Bristle tuft and toothbrush with bristle tuft

Field of the Invention

p0001The invention relates to a tuft of bristles for a toothbrush having a number of bristles of a first type and a plurality of bristles of a second type, wherein the bristles of the first type comprise a wear behavior which differs from the wear characteristics of the bristles of the second type. The invention further also relates to a toothbrush with such a tuft of bristles.

Background of the Invention

p0002From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US3263258A"><text>US 3263258</text></patcit> is a tuft of bristles is known which is formed of bristles with mutually different diameters. By using bristles of different diameters in a tuft of bristles, the cleaning effect of the toothbrush is to be improved, since thinner bristles can easily penetrate between teeth, while the large bristles clean the tooth easily accessible areas are used.

p0003From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5313909A"><text>US 5313909</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US4802255A"><text>US 4802255</text></patcit> each Toothbrushes are known in which the bristles of the toothbrush are made of so-called indicator filaments. The indicator-filaments have a colored area, the use of the toothbrush causes changes color in this colorful area of ​​ongoing use of the toothbrush. The change in color is used as indicator for the wear of the toothbrush. Another Borsterbüschel is from the<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="JP2005103184A"><text>JP 2005 103184 A</text></patcit> known.

Object of the invention

p0004The invention has the object of providing a tuft of bristles for toothbrushes, in which the wear of the toothbrush, the user is shown particularly clearly.

solution

p0005This object is achieved with a tuft of bristles according to claim. 1

p0006By using different wear indicators within a tuft of wear will be clearly and accurately displayed. The end of the recommended useful life of the toothbrush can be the user of the toothbrush shown more precisely. In addition, prevents a different grooming behavior or a different cleaning technique falsifies the indication of wear and thus also the actual end of the recommended useful life.

p0007Preferably, the bristles of the first type have a different behavior with respect to mechanical wear than the bristles of the second type. This can be by different bristle geometries -querschnittsformen or surface structures be caused. Also, the cross-sectional area of ​​the bristles of the second type can be less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the bristles of the first type.

p0008It may have the free ends of the bristles of the second kind at least one predetermined breaking point, wherein the continuous mechanical stress on the bristles of the second type causing the splicing of the free ends of the bristles of the second type. In addition, the bristles of the second type may have a color-changeable wear indicator.

Brief Description of the Figures

p0009Further features, application possibilities and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the figures:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1 a</dt><dd>shows a non-inventive tufts with thick bristles of the first type with farblichem comparison schleißindikator and thin bristles of the second type;</dd><dt>FIG. 1b</dt><dd>shows a plan view of the bristle tufts by <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> a;</dd><dt>Fig. 2A</dt><dd>shows a tuft of bristles with thick bristles of the first type with farblichem comparison schleißindikator and thin aufspleißbaren bristles of the second type; </dd><dt>FIG. 2b</dt><dd>shows a plan view of the bristle tufts by <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2A</figref>;</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>shows an alternative variant of a tuft after <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2A</figref> in plan view, wherein the aufspleißbaren bristles of the second kind the same diameter as the bristles comprise a first type;</dd><dt>FIG. 4a</dt><dd>shows a further variant of a bristle aufspleißbaren in cross section;</dd><dt>Fig. 4b</dt><dd>shows the aufspleißbare bristle <figref idrefs="f0003">FIG. 4a</figref> the fanned out condition; and</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>shows a schematic representation of a fanned bristle.</dd></dl>

Detailed Description of the Figures

p0010<figref idrefs="f0001"><b>Fig. 1A</b></figref> shows a first embodiment of a tuft of bristles 1 in a perspective view. The bristle tufts 1 consists of a number of bristles, wherein a number of bristles of the first type 2 and a number of bristles of the second type 3 are available. The bristles of the first type 2 exhibit at the free end each have a color-changeable wear indicator. 5 The changing colors wear indicator 5 is essentially characterized by the fact that with ongoing life of the toothbrush, the color of the wear indicator changed so that upon reaching a predetermined color of the wear indicator, for example, the color white, is signaled to the user that the recommended service life of toothbrush has been reached, or the bristles are worn.

