Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TOOTHBRUSH
This invention relates to toothbrushes, in particular to the bristle
configuration
of toothbrushes. Especially this invention relates to improved toothbrush
bristle
configurations comprising tapered bristle filaments.
Toothbrushes are well known articles generally comprising a head for
insertion in the user's mouth and a grip handle to be held during use, with a
neck
region in between, all arranged along a toothbrush longitudinal direction (not
necessarily a straight line). The toothbrush head normally has a surface,
termed herein
the "bristle surface" from which bristles extend from a lower end of the
bristles
closest to the bristle surface to an upper end distant from the bristle
surface. The
bristle surface is bounded at its widthways opposite edges by side surfaces.
Toothbrush bristles are also well known articles, generally comprising a
filament of a stiff but flexible material, disposed in tufts of plural
filaments extending
from the bristle surface. The polyamide Nylon is very frequently used as a
toothbrush
bristle material.
Toothbrush bristle filaments may be of two known types. Non-tapered bristles
have substantially the same cross-section, typically cylindrical, along their
entire
length from their lower to their upper end except for the extreme upper end,
e.g. the
uppermost 5% or less, which is end-rounded, e.g. in an irregular hemisphere or
hemi-
ellipsoidal shape. So called "tapered bristles" are known, which taper for a
substantial
part of their length, e.g. 20% or more of their length, toward their end
remote from the
bristle face, typically in a shallow pointed conical shape. Tapered bristles,
being
thinner at their upper end, have different bending and flexibility
characteristics to
non-tapered filaments. In particular tapered bristles are known for efficacy
in reaching
into the spaces between the teeth, the so called "interproximal" spaces. For
example
such tapered bristles are disclosed in EP-A-1 234 525, EP-A-1 415 572, US-A-
6,546,586, WO-A-97/42853, WO-A-97/42854, WO-A-01/32053, WO-A-01/82741,
EP-A-0 596 633 among others.
Particular relative dispositions of the tapered bristles on the bristle
surface are
also known. For example US-A-6,546,586 discloses a toothbrush head in which
each
tuft comprises plural bristles made of polybutylene terephthalate in the form
of shorter
bristles of uniform cross section and longer tapered bristles which taper
toward their
upper end. It is known to combine tapering and non-tapering bristles on a
toothbrush
head, e.g. from US-A-2006/0096053 which discloses a head for an electric
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toothbrush. It is also known from other disclosures to combine long and short
bristle
filaments in a tuft e.g. US-A-3,103,679, WO-A-96/16571 and DE-A-35 28 596. WO-
A-2009/000903 discloses a toothbrush head having an inner region of tapered
bristles
surrounded by an outer ring of non-tapered bristles.
Other types of toothbrush bristles are known which narrow at their ends
remote from the bristle surface. For example there are so called "feathered
bristles" in
which the ends remote from the bristle surface are split into even finer
filaments. For
example feathered bristles are disclosed in EP-A-1 173 081 and US-A-6,322,152.
It is an object of this invention to explore the possibilities of toothbrush
heads
with combinations of tapered and non-tapering bristles, especially with the
intention
of providing an improved toothbrush head incorporating tapered bristle
filaments, e.g.
providing tooth cleaning, particularly in the interproximal spaces, at the
gingival
margin, and in subgingival access. Other objects and advantages of the
invention will
be apparent from the following description.
According to a first aspect of this invention a toothbrush head is provided,
being connected to or connectable to a toothbrush grip handle to thereby
define a head
- grip handle longitudinal direction, the head being elongate in the
longitudinal
direction and having a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction, the
head having a bristle surface from which plural tufts of bristles extend in a
bristle
direction, the bristles being arranged in plural tufts each of which contains
plural
bristles, the bristles comprising plural tapered bristles and plural non-
tapered bristles;
characterised in that the plural bristle tufts are arranged in a pattern on
the
bristle surface comprising plural outer tufts containing tapered bristles and
arranged
along the widthways opposite outermost sides of the tuft pattern and being of
a first
greater length,
and widthways between the plural outer tufts being plural inner tufts
containing non tapering bristles and being of a second lesser length shorter
than the
first greater length.
