Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
W094/09678 2 ~ 4 8 ~ 4 3 PCT/US93/10401
TO~ ~KU~
R~rR~OUND OF T~E lNv~llON
l. Field of the In~ention
The present invention relates to
toothbrushes, and more partieularly, to
toothbrushos which exhibit a three-dimensional
bristle profile to provide im~ G~e-l elean;ng of
interproximal and gingi~al margin regions.
2. DescriDtion of the Prior Art
Toothb~h;ng and flossing are
fundamental steps in achieving good oral
hygiene. Flossing, unfortunately, has not met
with widespread aceeptanee amongst the general
populaee. Furt_ermore, even people who flo~s,
oftenti~es, do not perform adequate flossing in
hard-to-reaeh areas of the mouth. Aeeordingly,
the importanee of pro~iding a brush whieh
aehie~es impro~ed elean~ng along hard-to-reaeh
areas li~e the gingi~al margin and int~ Gximal
regions is heightened. Unfortunately, while
most eommereially available toothbrushes elean
the outer bueeal faee of teeth adequately, they
fail to provide im~l~ved elean~ng of plaque and
debris from the gingival margin, inte ~ GX mal
areas and other hard to reaeh areas of the
mouth.
Applieants ha~ dise~_ el that a
21 ~2~
W094/09678 PCT/US93/10401
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substantial improvement in toothbrush
performance may be realized by optimizing
toothbrush design for both interproximal and
gingi~al margin cle~ning. In particular, the
present invention comprises a toothbrush ha~ing
a head with a yLo~vel "heel" portion which is
particularly suited to cle~n;ng the gingi~al
margin and a n toe" portion which is particularly
suited to inteL~LGximal clean; ng . Furthermore,
Applicants have observed that an angled n toe"
portion exhibits improved clean; ng in areas of
the mouth which are difficult to reach with
stan~ard toothbrushes. These features in
combination with several other important
operating characteristics will ronder a
toothbrush particularly adept at accomplishing
the aforomentioned objective~.
Toothbrushes having a y,o~ve centered
longit~;nally along the entire bristle pattern
are generally known to those skilled in the art.
Oral-B Laboratories, Rel.tood City, CA, markets
the "ORT~O" brush which is intended to more
effectivsly cl-an debris from orthoA~ntic
brackots and wiros. Also, ~.S. Patent No.
3,722,020 to Hills, describes a toothbrush which
includos a genorally planar head portion ha~ing
a plurality of bristles forming a concave
surface. ~owo~er, Applicants believe that these
prior art toothbrushes do not exhibit all of the
operating characteristics identified hereinafter
as important in simultaneously improved
inte.~Loximal and gingival margin clean;ng.
Furthermore, toothbrushes having a
distinct "toe" surface along the side profile of
the bru~h head are also gensrally known to those
skilled in the art. ~.S. Patent No. 4,800,608
to ~ey describe~ a toothbru~h w_erein the head
21 48243
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is bent at a fixed obtuse angle. The Key brush is said to
provide superior cleaning of the lingual, buccal, embrasure,
and distal aspects of the teeth and gums. Also U.S. Patent
Nos. 4,712,267 to Cheng; 5,046,212 to Conke; 1,337,173 to
White; 1,440,785 to Levis; 1,927,365 to Frolio; and Des.
49,472 to Dierke relate generally to toothbrushes with concave
side-view heads. However, it is believed that these known
prior art toothbrushes also do not exhibit all of the
operating characteristics identified hereinafter as important
in simultaneously improved interproximal and gingival margin
cleaning.
These and other objectives will become evident from
the following.
