KR20110097958A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush head having a tuft of a plurality of bristles including a tapered bristles and a plurality of non-tapered bristles is disclosed. Tassels with tapered bristles are disposed along the transverse outward sides of the tassel pattern and are longer than internal tassels with non-tapered bristles.

Description

Toothbrush {TOOTHBRUSH}

The present invention relates to toothbrushes, in particular bristle configuration. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved bristle form comprising tapered bristle strands.

Toothbrushes are well known articles that generally include a head for insertion into a user's mouth and a grip handle to be gripped during use, with a neck region therebetween, all of which are in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush (must be Need not be a straight line). The bristle head usually has a surface referred to herein as a “bristle surface,” and the bristles extend from the lower end of the bristles closest to the bristle surface to the upper part spaced from the bristle surface. This bristle surface is bounded at the transversely opposite edge by the sides.

Bristles are also well known articles that include strands of stiff and flexible material, which are generally disposed in tufts of plural strands extending from the bristle surface. Polyamide Nylon is very often used as bristle material.

Bristle strands can be of two known types. Non-tapered bristles are, for example, in the shape of irregular hemispherical or semi-elliptic bodies, from their bottom to top except for the extreme upper end of rounded, e.g., 5% or less, top portion. It has substantially the same cross section, which is generally cylindrical along its entire length. A so-called "tapered bristles" in which a significant portion of the tapered bristles length, for example 20% or more of that length, taper toward the end away from the bristle plane, typically in a shallow pointed conical shape. Known. Thinner tapered bristles at the top have different bending and flexibility characteristics for non-tapered strands. In particular, tapered bristles are known for the effect of reaching the space between the teeth, the so-called "interproximal" space. For example, such tapered bristles can be used in particular in EP-A-1 234 525, EP-A-1 415 572, US-A-6,546,586, WO-A-97 / 42853, WO-A-97 / 42854, WO-A -01/32053, WO-A-01 / 82741, EP-AO 596 633.

Particularly relative dispositions of tapered bristles on the bristle surface are also known. For example, US-A-6,546,586 includes a plurality of bristles made of polybutylene terephthalate in the form of longer tapered bristles each bundle tapering towards the top and shorter bristles of uniform cross section. Disclosed is a toothbrush head. For example, it is known from US-A-2006 / 0096053 which discloses a head for a powered toothbrush to combine tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles on a toothbrush head. It is also known from other specifications such as, for example, US-A-3,103,679, WO-A-96 / 16571 and DE-A-35 28 596 to bind long bristle strands and short bristle strands in a bundle. WO-A-2009 / 000903 discloses a toothbrush head having an inner region of tapered bristles surrounded by an outer ring of non-tapered bristles.

Other types of bristles that are narrow at the ends away from the bristle surface are known. For example, there are so-called "feathered bristles" in which the ends away from the bristle surface are divided into finer strands. For example, feathered bristles are disclosed in EP-A-1 173 081 and US-A-6,322,152.

The object of the present invention is to integrate tapered bristle filaments, in particular to provide tooth cleaning, for example, at the gingival margin and at subgingival access, especially in tooth spacing. To provide an improved toothbrush head, one would explore the possibility of a toothbrush head that combines tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a toothbrush grip handle is connectable or connectable, thereby forming a head-handle longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being elongated and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Having a bristle surface, a plurality of bristles tufts extending from the bristle surface in the bristle direction, wherein the bristles are disposed in a plurality of tufts each comprising a plurality of bristles, and a plurality of tapered bristles and a plurality of bristles A toothbrush head comprising non-tapered bristles, the plurality of bristle tufts disposed in a pattern on the bristle surface, the bristle surfaces comprising tapered bristles and along the outermost side facing the transverse direction of the tuft pattern. A plurality of outer bundles disposed and longer first length, wherein said plurality of outer bundles are non-laterally intersecting between said plurality of outer bundles. A toothbrush head is provided that includes a plurality of inner bundles that are tapered bristles and are of a second, shorter length.

This new arrangement of tapered bristles is thought to help effective cleaning at the gum boundaries. Other advantages of the toothbrush head of the present invention will be apparent from the following.

The toothbrush head of the present invention can be implemented in various structures.

For example, the plurality of outer bundles may all include tapered bristles.

For example, all bundles, including tapered bristles, can be composed entirely of tapered bristles.

