JP2001507981A

JP2001507981A - toothbrush

Info

Publication number: JP2001507981A
Application number: JP52276899A
Authority: JP
Inventors: ドンナ、ビールズ; メイジ、ウォング―パレデス; トーマス、クレイグ、マスターマン; マイケル、ロバーツ; ブラッドリー、カスティーロ
Original assignee: Gillette Canada Inc
Current assignee: Gillette Canada Inc
Priority date: 1997-11-12
Filing date: 1998-11-06
Publication date: 2001-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-06
Also published as: IL129913A0; NZ335854A; JP2008093449A; ES2192797T3; HUP0004254A2; SK63899A3; TR199901208T1; CA2271852A1; DE69811634D1; DE29823590U1; EP0955837A4; HUP0004254A3; WO1999023910A1; GB9911198D0; CN1120682C; CN1241123A; EP0955837B1; CA2271852C; DE19881632T1; EP0955837A1

Abstract

(57)【要約】柄と、該柄から延びるヘッドと、該ヘツドに固着された毛の複数の房を有する歯ブラシ。前記房の一つは、一つの房がヘッドに固着される位置より柄のより末端の位置で、他の何れの房も固着されない位置に固着される。一つの房は、その房がヘッドに固着されているヘッドの面と正接又は同一平面にある仮想線に対して約８１°角度付けられ即ち曲がっている。一つの房はヘッドが柄から延びるヘッドに沿う方向に対して柄から離れるように傾斜している。 (57) Abstract: A toothbrush having a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a plurality of tufts of bristles fixed to the head. One of the tufts is secured at a position more distal to the handle than where one tuft is secured to the head and at a location where none of the other tufts are secured. One tuft is angled or bent about 81 ° with respect to an imaginary line tangent or flush with the face of the head to which the tuft is secured to the head. One tuft is inclined away from the handle relative to the direction along the head where the head extends from the handle.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】歯ブラシ発明の詳細な説明本発明は、全般的に口腔の手入れ分野に関し、特に歯ブラシに係る。更に本発明は、歯の根元間と歯茎の縁の部分の改善したクリーニングを提供するため三次元的な毛の外形を持つ歯ブラシに関する。歯磨き及びフロッシング（flossing）は良好な口腔衛生を成すための基本的なステップである。フロッシングを実施することは、フロッシングが良好な口腔衛生の一部として行うべきだと言うことを一般の人々が理解しているとはいえ、不幸にも一般の人々の間に広く受け入れられていなかった。更に時々フロスをする人であっても、口全域に達するよう適切にフロッシングすることは困難でできなかった。不幸にも多くの商用的に有用な歯ブラシが歯の外側の頬側の面を綺麗にできるとはいえ、歯茎の縁の丸い平らなできもの（plaque）や破損した跡（debris ）、根元の間の部分、舌に面する面及び他の口の中の到達することが困難な部分に改善されたクリーニングを行うことはできなかった。かかる歯ブラシが最も後方の臼歯（例えば親不知又は第２の臼歯）を適切に綺麗にできない一つの理由は、歯ブラシの柄から最も末端に配置された歯ブラシヘッドに取り付けられた一つ以上の房（tufts）が、柄から延びるヘッドに沿う方向に角度付けられていない即ち曲がっていないからである。このようにこの房は、口の後方の臼歯を十分に綺麗にするため、歯ブラシのヘッドの端部を超えて充分延長していない。更に柄に対して角度付けられている即ち曲がっている毛の房を持ち、他の房は柄から離れる方向に曲がっている前記ブラシにおいては、かかる全ての房は本質的に同じ長さで、同じ断面をしている。その結果かかる曲がった房は歯の一部分を満足する方法で綺麗にできるが、歯の他の部分は房が均一な長さ、間隔且つ断面をしている理由から十分に綺麗にすることができなかった。更に従来の歯ブラシはせいぜい３つの異なる型の断面を有する毛の房を備えているものがあった。しかしながらブラシによりクリーニングするに必要な歯の部分は３個より以上（例えば外側の頬に面する面、歯茎の縁、根元の間、舌に面する面及び最も後方の臼歯）ある。このように従来のブラシは歯の全ての部分を綺麗にするように特別に設計された十分に変化する断面の房を備えていなかった。本発明は前述の問題点の一つ以上を克服することを意図する。本発明の一つの見地を簡潔に要約すれば、歯ブラシは、柄、該柄から延びるヘッド、及び該ヘッドに固定即ち取り付けられた毛の複数の房を備える。前記房の一つは、一つの房がヘッドに固着される位置より柄のより末端の位置で、他の何れの房も固着されない位置に固着される。一つの房は、ヘッドに固着される一つの房を介してヘッドの面と正接又は同一平面にある仮想線に対して約８１°角度付けられ即ち曲がっている。一つの房はヘッドが柄から延びるヘッドに沿う方向に対して柄から離れるように傾斜している。上述のように一つの房を曲げることにより、房は歯ブラシのヘッドの端部を超えて延びることができ、これにより口の後方の臼歯を十分に綺麗にすることができる。本発明の他の見地によれば、歯ブラシは、柄と、該柄から延びるヘッドと、ヘツドに固着された複数の毛の房を具備する。房の２つは、ヘッドに固着される２つの房を介してヘッドの面と正接又は同一平面にある仮想線に対してそれぞれ鋭角を成している。前記２つの房は、長さ、断面、色、材料及びその結合から成る特性の群から選択された互いに異なる特徴をしている。長さ、断面、色、材料及びその結合において変化する曲がった房を提供することは、歯の一部より以上の部分をこの曲がった房で綺麗にすることができる。例えば一つの型の曲がった房は、歯の頬側の面を綺麗にし、他の型の曲がった房は歯の根元間を綺麗にすることができる。本発明の第３の見地は、柄と、該柄から延びるヘッドと、該ヘッドに固着された毛の多様な房を具備する歯ブラシを提供することにある。房の多様性は少なくとも５個の異なる型の断面を持つ房を備える。少なくとも５個の型の断面を有する房を提供することによって、かかる房は適切に歯の全ての部分（例えば頬に面する外側の面、歯茎の縁、根元間の部分、舌に面する面及び最も後方の臼歯）を綺麗にできる。本発明のこれら並びに他の見地、目的、特徴並びに利点は、以下の本発明の好ましい実施形態の詳細な説明及び特許請求の範囲の記載、並びに添付図面に基づく説明から明確に理解されるであろう。図面の説明図１は本発明の実施形態の歯ブラシの斜視図である。図２は図１の歯ブラシの平面図である。図３は図１の歯ブラシの側面図である。図４及び図５は図１の歯ブラシの房のヘツド及び関連部分の部分的な側面図である。図６は図３の線６―６に沿う歯ブラシのヘツドの部分的な断面図である。図７は図１の歯ブラシのヘッド及び柄の一部分の斜視図である。図１乃至３において、歯ブラシ１０は柄部分１２と柄からＤ方向に延びるヘッド部分１４を有する。歯ブラシ１０の全長は約１９.６cmが好ましく、ヘッド１４の幅は最も広い部分で約１.３cmであることが好ましい。