Brush device

Details Brush device Brush device

2003-09-17

2004-10-19

Chin, Randall (Department: 1744)

Dentistry

Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...

C433S216000, C015S167100, C015S207200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06805557

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention provides a toothbrush comprising a resilient element into which is incorporated an abrasive.
2. The Related Art
WO 01/21036 (Unilever PLC) discloses a toothbrush with a wall-like element optionally with an abrasive.
WO 98/22000 (Asher) discloses a plaque removing member with an abrasive. This device aids in the removal of plaque during the brushing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,961 (Hoagland) discloses a portable pet teeth cleaning instrument with an abrasive pad or sponge with an abrasive composition embedded in a phenolic resin and/or embedded in or adhered to nylon fibrous strands.
WO 99/60886 (Durana) discloses a toothbrush with a polishing block made from an elastic material and which can contain an abrasive material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,559 (Hammar) discloses the use of polyurea or polyurethane urea or a natural or synthetic rubber matrix with bonded abrasive particles. These articles are used in prophylactic cleaning cups for the use by high skilled dental practitioners.
U.S. Ser. No. 2001/007161 (Gillette) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,242 (Gillette) disclose a toothbrush with bristles containing a polishing agent to improve the cleaning of the teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,154 (Muhler) discloses a brush with bristles moulded integrally with the brush. This brush also has abrasive incorporated into the plastic material of the brush. A disadvantage of this is that the bristles when formed in this way are difficult to mould. This is because it is hard to structure a mould that results in narrow but structurally sound bristles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,541 (Nishioka) discloses the use of flexible bristles with abrasive elements such as scales, serrations, and the like formed form the bristle material in addition to abrasive particles on the side of the bristle itself.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,934 B1 (Needham) discloses the use of glitter containing filaments for a brush.
None of this prior art discloses perlite as an abrasive.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,075 (Kaizuka) discloses a hairbrush with bristles that contain an infrared material in combination with minerals, such as perlite, which radiate electromagnetic waves promoting hair growth, providing scalp care and creating shiny hair.
Hairbrush bristles have different physical properties when compared with toothbrush bristles and this represents their different function in parting hair along the bristles length during brushing. Hairbrush bristles are therefore wide enough to encompass abrasive particles such as perlite whereas toothbrush bristles, the ends of which are pointed for cleaning interstitial spaces between teeth, are very different. A disadvantage of having toothbrush bristles with abrasive particles is that as the bristles are so thin that incorporated particles weaken the structure of the bristle filament. If the bristles of a toothbrush were made thicker to accommodate an abrasive they would lose the characteristics that make then useful as toothbrushes. Hence thicker bristles in a toothbrush are disadvantageously stiff due to their extra width and they would not be able to penetrate between the teeth. Therefore, simply making a toothbrush bristle thicker to accommodate the abrasive will not aid in the process cleaning teeth.
Despite the presence in the prior art of such brushes as outlined above, there is still a need for a toothbrush which is capable of providing improved whitening or stain removal benefit while retaining the cleaning and polishing capacity of the cleaning instrument.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a toothbrush comprising a resilient element, said resilient element comprising an elastomer into which is incorporated an abrasive, characterized in that the abrasive is perlite.
It has been found that the addition of perlite to an elastomer aids in the removal of stains from teeth. This improves the cleaning potential of toothbrushes, which encompass this element. This improves the toothbrush's ability to remove adherent soiling matter, to free accessible plaque, to dislodge accessible debris and to remove superficial stain from the teeth which in turn leads to improved mouth feel and teeth whitening benefits. Perlite comprises flat particles which, when they are incorporated into the molten elastomer, align with the surface of the elastomer when it cools. When the resilient element is pressed against the surface of the teeth for cleaning and it elastically deforms, the perlite is maintained in a substantially parallel alignment with the surface of the elastomer. This provides the surface of the elastomer with extra rigidity hence enhancing its cleaning efficacy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The shape and alignment of the perlite particles on the surface of the elastomer means that they do not have jagged edges that protrude from the elastomer. Therefore the perlite particles in the elastomer do not damage surfaces such as teeth and soft tissue that they contact in the oral cavity. Perlite particles in the elastomer significantly enhance the cleaning potential of the resilient element so that in combination they provide for improved whitening effect without causing damage due to excessive abrasion.
The toothbrush according to the invention is for use in the oral cavity for cleaning teeth. The toothbrush according to the invention may be made from any materials commonly used in the art. Accordingly, the handle and head of the brush can be moulded from polyolefins such as polypropylenes and polyethylenes, polyamides such as nylons, and polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate. Other suitable materials include polymethylmethacrylate, styrene acrylonitrate and cellulose esters, for example cellulose propionate.
The bristles of the brush may be made from a flexible material suitable for use in dental hygiene. Generally, materials suitable for the bristles are polyamides such as nylon or polyesters such as polybutylene terephthaiate.
The brush according to the invention may be a manual toothbrush or an electrically driven toothbrush.
The resilient element may take the form of a pick, a finger, a prong, or a fork structure. According to a preferred embodiment the resilient element is wall-like. A wall-like structure allows for whitening or polishing benefit, as the wall-like structure can be elastically deformed thereby exerting pressure on the teeth for cleaning benefit while not exerting such a force as to damage the teeth. Similarly it can not just be moved to one side, as may be the case with a pick. In addition to this the wall-like structure may be designed to be of such a width that it effectively comprises perlite without compromising the stability and structure of the elastomer which makes up the wall-like element.
It is envisaged that the resilient element can be made by any conventional method, i.e. die-cut or moulded. However, a preferred method of making such a structure would be by injection moulding. The material of the resilient element may be linked to the head of the toothbrush in any way whether it is by chemical means, mechanical means or both.
Preferably the resilient element material is chemically compatible with the material of the head and they may he joined by application of heat, e.g. during injection moulding of one or the other.
Alternatively the materials may be chemically incompatible, e.g. the resilient element comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and the brush head comprising polypropylene. It may, therefore, be more suitable to use an adhesive or to mechanically attach the two parts to one another. An alternative method of attaching the resilient element comprising a thermoplastic elastomer to a head comprising polypropylene would be to increase the surface area of the area of attachment, e.g. by corrugating one or both, and then fixing the two together by welding or otherwise.
It may also be that the resilient element is contiguous with another portion of the brush comprising the same material and that both are filled through one or more injection points. For exa

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