EP2810580B1 - Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel - Google Patents

Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2810580B1
EP2810580B1 EP13170759.8A EP13170759A EP2810580B1 EP 2810580 B1 EP2810580 B1 EP 2810580B1 EP 13170759 A EP13170759 A EP 13170759A EP 2810580 B1 EP2810580 B1 EP 2810580B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filaments
group
head
tuft
lateral area
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.)
Active
Application number
EP13170759.8A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2810580A1 (de
Inventor
Uwe Jungnickel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gillette Co LLC
Original Assignee
Gillette Co LLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to EP13170759.8A priority Critical patent/EP2810580B1/de
Application filed by Gillette Co LLC filed Critical Gillette Co LLC
Priority to PL13170759T priority patent/PL2810580T3/pl
Priority to ES13170759T priority patent/ES2720880T3/es
Priority to PL14164382T priority patent/PL2810583T3/pl
Priority to EP14164382.5A priority patent/EP2810583B1/de
Priority to ES14164382.5T priority patent/ES2682256T3/es
Priority to PCT/US2014/040128 priority patent/WO2014197291A1/en
Priority to CA2914480A priority patent/CA2914480A1/en
Priority to MX2015016604A priority patent/MX367886B/es
Priority to KR1020157034667A priority patent/KR20160009604A/ko
Priority to KR1020177027460A priority patent/KR101896895B1/ko
Priority to CN201480032098.7A priority patent/CN105263359B/zh
Priority to BR112015029919-9A priority patent/BR112015029919B1/pt
Priority to AU2014275263A priority patent/AU2014275263B2/en
Priority to JP2016517988A priority patent/JP6275832B2/ja
Priority to US14/296,681 priority patent/US10004322B2/en
Priority to PCT/US2014/041054 priority patent/WO2014197677A1/en
Priority to CN201910146538.6A priority patent/CN110051109A/zh
Priority to AU2014274861A priority patent/AU2014274861B2/en
Priority to KR1020157034524A priority patent/KR101819449B1/ko
Priority to CN201480032220.0A priority patent/CN105358009A/zh
Priority to CA2914341A priority patent/CA2914341C/en
Priority to US14/298,403 priority patent/US20140359957A1/en
Publication of EP2810580A1 publication Critical patent/EP2810580A1/de
Priority to HK16105854.6A priority patent/HK1217884A1/zh
Priority to US15/985,779 priority patent/US10729232B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2810580B1 publication Critical patent/EP2810580B1/de
Priority to US16/910,119 priority patent/US11641932B2/en
Priority to US18/302,957 priority patent/US20230248139A1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • A46B9/025—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups the bristles or the tufts being arranged in an angled position relative to each other
    • 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
    • A46B9/026—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat
    • 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
    • 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
    • A46B9/06—Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
    • 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 disclosure is concerned with a head for an oral care implement and in particular with such a head comprising at least one tuft having filaments of different types.
  • Tufts composed of a plurality of filaments for oral care implements, like manual and powered toothbrushes are well known in the art.
  • the tufts are attached to a mounting surface of a head intended for insertion into a user's oral cavity.
  • a grip handle is usually attached to the head, which handle is held by the user during brushing.
  • the head is either permanently connected or repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle.
  • filaments forming one tuft often have substantially the same dimensions and characteristics. While toothbrushes comprising these types of tufts clean the outer buccal face of teeth adequately, they are not as well suited to provide adequate removal of plaque and debris from the gingival margin, interproximal areas, lingual surfaces and other hard to reach areas of the mouth.
  • Tufts composed of two different types of filaments are also known in the art.
  • each type of filament is arranged in a group, wherein an inner group is substantially coaxially enclosed by an outer group to form the tuft.
  • a toothbrush head having a bristle surface from which tufts comprising plural filaments extend in a filament direction.
  • Each tuft comprises shorter filaments having a cross section which does not taper from their lower end toward their upper end and longer filaments which taper from their lower end toward their upper end. The longer bristles are surrounded by the shorter bristles.
  • the tuft-in-tufts known in the art show substantially isotropic bending stiffness.
  • a relatively low bending stiffness results in reduced efficiency of interdental cleaning performance, and, on the other hand, in case the bending stiffness is relatively high, a risk may occur to injure the gums of the user.
  • EP0716821 discloses a toothbrush comprising a bristle field carrier and tufts of bristles fixed to the bristle carrier. The free ends of the bristles extend from the bristle field carrier in at least two different length extensions (cf. claim 1, Fig. 2a ).
  • WO2012/022431 teaches a toothbrush comprising at least one tuft of bristles, wherein the bristles extend in different length extension form a bristle carrier plate to provide the free end of the tuft with a specific topography (cf. abstract, claim 7, Fig. 18).
  • the group of filaments having the greater length has a first bending stiffness in a first direction and a second bending stiffness in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction, and the first bending stiffness is higher than the second bending stiffness, and wherein the first direction of the first bending stiffness is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the head.
  • WO00/51462 Figs. 18-35 show a plurality of different types of tufts comprising filaments of different length extensions.
  • a head for an oral care implement according to claim 1, is provided that comprises:
  • an oral care implement that comprises such head.
