Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush having a toothbrush head with a top side at which cleaning elements for cleaning teeth are arranged. The cleaning elements form various zones of care or arrangements to meet specific cleaning and manufacturing requirements.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to DE 10 2010 051 878.6 filed Nov. 22, 2010 and DE 10 2009 057 432.2, filed Dec. 10, 2009, the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a toothbrush having a toothbrush head with a top side to which cleaning elements for cleaning teeth are arranged.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The utilization of toothbrushes to clean one's teeth has long been known. In general, toothbrushes include a head and a handle. The head includes a plurality of bristle tufts which extend from a top surface of the head. The bristle tufts generally consist of a plurality of filaments which are attached to the head in a suitable fashion. Often it is desirable to provide a toothbrush to a consumer which can offer a plurality of benefits. However, in order to create such a toothbrush, often times bristle tufts in certain areas of the toothbrush have to be treated or ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]A toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention can provide a user with a plurality of benefits as well as facilitating manufacturing of the toothbrush. Additionally, a toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention can facilitate the removal of plaque and / or undesired substances from the bristle field. In some embodiments, a toothbrush is provided having a toothbrush head at whose top side first and second cleaning elements for cleaning teeth are provided, wherein the first cleaning elements have first bristle tufts with a long and a short side and thus, in cross-section, an approximately rectangular or oval base. This can create toothpaste and foam carriers within the elongated tufts, which make it possible for foam to escape at the corners of the base where no tufts are arranged. As an alternative, first multiple or compound bristle tufts are provided, each of which may have a circular cross-section; however, because they are strung together along a straight line each, the result is a square or rhombic bristle arrangement. Accordingly, for a rhombus, four straight lines are provided, each having several bristle tufts. These tufts are designed to be longer the than cleaning elements arranged within the polygon (e.g., the rhombus), resulting in the formation of a recessed, in particular trough-like, toothpaste receiving reservoir that is surrounded by tufts. This contributes to the toothpaste gradually distributing in the oral cavity during tooth brushing. According to the alternative design, the “corners” of the rhombus, square, or other polygon are formed by bristle tufts, and according to the embodiment having tufts with a short and a long side by interstices without forming a corner in the strictly geometric sense.

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage to such toothbrushes is that as the number of benefits provided by the toothbrush increase, often so does the complexity in manufacturing increase.

A further disadvantage of known toothbrushes is that, during brushing, plaque and other undesired substances can get caught between the bristles, which are then retained in the bristle area and thereby may have a damaging effect on the tooth enamel when teeth are cleaned and polished.

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