US 5,165,761 AGranted

Method of making improved toothbrush having multi-level tufts with substantially uniformly rounded bristle ends in each tuft

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorRobert S. Dirksing

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Abstract

A method of making toothbrushes having bristle tufts with ends in two or more distinct planes, all of said bristle tufts having individual bristles which are substantially uniformly rounded at their free ends. The method of making is a repeated sequence of steps used to attach all of the bristle tufts of the shortest overall length followed by cutting and end rounding of the individual bristles in the first group of tufts while all of the free ends of the bristles are in a first plane. This is done prior to affixing the next group of bristle tufts of greater overall length. The cutting and end rounding sequence is thereafter repeated for each ascending bristle tuft elevation. The final toothbrush bristle contour is a function of the pattern of attachment for each bristle tuft elevation.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of making a toothbrush having bristle tufts with bristle ends in distinct planes, all of said bristle tufts having individual bristles which are substantially uniformly rounded at their free ends, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) affixing a first group of bristle tufts to a toothbrush head;
(b) cutting all of said tufts so that the free ends of the bristles contained in said first group of bristle tufts are all in a first plane;
(c) subjecting the free ends of said individual bristles in said tufts to an end rounding process while said free ends of said bristles are all in said first plane to produce a generally rounded form on the free ends of said bristles;
(d) affixing at least a second group of bristle tufts to said brush head;
(e) cutting the ends of said second group of bristle tufts so that the free ends of the bristles contained in said second group of bristle tufts are all in a second plane which is at a higher elevation than said first plane relative to said brush head;
and
(f) subjecting the free ends of said individual bristles contained in said second group of bristle tufts to an end rounding process while said free ends of said bristles in said second group of bristle tufts are all in said second plane to produce a generally rounded form on the free ends of said bristles without disturbing the free ends of the bristles in said first plane.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.