Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to toothbrushes in
general and more specifically to a toothbrush bristle con-
figuration providing improved and effective removal of micro-
bial plaque accumulation from the teeth and adjacent gingivalsurfaces.
Plaque control retards the formation of calculus
and is critical in the prevention of peridontal disease.
In the past, the most dependable mode of controlling
plaque has been mechanical cleansing with a toothbrush and
o~her cleansing aids. However, conventional toothbrushes
have not been entirely effective in removing the microbial
plaque from beneath the gingival margin in the sulcus and
the high plaque retaining areas in the interproximal embra-
sures of adjacent teeth. This is due to several reasons.First, a straight tip of a conventional brush bristle does
not tend to enter the gingival sulci when the brush is held
in a plane generally perpendicular to the long axis of the
tooth. Secondly,~ the sharp point of the bristle tends to
damage the gingiva and mucosa if the brush is held at an
acute angle to the long axis of the tooth in an attempt to
enter the sulci. Thirdly, the flex of the bristles tends to
prevent the most effective bristle tip posture for cleansing
when the brush is activated.
Study shows that the most aggressive mechanical
cleansing should be directed toward the tooth surface, much
less so toward the gingival surface and none toward the base
of the gingival sulcus. The basis for these observations is
as follows.
The development of gingival inflamation and dental
cavities is most frequently caused by failure to remove dental
plaque from the sub-gingival surface of the tooth and to a
much lesser extent materia alba from the gingival surface in
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the sub-gingival space. Both dental plaque and materia alba
can form within several hours and therefore frequent ~echanical
cleansing is essential. Materia alba which consists primarily
of an acquired bacterial coating and desquamated epithelial
cells, leucocytes and a mixture of salivary proteins and lipids
is a soft sticky deposit less adherent than dental plaque. It
can be flushed away with a water spray but more completely
removed from the gingiva with mild mechanical cleanings.
Dental plaque is formed by oral micro-organisms
which synthesize harmful products which are destructive to
the tooth and gum when not removed from the gingival sulcus.
The toxins formed by the micro-organisms cause cellular damage
to the gingiva with subsequent inflamation (gingivitis) and
eventually destruction of the supporting structures (periodon-
titis). ~hen gingivitis occurs, vascular dilatation,capillary proliferation, engorged vessels and sluggish venous
return causes a stretched and thinned epithelium that is
sensitiye to mechanical trauma such as aggressive brushing.
Dental plaque with associated gingivitis also
causes exposure of the root surface (recession) with increased
occurrence of cavities (dental caries). Exposure of the root
surface can also occur due to faulty brushing by repeated
direct trauma to the base of the sulcus (gingival abrasion~.
When a pathologically deepened gingival sulcus (peridontal
pocket) occurs, the pathological condition may become
exacerbated because plaque can more readily occur. If dental
plaque is not remoyed calculus is formed by mineralization of
the bacterial plaque. Calculus can form within several hours
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of plaque formation, Calculus has a bacterial plaque coating
and exacerbates gingivitis and gingival recession by both
chemical irritation from the formed toxins and destruction
from the mechanical irritation of the calculus mass. Sub-
gingival calculus usually extends near but does not reach thebase of peridontalpockets in chronic peridontal lesions.
Calculus holds the plaque against the gingiva.
Since materia alba can be removed by light mechanical
cleansing and gingival inflamation causes thinning of the
gingival epithelium the mechanical cleansing requirement of
the gingival surface is much less than the requirement for
removing dental plaque from the surface of the teeth. Accord-
ingly, a toothbrush which fulfills these requirements while
protecting the base of the gingival sulcus is desirable.
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SUM~RY OF THE: I~VE~NTION
Il~ view of tile foregoing, a principal object of the
yresent il~V~`llt: iOII iS an im~roved too~hbrus~l in g~ l and
an improved cleallsing head in particular which h~ls d shape
5 and surface configuration for removing dental plaque from
the exposed and sub-gingival surfaces of a tooth including
the interproximal embrasure surfaces while minimizing
damage to the gingival tissues facing the tooth and in the
base of the sulcus.
