Molded Bristle Brushes Comprised Of Helical Segments

Abstract

A molded bristle applicator having a cylindrical core on which are arranged a number of discrete helical bristle segments. Depending on the embodiment, all of the discrete helical segments spiral in the same direction (i.e. clockwise or counterclockwise) around the axis of the core, or some helical segments spiral in one direction and some in the opposite direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded brush head ( 10 ) comprising:
 a cylindrical core ( 1 ) that has a longitudinal central axis (A-A); and   multiple helical segments ( 3 ,  3 ′) of molded bristles ( 3   a ) that arise from the core ( 1 ), each helical segment being arranged helically around the longitudinal axis (A-A).   
     
     
         2 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein all of the helical bristle segments spiral in the same direction around the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the core ( 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein some of the helical bristle segments ( 3 ) spiral in the one direction around the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the core ( 1 ), and others of the helical bristle segments ( 3 ′) spiral in the opposite direction around the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the core ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 3  wherein all of the helical bristle segments ( 3 ) on a proximal half of the brush head ( 10 ) spiral in one direction, and all of the helical bristle segments ( 3 ′) on a distal half of the brush head ( 10 ) spiral in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         5 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 3  wherein a proximal portion of the brush head ( 10 ) supports helical bristle segments ( 3 ,  3 ′) that spiral in both directions. 
     
     
         6 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal extent of any helical bristle segment ( 3 ,  3 ′) is less than half of the length of the bristle envelope. 
     
     
         7 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein all of the helical bristle segments have the same pitch. 
     
     
         8 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein all of the helical bristle segments do not have the same pitch. 
     
     
         9 . The molded brush head ( 10 ) of  claim 1  wherein the helical bristle segments ( 3 ,  3 ′) are arranged such that the proximal and distal halves of the brush head ( 10 ) are mirror images of each other.