柄１２の主部分１６とヘッド１４はポリプロピレンの一体から成る片から構成される。親指握り部分１８、随意の商標２４(好ましくは長さ約２.１cm)と指握り部分２０は好ましくは熱可塑性エラストマー、好ましくはクレートンゴム(kraton rubber)(約５と約７０の間のショアＡ硬さを有するスチレン及びブタジエン又はイソプレン水素添加又は水素非添加オイル充填ブロック共重合体)から構成される。親指握り部分１８と指握り部分２０は、柄の握り力の助けになる一連の１７個の立ち上がったリブ２２を有している。リブ２２は幅１.３mmであることが好ましい。図３乃至７において、毛の複数の房２６は歯ブラシのヘッド１４に固着即ち取り付けられる。各房は多数の毛から作り上げられ、全ての毛は端が丸くなっていることが好ましい。５つの異なる型の房がヘツドに固着され、房の各型は他の型の房とは面積並びに形状が異なる断面を有している。房の第１の型２８はポリブチレンテレフタレート（ＰＢＴ）全体に亘り混合されたカオリン粘土分子のような研磨剤を備えるＰＢＴから成る毛で構成される。かかる毛は直径０.１３Ｅ乃至０.２３mmの間、好ましくは直径０.１８mmである。ヘッド１４の面３０から計った毛の長さは約１１.２ｍｍである。房２８の房を付けられた断面積は約２４mm²であり、ヘッド面から計った房の体積は約０.２７cm³（この体積は好ましくは約０.２５cm³乃至０.２９cm³の間にある）である。唯一の型２８の房がヘッド１４に取り付けられ、これはその他の房より柄１４から最も末端にある。房の第２の型３２はナイロンインジケータ（商標）の型の毛から作られ、６. １２ナイロンから成り外面は青に色付けされている。当業者では周知のように、かかる毛の青色の着色は、ブラシが長時間使用されたとき次第にすり減り歯ブラシの消耗限度を示す。該毛は直径０.１３mm乃至０.２３mm、好ましくは直径０. １８mmである。ヘッド１４の面３０から計った毛の長さは約８.９mmである。各房３２の断面積は約２.９mmである。図６に示すように型３２の房は丸い断面をしている。８乃至１２の間の本数の型３２の房がヘッド１４に取り付けられている。第３の型３４の房は、ＰＢＴ全体に亘り混合されたカオリン粘土分子のような研磨剤を備えるＰＢＴから成る毛で構成される。該毛は直径０.１３mm乃至０.２３mm、好ましくは直径０.１８mmである。ヘッド１４の面３０から計った毛の長さは約１１.２mmである。各房３４の断面積は約１.７mm²である。８乃至１２の間の本数の型３２の房がヘッド１４に取り付けられる。図６に示すように型３４の房は長方形状で丸い端をしている。第４の型３６の房は、ＰＢＴ全体に亘り混合されたカオリン粘土分子のような研磨剤を備えるＰＢＴから成る毛で構成される。該毛は直径０.１３mm乃至０.２３mm、好ましくは直径０.１８mmである。ヘッド１４の面３０から計った毛の長さは約１１.２mmである。各房３６の断面積は約２.６mm²である。４乃至６の間の本数の型３６の房がヘッド１４に取り付けられる。図６に示すように型３６の房は丸い端を持つ長方形状で、型３４の房よりヘッドの横方向に幅広い。第５且つ最後の型３８の房は、ＰＢＴ全体に亘り混合されたカオリン粘土分子のような研磨剤を備えるＰＢＴから成る毛で構成される。該毛は直径０.１３mm 乃至０.２３mm、好ましくは直径０.１５mmである。ヘッド１４の面３０から計った毛の長さは約８.９mmである。各房３８の断面積は約５.４mm²である。４乃至６の間の本数の型３８の房がヘッド１４に取り付けられる。図６に示すように型３８の房は丸い端を持つ長方形状で、型３６の房より幅広い。前述したように各房の断面積についてみると、型２８の房はヘッド１４に取り付けられた他の何れの房より４倍以上の大きな断面を有する。各房の毛が前述のように特定な材料から構成されることについて述べたが、他の材料も使用できる。ヘッド１１に取り付けられる何れの毛も、通常例えばカオリン粘土のような研磨剤を用いるか又は用いないＰＢＴ、研磨剤を用いるか又は用いない６.１２ナイロン、又は研磨剤を用いるか又は用いないナイロンインジケータ（商標）から構成される。更に房の中及び房の間の毛は、長さ、直径、断面形状、断面積、色を変更でき且つ異なる材料から構成される。図２,４,５と７に示すように、ヘッド１４の全ての房は方向Ｄ又は方向Ｄの反対の方向に対し、ヘッド１４の面３０に正接している仮想線に対し好ましくは８１°より以下、より好ましくは約６９°乃至約８１°の間、更に最も好ましくは７５°角度を成す。面３０がカーブしておらずむしろ平坦で有れば、線４０は面３０に対し同一平面になる。房の２つの外側列４２は方向Ｄに対し柄１２から離れる方向に角度付けられている。房の内側列４４は、方向Ｄに対し柄１２から離れるように柄１２から離れるように傾斜している大きな房２８を除いて、方向Ｄの反対方向に柄１２に向けて傾斜されている。歯ブラシ１０は当業者が周知のように次の方法で製造される。房の毛の各々は選択された材料、長さ且つ直径を有しており、この毛を所望の量一体に集めることにより房が形成される。次いで房は射出成型機のモールドの一部の開口に挿入される。モールド凹所にある又は挿入された房の端部は溶融され、房の端部で溶融した固まり又はボールができるように毛が互いに接合される。房を支持するモールド部分は、歯ブラシの主部分１６を形成するのに使用される凹所を一体に画定するモールドの他の部分と接合される。房の溶融した集まりは凹所内に配置される。次いでポリプロピレンが凹所に射出され歯ブラシ１０の部分１６を成型する。部分的に完成した歯ブラシが第２の射出成型ステーションに移動される位置で、ポリプロピレンは冷却される。冷却され固化したポリプロピレンは歯ブラシのヘッド１４に房の溶融した集まりを固着する。第２の射出成型ステーションにおいて、部分的に完成したブラシは凹所を有する第２のモールドに押し込まれ親指握り部分１８、商標２４及び指握り部分２０を成型する。熱可塑性エラストマーはモールドに射出され、該エラストマーが冷却され歯ブラシ１０が完成した後、歯ブラシ１０はモールドから取り出される。次いで歯ブラシは包装される。The present invention relates generally to the field of oral care, and more particularly to toothbrushes. The present invention further relates to a toothbrush having a three-dimensional bristle profile to provide improved cleaning of tooth roots and gum margins. Tooth brushing and flossing are the basic steps to good oral hygiene. Unfortunately, the practice of flossing has not been widely accepted by the public, although the public understands that flossing should be done as part of good oral hygiene. Was. Furthermore, even a person who occasionally flosses cannot easily and properly floss the whole mouth. Unfortunately, although many commercially useful toothbrushes can clean the buccal surfaces outside the teeth, they have rounded plaques and debris at the gum edges, No improved cleaning could be performed on the in-between, tongue-facing surfaces and other hard-to-reach parts of the mouth. One reason such toothbrushes cannot adequately clean the most posterior molars (eg, unknowing or secondary molars) is that one or more tufts