It is believed that this novel arrangement of tapered bristles facilitate
effective
cleaning at the gum margin. Other advantages of the toothbrush head of the
invention
will be apparent from the following.
The toothbrush head of this invention may be realized in various
constructions.
For example all of the plural outer tufts may contain tapered bristles.
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For example all tufts which contain tapered bristles may be entirely composed
of tapered bristles.
Alternatively the plural outer tufts may comprise tufts which contain tapered
bristles and tufts which do not contain tapered bristles, and which may be of
the first
greater length or a greater or lesser length than this first greater length.
For example
the plural outer tufts may comprise tufts or groups of tufts which contain
tapered
bristles alternating longitudinally with tufts or groups of tufts which do not
contain
tapered bristles.
For example all of the plural outer tufts may be of the first greater length.
For
example all of the plural outer tufts may be of the same first greater length.
Alternatively the plural outer tufts may comprise tufts of two or more first
greater
lengths longer than the second lesser length. For example alternatively the
plural outer
tufts may also comprise tufts of a length which is the same as or less than
the second
lesser length.
For example all of the inner tufts may contain non-tapered bristles.
For example all of the inner tufts may be composed entirely of non-tapered
bristles. Alternatively some of the inner tufts may include tapered bristles.
For example all of the inner tufts may be of the second lesser length, for
example all of the inner tufts may be of the same second lesser length.
Alternatively
the plural inner tufts may comprise tufts of two or more second lesser lengths
shorter
than the first greater length. For example alternatively the plural inner
tufts may also
comprise tufts of a length which is the same as or greater than the first
greater length.
The plural outer tufts may be arranged in lines which substantially follow the
shape of the edge of the bristle surface as viewed along the length of the
bristles down
toward the bristle surface.
For example in this arrangement the outer tufts may be arranged with each
outer tuft substantially equidistant in the widthways direction from the
widthways
edge of the bristle surface.
For example the plural outer tufts may be arranged such that each tuft is
substantially widthways equidistant from the adjacent edge of the bristle
surface.
Alternatively the plural outer tufts may be arranged such that different tufts
are at
different widthways distances from the adjacent edge of the bristle surface.
For
example plural outer tufts may be arranged widthways adjacent each other at
two or
more respective widthways distances from the edge of the bristle surface.
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Tufts containing tapered bristles, for example of the first greater length,
may
also be also located adjacent to the end of the bristle surface longitudinally
remote
from the grip handle. For example such tufts may be the tufts most
longitudinally
remote from the toothbrush grip handle. Such tufts may be composed entirely of
tapered bristles or may comprise tapered bristles in combination with non-
tapered
bristles. For example such tufts may comprise tufts which contain both tapered
and
non-tapered bristles, or may comprise adjacent tufts composed respectively
entirely of
tapered bristles and non-tapered bristles.
Additionally or alternatively, tufts, for example of the first greater length,
may
also be also located adjacent to the end of the bristle surface adjacent to
the position
of the toothbrush head at which the head is connected or is to be connected to
the grip
handle. For example such tufts may be the tufts most longitudinally closest to
the
toothbrush grip handle. Such tufts may be composed entirely of tapered
bristles or
may comprise tapered bristles in combination with non-tapered bristles. For
example
such tufts may comprise tufts which contain both tapered and non-tapered
bristles, or
may comprise adjacent tufts composed respectively entirely of tapered bristles
and
non-tapered bristles.
For example the difference between the first greater length and the second
lesser length may be 1 - 5 mm, for example 2 - 4 mm. Typically the first
greater
length maybe 11 - 13 mm.
The tufts containing tapered bristles and tufts containing non-tapered
bristles
may be positioned in otherwise conventional layouts on the bristle face. For
example
tufts may be arranged in a two-dimensional array with immediately adjacent
tufts ca.
2 - 3 mm apart, for example in a regular layout symmetrical about the
longitudinal
direction. Such a layout may comprise rows of plural bristle tufts oriented
widthways
across the bristle surface.
The bristle surface may be substantially planar. Alternatively the bristle
surface may be concave in the longitudinal direction and/or the widthways
direction.
