ORAL CARE TOOL

Abstract

The present invention describes a head for an oral care utensil. The head according to the invention has an arrangement of bristle tufts on the mounting surface (510), said mounting surface comprising at least five bristle tufts (530) extending radially around a reference point (535) or around a central bristle tuft on the reference point in a central area of ​​the mounting surface, and at least one peripheral bristle tuft (540) located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface adjacent to the distal and / or proximal end. The head according to the invention provides effective cleaning and a soft feel for consumers. [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: ORAL CARE UTENSIL Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of oral care. More particularly, the present invention relates to a head for an oral care utensil with an arrangement of bristle tufts that provides effective cleaning. Background of the invention

[0002] In the arts, a number of oral care tools with different arrangements of cleaning elements or bristles are known. Different users have different preferences; some prefer softer cleaning elements, while others prefer harder ones. While different types of bristle or filament materials are used to provide a softer or harder feel, the arrangement of the bristles on the toothbrush head also impacts the sensation. While the sensation is important, the effective cleaning of plaque and debris in the oral cavity is also important.

[0003] To ensure effective tooth cleaning, appropriate contact pressure must be applied. Contact pressure depends on various factors such as user handling, the flexural rigidity and movement of the filaments, filament length, filament cross-section or thickness, and filament density in different positions within the brush head. Therefore, it is often difficult to guarantee good cleaning efficiency without optimizing several of these factors. Past innovations have led to the creation of concave working surfaces on toothbrushes by modifying filament lengths.

[0004] Document KR 2005 0117837 describes a toothbrush head for better cleaning of molars, in which it describes a combination of two crescent-shaped tufts with a rounded circular tuft at the front end. It also describes that several oblique tufts of bristles are set at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees at the front end and that there are a plurality of circular bristle tufts centered around a rounded circular bristle tuft in a rear position.

[0005] US patent 2019 / 000223 A1 describes a head for an oral care utensil having filaments with a cross-sectional shape extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, having four projections and four channels. It also describes a low density factor for tufts with these filaments.

[0006] However, there is a need for an oral care utensil that provides effective removal of plaque and debris from the entire oral cavity, adequately cleaning not only the surfaces of the teeth, but also all interdental spaces, including the gum line. Furthermore, the utensil must have a soft and desirable feel in the mouth.

[0007] The present inventors have developed an arrangement of bristle tufts that not only ensures the cleaning of the entire mouth, but also provides a softer sensation in the mouth, which is desired by many consumers. Summary of the invention

[0008] In one aspect, a head for an oral care utensil is proposed, having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end being connected or connectable to a handle, said head having a mounting surface with a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the handle defining a left side and a right side of the mounting surface and a transverse axis extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said mounting surface having a central area and a peripheral area, said mounting surface comprising: (i) at least three tufts of internal hair in the central area of ​​the mounting surface; and (ii) at least one peripheral tuft of hair located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface next to the distal end and / or proximal end, in the peripheral area of ​​the mounting surface; The internal tufts of hair extend radially around a reference point or around a central tuft of hair located on the reference point. Preferably, no tuft of hair is present on the reference point.

[0009] Optionally, the tufts of internal hairs have a non-circular and elongated shape.

[0010] Optionally, the peripheral hair tuft at the proximal end is immediately adjacent to at least one internal hair tuft extending radially from the reference point to the proximal end; and the peripheral hair tuft at the distal end is immediately adjacent to at least one internal hair tuft extending radially from the reference point to the distal end; and two of said peripheral hair tufts are immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the mounting surface.

[0011] Optionally, the mounting surface includes at least six tufts of internal hairs extending radially around the reference point.

[0012] Optionally, the mounting surface further comprises at least two other tufts of hair different from the peripheral tuft of hair, said additional tufts of hair being located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface, one additional tuft of hair being on the left side and one additional tuft of hair being located on the right side of the mounting surface.

[0013] Optionally, the mounting surface includes at least four additional tufts of hair, two of the additional tufts of hair being positioned adjacent to the peripheral tuft of hair at the proximal end, one on the left side and one on the right side, and two additional tufts of hair being positioned adjacent to the peripheral tuft of hair at the distal end, one on the left side and one on the right side.

[0014] Optionally, the mounting surface includes two additional tufts of hair which are positioned on the same transverse axis which extends through the reference point, each on the left and right sides.

[0015] Optionally, any one of the internal hair tufts occupies about 0.1 to 7% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0016] Optionally, the tufts of internal hairs in the central area collectively occupy at least 10% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0017] Optionally, the peripheral tuft of hair at the distal end or proximal end occupies an area on the mounting surface that is the same as or greater than the area occupied by any of the internal tufts of hair.

