Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-10
2001-03-20
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
C015S167100, C015SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202241
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to acoustic (power) toothbrushes, and more specifically concerns a particular brushhead configuration for use with such toothbrushes.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional toothbrush brushhead configurations tend to focus on the mechanical cleaning of the large, easily accessible buccal (exterior) and lingual (interior, adjacent the tongue) surfaces of the teeth. However, other areas of the dental region, including those teeth at the very rear of the mouth, and the interdental areas between the teeth, are more difficult to clean and are therefore often the site of dental disease. While there are some toothbrush brushhead configurations which are indicated to be effective for interdental regions, little improvement is typically experienced with such brushhead configurations. Hence, one significant issue with existing toothbrush configurations is the lack of effectiveness in difficult-to-reach areas. In some cases, interdental regions are reached beyond the tips of the bristles by the action of the toothbrush itself, such as with the toothbrush shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,153, owned by the assignee of the present invention. However, even with such toothbrushes, it would be desirable to have a brushhead design which could give better coverage and/or penetration for the difficult-to-reach areas.
In addition to the problem of difficult-to-reach areas, many brushhead designs which are quite effective in removing plaque from teeth produce damage to the surrounding oral tissues which the bristles contact in the oral cavity. This is particularly true for power toothbrushes. Accordingly, it would be desirable for a brushhead to have a design which results in an enhanced cleansing effect in the difficult-to-reach areas, including the rear teeth surfaces and the interdental surfaces, but which also minimizes abrasion of the surrounding oral tissue.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a brushhead for use with a vibrating toothbrush which uses fluid to produce an acoustic cleaning effect on the teeth, wherein the vibrating toothbrush has an operating frequency in the range of 150 to 400 Hz, and wherein the brushhead comprises: a brushhead base member; and a plurality of bristle portions mounted in the brushhead base member and arranged to define a bristle portion group, wherein at least some of the bristle portions are shorter than the remaining longer bristle portions, wherein the longer bristle portions are located at opposing ends of the bristle portion group, and wherein the longer bristle portions have an angled tip within the range of 56° to 72° to improve dental penetration by the bristles.
In another aspect of the brushhead, the plurality of bristle portions are arranged into rows and columns to define a bristle portion group in a brushhead base member which has an outline of approximately 1.85 inches long by approximately 0.3 inches wide, wherein the bristle portions include four spaced columns, the columns having centerlines which are separated by a distance of approximately 0.07 inches and wherein the four columns of bristle portions relative to the brushhead base member have a size which results in a decrease in the abrasive effect on the tissue surrounding the teeth relative to a brushhead having fewer columns and bristle portions on a similar base member, without affecting negatively the cleaning action of the brushhead portions.
In yet another aspect of such a brushhead having a brushhead base member, a plurality of bristle portions are arranged in columns and rows to define a bristle portion group wherein some of the bristle portions are shorter than the remaining longer bristle portions, wherein the longer bristle portions are located at distal and proximal ends of the bristle portion group and at one intermediate position between said two ends, wherein the brushhead includes two adjacent rows of shorter bristle portions between the distal end bristle portions and the intermediate position bristle portion, and at least one row of shorter bristle portions between the proximal end bristle portions and the intermediate position bristle portion, wherein the space between the distal end bristle portions and the intermediate position bristle portion accommodates posterior teeth, while the space between the intermediate position bristle portion and the proximal end bristle portions accommodates anterior teeth, so as to provide better coverage for the teeth.
In still another aspect of such a brushhead, a plurality of bristle portions are mounted in the brushhead base member defining a bristle portion group, the bristle portions including a first set of shorter bristle portions, a second set of longer bristle portions and a third set of longest bristle portions which are slightly longer than the second set of longer bristle portions, wherein the longer bristle portions are located at opposing longitudinal ends of the bristle portion group and wherein the longest bristle portions are located intermediate of the opposing longitudinal ends of the bristle portion group, wherein the shorter bristle portions are located between the longer bristle portions and the longest bristle portions, and when the longest bristle portions provide increased interdental penetration of the teeth during use, resulting in improvement of plaque removal.
REFERENCES:
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Periodontal Diseases,2nd Ed., Lea & Febriger 1990, pp 356-358.
Periodontal Therapy,5th Ed., C. V. Mosby Company 1974, pp 429-432.
Jordan V toothbrush (photography of packaging showing brush configuration).
Zahoransky toothbrush (pictures of actual toothbrush).
Butler toothbrush (photocopy of ad showing toothbrush configuration).
Hassell Thomas
McInnes James C.
Meginness, III Stephen M.
Jensen & Puntigam P.S.
Optiva Corporation
Spisich Mark
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