EP1538946A2 - Zahnbürste - Google Patents
ZahnbürsteInfo
- Publication number
- EP1538946A2 EP1538946A2 EP03788576A EP03788576A EP1538946A2 EP 1538946 A2 EP1538946 A2 EP 1538946A2 EP 03788576 A EP03788576 A EP 03788576A EP 03788576 A EP03788576 A EP 03788576A EP 1538946 A2 EP1538946 A2 EP 1538946A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cleaning elements
- toothbrush
- head
- bristles
- cleaning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
- A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
- A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
- A46B9/005—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
- A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
- A46B9/028—Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
- A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to a toothbrush, either manual or powered, which includes a handle and a head.
- Cleaning elements are mounted to the head such as tufts of bristles. When toothpaste is applied to the cleaning elements the user inserts the head into the mouth and brushes the teeth in a known manner .
- the head of a conventional toothbrush usually has a flat or slightly altered surface to which cleaning elements are attached.
- the cleaning elements are strands of plastic material (s) formed into tufts, bundles or other groupings . The strands are attached to the head either before or after forming the toothbrush.
- Cleaning elements should be arranged in the head so that all areas of the teeth are cleansed, particularly the interproximal spaces .
- the transverse profile may be concave, "V” or "U” shaped (Column 1, lines 53-66) .
- the greater dimension of the strips is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush (column 2, lines 32-40, Figs 5-7); in another embodiment perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Figs. 1-4) .
- the use of the flatter (thin bristle) strip material wipes the tooth surfaces (column 3 , lines 63-65) .
- United States Patent No. 5,341,537 issued August 30, 1994 and assigned to the assignee of the instant application discloses an arrangement of bristles designed to improve removal of plaque from teeth.
- Three groups of cleaning elements are disclosed. The first is a relatively wide set of elements arranged in rows perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. This group is generally shorter than the other groups of cleaning elements. The second group is also aligned with the first group in rows but with the outboard tufts of cleaning elements slanted toward the outside periphery • of the toothbrush head.
- the third group of cleaning elements is tilted laterally (about 30E) towards the outside of the toothbrush head and tilted to a lesser degree to the distal and/or proximal end of the toothbrush head (column 3, lines 25-56) .
- This angulation of some bristles assists in sweeping plaque from the teeth at the gumline and from in-between teeth (column 5, lines 10-16) .
- This invention addresses the problem of getting the cleansing action of toothbrush bristles into the interproximal areas of the teeth.
- a problem common to many prior art toothbrushes is that the stiffness of some bristles keeps other bristles away from the teeth.
- the bristles readily cleanse the outer surfaces of the teeth but few bristles reach the areas between teeth, i.e., the interproximal areas.
- This invention solves this problem by using alternating sets of cleaning elements or bristles.
- One set is longer than the other and has relatively rigid bristles that can reach into the interproximal areas.
- the other set comprises shorter, springier bristles that easily compress under load.
- the first set of more rigid bris- ties are spaced from each other a distance that approximates the average width of a tooth so that they are better positioned to fit into the areas between the teeth.
- the sets of shorter springier bristles are located in the areas between the sets of longer rigid bristles .
- the shorter bristles are preferably crimped or otherwise constructed to permit ready compression when the user applies pressure on the toothbrush. As the shorter, springier bristles compress under that pressure, the longer rigid bristles will extend further into the interproximal areas. This combination of bristle types facilitates cleansing of all portions of the teeth.
- Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective view of the manual toothbrush head of this invention having a set of long, relatively rigid bristles alternating with shorter, springer bristles;
- Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure
- Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1.
- Figures 4-6 are side elevational views showing alternative configurations of long bristles.
- Figure 7 is a top plan view of a power toothbrush which includes the bristle arrangements of Figures 1-4.
- Figure 8 illustrates the bristles of the toothbrush of this invention and their contact with teeth of a user of the toothbrush.
- FIGS 1-4 illustrate a manual toothbrush 10 in accordance with this invention.
- toothbrush 10 includes a handle 12 and a head 14.
- Han- die 12 may include a suitable grip pad made of an elastomeric material.
- the invention is primarily directed to the arrangement of cleaning elements relative to head 14.
- head 14 has a base portion 18 with an upper surface 20 which forms the base for inserting cleaning elements 22.
- one set of cleaning elements 24 is longitudinally aligned in rows and is relatively rigid relative to a second set of cleaning elements 26 which is shorter and springier.
- the invention is particularly suitable for cleaning elements in the form of strands or bristles attached via anchor free tufting (AFT) .
- AFT anchor free tufting
- a plate or membrane is mounted in the head generally by using ultrasonic welding of the plate or mem- brane to portions of the head. Bristles extend through the plate or membrane. The free or outer ends of the bristles perform the cleaning function. The inner ends of the bristles on the opposite side of the plate or membrane are melted together by the application of heat to create the anchor free tufting.
