EP0663162A1 - Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments - Google Patents

Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0663162A1
EP0663162A1 EP94300314A EP94300314A EP0663162A1 EP 0663162 A1 EP0663162 A1 EP 0663162A1 EP 94300314 A EP94300314 A EP 94300314A EP 94300314 A EP94300314 A EP 94300314A EP 0663162 A1 EP0663162 A1 EP 0663162A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filaments
brush head
toothbrush
section
circular cross
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94300314A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Margaret Anne Graham
Fiona Baillie Harbison
Michael Dunn Manhart
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP94300314A priority Critical patent/EP0663162A1/en
Priority to PCT/US1995/000584 priority patent/WO1995019120A2/en
Publication of EP0663162A1 publication Critical patent/EP0663162A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0238—Bristles with non-round cross-section
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a brush head especially a toothbrush head comprising filaments having a non-circular cross-section.
  • a toothbrush includes a handle and a brush head attached to the handle.
  • the brush head has a longitudinal axis and terminates in a free end remote from the handle; the head has a surface from which the tufts extend generally upwardly.
  • the head and the handle are usually made in one part, whereas in electronic toothbrushes the brush head usually has to be fixed by the consumer to the handle - before use .
  • the brushing head includes brushing filaments. A group of filaments are so-called tufts. Toothbrush filaments to date use of circular cross-section. However, normal brushes using these type of filaments do not remove all plaque from the tooth surfaces. Also a number of toothbrush constructions are known, however, none appears to exhibit a good cleaning efficiency.
  • toothbrushes containing different cross-sections of filaments vs the standard circular filaments surprisingly give a better cleaning efficiency.
  • the filaments according to the invention have a trilocular, tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular or hexagonal cross-section.(see Figure 1: showing diagrams of these filament types)
  • a brush head comprising said filaments wherein a certain group of filaments a so-called tuft have a trilocular cross-section whereas the other tufts have a tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular, hexagonal or circular cross-section or any combination thereof.
  • a toothbrush tufted completely with tetralocular, rectangular, trilocular, trilobular or hexagonal filaments cleans surprisingly and unexpectedly better than a toothbrush comprising standard conventional circular filaments.
  • the toothbrushes according to the invention are made by exactly the same process as conventional brushes - only replacing the filament material with either tetralocular, rectangular, trilocular, trilobular or hexagonal filaments.
  • the tufting, cutting of filaments flat and the endrounding of filament tips is performed by processes known in the art: for instance a preferred process for enrounding is described in USP 4,979,782.
  • the filaments are preferably placed substantially perpendicular to the brush head and spaced longitudinal extending across the entire width of the brush head whereas the filaments extend generally upwardly from the brush head.
  • the filaments are placed under an angle with respect to the brush head; for instance as described in EP 449,655.
  • the filaments can be used in the toothbrush head in combination with normal circular filaments; the filaments can be used in different bristle configurations whereas the material of the filaments can be of polyester, nylon or any other material suitable for use.
  • the diameter of the cross-section of the filaments may vary within the usual dimensions known by a person skilled in the art.
  • the brush head according to the invention can be part of a conventional toothbrush or part of an electronic and ultrasonic toothbrush as well.
  • the machine operating parameters are based on consumer habits. Additionally, the artificial plaque stain was developed based on the physical characteristics of plaque.
  • the machine uses a model (plastic teeth and gums of average adult dentition/size) of the upper left quadrant of the mouth (pre-molar/molar teeth) to evaluate the efficiency of a particular brush at removing artificial plaque from the model teeth surface.
  • the angle of brushing and the force used to brush the teeth are the average observed for consumers.
  • the brushing motion is controlled by an electric motor.
  • the efficacy of a test toothbrush is measured by calculating the difference between initial artificial plaque area minus the remaining artificial plaque after brushing. This is measured using video imaging and computer software.
  • the % of non-removed plaque for all filaments according to the invention is substantial lower than the standard circular cross-section filaments.

