# US 10,869,545 B2 · Filament for an oral care implement and oral care implement

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- Number: US 10,869,545 B2
- Document ID: US10869545B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/729,007
- Filed: 2017-10-10
- Published: 2019-04-11
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-10
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Erwin Paul Mark; Jochen Erich Kawerau; Jens Alinski; Sven Alexander Franke; Karen Lynn Claire-Zimmet; Uwe Jungnickel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869545B2

## CPC

- A46D 1/0238: {Bristles with non-round cross-section}
- A46B 9/04: {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes
- A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04)
- A46D: MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)

## Abstract

A filament for an oral care implement has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four projections and four channels, the projections and channels are arranged in an alternating manner. The cross-sectional area has an outer diameter, and each channel has a concave curvature formed by neighboring and converging projections. The concave curvature has a radius which is within a range from about 0.015 mm to about 0.12 mm, and the ratio of the outer diameter to the radius is within a range from about 2.5 to about 12.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A filament for an oral care implement comprising: the filament having a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-shaped cross-sectional area having only four projections and four channels, the projections and channels being arranged in an alternating manner, the cross-sectional area having an outer diameter, and each channel having a concave curvature formed by neighboring and converging projections, the concave curvature having a radius, wherein
the radius is within a range from 0.015 mm to 0.12 mm, the outer diameter is within a range from 0.22 mm to 0.40 mm, and the ratio of the outer diameter to the radius is within a range from 2.5 to 12.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The filament according to claim 1, wherein the radius is within a range from about 0.03 mm to about 0.10 mm, and the ratio of the outer diameter to the radius is within a range from about 2.7 to about 9.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The filament according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter is within a range from 0.22 mm to 0.35 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The filament according claim 1, wherein each projection tapers off in an outward direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The filament according to claim 4, wherein each projection) tapers off in the outward direction in an angle defined in a range from about 6° to about 25°.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The filament according to claim 4, wherein each projection tapers off in the outward direction in an angle defined in a range from about 8° to about 20°.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The filament according to claim 1, wherein each projection has a width extension extending between two opposite lateral edges, and the width extension is defined in a range from about 6% to about 15% of the outer diameter of the filament.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The filament according to claim 7, wherein the width extension is within a range from about 8% to about 12% of the outer diameter of the filament.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The filament according to claim 7, wherein the width extension is within a range from about 0.016 mm to about 0.041 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The filament according to claim 1, wherein the filament comprises along its longitudinal axis a substantially cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, the tapered portion tapers towards a free end of the filament, and the cylindrical portion has a cross-sectional area.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A tuft for an oral care implement comprising a plurality of filaments according to claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The tuft according to claim 11, wherein the tuft has a packing factor within a range from about 40% to about 60.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A head for an oral care implement comprising a tuft of filaments according to claim 11.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

An oral care implement comprising the head according to claim 13.