Alternatively, the plurality of outer bundles may include a bundle comprising tapered bristles and a bundle not including tapered bristles, the bundle may be a longer first length or a longer or shorter length than the longer first length. . For example, the plurality of outer bundles may comprise a bundle or group of bundles including tapered bristles longitudinally alternating with a bundle or groups of bundles that do not include tapered bristles.

For example, the outer bundles may all be of a longer first length. For example, the plurality of outer bundles may all be of the same longer first length. Alternatively, the plurality of outer bundles may comprise bundles of a first length longer than two or more shorter second lengths. For example, the plurality of outer bundles may alternatively comprise bundles of length equal to or less than the shorter second length.

For example, the inner bundles can all include non-tapered bristles.

For example, the inner bundles can all be entirely composed of non-tapered bristles. Alternatively, some of the inner bundles may include tapered bristles.

For example, the inner bundles may all be of a shorter second length, for example the inner bundles may all be of the same shorter second length. Alternatively, the plurality of inner bundles may comprise two or more shorter second length bundles shorter than the longer first length. For example, the plurality of inner bundles may alternatively comprise bundles of length equal to or longer than the longer first length.

The plurality of outer tufts can be disposed in a line that substantially follows the shape of the edge of the bristle surface when viewed along the length of the bristles toward the bristle surface.

For example, in such an arrangement, the outer bundle can be placed into each outer bundle substantially equidistant in the transverse direction from the transverse edge of the bristle surface.

For example, the plurality of outer bundles may be arranged such that each bundle is substantially transversely equidistant from an adjacent edge of the bristle surface. Alternatively, the plurality of outer bundles may be arranged such that the different bundles are at different transverse distances from adjacent edges of the bristle surface. For example, the outer bundles may be disposed adjacent each other in the transverse direction at two or more respective transverse distances from the edge of the bristle surface.

For example, a bundle comprising a longer first length tapered bristles may be positioned adjacent an end of the bristle surface longitudinally away from the handle. For example, such a bundle may be the bundle most longitudinally away from the toothbrush handle. Such bundles may consist entirely of tapered bristles or may include tapered bristles in combination with non-tapered bristles. For example, such a bundle may include a bundle comprising both tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles, or may comprise adjacent bundles composed entirely of tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles respectively.

Additionally or alternatively, for example, a bundle of longer first length may be positioned adjacent the end of the bristle surface adjacent the position of the toothbrush head to which the head is connected or to be connected. For example, such a bundle may be the bundle most longitudinally close to the toothbrush handle. Such bundles may be composed entirely of tapered bristles or may include tapered bristles that engage non-tapered bristles. For example, such a bundle may comprise a bundle comprising both tapered and non-tapered bristles, or may comprise adjacent bundles composed entirely of tapered and non-tapered bristles, respectively.

For example, the difference between the longer first length and the shorter second length may be between 1 and 5 mm, for example between 2 and 4 mm. Typically, the longer first length may be between 11 and 13 mm.

Bundles comprising tapered bristles and bundles comprising non-tapered bristles can be placed in otherwise conventional layouts on the bristle face. For example, the bundles may be arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement with immediately adjacent bundles about 2 to 3 mm apart, for example in regular arrangement symmetric about the longitudinal direction. This arrangement may include rows of a plurality of bristle bundles oriented transversely across the bristle surface.

The bristle surface may be substantially planar. Alternatively, the bristle surface may be concave longitudinally and / or transversely. For example, the bristle surfaces can be curved concave or the surfaces can comprise planar regions at an obtuse angle with respect to each other. For example, the bristle surface may comprise a tip region adjacent the tip end of the head furthest from the handle, which is obtuse with respect to the region adjacent to the longitudinal direction. For example, the tip region can be angled up with respect to the region in which it is longitudinally cut.

The bundle comprising tapered bristles and / or the bundle comprising non-tapered bristles may be oriented perpendicular to the bristle surface. Alternatively, they may be oriented to be inclined at an angle that is not perpendicular to the bristle surface, such as 75 to 85 ° relative to the bristle surface. Such inclined bundles are preferably inclined longitudinally such that their ends away from the bristle surface are longitudinally closer to or further from the handle. In one form of this structure, the adjacent bundles in the transverse direction can be inclined in the opposite longitudinal direction. For example, as seen in the transverse direction, such bundles may appear to intersect in an X-shaped arrangement.