For example the bristle surface may be concave curved or the surface may
comprise
planar regions at an obtuse angle to each other. For example the bristle
surface may
comprise a tip region adjacent to the tip end of the head remotest from the
handle,
which is at an obtuse angle to a region immediately longitudinally thereto.
For
example the tip region may be angled up relative to the region immediately
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longitudinally thereto.
The tufts containing tapered bristles and/or tufts containing non-tapered
bristles may be oriented perpendicular to the bristle surface. Alternately
they may be
oriented to lean at a non-perpendicular angle to the bristle surface, such as
at 75-85 to
5 the bristle surface. Such leaning tufts preferably lean in the longitudinal
direction so
that their end remote from the bristle surface is either longitudinally closer
or further
from the grip handle. In one form of such a construction, widthways adjacent
tufts
may lean in opposite longitudinal directions. For example as seen looking in
the
widthways direction such tufts may appear to cross in an X arrangement.
The tufts of tapered and non tapered bristles may be fastened into the bristle
surface by conventional methods. Such conventional methods include the well
known
use of small metal "anchors" i.e. clips around the parts of the bristles which
are to be
fixed into the bristle surface, which are then wedged into socket holes in the
bristle
surface. Another conventional method is the so-called "anchorless" method in
which
the ends of the bristles to be fixed into the bristle surface by moulding the
plastics
material of the head around them in the mould cavity in which the head is
made.
In a first construction the toothbrush head may comprise a conventional
unitary block of a plastic material such as conventional polypropylene into
which the
tufts are fastened.
Alternatively in a second construction the toothbrush head may have a
construction in which a section of the head which is relatively closer to the
end of the
head remote from the grip handle is resiliently and flexibly linked to a
section of the
toothbrush head which is relatively closer to the grip handle. Such a link may
be by
means of a composite link region composed of one or more flexible plastics
material
link and an elastomer material such as a thermoplastic elastomer. Such a head
construction is for example disclosed in WO-A-97/07707 and WO-A-98/37788.
In such a second construction for example one of such sections, i.e. either
that
closer to the end of the head remote from the grip handle, or the section of
the
toothbrush head which is closer to the grip handle, or both such sections may
have
bristle tufts extending therefrom which are arranged in the pattern on the
bristle
surface comprising plural outer tufts containing tapered bristles and arranged
along
the widthways opposite outermost sides of the tuft pattern and being of a
first greater
length, and widthways between the plural outer tufts being plural inner tufts
containing non tapering bristles and being of a second lesser length.
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Alternatively in a third construction the toothbrush head may have a
construction in the form of three or more, but preferably three,
longitudinally elongate
sections disposed widthways adjacent across the toothbrush head, each section
being
flexibly linked to the handle, and being in the form of two widthways
oppositely
disposed outer sections with at least one, but preferably one, middle section
disposed
widthways between said outer sections, each section independently resiliently
moveable relative to a widthways adjacent section, the plural outer tufts
containing
tapered bristles of the first greater length being disposed on the two
widthways
oppositely disposed outer sections, and the plural inner tufts containing non
tapering
bristles and being of a second lesser length being disposed on the at least
one inner
section. Each such section has its own respective bristle surface which
together form
the bristle surface of the toothbrush head.
An example of this latter construction is as disclosed in WO-A-2004/041023.
For example such a head construction may comprise three widthways
adjacent, longitudinally extending sections from which bristles extend, being
a middle
section and an outer section on each widthways side of the middle section, one
or
more section being resiliently flexibly connected or connectable to the grip
handle,
and in which the end of the middle section adjacent to the tip end of the head
is
integrally widthways enlarged relative to the part of the middle section
immediately
longitudinally adjacent nearer to the handle to provide a bristle-carrying pad
adjacent
to the tip end of the head and which extends across the entire width of the
toothbrush
head adjacent to the tip end,
the middle section comprises an intermediate bristle-carrying pad, being a
region of maximum width of the part of the middle section between the tip pad
and
the base end of the head,
with a first link region of the section between the tip pad and the
intermediate
pad being narrower in width than the adjacent part of the tip pad and the
intermediate
pad,
and a second link region of the section between the intermediate pad and the
handle being narrower in width than the adjacent part of the intermediate pad
closer to
the tip end.