attached to the toothbrush head located furthest from the toothbrush handle. ) Are not angled or bent in the direction along the head extending from the handle. Thus, the tuft does not extend sufficiently beyond the end of the toothbrush head to sufficiently clean the posterior teeth behind the mouth. Further, in the brush having tufts of hair angled or bent to the handle, and the other tufts bending away from the handle, all such tufts are essentially the same length, They have the same cross section. As a result, such curved tufts can be cleaned in a manner that fills a portion of the tooth, but other portions of the tooth can be cleaned sufficiently because the tufts are of uniform length, spacing, and cross-section. Did not. In addition, some prior art toothbrushes provided with tufts of hair having at most three different types of cross sections. However, more than three tooth portions are required for cleaning with a brush (e.g., the outer cheek-facing surface, gum edges, between the roots, the tongue-facing surface, and the most posterior molars). Thus, conventional brushes did not have well-variable cross-section tufts specifically designed to clean all parts of the teeth. The present invention is intended to overcome one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarizing one aspect of the present invention, a toothbrush comprises a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a plurality of tufts of bristles fixed or attached to the head. One of the tufts is secured at a position more distal to the handle than where one tuft is secured to the head and at a location where none of the other tufts are secured. One tuft is angled or bent about 81 ° with respect to an imaginary line tangent or flush with the face of the head via one tuft secured to the head. One tuft is sloped away from the handle with respect to the direction along the head where the head extends from the handle. By bending one tuft as described above, the tuft can extend beyond the end of the head of the toothbrush, thereby providing a sufficiently clean posterior molar behind the mouth. According to another aspect of the present invention, a toothbrush includes a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a plurality of bristle tufts secured to a head. The two tufts each make an acute angle to an imaginary line tangent or flush with the face of the head via the two tufts secured to the head. The two tufts have different characteristics selected from the group of properties consisting of length, cross section, color, material and their combination. Providing a bent tuft that varies in length, cross-section, color, material and its combination can clean more than a portion of a tooth with this bent tuft. For example, one type of bent tuft can clean the buccal surface of the tooth, and another type of bent tuft can clean the root of the tooth. A third aspect of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having a handle, a head extending from the handle, and various tufts of bristles secured to the head. Tuft diversity comprises tufts with at least five different types of cross-sections. By providing a tuft having at least five types of cross-sections, such a tuft may suitably be applied to all parts of the teeth (eg, cheek-facing outer surface, gum margin, root-to-root portion, tongue-facing surface) And the most posterior molars) can be cleaned. These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. Would. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toothbrush of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the toothbrush of FIG. 4 and 5 are partial side views of the head and associated parts of the tuft of the toothbrush of FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the head of the toothbrush along line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the head and handle of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 to 3, the toothbrush 10 has a handle portion 12 and a head portion 14 extending from the handle in the D direction. The total length of the toothbrush 10 is preferably about 19.6 cm, and the width of the head 14 is preferably about 1.3 cm at the widest part. The main portion 16 of the handle 12 and the head 14 are composed of a single piece of polypropylene. The thumb grip portion 18, the optional trademark 24 (preferably about 2.1 cm long) and the finger grip portion 20 are preferably thermoplastic elastomers, preferably kraton rubber (Shore A between about 5 and about 70). Styrene and butadiene or isoprene having hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated oil-filled block copolymer). Thumb grip portion 18 and finger grip portion 20 have a series of 17 raised ribs 22 to assist in gripping the handle. The ribs 22 preferably have a width of 1.3 mm. 3-7, a plurality of tufts 26 of bristles are fixedly attached to the head 14 of the toothbrush. Each tuft is made up of a number of bristles, all bristles preferably having rounded ends. Five different types of tufts are secured to the head, with each type of tuft having a cross-section that differs in area and shape from the other types of tufts. The first type of tuft 28 consists of bristles made of PBT with an abrasive such as kaolin clay molecules mixed throughout polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Such bristles are between 0.13E and 0.23mm in diameter, preferably 0.18mm in diameter. The length of the bristles measured from the face 30 of the head 14 is about 11.2 mm. Sectional area which is tufted tufts 28 is about 24 mm ^2, the volume of the tuft measured from the head surface of about 0.2 7 cm ³ (during this volume is preferably from about 0.25 cm ³ to 0.29 cm ³ In). Only one type 28 tuft is attached to the head 14, which is furthest from the handle 14 than the other tufts. The second type 32 of tufts is made from nylon indicator (TM) type bristles and is made of 6.12 nylon and the outer surface is tinted blue. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the blue coloration of such bristles gradually wears out when the brush is used for an extended period, indicating a wear limit for the toothbrush. The bristles are between 0.13 mm and 0.23 mm in diameter, preferably 0.18 mm in diameter. The length of the bristles measured from the face 30 of the head 14 is about 8.9 mm. The cross-sectional area of each tuft 32 is about 2.9 mm. As shown in FIG. 6, the tuft of the mold 32 has a round cross section. Between 8 and 12 mold 32 tufts are attached to the head 14. The tufts of the third mold 34 are composed of bristles made of PBT with an abrasive such as kaolin clay molecules mixed throughout the PBT. The bristles are 0.13 mm to 0.23 mm in diameter, preferably 0.18 mm in diameter. The length of the bristles measured from the face 30 of the head 14 is about 11.2 mm. The cross-sectional area of each tuft 34 is about 1.7 mm ² . Between eight and twelve tufts of mold 32 are attached to head 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the tufts of the mold 34 are rectangular and have rounded ends. The fourth mold 36 tuft is composed of bristles made of PBT with an abrasive such as kaolin clay molecules mixed throughout the PBT. The bristles are 0.13 mm to 0.23 mm in diameter, preferably 0.18 mm in diameter. The length of the bristles measured from the face 30 of the head 14 is about 11.2 mm. The cross-sectional area