaced round tufts. In a third embodiment, each row of the first group comprises a plurality of laterally spaced quadrangular 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.

Claims

1. A toothbrush head having a handle attached thereto, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a flat 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 transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located widthwise substantially medially of the head, said bristle bar tufts being shorter than those of any other group, (2) an interproximal group of longitudinally 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 spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the periphery of the head sides, 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 at least two tufts each of which tilt laterally outwardly toward a respective opposite side of the head and which are located nearest the free end of the head, said interproximal tufts and said gumline tufts being in the same rows transverse to said longitudinal axis, most of said bristle bar tufts and said interproximal tufts alternating in transverse rows along the longitudinal axis of the head, two rows of said interproximal tufts being next adjacent and located nearest said free end of the head between one of said bristle bar tufts and said leading tip group.

2. The toothbrush head of claim 1 wherein that transverse row most remote from said head free end is defined by a transverse row of said interproximal and gumline tufts.

3. A toothbrush head having a handle attached thereto, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a flat 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 transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, (2) an interproximal group of longitudinally spaced apart bristle tufts for cleaning crevices between teeth and defined by longitudinally spaced rows having laterally spaced tufts (3) a gumline bristle group of spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the periphery of the head sides, 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 at least two tufts each of which tilt laterally outwardly toward a respective opposite side of the head and which are located nearest the free end of the head, at least some of said bristle bar tufts and said interproximal tufts alternating in transverse rows along the longitudinal axis of the head.

4. The toothbrush head of claim 3 wherein that transverse row most remote from said head free end is defined by a transverse row of said interproximal and gumline tufts.