US 8,789,228 B2 · Toothbrush and bristle and brush head for a toothbrush

Abstract

The invention is directed to a bristle for a toothbrush, said bristle being comprised of a plastic monofilament, with the preferably cloverleaf-shaped bristle body having several longitudinal ribs arranged in star shape and projecting laterally from a core section of the bristle body. The invention is also directed to a brush head for an electric toothbrush having at least one bristle tuft with at least one such bristle as well as to an electric toothbrush having such a brush head. According to the invention, the bristle of the type initially referred to is configured to be self-fanning in such a manner that the cleaning forces acting on the bristles during normal brushing cause the bristle to split open at its free end. As a result, the need to use complex splitting methods and corresponding splitting machines in the manufacture of the toothbrush can be obviated.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A bristle for a toothbrush comprising, a plastic monofilament body, the bristle body cloverleaf-shaped in cross-section having at least three longitudinal ribs having an outer contour corresponding to a section of a circular cylinder, which project laterally from a core section of the bristle body, such that the outer contour of each longitudinal rib directly contacts the core section at two or more positions, wherein the bristle body is self-fanning by the action of cleaning forces;

and wherein the bristle body is shaped such that a ratio of a diameter Pinner of a core enveloping cylinder inscribed by grooves between the longitudinal ribs to an outer dimension Pouter of an enveloping cylinder enveloping the longitudinal ribs amounts to 0.5+/−0.15.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Toothbrush and bristle and brush head for a toothbrush

Life of this patent

Toothbrush and bristle and brush head for a toothbrush

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10