Preferably the head comprises only three such sections, i.e. a middle section
and two outer sections.
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For example the middle section may widen widthways at a region 50% or less,
e.g. 25% or less of the longitudinal length of the middle section distanced
from the tip
end, relative to a region immediately longitudinally adjacent thereto closer
to the grip
handle.
The end of the middle section adjacent to the tip end of the head may be
integrally widthways enlarged relative to the part of the middle section
immediately
longitudinally adjacent nearer to the handle so as to form a concavity between
the end
of the middle section and the part of the middle section immediately
longitudinally
adjacent nearer to the handle, and the end of an outer section may be shaped
in a
complementary shape to the concavity so that this end may fit into the
concavity.
Preferably two or more, preferably all of the sections are resiliently
flexibly
connected to the grip handle so that the section may be resiliently bent out
of a plane
parallel to the longitudinal and width directions under the action of pressure
on the
bristles. Preferably each section is resiliently linked to the grip handle by
means of a
flexible neck region of the grip handle.
For example the middle section and side sections may be in sliding contact.
WO-A-2005/039858 describes a process by which such a head might be made.
In this third construction, for example, all of the plural outer tufts on the
two
outer sections may be tapered bristles of the first greater length, and all of
the plural
inner tufts on the middle section(s) may be non tapering bristles of the
second lesser
length.
In this third construction plural tufts comprising tapered bristles may extend
from the middle section adjacent to the tip end of the middle section such
that such
tufts are the tufts most longitudinally remote from the toothbrush grip
handle.
The invention also provides a toothbrush comprising a grip handle connected
to a toothbrush head as disclosed herein. Such a toothbrush may be a manual
toothbrush intended to be moved only by hand action around the teeth.
Alternatively
the toothbrush may be a powered toothbrush provided with an internal motor to
drive
the bristles relative to the handle. Such a toothbrush may be of generally
well-known
conventional construction.
The bristles may be made of conventional bristle materials for tapered and
non-tapered bristles, for example Nylon or polybutylene terephthalate. The
bristles
may be tapered or end rounded by conventional methods such as mechanical
abrasion
or chemical erosion. As cut across their bristle direction the tufts of
bristles, whether
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containing tapered bristles or not, may be circular in section or other
shapes. For
example one or more tufts, for example some or all of the outer tufts
comprising
tapered bristles, may have a section which is elongated in the longitudinal
direction,
e.g. oval or rounded cornered rectangular.
Other parts of the toothbrush head and grip handle may also be made of
conventional materials such as plastics materials for example polypropylene,
and the
handle may also include conventional grip-enhancing surface pad regions which
may
for example be made of thermoplastic elastomer. Numerous conventional types of
grip handle are well known in the toothbrush art. One example of a suitable
grip
handle construction is for example disclosed in EP-A-0 336 641. The grip
handle and
other parts of the toothbrush may be made by entirely conventional techniques
such as
injection moulding, as is commonplace in the toothbrush art.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows side views of a non-tapered bristle and a tapered bristle.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a first construction of toothbrush head of this
invention.
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the toothbrush head of Fig. 2 cut across the
line
A-A of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a plan view and cross sectional view of another
construction of the toothbrush head of this invention.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a plan and sectional view of another construction of the
toothbrush head of this invention.
Figs. 8 and 9 show plan views of other constructions of toothbrush heads of
this invention.
Fig. 10 shows a side view of another construction of toothbrush heads of this
invention.
Figs. 11 and 12 show a respective plan view and side view of another
construction of the toothbrush head of this invention.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a respective plan view and side view of an overall
construction of a toothbrush of this invention provided with a head of this
invention.
Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional non-tapered bristle 10 is shown in a
schematic sideways view, extending in bristle direction "B" from the bristle
surface
20 of a toothbrush head (not shown). Bristle 10 has substantially the same
uniform
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cylindrical cross-section along its entire length from its lower end 1 OA
adjacent the
bristle surface 20, to its upper end l OB remote from bristle surface 20. The
region
IOC immediately adjacent the extreme upper end, e.g. the uppermost 5% or less,
is
end-rounded in an irregular hemi-ellipsoidal shape. Fig. 1 also shows a
conventional
tapered bristle 30. The lower part 30A of this bristle 30, extending upwards
from
bristle surface 20 has a substantially uniform cylindrical cross section. The
upper part
30B comprising the uppermost 30% of the length of the bristle 30 tapers in a
shallow
pointed conical shape.
Referring to Fig. 2, a toothbrush head 40 generally is shown in a plan view,
being connected at its end 40A to a toothbrush grip handle via a neck region
41 of the
grip handle to thereby define a head 40 - grip handle 41 longitudinal
direction L - L,
and having a longitudinally opposite tip end 40B. The head 40 is elongate in
the
longitudinal direction L - L and has a width direction W - W perpendicular to
the
longitudinal direction L - L. The head 40 has a flat planar bristle surface 42
from
which plural tufts of bristles 43 (generally) extend in their bristle
direction "B"
perpendicular to the plane of the bristle surface 42, and to both the
longitudinal
direction L - L and to the width direction W - W, the view in Fig. 2 being
downwards
along the bristle direction "B". The plural tufts 43 each contains plural
bristles.
The plural bristle tufts 43 are arranged in a pattern on the bristle surface
42
that comprises plural outer tufts 431 containing only tapered bristles (i.e.
as shown 30
in Fig. 1), tufts 431 being arranged along the widthways opposite outermost
sides of
the pattern of tufts 43. Tufts 431 are arranged sequentially in a line
(indicated by the
dashed line linking them) substantially equidistant from the widthways edge 44
of the
bristle surface 42. Widthways between the plural outer tufts 431 are arranged
plural
inner tufts 432 containing only non tapering bristles (i.e., as shown 10 in
Fig. 1)
The tufts 43 are positioned in a conventional two-dimensional array on bristle
surface 42 with the tufts 43 being ca. 2 - 3 mm apart from each other. As
shown in
Fig. 2 this layout is symmetrical about the longitudinal direction L - L and
comprises
rows of bristle tufts 44 oriented widthways in the direction W - W across the
bristle
surface 42.
Fig. 3 shows a cross section through toothbrush head 40, as cut along the line
A - A of Fig. 2, extending in the widthways direction W - W across head 40.
Fig. 3
shows that plural outer tufts 431 containing only tapered bristles are of a
first greater
length from their lower end adjacent to the bristle surface 42 to their upper
end remote
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from bristle surface 42, and plural middle tufts 432 containing only non-
tapered
bristles are of a second lesser length, less than the first greater length.
In the toothbrush head shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the difference between the
first
greater length of tufts 431 and the second lesser length of tufts 432 is 1 - 5
mm, for
5 example 2 - 4 mm. Typically the first greater length of tufts 431 is 10 - 12
mm.
In the head 40 of Figs. 2 and 3 the tufts of bristles 43 are fastened into the
bristle surface by conventional small metal "anchors" (not shown).
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a second construction of toothbrush head 50
generally is shown in a plan view in Fig. 4, being connected at its end 50A to
a
10 toothbrush grip handle via a neck region 51 of the grip handle to thereby
define a head
50 towards grip handle 51 longitudinal direction L - L and having an opposite
tip end
50B. The head 50 is elongate in the longitudinal direction L - L and has a
width
direction W - W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L - L. The head 50
has a
bristle surface 52 from which plural tufts of bristles 53 (generally) extend
in their
bristle directions "B" perpendicular to the plane of the respective part of
the bristle
surface 52 from which they extend. Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section view.
The head 50 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 has a known construction in which a section
54 of the head which is relatively closer to the end 50A of the head 50
attached to the
grip handle 51 is resiliently and flexibly linked at link 55 to a section 56
of the
toothbrush head 50 which is relatively remote from the grip handle 51. The
link 55
comprises a composite link region, as shown in Fig. 5, composed of a flexible
plastics
material link 57 integrally linking the sections 55,56 embedded in a
surrounding
flexible elastomer material 58 such as a thermoplastic elastomer. Such a head
construction is for example disclosed in WO-A-97/07707 and WO-A-98/37788, and
is present in known toothbrushes e.g. as sold under the present applicant's
AQUAFRESHTM brand.