Bundles of tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles can be secured to the bristle surface by conventional methods. This conventional method involves the use of well-known small metal "anchors", ie clips around a portion of the bristles, which will be secured within the bristle surface and then into a socket hole in the bristle surface. Is pushed. Another conventional method is the so-called "anchorless" method, in which the ends of the bristles will be fixed to the bristle surface by molding the plastic material of the heads around them in the mold cavity in which the head is made therein. .

In a first configuration, the toothbrush head may comprise a conventional single block of plastic material, such as conventional polypropylene, to which the bundle is secured.

Alternatively, in the second configuration, the toothbrush head may have a configuration in which a section of the head that is relatively closer to the end of the head away from the handle is elastically and flexibly linked to the section of the toothbrush head that is relatively closer to the handle. Such a link may be present by a composite link region consisting of an elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, and one or more flexible plastic material links. Such head configurations are for example disclosed in WO-A-97 / 07707 and WO-A-98 / 37788.

In this second configuration, for example, one of these sections, i.e., a section closer to the end of the head away from the handle, or a section of the toothbrush head closer to the handle, or all of these sections extend therefrom and are arranged in a pattern on the bristle surface. A bristle tuft, wherein the bristle surface comprises a plurality of outer tufts comprising tapered bristles and disposed along the transverse outward side of the tuft pattern, the plurality of outer tufts being a longer first length, wherein the plurality of outer tufts There is a plurality of inner bundles between the bundles that are non-tapered bristles in the transverse direction and are of a second shorter length.

Alternatively in the third configuration the toothbrush head may have a three or more, but preferably three longitudinally elongate, section-like arrangement disposed transversely across the toothbrush head, wherein The sections are each flexibly linked to the handle and are in the form of at least one, but preferably one, intermediate section disposed transversely between the outer sections disposed in two transverse directions and the outer sections, each of Said section being independent and elastically movable relative to said laterally adjacent section, said plurality of outer bundles comprising a longer first length of tapered bristles disposed on said outer section disposed in two transverse directions; A plurality of inner bundles disposed on the substrate, the plurality of inner bundles comprising a non-tapered bristles and of a second shorter length; Is placed on the section. Each said section has its own respective bristle surface that together form the bristle surface of the bristle head.

An example of such a configuration is as disclosed in WO-A-2004 / 041023.

For example, such a head configuration may include three transversely adjacent, bristle extending longitudinally extending sections, the middle section being a section that is an outer section on each transverse side of the middle section, and one Or more of the sections are elastically and flexibly connected or connectable to the handle, wherein an end of the intermediate section adjacent the distal end of the head is attached to a bristle-carrying pad adjacent the distal end of the head. Extending longitudinally adjacent to the handle and integrally transversely with respect to a portion of the intermediate section to extend over the entire width of the toothbrush head adjacent the upper end,

The intermediate section comprises an intermediate bristle support pad, the area of the maximum width of the portion of the intermediate section between the base end of the head and the tip pad,

Wherein the first link region of the section between the intermediate pad and the tip pad is narrower in width than the adjacent portion of the intermediate pad and the tip pad,

The second link region of the section between the handle and the intermediate pad is narrower in width than the adjacent portion of the intermediate pad closer to the distal end.

Preferably, the head comprises only three such sections, namely a middle section and two outer sections.

For example, the intermediate section is 50% or less, for example 25% or less, of the longitudinal length of the intermediate section spaced from the distal end, relative to the region immediately longitudinally close to it closer to the handle. Can be enlarged in the horizontal direction.

An end of the intermediate section adjacent to the upper end of the head is directly in the longitudinal direction closer to the handle so as to form a concavity between the end of the intermediate section and a portion of the intermediate section immediately adjacent to the handle. It may be integrally enlarged in the transverse direction with respect to a portion of the adjacent intermediate section, and the end of the outer section may be formed in a complementary shape to the recess such that the end can be coupled into the recess. .

Preferably, two or more, preferably all sections, are elastically and flexibly connected to the handle, such that under the action of pressure on the bristles, they can be flexibly bent out of the plane parallel to the width direction and parallel to the length direction. do. Preferably each section is elastically linked to the handle by the flexible neck region of the handle.

For example, the middle section and the side section can be in sliding contact. WO-A-2005 / 039858 describes how such heads can be manufactured.

