U.S. patent application number 11/254366 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for toothbrushes.
Invention is credited to Laurence Robert Punshon.
Application Number | 20060080794 11/254366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35709354 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060080794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Punshon; Laurence Robert |
April 20, 2006 |
Toothbrushes
Abstract
A toothbrush is provided. The toothbrush has a handle and a head
attached to the handle. The head has a free end most distal from
the handle and opposed side edges. A first group of bristle tufts
are disposed adjacent the free end of the head. The first group of
bristle tufts have bristles that include a slip agent. A second
group of bristle tufts are disposed along the interior of the head.
The second group of bristle tufts include textured bristles. A
third group of bristle tufts are disposed adjacent the side edges
of the head. The third group of bristle tufts include non-textured
bristles.
Inventors: |
Punshon; Laurence Robert;
(Berkshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
WINTON HILL TECHNICAL CENTER - BOX 161
6110 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Family ID: |
35709354 |
Appl. No.: |
11/254366 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60620611 |
Oct 20, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 1/00 20130101; A46B
9/06 20130101; A46B 2200/1066 20130101; A46B 9/04 20130101; A46B
9/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04 |
Claims
1. A toothbrush, comprising: a handle; a head attached to said
handle, said head having a free end most distal from said handle
and opposed side edges; a first group of bristle tufts disposed
adjacent said free end of said head, said first group of bristle
tufts comprising bristles having a slip agent; a second group of
bristle tufts disposed along the interior of said head, said second
group of bristle tufts comprising textured bristles; and a third
group of bristle tufts disposed adjacent said side edges of said
head, said third group of bristle tufts comprising non-textured
bristles.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/620,611, filed Oct. 20, 2004, the substance of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and, more
particularly, to toothbrushes having a combination of bristle
types.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Toothbrushes utilizing various types of bristles are known.
However, there is continued desire to provide improved cleaning,
whitening, polishing, mouth feel, and/or other benefits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] While the specification concludes with claims directed to
the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be
better understood from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush made in
accordance with the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a tuft pattern for the head of
the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another tuft pattern for the
head of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another tuft pattern for the
head of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another bristle tuft
profile suitable for use with the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another tuft pattern for the
head of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Reference will now be made to various embodiments of the
present invention examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings wherein like numerals indicate the same
elements throughout the views. All patents publications referenced
herein are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention
is directed to toothbrushes generally, including both electric and
manual toothbrushes. Referring to FIG. 1, a manual toothbrush 20
will now be described. The toothbrush 20 comprises a handle 22 and
a head 24. The head has a plurality of bristle tufts. The bristle
tufts 26 disposed adjacent the free end 28 of the head 24 comprise
bristles that comprise a slip agent which reduces the coefficient
of friction of the bristle. Some slip agents which can be used are
a fluorinated olefin polymer (e.g., poly(tetrafluoroethylene)),
boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, graphites, fullerene and talc.
The slip agent can be a admixed with the bristle material or can
form part of a coating on the bristle. The tufts 26 of bristles are
arranged in a group 28 at the free end 28 of the head 24. An
example of one bristle suitable for use in the tufts 26 is
described in USPN 2002/0120995.
[0012] Bristle tufts 32 are disposed along the inner portion of the
head 24 and can extend from the group of tufts 28 to end of the
head 24 that is connected to the handle 22. The tufts 28 can be
formed from bristles that have a micro or macro non-linear shape or
texture associated with the bristles. Examples include crimped
bristles, embossed bristles, flagged bristles, and bristles having
scales, serrations, projections, pockets, dimples, or ridges about
their outer surface. Some suitable bristles for tufts 28 are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,058,541; 3,295,156; 4,373,541;
3,567,569; 4,616,374; 3,671,381; 5,770,307; 6,141,818; and
2,317,485.
[0013] Bristle tufts 34 are disposed adjacent the side edges 36 of
the toothbrush head 24 and can extend from adjacent tufts 26
substantially along the length of the group of tufts 32. Tufts 34
thus form one or more outer rows of tufts. Tufts 34 can be formed
from non-textured bristles as are know in the art. An example of
some non-textured bristles are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,151,745 and 5,926,897. The bristles of tufts 34 can be formed
from a thermoplastic elastomer (e.g., natural or artificial rubber)
or traditional polymeric materials such as NYLON. The bristle tufts
34 can also be provided in the form of upstanding elastomeric
elements such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,294 and WO
00/76369. It is contemplated that bristle tufts 32 and 34 can be
exchanged so that non-textured bristle tufts 34 are disposed along
the interior of the head 24 and textured bristle tufts 32 form the
outer tuft rows of head 24. It is also contemplated that the
bristle tufts 32 and 34 and be intermixed so that both disposed
along the interior of the head 24 or both form the outer tuft rows
of head 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the non-textured bristle
tufts 34 may wholly or partially encircle the textured tufts 32.
The textured bristle tufts 32 may extend above the non-textured
bristle tufts 34, as seen in FIG. 5, in order to improve the
effectiveness of the textured bristle tufts 32. The bristle tufts
26 comprising bristles incorporating a slip agent may extend above
both the textured bristle tufts 32 and the non-textured tufts 34 as
seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 for better cleaning.
[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the bristle
tufts 26 comprising bristles incorporating a slip agent may be
provided along the interior of the head 24, as seen in FIG. 6. The
bristle tufts 26 may wholly or partially fill the interior of the
head 26. In FIG. 6, the bristle tufts 26 are shown alternating with
rows of non-textured bristle tufts 34.
[0015] While the embodiments of the present invention have been
described herein with respect to the bristle tufts profiles
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, it is contemplated that other bristle
tuft profiles can be provided.
[0016] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation for any document is not to be construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present
invention.
[0017] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claim
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
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