Toothbrush

Abstract

A manual toothbrush having oral hygiene elements arranged in polygons with an oral hygiene element at each apex, and having plural polygons nested within each other. The oral hygiene elements may be bristles, which may be of two different types, or elastomer elements and may contain tooth-polishing additive. The toothbrush head surface may be flat or may have its region distal from the handle angled up.

Claims

1. A manual toothbrush comprising an elongate handle with a head at one end of the handle, the head and handle defining a toothbrush longitudinal direction, oral hygiene elements extending from a surface of the head in a bristle direction transverse to this longitudinal direction, wherein; the oral hygiene elements comprise; bristle filaments disposed in tufts having a circular envelope, the tufts being arranged in polygons with a tuft at each apex of the polygon, the polygons being nested together in at least one nest of polygons, plural nests of polygons being arranged sequentially longitudinally on the surface of the head, the surface comprising a surface region proximal to the handle and a surface region distal from the handle the proximal and distal surface regions forming an angle less than 180° between them, two nests being located respectively on the proximal and distal surface regions; wherein the length of the bristle filaments varies with longitudinal distance, increasing in length to rounded peaks in the centre of each nest, and decreasing in length to the edge of each nest, giving troughs in between the peaks; and wherein the tufts have a cross-section dimension of 0.5-1.1 mm.

2. A manual toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein there are two or three polygons in each of the nests.

3. A manual toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the innermost of the nested polygons is otherwise empty of tufts.

4. A manual toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein within the innermost nested polygon there are one or two tufts of bristles.

5. A manual toothbrush according to claim 1 further comprising three nests of polygons of tufts arranged sequentially longitudinally on the surface of the head, with two of the nests on the proximal surface region and one of the nests on the distal surface region forming an angle less than 180° with the proximal surface region.

6. A manual toothbrush according to claim 5, comprising sequentially longitudinally disposed plural nests of polygons of oral hygiene elements.

7. A manual toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein nests of polygons of oral hygiene elements located longitudinally adjacent to each other on the surface intersect such that they have oral hygiene elements in common.

8. A manual toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the angle less than 180° is in the range 175+/−2°.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the head of a toothbrush of embodiment (B) of this invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another head of a toothbrush of embodiment (B) of this invention.

(4) FIGS. 3A-3F show a method of manufacture of a head of a toothbrush of embodiment (B) of this invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another head of a toothbrush of embodiment (B) of this invention.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the head surface of a toothbrush of embodiment (A) of this invention.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the head of the toothbrush of FIG. 5.

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, the head 10 and immediately adjacent part of the handle 11 of a manual toothbrush is shown. The head and handle define a toothbrush longitudinal direction L-L. The head 10 in FIG. 1 has a planar surface 12 from which oral hygiene elements 13 (generally) extend in a bristle direction B transverse to the longitudinal direction L-L. The head 10 has a length and width similar to that of conventional toothbrushes.

(9) The oral hygiene elements are arranged as follows in FIG. 1. First bristle filaments in tufts 1311, 1312 having a circular envelope and second type of oral hygiene elements 132 being elastomer oral hygiene elements are arranged on the surface in respective polygons nested concentrically with an oral hygiene element 1311, 1312, 132 at each apex of the polygon. The oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 132 are arranged in the form of an outermost polygon of first bristle filaments 1311, and an inner polygon of first bristle filaments 1312, and between these outermost and inner polygons is nested an intermediate polygon of the elastomer oral hygiene elements 132 incorporating additional tooth-polishing ingredient. Within the inner polygon of first bristle filaments 1312 is a single tuft 132 of first bristle filaments. The polygons of oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 132 are concentric, and the tuft 1313 is at the centre of the more inner polygon of tufts 1312. In the toothbrush head shown in FIG. 1 around the polygons alternating outer tufts 1311 of first bristle filaments are at relatively greater or lesser distances from the centre of the polygon.

(10) The tufts 1311, 1312, and 1313 have a circular cross section achieved by mounting the tufts 1311, 1312, 1313 in circular sectioned socket holes 133 in the surface 12 in a well known manner. The tufts 1311, 1312, 1313 have a cross section dimension as measured across the bristle direction B of 0.75-0.85 mm and have a length of 9-11 mm.

(11) The elastomer oral hygiene elements 132 are each in the form of a cylinder gently tapering in the direction away from the surface 12 of head 10 so that the diameter at the end remote from the head 10 is ca. 30-70% of the diameter at the end adjacent to the surface 12. These truncated cones have a diameter of 0.7-0.9 mm at their ends adjacent to the surface 12, and have a rounded end remote from the surface 12. The elastomer oral hygiene elements 132 are 1-2 mm longer than the first bristle filaments in tufts 1311, 1312, 1313.

