US 6,199,242 B1Granted

Tooth polishing brush

AssigneeGillette Canada Inc.

InventorsThomas Craig Masterman, Jean L. Spencer, Donna J. Beals

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush with uniform diameter bristles containing a polishing agent with a particle size of from about 0.01 μm to about 100 μm, wherein cleaning of the teeth is improved without any of the adverse side effects associated with over aggressive abrasion. An embodiment of the present invention includes a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm. Particles less than 0.1 μm can be used if aggregation occurs such that the aggregate size on bristle is described. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of cleaning the oral cavity comprised of: (A) providing a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.10 to about 10 microns; (B) applying an effective amount of an abrasive-free and polishing agent-free dentifrice to the free ends of said bristles; and, (C) brushing the teeth, gums, etc. of said oral cavity.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A toothbrush including a handle extending from a head having at least one tuft secured to the head, said tuft including a plurality of elongated filaments each having a length and a generally uniform diameter comprised of:

(a) a thermoplastic filament base material;
and,
(b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent in contact with said base material and having a particle size of from about 0.10 micron to about 10 microns, wherein said filaments are characterized by:
a diameter in the range of from about 100 to about 350 μm;
a coefficient of friction of from about 0.01 to about 0.90;
an ISO stiffness rating of Soft to Medium;
a tuft retention greater than 3 lbs.;
a bend recovery of from 80% to 100%;
an elongation at break of from about 1% to about 500%;
a tensile strength of from about 5,000 to about 200,000 psi;
and
a tensile and flexural modulus of from about 100,000 to about 3,000,000 psi, wherein the diameter of said filaments does not vary more than 20% along the length of said filaments and wherein said polishing agent is selected from the group consisting of:
particles of plastic;
particles of walnut shells;
particles of hardwood;
particles of corn cob;
particles of rubber;
calcium carbonate;
aragonite clay;
orthorhombic clays;
calcite clay;
rhombohedral clays;
kaolin clay;
bentonite clay;
dicalcium phosphate;
dicalcium phosphate anhydrous;
dicalcium phosphate dihydrate;
tricalcium phosphate;
insoluble sodium metaphosphate;
precipitated calcium carbonate;
magnesium orthophosphate;
trimagnesium phosphate;
hydroxyapatites;
synthetic apatites;
alumina;
hydrated alumina;
hydrated silica xerogel;
metal aluminosilicate complexes;
sodium aluminum silicates;
zirconium silicate;
and combinations thereof.

38 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/969,690Filed 13 Nov 1997 · continuation
Priority: 1 Feb 1995
Granted: 13 Mar 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A46D 1/00
Bristles
A46D 1/023
Bristles details: bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath
A46B 2200/1066
For human or animal care: toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
A46B 2200/3093
Brushes for cleaning or polishing: brush with abrasive properties, e.g. wire bristles