SUMMARY OF THE lNV ~'~. .lON
Generally speaking, the present invention may be
considered as providing a toothbrush exhibiting interproximal
and gingival margin cleaning comprising: an elongated handle
member; an elongated head member connected to one end of the
handle member comprised of a toe portion distal to the handle
and a heel portion proximal to the handle and adjacent the toe
portion; a multiplicity of bristles extending from the heel
portion, the free ends of the bristles forming a longitudin-
ally aligned concave groove which extends the entire length of
the heel portion and wherein the free ends of the bristles of
the heel portion proximal to the toe portion form a generally
linear profile when viewed from the side; and a multiplicity
of bristles extending from the toe portion, wherein the side
profile view of the free ends of the bristles extending from
the toe portion form a generally linear surface which forms an
obtuse angle relative to the generally linear profile of the
free ends of the bristles extending from the heel portion
proximal to the toe portion and wherein the side profile of
the toe bristles results in a wedge shape with the tallest toe
bristles being at the end of the head which is distal to the
handle member.
Icd:.u
- 21 4824S
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BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims which
particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it
is believed the present invention will be better understood
from the following description of several particularly
preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
identify similar elements and wherein:
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of
embodiments of a toothbrush of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an end profile view of the heel region
of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an end profile view of the heel region
of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a preferred
groove-cut utilizing the groove configuration of Figure 4.
The toe tufts have been removed for clarity.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative
groove-cut utilizing the groove configuration of Figure 4.
The toe tufts have been removed for clarity.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side profile
Icd.~
~,
W094/09678 ~ 1~ 8 ~ 1 3 PCT/US93/10401
views of the toothbrush heads of Figures l, 2
and 3, respectively. These figures depict
several alternate means of achieving the bristle
surface pattern required at the bristle tips of
the present invention.
Figure ll is a plan view of one
embodiment of this in~ention illustrating the
cleansing action of the toe bristle surface in
the inte ~ G~imal region between the teeth.
Figure 12 is an end view of the toe
portion of according to Figure 4 showing to
posterior heel portion's position along the
gingival margin and buccal surfaces during
br-~h; n~.
DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULARLY PK~KK~V
EMBODIMENTS
As depicted in Figures l, 2 and 3,
preferred embodiments of the present invention
comprise a toothbrush, generally indicated as
10, which achieves im~love-1 cls~n;ng of the
gingival margin in combination with imp.oved
interproximal clean; ng. Generally, the
toothbrush includes an elongated handle member
12, a head member 14 and a multiplicity of
bristles 16. Usually, the handle member and the
head member are fabricated of the same material
as a single injection molded piece, although a
multiple material fabrication is also possible.
Optionally, the handle and head portions may be
joined by a nec~ member 18 which is often
narrower in cross-section than either the handle
12 or head 14.
The head portion of toothbrushes
according to the present invention is comprisod
of two portions. A ~toe~ portion 20 is the
portion of the head located distal to the
handle. In contrast, the ~heel~ portion 22 is
W O 94/09678 2 1 ~ ~ 2 ~ ~ PC~r/US93/10401 --
the portion of the head which i8 located
proximal to the handle end of the head.
A key featuro of the present invention
resides in the particular topical representation
S produced by the distal ends of these bristles.
The particular topical representation is
achieved by utilizing distinct relative bristle
height patterns in the heel 22 and toe 20
regions. Accordingly, a variety of tufting
patterns, such as those depicted in Figs. 1, 2
and 3 achieve the desired result and are
contemplated by the present invention.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are end view
depictions of the heel portion 22 of
toothbru~hes according to the present invention.
As was mentioned earlier, the heel region
bristles 24 are characterized from a
longit~;nally aligned concave y~OOve shape 28.
Preferably, this concave shape 28 forms a "V",
a~ in Figure 4. However, other shapes, such a~
"U" (Figure S) or a stepwise "V" trim of
individual tufts, are also contemplated by the
present invention.