Abstract

The invention concerns a toothbrush having a handle and a brush head wherein the brush head comprises non-circular cross-section filaments. The filaments have a trilocular, tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular or hexagonal cross-section. These toothbrushes offer a much better cleaning efficiency c.q. better plaque removal from the tooth surface.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a brush head especially a toothbrush head comprising filaments having a non-circular cross-section.
  • A toothbrush includes a handle and a brush head attached to the handle. The brush head has a longitudinal axis and terminates in a free end remote from the handle; the head has a surface from which the tufts extend generally upwardly. In a conventional toothbrush the head and the handle are usually made in one part, whereas in electronic toothbrushes the brush head usually has to be fixed by the consumer to the handle - before use . The brushing head includes brushing filaments. A group of filaments are so-called tufts.
    Toothbrush filaments to date use of circular cross-section. However, normal brushes using these type of filaments do not remove all plaque from the tooth surfaces. Also a number of toothbrush constructions are known, however, none appears to exhibit a good cleaning efficiency. Often specific brushing techniques on leaflets included in the package are set out by the manufacturer. However normal practice is that a purchaser does not pay attention to the instructions offered by the manufacturer, so less than optimum teeth cleaning is obtained.
    Therefore a continuing need exists for improvement of toothbrushes providing better cleaning.
    We have now found that toothbrushes containing different cross-sections of filaments vs the standard circular filaments surprisingly give a better cleaning efficiency.
    The filaments according to the invention have a trilocular, tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular or hexagonal cross-section.(see Figure 1: showing diagrams of these filament types)
  • Furthermore part of the invention is a brush head comprising said filaments wherein a certain group of filaments a so-called tuft have a trilocular cross-section whereas the other tufts have a tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular, hexagonal or circular cross-section or any combination thereof.
    A toothbrush tufted completely with tetralocular, rectangular, trilocular, trilobular or hexagonal filaments cleans surprisingly and unexpectedly better than a toothbrush comprising standard conventional circular filaments.
    The toothbrushes according to the invention are made by exactly the same process as conventional brushes - only replacing the filament material with either tetralocular, rectangular, trilocular, trilobular or hexagonal filaments.
    Also the tufting, cutting of filaments flat and the endrounding of filament tips is performed by processes known in the art: for instance a preferred process for enrounding is described in USP 4,979,782.
    The filaments are preferably placed substantially perpendicular to the brush head and spaced longitudinal extending across the entire width of the brush head whereas the filaments extend generally upwardly from the brush head. In another embodiment the filaments are placed under an angle with respect to the brush head; for instance as described in EP 449,655.
  • The filaments can be used in the toothbrush head in combination with normal circular filaments; the filaments can be used in different bristle configurations whereas the material of the filaments can be of polyester, nylon or any other material suitable for use.
  • Furthermore the diameter of the cross-section of the filaments may vary within the usual dimensions known by a person skilled in the art. The brush head according to the invention can be part of a conventional toothbrush or part of an electronic and ultrasonic toothbrush as well.
  • In order to demonstrate the better cleaning efficiency of a toothbrush having the filaments according to the invention, a description of the cleaning test method used is given hereafter.
    • Example Toothbrush cleaning efficiency machine tester
  • The machine operating parameters are based on consumer habits. Additionally, the artificial plaque stain was developed based on the physical characteristics of plaque.
    The machine uses a model (plastic teeth and gums of average adult dentition/size) of the upper left quadrant of the mouth (pre-molar/molar teeth) to evaluate the efficiency of a particular brush at removing artificial plaque from the model teeth surface. The angle of brushing and the force used to brush the teeth are the average observed for consumers. The brushing motion is controlled by an electric motor. The efficacy of a test toothbrush is measured by calculating the difference between initial artificial plaque area minus the remaining artificial plaque after brushing. This is measured using video imaging and computer software.
  • Key Parameters used in the testing are known by persons skilled in the art like:
    • 1. Brushing Motion - back and forth
    • 2. Teeth - molars & premolars
    • 3. Brush Angle
    • 4. Brushing time
    • 5. Brush stroke length
    • 6. Brush Speed
    • 7. Brush force
    The result of above-mentioned in-vitro experiment is outlined in the following table :
    % not removed plaque
    Novel filament shapes according to the invention 8 - 10
    Circular cross-section filaments 13 - 16
  • The % of non-removed plaque for all filaments according to the invention is substantial lower than the standard circular cross-section filaments.

