Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a head having multiple cleaning elements. One set of the cleaning elements is longer than the other and relatively rigid. That set alternates with a shorter, springier set of cleaning elements. The flexibility of the shorter springier cleaning elements facilitates penetration of the longer cleaning elements into the interproximal area of the user's teeth.

1 . A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head secured to the handle, a first set of cleaning elements mounted on the head which are relatively rigid and are longer than other sets of cleaning elements mounted on the head, and a second set of cleaning elements which are springy and more easily compressed than said first set of cleaning elements, and said first and second sets of cleaning elements being arranged in alternating lateral rows on the head.  
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said rows of said first set of cleaning elements are spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the average width of a human tooth.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said second set of cleaning elements have an “S” shape over at least a portion of their length.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface of the first set of cleaning elements has a V-shaped profile.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4  wherein each row of said first set of cleaning elements comprises a pair of longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements having tapered tops to form in combination said V-shaped profile.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein each of said second set of cleaning elements is in the form of a compressible pad which supports its cleaning elements.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 6  wherein said compressible pad is made of a compressible soft hollow elastomer, and its said cleaning elements are fiber bristles mounted on the outer surface of said tab.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said rows of first cleaning elements extend a further distance across said head than said rows of second cleaning elements.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said first sets of cleaning elements are located at the outermost ends of the combination of said first and second sets of cleaning elements.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein at least one row of said first set of cleaning elements comprises longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein at least one row of said second set of cleaning elements comprises two longitudinally adjacent cleaning elements.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said toothbrush is a manual toothbrush.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the toothbrush includes a powered cleaning element.