Toothbrush brushhead for a power toothbrush with angled bristles

Abstract

The brushhead, which has a rotating action, includes a bristle plate and three separate sets of bristle tufts. A first set of bristle tufts extends longitudinally down the approximate center of the brushhead and is arranged to extend vertically from the base plate. The second and third sets of bristle tufts are arranged on opposing sides of the first set of bristle tufts, with the second and third sets of bristle tufts being arranged at an angle outwardly, in opposing directions, from the first set of bristle tufts, the angle being in the range of 5°-45°. The length of all the bristle tufts is established so that the tips of the bristles in the first, second and third sets of bristle tufts form a shallow arc.

1 . A brushhead for a power toothbrush in which the brushhead is driven in a side-to-side motion, comprising:
 a brushhead base plate;   a plurality of lateral rows of bristle tufts, each row comprising:   a first set of bristle tufts set into the base plate substantially vertically;   a second set of bristle tufts set into the base plate extending along one side of the first set of bristle tufts and angled outwardly therefrom at an angle within the range of 5°-15°; and   a third set of bristle tufts set into the base plate extending along the opposing side of the first set of bristle tufts and angled outwardly therefrom within the range of 5°-15°, wherein the bristle tufts in the second and third sets are set into the base plate a horizontal distance “r” in the range of 1.2 mm to 4 mm from the center of rotation of the brushhead.   
   
   
       2 . The bristle configuration of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the bristles is approximately 10°. 
   
   
       3 . The bristle configuration of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the bristles in the first, second and third sets of bristles is such that the tips of the bristles from a shallow arc centered on the axis of rotation of the brushhead base plate. 
   
   
       4 . A brushhead for a power toothbrush in which the brushhead is driven in a side-to-side motion, comprising:
 a brushhead base plate;   a plurality of lateral rows of bristle tufts, each row comprising:   a first set of bristle tufts set into the base plate substantially vertically, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate;   a second set of bristle tufts set into the base plate extending along one side of the first set of bristle tufts and angled outwardly therefrom; and   a third set of bristle tufts set into the base plate extending along the opposing side of the first set of bristle tufts and angled outwardly therefrom, wherein there is a difference in length between the bristles in adjacent tufts of bristle in the second and third sets of bristles in the range of 0-1.25 mm and an angular difference between the action angle and the bristle angle of the bristle tufts in the range of 0°-21°.   
   
   
       5 . The brushhead of  claim 4 , wherein the second and third sets of bristle tufts are arranged on the bristle plate to be offset from the center of rotation of the bristle plate. 
   
   
       6 . The brushhead of  claim 4 , wherein the amplitude of movement of the brushhead and the speed of the brushhead can be increased by approximately 15-30 percent without increasing discomfort to the users. 
   
   
       7 . The brushhead of  claim 4 , wherein the angular difference is within the range of 17°-21°.