[0018] Optionally, the peripheral tuft of hair is non-circular with at least one angular edge generally pointing towards the distal end or the proximal end, taking the shape of the outer circumference of the mounting surface or the head.

[0019] Optionally, the additional tufts of hair have a polygonal shape with one of the edges taking the shape of the external contour of the mounting surface or the head.

[0020] Optionally, each of the hair tufts in the peripheral hair tufts has hairs of different lengths, as measured from the free ends to the anchored ends in order to form an inclined surface, sloping towards or sloping away from the central area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0021] Optionally, each of the hair tufts in the additional hair tufts has hairs of different lengths, as measured from the free ends to the anchored ends to form an inclined surface, sloping towards or sloping away from the central area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0022] Optionally, the internal hair tufts have hairs of different lengths so that they form an inclined surface which slopes upwards towards the reference point.

[0023] In one aspect, the mounting surface further comprises at least two additional tufts of hair different from the peripheral tuft of hair, said additional tufts of hair being located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface, one additional tuft of hair being located on the left side and one additional tuft of hair being located on the right side of the mounting surface.

[0024] The head according to the invention allows for the effective cleaning of the entire mouth. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a top view of an oral care utensil (a toothbrush) according to an embodiment of the invention; [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a top plan view representing an enlarged view of the head of the oral care utensil according to the embodiment of [Fig.1]; [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a top plan view representing an enlarged view of a head of an oral care utensil according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] As used herein, the term "comprising" encompasses the terms "essentially consisting of" and "comprising." When the term "comprising" is used, the listed options or components need not be exhaustive. Except in the examples or unless otherwise indicated, all numbers are to be understood as modified by the term "approximately." As used herein, the indefinite article "a" or "an" and its corresponding definite article "the" mean at least one or more, unless otherwise indicated. The various features of the present invention referred to in individual sections above apply, where appropriate, to other sections mutatis mutandis. Therefore, features specified in one section may be combined with features specified in other sections, where appropriate.The section headings are added solely for convenience and are not intended to limit disclosure in any way. The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Therefore, the features mentioned in the claims, if followed by reference numbers, are included solely to enhance the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting the scope of protection of the claims. The examples are provided to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples shown.

[0027] Terms such as "fixed", "anchored", "connected", "connectable", "mounted" and the like refer to a relationship in which one structure is fixed to another by both movable or rigid fixings or relationships, directly or indirectly and should not be interpreted as limiting the described aspects of the invention.

[0028] The present invention provides a head 502 for an oral care utensil 600, having a distal end 503 and a proximal end 504, said proximal end 504 being connected or connectable to a handle 501, said head 502 having a mounting surface 510 with a longitudinal axis AA extending along a length of the handle 501 defining a left side 514 and a right side 515 of the mounting surface 510 and a transverse axis BB extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AA, said mounting surface 510 having a central area and a peripheral area, said mounting surface 510 comprising: (i) at least three tufts of internal hairs 530, 530a in the central area of ​​the mounting surface 510; and (ii) at least one peripheral tuft of hair 540, 540a located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510 near the distal end 503 and / or the proximal end 504, in the peripheral area of ​​the mounting surface 510; the inner hair tufts 530, 530a extending radially around a reference point 535 or around a central hair tuft 536 located on the reference point 535.

[0029] Oral care utensil means and includes all oral care utensils. Preferably, the utensil may be a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush, a tongue scraper, or an interdental brush, preferably a manual toothbrush. Depending on the purpose and application of the oral care utensil, the present invention can be used on the head of any type of oral care utensil. Any type of handle useful as an oral care utensil can be attached to the head of the present invention. When replaceable, the head is usually connected to the handle by a neck portion. In a preferred embodiment, the head, the neck portion, and the handle portion are formed as a single unit.

[0030] With reference to [Fig. 1], a top view of an oral care utensil, in particular a toothbrush 600 according to an embodiment of the invention, is illustrated. The toothbrush 600 generally comprises a handle 501 and a head 502. The head 502 has a distal end 503 and a proximal end 504 (not shown in [Fig. 1]). The proximal end of the head 504 is the end that is connected or can be connected to the handle 501, and the distal end 503 is the opposite end. While it is shown in elliptical form in [Fig. 1], the handle of the oral care utensil can have a wide variety of shapes and designs and can be made from any material, without limit.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the head and handle are formed together as a single unit to manufacture the toothbrush 600 using injection molding. In alternative aspects, the handle 501 and the head 502 can also be manufactured separately as components and can be joined in a subsequent manufacturing step using any known technique, including but not limited to heat welding, ultrasonic welding, press fit assembly, coupling sleeve, bonding, or fasteners.

[0032] In addition, other manufacturing techniques may be used instead of and / or in addition to injection molding to create the handle 501 and / or the head 502 (or their components), such as milling and / or machining.