In this third configuration, for example, all the plurality of outer bundles on the two outer sections may be longer first length tapered bristles, and all the plurality of inner bundles on the middle section (s) may be of a shorter second length. It may be a non-tapered bristle.

In this third configuration, the plurality of bundles including tapered bristles may extend from the intermediate section adjacent the distal end of the intermediate section such that the bundles are the furthest longitudinally away from the toothbrush handle.

The present invention also provides a toothbrush comprising a handle connected to a toothbrush head as disclosed herein. Such a toothbrush may be a manual toothbrush intended to be moved only by hand movement around the tooth. Alternatively the toothbrush may be a powered toothbrush provided with an internal motor to drive the bristles to the handle. Such toothbrushes may be of conventional construction, generally well known.

Toothbrushes can be made from conventional bristle materials for tapered and non-tapered bristles such as, for example, nylon or polybutylene terephthalate. The bristles can be tapered or end rounded by conventional methods such as mechanical wear or chemical corrosion. When cutting across the bristle direction, the bristles' bundles may be of circular cross section or other shape, whether or not they include tapered bristles. For example, some or all of the outer bundles, including one or more bundles, such as tapered bristles, may have sections extending longitudinally, such as, for example, ovals or rounded rectangles.

The other parts of the handle and toothbrush head may be made of a conventional material, such as, for example, a plastic material such as polypropylene, and the handle may have a conventional grip-enhancing surface pad area, which may be made of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer. It may also include. Many conventional types of handles are well known in the toothbrush technology. One example of a suitable handle configuration is disclosed, for example, in EP-A-0 336 641. Handles and other parts of the toothbrush can be made solely by conventional techniques, such as injection molding, as is common in toothbrush technology.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a side view of non-tapered bristles and tapered bristles,
2 shows a top view of a first configuration of a toothbrush head of the present invention,
3 shows a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush head of FIG. 2 taken across the line AA of FIG. 2, FIG.
4 and 5 show a plan view and a cross-sectional view of another configuration of the toothbrush head of the present invention,
6 and 7 show a plan view and a cross-sectional view of another configuration of the toothbrush head of the present invention,
8 and 9 show a plan view of another configuration of the toothbrush head of the present invention,
10 shows a side view of another configuration of the toothbrush head of the present invention,
11 and 12 show top and side views, respectively, of different configurations of toothbrush heads of the present invention;
Figures 13 and 14 show top and side views, respectively, of an overall configuration of a toothbrush of the present invention with the head of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical non-tapered bristle 10 is shown in a schematic side view that extends from the bristle surface 20 of a toothbrush head (not shown) in the bristle direction (“B”). The bristle 10 has a substantially identical and uniform cylindrical cross section from its lower end 10A adjacent the bristle surface 20 along its entire length from its upper end 10B away from the bristle surface 20. The region 10C immediately adjacent to the uppermost portion, such as, for example, 5% or less of the top, has rounded ends in an irregular semi-elliptic shape. 1 also shows a conventional tapered bristle 30. The lower portion 30A of the bristles 30 extending upward from the bristle surface 20 has a substantially uniform cylindrical cross section. The upper portion 30B comprising the top 30% of the length of the bristles 30 is tapered in a shallow pointed conical shape.

Referring to FIG. 2, the toothbrush head 40 is generally shown in plan view, and at its end 40A is connected to the toothbrush handle through the neck region 41 of the handle, whereby the head 40-handle 41 species Direction LL and has a longitudinally opposite tip end 40B. The head 40 extends in the longitudinal direction L-L and has a width direction W-W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L-L. Head 40 has a flat planar bristle surface 42 from which a plurality of bristle bundles 43 are (generally) in the bristle direction (“B”) perpendicular to the plane of bristle surface 42. And extend in both the longitudinal direction LL and the width direction WW, and the figure of FIG. 2 faces downward along the bristle direction "B". The plurality of bundles 43 each includes a plurality of bristles.

The plurality of bristle tufts 43 are disposed in a pattern on the bristle surface 42 that includes a plurality of outer tufts 431 including only tapered bristles (ie, as shown at 30 in FIG. 1), the tufts 431 is disposed along the outermost side facing in the transverse direction of the pattern of the bundle 43. The bundle 431 is disposed continuously in a line (indicated by the dashed lines connecting them) substantially equidistant from the transverse edge 44 of the bristle surface 42. A plurality of inner bundles 432 are disposed that include only non-tapered bristles (ie, as shown at 10 in FIG. 1) in the transverse direction between the plurality of outer bundles 431.