(12) The first bristle filaments in tufts 1311, 1312, 1313 are made of polyamide (Nylon). The elastomer oral hygiene elements 132 are made of the thermoplastic elastomer material Hytrel™ and incorporate 5-10 wt % of a particulate tooth polishing material selected from pumice, zirconia or perlite with a particle size ca. 6 microns.

(13) In the toothbrush head of FIG. 1 there are three nests of polygons of the oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 132 arranged longitudinally along the surface 12. In the nest closest to the end of the head 10 remote from the handle 11 there is no innermost tuft 1313, only an inner polygon 1312 of three tufts of first bristle filaments. The two adjacent nests of oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 1313 closest to the handle 11 have some of their outermost polygon of bristle tufts 1311 in common, so that these tufts 1311 are part of both nests.

(14) The numbers of oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 1313, 132 present in the nests may be counted from FIG. 1. The polygons may contain more or less oral hygiene elements than shown in FIG. 1.

(15) In the two adjacent nests of oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 1313, 132 closest to the handle 11 the oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 1313, 132 extend perpendicular to the surface 12 of the head, but in the nest furthest from the handle the bristle direction B1 of the oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 132 extend at a non-perpendicular angle to the surface 12 of the head at a converging angle relative to the direction in which the oral hygiene elements 1311, 1312, 1313, 132 of the nests closer to the handle extend.

(16) In FIG. 1 the nest of oral hygiene elements furthest from handle 11 is therefore according to the first embodiment described above, and the two nests closest to the handle 11 are also according to the first embodiment discussed above, with the central tuft 132 at the centre of the nests.

(17) The head 10 is connected to handle 11 via flexible link 14 of known type.

(18) Referring to FIG. 2, the head 20 and immediately adjacent part of the handle 21 of a manual toothbrush are shown. The head 20 and handle 21 define a toothbrush longitudinal direction L-L. The head 20 in FIG. 2 has a surface 22A, 22B, of which the part 22A furthest from the handle is angled at a less than 180° angle relative to the part 22B closer to the handle, and linked to the part 22B by a resilient flexible link 22C.

(19) Oral hygiene elements 23 (generally) extend in a bristle direction B transverse to the longitudinal direction L-L. The head 20 has a length and width similar to that of conventional toothbrushes. The head 20 is connected to handle 21 via flexible link 24 of known type.

(20) The oral hygiene elements are arranged as follows in FIG. 2. First bristle filaments in tufts 2311, 2312 having a circular envelope and second type of oral hygiene elements 2321 being second bristle filaments disposed in tufts having a circular envelope and containing an additional tooth-polishing ingredient relative to the first bristle filaments 2311, 2312 are arranged on the surface in respective nests of polygons with an oral hygiene element 2311, 2312, 2321 at each apex of the polygonal nest. The bristle filaments of tufts 2321 and 2322 are made of the same polymer material as the first bristle filaments 2311, 2312, 2313, i.e. nylon, and incorporate known tooth polishing ingredient calcium carbonate at a loading 5-10 wt % and particle size ca. 6 microns. The oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2321 are arranged in the form of an outermost polygon of first bristle filaments 2311, and an inner polygon of first bristle filaments 2312, and between these outermost and inner polygons is nested an intermediate polygon of the tufts 2321 of second bristle filaments.

(21) In the toothbrush head of FIG. 2 there are three nests of polygons of the oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2313 and 2321 arranged longitudinally along the surface 22. Within the inner polygon of tufts 2312 of first bristle filaments of the two nests closest to handle 21 is a more inner polygon 2322 of the second bristle filaments containing the additional tooth-polishing ingredient, and within this more inner polygon 2322 is a single tuft 2313 of first bristle filaments. In the nest closest to the end of the head 20 remote from the handle 21 there is no more inner polygon 2322 of the second bristle filaments, but there is an innermost tuft 2323 of second bristle filaments. The two adjacent nests of oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 closest to the handle 21 have some of their outermost tufts 2311 and intermediate polygon of tufts 2321 in common, so that these tufts 2311 and 2321 are part of both nests.

(22) The polygons of oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2321 and 2322 are concentric, and the tuft 2313 is at the centre of the more inner polygon of tufts 2322.

(23) The tufts 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 have a circular cross section achieved by mounting the tufts 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 in circular sectioned socket holes in the surface 22 in a well known manner. The tufts 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 have a cross section dimension as measured across the bristle direction B of 0.75-0.85 mm and have a length of 9-11 mm. The tufts 2321 and 2322 are ca. 1-2 mm shorter than the tufts 2311, 2312 and 2313.

