NZ502188A

NZ502188A - Toothbrush having a bristle configuration where the bristle ends are not parallel to the surface of the handle head

Info

Publication number: NZ502188A
Application number: NZ502188A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Helen Benedict; Kenneth Waguespack; Geir Oxseth; Nils Terje Vestheim; Helge Sletbak; Hilde Angelfoss; Joan Brady
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1995-08-22
Filing date: 1996-08-09
Publication date: 2001-08-31

Abstract

A toothbrush (depicted in figure 7) has a bristle configuration of which the teeth engaging ends (57, 77, 97) of the bristles do not lie in a plane parallel to the surface (46) of the head of the handle in which the bristles are embedded when the toothbrush is viewed in a side elevation. The teeth engaging ends of the bristles lie adjacent to each other lying in a curved line when the toothbrush is in side elevation. The curved line is provided by a mixture of concave groups of bristles and convex groups of bristles. The ratio of the length of the curved line provided by the convex bristles to that provided by the concave bristles is between 1:1 to 2:1. The teeth engaging ends of a first convex bristle group (57) lie in a convex line located at the toe of the head of the brush and the teeth engaging ends of a second convex bristle group (97) lie in a convex line located at the heel of the head of the brush and the teeth engaging ends of a concave bristle group (77) lie in a concave line located between the two convex bristle groups when the toothbrush is viewed in a side elevation. The curved line is discontinuous.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 502188 PATENTS FORM 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Number Dated TOOTHBRUSHES We, COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, of 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement - 1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ -G JA>J 2230 "ollowed by la) p C F: V E D 158201 vl WGN * WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 1 a TO C TT-TS ?." S HZ £ The prese" mvenricn relates to r.cvei handles and to novel bristle configurations for toctnbrusnes and to 5 novel comcmanons thereof . Disclosed herein are a numner of independently useful aspects of the said handles and bristle configurations. It is to be understood that they can be combined togetr.er m any novel and useful combination and 10 such combinations are disclosed herein. The handle configurations have as their primary (hut not sole) objective the provision of a toothbrusn which is easier for the user to manipulate. The bristle configurations have as their primary but 15 not sole) objective the provision of a toothbrush in which the bristles afford improved cleaning action and access to the teeth and gums. According to a first aspect of the present invention • a toothbrush handle having a head portion carrying or 20 adapted to carry a bristle configuration is characterised in that the handle has an end portion, a waist, a shoulder portion ana a neck connecting the shoulder to the head, the waist being narrower at least in plan view than the end portion or the shoulder, and the end portion 25 preferably being rounded. The handle is preferably curvilinear in plan view and in elevation. The end portion is preferably wider in plan view than the shoulder. The ratio of the maximum width of the end portion in plan view to the minimum 3 0 width of the waist in plan view is preferably in the range 1.1:1 to 1.8:1. The ratio of the maximum width of the end portion in plan view to the maximum width of tHfe shoulder in plan view is preferably in the range 1.2:1 to 1.5:1. The ratio of the maximum width of the shoulder in WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 plan view tne minimum width, cf the waist m plan view is preferably m the range 1.05:1 cc 1.5:1. The end portion is preferably tmcxer m side elevation than the waist. The ratic cf the maximum thickness cf the end 5 portion m side elevation to tne minimum tnickness of the waist ir. side elevation is preferably m the range 1.2:1 to 2.0:1. The end portion is preferably thicker in side elevation tnan is the shoulder. The ratio of the maximum thickness cf the end portion in side elevation to the 10 maximum thickness cf the shoulder in side elevation is preferably m the range 1.1:1 to 1.7:1. The shoulder-is preferably thicker m side elevation than the waist. The ratio of the maximum thickness of the shoulder viewed in side elevation to the minimum thickness of the waist 15 viewed in side elevation is preferably m the range 1.01:1 to 1.5:1. The ratio of the length from the free end of the end portion to the location of the minimum width of the waist viewed in side elevation to the maximum width of the end 2 0 "portion viewed in side elevation is preferably not more than 10:1 ana is more preferably m the range 4:1 to 7:1 e.g. about 5:1 to 6:1, especially about 5.6:1. According to a second aspect of the present invention a toothbrush handle having a head portion 25 carrying or adapted to carry a bristle configuration is characterised m that the handle has a grip enhancing unitary mat providing grip enhancing surfaces on at least two separate locations of the handle. The mat preferably provides the grip enhancing 3 0 surfaces on at least the front and back of the handle or at at least two locations on the front or the back of the handle or at least one location at the front or back o'f the handle ana at at least one side of the handle. Preferably the mat provides grip enhancing surfaces at WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 three cr four separate locations cn tne nandie. The eric enhancing surfaces of the mat may also afford grip ennancmg configurations, for example ribs, preferably inclined diagonally to the handle. 