- a first row of relatively rigid bristles or elastomeric walls or fingers 24 is arrayed across the distal end of the manual toothbrush head 14 in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. Moving toward the handle 12 the next row of cleaning elements 26 is shorter and springier (less rigid) than the adjacent row of cleaning elements 24.
- the flexibility of bristles 26 can be achieved by imparting an "S" shape to the bristles before or during assembly into the toothbrush head 14. Other ways of imparting relative stiffness to bristles 24 and flexibil- ity to bristles 26 are known to those skilled in the toothbrush art .
- the balance of head 14 contains alternating rows of relatively rigid and springy cleaning elements 22.
- the spacing between adjacent rows of relatively rigid cleaning elements preferably approximates typical spacing of teeth in the human mouth. As illustrated in Figure 8 the spacing facilitates the placement of the longer, relatively rigid bristles in the interproximal areas of the teeth when pressure (represented by the ar- row in Figure 8) is applied to the toothbrush.
- This combination of cleaning elements enhances cleaning of all parts of the teeth, particularly the interproximal areas which are prone to decay because of trapped food and plaque buildup.
- each row of springy cleaning elements 26 comprises a plurality (preferably two) of longitudinally adjacent elements.
- Figure 4 illustrates an alternate configuration 24a of the relatively rigid cleaning elements.
- each row of the relatively rigid cleaning elements comprises longitudinally adjacent elements which have tapered tops and, in combination creates a
- V shape that further facilitate penetration of these elements into the inverted “V " shape of the interproximal areas between teeth.
- the ⁇ V " shape could be achieved by having a single cleaning element with the tapered top to form the "V " .
- Figures 5-6 illustrate a further configuration 26a for the springy cleaning elements.
- the springy cleaning elements 26a are in the form of fiber bristles 28 mounted to floating cleansing pads 30.
- the pads 30 are made from a soft elastomer material to support the cleaning elements 28.
- Pads 30 are compressible. The compressibility could be achieved by having the pads hollow as illustrated in Figures 5-6. In use the support pads 30 collapse under pressure as shown in Figure 6 wherein the arrow shows the pressure applied to one of the pads 30. This allows for deeper interproximal penetration of the adjacent rigid bristles or cleaning elements 24.
- FIG. 5-6 thus provides a variation to the easily compressed "S " shaped cleaning elements 26 of Figures 1-4.
- a pad of fine cleaning elements 28 which could be either elastomer or bristle form are supported by the thin, flexi- ble elastomer supports 30.
- these thin supports collapse, in a similar manner to the "S " elements, allowing deeper penetration of the more rigid bristles 24.
- the row of springy cleaning elements 26a of Figures 5-6 may comprise a plurality of longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements.
- each row of rigid cleaning elements in Figures 5-6 may comprise a plural- ity of longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements.
- each row of rigid cleaning elements 24 may be of longer length across the brush head than the springy cleaning elements 26, as in Figures 1 and 3.
- the inven- tion could be practiced where the springy elements are of longer length across the brush head.
- each of the cleaning elements extends laterally across generally the entire width of the cleaning head 14 with the other elements extending a lesser distance, as in Figures 1 and 3.
- the invention may be practiced where one or more rows of either the rigid cleaning elements and/or the springy cleaning elements comprise a plurality of individual cleaning elements extending lat- erally across the brush head. This would be particularly used where the cleaning elements are, for example, natural or fiber bristles rather than the illustrated elastomeric walls.
- the use of a plurality of laterally aligned cleaning elements in a single row could also be achieved by elastomeric fingers.
- Various combinations may also be used in the practices of this invention such as having one or more rows of rigid and/or springy cleaning elements with a plurality of longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements in that row (such as in Figure 4) , while other rows of the same type of cleaning elements have only a single set of cleaning elements in that row.
- the combination of the sets of alternating rows of cleaning elements has the rigid cleaning elements as the outermost row of the combination.
- cleaning elements Any suitable form of cleaning elements may be used as the cleaning elements 22 in the broad practice of this invention.
- cleaning elements is intended to be used in a generic sense which could include conventional fiber bristles or massage elements or other forms of cleaning elements such as elastomeric fingers or walls arranged in a circular cross-sectional shape or any type of desired shape including straight portions or sinusoidal portions.
- the bristles could be mounted to tuft blocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuft blocks so that the base of the bristles is mounted within or below the tuft block.
- cleaning elements are merely for exem- plary purposes.
- the invention can be practiced with various combinations (such as AFT bristles, etc.) and/or with the same bristle or cleaning element materials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bris- ties, etc.)
- the cleaning elements may be generally perpendicular to head 14, some or all of the cleaning elements may be angled at various angles with respect to the upper surface 20 of head 14. It is thereby possible to select the combi- nation of cleaning element configurations, materials and orientations to achieve specific intended results to deliver additional oral health benefits, like enhanced cleaning, tooth polishing, tooth whitening and/or massaging of the gums.
- Handle 12, including head 14, is preferably made of hard plastic material which is used for manual toothbrushes .
