Toothbrush comprising a brush member having bristles of different lengths, and brush member having bristles of different lengths for a tooth brush

• US 6,237,178 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Krammer, Michael, Sturm, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 15/28, 15/22.4, 15/22.2, 15/22.1, 15/29, 15/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/05 Varied length bristle

Abstract

Toothbrush comprising a brush member having bristles of different lengths, and brush member having bristles of different lengths for a tooth brush. In a toothbrush (1) comprising a grip member (2) and a brush member (36) connected to the grip member (2), which brush member has a longitudinal axis (39) and carries a bristle holder (40) which is mounted on the brush member (36) so as to be movable with respect to a holder axis (41) and which has a holder surface (69) which extends substantially transversely to the holder axis (41) and from which, in the area of the holder surface (69), bristles (70) project transversely to the holder surface (69) and together form a bristle field (71), the free ends of at least a part of the bristles (70) of the bristle field (71) arranged around the holder axis (41) are bounded by two non-stepped enveloping surfaces (72, 73) which are inclined continuously with respect to the bristle holder (40), which enveloping surfaces are arranged substantially in a V-shape relative to the holder surface (69) of the bristle holder (40) and intersect one another along a line of intersection (74) at the location of the holder axis (41), the line of intersection (74) of the two enveloping surfaces (72, 73) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (39) of the brush member (36).

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising a grip member and a brush member connected to the grip member, which brush member has a longitudinal axis and comprises a brush holder pivotably mounted to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about an axis, and whose end remote from the grip member carries a bristle holder, which bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about a holder axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis, and which bristle holder has a holder surface which extends substantially transversely to the holder axis and from which in the area of the holder surface, bristles project transversely to the holder surface, which bristles together form a bristle field and are arranged around the holder axis, wherein:

the free ends of most of the bristles of the bristle field arranged around the holder axis are bounded by only two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder, which enveloping surfaces are arranged substantially in a V-shape and intersect one another along a line of intersection at the location of the holder axis,

the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member, and

the bristle holder is at a center position when the line of intersection and the longitudinal axis form an angle of 60°

to 120°

.

2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free ends of all the bristles of the bristle field are bounded by only two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder.

3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two enveloping surfaces are formed by two enveloping planes.

4. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, when the bristle holder is in its center position, the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces and the longitudinal axis of the brush member include an angle α which lies in arrange between 80° and

100°

.

5. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angle α

has a value of 90°

.

6. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tangential plane to each of the two enveloping surfaces can be construed at the location of their line of intersection, and the two tangential planes include an angle β

with one another, which angle lies in a range between 150° and

170°

.

7. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angle β

has a value of 160°

.

8. A brush member for a toothbrush, which brush member can be coupled detachably to a grip member of the toothbrush,

which brush member has a longitudinal axis and comprises a brush holder pivotably mounted to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about an axis, and at one end carries a bristle holder, which bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about a holder axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis, and which bristle holder has a holder surface which extends substantially transversely to the holder axis and from which, in the area of the holder surface, bristles project transversely to the holder surface, which bristles together form a bristle field and are arranged around the holder axis,

wherein:

the free ends of most of the bristles of the bristle field arranged around the holder axis are bounded by only two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder, which enveloping surfaces are arranged substantially in a V-shape and intersect one another along a line of intersection at the location of the holder axis,

the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member, and

the bristle holder is at a center position when the line of intersection and the longitudinal axis form an angle of 60°

to 120°

.

9. A brush member as claimed in claim 8, wherein the free ends of all the bristles of the bristle field are bounded by only two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder.

10. A brush member as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two enveloping surfaces are formed by two enveloping planes.

11. A brush member as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when the bristle holder is in its center position, the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces and the longitudinal axis of the brush member include an angle α

which lies in a range between 80° and

100°

.

12. A brush member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the angle α

has a value of 90°

.

13. A brush member as claimed in claim 8, wherein a tangential plane to each of the two enveloping surfaces can be construed at the location of their line of intersection, and the two tangential planes include an angle β

with one another, which angle lies in a range between 150° and

170°

.

14. A brush member as claimed in claim 13, wherein the angle β

has a value of 160°

.

