Brush head for toothbrush

• US 7,832,042 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Fritsch, Thomas, Boland, Bernhard, Stolper, Michael, DePuydt, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US12/289,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/28, 15/222, 15/224, 15/29, 15/23, 151/671, 151/672, 152/01
• US Class Current: 15/22.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven
• 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 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/32 reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

An elongated toothbrush head defining a longitudinal axis includes a first brush member having a first brush support surface and a second brush member which is a pivot arm mounted for pivotal movement on the first brush member. The pivot arm has a second brush support surface including a first portion and a second portion which are joined together and include free ends which are spaced apart. The first portion and the second portion of the second brush support surface are capable of pivoting relative to the first brush support surface about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head and laterally across the pivot arm. One or more teeth cleaning elements project from the first portion and the second portion and are inclined at an angle to the second brush support surface.

Claims

1. An elongated toothbrush head defining a longitudinal axis, said toothbrush head comprising:

a first brush member having a first brush support surface;

a second brush member comprising a pivot arm mounted for pivotal movement on the first brush member, the pivot arm having a second brush support surface including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion of the second brush support surface being joined together and having free ends which are spaced apart;

the first portion and the second portion of the second brush support surface being capable of pivoting relative to the first brush support surface about an axis which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head and laterally across the pivot arm; and

one or more teeth cleaning elements projecting from the first portion and the second portion and inclined at an angle to the second brush support surface.

2. The toothbrush head of claim 1, wherein:

the first portion and second portion of the second brush support surface are spaced apart longitudinally.

3. The toothbrush head of claim 1, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements on the first portion and the second portion are inclined at an acute angle to the second support surface.

4. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the first brush support surface has one or more teeth cleaning elements mounted substantially perpendicular to the first brush support surface.

5. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements on the first portion and the second portion are inclined in the same direction.

6. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements on the first portion and the second portion are inclined in opposite directions.

7. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements comprise at least one tuft of bristles adjacent to the free end of the first portion and at least one tuft of bristles adjacent to the free end of the second portion which are inclined in the same direction.

8. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements comprise at least one tuft of bristles adjacent to the free end of the first portion and at least one tuft of bristles adjacent to the free end of the second portion which are inclined in opposite directions.

9. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements on the first brush support surface comprise a plurality of bristle tufts which are substantially perpendicular to the first brush support surface.

10. The toothbrush head of claim 3, wherein:

the teeth cleaning elements on the first portion and the second portion are inclined away from a line perpendicular to the second brush support surface at an angle of about 1 to 20 degrees.