[0033] Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the enlarged front face of the head 502 of the oral care utensil 600 according to an embodiment of the invention. This figure shows a head 502 having a distal end 503 and a proximal end 504, the proximal end being connected or connectable to a handle. The head 502 of the oral care utensil 600 has a mounting surface 510 and a rear surface 512 (not shown in the figures) positioned opposite the mounting surface and one or more lateral surfaces 513. The mounting surface 510 may also be referred to as the front surface, which is also the face of the handle where the thumb is placed during use. The rear surface is therefore the face opposite it. The rear surface of the head may, optionally and in one embodiment, include tongue cleaning elements.The lateral surfaces 513 are the surfaces that are visible when viewed laterally, i.e., the surfaces appearing between the mounting surface and the rear surface.

[0034] A longitudinal axis AA extends along the head and in the direction of the length of the handle, conceptually delimiting the mounting surface into a left side 514 and a right side 515. These left and right sides can be defined interchangeably based on how the face is viewed. The longitudinal axis AA is a reference line that is generally coextensive with the three-dimensional centerline of the handle 501 and the head 502. The axis AA can be linear or nonlinear. The left side 514 and the right side 515 of the mounting surface can have any contour or shape and need not be symmetrical or mirror images. The left side 514 and the right side 515 can also be any size, with one side larger than the other. A transverse axis BB extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AA. The transverse axis BB is equidistant from the distal end 503 and the proximal end 504. The transverse axis BB further conceptually delimits the mounting surface into a superior side and a inferior side, where the superior side is that which is on the distal end 503 and the inferior side is on the proximal end 504.

[0035] The mounting surface 510 comprises a central area and at least two peripheral areas, each area comprising a plurality of bristle tufts. Each bristle tuft has bristles or cleaning elements with an anchoring end connected to the mounting surface and an opposite free end.

[0036] The reference point 535 is located at a point generally formed by the intersection of the longitudinal axis AA and the transverse axis BB of the mounting surface. Preferably, the reference point is formed by the intersection of the midpoint of the longitudinal axis AA and the midpoint of the transverse axis BB. Such a reference point is in the central area of ​​the head, but its exact position may vary slightly depending on the shape of the head. Therefore, when the head is circular, the reference point 535 may or may not coincide with the center of the circle; preferably, it coincides with the center. In a preferred aspect, when the head or the mounting surface is oval or elliptical, the reference point 535 is formed by the intersection of the major axis and the minor axis.It may, however, be slightly offset, by approximately 0-20% from such a center or intersection of the major and minor axes in all four directions. For example, reference point 535 may be located approximately 0-20% to the left of the center point. In another embodiment, this variation may range from 0 to 10%, or preferably from 0 to 5%, from the center. It should also be understood that the circular or oval head is mentioned here only as an example, and the reference point may be present depending on the head shape based on the similar intersection of lines in axes AA and BB. It should also be understood that the reference point is merely a position on the mounting surface (not the actual visible or delimited point on the mounting surface) around which the internal hair tufts extend radially, and the hair tuft may or may not be present at the reference point.In a preferred aspect, no tuft of hair is present at the reference point.

[0037] In the context of the invention, "central zone" is the area of ​​the mounting surface that is in the center of the head. The mounting surface generally has a central zone and two peripheral zones, one at the proximal end and one at the distal end. The central zone is the area between the two peripheral zones. The central zone generally extends approximately 20 to 40% from the reference point towards each of the proximal and distal ends. The reference point is formed by the intersection of the AA and BB axes, when the AA and BB axes pass approximately through the center of the head.

[0038] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], the mounting surface 510 has six tufts of internal hair 530 extending radially around a reference point 535, when there is no tuft of hair on the reference point in the central area of ​​the mounting surface. These six tufts of internal hair 530 are arranged in a star or flower pattern. For ease of illustration, only two tufts of internal hair are identified in [Fig. 2] with the reference number 530. In addition, two peripheral tufts of hair 540 are shown, each positioned at the distal end 503 and the proximal end 504.The mounting surface 510 further includes six additional tufts of hair 550 positioned on the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510 such that there are three additional tufts of hair 550 on the left side 514 of the mounting surface and there are three additional tufts of hair 550 on the right side 515 of the mounting surface.

[0039] Figure 3 is a top plan view representing the front face of the head of the oral care utensil according to another embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows six internal bristle tufts 530a as an example of at least three internal bristle tufts extending radially around a central bristle tuft 536. The head, according to this embodiment, also has two peripheral bristle tufts 540a, one at the distal end and one at the proximal end of the mounting surface. The mounting surface also has six additional bristle tufts 550a arranged around its outer circumference, with three additional bristle tufts on the left side and three additional bristle tufts on the right side of the mounting surface.The central tuft of hairs 536 has a substantially circular or oval shape and the inner tufts of hairs 530a have a parabolic or hyperbolic shape with the curve oriented towards the outer circumference of the mounting surface.