5 Accordingly to a third aspect of tne present invention a toothbrush handle having a head portion carrying cr adapted to carry a bristle configuration is characterised m that the handle has grip ennancmg configurations cn at least two separate locations of the 10 handle. The grip enhancing configurations preferably are provided on at least the front and back of the handle or at at least two locations on the front or the back of the handle or at least one location at the front or back of 15 the handle and at at least one side of the handle. The grip enhancing configurations are preferably provided at three or four separate locations on the handle. According to a fourth aspect of the present . invention a toothbrush having a bristle configuration of 20 which the teeth engaging ends cf the bristles do not lie m a plane parallel to the surface of the head of the handle in which the bristles are embedded is characterised m that the teeth engaging ends of at least a proportion of the bristles lying adjacent to each other 25 lie in a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. Of the total length of the bristle configuration, parallel to the surface in which the bristles are emoedded, at least 10% cf the length is preferably provided by bristles affording the said 3 0 curved line, and more preferably at least 15% or at least 50% or more preferably 100%. "The curved line is preferably provided by a mixture of concave groups of bristles and convex groups of bristles. The Dercentaae of the lencrth of the curved WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 4 line provided by concave bristles is preferaciv m the range 50% tc 100%, preferably 50% to 73%. According* to a fifth aspect of tine present invention a toctnbrusn having a bristle configuration of wnicr. the 5 teeth engaging ends of the bristles do not lie m a Diane parallel to the surface of the head cf the handle m which the bristles are embedded is characterised in that the bristles at or adjacent the neaa or toe end of the bristle configuration extend, when measured in a 10 perpendicular direction, further from the said surface than do the bristles at the handle or heel end of the bristle configuration. The ratio of the height of the said longest bristles at the head or toe end to the shortest bristles at the handle or heel end is at least 15 1.1:1 or more broadly 1.1:1 to 1.7:1 e,g, 1.2:1 to 1.6:1 or 1.25:1 to 1.5:1. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention a toothbrush having a bristle configuration of which the teeth engaging ends of the bristles do not lie m a plane 20 parallel to the surface of the head cf the handle in which the bristles are embedded is characterised in that the cristle configuration falls into at least two groups of adjacent bristles, the teeth engaging ends of the bristles of at least one group, a first group, lying in 25 a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. The teeth engaging ends of the bristles of at least one further group, a second group, preferably also lie in a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side 3 0 elevation. _ The teeth engaging ends of the bristles of at least one further group, a third group, preferably lie in a_. rectilinear line, e.g. a castellated line, when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 The first; and second groups preferably afford curved lines wnicr. are cf different sense i.e. concave ana convex cr are cf different curvature cr are of the same sense and different curvature. 5 The teeth engaging ends of the bristles of tne first ana second groups preferably form a continuous wavy line. The invention also extends to a tcotnbrusn having a handle as set out m the first, second cr third aspects above. 10 The invention also extends to a bristle configuration as set out in the fourth, fifth or sixth aspects above. The invention also extends to a toothbrush having a handle set out m the first, second or third aspects and 15 a bristle configuration as set out in the fourth, fifth or sixth aspects. The invention has a number of aspects and may be put into practice in various ways and a number of specific , embodiments will be described to illustrate the inventive 20 aspects with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a toothbrusn embodying aspects of the present invention in respect of the handle and of the bristle 25 configuration. Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 from the bristle side, Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 from the other side, 3 0 Figures 4 and 5 are side elevations from either si-de of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the tuft configuration of the bristles of the embodiment of Figure 1, WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 6 Figure / is an enlarged siae eievac.cn of the bristle head cf Figures 4 and 5, Figure S is an end elevation of tne bristle head from the nandie end cf the embodiment cf Figure 1, 5 Figure 9 is an end elevation from tne head end of the bristle head cf the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tootnbrush embodying aspects of the present invention in respect of the handle ana of the 10 bristle configuration, Figures 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 are views similar "to Figures 2 and 3 ana 4 and 5 but of the embodiment shown in Figure 10, Figures 15 to 18 are views similar to Figures 6 to 15 9 but of the bristle configuration of the embodiment shown in Figure 10, Figure 19 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a toothbrush embodying aspects of the present invention in respect of the bristle 20 configuration, Figure 20 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 19, Figures 21 to 24 are views similar to Figures S to 9 but showing the bristle configuration of the embodiment 25 of Figure 19, Figure 25 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a toothbrush embodying aspects of the present invention in respect of the bristle configuration, 3 0 Figure 26 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 25, Figures 27 to 3 0 are views similar to Figures 6 to 9 but showing the bristle configuration of the embodiment of Figure 25. WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 7 There fellows a general discussion of the embodiments after wmcn tnev will be described m detail. It will be recognised that two embodiments of handle have been snown, the first m Figures 1 to 5 wnicn has a 5 mat entwined around the handle and the second, wnich does not have a mat, m Figures 10-14, 19, 20, 25 and 26. A third embodiment is contemplated m which the ribs of the mat of Figures l to 5 are integrally moulded m the one piece handle shown m Figures 10-14, 19, 20, 25 10 and 2 6. The handles embody a number of separate and separately usable inventive aspects including as a first aspect the mat wrapped around the handle, and as a second aspect the ratios of the widths of the palm engaging 15 handle end, the finger engagable shoulder and the waist therebetween. This identification of two aspects does not exclude the possibility of the handle embodying yet other aspects. It will be recognised also that four embodiments of 20 bristle configuration have been shown ana that each bristle configuration can be used in combination with amy of the three handle configurations. The first embodiment of bristle configuration is shown m Figures 1 to 9; the second embodiment in Figures 25 10 to IS; the third embodiment in Figures 19 to 24 and the fourth embodiment in Figures 25 to 30. The four embodiments embody a number of separate and separately usable aspects including that of having the teeth engaging ends of the bristles not lying in a plane 3 0 parallel to the surface of the handle m which the bristles are embedded and the teeth engaging ends of at least-a proportion of the bristles lying adjacent to each other occupying a curved plane when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. All four embodiments show this WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 3 aspect:. An aspect snared by the second, third and fourth embodiments is tnat tristies at or close to tne nead end cf the bristle configuration rsacn further from the 5 surface of the handle m wmch the bristles are embedded than do the bristles at the handle end cf the bristle configuration. The first and third embodiments embody the aspect of the bristles falling into at least two groups of adjacent 10 bristles, the teeth engaging ends of the bristles of. a first group lying in a curved plane when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation and the teeth engaging ends of the bristles of a second group also lying in a curved plane when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation, 15 the said curved planes preferably being different. The curved planes may curve in opposite senses, e.g. one being concave and one convex, or may curve to different extents both being concave or convex or may be of the same sense and curvature. The first embodiment 2 0 has two convex groups at the ends of the bristle configuration and one concave group between the convex groups. These form a discontinuous wavy surface. The third embodiment has five curved groups, three 25 convex groups at the ends and the middle and two concave groups therebetween. These form a continuous wavy surface. The fourth embodiment can be considered to have two curved groups. One nearest the head end being convex and 3 0 flowing into a concave group to the rear of it (towards the handle end), providing a continuous wavy surface when viewed in elevation. There now follows a detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings. WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 a rigure I sncws a toctnnrusn navmg a nandle 2 5 and a cristls nsad £0. The nandle is snown m Figures 1 to 5, the head m Figures 1 to 9 but ir. enlarged scale m Figures 6 to 9. 