Method of making a toothbrush
AssigneeMcNeil-PPC, Inc.
InventorsAlan G. Trojanowski, Ruby E. Kirkup, Richard M. Prospero
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a toothbrush that provides good subgingival access while being gentle and non-irritating to the oral soft tissue. The toothbrush of the invention comprises a brush head and a handle. The brush head comprises tufts of bristles generally parallel to each other and arranged in rows. The rows of bristles comprise outer rows adjacent the periphery of the brush head and at least one inner row between the outer rows. The inner bristles are preferably polished on their free ends and the outer bristles are feathered. The outer bristles are preferably polished prior to being feathered. The inner bristles are preferably shorter than the outer bristles.
Claims44
A process for making a toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising a brush head and a handle, said brush head comprising a plurality of tufts, each of said tufts comprising a plurality of bristles, each of said tufts having a first end secured to the brush head and a second free end, said tufts being arranged in rows aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush head, said rows comprising outer rows adjacent the periphery of the brush head and at least one inner row between said outer rows, said process comprising the steps of:
- a) trimming the bristles of the tufts of at least the outer rows to provide a first desired topography;
- b) displacing the tufts of the outer rows from the tufts of said at least one inner row to permit processing of the bristles of the tufts in said at least one inner row without affecting the bristles of the tufts of said outer rows;
- c) trimming the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row to a second desired topography;
- d) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of said at least one inner row;
- e) returning the tufts of the outer rows to their original orientation;
- and
- f) feathering the bristles of the tufts of at least said outer rows.
A process for making a toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising a brush head and a handle, said brush head comprising a plurality of tufts, each of said tufts comprising a plurality of bristles, each of said tufts having a first end secured to the brush head and a second free end, said tufts being arranged in rows aligned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush head, said rows comprising outer rows adjacent the periphery of the brush head and at least one inner row between said outer rows, said process comprising the steps of:
- a) trimming the bristles to a first uniform height;
- b) displacing the tufts of the outer rows from the tufts of said at least one inner row to permit processing of the bristles of the tufts in said at least one inner row without affecting the bristles of the tufts of said outer rows;
- c) trimming the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row to a second uniform height less than the first uniform height;
- d) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of the at least one inner row;
- e) returning the tufts of the outer rows to their original orientation;
- f) polishing the free ends of the bristles of the tufts of said outer rows;
- and
- g) feathering the bristles of the tufts of said outer rows.
Process for making a toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising a brush head and a handle, said brush head comprising a plurality of tufts, each of said tufts comprising a plurality of bristles, each of said tufts having a first end secured to the brush head and a second free end, said process comprising the steps of:
- a) polishing the free ends of at least some of the bristles;
- b) feathering the polished bristles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.