[0040] In figures 2 and 3, two of the six additional hair tufts 550 are present on the transverse axis BB which extends through the reference point 535 or the central hair tuft 536.

[0041] Head The head 502 of the oral care utensil 600 comprises cleaning elements or bristles attached directly to the head or via a head plate. While the bristles shown in the figures are suitable for use with a toothbrush, it should be understood that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, and that the invention may be implemented in any Types of oral care tools, for example, such as those used to clean soft oral tissue, like the tongue, gums, or cheeks. The bristles can be attached to the head 502 in any manner known in the art. For example, anchorless tufting (AFT), direct molding, or stapling technology. In a preferred aspect, the bristles can be mounted on tufts of bristles or sections by extending through suitable openings in the bristle tufts or in a head plate with suitable tuft openings, and then the head plate can be attached to the head 502 of the toothbrush 600, which is formed as a single unit with the handle 501.

[0042] Any shape of head 501 is covered within the scope of protection. Preferably, the head 501 is elliptical or oval with a major axis extending along the longitudinal axis AA along the length of the handle and the minor axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis along the axis BB.

[0043] The mounting surface 510 is the surface of the head onto which the bristles are mounted or attached, either directly or indirectly. The mounting surface 510 may be present directly on the head 502 of the oral care utensil, or it may be on a separate plate that can be attached to the head of the oral care utensil. The bristles are generally anchored to the mounting surface and have an anchored end and an opposite free end. The mounting surface has a total area defined by the outer circumference of the head or the head plate and is the area available for mounting the bristles or creating tufts.

[0044] In the context of the present invention, the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface is calculated by calculating the surface area of ​​the base (head or head plate) where the tufts are created or where the hairs are mounted. Such a surface area is usually measured using commercially available CAD software. The surface area of ​​any individual tuft of hair is calculated by measuring the surface area of ​​the tuft shape using commercially available CAD software.

[0045] The head 502 and the mounting surface 510 generally have different contours, are usually circular, or have a shape derived from a circular shape. Preferably, the head 502 and the mounting surface 510 are of the same shape, but they may also be of different shapes. Preferably, the head 502 and the mounting surface 510 are oval or elliptical in shape.

[0046] In one aspect, the head or mounting surface has a plurality of hair tufts ranging from 4 to 35 hair tufts, preferably from 6 to 30 hair tufts, and even more preferably from 10 to 20 hair tufts. The plurality of hair tufts includes internal hair tufts, a central hair tuft, peripheral hair tuft(s), and additional hair tuft(s). In addition to these and without limit, there may be other types of hair tufts present in the plurality of hair tufts.

[0047] Tufts of internal hair The invention provides for at least three tufts of internal hair arranged radially around a reference point or a central tuft of hair. In a preferred aspect, the head according to the invention comprises at least four tufts of internal hair, more preferably at least five tufts of internal hair, and most preferably at least six tufts of internal hair.

[0048] In another aspect, the head according to the invention comprises three to twelve tufts of internal hair, preferably four to ten, even more preferably five to nine tufts of internal hair, even more preferably six to eight tufts of hair.

[0049] Any shape and contour of internal hair tufts 530 are within the scope of protection of the invention as long as they are radially present around a reference point or a central hair tuft. The internal hair tufts may extend radially inward or outward. A person skilled in the art will know that radial extension generally implies an arrangement in a pattern from a central point to the edge of a circle or oval, but obvious modifications are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0050] In one aspect, the internal hair tufts 530 have a non-circular, elongated shape. In another aspect, the internal hair tufts 530 may be triangular with one apex oriented towards the reference point or the central hair tuft. In yet another aspect, the internal hair tufts 530 are elongated oval with one or more pointed apexes. In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], three internal hair tufts 530 are elongated petal-shaped, while three of them have four unequal edges and rounded apexes, oriented towards the reference point 535. In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 3], the internal hair tufts 530 have a shape resembling a parabola or a hyperbola, that is, having a U-shaped curve or an inverted U-shape with one apex oriented towards the outer circumference of the mounting surface and the head.In another aspect, all the tufts of internal hairs are similar in shape, preferably elongated with one or more points. In yet another aspect, the tufts of internal hairs are petal-shaped with one or more pointed points. In yet another aspect, the tufts of internal hairs are diamond-shaped. In a preferred aspect, the tufts of internal hairs extend around the reference point, at which no tufts of hair are present.