From the bristle surfaces 52 of both sections 55 and 56 extend bristle tufts
53
which are arranged in the pattern on the bristle surface comprising plural
outer tufts
531 containing only tapered bristles and arranged along the widthways opposite
outermost sides of the tuft pattern and being of a first greater length, with
widthways
between these plural outer tufts 531 being plural inner tufts 532 containing
only non
tapering bristles and being of a second lesser length.
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The view in Fig. 4 is downwards along the bristle direction "B" of the tufts
53
extending from section 54. The bristle surfaces 52 of the two sections 55 and
56 form
an angle less than 180 relative to each other, typically around 170 .
Although the link between the head 40, 50 and the neck region 41,51 is shown
as a rigid ling, it may alternatively be a flexible link of known type, for
example as
disclosed in WO-A-98/37788.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 this shows a toothbrush head 60 (overall). Head 60
is connected at its end 60A to a toothbrush grip handle (not shown) via a neck
region
61 of the grip handle to thereby define a head 60 - grip handle 61
longitudinal
direction L - L and having a longitudinal opposite tip end 60B. The head 60 is
elongate in the longitudinal direction L - L and has a width direction W - W
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L - L. Head 60 comprises three
longitudinally elongate sections 62,63,64 being two widthways oppositely
disposed
outer sections 62,64 with a middle section 63 disposed widthways between said
outer
sections 62,64 disposed widthways adjacent across the toothbrush head 60. Each
section 62, 63, 64 is flexibly linked to the handle by a respective neck
611,612,613.
Each of the sections 62, 63, 64 has a respective bristle surface 65, 66, 67
Fig. 7 shows
a cross-section through the head 60 cut across the line A-A of Fig. 6.
Extending from the bristle surfaces 65, 67 of outer sections 62 and 64 are
plural outer tufts 68 containing tapered bristles of the first greater length,
and plural
inner tufts 69 containing only non tapering bristles and being of a second
lesser
length. Extending from the bristle surface of middle section 63 are plural
inner tufts
69 containing only non tapering bristles and being of a second lesser length.
Middle section 63 is longitudinally extended beyond the ends of the outer
sections 62, 63 and is widened to form tip pad 610 having a bristle surface
611.
Extending from bristle surface 611 of tip pad 610 are plural outer tufts 681
containing
only tapered bristles and arranged along the widthways opposite outermost
sides of
the tip pattern of tufts and around the end of the tip pad 610 remote from
grip handle
61.
Referring to Fig. 8, a plan view of one widthways side of a toothbrush head 80
is shown. The arrangement of outer bristles 81 (generally) on the bristle
surface 82 is
shown. The tufts 81 comprise tufts 81A which contain tapered bristles and
tufts 81B
which do not contain tapered bristles. Tufts 81 B may be of the first greater
length or a
greater or lesser length than this first greater length. The arrangement of
the plural
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outer tufts 81 comprises tufts 81A which contain tapered bristles alternating
longitudinally with tufts 81B which do not contain tapered bristles. Plural
tufts 83
contain non-tapered bristles and are of the second shorter length. The head 80
is
connected to longitudinally adjacent neck region 84.
Referring to Fig. 9, a plan view of one widthways side of a toothbrush head
90 is shown. The arrangement of outer bristles 91 (generally) on the bristle
surface 92
is shown. In this arrangement plural outer tufts 91 containing tapered
bristles are
arranged such that each tuft 91 is substantially widthways equidistant from
the
adjacent edge 93 of the bristle surface. The plural outer tufts 91 are
arranged such that
different tufts 91 A, 91 B are widthways adjacent each other at different
widthways
distances (as measured to their centres) Dl, D2, Dl being greater than D2,
from the
adjacent edge 93 of the bristle surface. Plural tufts 94 contain non-tapered
bristles and
are of the second shorter length. The head 90 is connected to longitudinally
adjacent
neck region 95.
