Toothbrush and Anchor Wire Therefor

A toothbrush comprising:

• a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion comprising a front surface, the body formed from a cellulosic material;
• a plurality of tuft holes formed into the front surface of the head portion, each of the tuft holes comprising a floor that is recessed relative to the front surface of the head portion;
• a bristle tuft positioned within each of the tuft holes;
• an anchor wire positioned within each of the tuft holes to secure the bristle tufts to the head portion, each of the anchor wires formed from a metal alloy comprising nickel;
• each of the anchor wires comprising a bottom end adjacent to the floor of the tuft hole within which the anchor wire is positioned, a top end opposite the bottom end, a first anchor wire axis extending from the bottom end to the top end, and first and second surfaces extending from the bottom end to the top end;
• a plurality of first grooves formed into the first surface of each of the anchor wires and a plurality of second grooves formed into the second surface of each of the anchor wires, each of the first and second grooves extending along a groove axis that is perpendicular to the first anchor wire axis;
• and
• wherein each of the first grooves comprises a floor, a first sidewall extending from the floor to the first surface of the anchor wire, and a second sidewall extending from the floor to the first surface of the anchor wire, the first and second sidewalls being perpendicular to the floor, and wherein each of the second grooves comprises a floor, a first sidewall extending from the floor to the second surface of the anchor wire, and a second sidewall extending from the floor to the second surface of the anchor wire, the first and second sidewalls being perpendicular to the floor.

A toothbrush comprising:

• a body comprising a handle portion and a head portion comprising a front surface, the body formed from bamboo;
• a plurality of tuft holes formed into the front surface of the head portion, each of the tuft holes comprising a floor that is recessed relative to the front surface of the head portion;
• a bristle tuft positioned within each of the tuft holes;
• an anchor wire positioned within each of the tuft holes to secure the bristle tufts to the head portion, each of the anchor wires formed from a metal alloy comprising nickel;
• each of the anchor wires comprising a bottom end adjacent to the floor of the tuft hole within which the anchor wire is positioned, a top end opposite the bottom end, a first anchor wire axis extending from the bottom end to the top end, first and second surfaces extending from the bottom end to the top end, and a thickness measured from the first surface to the second surface;
• a plurality of first grooves formed into the first surface of each of the anchor wires and a plurality of second grooves formed into the second surface of each of the anchor wires, each of the first and second grooves extending along a groove axis that is perpendicular to the first anchor wire axis;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second grooves has a groove width measured in a direction parallel to the first anchor wire axis, wherein the groove width is greater than the thickness of the anchor wire.