Claims (8)

  1. Brush head comprising filaments characterized in that the filaments have a non-circular cross-section.
  2. Brush head according to claim 1 wherein the brush head is part of a toothbrush.
  3. Brush head according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the filaments have a trilocular, tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular or hexagonal cross-section.
  4. Brush head according to claim 3 wherein a group of filaments making up a tuft have a trilocular cross-section whereas other groups of filaments making up a tuft have a tetralocular, trilobular, rectangular, hexagonal or circular cross-section or any combination thereof.
  5. Brush head according to claim 1-4 wherein the filaments are made of polyester material, nylon or any other material suitable for use.
  6. Brush head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the filaments are placed substantially perpendicular to the brush head and spaced longitudinal extending across the entire width of the brush head.
  7. Brush head according to claim 1-5 wherein the filaments are placed under an angle with respect to the brush head.
  8. Brush head according to claim 6 or 7 wherein part of the filaments are placed substantially perpendicular to the brush head and another part of the filaments are placed under an angle with respect to the brush head.
EP94300314A 1994-01-17 1994-01-17 Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments Withdrawn EP0663162A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94300314A EP0663162A1 (en) 1994-01-17 1994-01-17 Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments
PCT/US1995/000584 WO1995019120A2 (en) 1994-01-17 1995-01-13 Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94300314A EP0663162A1 (en) 1994-01-17 1994-01-17 Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0663162A1 true EP0663162A1 (en) 1995-07-19

Family

ID=8217532

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94300314A Withdrawn EP0663162A1 (en) 1994-01-17 1994-01-17 Toothbrush with non-circular cross section filaments

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0663162A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1995019120A2 (en)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997014830A1 (en) * 1995-10-18 1997-04-24 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coextruded monofilaments
WO1998006299A1 (en) * 1996-08-09 1998-02-19 Landmark B.V. Interdental cleaner
WO1998026117A1 (en) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-18 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coextruded monofilaments
US5836769A (en) * 1996-12-03 1998-11-17 Gillette Canada Inc. Toothbrush, method of making a toothbrush, and method of brushing teeth
GB2325401A (en) * 1997-05-23 1998-11-25 Johnson & Johnson K K Toothbrush bristles
EP0894454A1 (en) 1997-07-31 1999-02-03 Stafford-Miller Ltd. Toothbrush
DE19829611A1 (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-01-13 Braun Gmbh Process for producing a tuft of bristles, in particular a toothbrush
US6086373A (en) * 1996-07-25 2000-07-11 Schiff; Thomas Method of cleaning teeth with a toothbrush with improved cleaning and abrasion efficiency
WO2012096700A1 (en) * 2011-01-12 2012-07-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US8631534B2 (en) 2006-06-08 2014-01-21 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush
RU2544139C1 (en) * 2011-01-12 2015-03-10 Колгейт-Палмолив Компани Device for oral care
EP2918191A1 (en) * 2014-03-11 2015-09-16 The Procter and Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US20160242536A1 (en) * 2015-02-19 2016-08-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral-care implement and oral-care implement
US10251470B1 (en) 2017-10-10 2019-04-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US10849416B2 (en) 2015-09-08 2020-12-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10856646B2 (en) 2014-07-15 2020-12-08 The Procter & Gamble Company Oral-care implement having color-communicative element
US11206916B2 (en) 2016-06-03 2021-12-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11219302B2 (en) 2017-10-10 2022-01-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11284707B2 (en) 2016-06-03 2022-03-29 The Procter & Gamble Company Filament for an oral care implement and oral care implement

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023006359A1 (en) 2021-07-26 2023-02-02 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Filaments for oral care implements

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2876477A (en) * 1955-12-08 1959-03-10 George G Stewart Brush
US3233944A (en) * 1962-08-15 1966-02-08 Shaw Gilbert Method for production of brush construction
US3238553A (en) * 1964-04-09 1966-03-08 E B & A C Whiting Company Filamentary articles
US3239865A (en) * 1965-03-24 1966-03-15 E B & A C Whiting Company Brush containing polypropylene bristles
US4852202A (en) * 1988-07-21 1989-08-01 Ledwitz Kenenth W Toothbrush with angled bristles

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2317485A (en) * 1940-04-27 1943-04-27 Pepsodent Co Brush
US2508799A (en) * 1944-12-28 1950-05-23 Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co Paintbrush and synthetic bristles for the same
SE310646B (en) * 1964-10-30 1969-05-12 A Poppelman
FR1453512A (en) * 1965-08-13 1966-06-03 Rhodiaceta New brush
US3613143A (en) * 1970-11-12 1971-10-19 Indiana University Foundation Brush with abrasive-impregnated bristles
US4279053A (en) * 1979-09-24 1981-07-21 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Tri- or tetra-locular paint brush bristles
JPS6017109A (en) * 1983-07-04 1985-01-29 Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd Yarn for brush
NL8500178A (en) * 1985-01-23 1986-08-18 Jasper Van Den Hoek Tooth-brush with four bristle rows - has two rows upright and two inclined