of each tuft 36 is about 2.6 mm ² . Four to six tufts of molds 36 are attached to head 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the tufts of the mold 36 are rectangular with rounded ends and are wider in the lateral direction of the head than the tufts of the mold 34. The fifth and last mold tresses are composed of bristles made of PBT with an abrasive such as kaolin clay molecules mixed throughout the PBT. The bristles are between 0.13 mm and 0.23 mm in diameter, preferably 0.15 mm in diameter. The length of the bristles measured from the face 30 of the head 14 is about 8.9 mm. The cross-sectional area of each tuft 38 is about 5.4 mm ² . Four to six tufts of molds 38 are attached to head 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the tufts of the mold 38 are rectangular with rounded ends and are wider than the tufts of the mold 36. As described above, with respect to the cross-sectional area of each tuft, the tuft of the mold 28 has a cross section that is four times or more larger than any other tuft attached to the head 14. Although it has been described that the hair of each tuft is composed of a particular material as described above, other materials can be used. Any bristles attached to the head 11 are typically made of PBT with or without abrasives, such as kaolin clay, 6.12 nylon with or without abrasives, or nylon with or without abrasives Consists of an indicator (trademark). In addition, bristles within and between tufts can vary in length, diameter, cross-sectional shape, cross-sectional area, color, and are composed of different materials. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 7, all tufts of the head 14 are preferably in the direction D or in the opposite direction to the imaginary line tangent to the face 30 of the head 14 in the direction 8 1. Below, more preferably between about 69 ° and about 81 °, and most preferably at an angle of 75 °. If surface 30 is not curved but rather flat, line 40 will be flush with surface 30. The two outer rows 42 of tufts are angled with respect to direction D in a direction away from handle 12. The inner row of tufts 44 is inclined toward the handle 12 in a direction opposite to the direction D 1, except for a large tuft 28 which is inclined away from the handle 12 with respect to the direction D. The toothbrush 10 is manufactured by the following method as is well known to those skilled in the art. Each tuft of bristles has a selected material, length and diameter, and the tufts are formed by collecting the desired amount of the tufts together. The tufts are then inserted into some openings in the mold of the injection molding machine. The ends of the tufts that are in or inserted into the mold recess are melted and the bristles are joined together to form a molten mass or ball at the ends of the tufts. The mold part supporting the tuft is joined with the other part of the mold that integrally defines the recess used to form the main part 16 of the toothbrush. The molten cluster of tufts is placed in the recess. Then polypropylene is injected into the recess to mold the portion 16 of the toothbrush 10. The polypropylene is cooled where the partially completed toothbrush is moved to the second injection molding station. The cooled and solidified polypropylene secures the molten mass of tufts to the head 14 of the toothbrush. At the second injection molding station, the partially completed brush is pressed into a second mold having a recess to form the thumb grip portion 18, trademark 24 and finger grip portion 20. After the thermoplastic elastomer is injected into the mold and the elastomer is cooled and the toothbrush 10 is completed, the toothbrush 10 is removed from the mold. The toothbrush is then packaged.