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AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsJohn P. Curtis, Kedar N. Rustogi, John C. Crawford, James H. Kemp, Thomas E. Mintel, Bert D. Heinzelman, Donald R. Lamond, Laura H. Edelman
Estimating the term…
A toothbrush whose tufts comprise three distinct groups of rows, with each row oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the head. The tufts of the first group are the shortest. The endmost tufts on each row of the second kind tilt laterally outwardly by about 12 degrees. The tufts of the third group are nearest the end of the head farthest from the handle and diverge from each other. In one embodiment, each tuft of the third kind tilts laterally at an angle of about 30 degrees and forwardly at about 14 degrees. In a first embodiment, each row of the first group comprises a single, wide tuft. In a second embodiment, each row of the first group has a plurality of laterally spaced round tufts. In a third embodiment, each row of the first group comprises a plurality of laterally spaced quadrangular tufts. All of the tufts may also be considered as defining four functional groups of tufts, with each of these four groups performing a specific function during brushing. The arrangement and orientation of the tufts yields a uniform cleaning action substantially independent of brushing direction or technique.
A toothbrush head having a handle attached thereto, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts on the peripheral edge of the head tilting laterally outwardly at an angle from the vertical, the tufts being arranged in three groups of rows wherein each row is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the tufts of each row of the first group being shorter in height than those in the other rows, the tufts of each row of the second group so arranged that the endmost tuft in each row thereof tilts laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head and the remaining tufts of each second row extend substantially perpendicularly to said head surface, some of said first and second groups alternating with each other along the longitudinal axis of the head, said third group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two endmost tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head.
A toothbrush head having a handle attached thereto, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts defining (1) a bristle bar group of tufts for cleaning the broad surfaces of the teeth, said bristle bar group defined by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located widthwise substantially medially of the head, said bristle bar tufts being shorter than those of any other group, (2) an interproximal group of longitudinally spaced apart bristle tufts for cleaning crevices between teeth and defined by longitudinally spaced rows having laterally spaced tufts and located substantially medially of the head (3) a gumline bristle group of spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the head periphery, each said gumline tuft tilting laterally outwardly (4) a leading tip group having spaced apart tufts for cleaning the teeth at the back of the mouth, said latter group including at least two tufts each of which tilt laterally outwardly toward a respective opposite side of the head and which are located nearest the free end of the head.
A toothbrush head having a handle attached thereto, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts on the peripheral edge of the head tilting laterally outwardly at an angle from the vertical, the tufts being arranged in three groups of rows of tufts wherein each row is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the tufts of each row of the first group being shorter in height than those in the other rows, the tufts of each row of the second group so arranged that the endmost tuft in each row thereof tilts laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head and the remaining tufts of each second row extend substantially perpendicular to said head surface, some of said first and second groups alternating with each other along the longitudinal axis of the head, said third group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two endmost tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head, said third group of tufts including both said two endmost tufts and a third tuft, the third tuft being located between said laterally tilting, two endmost tufts and extending perpendicularly to said head surface, said two endmost tilting tufts and said third endmost tuft lying in a plane transverse to said head longitudinal axis, said two endmost tufts located on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a surface, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, tufts of bristles extending generally upwardly from said head surface, the tufts arranged in a plurality of groups of rows wherein each row is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the tufts of each row of a first group being shorter in height than those of the other rows, the tufts in each row of a second group so arranged that the endmost tufts thereof each tilt laterally and the remaining tufts of each row of the second group extend substantially perpendicularly to said head surface, the tufts of said second group being of the same height, some of said first and second groups alternating along the longitudinal axis of the head.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, tufts of bristles extending generally upwardly from said head surface, the tufts being arranged in a plurality of rows of tufts wherein each row is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the tufts of each row of a first group being shorter in height than those in the other rows, a second group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two endmost tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head, said second group of tufts also including a third tuft extending perpendicularly to said head and midway of said two endmost tufts of said second group, the tufts of said second group lying in a plane.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, tufts of bristles extending generally upwardly from said head surface, the tufts arranged in a plurality of groups of rows of tufts wherein each row is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the tufts of each row of a first group so arranged that the endmost tuft in each row thereof tilts laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head and the remaining tufts of each first group of rows extend substantially perpendicularly to said head surface, the tufts of said first group being of the same height, a second group of tufts located nearest said head free end and including two endmost tufts each tilting laterally outwardly toward a respective side of the head, said second group of tufts also including a third tuft extending perpendicularly to said head and midway of said two endmost tufts of said second group, the tufts of said second group lying in a plane.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts defining (1) a bristle bar group of tufts for cleaning the broad surfaces of the teeth, said bristle bar group defined by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located widthwise substantially medially of the head, said bristle bar tufts being shorter than those of any other group, (2) an interproximal group of longitudinally spaced apart bristle tufts for cleaning crevices between teeth and defined by longitudinally spaced rows having laterally spaced tufts and located substantially medially of the head (3) a gumline bristle group of spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the head periphery, each said gumline tuft tilting laterally outwardly.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts defining (1) a bristle bar group of tufts for cleaning the broad surfaces of the teeth, said bristle bar group defined by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located widthwise substantially medially of the head, said bristle bar tufts being shorter than those of any other group, (2) an interproximal group of longitudinally spaced apart bristle tufts for cleaning crevices between teeth and defined by longitudinally spaced rows having laterally spaced tufts and located substantially medially of the head (3) a leading tip group having spaced apart tufts for cleaning the teeth at the back of the mouth, said latter group including at least two tufts each of which tilt laterally outwardly toward a respective opposite side of the head and which are located nearest the free end of the head.
A toothbrush head having a handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a free end remote from said handle, the head having a surface from which tufts of bristles extend generally upwardly, the tufts defining (1) a bristle bar group of tufts for cleaning the broad surfaces of the teeth, said bristle bar group defined by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced rows of densely packed bristles with each row extending across a portion of the width of the head, and located widthwise substantially medially of the head, said bristle bar tufts being shorter than those of any other group, (2) a gumline bristle group of spaced apart tufts for cleaning teeth at the gumline defined by a plurality of tufts substantially around the head periphery, each said gumline tuft tilting laterally outwardly (3) a leading tip group having spaced apart tufts for cleaning the teeth at the back of the mouth, said latter group including at least two tufts each of which tilt laterally outwardly toward a respective opposite side of the head and which are located nearest the free end of the head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.