[0051] The inner tufts of hair are not necessarily equidistant from the reference point or the central tuft of hair. In other words, the distance, when measured from the reference point (or the central point of the hair tuft) central) up to point X formed on the boundary of any of the inner hair tufts, X being closest to the reference point (or the central hair tuft), can vary from one inner hair tuft to another inner hair tuft.

[0052] The inner hair tufts are arranged around the reference point 535 or the central hair tuft 536 on the reference point in any type of arrangement, preferably in an annular or circumferential shape. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mounting surface 510 comprises six inner hair tufts 530, 530a arranged in a star-shaped pattern, extending radially around the reference point 535 or around the central hair tuft 536. The inner hair tufts 530, 530a are designated as inner hair tufts because they originate in a central area; however, this does not preclude the possibility that some part of the inner hair tuft may come into contact with the outer circumference of the mounting surface.

[0053] Central tuft of hair In one aspect of the invention, the inner hair tufts 530 extend radially around a central hair tuft 536, which is optionally present at the reference point 535. The central hair tuft 536 can be of any shape or contour; preferably, it is substantially circular or oval. According to the invention, there may be more than one central hair tuft. When there is more than one central hair tuft, these tufts together form a substantially circular or oval shape around which the inner hair tufts extend radially. The central hair tuft 536, when present, helps to remove superficial stains by polishing in order to whiten teeth.

[0054] In one aspect, any one of the internal hair tufts or the central hair tuft in the central area does not occupy more than 7% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably not more than 6%, more preferably not more than 5%, more preferably not more than 4%.

[0055] In one aspect, any one of the internal hair tufts 530, 530a or the central hair tuft 536 in the central area occupies about 0.1 to 7% of the total surface of the mounting surface, preferably about 0.3 to 7%, more preferably about 0.3 to 6%, more preferably about 0.5 to 5%, more preferably 1% to 5%, more preferably 1.5% to 5%.

[0056] In another aspect, the plurality of inner hair tufts 530, 530a and the central hair tuft 536, when present in the central area, collectively occupy at least 10% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface 510, preferably at least 12%, more preferably at least 14%, even more preferably at least 15%, preferably at least 16%, preferably at least 17%, preferably at least 18%.

[0057] In another aspect, the plurality of internal hair tufts and the central hair tuft, when present, collectively occupy about 10% to 30% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface 510, more preferably about 12% to 25%, more preferably about 14% to 25%, more preferably about 15% to 25%, more preferably about 16% to 25%, more preferably about 17% to 23%, more preferably about 18% to 22%.

[0058] In one embodiment according to the invention, the internal hair tufts 530 extend radially around a reference point 535 to form a central tuft network. One or more of these networks may be present. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, there is only one of these central tuft networks on the mounting surface.

[0059] The term "central network of tufts" is used to describe the arrangement of the internal hair tufts around the reference point or around a central hair tuft and in no case should be interpreted as limiting the invention.

[0060] Peripheral tuft of hair According to the invention, the mounting surface 510 comprises at least one peripheral tuft of hair 540 positioned near the outer circumference of the mounting surface, close to the distal end 503 and / or the proximal end 504. Any shape of the peripheral tuft of hair 540 falls within the scope of the invention. Preferably, the peripheral tuft of hair 540 is not circular, with at least one angular edge generally oriented towards the distal or proximal end, taking the form of the outer circumference of the mounting surface. Even more preferably, it is polygonal in shape, corresponding to the outer contour of the mounting surface.

[0061] In another preferred aspect, two or more peripheral hair tufts together form a shape corresponding to the external contour of the mounting surface.

[0062] In another aspect, one or more peripheral hair tufts are elongated with one or more apexes. In yet another aspect, one or more peripheral hair tufts are petal-shaped with one or more pointed apexes. In yet another embodiment, the peripheral hair tufts are diamond-shaped.

[0063] It should be noted that the peripheral hair tufts 540 are called "peripheral" solely because of their location on the mounting surface. Two peripheral hair tufts 540 may or may not be the same shape, size, or outline. Furthermore, two peripheral hair tufts 540 may or may not have the same surface area, and the surface area may depend on the relative positions and surfaces of other adjacent tufts of hair on the mounting surface.

[0064] According to the invention, there is at least one peripheral hair tuft 540, preferably, the peripheral hair tuft 540 is at the distal end 503. Even more preferably and as shown in Figures 2 to 3, there are two peripheral hair tufts 540, arranged opposite each other, each at the distal end 503 and the proximal end 504.

[0065] In a preferred aspect, the outer contour of the mounting surface corresponds to the contour of the head and the peripheral tuft of hair is positioned on the outer circumference of the mounting surface so that it also corresponds to the contour of the head.

[0066] In another preferred aspect, one of the edges of the shape composing the peripheral tuft of hair 540 is slightly oriented towards the distal end 503 to allow better penetration into the teeth located furthest inside the cheek.