  • a head for an oral care implement in accordance with the present disclosure comprises at least one tuft which extends from a mounting surface of the head and has an outer lateral area.
  • the term "outer lateral area” means the outer lateral surface of the tuft excluding the base/bottom and the top surface of the tuft.
  • the tuft may have a circular or non-circular cross-section (the cross-section being perpendicular to length extension of the tuft) and is defined by its outer lateral area.
  • the cross-sectional shape can be ellipsoid, squared, rectangular, triangular, cross-shaped, or it can be a prolate ellipsoid with flattened long sides, even though other shapes may be considered as well.
  • the cross-section of the tuft may have a width from about 2 mm to about 4 mm and a depth from about 2 mm to about 4 mm.
  • the tuft comprises a first group of filaments which have a first lateral area, and at least a second group of filaments which have a second lateral area.
  • the first group and the second group of filaments are arranged in a manner that each of the groups forms at least a portion of the outer lateral area of the tuft, i.e. both groups are exposed with their first and second lateral area, respectively, to the outer surface of the tuft.
  • at least one section of the first lateral area and at least one section of the second lateral area form at least a portion of the outer lateral area of the tuft.
  • the first group of filaments is partially surrounded by or partially abuts on the second group of filaments. Neither the first nor the second group of filaments is completely surrounded by the respective other group.
  • the filaments of the first group have a first length and the filaments of the second group have a second length which is different to the first length.
  • the length of a filament is defined by the extension of the filament measured from its lower end being secured at the mounting surface of the head to its upper free end.
  • the tuft is composed of at least two types of separated/single or isolated filaments which differ in terms of length and which are arranged in respective groups.
  • a "group of filaments" means at least 10 single filaments having substantially the same length.
  • the group of filaments having the shorter length comprises at least three times the number of filaments of the other group having the greater length.
  • the term "substantially” refers to an arrangement of elements or features that, while in theory would be expected to exhibit exact correspondence or behavior, may, in practice embody something slightly less than exact. As such, the term denotes the degree by which a quantitative value, measurement or other related representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
  • the filaments of greater/increased length may assure access to narrow spaces and are able to penetrate into the gaps between teeth and remove plaque and other residues more effectively.
  • contact pressure In order to clean the teeth effectively during brushing, appropriate contact pressure has to be provided between the free end of the tuft and the teeth.
  • the contact pressure depends on the bending stiffness and the displacement of the filaments, while the bending stiffness of a single filament depends on the length of the filament, the diameter of the filament and the Young's-modulus of the filament material.
  • C T ⁇ n
  • C F ⁇ n 3 ⁇ ⁇ E 64 d 4 l 3
  • filaments with greater length show lower bending stiffness compared to filaments having a shorter length.
  • the diameter of a filament could be increased.
  • relatively long and relatively thick filaments may injure the gums or may cause damages to the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
  • the tuft in accordance with the present disclosure has a group of filaments with increased/greater length but with identical diameter (in case cylindrical filaments are used) to provide better penetration of said filaments into interdental spaces.
  • the group of filaments having the greater length abuts on the other group of filaments having the shorter length.
  • the bending stiffness of the group of greater filaments is higher in the direction where the group of greater filaments abuts on the group of shorter filaments and vice versa, i.e. the bending stiffness of the group of greater filaments is lower in the direction where the group of shorter filaments does not surround/abut on the group of longer filaments.
  • the group of greater filaments show higher bending stiffness in the direction where they are supported by the group of shorter filaments as the shorter filaments have to bend away when the longer filaments are bend in the direction toward the shorter filaments - the group of shorter filaments act like a counterforce.
  • the group of longer filaments is bend in a direction where said group does not abuts on the group of shorter filaments, the group of shorter filaments does not support the longer filaments.
  • the group of shorter filaments does not act as a counterforce and, thus, the bending stiffness in said direction is lower.
  • the resulting bending stiffness of the group of filaments having greater length is defined in a first direction x (longer filaments abut on shorter filaments) and in a second direction y (longer filaments do not abut on shorter filaments) by:
  • C TX ⁇ n i C F i + ⁇ n o
  • C Fo ⁇ n i 3 ⁇ ⁇ E 64 d i 4 l i 3 + ⁇ n o 3 ⁇ ⁇ E 64 d o 4 l o 3
  • the group of filaments having greater length shows anisotropic bending stiffness.
  • the different groups of filaments act like a stapled leaf spring by adding up their individual bending stiffness to the resulting overall bending stiffness of the tuft. Therefore, regular or thin filaments can be used in an interior part of the tuft in order to access and clean narrow interdental spaces when the head of the oral care implement is moved forward and backward on the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth. Due to the anisotropic bending stiffness of the group of filaments having a greater length, better cleaning effects can be provided.
  • the tuft may be arranged on the mounting surface of the head in a manner that higher bending stiffness is provided in a brushing direction where the risk of injury to gums is relatively low, like in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the head in order to clean the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth with higher force in a forth and back movement (x-direction).
  • Lower bending stiffness may be provided in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the head (y-direction) in order to provide a more gentle brushing when the head is moved from the teeth to the gums and vice versa.
  • the bending stiffness is higher in the direction x along the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth, while the bending stiffness is lower when the tuft is moved in a sideward direction y, i.e. between the teeth and the gums and vice versa.