- FIG. 7 illustrates a toothbrush 10A which includes a power driven movable disc or section 40 having cleaning elements.
- the movable section 40 could be oscillated rotationally such as by using the type of drive mecha- nism shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,625,916, or could move in and out using the type of drive mechanism shown in U.S. Patent No. RE 35,941; all of the details of both patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto .
- the other types of drives referred to above could move section 40 in other manners and directions.
- Figure 7 shows movable section 40 to be at the distal end of the head, the movable section (s) could be located at any desired location on the head.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geometry (AREA)
- Brushes (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US40442102P | 2002-08-19 | 2002-08-19 | |
US404421P | 2002-08-19 | ||
PCT/US2003/025721 WO2004016188A2 (en) | 2002-08-19 | 2003-08-18 | Toothbrush |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1538946A2 true EP1538946A2 (de) | 2005-06-15 |
Family
ID=31888361
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03788576A Withdrawn EP1538946A2 (de) | 2002-08-19 | 2003-08-18 | Zahnbürste |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050138744A1 (de) |
EP (1) | EP1538946A2 (de) |
KR (1) | KR20050065533A (de) |
CN (1) | CN1688226A (de) |
AU (1) | AU2003263865A1 (de) |
BR (1) | BR0313617A (de) |
CA (1) | CA2495388A1 (de) |
MX (1) | MXPA05001988A (de) |
WO (1) | WO2004016188A2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7841041B2 (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2010-11-30 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
US8695148B2 (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2014-04-15 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush |
US7934284B2 (en) | 2003-02-11 | 2011-05-03 | Braun Gmbh | Toothbrushes |
US20050000043A1 (en) | 2003-04-23 | 2005-01-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Electric toothbrushes |
US8042217B2 (en) | 2004-11-02 | 2011-10-25 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush and method of making the same |
USD651407S1 (en) | 2009-01-23 | 2012-01-03 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush |
USD657568S1 (en) | 2010-02-26 | 2012-04-17 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
USD657569S1 (en) | 2010-02-26 | 2012-04-17 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Head portion of an oral care implement |
US20230078068A1 (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2023-03-16 | Keen Products Inc. | Manual toothbrush for animals |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2797424A (en) * | 1954-10-20 | 1957-07-02 | Olson Alfred | Toothbrush |
US3230562A (en) * | 1963-07-19 | 1966-01-25 | Marjorie A Birch | Tooth brush and gum massager |
IT8136121V0 (it) | 1981-11-06 | 1981-11-06 | Avantgarde Spa | Spazzolino da denti munito di setole ad altezza differenziata |
AU647782B2 (en) | 1990-03-29 | 1994-03-31 | Colgate-Palmolive Company, The | Toothbrush |
IL96413A0 (en) * | 1990-11-20 | 1991-08-16 | Ohad Paz | Brush including spring-mounted bristle holders |
US5305492A (en) * | 1992-11-03 | 1994-04-26 | Optiva Corporation | Brush element for an acoustic toothbrush |
US5419001A (en) * | 1994-03-29 | 1995-05-30 | Wan; John C. | Toothbrush |
GB9423421D0 (en) | 1994-11-19 | 1995-01-11 | Smithkline Beecham Plc | Novel device |
EP0843524B1 (de) * | 1994-12-01 | 2001-10-24 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Zahnbürste mit verlängerten borsten |
DE19615098A1 (de) * | 1996-04-17 | 1997-10-23 | Coronet Werke Gmbh | Bürste zur Zahnfleischmassage und Zahnreinigung und Verfahren zur Herstellung der Borsten einer solchen Bürste |
US6058541A (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 2000-05-09 | Gillette Canada Inc. | Crimped bristle toothbrush |
US6442785B1 (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2002-09-03 | Dane Q. Robinson | Dental brush with enhanced bristles |
-
2003
- 2003-08-18 EP EP03788576A patent/EP1538946A2/de not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-08-18 CA CA002495388A patent/CA2495388A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-08-18 CN CNA038244063A patent/CN1688226A/zh active Pending
- 2003-08-18 AU AU2003263865A patent/AU2003263865A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-08-18 MX MXPA05001988A patent/MXPA05001988A/es unknown
- 2003-08-18 BR BR0313617-5A patent/BR0313617A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2003-08-18 WO PCT/US2003/025721 patent/WO2004016188A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-08-18 KR KR1020057002706A patent/KR20050065533A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2005
- 2005-02-18 US US11/062,064 patent/US20050138744A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2004016188A2 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
MXPA05001988A (es) | 2005-04-28 |
WO2004016188A2 (en) | 2004-02-26 |
KR20050065533A (ko) | 2005-06-29 |
CN1688226A (zh) | 2005-10-26 |
BR0313617A (pt) | 2005-06-21 |
CA2495388A1 (en) | 2004-02-26 |
WO2004016188A3 (en) | 2004-03-25 |
US20050138744A1 (en) | 2005-06-30 |
AU2003263865A1 (en) | 2004-03-03 |
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Legal Events
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