IE914546A1 - Toothbrush with alternate filament shapes - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush that includes a handle and a head attached to the handle to hold a brush which comprises a plurality of elongated filaments. Each filament of the brush has a lateral surface which is characterized by a plurality of longitudinal or circumferential surveys each of which is preceded or preceded by a pair of respective longitudinal or circumferential depressions to establish a plurality of brush terminals on the lateral surface of the filament. The brushed terminals can be round or pointed and the surface of the filament can be morbid or textured.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to toothbrushes. More particularly, the present invention pertains to the filaments or bristles which comprise the brush of the toothbrush. The present invention pertains particularly, but not exclusively, to toothbrushes which have brushing edges on the side surfaces of the individual filaments that comprise the brush of the toothbrush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Typically, the filaments or bristles of a brush are elongated cylindrical-shaped elements which have circular cross-sections and generally smooth side surfaces. Indeed, this is the common configuration for brush filaments regardless of the intended use of the brush or the material which is used to make the filament. Toothbrushes are no exception.

As can be easily appreciated by a trip to any local drug store, many attempts have been made to enhance or improve the usability and efficacy of toothbrushes. Invariably, this is done by changing certain characteristics of the toothbrush. For example, variously sized and shaped toothbrush handles have been suggested. Also, there have been many suggestions regarding the particular configuration of bristles or filaments in the brush itself. Further, some toothbrushes have been configured with the brush inclined at various angles Λ -1relative to the handle. Additionally, battery powered toothbrushes have been suggested which move the brush along predetermined brushing paths. No suggestion, however, has been made which is specifically directed to the structure of the filaments in the brush. More particularly, no suggestion has been made which is directed to the configuration of the side surfaces of these filaments.

The present invention recognizes that the smooth side surfaces of the filaments in a typical toothbrush do not make a significant contribution to the scrubbing efficacy of the brush. On the other hand, the present invention recognizes that raised brushing edges on the side surfaces of the filaments in the brush of a toothbrush can contribute to the brushing efficacy of the brush.

In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush which has an enhanced scrubbing capability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush wherein each filament in the brush of the toothbrush has a plurality of brushing edges. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush wherein the side surfaces of the filaments in the brush of the toothbrush effectively contribute to the scrubbing action of the toothbrush. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush which is simple to use, relatively easy to manufacture and comparatively cost effective. -2SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A toothbrush, in accordance, with the present invention, comprises a handle and a head extending from the handle for supporting a brush having a plurality of filaments. Each filament in the brush projects from the head of the toothbrush to present a tip portion of the filament and establish a side surface for the filament which extends between the head of the toothbrush and the tip of the filament. As intended for the present invention, the side surface of each filament in the brush is textured, or formed with a plurality of alternating rises and depressions, such that each rise is straddled or bracketed by a pair of depressions. With this configuration, the rises create a plurality of brushing edges on the side surface of the filament. Stated differently, each elongated filament defines a central longitudinal axis, and the side i surface of the filament is formed so that points on the side surface are at a radial distance from the central axis which varies to establish the brushing edges on the side surface.

For the present invention, the brushing edges which are formed on the side surfaces of the individual filaments may be either rounded or sharp. Further, these brushing edges may be i . oriented either longitudinally or radially on the filaments. In instances where the brushing edges are oriented longitudinally, the cross-section of a filament may be either elliptical, oval, polylobed or polygonal. Also, the side surface may be either smooth or textured.

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary filament of the toothbrush of the present invention; Figures 3 A-G are top plan views of the tip of various individual λ brush filaments according to the present invention as would be seen along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; Figures 4 A-G are cross sectional views of various individual ‘ embodiments of theAfilaments in the brush of a toothbrush according to the present invention as would be seen along the line 4-4 in Figure 1; and Figures 5 A-E are elevational views of various individual embodiments ofAfilaments according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED useuxs Referring initially to Figure 1, a toothbrush is shown and is generally designated 10. As shown, the toothbrush 10 include· a handle 12 which has a head 14 that extends from the handle 12 to support a brush 16. The brush 16 comprises a -4plurality of tufts 18 which each include a plurality of individual filaments 20. Fo^ · purposes of the present invention, the individual filaments 20 can be made of any material which is suitable for brushing teeth and which is well-known in the dental arts.

Although several configurations for filaments are disclosed herein for the present invention, each configuration or embodiment has characteristics which are common to the other embodiments and which are, perhaps, best appreciated with reference to Figure 2. In Figure 2 it will be seen that the embodiment for filament 20 shown is an elongated structure which defines a central longitudinal axis 22 that extends the length of the filament 20. With this configuration, the filament 20 is seen to have a tip 24 and a side surface 26.

* Also, the filament 20 has a base 28 which is connected to the head 14 of toothbrush 10 to incorporate filament 20 as part of the brush 16. Importantly, both the tip 24 and the side surface 26 of filament 20 are exposed and are, therefore, capable of contacting a tooth or any other surface which is to be brushed. Tip 24 can be flat or end-rounded.

Figure 2 also shows that the filaffitont 20 is formed with a plurality of rises 30 which are exemplified by the rises 30a and 30b. As further shown in Figure 2, each of the rises 30 is bracketed or straddled by a pair of depressions 32. For purposes of illustration, the depressions 32a and 32b are shown to straddle rise 30a and ths depressions 32b and 32c are -5shown to straddle the rise 30b. The result is that the combinations of rises 30 and depressions 32 create a plurality of brushing edges 34a and 34b on side surface 26 of filament . As indicated for the embodiment of filament 20 shown in Figure 2, the brushing edges 34 are rounded and are longitudinally oriented on the filament 20. It is to be appreciated, however, that the brushing edges 34 may be sharp or angled and that they may be radially oriented on the filament 20. For an example of radially oriented brushing edges 34, reference is momentarily made to Figure 5E.