The bundles 43 are positioned in a conventional two dimensional array on the bristle surface 42 with the bundles 43 spaced about 2-3 mm from each other. As shown in FIG. 2, this arrangement is symmetric about the longitudinal direction LL and rows of bristle bundles 44 oriented transversely in the direction WW across the bristle surface 42. It includes.

3 shows a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush head 40 as cut along the line A-A of FIG. 2 extending across the head 40 in the transverse direction (W-W). FIG. 3 shows a plurality of outer tufts 431 comprising only tapered bristles, the first length being longer from the lower end adjacent the bristle surface 42 to the top away from the bristle surface 42 and including a plurality of non-tapered bristles only. It is shown that the middle bundle 432 is a shorter second length that is less than the longer first length.

In the toothbrush heads shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the difference between the longer first length of the bundle 431 and the shorter second length of the bundle 432 is 1-5 mm, for example 2-4 mm. . Typically the longer first length of the bundle 431 is 10-12 mm.

In the head 40 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the bristle 43 of the bristles is secured to the bristle surface by a conventional small metal “anchor” (not shown).

4 and 5, at the end 50A, it is connected to the toothbrush handle through the neck region 51 of the handle, thereby forming the head 50 toward the handle 51 longitudinal direction LL and opposing it. The second configuration of the toothbrush head 50 with the distal end 50B is shown in plan view in FIG. 4 as a whole. The head 50 is elongate in the longitudinal direction L-L and has a width direction W-W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L-L. The head 50 has a bristle surface 52 from which bristle bundles 53 a plurality of bristle bundles 53 are perpendicular to the plane of each portion of the bristle surface 52 to which they extend ("B"). Extend (usually). 5 shows a longitudinal cross section.

The head 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5 has a known configuration, in which a section 54 of the head is relatively closer to the end 50A of the head 50 attached to the handle 51. 55 is elastically and flexibly linked to the section 56 of the toothbrush head 50 relatively far from the handle 51. The link 55 includes a composite link region as shown in FIG. 5, which is a section 55, embedded in a surrounding flexible elastomeric material 58, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. It consists of a flexible plastic material link 57 which links 56 integrally. Such head configurations are disclosed, for example, in WO-A-97 / 07707 and WO-A-98 / 37788 and are present in known toothbrushes, for example as marketed under Applicants' AQUAFRESH ™ brand.

The bristle bundle 53 extends from the bristle surface 52 of both sections 55 and 56, the bristle bundles being disposed in a pattern on the bristle surface comprising a plurality of outer tufts 531 including tapered bristles only, A plurality of first lengths disposed along the transverse outermost sides of the bundle pattern, the first being longer, wherein the plurality of second bundles comprise only non-tapered bristles in the horizontal direction between the plurality of outer bundles 531 An inner bundle 532 is present.

The view of FIG. 4 faces down along the bristle direction (“B”) of the bundle 53 extending from the section 54. The bristle surfaces 52 of the two sections 55, 56 form an angle of less than 180 °, typically about 170 °, relative to each other.

Although the link between the heads 40, 50 and the neck regions 41, 51 is shown as a rigid ring, it is alternatively known type, for example as disclosed in WO-A-98 / 37788. It may be a flexible link of.

6 and 7, this shows the toothbrush head 60 (all). The head 60 is connected at its end 60A to a toothbrush handle (not shown) through the neck area 61 of the handle, thereby forming the head 60-handle 61 longitudinal direction LL, It has a longitudinally opposed distal end 60B. The head 60 is elongated in the longitudinal direction L-L and has a width direction W-W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L-L. The head 60 includes three longitudinally elongated sections 62, 63, 64, which section two toothed heads 60 and outer sections 62, 64 arranged opposite in the transverse direction. It is an intermediate section 63 disposed in the transverse direction between the outer sections 62, 64 disposed transversely adjacent in the transverse direction. Each section 62, 63, 64 is flexibly linked to the handle by a respective neck 611, 612, 613. Each section 62, 63, 64 has a respective bristle surface 65, 66, 67. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the head 60 cut across the line A-A of FIG. 6.