[0067] In a preferred aspect, the peripheral hair tuft 540, at the distal end 503 or the proximal end 504, occupies an area on the mounting surface that is identical to or greater than the area occupied by any of the internal hair tufts 530 or the central hair tuft 536.

[0068] In a preferred aspect, the peripheral tufts of hair are present both at the distal end and at the proximal end.

[0069] In a preferred aspect, the mounting surface comprises five to nine tufts of internal hairs 530 extending radially around the reference point 535, a peripheral tuft of hairs 540 at the proximal end 504 and a peripheral tuft of hairs 540 at the distal end 503.

[0070] In another preferred aspect, the peripheral hair tuft at the proximal end is immediately adjacent to at least one internal hair tuft radiating from the reference point or central hair tuft towards the proximal end and the peripheral hair tuft at the distal end is immediately adjacent to at least one internal hair tuft radiating from the reference point or central hair tuft towards the distal end and both of said peripheral hair tufts 540 are immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510.

[0071] In one illustrated embodiment, the outer circumference of the front surface 510 of the head 502 is delimited with an oval-shaped line. The outer circumference can, therefore, be delimited with limits having an oval shape or any other shape according to different embodiments.

[0072] The term "immediately adjacent" means that there are no intermediate tufts of hair between the two elements that are designated as being immediately adjacent. For example, when the peripheral hair tuft 540, at the proximal end, is immediately adjacent to at least one internal hair tuft 530 radiating towards the proximal end, there are no cleaning elements located between the peripheral hair tuft 540 at the proximal end and this internal hair tuft 530. Similarly, since the peripheral hair tuft 540 is immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510 of the head 502, there are no cleaning elements located between the peripheral hair tuft 540 and the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510 of the head 502. In some embodiments, this applies only to the proximal end, only to the distal end, or to both the proximal and distal ends.

[0073] Extra tufts of hair In one aspect, the mounting surface comprises at least two additional tufts of hair 550 distinct from the peripheral tuft of hair 540 at the distal and / or proximal end. These additional tufts of hair 550 are located near the outer circumference of the mounting surface, such that at least one additional tuft of hair is located on the left side of the mounting surface and at least one additional tuft of hair is located on the right side of the mounting surface.

[0074] Any shape and contour of the additional hair tufts is within the scope of the invention. No two additional hair tufts necessarily have the same shape or cross-section as any other additional hair tuft. In one preferred aspect, the additional hair tufts 550 have a polygonal shape with one of the edges conforming to the outer contour of the mounting surface. In another preferred aspect, the additional hair tufts 550 are elongated with one or more points. In yet another aspect, one or more additional hair tufts are petal-shaped with one or more pointed points. In yet another embodiment, the additional hair tufts are diamond-shaped.

[0075] Preferably, there are at least four additional tufts of hair 550, two on the left side and two on the right side of the mounting surface. In a preferred aspect, such additional tufts of hair are located at the four corners or vertices of the mounting surface 510. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when the head shape is oval, elliptical, or circular, these four additional tufts of hair 550 are present at the four corners, such that two of the additional tufts of hair 550 are positioned adjacent to the peripheral tuft of hair 540 at the proximal end 504, one to its left and one to its right, and two additional tufts of hair 550 are positioned, in a manner adjacent, to the peripheral tuft of hairs 540 at the distal end 503, one to its left and one to its right.

[0076] In yet another aspect, the four additional hair tufts 550 are immediately adjacent to at least one inner hair tuft 530, immediately adjacent to at least one peripheral hair tuft 540, and immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the mounting surface 510. In a preferred aspect, the four additional hair tufts 550 are at each corner of the mounting surface so that they are intercalated between two inner hair tufts 530.

[0077] The four additional tufts of hair, two on the left side and two on the right side, help to reach hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity including spaces between the teeth.

[0078] In another aspect, the mounting surface comprises at least two additional tufts of hair positioned on the same transverse axis extending through the reference point or the central tuft of hair, one on the left side and one on the right side. Preferably, the two additional tufts of hair positioned on the transverse axis BB extending through the reference point or the central tufts of hair are polygonal, or more preferably triangular with sharp or rounded corners. These additional tufts of hair 550 positioned on the transverse axis BB near the circumference of the mounting surface help to clean the gum line. In one aspect, the additional tufts of hair 550 collectively occupy at least 10% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably at least 12%, or more preferably at least 13% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0079] In another aspect, the additional tufts of hair collectively occupy about 10% to 30% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably about 12% to 25%, again preferably about 13% to 25%.