Another object of the present invention is d
toothbrush as described above comprising a cleansing head,
wherein the opposite ends of the cleansing head are rounded
for presenting a non-abrasive surface to the sub-gingival
tissue surfaces surrounding a tooth when the cleansing
15 surface of the cleansing head is moved across the surface
of the tooth during cleansing of the tooth.
Still another object of the present invention is
a toothbrush as described above comprising a cleansing
head with a cleansing surface, wherein the cleansing surface
20 of the cleansing head comprises a plurality o cleansing
elements located between the opposite ends of the cleansing
head.
Still another object of the present invention is
a toothbrush as described above comprising a el~ansing
25 head with a plurality of of cleansing elements, wherein
each of thç cleansing elements is provided with a sharp
edge or tip for scraping the surface of the tooth during
cleansin(~ of the tooth.
Still another object of the present invention is a
30 toothbrush as described above having a plurality of bristles
in which each of the bristles comprises a stem and, located
on one end of said stem, an elongated cleansing head having
a cleansing surface comprising a plurality of cleansing ele-
ments which extend perpendicularly in opposite directions
35 from the stem.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the toothbrush comprises a plurality of special bristles eacl
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having a T-shape and, when unted to the nandle of a
toothbrush, are located side by side forming substantially
threç ~ets of bristles of varying stem length. The vary-
ing length of the stems in each set generally conforms
the set of bristles to the contour of the surface of a
tooth for improved cleansing in the interproximal embrasure
of adjacent teeth. Of course, various stem lengths, cleans-
ing head sizes, and different shapes of sets of bristles
may be employed in a particular application.
In an alternative embodiment of the present inven-
tion, the toothbrush comprises a handle having a hand-held
portion and a smaller brush-supporting portion on which a
generally rectangular-shaped cleansing head is directly
mounted. A portion of the cleansing head is offset from the
handle and includes a plurality of cleansing elements. The
cleansing elements comprise an elongated rectangular member
terminated by a sharp edge. The opposite ends of the
cleansing head are rounded to present a non-abrasive sur-
face to the sub-gingival surfaces. Singular or multiple
cleansing heads, which are removable and replaceable on the
handle, may be used and may be of various sizes, shapes and
flexibility.
There is thus provided a toothbrush bristle which com-
prises an elongated cleansing head having a rounded end, a
smooth first side surface adjacent to the end to protect
against injury of the two subgingival surfaces surrounding the
tooth to be cleased, and a second side surface adjacent to
the end and opposed to the first side surface, the second
side surface having an abrasive cleansing means distributed
over at least a part of the length thereof.
By a further aspect of the present invention there i~
provided a toothbrush having an elongated handle and a
multiplicity of bristles each comhining an elongate stem
adapted to be secured to a tooth brush handle and a cleancing
head connected with the stem, the cleansing head having a
rounded end, a smooth first side surface depending from the
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~ end and adjacent to the stem with a second side surface de-
; pending from the end opposed to the first side surface, the
second side surface having abrasive cleansing means dis-
tributed over at lea~t a part of the link thereof.
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BRIEF DE~CRIPTION OF ~l~ ~XAWING
The above and other objects, features and advantages
of the pr~s.~nt inverltion will becoml~ apparent from the fol-
lowing detailed de~clll)tion of ~le accon~parlyir-(3 drdwillg in
~, 5 which:
~ Fig. 1 is a side view of a toothbrush according to
`` the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of
the bristles and handle of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the tips of a
part of the bristles of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the tips of
two of the bristles of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the bristles and handle
of Fig. 4r
Fig. 7 is an end view of the toothbrush and
bristles of Fig. 6, shown in a flexed condition.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a cleansing head according
20 to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
~; Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of
the cleansing head of Fig. 8.