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2876477A (en) * 1955-12-08 1959-03-10 George G Stewart Brush
US3233944A (en) * 1962-08-15 1966-02-08 Shaw Gilbert Method for production of brush construction
US3238553A (en) * 1964-04-09 1966-03-08 E B & A C Whiting Company Filamentary articles
US3239865A (en) * 1965-03-24 1966-03-15 E B & A C Whiting Company Brush containing polypropylene bristles
US4852202A (en) * 1988-07-21 1989-08-01 Ledwitz Kenenth W Toothbrush with angled bristles

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5770307A (en) * 1995-10-18 1998-06-23 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coextruded monofilaments
WO1997014830A1 (en) * 1995-10-18 1997-04-24 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coextruded monofilaments
US6086373A (en) * 1996-07-25 2000-07-11 Schiff; Thomas Method of cleaning teeth with a toothbrush with improved cleaning and abrasion efficiency
US6138314A (en) * 1996-07-25 2000-10-31 Whitehill Oral Technologies, Inc. Toothbrush with improved cleaning and abrasion efficiency
WO1998006299A1 (en) * 1996-08-09 1998-02-19 Landmark B.V. Interdental cleaner
US5836769A (en) * 1996-12-03 1998-11-17 Gillette Canada Inc. Toothbrush, method of making a toothbrush, and method of brushing teeth
WO1998026117A1 (en) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-18 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Coextruded monofilaments
GB2325401A (en) * 1997-05-23 1998-11-25 Johnson & Johnson K K Toothbrush bristles
US5991957A (en) * 1997-05-23 1999-11-30 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Toothbrush
GB2325401B (en) * 1997-05-23 2001-10-24 Johnson & Johnson K K Toothbrush
EP0894454A1 (en) 1997-07-31 1999-02-03 Stafford-Miller Ltd. Toothbrush
DE19829611A1 (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-01-13 Braun Gmbh Process for producing a tuft of bristles, in particular a toothbrush
WO2000001276A1 (en) * 1998-07-02 2000-01-13 Braun Gmbh Method for producing a bristle tuft, notably of a toothbrush
US8631534B2 (en) 2006-06-08 2014-01-21 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush
WO2012096700A1 (en) * 2011-01-12 2012-07-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
RU2544139C1 (en) * 2011-01-12 2015-03-10 Колгейт-Палмолив Компани Device for oral care
RU2558335C2 (en) * 2011-01-12 2015-07-27 Колгейт-Палмолив Компани Device for oral care
US11160359B2 (en) 2011-01-12 2021-11-02 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US9538836B2 (en) 2011-01-12 2017-01-10 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10588397B2 (en) 2011-01-12 2020-03-17 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US9445660B2 (en) 2011-01-12 2016-09-20 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
WO2015138572A1 (en) * 2014-03-11 2015-09-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
AU2015229513B2 (en) * 2014-03-11 2018-01-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US11425991B2 (en) 2014-03-11 2022-08-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
EP2918191A1 (en) * 2014-03-11 2015-09-16 The Procter and Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US10856646B2 (en) 2014-07-15 2020-12-08 The Procter & Gamble Company Oral-care implement having color-communicative element
US10219611B2 (en) * 2015-02-19 2019-03-05 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral-care implement and oral-care implement
CN107249383B (en) * 2015-02-19 2019-12-03 宝洁公司 Head and oral care implement for oral care implement
US20160242536A1 (en) * 2015-02-19 2016-08-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral-care implement and oral-care implement
CN107249383A (en) * 2015-02-19 2017-10-13 宝洁公司 Head and oral care implement for oral care implement
JP2018505000A (en) * 2015-02-19 2018-02-22 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブル カンパニー Head for oral care device and oral care device
US10849416B2 (en) 2015-09-08 2020-12-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US11206916B2 (en) 2016-06-03 2021-12-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11284707B2 (en) 2016-06-03 2022-03-29 The Procter & Gamble Company Filament for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11259623B2 (en) 2017-05-31 2022-03-01 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US10251470B1 (en) 2017-10-10 2019-04-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11219302B2 (en) 2017-10-10 2022-01-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995019120A2 (en) 1995-07-20
WO1995019120A3 (en) 1995-09-21

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