Bristle for a toothbrush, particularly for an electric toothbrush, and method for its manufacture
First Claim
1. A toothbrush bristle and a bristle carrier together forming a toothbrush, said bristle comprising a plastic monofilament defining in a cross-sectional area thereof at least first and second adjoining zones and at least one region of preferred breaking between said first and second zones,said first and second zones being defined from a divided mass flow that is rejoined along an interface to define said at least one region of preferred breaking, said interface being substantially free of an internal void, wherein a free end of the bristle is rounded, and at the end of said toothbrush bristle remote from said carrier said first zone being separated from said second zone by breakage along said interface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a bristle for a toothbrush, particularly for an electric toothbrush, and to a method for its manufacture. The bristle is manufactured from a monofilament (5) made of plastic. The bristle has in its cross section at least two zones (6, 7) and at least one point of preferred breaking.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A toothbrush bristle and a bristle carrier together forming a toothbrush, said bristle comprising a plastic monofilament defining in a cross-sectional area thereof at least first and second adjoining zones and at least one region of preferred breaking between said first and second zones,
said first and second zones being defined from a divided mass flow that is rejoined along an interface to define said at least one region of preferred breaking, said interface being substantially free of an internal void, wherein a free end of the bristle is rounded, and at the end of said toothbrush bristle remote from said carrier said first zone being separated from said second zone by breakage along said interface.
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24. A toothbrush bristle and a bristle carrier together forming a toothbrush, said bristle comprising a plastic monofilament defining in a cross-sectional area thereof at least first and second adjoining zones and at least one region of preferred breaking between said first and second zones,
wherein at least one said zone comprises at least one filler material, and wherein adjacent said zones comprise different filler materials.
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25. A toothbrush bristle and a bristle carrier together forming a toothbrush, said bristle comprising a plastic monofilament defining in a cross-sectional area thereof at least first and second adjoining zones and at least one region of preferred breaking between said first and second zones, and
wherein adjacent said zones comprise different colorants.
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26. A toothbrush bristle and a bristle carrier together forming a toothbrush, said-bristle comprising a plastic monofilament defining in a cross-sectional area thereof at least first and second adjoining zones and at least one region of preferred breaking between said first and second zones, and
wherein a free end of the bristle is rounded.
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34. A method of manufacturing a toothbrush having a toothbrush bristle formed as a plastic monofilament having a cross-sectional area, comprising the steps of
forming a first zone disposed over a first portion of said cross-sectional area, forming a second zone disposed over a second portion of said cross-sectional area adjacent said first portion, forming an interface between adjoining said first and second zones to define a region of preferred breaking along which said first and second zone are frangible, providing a bristle carrier, mounting an end of the bristle to the bristle carrier, and end-rounding a free end of the bristle.
Specification