, Fig. 10 is an end view of a portion of the cleans-
- ing head of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodl-
~ ment of the present invention.
`~ Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken through
lines 12-12 of Fig. 11.
- Fig. 13 is a plane view of the cleansing head of
30 Fig. 12.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Referring to Figs. 1-7, there is provided in accord-
ance with the present invention a toothbrush designated
generally as 1. In the toothbrush 1 there is provided a
handle 2 having a hand-held portion 3 and a brush-supporting
portion 4 on which is mounted a plurality of bristles 5. As
shown in Fig. 1, the bristles 5 essentially comprise three
sets of bristles of varying lengths designated 5a, 5b and
5c, respectively.
Referring to Fig. 2, the bristles 5 in each one of
the sets of bristles 5a, 5b and 5c are provided with a stetn
10. An elongated cleansing head 11 comprising a plurality of
cleansing elements 12 located between the opposite ends
of the cleansing head 11, extends perpendicularly in oppo-
site directions from said stem 10 for forming a T-shaped
bristle. The length of the head 11 is sufficient for providing
at least a portion thereof offset from the nandle 2 as seen in
Fig. 1 at 5a.
: Each of the plurality of cleansing elements 12 of
a cleansing head 11 comprises a conically shaped member ter-
minated by a relatively sharp tip for scraping the surface of
a tooth during cleansing of the tooth. The opposite ends of
the cleansing head 11 are rounded, as shown at 13 in Figs.
3, 5 and 6, for presenting a non-abrasive surface to the
sub-gingival surfaces, as shown at 17 in Fig. 6, surrounding
a tooth when the cleansing surface 12 of the cleansing head
11 is moved across the surface of a tooth during cleansing
of the tooth.
Extending laterally along each of the cleansing ele-
ments 12, there is provided a wall 14 and 15, which has an
upper edge somewhat lower than the height of the tip portion of
the cleansing elements 12. The walls 14 and 15, together with
the elements 12, form pockets for receiving and containing
cleansing compound such as conventional toothpaste.
Each of the cleansing elements 12 has a diameter of
approximately .010 inches. Between the ends 13 of the cleansing
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head 11 there are provided approximately 36 of the tip mem-
bers 12. With 36 of the tip members 12 located between the
ends 13 of ea~h of the cleansing heads 11, each of the cleans-
ing heads 11 has a length of approximately .36 inches. The
dimension, .010 inches, for each of the cleansing elements 12
was chosen because it is somewhat larger than the minimum
dimension which can be reliably held using current molding
techniques. In fabricating the toothbrush, approximately 100
of the bristles 5 are mounted in a line on the portion 4 of
the handle 1. With 100 bristles 5 mounted on the handle 1,
the brush mass is approximately one inch in length. Having
a length of one inch and a width of about .36 inches) the
brush is approximately the same size as a conventional tooth-
brush.
In use, the cleansing elements 12 of the bristles 5
scour the tooth surface while the ends 13 penetrate below
the sub-gingival surface into the sub-gingival sulcus 18 so as
to remove foreign matter from the tooth and sub-gingival sur-
faces 17, as shown in Fig. 6. In cleaning the tooth and sub-
gingival surfaces 17, gum and tooth life are promoted.
Referring to Fig. 7, to insure intimate contact
between the surface of a tooth and the cleansing element 12
at all times, the head 11 may be formed to be flexibly con-
cave to conform to the contour of a typical tooth.
Referring to Fig. 8-10, there is shown in an alter-
native embodiment of the present invention a T-shaped bris-
tle 20 comprising a stem 21 and a cleansing head 22. Between
the opposite ends of the cleansing head 22 there is provided,
for formlng a cleansing surface 23, a plurality of cleansing
elements 24. Each of the elements 24 comprises an elongated
rectangular member terminated by a sharp edge 25. The oppo-
site ends 26 and 27 of the head 22 are rounded for presenting
a non-abrasive surface to the sub-gingival surfaces 17 sur-
rounding the tooth when the cleansing surface 23 and specifi-
cally the cleansing elements 24 are moved across the surface
of the tooth during cleansing of the tooth.