5 The nandis (which is a first embodiment thereof) has a body portion having a palm engaging end portion 3 6 with a rounded free end 47, a waist 27, a finger engagable snoulder 28, a neck 2 9 ana a head 4 0 for receiving the bristles cf the bristle configuration £0, ma surface 10 46. A mat 41 of rucher like material (for example the rubber like material may be that sold under the Trade Mark SANTOPREUE) (to give a good wet grip for the user's fingers) is attached to the handle so as to wrap around the waist and provide a grip surface 42 on the shoulder 15 3 8 on the bristle face of the handle as well as a grip surface 43 on the back face of the shoulder of the handle and a grip surface 44 on the back face of the palm engaging end portion 3 6 of the handle. Each of the surfaces 42, 43 and 44 have ribs 45 20 moulded into their surfaces m such a way as to lie diagonally across the said surfaces when located on the handle. This wrapped unitary mat arrangement facilitates placement of the gripping surfaces on the handle. The ratio of the maximum transverse width in plan 25 view of the portion 3 6 (indicated by the line 36) to the minimum transverse width in plan view of the waist 3 7 (indicated by the line 37) is 1.4:0.9 i.e. 1.55:1 or more broadly 1.1:1 to 1.8:1 e.g. 1.2:1 to 1.7:1 more preferably 1.3:1 to l.S:l. The ratio of the widest 3 0 transverse width in plan view of the shoulder -3 8 (indicated by the line 38) to the minimum transverse width- in plan view of the waist 37 is 1.1:0.9 i.e. 1.2 ri or more broadly 1.05:1 to 1.5:1 e.g. 1.1:1 to 1.3:1. The ratio of the widest transverse width in olan view of the WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 10 end 2 5 to the snouider 23 is 1.4:1.1 i.e. 1.25:1 cr more oroadly greater than 1.1 e.g. 1.2:1 to 1.5:1. The end portion 2 6 is wider than the snouider 2 8 wnicr. is wider than tne waist 27. 5 The ratio of the maximum thickness in side elevation of the end portion 2 6 (see Figures 4 and 5) indicated by the line 8 0 m Figure 4 including the ribs 4 5 on the mat, namely 1.5 units to the minimum width of the waist 37 indicated by the line 81 namely 0.9 units is 1.7:1 or 10 more broadly 1.3:1 to 2.0:1 or 1.5:1 to 1.9:1. The ratio of the maximum thickness in side elevation of -the shoulder 3 8 indicated by the line 82 including the ribs 45 on the mat, namely l.l units to the minimum width of the waist 2 7 namely 0.9 units is 1.2:1 or more broadly 15 1.05:1 to 1.5:1 or 1.1.:1 to 1.3:1. The ratio of the maximum thickness of the end portion 3 6 to the shoulder 3 8 is 1.35:1 or more broadly 1.0:1 to 1.7:1 or 1.2:1 to 1.6:1. The handle is also shown in a second embodiment in 20 ' Figures 10 to 14, 19, 20, 25 and 26. The handle is the same as m the first embodiment except that the unitary mat is omitted. In the second embodiment of the handle the ratio of the maximum thickness in side elevation of the end 25 portion 3 6 (see Figures 13 and 14) indicated by the line 85 in Figure 13 namely 1.4 units to the minimum width of the waist 37 indicated by the line 86 namely 0.9 units is 1.55:1 or more broadly 1.2:1 to 1.8:1 or 1.4:1 to 1.7:1. The ratio of the maximum thickness in side elevation of 3 0 the shoulder 3 8 indicated by the line 87 namely 1.0 units to the minimum width of the waist 3 7 namely 0.9 units is 1.1:1 or more broadly 1.0:1 to 1.3:1 or 0.5.:1 to 1.2:1. The ratio of the maximum thickness of the end portion 3 6 to the shoulder 3 8 is 1.4:1 or more broadly WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 1.0:1 CO 1.7:1 cr 1.2:1 Co 1.5:1. In a cmrd emccdimenc noc snown ens nandle of che second emccdimenc is provided wicn ribs axm Co chose 45 on cr.e mac 41, cnoucn noc necessary in che same numbers 5 or Che same inclination or on all of Che surfaces 42, 43 ana 44. However an arrangemenc which has Che same ribs 45 as m che firsc emocdimenc integrally moulded into the handle is preferred. Turning now co Che head 5 0 a firsc embcdimenc of 10 bristle configuration is shown m Figures 1 to 9. As can be seen m Figure 7 the head has three groups of bristle tufts 55, 75 ana 95. These are shown in plan view m Figure 6 delineated by the transverse lines 55 and 75. The group 55 affords a teeth engaging surface 57 which is 15 convex with regard to the surface 4 6 of the head of the handle when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. The surface 4 6 is that in which the tufts of bristles are embedded. The group 75 affords a teeth engaging surface 77 20 wnich is concave with regard to the surface 46 when the toothbrush is viewed m side elevation. The group 75 has a central front outer tuft 60, side tufts 61,62,53 ana 64,65,66 on either side ana two centre line tufts 67 ana 68. The group 75 has five transverse 25 rows of tufts 78,79,80,81,82. The first three rows 78, 79 and 8 0 having four tufts each and the last two rows 81 and 82 five tufts each. The teeth engaging ends of the tufts 78 are further from the surface 46 than the ends of the tufts 63, 68 and 3 0 66 but come to about the same level as the tufts 67, -62 and 65. The group 95 affords a teeth engaging surface 9? which is closely similar m profile to the surface 57. The group 95 has a first row of five tufts 98, a second WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 12 row cf four tufts 9 9 and two side tufts 10 0 and 101 and a central rear tuft 102. The tufts 98 are snorter than the tufts :n row 82, out the tufts in row 99 are about the same neigr-t as these m row 82. 