Brush arrangement and toothbrush with brush arrangement

Details Brush arrangement and toothbrush with brush arrangement Brush arrangement and toothbrush with brush arrangement

2000-09-08

2002-04-02

Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Machines

Brushing

C015S022100, C015SDIG005

Reexamination Certificate

active

06363565

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a brush arrangement.
Prior-art brush arrangements, also referred to as bristle or bristle tuft configurations, are intended for use in toothbrushes having a preferably electric drive mechanism for moving the brush arrangement relative to a motion axis of the brush arrangement. This may involve a preferably oscillating rotary motion about the motion axis and/or a preferably oscillating back-and-forth motion or vibratory motion in the direction of the motion axis. The brush arrangement comprises a bristle carrier and a plurality of upstanding bristles or bristle tufts anchored to the bristle carrier. The tree bristle ends define a working face also referred to as cleansing face because typically an appreciable part of the cleansing action is performed by the free bristle ends. Preferred fields of application of the present invention include the elimination of the film coating teeth, that is, dental plaque, in particular during the cleaning of interproximal spaces. Devices optimized for this purpose are frequently referred to as interproximal brushes.
For a long time only inadequate devices have been available for the cleansing and care of interproximal spaces unless performed by a dentist. Improvements have been sought by toothbrushes equipped with movably drivable brush arrangements. By way of example, DE 33 925 shows a toothbrush two hydrodynamically rotatable bristle carriers arranged side by side parallel to the axis. The slightly diverging bristles of the one bristle carrier form a working face in the form of a concave recess conforming to the convex outer shape of a molar, whilst the slightly diverging bristles of the other bristle carrier form a conical working face designed to enter into interproximal spaces. A similar suggestion is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,559. The toothbrush shown in this patent has a rotary brush arrangement with bristle tufts aligned parallel to the motion axis, the bristles thereof being suitably dimensioned in length so as to form overall an approximately conical working face designed to facilitate the cleaning of interproximal spaces. Another brush arrangement designed in particular for the cleaning of interproximal spaces is disclosed in EP 0 765 642. The brush arrangement which is adapted to rotate about a motion axis by means of an electric drive mechanism has its bristle tufts arranged in several concentric circles. The tufts of the outermost bristle circle are inclined in and in opposition to the direction of rotation in such fashion that they intersect a plane through the axis of rotation of the brush arrangement at an angle. This oblique position in the direction of movement is intended to improve the penetration of the bristles into the interproximal spaces during operation of the electric toothbrush, hence enhancing the dental cleansing effect.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a brush arrangement of the type referred to which affords ease of manufacture and provides further enhanced dental cleaning, in particular in the area of interproximal spaces, when used on a toothbrush having a drive mechanism for the brush arrangement.
To accomplish this object, the present invention proposes a brush arrangement with the features discussed herein below and a toothbrush with the features discussed herein below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, provision is made for the brush arrangement to include bristles disposed in a spaced relationship to the motion axis, in particular eccentrically or concentrically, said bristles being inclined at an angle of inclination in the direction of the motion axis. Conveniently, the bristles are grouped in bristle clusters or bristle tufts which are aligned so that the center-of-gravity axes or axes of symmetry of the bristle tufts are inclined towards the motion axis. The inward inclination as disclosed in the invention has the effect that the free bristle ends of the inclined bristles tie closer to the motion axis than the bristle anchor points in the area of the bristle carrier. This enables a high bristle density advantageous for producing a good cleansing effect to be obtained in the area of the preferably rounded free ends, that is, in the area of the cleansing face or working face, while enabling, in the area of the fastening points e.g. anchor points on the bristle carrier, individual bristle tufts to be set at a sufficiently wide lateral distance to each other. Hence it is possible for each fastening points e.g. anchor point of a bristle tuft to be surrounded by sufficient bristle carrier material, to ensure its secure retention on the bristle carrier. When the anchor wire tufting technique is employed for manufacture, it is possible to set the hole mounts required to receive the bristle tufts at a sufficient lateral distance to each other so that tufting can be accomplished readily using conventional fixtures. In a preferred further aspect, for example, the inwardly oriented oblique position of bristles has the beneficial effect that the working or cleansing face is at least 20% smaller than the anchor area of the bristle carrier provided for tufting, with the size of the cleansing face preferably amounting to between about 50% and about 80% of the size of the anchor area. The term anchor area as used herein is understood to mean the surface area bounded by an envelope enclosing the bristles or bristle tufts in their base region close to the bristle carrier.
The angle of inclination or the oblique position may be selected so that the individual bristle tufts are able to bear against each other in the area of the working or cleansing face. This may significantly reduce bristle wear since it counteracts buckling.
Owing to the inwardly oriented oblique position or inclination of peripheral bristles or bristle tufts it is furthermore possible to produce a generally conical or frusto-conical array of bristles which facilitates introduction of the bristles into interproximal spaces. In contrast to conventional brush arrangements having bristles extending in substantially parallel alignment to each other, the oblique position has the added effect of causing the inclined bristles to respond more flexibly when subjected to axial loads, that is, loads parallel to the motion axis, so that the brush appears to exhibit a reduced axial stiffness. This may reduce or prevent the risk of gum injury as the brush arrangement is introduced into interproximal areas.
On a motion relative to the motion axis predetermined by the type of toothbrush, that is, in particular on a rotary oscillating motion about this axis, the oblique position has the beneficial effect that the individual bristles or bristle tufts of the brush arrangement conform themselves particularly well to the contours of the teeth bounding the interproximal space being worked and/or to the contour of the relevant gingival area, hence enabling the supra-gingival film (plaque) and the interproximal plaque to be removed more effectively. Owing to the invention arrangement of bristles or bristle tufts, a better cleansing operation can be accomplished of both punctiform (interproximal) and linear (gingival) areas of a person's teeth.
The cleansing effect may be supported, where applicable, by a pulsating or vibrating reciprocating motion essentially parallel to the motion axis. This poking motion may be of advantage also without a simultaneous rotary motion being performed. DE 196 27 752 (which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,615) discloses an electric toothbrush which is particularly suitable for utilization in connection with brush arrangements of the present invention and which permits both an oscillating rotary motion about the motion axis and an oscillating back-and-forth motion parallel to the motion axis.
In a preferred further aspect the angle of inclination is in the range of smaller than about 15°, in particular in the range of between about 4°, and about 8°. These relatively small angles of inclination are sufficient to produce the ad vantages of the invention, enabling

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