Contoured Monofilament Bristle for High Density Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrush bristles fail to balance high bristle density with effective cleaning action and ease of fastening, often resulting in bristle entanglement and reduced penetration into interdental spaces due to complex contours or materials.
Innovation Solution
A tooth cleaning bristle with a specific outer surface contour that enlarges the circumference relative to the cross-sectional area, allowing for high bristle density without entanglement, enhanced cleaning action, and easy fastening, characterized by a ratio of 30 mm−1 to 50 mm−1, featuring projections and depressions that define envelope circles for efficient anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If complex outer surface contours (helix, star-shaped, cruciform) are used for enhanced cleaning or massaging effect, then cleaning performance is improved, but bristles easily catch amongst themselves and penetration into interdental spaces is made more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the outer surface contour by defining specific envelope circles (inner and outer) with controlled diameter ratios (1.1 to 1.6), creating a standardized contoured shape that balances cleaning effectiveness with ease of penetration into interdental spaces, avoiding the entanglement problems of helical or star-shaped designs
2Strength
If multilayered bristles with non-homogeneous material cross section are used to increase flexural rigidity, then flexural rigidity is improved, but production becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves increased flexural rigidity not through multilayered construction but by changing the geometric parameters of a monofilament bristle, specifically by creating a contoured outer surface with defined envelope circles that provide structural stiffness while maintaining simple single-material construction for easier and cheaper production
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using composite multilayered structures, the invention uses a single material (thermoplastic elastomer or polyamide) with a contoured geometry that provides the mechanical properties of composite structures, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining performance
3Ease of manufacture
If circular cylindrical bristles are used for simple production, then ease of manufacture is improved, but outer surface area is limited reducing cleaning action effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds dimensional complexity to the bristle outer surface by creating contoured shapes with defined envelope circles, transforming the simple cylindrical surface into a multi-dimensional contoured surface that increases surface area and cleaning effectiveness while maintaining production simplicity through standardized geometric definitions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tooth cleaning bristle, which is configured as a monofilament and has a outer surface having a contour that is structured preferably in the shape of a longitudinal flute and that has projections and depressions, alternating in the peripheral direction. The invention further relates to a toothbrush head having a bristle holder to which at least one such tooth cleaning bristle is fastened, and finally to a preferably electric toothbrush having such a toothbrush head.