  • the lower bending stiffness in the sideward direction y may reduce the risk of injury of gums and/or other soft tissues of the oral cavity.
  • the tuft of the head for the oral care implement may ensure high cleaning performance for forth and back movement while the lower bending stiffness in the sideward direction y may protect the gums.
  • Each of the different groups of filaments may have a specific topography/geometry at its free ends, i.e. at their upper top surfaces, which may be shaped to optimally adapt to the teeth contour.
  • at least one group of filaments may have a topography, i.e. an upper top surface which is chamfered or rounded in one or two directions, pointed or formed linear.
  • the filaments may be made of nylon with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay, polybutylene terephtalate (PBT) with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay and/or from nylon indicator material colored at the outer surface.
  • the coloring on the nylon indicator material is slowly worn away as the filament is used over time to indicate the extent to which the filament is worn.
  • the head for the oral care implement may further comprise at least one thermoplastic elastomer element for cleaning and/or massaging the teeth and/or soft tissues of the oral cavity.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer element may be made up of a unitary structure or of a number of substructures.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer element may comprise a large unitary bristle, i.e. a nub, or a number of smaller bristles.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer element may also comprise a fin, cup, like a prophy cup, or a curved or straight wall.
  • the first length of the first group of filaments is greater than the second length of the second group of filaments.
  • the difference in length between the first and the second length may be from about 1 mm to about 3 mm, optionally from about 1 mm to about 2 mm, further optionally about 1.5 mm.
  • the length of the shorter filaments measured from the mounting surface to their upper free ends may be from about 8 mm to about 12 mm, optionally from about 10 mm to about 11 mm, further optionally about 10.5 mm.
  • the tuft further comprises at least a third group of filaments having a third lateral area.
  • the tuft comprises at least three groups of filaments, wherein at least the first and the second group differ in terms of length.
  • the filaments of the third group may have a length which is equal to the first or second length, or the filaments of the third group may have a third length which is different to the first and second length.
  • the first group of filaments is neither completely enclosed by the second nor by the third group of filaments. This provides a tuft for a head for an oral care implement having a group of filaments with greater length for cleaning interdental areas while the bending stiffness of this group can be adjusted in different directions.
  • higher bending stiffness can be provided in a brushing direction along the longitudinal extension of the head, i.e. for brushing the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth, and a lower bending stiffness in an orthogonal direction thereto, i.e. for brushing in a sideway direction from the teeth to the gums and vice versa.
  • the outer lateral area of the tuft is composed of at least one section of the first lateral area of the first group of filaments, at least one section of the second lateral area of the second group of filaments and at least one section of the third lateral area of the third group of filaments.
  • the first group of filaments having longer filaments is sandwiched between the second and the third group of filaments.
  • the term "sandwiched" shall mean that the first group of filaments is centrally located and forms at two opposite sides the outer lateral surface of the tuft.
  • the filaments of the third group have a third length being substantially equal to the second length of the second group of filaments.
  • the first group having a greater length may form a wiping element which may be aligned orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the head, i.e. across the width of the head.
  • the term "wiping element" is directed to a section of the first group of filaments which projects above the upper top surfaces of the second and third group of shorter filaments. This protruding section may flap in different directions during the brushing process thereby wiping over the teeth.
  • the wiping element has a rectangular or oval cross-sectional shape in order to facilitate penetration of the longer filaments into interdental areas.
  • the groups of shorter filaments are designed to clean the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth when the head of the oral care implement is moved forward and backward, i.e. in a forward and reverse direction x.
  • the longer filaments abut on the outer filaments of the second and third group, respectively.
  • the group of filaments having a greater length shows higher bending stiffness when the oral care implement is moved along its longitudinal axis and lower bending stiffness when the oral care implement is moved sideward, i.e. orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
  • the first group of filaments being centrally located does not extend completely through the cross-section of the overall tuft.
  • the outer lateral area of the tuft is composed of one connected section of the first lateral area of the first group of filaments, one connected section of the second lateral area of the second group of filaments and one section of the third lateral area of the third group of filaments.
  • the group of filaments having the greater length may have a first bending stiffness in a first direction x and a second bending stiffness in a second direction y, the first direction x being substantially orthogonal to the second direction y and the first bending stiffness is higher than the bending stiffness.
  • the first direction x of the first bending stiffness may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the head.
  • the cross-section of the first group of filaments (the cross-section being perpendicular to length extension of the group of filaments) has a width from about 2 mm to about 4 mm, optionally about 3.5 mm and a depth from about 0.6 mm to about 0.8 mm, optionally about 0.7 mm. This relatively small depth may ensure deep penetration of the longer filaments into narrow, hard to reach areas between the teeth while the relatively great width may ensure that the longer filaments clean the teeth in the interdental area over their width.
  • the filaments of the greater length may be tapered filaments having a pointed tip. Tapered filaments may achieve optimal penetration in areas between two teeth as well in gingival pockets during brushing and may provide improved cleaning properties.
  • the tapered filaments may have an overall length extending above the mounting surface of about 10 mm to 16 mm and a tapered portion of about 5 mm to 10 mm measured from the tip of the filament.
  • the pointed tip may be needle shaped, may comprise a split or a feathered end.