5 The teetn engaging surface afforded oy the bristles as whole is thus wavy or sinusoidal but is not a continuous surface having breaxs m level between the end tufts cf adjacent groups, i.e. 63, 58, 66 of group 55 ana row 78 of group 75 ana row 82 of group 75 ana row 98 of 10 group 9 5. Referring to Figure 6 the length of the bristle configuration m plan view cr in side elevation, nameiy the length parallel to the surface 46 of the teeth engaging ends cf the bristles in 8.8 units. 100% of this 15 length is provided by bristles the teeth engaging ends of which lie m a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. The group 55 occupies 2.5 units, and the group 95 also occupies 2.5 units and both are convex. The group 75 occupies 3.5 units and is concave. The 20 ' ratio of convex to concave is thus 5:3.5 or 1.4:1 or more broadly 1:1 to 2:1. The seccnd embodiment of bristle configuration is shown m Figures 10 to 13 with particular reference to Figures 15, 16 and 17. 25 The bristles fall into two groups 155 and 195 separated in Figure 15 by the line 156. Each group affords a curved teeth engaging surface 157 ana 197 respectively (see Figure 7) both of which are convex with regard to the surface 46. 3 0 The group 155 has an outer row of bristles 158-171 and two bristles 172 and 173 on the centre line which reach further from the surface 4 6 than do the remaining bristles of the group 155 and the bristles of group 195. The bristles which are cross hatched in Figure 15 WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 13 are cr.e snorter cristies or tne group 155, and have zTsfsirsncs numoers 1*75 cc 2.84 The group 195 has a first transverse row 193 cf five tufts, a second row 199 (bowed towards tne front end) of 5 five tufts, a third row 200 (more bowed towards tne front end) of four tufts, a tnird transverse row 201 of three tufts and a fourth transverse row 202 of two tufts. The tufts 164 and 155 are longer than the tufts 202. In this embodiment the curved surface 197 is 10 continued forward into the group 155 by the inner tufts 175-184 (which carry crosses in Figure 15). The free ends of these bristles follow the dotted line 197A shown m Figure 15. It can be observed that this curved surface 197A dips down slightly towards the 15 surface 46 at the front end of this surface 197A, the row 198 being the longest bristles involved m the surface 197/197A. In variants of this embodiment (not shown) the surface 197A can dip down more markedly or the surface 20 197 can have its highest point at the row 202 or the surface I97/197A can have its high point at the tufts 175,176. In another variant the tufts in the group 195 and in the array 175-184 can all be of the same length so that 25 only a single curved surface is provided, namely by the bristles 158 to 171 and 172 and 173. In addition m the four transverse rows at the handle end of the group 155, the outer bristles, namely tufts 151 and 168 are longer than tufts 175 and 176; 30 tufts 160 and 169 are longer than tufts 177 and 178; tufts 159 and 170 are longer than tufts 179-181; and tufts"158 and 171 are longer than tufts 182-184. _ Referring to Figure 16 the length of the bristle configuration in plan view or m side elevation, namely WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 14 tne length, parallel to the surface 4 6 of the teeth engaging ends cf tne cristles m 9.2 units. 100% cf this lengtn is provided by onsties tne teetn engaging ends of wnich lie m a curved line when tne tootnorush is viewed 5 m side elevation. The group 155 occupies 5.3 units, and the group 125 also occupies 3.6 units and both are convex. The height cf the bristles in the tufts 164 and 165 at the head end of the bristle configuration is 3.8 units 10 when measured m a direction perpendicular to the surface 46. The height cf the rearmost bristles in the row-of tufts 202 is 2.6 units when measured m a direction perpendicular to the surface 46. The ratio cf the lengths of the longest bristles to 15 the shortest bristles is thus 1.5:1. The third embodiment of bristle configuration is shown in Figures 19 to 24 with particular reference to Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24. The bristles can be considered to fall into five 20 groups 215, 235, 255, 275 and 295 by reference to the points of inflexion 216, 23 6, 256 ana 276 in the sinusoidal continuous wave shape of the teeth engaging surface 207 of the bristles apparent when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. 25 The bristles in this configuration are not arranged so much in transverse rpws as in a central axial row and in circumferential rows. The group 215 has two tufts 218,219 side by side m a first transverse row, then two edge tufts 220,'221 again 3 0 in a transverse row, then a central tuft 222, then two edge tufts 223 and 224, then a central tuft 225, then two edge tufts 226,227. This group affords a convex tooth engaging surface 217. The group 235 affords a concave tooth engaging WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 15 surface 23 7. It is made up cf a row 22 3 of four tufts (bowed cc tne front; and then two inwardly disposed tufts 239,240. The group 255 affords a convex tooth encragmg 5 surface 257. It nas two inwardly disposed transversely located tufts 258,259. Then a transverse row 260 consisting of two edge tufts and a central tuft. Then there are two inwardly disposed tufts 261 and 262. Then another 263 like the row 260. 