Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Patent
1999-04-12
2000-11-07
Spisich, Mark
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
15201, 151763, A46B 706
Patent
active
06141817&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to toothbrushes. In particular, it relates to flexible toothbrush heads which allow the bristles to optimise their cleaning configuration in use, and to methods of cleaning teeth using such special toothbrush heads.
Toothbrushes have been known since time immemorial. However, there has been a constant search for toothbrushes which seek either to improve the comfort and ease of brushing, or to improve the efficiency of brushing, by modifications to the bristles, brush head or handle.
It is known to mount the bristles of a toothbrush on a resilient head, and support that head from the brush handle in such a way that the resilient head deforms in use, thereby altering the bristle orientation. For example, in WO 94/13174, there is described a toothbrush having bristle tufts mounted on a readily flexed resilient member, which is prelerably in the form of an elongated sheet. In use, when the central portion of the brush is pushed against the occlusal surfaces of the user's teeth, with the resilient member deforming from its normally bowed position, thereby bringing into engagement with the teeth and gums the outer bristles on the head.
This brushing action is only part of the repertoire normally observed in users, and under more general and random brushing action splayed bristles, as distinct from bunched bristles, are recognised as providing high degrees of crevice intrusion, and therefore a high level of cleaning efficiency.
We have found that by suitably mounting onto a rigid member a flexible resilient member on which bristle tufts are mounted, it is possible to configure the brush head such that the bristles indine or splay in use in a controlled manner, thereby providing optimal cleaning.
Thus, according to its broadest aspect, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a head, a neck and a handle, the head comprising a readily flexed resilient member having a plurality of bristles arranged on one side thereof, and a rigid member depending from the neck, the resilient member resting on the rigid member and being arranged with an inner array of bristles between outer arrays of bristles on opposite sides thereof, the outer arrays being caused to splay divergingly from the resilient member as a consequence of deformation of the resilient member when the bristles are urged onto a tooth or gum surface.
According to a further aspect, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a head, a neck and a handle, the head comprising a readily flexed resilient member with a plurality of bristles mounted on one side thereof, and a rigid member depending from the neck, the rigid member having an upper surface on which the resilient member rests and a central longitudinal axis, the bristles on the resilient member being arranged with an inner array of bristles between outer arrays of bristles on opposite sides thereof, the readily flexed resilient member being mounted along the central longitudinal axis of the rigid member, the resilient member being free to deform adjacent the central longitudinal axis of the rigid member.
In such an embodiment, when for example the brush is not in use, the resilient member adjacent the central longitudinal axis of the rigid member, which may support the outer arrays of bristles, may not be directly supported by the rigid member. As a result, in use it may be free to deform, causing the effects described herein.
Conveniently, both the inner and outer arrays of bristles may comprise one or more longitudinal rows of closely spaced adjacent bristle tufts.
The resultant deformation of the resilient member adjacent the central longitudinal axis of the rigid member may cause the outer arrays of bristles to incline relative to the inner array, in a direction which diverges from the inner array.
In certain embodiments, the readily flexed resilient member may be supported on the rigid member along the whole length of the central longitudinal axis of the rigid member. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient member may be mounted on but not attached to the central longitudinal ax
REFERENCES:
patent: 980161 (1910-12-01), Knoller
patent: 2052836 (1936-09-01), Lowy
patent: 2111880 (1938-03-01), Waters
patent: 2706825 (1955-04-01), Blakeman
patent: 2864111 (1958-12-01), Rotceig
patent: 3398421 (1968-08-01), Rashbaum
patent: 5325560 (1994-07-01), Pavone et al.
patent: 5355546 (1994-10-01), Scheier et al.
patent: 5839149 (1998-11-01), Scheier et al.
Cheesebrough-Pond's USA Co., division of Conopco, Inc.
Honig Milton L.
Spisich Mark
LandOfFree
Toothbrush does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Toothbrush, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Toothbrush will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1629079