  • the tapering portion may be produced by a chemical and/or mechanical tapering process.
  • the filaments of the first group and the filaments of the second group may further differ from each other at least in one of the following characteristics: diameter, bending stiffness, material, texture, cross sectional shape, color and combinations thereof.
  • the filaments may be crimped, notched, dimpled, flocked or may comprise a series of ribs, for example. Textured filaments tend to enhance cleaning effects on the teeth.
  • the filaments may have a circular or non-circular cross-section, in particular the filaments may have a diamond-shaped cross-section, triangular cross-section or a cross-section that can be described as a prolate ellipsoid with flattened long sides. Further, the filaments may be flagged at their free ends or may also be hollow.
  • the filaments may be made up from nylon with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay, from polybutylene terephtalate (PBT) with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay or from nylon indicator material colored at the external surface.
  • the coloring on nylon indicator material is slowly worn away as the filament is used over time to indicate the extent to which the filament is worn.
  • the filaments may have a diameter from about 0.1 to about 0.3 mm, optionally from about 0.15 mm to about 0.2 mm.
  • the filaments of the third group may also differ from the filaments of the first and/or second group at least in one of the characteristics cited above.
  • the at least one tuft may be inclined with respect to the mounting surface of the head.
  • the at least one tuft may be oriented at an angle ⁇ relative to that portion of the mounting surface of the head from which it extends.
  • the tuft is angled relative to an imaginary line which is tangent to or co-planar with the mounting surface of the head through which the tuft is secured to the head.
  • the at least one tuft may be oriented at an angle ⁇ in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the head and/or orthogonal thereto, i.e. across the width of the head.
  • one or more tufts are tilted in the direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the head.
  • the at least one inclined tuft may have better cleaning properties, in particular with respect to interdental areas, as the inclination of the tuft facilitates that the longer filaments may slide into small gaps between the teeth to clean the interdental areas, while the shorter filaments may clean the occlusal, buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth.
  • the head comprises a plurality of tufts, wherein at least one tuft is angled in a direction toward the handle and at least one tuft is angled in a direction away from the handle. The cleaning efficiency is even further improved if more than one row of angled tufts is consecutively arranged.
  • the tufts can also be oriented at two or more different angles ⁇ and can also be angled in different directions such as along the length of the head, across the width of the head or part way between the length and the width of the head.
  • the inclination angle ⁇ between the tuft and the mounting surface of the head may be from about 45° to about 89°, optionally from about 60° to about 85°, further optionally from about 65° to about 83°, even further optionally from about 70° to about 80°, even further optionally from about 72° to about 78°, even further optionally about 74°, about 75° or about 76°.
  • the tuft may be attached to the head by means of a hot tufting process.
  • One method of manufacturing the oral care implement may comprise the following steps: In a first step, tufts are formed by providing a desired amount of filaments. In a second step, the tufts are placed into a mold cavity so that ends of the filaments which are supposed to be attached to the head extend into said cavity. The opposite ends of the filaments not extending into said cavity may be either end-rounded or non-end-rounded. For example, the filaments may be not end-rounded in case the filaments are tapered filaments having a pointed tip.
  • the head or an oral care implement body comprising the head and the handle is formed around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process, thereby anchoring the tufts in the head.
  • the tufts may be anchored by forming a first part of the head - a so called "sealplate" - around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process before the remaining part of the oral care implement is formed.
  • the ends of the tufts extending into the mold cavity may be optionally melted or fusion-bonded to join the filaments together in a fused mass or ball so that the fused masses or balls are located within the cavity.
  • the tufts may be held in the mold cavity by a mold bar having blind holes that correspond to the desired position of the tufts on the finished head of the oral care implement.
  • the tufts attached to the head by means of a hot tufting process are not doubled over a middle portion along their length and are not mounted in the head by using an anchor/staple.
  • the tufts are mounted on the head by means of an anchorfree tufting process.
  • the oral care implement may be a toothbrush comprising a handle and a head according to any of the embodiments described above.
  • the head extends from the handle and may be either repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle or the head may be non-detachably connected to the handle.
  • the toothbrush may be an electrical or a manual toothbrush.
  • Fig. 1 shows a top-down view of a first example embodiment of a tuft 10 for a head 12, 13, 19 of an oral care implement 14, 15, 17 as shown in Fig. 11 and 13 to 17 .
  • the tuft 10 comprises three groups of filaments 16, 18, 20, wherein the filaments of the first group 16 are longer than the filaments of the second and third group 18, 20.
  • the first group 16 is sandwiched between the second and third group 18, 20.
  • the first group 16 has a first lateral area 24, the second group 18 has a second lateral area 26 and the third group 20 has a third lateral area 28.
  • the outer lateral area 22 of the tuft 10 is composed of two sections 72, 74 of the first lateral area 24 of the first group 16, one section 76 of the second lateral area 26 of the second group 18 and one section 78 of the third lateral area 28 of the third group 20.
  • a section 80 of the second lateral area 26 of the second group of filaments 18 abuts on a section 82 of the first lateral area 24 of the first group of filaments 16 whereas a section 84 of the third lateral area 38 of the third group of filaments 20 abuts on another section 86 of the first lateral area 24 of the first group of filaments 16.