A plurality of outer tufts 68 comprising a longer first length of tapered bristles from the bristle surfaces 65.67 of the outer sections 62, 64 and a plurality of shorter second lengths, including only non-tapered bristles Inner bundle 69 extends. From the bristle surface of the middle section 63, a plurality of internal bristles 69 that extend only a second shorter length and contain only non-tapered bristles.

The intermediate section 63 extends longitudinally beyond the ends of the outer sections 62, 63 and extends to a tip pad 610 having a bristle surface 611. From the bristle surface 611 of the tip pad 610 a plurality of outer tufts 681, including only tapered bristles, extend around the end of the tip pad 610 away from the handle 61 and of the top pattern of the tuft. It is arranged along the outermost side facing in the transverse direction.

Referring to FIG. 8, a plan view of one transverse side of the toothbrush head 80 is shown. The placement of the outer bristle 81 on the (generally) bristle surface 82 is shown. The bristle 81 includes a bundle 81A including tapered bristles and a bundle 81B without tapered bristles. Bundle 81B may be a longer first length or a longer or shorter length than this longer first length. The arrangement of the plurality of outer tufts 81 includes a tuft 81A including tapered bristles in which the tufts 81B that do not include the tapered bristles are alternated in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of bundles 83 includes non-tapered bristles and is of a second shorter length. The head 80 is connected to the adjacent neck region 84 in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 9, a plan view of one transverse side of the toothbrush head 90 is shown. The placement of the outer bristle 91 on the (generally) bristle surface 92 is shown. In this arrangement, a plurality of outer tufts 91 comprising tapered bristles are disposed such that each tuft 91 is substantially equidistant in the transverse direction from adjacent edges 93 of the bristle surface. The plurality of outer bundles 91 are arranged such that they are laterally adjacent to one another at different transverse distances (when measured at their centers) D1 and D2, where D1 is greater than D2 from adjacent edges 93 of the bristle surface. Is bigger. The plurality of bundles 94 includes non-tapered bristles and is of a shorter first length. The head 90 is connected to the adjacent neck region 95 in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 10, a side view of adjacent portions of toothbrush head 100 and neck region 101 is shown. 10 also shows that the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush is not straight, but the direction of the neck 101 is inclined relative to the direction of the head 100, as is common with the toothbrush. The overall configuration of the head 100 and neck 101 is the same as the corresponding head 90 and neck 91 of FIG. 9. Two transversely adjacent outer tufts 102, 103 including tapered bristles are shown extending from bristle surface 104. The bundles 102, 103 are oriented so as to be inclined at an angle other than at right angles to the bristle surface, such as 75 to 85 ° with respect to the bristle surface, which is inclined longitudinally, so that each end thereof away from the bristle surface is removed from the handle. Closer or farther in the longitudinal direction. As can be seen in FIG. 10 when viewed in the transverse direction, the bundles 102, 103 are staggered in an X configuration. The neck 101 connects the head 100 to the handle 105.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, each plan view overlooking in the bristle direction and a side view in the transverse direction of the toothbrush head 110 of the present invention. As can be seen, the overall arrangement is similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, so only some unique features of this head 110 are described in detail. Note that only a portion of the bundle of bristles is shown for clarity.

The toothbrush head 110 has a configuration in the form of three longitudinally elongated sections 111, 112, 113, which sections are generally crescent shaped outer sections 111, 113 arranged in two transverse directions. And transversely adjacent across the toothbrush head 110 in the form of an elliptical middle section 112 disposed transversely between the outer sections 111 and 113. Each section 111, 112, 113 is movable independently and elastically with respect to adjacent sections in the transverse direction. Each section 111, 112, 113 is flexibly linked to a toothbrush handle (not shown) by respective flexible necks 114, 115, 116 such that the sections 111, 112, 113 are pressured on the bristles. Under the action of can be elastically bent out of the plane parallel to the width direction and the longitudinal direction.

A plurality of outer tufts 117 comprising longer first tapered bristles are disposed on outer sections 111, 113 which are disposed opposite in two transverse directions. These bundles 117 have a cross section cut across the elongated bristle direction in the longitudinal direction (L-L), which is a rectangular shape with rounded corners. A plurality of inner bundles 118, including non-tapered bristles and of a shorter second length, are disposed on the intermediate section 112.

