Toothbrush with bristle array

Abstract

A toothbrush in the form of a manual toothbrush having a rectangular bristle array ( 1 ) or in the form of an electric toothbrush having a round bristle array ( 1 ), formed from individual bristle bundles ( 2 ), arranged adjacent to each other on a brush head and standing erect at approximately right angles thereto is provided. At least some of the individual bristle bundles ( 4 ) are at least partly inclined or roof-shaped with respect to a plane approximately parallel to the brush head ( 2 ), such that bristles in the bristle bundles ( 4 ) stand to differing heights whereby the terminal surfaces arranged at the applied ends of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) are embodied as inclined surfaces ( 5 ) or as partly inclined surfaces. The bristle bundles ( 4 ) are arranged in a line adjacent to each other along imaginary straight or curved connecting lines, or for round brushes, along segmental or circular connection lines. At least individual, and preferably large groups or all of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) in the bristle array ( 1 ) are arranged with the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) thereof rotated to varying degrees relative to each other and to the connecting line(s), such that a number of differently oriented inclined surfaces are provided for cleaning teeth so that a particular inclined surface is in a favorable orientation to engage in an interdental space between teeth for thorough cleaning

1 . Toothbrush comprising an elongated, rectangular, and/or round bristle array ( 1 ), which is formed from individual bristle bundles ( 4 ) or bristle tufts arranged next to each other on a brush body ( 2 ) and extending away from the body, at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) on a use end facing away from the brush body ( 2 ) are at least partially beveled and/or formed with a roof shape relative to a plane extending approximately parallel to the brush body ( 2 ), such that bristles of the at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) extend at different lengths, so that terminal surfaces arranged at the use ends of the at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) are formed as inclined surfaces ( 5 ) or as partially diagonal surfaces, wherein the at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) are arranged adjacent to each other along imaginary straight or arc-shaped connecting lines, or for round brushes circular-arc or circular connecting lines on the brush body, wherein the at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) of the bristle array ( 1 ) are arranged with the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) rotated relative to each other and relative to the connecting lines by different angles, which are different from 90° and 180°.  
   
   
       2 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein at least half of the bristle bundles of the bristle array are rotated relative to the connecting lines by differing angles that deviate from 90° and 180°.  
   
   
       3 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein within the bristle array ( 1 ), the bristle bundles ( 4 ) directly adjacent to each other are arranged with the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) rotated relative to each other.  
   
   
       4 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristle bundles ( 4 ) directly adjacent to each other or spaced apart by other ones of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) located in-between are arranged with their inclined surfaces ( 5 ) rotated relative to each other and/or relative to the imaginary connecting line by 90° and/or 180°, but other ones of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) of the bristle array ( 1 ) are arranged rotated by one or more different angles.  
   
   
       5 . Toothbrush according to, wherein in the bristle array ( 1 ), the bristle bundles ( 4 ) provided with the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) or diagonal surfaces and bristle bundles ( 4   a ) with approximately horizontal, rounded, and/or pointed use surfaces are combined with each other and such differently shaped ones of the bristle bundles ( 4   a ) within the bristle array ( 1 ) are directly adjacent to each other and/or are arranged as groups, within said groups equivalent or similar bristle bundles ( 4   a ) are combined, wherein within at least one group of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) with inclined surfaces ( 5 ) are arranged, which are arranged opposite each other or rotated relative to their imaginary connecting lines by angles that are different from 90° or 180°.  
   
   
       6 . Toothbrush according to  claim 5 , wherein one or two regions of the bristle array, for an elongated bristle array especially the regions of the bristle array at a distance from each other in a longitudinal direction, are provided with the bristle bundles ( 4   a ), whose ends are rounded, pointed, or are provided with a straight terminal surface or contoured in a different way, and between the groups of bristle bundles ( 4 ) there is at least one group with bristle bundles, which are beveled or shaped like a roof and which are at least partially rotated relative to each other.  
   
   
       7 . Toothbrush with bristle bundles arranged on an outer circle and other bristle bundles arranged in an interior of the outer circle according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristle bundles ( 4 ) arranged on the outer circle and/or in the interior of the outer circle have the inclined surface ( 5 ) on free ends thereof and are at least partially arranged rotated relative to the circle, on which they are arranged, by different angles, so that the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) point partially towards a center of the bristle array ( 1 ), partially outwards, partially in a circumferential direction, or in intermediate positions.  
   
   
       8 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristle bundles of the bristle array provided with inclined surfaces are arranged rotated relative to each other, such that planes extending through the inclined surfaces of bristle bundles ( 4 ) that are adjacent or arranged in a common row intersect one another and form an angular space with each other.  
   
   
       9 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the individual bristle bundles ( 4 ,  4   a ) projecting relative to the brush body is approximately the same size and that of others is different.  
   
   
       10 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein inclination angles of the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) formed at the ends of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) are equal or different, at least for individual bristle bundles ( 4 ), relative to other bundles.  
   
   
       11 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the bristle bundles ( 4 ,  4   a ) is approximately circular or deviates from a circle.  
   
   
       12 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of at least some of the individual bristle bundles ( 4 ,  4   a ) is polygonal or rectangular, or square, and the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) arranged at the end of individual bristle bundles ( 4 ) is polygonal or rectangular, wherein sides of the polygon or rectangle in a vertical projection of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) overlap one another or are rotated relative to each other, such that a highest point of the inclined surface ( 5 ) is shorter than a side length of the polygon or rectangle and is arranged at one corner of the polygonal or rectangular cross-sectional bristle bundle.  
   
   
       13 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface(s) ( 5 ) of the at least some of bristle bundle ( 4 ) is (are) curved convexly or concavely in one or more directions.  
   
   
       14 . Toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least some of the bristle bundles ( 4 ,  4   a ) arranged next to each other project at different distances from the brush body ( 2 ) or have different lengths, wherein equal-length bristle bundles ( 4 ) are arranged within individual rows and the inclined surfaces ( 5 ) of the bristle bundles ( 4 ) of said one of the rows and/or those of an adjacent row with ones of the bristle bundles of a different length are arranged at least partially rotated relative to each other.