  • the cross sectional shape of tuft 10 is elliptical with flattened sides.
  • the bending stiffness of the tuft 10 is indicated by arrow 56 in the x-direction and by arrow 58 in the y-direction. As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the bending stiffness is higher in the x-direction (longer filaments abuts on the shorter filaments) than in the y-direction (longer filaments do not abut on the shorter filaments).
  • Fig. 2 shows a second example embodiment of a tuft 30 which differs from the first example embodiments of tuft 10 in that the first group of filaments 16 has a cross-sectional width which is wider than that of the first example embodiment of tuft 10.
  • the width of the first group of filaments 16 extends beyond the width of the cross-sectional area of the second and third group 18, 20.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the first group 16 has a depth which is below the diameter of a standard tuft and a width which is larger compared to a standard tuft. This relatively small depth may ensure deep penetration of the longer filaments into narrow, hard to reach areas between the teeth while the relatively great width may ensure that the longer filaments clean the teeth in the interdental area over their width.
  • Fig. 3 shows a third example embodiment of a tuft 32 which differs from the first example embodiment of tuft 10 in that the cross-sectional shape of tuft 32 is rectangular.
  • Fig. 4 shows a fourth example embodiment of a tuft 34 similar to the first example embodiment of a tuft 10.
  • the first group of filaments 16 does not reach completely through the cross section of the overall tuft 34.
  • the outer lateral area 22 of tuft 34 is composed of one section 72 of the first lateral area 24 of the first group of filaments 16, one section 76 of the second lateral area 26 of the second group of filaments 18 and one section 78 of the third lateral area 28 of the third group of filaments 20.
  • This arrangement of filaments further enhances the anisotropic bending stiffness behavior of the first group of filaments 16.
  • the bending stiffness is indicated by arrow 60 in the +x-direction, by arrow 62 in the +y-direction and by arrow 64 in the opposite -y-direction.
  • the bending stiffness in direction +y is lower than in the opposite direction -y whereas the bending stiffness in direction +x is higher than in direction +y.
  • Such tufts can be arranged on the toothbrush head at an outer region of the field of tufts.
  • Fig. 5 shows a fifth example embodiment of a tuft 36 which differs from the third example embodiment of tuft 32 in that tuft 36 comprises only a first and a second group of filaments 16, 18, both groups forming a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
  • tuft 36 comprises only a first and a second group of filaments 16, 18, both groups forming a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
  • Such an arrangement creates strong anisotropic bending stiffness properties of the first group of filaments 16.
  • the longer filaments of the first group 16 abuts on the shorter filaments of the second group 18 in one direction only, namely in the opposite direction of direction x.
  • the bending stiffness is indicated by arrow 66 in the +x-direction, by arrow 68 in the opposite direction -x and by arrow 70 in the +y-direction.
  • the bending stiffness in direction +x is lower compared to the opposite direction -x.
  • the bending stiffness in direction +y is higher than in direction +x and lower than in the opposite direction -x. If tuft 36 is moved in direction +x the longer filaments will be supported by the shorter filaments. The higher bending stiffness forces the longer filaments to penetrate into interdental gaps and other narrow spaces. If tuft 36 is moved in the opposite direction -x the longer filaments show lower bending stiffness as they are not supported by the shorter filaments and, thus, the loner filaments can gently move over the teeth surface without creating a stuttering effect.
  • Figs. 6 and 10 show two different geometries of the first group of filaments 16 which may be implemented into tuft 10 of Fig. 1 .
  • the first group of filaments 16 may have the form of a wiping element 38 as illustrated in Fig. 6 or may have the form of a fin 40 as shown in Fig. 10 .
  • the second and third group of filaments 18, 20 may have the same length and may have a semicircular cross-section. These tufts 10 may be adapted to the teeth contour.
  • Figs. 7 to 9 show side views of tufts 10, 30, 32, 34 of Figs. 1 to 4 .
  • the first group 16 consists of filaments having greater length whereas the second and third group 18, 20 consist of shorter filaments each having the same length.
  • the tuft according to Fig. 8 is similar to the tuft shown in Fig. 7 , however the upper top surface of the second and third group 18, 20 are chamfered at the outer region of the tuft.
  • the tuft according to Fig. 9 is also similar to the tuft shown in Fig. 7 , however the filaments of the second group 18 are greater compared to the filaments of the third group 20.
  • the upper top surface of the second group 18 shows a slightly curved profile at the outer region of the tuft and the upper top surface of the third group 20 is slanted at the outer region of the tuft.
  • These tufts 10, 30, 32, 34 may be adapted to the teeth contour.
  • Fig. 11 shows an oral care implement 14, which could be a manual or an electrical toothbrush 14 comprising a handle 42 and a head 12 extending from the handle 42 in a longitudinal direction.
  • a plurality of tufts 10, 34 are secured to the head 12 by means of a hot tufting process.
  • the tufts 10, 34 extend from a mounting surface 44 of the head 12.
  • the head 12 comprises two different example embodiments of tufts, namely the first example embodiment of tuft 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 and the fourth example embodiment of tufts 34 outlined in Fig. 4 .
