Toothbrush

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a toothbrush that incorporates tapered bristle filaments in combination with tuft holes of a reduced size, such as between 1.3 mm to 1.4 mm in diameter. In another aspect, the invention provides a toothbrush that balances the number of tuft holes and the number of tapered bristle filaments within each tuft hole to achieve a unique ratio that reduces the cost of manufacture of the toothbrush while maintaining a mouth-feel that consumers associate with a quality product. In still another aspect, the present invention provides a toothbrush that incorporates tapered bristle filaments and also achieves a balance between reduced size tuft holes and the spacing between adjacent tuft holes to achieve a unique ratio that reduces the cost of manufacture of the toothbrush while maintaining a mouth-feel that consumers associate with a quality product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a head having a first surface comprising a plurality of tuft holes having a diameter D TH , wherein D TH  is in a range of 1.3 mm to 1.4 mm; and   a bristle tuft mounted within and extending from each of the tuft holes, each of the bristle tufts formed by a plurality of tapered bristle filaments.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein D TH  is approximately 1.4 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein each of the bristle tufts is formed by Y number of tapered bristle filaments, wherein Y is in a range of 28 to 40. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 the tuft holes arranged on the first surface of the head in at least one row, wherein adjacent tuft holes in the row are separated by a distance Z, wherein Z is a linear distance between center points of the adjacent tuft holes; and 
 wherein Z is in a range of 2.1 mm to 2.4 mm. 
 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush according to  claim 4  wherein a ratio of Z to D TH  is in a range of 1.5 to 1.8. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush according to  claim 5  wherein the tuft holes are arranged on the first surface of the head in a plurality of the rows. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1  wherein all bristle filaments on the head are tapered bristle filaments, and wherein the head comprises between 1232 and 1760 tapered bristle filaments in total. 
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a head having a first surface having X number of tuft holes;   a bristle tuft mounted within and extending from each of the tuft holes, each of the bristle tufts formed by Y number of tapered bristle filaments; and   wherein a ratio of X to Y is in a range between 1.05 to 1.64.   
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8  wherein each of the tuft holes have a diameter D TH , wherein D TH  is approximately 1.4 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8  wherein Y is in a range of 28 to 40. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8  wherein each of the tapered bristle filaments have a diameter D B  of approximately 0.16 mm to 0.19 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 each of the tuft holes having a diameter D TH ; 
 the tuft holes arranged on the first surface of the head in at least one row, wherein adjacent ones of the tuft holes in the row are separated by a distance Z, wherein Z is a linear distance between center points of the adjacent tuft holes; and 
 wherein a ratio of Z to D TH  is in a range of 1.5 to 1.8. 
 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush according to  claim 12  wherein the row is a transverse row. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush according to  claim 12  wherein the row is a longitudinal row. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush according to  claim 12  wherein the tuft holes are arranged on the first surface of the head in a plurality of the rows. 
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a head having a first surface having a row of tuft holes, each of the tuft holes having a perimeter P;   a bristle tuft mounted within and extending from each of the tuft holes, each of the bristle tufts formed by a plurality of tapered bristle filaments;   wherein adjacent tuft holes in the row of tuft holes are separated by a distance Z, wherein Z is a linear distance between center points of the adjacent tuft holes; and   wherein a ratio of Z to P is in a range of 0.35 to 0.46.   
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush according to  claim 16  wherein P is in a range of 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush according to  claim 16  wherein Z is in a range of 2.1 mm to 2.7 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush according to  claim 16  wherein the tuft holes have a square cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         20 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a head having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface comprising a tufting area A TS  comprising X number of tuft holes, each of the tuft holes having a tuft hole area A TH ;   a bristle tuft mounted within and extending from each of the tuft holes, each of the bristle tufts formed by a plurality of tapered bristle filaments; and   wherein a ratio of A TS  to X×A TH  is in a range of 3.4 to 4.4.