[0080] In another aspect, the one or more peripheral hair tufts 540 and the additional hair tufts 550 collectively occupy about 10% to 65% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably about 15% to 40%, again preferably about 25% to 40%.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the additional hair tufts 550 are arranged between the inner and peripheral hair tufts, so that they are generally symmetrical around the axes AA and BB; however, a non-symmetrical arrangement is also within the scope of the invention. The presence of at least one additional hair tuft on the left side and one on the right side allows for the gentle cleaning of hard-to-reach tooth surfaces as well as cleaning between teeth.

[0082] In one alternative aspect, the mounting surface 510 comprises tufts of hair arranged in substantially concentric circles, the central tuft of hair 536, if present, being the innermost tuft, followed by the inner tufts of hair 530 and then by the peripheral tuft(s) of hair 540 and the additional tufts of hair 550. In another aspect, the additional tufts of hair 550 are intercalated between the inner tufts of hair 530 and the peripheral tufts of hair 540, so that the additional tufts of hair 530 appear partially on the innermost circle of the tufts and partially on the outermost circle on the mounting surface 510. In another aspect, the additional tufts of hair 550 are intercalated between two radially extending inner tufts of hair 530.The intercalated tufts of hair may or may not be aligned in the same axis as the internal tufts of hair 530.

[0083] In another aspect, the inner hair tufts 530, the central hair tuft (when present) 536 in the central area, the peripheral hair tufts 540 and the additional hair tufts 550 in the peripheral area collectively occupy at least 35% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably at least 40%, again preferably at least 45% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0084] In yet another aspect, the inner hair tufts 530, the central hair tuft (when present) 536 in the central area, and the peripheral hair tufts 540 and the additional hair tufts 550 in the peripheral area collectively occupy about 35% to 75% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface, preferably about 40% to 65%, again preferably about 45% to 60% of the total surface area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0085] Type of bristles and material Any suitable material for making the bristles is within the scope of protection of the invention. In one aspect, the bristles are made from synthetic or natural materials. In one aspect, the bristle material is selected from nylon, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), boar bristles, bamboo fiber bristles, silicone bristles, polylactic acid (PLA), and / or combinations thereof. The bristles can be of any diameter suitable for making oral care tools. In a preferred aspect, the bristles are made from nylon or PBT, or more preferably a combination of nylon and PBT in different tufts.

[0086] Furthermore, any type of bristle cross-section is within the scope of the invention. The bristles can be circular or non-circular in cross-section.Furthermore, the hairs in each tuft can be rounded at the end, multi-pointed, or gradually tapered, or a combination of these possibilities. Preferably, the head comprises a combination of two or more hair types in different tufts. Even more preferably, one or more or all of the inner hair tufts comprise rounded-ended or multi-pointed tufts, and one or more or all of the outer hair tufts comprise progressively tapered hairs. Again more preferably, one or more or all of the inner hair tufts comprise multiple points, such as three-pointed or four-pointed hairs, while one or more or all of the outer hair tufts and / or one or more or all of the additional hair tufts comprise progressively tapered hairs.

[0087] As a person skilled in the art can understand, the tufts of hair may have hairs of different or similar lengths. In a preferred aspect, the inner tufts of hair have hairs of different lengths so that they form an inclined surface that slopes upwards towards the reference point or the central tuft of hair in the central area of ​​the mounting surface. In yet another preferred aspect, the inner tufts of hair arranged around the reference point or the central tuft of hair, together with the central tuft of hair, if present, collectively form a dome-shaped outer contour when viewed from any side. Still more preferably, all the inner tufts of hair extending radially from the reference point collectively form a dome-shaped outer contour when viewed from any side.Such an arrangement provides superior cleaning with a gentle feel on the tooth surfaces.

[0088] In one aspect, the peripheral hair tufts have hairs of similar or different lengths. Preferably, the peripheral hair tufts or the additional hair tufts have hairs of different lengths when measured from the free ends to the anchored ends so as to form an inclined surface sloping towards or away from the central area of ​​the mounting surface 510. Preferably, the peripheral hair tufts form an inclined surface that slopes towards the central area of ​​the mounting surface.

[0089] As a person skilled in the art will understand, bristles are generally called bristles and may also be referred to, alternatively, as cleaning elements, filaments, or dental cleaning elements. Any structure that can be used in the head of oral care instruments may be designated as bristles.

[0090] Manufacturing process All parts of the oral care utensil, in particular a toothbrush, according to the invention are either manufactured as a unit together from the same material, or manufactured separately from different materials. Preferably, the head of the oral care utensil is formed as a single unit with the handle using the injection molding technique.

[0091] The hairs are implanted on the head directly via tufting or via a head plate tufted separately by techniques known in the art such as anchorless technology, PTt (pressure tufting), direct molding, stapling technology, etc. Preferably, the hair tufts are also produced by injection molding technology during which the hairs are thus mounted via anchorless technology or direct stapling.