Figure 6 is a p~ tive view of a
preferred y.ovvs-cut 28 utilizing t_e nVn-trim
pattern of Figure 4. The toe bristles 30 have
been removed for clarity. Preferably, the
y~Ovv~ should be cut at a dept_ of from about
1/16 in~ho~ to about 3/16 ~n~ho~ to form angle
B. It is apparent that the depth and width of
the y~Ovv~ 28 is generally uniform along the
longit~;nal length of the heel portion 22.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an
alternate y.ovve-cut 28 utilizing the "Vn-trim
pattern of Figure 4. The toe bristles 30 have
been removed for clarity. It is apparent that
the dopth and width of the yLovv~ 28 i~ not
-W094/09678 2 1 ~ ~ 2 ~ 3 PCT/US93/10401
~ _ 7
constant along the longit~;nal length of the
heel portion 22. The depth and width decreases
as the y,Go~G 28 approaches the handle 12 to
form an upward slope relative to the surface of
the heel portion of the head 22.
Figures 6 and 7 are intended to depict
preferred embodiments. Other ~lopes, such as a
shallow-to-deep-to-shallow cut, are also
contemplated by the present invention. The
~ OVVG cut 28 in the heel 22 has ~1V~C-1 to be
particularly su$ted at c19~n; ng along the
gingival margin 34 as seen in Figure 12.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side profile
views of the toothbrush heads of Figuros 1, 2
and 3, respectively. These Figures are
particularly useful in exemplifying the
relationship botwoen the bristles on the toe
portion 30 of the head in relation to the
bristles on the heel portion 24 of the brush.
It is key to noto the topology produced by the
distal ends of the bristles as it is an
important characteristic of the present
invontion. Whon viowed from the side, as in
Figuros 8, 9 and 10, tho preferred ~anglod-toe"
effoct wh$ch is observed along the bristle tips
of tho too v~. the hoel is observod. This
interface results in angle o which is generally
from about 0~ to about 45~, preferably from
about 10~ to about 25~. This toe provides
deeper bristle-tooth contact along the bac~ of
the tooth and into the interproximal areas 32.
See Fig. 11.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 utilize different
approache~ to achiove a s~;lar bristle tip
topology. In Figuro 8, the toe 20 and _oel 22
W094/09678 21 ~ ~2~ 3 PCT/US93/10401
~ 8
portions of the head reside on tho same general
plane. However, the bristles 30 on the toe 20
gradually increase in length as they approach
the distal end 36 of the brush. In Figure 9,
5 the plane of the toe 20 and heel 22 are also
generally the same. However, the angle 0 on the
bristle tips i8 produced by inserting the tufts
at an angle into the toe portion of the head.
The angle o can be greater than or less than the
angle of the toe tuft holes since the bristle
tips can be trimmed independently. And finally,
Figure 10 provides the angle viewed at the
bristle tips by b~n~; ng the head of the
toothbrush at the toe/heel interface to an angle
of about a. Preferably, the obtuse angle of
bend a should be from about 115~ to about 170~,
most preferably from about 155~ to about 170~.
These and other techniques can be used to
achieve the surface topology of bristles
according to the present in~ention.
The bristles of the present in~ention
must be stiff enough to penetrate and remove
plaque and debris from the inteL~GA ~al spaces,
yet must be soft enough to penetrate the
gingi~al margin and remove debris and plaque
without causing irritation and bl~ ng. End-
rounded bristle tips are preferrod.
Any co~ve~tional bristle material may
be utilized in the present in~ention. Nylon and
polyester are preferred bristle materials.
Nylon is the ~ st preferred. Furthermore, when
the nylon bristle materials describQd abo~e are
utilized the height of the toe bristles is from
about 12/32 to about 17/32 ;n~ho~ and the height
of the heel bristles range~ from about 8/32 to
-W094/09678 2 1 ~ ~ ~ 1 3 PCT/US93/10401
D _ 9
about 14/32 ;n~heR.
Although particular embodiments of the
present in~ention have been shown and described,
modifications may be made to the toothbrush
without departing from the teachings of the
present invention. For example the heel groo~e
could extend up into the toe region.
Accordingly, the present invention comprises all
embodiments within the scope of the appended
claims.
