Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a handle for grasping during use and a head connected to an end of the handle. The head has a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from a front thereof, from positions on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the front. The tufts are angled inwardly toward the centerline and the end of each tuft is tapered inwardly to an edge such that the edges of the tufts together combine to form a single brush edge.

1 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a handle for grasping during use; and    a head connected to an end of the handle, the head having a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from a front thereof, from positions on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the front, the tufts being angled inwardly toward said centerline and ends of the tufts being tapered inwardly.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein said tufts extend at an angle toward said centerline from alternating sides of the longitudinal centerline such that the end of each tuft is adjacent an end of at least one tuft from an opposite side of said centerline.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said tufts is tapered inwardly to an edge.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said tufts is angled and tapered such that the edges of the tufts together combine to form a single brush edge.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein said brush edge is spaced from said front of said head, and generally laterally centered along said head such that said brush edge lies in a plane that extends through said centerline and is generally perpendicular to said front.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said tufts comprise a plurality of bristles surrounded by a sheath such that ends of said bristles protrude from the sheath.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush according to  claim 6 , wherein said sheath is a copolyester sheath.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible joint between said head and said handle or embedded in said handle.  
   
   
       9 . A replaceable toothbrush head comprising first and second ends and a front and a back, the head further comprising: 
 a coupling at said first end for removably connecting to a handle;    a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from said front, from positions on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the front, the tufts being angled inwardly toward said centerline and ends of the tufts being tapered inwardly.    
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush head according to  claim 9 , wherein said tufts extend at an angle toward said centerline from alternating sides of the longitudinal centerline such that the end of each tuft is adjacent an end of at least one tuft from an opposite side of said centerline.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush head according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said tufts is tapered inwardly to an edge.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said tufts is angled and tapered such that the edges of the tufts together combine to form a single brush edge.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush head according to  claim 12 , wherein said brush edge is spaced from said front of said head, and generally laterally centered along said head such that said brush edge lies in a plane that extends through said centerline and is generally perpendicular to said front.  
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush head according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said tufts comprise a plurality of bristles surrounded by a sheath such that ends of said bristles protrude from the sheath.  
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush according to  claim 14 , wherein said sheath is a copolyester sheath.  
   
   
       16 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a handle for grasping during use; and    a head connected to an end of the handle, the head having a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from a front thereof, from positions on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the front, the tufts being angled inwardly toward said centerline and the end of each tuft being tapered inwardly to an edge such that the edges of the tufts together combine to form a single brush edge.    
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush according to  claim 16 , wherein said tufts extend at and angle toward said centerline from alternating sides of the longitudinal centerline such that the end of each tuft is adjacent an end of at least one tuft from an opposite side of said centerline.  
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush according to  claim 17 , wherein said brush edge is spaced from said front of said head, and generally laterally centered along said head such that said brush edge lies in a plane that extends through said centerline and is generally perpendicular to said front.  
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said tufts comprise a plurality of bristles surrounded by a sheath such that ends of said bristles protrude from the sheath.  
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible joint between said head and said handle or embedded in said handle.