10 The group 275 affords a concave surface 277. It has two more inwardly disposed tufts 264,265. Then a row 266 like that 260 but with the inner tuft slightly displaced to the front. The group 295 affords a convex surface 297. It has 15 two inwardly disposed tufts 267,268, then a row 269 like 266, then two more inwardly disposed tufts 270,271, then a row 272 like 266, then two side by side tufts 273,274 like 218 and 219. The tufts 218,219 are longer then the tufts 273 and 20 274. Referring to Figure 22 the length of the bristle configuration m plan view or in side elevation, namely the length parallel to the surface 46 of the teeth engaging ends of the bristles in 8.9 units. 100% of this 25 length is provided by bristles the teeth engaging ends of which lie m a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. The group 215 occupies 2.7 units, the group 235 occupies 1.3 units, the group 255 occupies 1.9 units, the group 275 occupies 1.3 units and the group 295 3 0 occupies 1.6 units. _ The groups 215, 255 and 295 are convex ana occupy 6.2 units. The groups 23 5 and 275 are concave and occupy; 2 . 6 units. The ratio of convex to concave is thus 6.2:2.6 or WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 16 2.4:1 or more broadly 1.5:1 to 3:1. The r.eicr.: of tne bristles m the tufts 222 and 220 and 224 close to the head end cf che bristle configuration is 3.2 units when measured m a direction 5 perpendicular to the surface 46. The height of the rearmost bristles m the row cf tufts 273 ana 274 is 2.1 units when measured m a direction perpendicular to the surface 46. The ratio cf the lengths cf the longest bristles to 10 the shortest bristles is thus 1.5:1. The fourth embodiment of bristle configuration "is shown in Figures 25 to 30. The bristles can be considered to fall into three groups 355, 375 and 395, separated by lines 356 and 376 15 in Figures 27 ana 23 for ease of description. The ends of the bristles m the group 3 55 provide a convex curved surface 357 when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation. The ends of the bristles in the group 375 provide a concave curved surface 3 77 when the toothbrush 20 is viewed in side elevation. The curves 357 ana 377 flow smoothly into each other and the line 3 56 is at the point of inflexion between the curves. The group 3 95 provides a castellated tooth engaging surface 3 97 afforded by alternating transverse rows of longer bristles 400, 420, 25 440, 460 and shorter bristles 380, 410, 430, 450, 470 ana a single centre rearmost tuft 480. In each of the four longer rows 400, 420, 440, 460 the bristles are of the same length which is slightly shorter than the longest bristles in the group 355 namely 3 0 bristles in the tufts 3 61, 3 62 ana 3 65. Similarly the bristles m each of the shorter rows 380, 410, 430, 450 and 470 and the tufts 480 are all the same length. The ratio cf the bristle length (LL) from the WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 17 surface 4 6 no che ends cf the long enscies for the bristles m the rows 400, 420, 440, 4 60 to the bristle ier.gtr. (IS) for the short onstles m tne rows 3 80, 410, 430, 450, 470 is 1.15:1. More oroadly it is m the ranee 5 1.05:1 to 1.5:1 e.g. 1.1:1 to 1.4:1. The group 355 has a central front tuft 350 ana side tufts 3 61 and 3 53 on one side ana 3 62 and 3 64 on the other side and a central tuft 3 55 between ana slightly forwardlv of the tufts 363 and 364. The rear cf these 10 tufts also afford part of the group 375. As can be readily seen from Figures 29 ana 3 0 tufts 363, 365 ana 364 are the same height and are slightly longer than the tufts m the rows 400, 420, 440 and 460. The ratio of the heights of these tufts 3 63, 3 64, 15 3 65 to the longer rows 400 etc is 1.04:1 or more broadly 1.02:1 to 1.3:1; whilst their ratio to the shorter rows 3 80, 410 etc. is 1.2:1 or more broadly 1.1:1 to 1.5:1. The group 3 75 is made up of the rearmost portions of the tufts 363, 365 and 364 and a row 379 of three tufts 20 which afford a concave rearwardlv facing tooth engaging surface. Referring to Figure 28 the lengtn cf the bristle configuration m plan view or in side elevation, namely the length parallel to the surface 46 of the teeth 25 engaging ends of the bristles in 8.7 units. 