Referring to Fig. 10 a side view of a toothbrush head 100 and the adjacent
part
of the neck region 101 is shown. Fig. 10 also shows that the longitudinal
direction of
the toothbrush is not a straight line, but the direction of the neck 101 is
angled relative
to the direction of the head 100, as is commonplace in toothbrushes. Overall
the
construction of the head 100 and neck 101 are identical to the corresponding
head 90
and neck 91 of Fig. 9. Two widthways adjacent outer tufts 102, 103 containing
tapered bristles are shown extending from bristle surface 104. The tufts 102,
103 are
oriented to lean at a non-perpendicular angle to the bristle surface, such as
at 75-85 to
the bristle surface, leaning in the longitudinal direction so that their
respective ends
remote from the bristle surface are either longitudinally closer or further
from the grip
handle. As seen in Fig. 10 looking in the widthways direction the tufts
102,103 appear
to cross in an X arrangement. The neck 101 connects the head 100 to grip
handle 105.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 these show a respective plan view looking down
the bristle direction, and a side view looking widthways of a toothbrush head
110 of
this invention. As can be seen, the general arrangement is similar
respectively to Figs.
6 and 7, therefore only some distinctive features of this head 110 are
described in
detail. Note that for clarity only some of the tufts of bristles are shown.
The toothbrush head 110 has a construction in the form of three longitudinally
elongate sections 111, 112, 113 disposed widthways adjacent across the
toothbrush
head 110 in the form of two widthways oppositely disposed generally crescent
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shaped outer sections 111, 113 with a generally oval middle section 112
disposed
widthways between the outer sections 111, 113. Each section 111, 112, 113 is
independently resiliently moveable relative to a widthways adjacent section.
Each
section 111, 112, 113 is flexibly linked to the toothbrush grip handle (not
shown) by a
respective flexible neck 114, 115, 116 so that the sections 111, 112, 113
maybe
resiliently bent out of a plane parallel to the longitudinal and width
directions under
the action of pressure on the bristles.
Plural outer tufts 117 containing tapered bristles of the first greater length
are
disposed on the two widthways oppositely disposed outer sections 111, 113.
These
tufts 117 have a section cut across their bristle direction which is elongate
in the
longitudinal direction L-L being a rounded cornered rectangular shape. Plural
inner
tufts 118 containing non tapering bristles and being of a second lesser length
are
disposed on the middle section 112.
The middle section 112 widens widthways at a region 112A close to the tip
end 119 which is less than 50% or less of the longitudinal length of the
middle section
112 distanced from the tip end 119, relative to a region immediately
longitudinally
adjacent thereto closer to the grip handle. This widening at 112A forms a
concavity
120 between the end 112A of the middle section 112 and the part of the middle
section immediately longitudinally adjacent nearer to the handle. The end 1 IA
of an
outer section 111 is shaped in a complementary shape to the concavity 120 so
that this
end l 1 l A fits into the concavity.
The middle section 112 is in sliding contact with adjacent outer sections 111,
113.
Plural tufts 121 comprising tapered bristles also extend from the widened part
1 12A of the middle section 112 adjacent to the tip end 119 of the middle
section such
that these tufts are the tufts most longitudinally remote from the toothbrush
grip
handle.
The bristle surface 122, comprised of the respective bristle surfaces of the
sections 111, 112, 113 is concave in the longitudinal direction, with its
upper surface
as seen in Fig. 12 gently concave curved. This causes the tufts 121 on the
widened
region 112A to be oriented so their ends remote from the bristle surface is
closer to
the grip handle than their ends closer to the bristle surface.
Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a respective plan view and side view of an
overall construction of a toothbrush of this invention provided with a head of
this
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invention are shown. The toothbrush 130 overall comprises a head 131 which may
be
any of the above-described heads 40, 50, 60, 80, 110. The head 131 is
connected to a
grip handle 132 by a neck region 133 which may be any of the above-described
neck
regions 41, 51, 61, 83, 95, 114, 115, 116. The head 131, grip handle 132 and
neck
region are all arranged along a longitudinal direction L-L. The bristle
surface 134 and
the side surface 135 of the head 131 can be seen.