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (81)指定国ＥＰ(ＡＴ，ＢＥ，ＣＨ，ＣＹ，ＤＥ，ＤＫ，ＥＳ，ＦＩ，ＦＲ，ＧＢ，ＧＲ，ＩＥ，ＩＴ，ＬＵ，ＭＣ，ＮＬ，ＰＴ，ＳＥ)，ＯＡ(ＢＦ，ＢＪ，ＣＦ，ＣＧ，ＣＩ，ＣＭ，ＧＡ，ＧＮ，ＧＷ，ＭＬ，ＭＲ，ＮＥ，ＳＮ，ＴＤ，ＴＧ)，ＡＰ(ＧＨ，ＧＭ，ＫＥ，ＬＳ，ＭＷ，ＳＤ，ＳＺ，ＵＧ，ＺＷ)，ＥＡ(ＡＭ，ＡＺ，ＢＹ，ＫＧ，ＫＺ，ＭＤ，ＲＵ，ＴＪ，ＴＭ) ，ＡＬ，ＡＭ，ＡＴ，ＡＵ，ＡＺ，ＢＡ，ＢＢ，ＢＧ，ＢＲ，ＢＹ，ＣＡ，ＣＨ，ＣＮ，ＣＵ，ＣＺ，ＤＥ，ＤＫ，ＥＥ，ＥＳ，ＦＩ，ＧＢ，ＧＤ，ＧＥ，ＧＨ，ＧＭ，ＨＲ，ＨＵ，ＩＤ，ＩＬ，ＩＳ，ＪＰ，ＫＥ，ＫＧ，ＫＰ，ＫＲ，ＫＺ，ＬＣ，ＬＫ，ＬＲ，ＬＳ，ＬＴ，ＬＵ，ＬＶ，ＭＤ，ＭＧ，ＭＫ，ＭＮ，ＭＷ，ＭＸ，ＮＯ，ＮＺ，ＰＬ，ＰＴ，ＲＯ，ＲＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＥ，ＳＧ，ＳＩ，ＳＫ，ＳＬ，ＴＪ，ＴＭ，ＴＲ，ＴＴ，ＵＡ，ＵＧ，ＵＳ，ＵＺ，ＶＮ，ＹＵ，ＺＷ (72)発明者トーマス、クレイグ、マスターマンアメリカ合衆国カリフォルニア州、フォスター、シティー、シティーホームズ、レーン、121 (72)発明者マイケル、ロバーツアメリカ合衆国マサチューセッツ州、ブレインツリー、コマーシャル、ストリート、 453 (72)発明者ブラッドリー、カスティーロアメリカ合衆国カリフォルニア州、サン、ラモン、タラベラ、ドライブ、2409────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM , AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM) , AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, D K, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM , HR, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, L U, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO , NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, U G, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW (72) Inventor Thomas, Craig, Masterman Foss, California, United States Tar, City, City Homes, Leh , 121 (72) Michael, Roberts, inventor Bure, Massachusetts, United States Intrees, commercials, streets, 453 (72) Bradley, Castillo United States of America California, Sun, Ramon, Talavera, Drive, 2409

Claims

[Claims] 1. A handle, a head extending from the handle, and a toothbrush consisting of a plurality of tufts of bristles fixed to the head, wherein one of the tufts is more distal from the handle than a position where a tuft is fixed to the head. At a position where none of the tufts is fixed to the head, the tuft is fixed to the head, and the one tuft is approximately tangent or approximately imaginary to the plane of the head where the one tuft is fixed to the head. A toothbrush angled at 81 ° or less, wherein said one tuft is inclined in a direction away from the handle relative to a direction in which the head extends from the handle. 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein one of the tufts is at an angle between about 69 ° and about 81 ° from an imaginary line. 3. 3. The toothbrush of claim 2 wherein said one tuft is at an angle of about 75 [deg.] From said imaginary line. 4. The plurality of tufts comprises one tuft and at least two other tufts, the two other tufts being at an angle together with respect to the imaginary line, the two other tufts being measured from the plane of the head. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the toothbrushes have different lengths. 5. 5. The toothbrush of claim 4, wherein said two other tufts differ in length by about 2.3 mm. 6. The plurality of tufts comprises the one tuft and the two other tufts, the two other tufts being at an angle together with respect to the imaginary line, and the two other tufts having different cross sections. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein 7. 7. The toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the cross sections have different shapes. 8. 7. The toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the cross sections have different areas. 9. 2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said one tuft has a cross-sectional area that is at least four times greater than any other tuft secured to the head. 10. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the other tuft is not fixed to the head at a position distal from the handle where the one tuft is fixed to the head. 11. