Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-08-21
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015SDIG005
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276021
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and more particularly, to toothbrushes containing a combination of a bristle bar located internally in the toothbrush head and bristle tufts located external thereto, about the periphery of the toothbrush head; wherein the bristle bar provides support to the bristle tufts as they are deflected thereto during brushing, enhancing tooth and gumline cleaning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The primary purpose of toothbrushes is to remove plaque and debris from tooth surfaces, both along their outer surfaces and in the interproximal areas between the teeth. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,275, to Volpenhein, the bristle tufts of a toothbrush must be sufficiently stiff to generate enough force to remove plaque and debris, especially in the interproximal areas. Stiffness, as defined by Volpenhein, not only relates to the stiffness characteristics of bristles, but also to how the bristles are arranged in tufts, i.e. a buttressing effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,082, to Moskovich discloses a combination of conventional bristle tufts, i.e. substantially cylindrical in form and bristle bars, i.e. enlarged tufts of bristles arranged in elongated geometric forms with substantially rectangular cross-sections. The particular bristle bars disclosed in Moskovich have rectangular or U-shaped foot-prints and are combined with the bristle tufts in a generally transverse alignment to the longitudinal axis of the brush head. In the most preferred embodiment, the bristle bars are shorter than the bristle tufts, allowing the bristle tufts to engage the interproximal spaces between the teeth and the bristle bars to squeegee the debris from the teeth surface. Further, Moskovich discloses “gumline” tufts located about the periphery of the toothbrush head which are angled outward. Moskovich does not disclose the use of such gumline bristle tufts in combination with bristle bars oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush.
There is a continuing need in the art for new combinations and arrangements of bristle tufts to provide improved stiffness to enhanced plaque and debris removal, especially within interproximal spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a toothbrush is provided which includes an elongated member having a handle at one end and a head at the other end. The head is provided with a plurality of bristle tufts located about the periphery of the head (“peripheral bristle tufts”) and bristle bars located adjacent to the peripheral bristle tufts which provide support to the peripheral bristle tufts, as these peripheral bristle tufts are deflected toward the bristle bars during brushing. Such support enhances the stiffness of the peripheral bristle tufts, resulting in an enhancement of their overall cleaning ability, especially their ability to penetrate and clean interproximal areas.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, incremental bristle bars or bristle tufts can be located centrally within the toothbrush head, internal to the bristle bar tufts adjacent to the peripheral bristle tufts. Such additional, centrally located bristle bars or tufts provide incremental bristle area and also enhance the stiffness of these now intermediate bristle bars adjacent to the peripheral bristle tufts, both effects adding to the overall cleaning ability of the toothbrush.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 380302 (1997-07-01), Volpenhein
patent: D. 402116 (1998-12-01), Magloff et al.
patent: D. 403510 (1999-01-01), Menke et al.
patent: D. 422143 (2000-04-01), Beals et al.
patent: D. 424808 (2000-05-01), Beals et al.
patent: D. 425306 (2000-05-01), Beals et al.
patent: 5335389 (1994-08-01), Curtis et al.
patent: 5341537 (1994-08-01), Curtis et al.
patent: 5628082 (1997-05-01), Moskovich
patent: 5799353 (1998-09-01), Oishi et al.
patent: 5802656 (1998-09-01), Dawson et al.
patent: 5991959 (1999-11-01), Raven et al.
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Goldfine Henry S.
Spisich Mark
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