Intermediate section 112 is in the longitudinal direction closer to the handle, in a region 112A close to distal end 119 that is less than or less than 50% of the longitudinal length of intermediate section 112 spaced from distal end 119. As compared with the adjacent region, the enlargement is performed. This enlargement of the area 112A forms a depression 120 between the end 112A of the intermediate section 112 and a portion of the immediately longitudinally adjacent intermediate section closer to the handle. An end 111A of the outer section 111 is formed in a shape complementary to the depression 120 such that the end 111A is coupled into the depression.

The intermediate section 112 is in sliding contact with the adjacent outer sections 111, 113.

The plurality of bundles 121 comprising tapered bristles also extend from the enlarged portion 112A of the intermediate section 112 adjacent to the distal end 119 of the intermediate section such that these bundles are most longitudinally away from the toothbrush handle. do.

The bristle surface 122 consisting of the respective bristle surfaces of the sections 111, 112, 113 is concave in the longitudinal direction, with its upper end curved slowly and concave as shown in FIG. 12. This causes the bundle 121 on the enlarged area 112A to be oriented such that their ends away from the bristle surface are closer to the handle than their ends closer to the bristle surface.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, top and side views, respectively, of the overall configuration of the toothbrush of the present invention with the head of the present invention are shown. Toothbrush 130 includes head 131, which may be any of the heads 40, 50, 60, 80, 110 described above as a whole. Head 131 is connected to handle 132 by neck region 133, which may be any of the neck regions 41, 51, 61, 83, 95, 114, 115, 116 described above. The head 131, handle 132, and neck region are all disposed along the longitudinal direction L-L. A side 135 and a bristle surface 134 of the head 131 can be seen.

Claims (15)

Connected to or connectable to the toothbrush handle and thus forming a head-handle longitudinal direction, said longitudinally elongated and having a width direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, having a bristle surface and a plurality of bristle bundles from said bristle surface; 12. A toothbrush head extending in a bristle direction, wherein the bristles are disposed in a plurality of tufts each comprising a plurality of bristles, and comprising a plurality of tapered bristles and a plurality of non-tapered bristles,
Wherein the plurality of bristles bundles are disposed in a pattern on the bristle surface, the bristle surfaces comprising tapered bristles and disposed along the transverse outward sides of the tuft pattern in a transverse direction opposite the plurality of outer tufts Including,
And a plurality of inner bundles comprising a non-tapered bristles in the transverse direction between the plurality of outer bundles and of a second shorter length.
Toothbrush head.
The method according to claim 1,
The plurality of outer tufts all include tapered bristles
Toothbrush head.
The method according to claim 1 or 2,
All the tassels including the tapered bristles are characterized in that consisting entirely of tapered bristles
Toothbrush head.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The external tufts are all of a first length longer
Toothbrush head.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Wherein the internal tufts all comprise non-tapered bristles
Toothbrush head.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The internal sulcus is characterized in that it consists entirely of non-tapered bristles
Toothbrush head.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The internal tufts are all of a shorter second length
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The external tuft is disposed substantially equidistant from the transverse edge of the bristle surface
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A tuft comprising the longer first length tapered bristles is positioned adjacent an end of the bristle surface longitudinally away from the handle
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The tassel comprising the longer first length tapered bristles is positioned adjacent the position of the toothbrush head to which the head is to be connected to the handle.
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The difference between the longer first length and the shorter second length is within the range of 1 to 5 mm.
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The toothbrush comprises a single block of plastic material to which the liquor is fixed
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The toothbrush head has a structure in which a section of the head relatively closer to the end of the head away from the handle is elastically and flexibly linked to the section of the toothbrush head relatively closer to the handle
Toothbrush head.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The toothbrush head has a three or more longitudinally elongated section-like arrangement disposed transversely adjacent to the toothbrush head,
The sections each being flexibly linked to the handle and in the form of two transversely opposed outer sections and one or more intermediate sections disposed transversely between the outer sections,
Each said section is independent and elastically movable relative to said laterally adjacent section,
A plurality of outer tufts comprising a longer first length of tapered bristles are disposed on the outer sections arranged in two transverse directions,
A plurality of internal tufts comprising a non-tapered bristle, the shorter second length, is disposed on the one or more inner sections
Toothbrush head.
A toothbrush comprising a handle connected to the toothbrush head according to claim 1.

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