# US 10,477,958 B2 · Multi-component bristle having components with different oral care additives, and oral care implement comprising the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,958 B2 - Document ID: US10477958B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/595,640 - Filed: 2017-05-15 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-15 - Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Inventors: Wen Jin Xi; Ting Yan; Bo Zhang; Guang Sheng Guo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477958B2 ## CPC - A46D 1/006: {Antimicrobial, disinfectant bristles, handle, bristle-carrier or packaging} - A46D 1/023: {Bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath} - A46D 1/0276: {Bristles having pointed ends} - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - D01F 1/10: Other agents for modifying properties - D01F 6/60: from polyamides (from polyamino acids or polypeptides D01F6/68) - D01F 6/62: from polyesters - D01F 8/12: with at least one polyamide as constituent - D01F 8/14: with at least one polyester as constituent - A46D: MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS ## Abstract An oral care implement including at least one multi-component bristle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one multi-component bristle comprising first and second components. The first component may include a first plastic and a first oral care additive and the second component may include a second plastic and a second oral care additive such that the first oral care additive is different than the second oral care additive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one multi-component bristle comprising a first component and a second component; the first component comprising a first plastic and a first oral care additive; the second component comprising a second plastic and a second oral care additive, wherein the first oral care additive is a different material than the second oral care additive. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second plastics is erodible by an etchant. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The oral care implement according to claim 2 wherein the first and second plastics are the same. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the tip portion of the at least one multi-component bristle has a conical-shape that decreases in transverse cross-sectional area moving toward a free end of the at least one multi-component bristle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein the conical-shape of the tip portion is formed by chemical etching. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The oral care implement according to claim 4 wherein the conical-shape of the tip portion is formed by mechanical grinding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first and second plastics are different. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first plastic is erodible by an etchant and the second plastic is chemically resistant against the etchant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The oral care implement according to claim 8 wherein the first plastic is a polyester and the second plastic is a polyamide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first oral care additive is in the form of particles that are mixed into the first plastic; and wherein the second oral care additive is in the form of particles that are mixed into the second plastic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the at least one multi-component bristle has a rounded free end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first oral care additive and the second oral care additive are releasable from the first and second plastics respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the first oral care additive is carried by a first carrier and the second oral care additive is carried by a second carrier, and wherein each of the first and second carriers is water-soluble. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The oral care implement according to claim 13 wherein the first carrier has a higher melting temperature than the first plastic and the second carrier has a higher melting temperature than the second plastic. ### Claim 15 A multi-component bristle comprising: a first component; a second component; the first component comprising a first plastic and a first oral care additive; and the second component comprising a second plastic and a second oral care additive, wherein the first oral care additive is a different material than the second oral care additive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The multi-component bristle according to claim 15 wherein each of the first and second plastics is erodible by an etchant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The multi-component bristle according to claim 15 wherein each of the first and second oral care additives are selected from a group consisting of a mixture of pine tree extract and salt, a tea leaf extract, a pearl powder, a nephrite powder, a charcoal powder, and an antibacterial material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The multi-component bristle according to claim 15 wherein the first oral care additive is carried by a first carrier and the second oral care additive is carried by a second carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The multi-component bristle according to claim 18 wherein the first carrier has a higher melting temperature than the first plastic and the second carrier has a higher melting temperature than the second plastic. ### Claim 20 An oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one multi-component bristle comprising a first component and a second component; the first component comprising a first oral care additive; and the second component comprising a second oral care additive, wherein the first oral care additive is a different material than the second oral care additive.