Brush – broom – and mop making – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-23
2001-11-27
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brush, broom, and mop making
Processes
C015S167100, C015SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322152
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a toothbrush and a method of making the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush that has improved subgingival access and is gentle to the gums.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Regular brushing of the teeth with a toothbrush is the primary oral care regimen leading to sustained good health in the oral cavity. It is well known that bacteria that collect in tartar and plaque at the tooth surfaces leads to the production of dental caries or cavities. Regular brushing reduces the incidence of caries by sweeping away plaque, thereby reducing sites of bacterial growth on the teeth.
Conventional toothbrushes do a poor job of removing plaque at or below the gum line. It is well known that one of the primary sites for caries formation is at that portion of the tooth behind the gingival sulcus, i.e., the pocket or groove formed from the apparent gum line to the point where the gums or gingiva attach to the teeth. Accordingly, it would be expected that a toothbrush that permits subgingival access, i.e., access to regions below the gum line, would be expected to be especially effective at reducing subgingival caries. Unfortunately, it has been heretofore difficult to achieve a toothbrush that provides good subgingival access while being gentle to the gums and to the other soft tissue in the oral cavity.
It is an object of the invention to provide a toothbrush that provides good subgingival access to aid in reducing the incidence of cavities near or behind the gum line.
It is another object of the invention to provide a toothbrush that is gentle to the gums and the soft tissue in the oral cavity.
It is another object of the invention to provide a toothbrush that provides good subgingival access while being gentle to the oral soft tissue.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a process for making the toothbrushes of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in a preferred mode to a toothbrush comprising a brush head and a handle. The brush head comprises a plurality of tufts, each tuft having a plurality of bristles. Each tuft has a first end secured to the brush head and a second free end. The tufts of bristles are arranged in rows aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush head, but may be oriented at an angle of up to about 30 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the brush head. The rows of bristles comprise outer rows adjacent the periphery of the brush head and at least one inner row between the outer rows. The bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are preferably polished on their free end and the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are feathered.
In a more preferred embodiment, the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are shorter than the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows. The bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are preferably about 1.0 to about 4.0 mm shorter than the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows. More preferably, the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are about 2.0 to about 3.0 mm shorter than the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows. Most preferably, the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are about 2.2 to about 2.8 mm shorter than the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows.
The bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are preferably hollow, having from about 2 to about 6 parallel channels per bristle, and more preferably, about 4 channels per bristle. The bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are preferably solid.
When the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are longer than the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row, the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are feathered, as explained hereinafter, to a depth preferably no deeper than the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row. The bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are preferably feathered to a depth of between about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm, and more preferably, to a depth of about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm.
Another aspect of the present invention is the process of making the toothbrush of the present invention, which comprises the steps of:
a) trimming the bristles of the tufts of at least the outer rows of bristles to provide a first desired topography;
b) displacing the tufts of the outer rows from the tufts of the at least one inner row to permit processing of the bristles of the tufts in the at least one inner row without affecting the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows;
c) trimming the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row to a second desired topography;
d) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row;
e) returning the tufts of the outer rows to their original orientation; and
f) feathering the bristles of the tufts of at least the outer rows.
The process of the present invention may further comprise additional steps such as polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows prior to feathering the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows, and removing debris from the brush head, as, for example, by mechanically polishing the bristles and/or by directing compressed air and/or applying vacuum to the brush head.
The step of displacing the tufts of the outer rows from the tufts of the at least one inner row is preferably accomplished with a cam-driven spreading mechanism.
In one aspect of the process of the present invention, step (a) is only effected on the outer rows of tufts of bristles and is effected after step (e).
The heights to which the bristles are trimmed and feathered correspond to the relative dimensions of the preferred toothbrush of the invention as described above.
In a preferred process, the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows are trimmed to a first uniform height parallel to the upper surface of the brush head and the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row are trimmed to a second uniform height parallel to the upper surface of the brush head. Such a preferred process comprises the steps of:
a) trimming the bristles to a first uniform height parallel to the upper surface of the brush head;
b) displacing the tufts of the outer rows from the tufts of the at least one inner row to permit processing of the bristles of the tufts in the at least one inner row without affecting the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows;
c) trimming the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row to a second uniform height less than the first uniform height;
d) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row;
e) returning the tufts of the outer rows to their original orientation;
f) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows; and
g) feathering the bristles of the tufts of the outer rows.
This preferred process may also comprise additional steps such as removing debris from the brush head, as, for example, by mechanically polishing the bristles and/or by directing compressed air and/or applying vacuum to the brush head.
Yet another preferred process of the present invention comprises the steps of
a) polishing the free ends of at least some of the bristles; and
b) feathering the polished bristles.
This process may comprise additional steps, such as trimming the bristles to be polished to a uniform height prior to the polishing operation of step (a).
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2429740 (1947-10-01), Aufsesser
patent: 2554777 (1951-05-01), Dangin
patent: 3295156 (1967-01-01), Brant
patent: 5165761 (1992-11-01), Dirksing
patent: 5176427 (1993-01-01), Weihrauch
patent: 5593213 (1997-01-01), Meessmann
patent: 5690394 (1997-11-01), Boucherie
patent: 3433763 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 639340 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 98/38889 (1998-09-01), None
DuPont Filaments, “Tynex Shapes & Textures Toothbrush Filaments”, pp. 1-22, Washington, WV, 1996.*
DuPont Company, “Tynex Innovations for Success”, 1996.
Kirkup Ruby E.
Prospero Richard M.
Trojanowski Alan G.
Mc-Neil-PPC, Inc.
Spisich Mark
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