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a plurality of tufts of bristles fixed to the head, wherein each of the two tufts has a head surface with two tufts fixed to the head. A toothbrush having an acute angle to a tangent or coplanar imaginary line, wherein the two tufts have different properties selected from each other from a group of properties consisting of length, cross section, color, material and combinations thereof. 12. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the characteristic is length and the length difference between the two tufts is about 2.3 mm. 13. 12. The toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic is a cross section and the cross sectional area is different. 14． 12. The toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic is a cross section and the cross sectional shape is different. 15. Further comprising a third tuft, wherein the third tuft has no other tufts secured to the head at a more distal position from the handle than the location at which the third tuft is secured to the head; The toothbrush according to claim 11, which is fixed to the head. 16. 16. The toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the third tuft is at an angle between about 69 degrees and about 81 degrees from the imaginary line. 17． 17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein said third tuft is at an angle of about 75 [deg.] From said imaginary line. 18. 16. The toothbrush of claim 15, wherein a cross-sectional area of the third tuft is at least four times greater than any other tuft secured to the head. 19. 16. The toothbrush of claim 15, wherein none of the other tufts are secured to the head at a location distal from the handle than the location where the third tuft is secured to the head. 20. 16. The toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the two tufts are angled in generally opposite directions, one tuft is angled in the handle direction, and the other tuft is angled away from the handle. 21. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head extending from the handle, and various tufts of bristles affixed to the head, wherein the variety of tufts comprises at least five different types of tufts. 22. 22. The toothbrush of claim 21 having a different cross-sectional area. 23. The toothbrush according to claim 21, which has a different cross-sectional shape. 24. The toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the third tuft is angled no more than about 81 ° with respect to the imaginary line, and is inclined away from the handle relative to a general direction of a head extending from the handle. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more bristles have different properties than the other bristles, wherein the properties are selected from the group consisting of length, diameter, cross-sectional area, cross-sectional shape, color, material, and combinations thereof. toothbrush. 26. The one or more bristles having different properties than the other bristles, wherein the properties are selected from the group consisting of length, diameter, cross-sectional area, cross-sectional shape, color, material and combinations thereof. toothbrush. 27.1 one tuft about 0.25 cm ³ to toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein has a tuft volume measured from the head surface of between 0.29 cm ^3. 28. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the two tufts are angled in substantially the same direction. 29. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the two tufts are angled between about 69 ° and about 81 ° from the imaginary line. 30. The toothbrush of claim 29, wherein the three tufts are angled about 75 degrees from the imaginary line.