16% of this length is provided by bristles the teeth engaging ends of which lie in a curved line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation the group 3 55 occupies 1.4 units, and the group 375 occupies 0.9 units, 355 being convex and 3 0 3 75 being concave. The ratio of convex to concave -is thus 1.4:0.9 or 1.55:1 or more broadly 1:1 to 2:1. The height of the bristles in the tufts 3 64, 3657 3 63 close to the head end of the bristle configuration is 3.6 units when measured in a direction perpendicular to WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 IS the surface 46. The neignt cf the cnsciss m the tufts 380 is 2.9 units wnen measured m a direction perpendicular to the surface 46. The ratio of the lengths cf the longest bristles to 5 the shortest bristles is thus 1.25:1. The row 3 79 is made up of two side tufts 3 72 and 3 74 and a central tuft 3 73 which is positioned very slightly forwardly of the tufts 3 72 ana 3 74. These tufts 3 72 ana 3 74 are also positioned very slightly inwardly of the 10 tufts 363 ana 364. The separation of the group of tufts 360-365 and -row 379 from the castellated group 380 to 480 is as follows: there is a gap (A) between row 379 and 380; there is a gap (B) between row 3 80 ana 4 00; 15 (B) is less than (A) ; there is a gap (C) between row 400 and 410; (C) is less than (A) or (B); there is no gap between row 410 and 420, they touch; there is a gap (D) between row 420 and 430; 20 (D) is similar to (A) and (B); there is no gap between rows 430 and 440, they mterdigitate ; there is no gap between rows 440 and 450, they touch; 25 there is no gap between rows 450 and 460, they interdigitate; there is no gap between rows 4 60 and 470 or rows 470 and the rear bristle 480, they touch. Figures 31 and 3 2 are views similar to Figures 6 and 3 0 7 but showing the bristle configuration of a first modification of the embodiment of Figure 25. ~ Figures 31 and 3 2 show plan view and side elevations of a first modification of the fourth embodiment of bristle configuration shown in Figures 25 to 30. WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 15 Tiis c2tlsc1.ss C2H C9 ccr.sidsrsd cc 2.*icc groups 255, 275 and 255, separated by Iir.es 255 and 275 m Figures 21 and 2 2 for ease of description. The ends of the cnsties m tne group 2 55 provide a convex curved 5 surface 2 57 wnen the toothbrusn is viewed in side elevation. The ends cf the bristles m the group 2 75 provide a concave curved surface 2 77 when the toothbrusn is viewed m side elevation. The curves 2 57 and 2 77 flew smoothly into eacn otner and the line 2 55 is at the point 0 of inflexion between the curves. The group 295 provides a castellated tootn engaging surface 2 97 afforded by alternating transverse rows of longer bristles 400, 420, 440, 460 and shorter bristles 280, 410, 430 and 450. In each of the four longer rows 400, 420, 440, 460 5 the bristles are of the same length which is slightly shorter than the longest bristles in the group 3 55 namely bristles m the tufts 3 61, 3 62, 3 63 and 3 64. Similarly the bristles in each of the shorter rows .380, 410, 430 and 450 are all the same length. 0 The ratio of the bristle length (LL) from the surface 46 to the ends of the long bristles for the bristles m the rows 400, 420, 440, 460 to the bristle length (LS) for the short bristles m the rows 380, 410, 43 0, 450 is 1.15:1. More broadly it is in the range 5 1.05:1 to 1.5:1 e.g. 1.1:1 to 1.4:1. The group 3 55 has a pair of transversely disposed tufts 2 61 and 2 52 and three transversely disposed tufts 3 63, 3 64 and 3 65. As can be readily seen from Figure 3 2 the longest 0 bristles in the tufts 3 61 to 3 65 are the same height and are longer than the tufts m the rows 400, 420, 440 and 460. " The ratio cf the heights cf these bristles m the tufts 361, 365 to the longer rows 400 etc is 1.14:1 cr WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 20 mors oroadiy 1.04:1 to 1.4:1; whilst their ratio to the snorter rows 2 30, 410 etc. is 1.23:1 or more oroadiy 1.2:1 to 1.6:1. The group 2 75 is made up cf a row 2 79 cf three tufts 3 3 72, 2 72 and 2 74 wmcn afford a concave rearward!y facing tooth engaging surface. The modification of the bristle configuration is at the front end of the nead. The central bristle tuft 2 60 is omitted. The tufts 10 361 and 362 are retained. The tufts 363, 365 and 364 are aligned to form a transverse row at right angles to Che longitudinal axis of the nead. The tufts 3 72, 3 73 arid 3 74 on the row 3 79 are aligned to form a transverse row at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the head. 15 The tufts 3 72 and 3 74 are moved transversely outwardly so that relative to the _ longitudinal axis they are positioned outwardly of the tufts 3 63 and 3 64. The bristles 361, 362, 363, 364, 372, 373 and 374 form a four sided figure. 2 0 The separation cf the group of tufts 3 61-3 65 and 372-374 from the castellated group 380 to 480 is as follows: there are clear gaps between each row; there is a gap (A) between rows 3 79 and 3 80 of about 25 5.5 units; the gap (B) between rows 3 80 and 40 0 is 5.5 units; the gap (C) between rows 40 0 and 410 is 5 units as are the remaining gaps (D), (E), (F), (G) and (H). Alternatively the gap (B) can be 5 units, when the 3 0 ratio of A:B would be 1.1:1. Referring to Figure 32 the length of the bristle configuration m plan view or m side elevation, namely the length parallel to the surface 46 of the teeth engaging ends cf the bristles is 7.4 units. 