  • the first example embodiment of tufts 10 are arranged in a central portion of the mounting surface 44 and the fourth example embodiment of tufts 34 are arranged along the outer longitudinal edge of the mounting surface 44 of the head 12.
  • Tufts 10 are secured to the mounting surface 44 in a manner that the extension of the first group of filaments 16 is orthogonal to the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 12.
  • the bending stiffness of the first group of filaments 16 is higher in the direction of the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 12 than in the direction orthogonal thereto.
  • Tufts 34 are also secured to the mounting surface 44 in a manner that the extension of the first group of filaments 16 is orthogonal to the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 12. Further, the section 72 of the first lateral area 24 of the first group of filaments 16 comprised by the outer lateral area 22 of the tuft 34 faces the central part of the mounting surface 44, i.e. this section 72 of the first lateral area 24 faces tufts 10.
  • Toothbrush 14 having this arrangement of tufts 10, 34 may provide high interdental cleaning capabilities.
  • the longer filaments of the first group 16 penetrate into interdental spaces when the toothbrush 14 is moved back- and forward.
  • the longer filaments of the first group 16 do not reach the gums, however in case of contact, they may bend away due to reduced bending stiffness in a brushing direction from the teeth to the gums. Gums and other soft tissues are protected from getting injured by the longer filaments.
  • the head 13 of a toothbrush 15 shown in Fig. 12 comprises five different types of tufts 36, 48, 50, 52, 54 secured on the mounting surface of the head 13.
  • one crescent-shaped tuft 48 is attached to the head 13.
  • the crescent-shaped tuft 48 is angled by about 81° or less to an imaginary line which is tangent to or co-planar with the mounting surface 44 of the head 13 through which the crescent-shaped tuft 48 is secured to the head 13.
  • the crescent-shaped tuft 48 is tilted away from the handle 42.
  • the crescent-shaped tuft 48 extends past the end of the head 13 of the toothbrush 15 and, thus, may clean molars (e.g. wisdom teeth and second molars) in the back of the oral cavity in a more sufficient manner.
  • the crescent-shaped tuft 48 is made up of filaments formed of PBT with an abrasive such as kaolin clay particles mixes throughout the PBT. In some embodiments, the crescent-shaped tuft 48 has a cross-section which is at least four times as large as any other tuft 36, 50, 52, 54 secured to the head 13.
  • Tufts 50 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape with rounded ends.
  • Tufts 50 comprise filaments which may be formed of PBT with an abrasive, such as kaolin clay particles mixes throughout the PBT.
  • Tufts 52 have a circular cross-sectional shape and comprise filaments which may consist of a nylon indicator material. In some embodiments, these filaments are blue colored on their external surface. The color is slowly worn away as the toothbrush is used over time to indicate the extent to which the filaments are worn.
  • tufts 36 of Fig. 5 are arranged in a central row along the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 13 between tufts 50 and 52. Tufts 36 are angled in a direction away from the handle 42 and are arranged in a manner that the first group of filaments 16 are oriented orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 13.
  • these tufts 36 are made of PBT with an abrasive, such as kaolin clay particles mixes throughout the PBT.
  • a single further tuft 54 is secured on the mounting surface 44.
  • Said tuft 54 is similar to tuft 36, however tuft 54 is merely composed of filaments having the same length in order to avoid that filaments of tuft 48 and 36 intermingle during a forward and backward motion of the toothbrush 15.
  • the tufts 36, 48, 50, 52, 54 attached to the head 13 of Fig. 12 may have an inclination angle ⁇ between the respective tuft 36, 48, 50, 52, 54 and the mounting surface 44 of the head 13 of about 45° to about 89°, optionally from about 60° to about 85°, further optionally from about 65° to about 83°, even further optionally from about 70° to about 80°, even further optionally from about 72° to about 78°, even further optionally about 74°, about 75° or about 76°.
  • the longer filaments of the first group 16 of tufts 36 are supported by the shorter filaments of the second group 18 resulting in higher bending stiffness.
  • the higher bending stiffness helps to drive the longer filaments of the first group 16 deeply into narrow spaces.
  • the bending stiffness of the longer filaments is lower and, thus, the longer filaments of the first group 16 may gently move over the teeth surface without creating a stuttering effect.
  • the toothbrush according to Fig. 12 may provide improved removal of plaque and debris from the gingival margin, interproximal areas, lingual surfaces, the outer buccal face and rearward molars.
  • the head 19 of the toothbrush 17 according to Figs. 13 to 17 comprises three different types of tufts 10, 48, 52.
  • the first type of tuft 10 (first example embodiment) is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 .
  • the other type of tufts 48, 52, namely the crescent-shaped tuft 48 and tuft 52 are the same as described with respect to Fig. 12 .
  • the crescent-shaped tuft 48 is secured in the toe region at the distal end of the head 19, i.e. furthest away from the handle 42.
  • a first row of first example embodiment of tufts 10 alternating with tufts 52 is arranged in the central part of the mounting surface 44. All tufts 10, 52 of the first row are angled toward the handle 42.
  • a second and a third row of first example embodiment of tufts 10 alternating with tufts 52 are arranged on each side of the first row and are angled in the opposite direction, i.e. away from the handle 42.
  • Each tuft 10 of the first row alternate with one tuft 52.