15. A toothbrush comprising a grip member and a brush member connected to the grip member, which brush member has a longitudinal axis and comprises a brush holder pivotably mounted to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about an axis, and whose end remote from the grip member carries a bristle holder, which bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about a holder axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis, and which bristle holder has a holder surface which extends substantially transversely to the holder axis and from which in the area of the holder surface, bristles project transversely to the holder surface, which bristles together form a bristle field and are arranged around the holder axis, wherein:

the free ends of at least a part of the bristles of the bristle field arranged around the holder axis are bounded by two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder, which enveloping surfaces are arranged substantially in a V-shape and intersect one another along a line of intersection at the location of the holder axis,

the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member,

the bristle holder is at a center position when the line of intersection and the longitudinal axis form an angle of 60°

to 120°

,

brush member in addition comprises an interdental bristle holder, which is movable beyond a center position and is disposed adjacent the bristle holder substantially in the longitudinal direction of the brush member,

which interdental bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be movable and has a further holder surface, and from which at the location of the further holder surface interdental bristles project transversely to the further holder surface,

which interdental bristles together form an interdental bristle field and are disposed at opposite sides of a central plane which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member,

the free ends of the interdental bristles being bounded by two non-stepped further enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the further holder surface of the interdental bristle holder, which further enveloping surfaces extend as a roof-shape with respect to the further holder surface of the interdental bristle holder and intersect one another along a further line of intersection at the location of the central plane, and the further line of intersection of the two further enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member.

16. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two further enveloping surfaces are formed by two further enveloping planes.

17. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 15, wherein, when the interdental bristle holder is in its center position, the further line of intersection of the two further enveloping surfaces and the longitudinal axis of the brush member include an angle γ

which lies in a range between 80° and

100°

.

18. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 17 wherein the angle γ

has a value of 90°

.

19. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 15, wherein a further tangential plane to each of the two further enveloping surfaces can be construed at the location of the further line of intersection, and the two further tangential planes include an angle δ

with one another, which angle lies in a range between 110° and

130°

.

20. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 19, wherein the angle δ

has a value of 120°

.

21. A brush member for a toothbrush, which brush member can be coupled detachably to a grip member of the toothbrush,

which brush member has a longitudinal axis and comprises a brush holder pivotably mounted to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about an axis, and at one end carries a bristle holder, which bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be pivotable between a normal position and a deflection position about a holder axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis, and which bristle holder has a holder surface which extends substantially transversely to the holder axis and from which, in the area of the holder surface, bristles project transversely to the holder surface, which bristles together form a bristle field and are arranged around the holder axis, wherein:

the free ends of at least a part of the bristles of the bristle field arranged around the holder axis are bounded by two non-stepped further enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the holder surface of the bristle holder, which further enveloping surfaces are arranged substantially in a V-shape and intersect one another along a line of intersection at the location of the holder axis,

the line of intersection of the two enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member,

the bristle holder is at a center position when the line of intersection and the longitudinal axis form an angle of 60°

to 120°

,

the brush member also comprises an interdental bristle holder, which is movable beyond a center position and is disposed adjacent the bristle holder substantially in the longitudinal direction of the brush member,

which interdental bristle holder is mounted on the brush member so as to be movable and has a further holder surface, and from which at the location of the further holder surface interdental bristles project transversely to the further holder surface,

which interdental bristles together form an interdental bristle field and are disposed at opposite sides of a central plane which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member,

wherein

the free ends of the interdental bristles are bounded by two non-stepped enveloping surfaces which are inclined continuously with respect to the further holder surface of the interdental bristle holder, which enveloping surfaces extend as a roof-shape with respect to the further holder surface of the interdental bristle holder and intersect one another along a further line of intersection at the location of the central plane, and the further line of intersection of the two further enveloping surfaces extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the brush member.

22. A brush member as claimed in claim 21, wherein the two further enveloping surfaces are formed by two further enveloping planes.

23. A brush member as claimed in claim 21, wherein, when the interdental bristle holder is in its center position, the further line of intersection of the two further enveloping surfaces and the longitudinal axis of the brush member include an angle γ

which lies in a range between 80° and

100°

.

24. A brush member as claimed in claim 23, wherein the angle γ

has a value of 90°

.

25. A brush member as claimed in claim 21, wherein a further tangential plane to each of the two further enveloping surfaces can be construed at the location of the further line of intersection, and the two further tangential planes include an angle δ

with one another, which angle lies in a range between 110° and

130°

.

26. A brush member as claimed in claim 25, wherein the angle δ

has a value of 120°

.