[0092] The head, according to the claimed invention, allows for effective and thorough cleaning of the mouth. The bristles in the central area of ​​the mounting surface effectively clean the tooth surfaces, while the bristles in the peripheral bristle area at the proximal and / or distal ends allow for better access to more distant teeth and the removal of plaque. The internal bristle areas extending radially around the reference point or around the central bristle area provide flexibility relative to the central area, thus improving the brushing motion regardless of the brushing technique. The flexibility in this central area also allows for gentle brushing on the gums and the effective removal of superficial stains by polishing, ultimately whitening the teeth.While the radially extending inner bristle tufts create a denser central area, the spacing between them also allows for better cleaning of the brush head after each use, in turn reducing microbial contamination. The additional bristle tufts along the transverse axis extending from the reference point are particularly helpful in providing effective cleaning of the gum line.

Claims

Demands

1. Head (502) for an oral care utensil (600), having a distal end (503) and a proximal end (504), said proximal end (504) being connected or connectable to a handle (501), said head (502) having a mounting surface (510) with a longitudinal axis (AA) extending along a length of the handle (501) defining a left side (514) and a right side (515) of the mounting surface (510) and a transverse axis (BB) extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA), said mounting surface (510) having a central area and a peripheral area, said mounting surface (510) comprising: (i) at least five tufts of internal bristles (530) in the central area of ​​the mounting surface (510);and (ii) at least two peripheral hair tufts (540) positioned near the outer circumference of the mounting surface (510), one at the distal end (503) and the other at the proximal end (504), in the peripheral area of ​​the mounting surface (510); the internal hair tufts (530) extending radially around a reference point (535), said reference point being formed by an intersection of the longitudinal axis (AA) and the transverse axis ((BB) in the central area, and no hair tuft being present on the reference point (535).

2. Head (502) according to claim 1, wherein the tufts of internal hair (530) have a non-circular and elongated shape.

3. Head (502) according to claim 1, wherein: a. the peripheral tuft of hair (540) at the proximal end (504) is immediately adjacent to at least one internal tuft of hair (530) extending radially from the reference point (535) to the proximal end (504); and b. the peripheral tuft of hair (540) at the proximal end (503) is immediately adjacent to at least one internal tuft of hair (530) extending radially from the reference point to the distal end; and c. the two said peripheral tufts of hair (540) are immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the mounting surface (510).

4. Head (502) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting surface (510) comprises at least six tufts of internal hairs (530) extending radially around the reference point (535).

5. Head (502) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting surface (510) further comprises at least two additional tufts of hair (550) different from the peripheral tuft of hair (540), said additional tufts of hair (550) being positioned near the outer circumference of the mounting surface (510), one additional tuft of hair (550) being on the left side (514) and one additional tuft of hair (550) being positioned on the right side (515) of the mounting surface (510).

6. Head (502) according to claim 5, wherein the mounting surface (510) comprises at least four additional tufts of hair (550), wherein two of the additional tufts of hair (550) are positioned adjacent to the peripheral tuft of hair (540) at the proximal end (504), one on the left side (514) and one on the right side (515) and two additional tufts of hair (550) are positioned adjacent to the peripheral tuft of hair (540) at the distal end (503), one on the left side (514) and one on the right side (515).

7. Head (502) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the mounting surface (510) comprises two additional tufts of hair (550) which are positioned on the same transverse axis (BB) extending through the reference point (535), each on the left side (514) and the right side (515).

8. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein any one of the internal hair tufts (530) occupies from about 0.1 to 7% of the total area of ​​the mounting surface (510).

9. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tufts of internal hair (530) in the central area collectively occupy at least 10% of the total mounting area (510).

10. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral tuft of hair (540) at the distal end (503) or proximal end (504) occupies an area on the mounting surface (510) that is the same as or greater than the area occupied by any of the internal tufts of hair (530).

11. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral tuft of hair (540) is non-circular with at least one angular edge pointing generally towards the distal end (503) or the proximal end (504) taking the form of the outer circumference of the mounting surface (510) or of the head (502).

12. Head (502) according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the additional tufts of hair (550) have a polygonal shape with one of the edges taking the shape of the external contour of the mounting surface (510) or of the head (502).

13. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the hair tufts in the peripheral hair tufts (540) has hairs of different lengths, when measured from the free ends to the anchored ends so as to form an inclined surface sloping towards or sloping away from the central area of ​​the mounting surface (510).

14. Head (502) according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein each of the hair tufts in the additional hair tufts (550) has hairs of different lengths, as measured from the free ends to the anchored ends to form an inclined surface sloping towards or sloping away from the central area of ​​the mounting surface (510).

15. Head (502) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal hair tufts have hairs of different lengths, so that they form a tilting surface which tilts upwards towards the reference point.

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