(24) The numbers of oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2321 and 2322 present in the polygons may be counted from FIG. 2. The polygons may contain more or less oral hygiene elements than shown in FIG. 2.

(25) In the three polygons of oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 the oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2313, 2321 and 2322 extend perpendicular to the surface 22 of the head. Because the part 22A of surface 22 is inclined at an angle to the part 22B the bristle direction B2 of the oral hygiene elements 2311, 2312, 2321 and 2322 of the polygon on the part 22A extend at a converging angle relative to the direction in which the oral hygiene elements of the polygons closer to the handle 21 extend.

(26) In FIG. 2 the nest of oral hygiene elements furthest from handle 21 is therefore according to the first embodiment described above, and with the single central oral hygiene element 2323. The two nests closest to the handle 21 are according to the second embodiment discussed above, and with the single central oral hygiene element 2313.

(27) Referring to FIG. 3, this schematically shows a method of manufacture of a toothbrush head according to FIG. 1.

(28) In FIG. 3A, part of a head plate 31 of a plastic material is shown cut in a section along the longitudinal direction of a toothbrush head of which it is to become part. The head plate 31 is made of plastic material such as polypropylene using known injection moulding techniques. The upper surface 32 (as shown) of the head plate 31 corresponds to the surface 12 of the toothbrush head 10 shown in FIG. 1, and in plan view looking down the bristle direction B the shape the surface 32 corresponds to the shape of the surface 12 of FIG. 1. The head plate 31 is made with conventional socket holes 33 for tufts of nylon bristle filaments corresponding to the holes 133 of FIG. 1. The head plate 31 also includes channels 34 formed by means of corresponding cores in the injection mould (not shown) used to make plate 31. The channels 34 are linked by flow channel 35 in the surface 32 of the head plate 31 opposite to surface 32. As seen in FIG. 3B the head plate 31 has been enclosed in the cavity 36 of an injection mould 37 defining the shape of the elastomer oral hygiene elements 38 and then elastomer material has been injected into the cavity 36 via injection port 39 to thereby form the elastomer oral hygiene elements 38. As seen in FIG. 3C tufts of first bristle filaments 310 have been fixed into the socket holes 33 in a conventional manner using small metal anchors 311. As seen in FIG. 3D a toothbrush head 10 and integral handle 11 has been made of plastic material e.g. polypropylene by a conventional injection moulding process, and including a cavity 312 corresponding to the shape of the head plate 31. As seen in FIG. 3E the head plate 31 has been fixed by ultrasonic welding into the cavity 312 to result in the toothbrush head as shown in FIG. 1.

(29) Referring to FIG. 4, the head 40 and immediately adjacent part of the handle 41 of a manual toothbrush is shown. The head and handle define a toothbrush longitudinal direction L-L. The head 40 in FIG. 4 has a planar surface 42 from which oral hygiene elements 43 (generally) extend in a bristle direction B transverse to the longitudinal direction L-L. The head 40 has a length and width similar to that of conventional toothbrushes.

(30) The oral hygiene elements are arranged as follows in FIG. 4. First bristle filaments made of nylon and disposed in tufts 4311, 4312, 4313 having a circular envelope and second type of oral hygiene elements 432, 4321 being tufts of second bristle filaments made of PBT and incorporating perlite (Europerl 50™) as a tooth polishing ingredient are arranged on the surface in respective polygons nested concentrically with an oral hygiene element at each apex of the polygon. The tufts 4311, 4312, 4313 432, 4321 have a circular cross section achieved by mounting them in circular sectioned socket holes (not shown) in the surface 42 in a well known manner.

(31) In the toothbrush head of FIG. 4 there are three nests of polygons of the oral hygiene elements arranged longitudinally along the surface 42.

(32) In the two nests of polygons closest to handle 41 the oral hygiene elements 4311, 4312, 432 are arranged in the form of an outermost polygon of first bristle filaments 4311, an inner polygon of first bristle filaments 4312, between these outermost and inner polygons an intermediate polygon of the tufts of second bristle filaments 432, within the inner polygon of first bristle filaments 4312 is an inner polygon of second bristle filaments 4321, and within the centre of this inner polygon 4321 is a single tuft 4313 of first bristle filaments. The polygons of oral hygiene elements 4311, 4312, 432, 4321 are concentric, and the tuft 4313 is at the centre of the more inner polygon of tufts 4321. The two adjacent nests of oral hygiene elements closest to the handle 41 have some of their inner polygon of second bristle tufts 432 in common, so that these tufts 432 are part of both nests.

