Variable diameter filaments

Abstract

The present invention discloses filaments with varying diameter along its length. This variation in diameter along the length of the filaments, when assembled into a toothbrush tuft improves both the interproximal cleaning and the scrubbing effectiveness of the toothbrush.

1 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 a. a handle;    b. a toothbrush head distal to the handle; and    c. a plurality of synthetic monofilaments with varying diameter along their length are bundled together forming tufts that are adhered to the toothbrush head, each of said synthetic monofilaments differ in varying diameter along its length from one or more synthetic monofilaments in a tuft.    
   
   
       2 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein each monofilament in the tuft has two ends, a first end and a second end opposite from the other, and said first end varies in diameter from the second end.  
   
   
       3 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the varying diameter along the length of the monofilaments in the tuft ranges from about 0.003 inches to about 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       4 . A toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the monofilaments in the tuft have a minimum diameter along the monofilament length, said minimum diameter ranging from about 0.003 inches to about 0.015 inches.  
   
   
       5 . A toothbrush according to  claim 3 , wherein the monofilaments in the tuft have a maximum diameter along the monofilament length, said maximum diameter ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.020 inches.  
   
   
       6 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the monofilaments material is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, blends, copolymers, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1  or  6 , wherein the monofilaments have a flex modulus of greater than about 10,000 psi.  
   
   
       8 . A toothbrush according to  claim 1  or  7 , wherein the monofilaments have a flex modulus of about 400,000 psi to about 700,000 psi.  
   
   
       9 . A tuft for use in a toothbrush comprising a plurality of synthetic monofilaments with varying diameter along their length are bundled together forming said tuft, each of said synthetic monofilaments may differ in varying diameter along its length from one or more synthetic monofilaments in said tuft.