24% cf this WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 21 lengtn is provided by cnstles the teeth engaging ends cf whic.i lie m a curved line when tne tootnbrusn is viewed m side elevation. The group 3 55 occupies 1.1 units, and the group 3 75 occupies 0.8 units, 2 55 oemg convex and 5 3 75 oemg concave. The ratio of convex to concave is thus 1.4:1 or more broadly 1:1 to 2:1. The neight cf tne highest bristles m the tufts 3 61 - 3 65 close to the head end of the bristle configuration is 3.2 units when measured in a direction perpendicular 10 to the_ surf ace 46. The height of the bristles in the tufts 3 80 is 2.9 units when measured m a direction perpendicular to the surface 46. The ratio of the lengths of the longest bristles to the shortest bristles is thus 1.23:1. 15 Referring to Figures 3 3 and 3 4 this shows a second modification of H15RV1 the fourth embodiment. It is similar to the first modification. The bristle tuft configuration is the same and the difference is in the ends of the bristle tufts 361-365 and 372-374. The tufts 20 3 61 ana 3 62 instead of being curved up from the front to a peak at their rear edges are inclined upwardly and backwardly affording a transverse forward facing flat surface 3 57A which is not curved. The tufts 363, 365 ana 364 instead of being curved 25 down from a peak at the front to their rear edges are inclined downwardly ana backwardly affording a transverse rearward facing flat surface 357B which is not curved. The tufts 3 61, 3 62 and 3 63 to 3 65 thus provide inverted V-shaped tooth engaging surfaces 357A ana 357B, the angle 3 0 of each of which is about 45° to the vertical or moce broadly 30° to 60°. The tufts 3 72-3 74 m the row 3 79 have inclined ends-, forming a transverse rearwardlv facing flat surface 3 77 which is not curved. The flat surface 377 is a WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 22 ccr.Lir.uacicr. of tne surface 3573. The front group 2 55 is now made up cf the oristie tufts 251 and 252, Che second group 375 is made ud of tne turts j52, -54 and -5s and 272, -72 and ^74, the line 256 5 lies between the first and second rows. Referring to Figures 2 5 and 2 6 this shows a third modification of the fourth embodiment. It is similar to the first modification. The bristle tuft configuration is the same. The difference is in the ends of the 10 bristle tufts 361-365 and 372-374. The tufts 3 61 to 3 65 have flat tops all of the sSme height which is greater than the tufts 400 etc. The tufts 3 72-374 m the row 379-have inclined ends forming a transverse rearwardly facing flat surface 3 77 15 which is not curved. The front group 355 is now made up of the bristle tufts 361 and 362 and 363, 364 and 365, the second group 3 75 is made up of the tufts 3 72, 373 and 374, the line 356 lies between the second and third rows. 20 Referring to Figures 3 7 and 3 8 this shows a fourth modification of the fourth embodiment. It is similar to the first modification. The bristle tuft configuration is the same. The difference is m the ends of the tufts 361-365 and 372-379. 25 The tufts 3 61 and 3 62 have flat tops as in Figure 3 6 but the tufts 363-355 and 372 to 374 are as m Figure 34. Figure 3 9 shows a modified bristle configuration on a much enlarged scale. In this modification (which can be used for each of the first to fourth modifications of 3 0 the fourth embodiment) the gap (A) between the rows 379 and 380 is greater than the gaps (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G) or (H) (which are all the same) between the rows 380 to 480. The gap (A) is 7 units, B is 5 units i.e. the ratio WO 97/07706 PCT/US96/12944 7A is 1.4.1 cr -ore croadly (A) is greater man (3) e.g. A:E is creferaolv 1.05:1 to 1.5:1 e.g. 1.1:1 to 1.5:1 cr more preferably 1.1.1 ~o 1.4:1. It will be noted mat m tne specific embodiments cf 5 bristle configurations shown m tne drawings the ends cf the bristles at any particular transverse location, i.e. along the line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nead, all lie at the same distance from the surface 46, i.e. ma straight line transverse to the head and 10 parallel to the surface 46. ^p 24 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> Claims $ 1 A toothbrush having a bristle configuration of which the teeth engaging ends of the bristles do not lie in a plane parallel to the surface of the head of the handle in which the bristles are embedded when the toothbrush is viewed m side elevation, the teeth engaging ends of the bristles lying adjacent to each other lying in a curved line when the toothbrush is in side elevation, the curved line being provided by a mixture of concave groups of bristles and convex groups of bristles, wherein the ratio of the length of the curved line provided by convex bristles to that provided by the concave bristles is m the range 1 1 to 2*1, and the curved line is discontinuous there being a group of bristles (a convex group), the teeth engaging ends of which lie in a convex line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation, located at the toe of the head of the brush and a group of bristles (a convex group), the teeth engaging ends of which lie in convex line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation, located at the heel of the head of the brush and a group of bristles (a concave group), the teeth engaging ends of which lie in a concave line when the toothbrush is viewed in side elevation, located between the two convex groups of bristles;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.;1 1 JUL 2001 RECEIVED;L58204 vl A/GN * </div>