(33) In the nest of polygons furthest from handle 41 the oral hygiene elements are arranged in the form of an outermost polygon of first bristle filaments 4314, an inner polygon of first bristle filaments 4315, between these outermost and inner polygons an intermediate polygon of the tufts of second bristle filaments 4322, and within the inner polygon of second bristle filaments 4315 is a single tuft 4323 of second bristle filaments. The polygons of oral hygiene elements 4314, 4315, 4322 are concentric, and the tuft 4323 is at the centre of the more inner polygon of tufts 4315.

(34) The numbers of oral hygiene elements 4311, 4312, 4313, 4314, 4315, 432, 4321, 4322 present in the nests may be counted from FIG. 4. The polygons may contain more or less oral hygiene elements than shown in FIG. 4.

(35) The nests of oral hygiene elements extend perpendicular to the surface 42 of the head. The area of the surface 42 from which the nest of oral hygiene elements furthest from the handle extend is at an angle of less than 180° to the area from which the two nests closer to the handle extend, so that the bristle direction B1 of the oral hygiene elements in the nest furthest from the handle is at a converging angle relative to the direction B in which the oral hygiene elements of the two nests closer to the handle 41 extend.

(36) In each of the three nests of oral hygiene elements the tufts of second bristle filaments 432, 4321, 4322, 4323 respectively present in that nest extend to the same height from the surface 42, although the height to which tufts in different nests extend may differ. But in each of the three nests of oral hygiene elements the distance tufts of first bristle filaments 4311 and 4314 in the outermost polygons increases sequentially from the tufts closest to the longitudinal centerline to the tufts widthways opposite each other such that these widthways opposite tufts are the highest.

(37) The head 40 is connected to handle 41 via flexible link 44 of known type.

(38) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the head 50 and immediately adjacent part of the handle 51 of a manual toothbrush is shown. The head and handle define a toothbrush longitudinal direction L-L. The head 50 in FIG. 5 has a surface comprising a surface region 52 proximal to the handle 51 and a surface region 53 distal from the handle 51 the proximal and distal surface regions 52, 53 forming an angle of ca. 175° between them and being divided from each other at the widthways fold line 54 at which the region 53 begins to slope up. The head 50 has a length and width similar to that of conventional toothbrushes.

(39) FIG. 5 shows in plan view the circular sectioned socket holes 55 (generally) in the surface regions 52, 53 in which tufts of bristles (not shown in FIG. 5) may be mounted in a well known manner to thereby form tufts (not shown) with a circular envelope in an arrangement corresponding to holes 55. These holes 55 and consequently the tufts of first bristles are arranged as follows in FIG. 5. In the following description tufts are described as if being in holes 55.

(40) Tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 of first bristle filaments are arranged in polygons with a tuft 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 at each apex. The polygons of tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 are nested together in three nests of polygons. One nest comprises an outermost polygon of tufts 56 and an inner polygon of tufts 57, with two tufts 514 within the inner polygon of tufts 57 and aligned longitudinally, and is located wholly on the surface region 53. Two nests are located on the surface region 52. One of these two nests comprises an outermost polygon of tufts 58, an inner polygon of tufts 510 and an innermost polygon of tufts 512, with a single tuft 515 within the innermost polygon of tufts 512. The other of these two nests comprises an outermost polygon of tufts 59, an inner polygon of tufts 511 and an innermost polygon of tufts 513. The numbers of the tufts present in these polygons may be counted from FIG. 5, but more or less tufts may be present as required.

(41) The polygons of tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 in FIG. 5 are concentric. The two adjacent nests of tufts 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 on surface region 52 closest to the handle 51 have some of their tufts 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 in common, so that these tufts 58, 59, 510, 511, 512 are part of both nests.

(42) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the toothbrush head 50 of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows clearly the 175° angle of the region 53 relative to the region 52, i.e. the angle α is 5°. FIG. 6 shows generally 60 the tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515 in their three nests as described above, and also shows that the ends of the bristle filaments in tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515 are at distances from the surface 52, 53 which undulate with longitudinal distance, rising to rounded peaks 61, 62, 63 corresponding to the nests, with troughs 64, 65 longitudinally in between the peaks 61, 62, 63.

(43) FIG. 6 also shows how the tufts 56, 57, 58, 59, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515 on regions 52 and 53 extend perpendicular from the surface of regions 52 and 53, but as a consequence of the angle of less than 180° between regions 52 and 53, the tufts 56, 57 and 514 of the nest furthest from the handle 51 incline at a non-perpendicular angle to the surface of region 52 such that the tufts 56, 57 and 514 lean toward the handle 51 and extend in a direction which is convergent with the direction in which the tufts 58, 59, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514 extend.

(44) The head 50 is connected to handle 51 via flexible link 516 of known type.