  • Each tuft 10 of the second and third row alternate with two tufts 52, except of the last tuft 10 proximal to the handle 42 which alternate only with one tuft 52.
  • the first example embodiment of tufts 10 are arranged on the mounting surface 44 of the head 19 in a manner that the first group of filaments 16 extends orthogonal to the longitudinal extension 46 of the head 19. Consequently, the first group of filaments 16 shows a higher bending stiffness when the toothbrush 17 is moved along its longitudinal extension and a lower bending stiffness when the toothbrush 17 is moved orthogonal thereto, i.e. from the teeth to the gums and vice versa. This may ensure higher cleaning performance for forth and back movement while the lower bending stiffness in the sideward direction ensures a protection of the gums.
  • the tufts 10, 48, 52 attached to the head 19 according to Figs. 13 to 17 may have an inclination angle ⁇ between the respective tuft 10, 48, 52 and the mounting surface 44 of the head 19 of about 45° to about 89°, optionally from about 60° to about 85°, further optionally from about 65° to about 83°, even further optionally from about 70° to about 80°, even further optionally from about 72° to about 78°, even further optionally about 74°, about 75° or about 76°.

Claims (10)

  1. Kopf (12, 13, 19) für eine Mundpflegehilfsvorrichtung (14, 15, 17), umfassend:
    mindestens ein von einer Befestigungsfläche (44) des Kopfes (12, 13, 19) ausgehendes Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34, 36) und mit einem äußeren Seitenbereich (22),
    wobei das Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34, 36) eine erste Gruppe von Fäden (16), die einen ersten Seitenbereich (24) definieren, und mindestens eine zweite Gruppe von Fäden (18) umfasst, die einen zweiten Seitenbereich (26) definieren,
    wobei die Fäden der ersten Gruppe (16) eine erste Länge aufweisen und die Fäden der zweiten Gruppe (18) eine zweite Länge aufweisen, wobei die erste Länge verschieden von der zweiten Länge ist, wobei der äußere Seitenbereich des Büschels (22) aus mindestens einem Abschnitt (72) des ersten Seitenbereichs (24) und mindestens einen Abschnitt (76) des zweiten Seitenbereichs (26) besteht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34) ferner mindestens eine dritte Gruppe von Fäden (20) umfasst, die einen dritten Seitenbereich (28) definiert, wobei die Fäden der dritten Gruppe (20) eine dritte Länge aufweisen, die im Wesentlichen gleich der zweiten Länge ist, und wobei die erste Gruppe (16) zwischen der zweiten und der dritten Gruppe (18, 20) angeordnet ist und wobei die Gruppe von Fäden mit der größeren Länge (16) eine erste Biegesteifigkeit in einer ersten Richtung (x) und eine zweite Biegesteifigkeit in einer zweiten Richtung (y) aufweist, wobei die erste Richtung (x) im Wesentlichen orthogonal zu der zweiten Richtung (y) ist und die erste Biegesteifigkeit höher als die zweite Biegesteifigkeit ist und die erste Richtung (x) der ersten Biegesteifigkeit im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Längsausdehnung (46) des Kopfes (12, 13, 19) ist.
  2. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach Anspruch 1, wobei mindestens ein Abschnitt (82) des ersten Seitenbereichs (24) an mindestens einem Abschnitt (80) des zweiten Seitenbereichs (26) anliegt.
  3. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach Anspruch 2, wobei der äußere Seitenbereich (22) des Büschels (10, 30, 32, 34) aus mindestens einem Abschnitt (72) des ersten Seitenbereichs (24), mindestens einem Abschnitt (76) des zweiten Seitenbereichs (26) und mindestens einem Abschnitt (78) des dritten Seitenbereichs (28) besteht.
  4. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die erste Länge größer ist als die zweite Länge.
  5. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Fäden mit der größeren Länge sich verjüngende Fäden sind, die eine zugespitzte Spitze aufweisen.
  6. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei sich die Fäden der ersten Gruppe (16) und die Fäden der zweiten Gruppe (18) ferner in mindestens einer der folgenden Eigenschaften voneinander unterscheiden:
    Durchmesser, Biegesteifigkeit, Material, Textur, Querschnittsform, Farbe und Kombinationen davon.
  7. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34, 36) in Bezug auf die Befestigungsfläche (44) des Kopfes (12, 13, 19) geneigt ist.
  8. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach Anspruch 7, wobei ein Neigungswinkel (α), der zwischen dem Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34, 36) und der Befestigungsfläche (44) des Kopfes (12, 13, 19) definiert ist, etwa 45° bis etwa 89°, wahlweise von etwa 70° bis etwa 80°, ferner wahlweise von etwa 74° bis etwa 76° beträgt.
  9. Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Büschel (10, 30, 32, 34, 36) mittels eines Heiß-Tufting-Prozesses am Kopf (12, 13, 19) angebracht wird.
  10. Mundpflegehilfsvorrichtung (14, 15, 17), umfassend einen Kopf (12, 13, 19) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche.