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Around the periphery of the cleansing head 22,
there is provided a wall 28. The height of the wall 28 is
somewhat lower than the height of the cleansing elemen-ts 24
so as not to interfere or otherwise impair the cleansing
action of the cleansing members 24. The wall 28, together
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with the space between the cleansing elements 24, form
pockets for receiving cleansing compound such as conventional
toothpaste.
In use, as described above, the shape of the cleans-
ing heads 11 and 26 allows the cleansing head to readily enter
the gingival sulci when the brush is held in the most common
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~ positions used in brushing the teeth. In addition, the
;'! shape of the tips of the elements 12 and 24 minimize gingi-
~ val damage. Also the mechanical cleansing ac-tion of the
,~ cleansing elements is more effective than the conventional
straight tip bristle when the bristles are in a flexed condi-
tion. The point of a straight-tip bristle is effective only
~ when the brush is held in a narrowly defined relationship to
;~ the sulci and under minimal flex.
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Referring to Figs. 11-13, there is provided in an aLter-
' native embodiment of the present invention a toothbrush 30
comprising a handle 31 and a brush-supporting portion 32 and
a cleansing head 33 having a cleansing surface 34. Extending
` from the center of the cleansing head 33, there is provided a
dovetailed shaped tongue member 35 for fittlng in a correspond-
ingly shaped groove provided therefor in the handle portion 32.
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The tongue member 35 and the groove provided therefor allow for
removal and replacement of the cleansing head 33. Other tongue
and groove shapes as well as suitable adhesive may be used in
the absence of tongue and grooves for mounting the cleansing
head 33 to the brush-supporting portion 32.
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On the cleansing surface 34, between the rounded end
portions 36 and 37, there is provided a plurality of rectangu-
larly shaped cleansing elements 38. Each of the elements 38
;: is terminated by a sharp edge 39. Extending about the peri-
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i phery of the cleansing head 33, partially enclosing the cleans-
' ing elements 38, there is provided a rectangularly shaped wall 40.
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The wall 40 is terminated by a sharp edge 41. Interior of the
wall 40, surrounding the cleansing elements 38, there is pro-
vided a second rectangularly shaped wall 42. The wall 42 is
also terminated by a sharp edge 43. The interior surfaces of
the wall ~3 and the cleansing elements 38 form recesses or
pockets 44 for receiving and containing cleansing compound, such
as conventional toothpaste. Similarly, the interior surfaces
of the wall 40 and the exterior surfaces of the wall 42 form
recesses or pockets 45 for also containing cleansing compound
such as conventional toothpaste.
As in the previous embodiments described above, a
plurality of the cleansing heads 33 are mounted on the brush-
supporting portion 32 of the toothbrush 30 for forming a brush
46 having substantially the same overall length and width as
conventional toothbrushes.
While a plurality of embodiments of the present
invention are described, together with suggested alternative
features, it is contemplated that still other changes and
modifications may be made to the embodiments described
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. For example, instead of having a brush comprising
a plurality of bristles of varying stem length, it is possible
to have a brush in which the length of the stem of the
bristles is uniform throughout the brush. Similarly, the
size of the bristle and the length and slope of the stem
and cleansing head may be changed for any particular appli-
cation. Also, the cleansing head need not necessarily be
T-shaped, but may be round or some other shape~ So long as
at least a portion of the cleansing surface is offset from the
handle, the cleansing head can penetrate into the sub-
gingival sulcus region. For these reasons, it is intended that
the scope of the prQsent invention not be determined by
reference to the embodiments described, but rather be deter-
mined by reference to the claims hereinafter provided and
their equivalents.
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