The various configurations and embodiments for a filament can also be described by defining the side surface 26 of filament 20 in its relationship to central longitudinal axis 22. Specifically, Figure 2 shows that a radius 36 can be taken to represent the radial distance from a point 38 on axis « to any point on the side surface 26 of filament 20. Consequently, as a radius 36 is rotated about the axis 22 and is varied in its length, as exemplified by the radii 36a and 36b, the radius 36 will describe a circumference 40 of the side surface 22. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, various side surfaces 22 can be described in this manner. Indeed, a side surface 22 having longitudinally oriented rises 30 and depressions 32 for a filament 20, as shown in Figure 2, is but one embodiment which can be described in this manner. Further, radius 36 can be considered as moving longitudinally along the central axis 22 and varying in length as it does so. The consequence then is a side surface 26 which is formed with brushing edges 34 that are oriented other than longitudinally on the filament 20.

In addition to the geometrical variations which are possible for side surface 26, the side surface 26 may also be textured. Figures 3A-G show such textures. It is within the scope of the present invention for the side surface 26 and tip 24 of filament 20 to have an abrasive surface (Fig. 3A) , a bumpy surface (Fig. 3B) , a pitted surface (Fig. 3C) , or a smooth surface (Fig. 3D). Further, the side surface 26 can be formed with rounded brushing edges 34 as shown for either the elliptical filament 20 (Fig. 3E) or the oval filament 20 (Fig. 3F), or the side surface 26 can be formed with sharp or angled brushing edges 34 (Fig. 3G).

As shown in the Figures 4A-G, filament 20 can have mapy varied cross sections. Specifically, as shown by way of illustration and not limitation, the cross section of filament 20 may be a hexagon (Fig. 4A), a triangle (Fig. 4B), or a rectangle (Fig. 4C). The cross section may also be polylobed (Fig. 4D), H-shaped (Fig. 4E) , or be X-shaped with sharp angled brushing surfaces (Fig. 4F) or with rounded brushing surfaces (Fig. 4G). As is to be appreciated, the various geometries disclosed here can be modified according to the desires of ths user or manufacturer.

The Figures 5A-F show various filaments 20 in perspective views in order to better appreciate the modifications which are possible in the manufacture of filaments 20. Specifically, the filament 20 shown in Fig. 5A incorporates a polylobed cross section (corresponding to Fig. 4G) which is formed with rounded brushing edges 34. On the other hand, Fig. 5D shows a filament 20 with a polylobed cross section which is formed with sharp edges 34. For a different configuration, the filament 20 shown in Fig. 5B has a side surface 26 which is formed with a plurality of grooves 42 that are randomly disposed on the surface 26. To obtain a special textured effect, the filament 20 shown in Fig. 5C has a bumpy side surface 26 and, as indicated above, if the enhanced brushing action for toothbrush 10 relies on brushing edges 34 rather than the texture of side surfaces 26, the brushing edges 34 can be oriented radially as indicated in Fig. 5E.

While the particular toothbrush with alternate filament shapes as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of the construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (3)

1. We claim: 1. A toothbrush which comprises: a handle; and a head for supporting, a brush, said brush comprising a plurality of elongated filaments, each said filament having a surface formed with a plurality of rises and formed with a plurality of depressions, each said rise being bracketed by a pair of said depressions to create a plurality of brushing edges on said surface.

2. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein said surface is textured.

3. A toothbrush as recited in claim 2 wherein said surface is formed with a plurality of bumps. .· 4. A toothbrush as recited in claim 2 wherein said surface is formed with a plurality of pits. 5. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein said brushing edges are rounded. 6. A toothbrush as recited in claim 5 wherein said surface defines a circumference for said filament and said circumference is elliptical. -97. A toothbrush as recited in claim 5 wherein said surface defines a circumference for said filament and said circumference is oval. T 8. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein said brushing edges are sharp. 7. 9. A toothbrush as recited in claim 8 wherein said surface defines a circumference for said filament and said circumference is a polygon. 10. A toothbrush as recited in claim 9 wherein said polygon is a triangle. 11. A toothbrush as recited in claim 9 wherein said polygon is a rectangle. 12. A toothbrush as recited in claim 9 wherein said polygon is polylobed. 13. A toothbrush as recited in claim 9 wherein said polygon is H-shaped. 14. A toothbrush as recited in claim 9 wherein said polygon is X-shaped. 15. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of rises and said plurality of depressions are oriented substantially longitudinally on said filament. > · 16. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of rises and said plurality of depressions are oriented substantially radially on said filament 17. A toothbrush which comprises: a handle; and a head for supporting a brush, said brush including a plurality of elongated filaments with each said filament defining a central longitudinal axis and having a surface wherein the radial distance of said surface from said axis varies to establish brushing edges on said surface. 18. A toothbrush as recited in claim 17 wherein the radial distance of said surface from said axis varies circumferentially. 19. A toothbrush as recited in claim 17 wherein the radial distance of said surface from said axis varies longitudinally. 20. surface A toothbrush as is smooth. recited in claim 17 wherein said 21. surface A toothbrush as is textured. > - recited in claim 17 wherein said 22. brushing A toothbrush as edges are rounded recited • in claim 17 wherein said 23. brushing A toothbrush as edges are sharp. recited in claim 17 wherein said 24. A toothbrush as recited in claim 19 wherein said surface is formed to define a plurality of substantially longitudinal rises and a plurality of substantially longitudinal depressions, each of said rises being bracketed by a pair of said depressions to create said brushing edges. 25. A toothbrush according to any preceding claim substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.