EP13170759.8A 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel Active EP2810580B1 (de)

Priority Applications (27)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL13170759T PL2810580T3 (pl) 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Głowica przyrządu do higieny jamy ustnej
ES13170759T ES2720880T3 (es) 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Cabezal para un utensilio de cuidado bucal
EP13170759.8A EP2810580B1 (de) 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel
EP14164382.5A EP2810583B1 (de) 2013-06-06 2014-04-11 Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel
PL14164382T PL2810583T3 (pl) 2013-06-06 2014-04-11 Głowica narzędzia do pielęgnacji jamy ustnej
ES14164382.5T ES2682256T3 (es) 2013-06-06 2014-04-11 Cabezal para un utensilio de cuidado bucal
CA2914480A CA2914480A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 Head for an oral care implement
MX2015016604A MX367886B (es) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 Cabezal para un implemento para el cuidado bucal.
KR1020157034667A KR20160009604A (ko) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 구강 케어 기구용 헤드
KR1020177027460A KR101896895B1 (ko) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 구강 케어 기구용 헤드
CN201480032098.7A CN105263359B (zh) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 用于口腔护理工具的头部
BR112015029919-9A BR112015029919B1 (pt) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 Cabeça de implemento para tratamento bucal e implemento para tratamento bucal
AU2014275263A AU2014275263B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 Head for an oral care implement
PCT/US2014/040128 WO2014197291A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-05-30 Head for an oral care implement
JP2016517988A JP6275832B2 (ja) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 オーラルケア器具用のヘッド
PCT/US2014/041054 WO2014197677A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 Head for an oral care implement
CN201910146538.6A CN110051109A (zh) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 用于口腔护理工具的头部
AU2014274861A AU2014274861B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 Head for an oral care implement
KR1020157034524A KR101819449B1 (ko) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 구강 케어 기구용 헤드
CN201480032220.0A CN105358009A (zh) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 用于口腔护理工具的头部
CA2914341A CA2914341C (en) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 Head for an oral care implement
US14/296,681 US10004322B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-06-05 Head for an oral care implement
US14/298,403 US20140359957A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2014-06-06 Head for an oral care implement
HK16105854.6A HK1217884A1 (zh) 2013-06-06 2016-05-23 用於口腔護理工具的頭部
US15/985,779 US10729232B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2018-05-22 Head for an oral care implement
US16/910,119 US11641932B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2020-06-24 Head for an oral care implement
US18/302,957 US20230248139A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2023-04-19 Head For An Oral Care Implement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13170759.8A EP2810580B1 (de) 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2810580A1 EP2810580A1 (de) 2014-12-10
EP2810580B1 true EP2810580B1 (de) 2019-02-13

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EP13170759.8A Active EP2810580B1 (de) 2013-06-06 2013-06-06 Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel

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EP (1) EP2810580B1 (de)
KR (2) KR20160009604A (de)
CN (1) CN105263359B (de)
AU (1) AU2014275263B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2914480A1 (de)
ES (1) ES2720880T3 (de)
HK (1) HK1217884A1 (de)
MX (1) MX367886B (de)
PL (1) PL2810580T3 (de)
WO (1) WO2014197291A1 (de)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016181278A1 (en) 2015-05-14 2016-11-17 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Brush head assembly and methods of manufacture
ES2843001T3 (es) 2017-03-31 2021-07-15 Trisa Holding Ag Cepillo eléctrico para el aseo corporal

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DE4444926A1 (de) * 1994-12-16 1996-06-27 Coronet Werke Gmbh Bürste für die Zahn- und Körperpflege
CN2244346Y (zh) * 1995-02-25 1997-01-08 李玉贤 多重高刷毛保健牙刷
DE19909435A1 (de) 1999-03-04 2000-09-07 Coronet Werke Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Borstenwaren und danach hergestellte Borstenwaren
AU2003252861A1 (en) * 2003-10-07 2005-04-21 Gillette Canada Inc. Cleaning Device
KR20100042267A (ko) * 2007-06-28 2010-04-23 글락소스미스클라인 컨수머 헬쓰케어 게엠베하 운트 코. 카게 테이퍼형상의 긴 칫솔모 및 테이퍼되지 않은 형상의 짧은 칫솔모를 갖는 칫솔
US20100115724A1 (en) * 2008-11-13 2010-05-13 Acumen Co., Ltd. Brush head of a toothbrush
AR074602A1 (es) * 2008-12-15 2011-01-26 Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healt Una cabeza de cepillo de dientes
EP2420157B1 (de) * 2010-08-18 2016-03-30 Trisa Holding AG Zahnbürste mit Borstenfeldgestaltung

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN105263359B (zh) 2018-08-14
AU2014275263B2 (en) 2017-07-20
KR101896895B1 (ko) 2018-09-10
MX367886B (es) 2019-07-30
EP2810580A1 (de) 2014-12-10
CA2914480A1 (en) 2014-12-11
KR20170116205A (ko) 2017-10-18
ES2720880T3 (es) 2019-07-25
KR20160009604A (ko) 2016-01-26
CN105263359A (zh) 2016-01-20
BR112015029919A2 (pt) 2017-07-25
WO2014197291A1 (en) 2014-12-11
MX2015016604A (es) 2016-03-16
AU2014275263A1 (en) 2015-12-03
PL2810580T3 (pl) 2019-07-31
HK1217884A1 (zh) 2017-01-27

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