p0011The bristles of the second type 3 are arranged essentially in the inner area of ​​the tuft first The bristles of the second type 3 have a lower relative to the bristles of the first type 2 cross-sectional area or diameter. The smaller diameter of the bristles 3 causes this with increasing service life of the toothbrush mechanically otherwise wear than the much thicker bristles of the first type 2. The mechanical wear for example, causes that the bristles of the second type 3 at the end of the recommended useful life of toothbrush bend. The user of the toothbrush is hereby additionally for the color display of the wear indicator 5 a further indication of the end of the usage time of the toothbrush.

p0012By using different bristles in a tuft of bristles which are each subject to different ways to wear, the wear of the bristles and thus the recommended usage of a toothbrush can be displayed to the user more clearly and in more detail.<ul><li><figref idrefs="f0001"><b>Fig. 1B</b></figref> illustrates the in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1A</figref> shown tufts of bristles 1 in cross section. As is evident here, the thick bristles of the first type 2 are arranged in the outer region of the tuft 1, while the thin bristles of the second type 3 are arranged in the inner region of the tuft. 1 Of course, the arrangement of the bristles of the first type 2 and the bristles of the second type 3 in a tuft of bristles can also be designed in deviation. So may be arranged, for example, the thick bristles 2 that they are surrounded by a number of thin bristles. 3 Furthermore, a random arrangement of large bristles 2 and the thin bristles 3 within the tuft 1 possible.</li><li><figref idrefs="f0002"><b>Fig. 2A</b></figref> shows another embodiment of a tuft 1. The bristle tufts 1 consists of a number of first bristles 2, which each have a color wear indicator 5, as in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1A</figref> shown, comprise, and a plurality of second bristles 4 which are arranged in the interior of the tuft 1 and are thus surrounded by the bristles 2 of the first type. In this embodiment, the bristles 4 of the second type also have a smaller diameter than the bristles 2 of the first type. In addition, the bristles 4 of the second type at the free end in the longitudinal direction are configured aufspleißbar.</li><li>In this embodiment, a bristle tuft 1 of the user obtained by, as in the embodiment <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1A</figref>, The checks provided for on the bristles of the first type 2 color changeable wear indicators a first indication of the recommended end of life. Another indication of the end of the recommended total is added to the user through the bristles 4 of the second kind. The bristles of the second type 4 are designed so that the free end of the bristles aufspleißt wate usage time.</li><li><figref idrefs="f0002"><b>FIG. 2b</b></figref> shows a cross-section through the in <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2A</figref> Tufts shown. The thin aufspleißbaren bristles 4 of the second type are here arranged so that they are surrounded by the thick provided with colored wear indicators 5 bristles. Another arrangement of the bristles of the first type 2 and the bristles 4 of the second type is also possible here. Furthermore, the bristles 4 of the second type in diameter are thinner than the bristles 2 of the first kind. This makes it possible, in addition to the display of the mechanical wear of the bristles 4 of the second type also by fanning the free end of the bristles or the display of wear, for example by bending, as in the embodiment to<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1A</figref> shown to provide.</li></ul>

p0013The diameter of the bristles of the second type 4 in the non-fanned condition can also be the diameter of the bristles meet 2 of the first kind. A cross section through such a tuft of bristles with bristles 4 of the second type is aufspleißbaren in<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> shown.

p0014While in the <figref idrefs="f0002">figures 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> second aufspleißbare bristles 4 have been shown as having a substantially circular cross-sectional area, shows <figref idrefs="f0003">FIG. 4a</figref> Another embodiment of a bristle aufspleißbaren 4 in cross-section, wherein the bristle has a substantially cloverleaf-shaped cross sectional area. The upper part of the free end of the bristle aufspleißbaren 4 consists here essentially of three longitudinally uniformly designed bristle segments 4a, 4b, 4c, the three bristle segments are initially secured together longitudinally. The bristle 4 has in the upper region on three predetermined breaking points 6, to which the bristle 4 is aufspleißbar. The predetermined breaking points 6 are designed so that a fanning out only as close as possible to the end of the usage time of the toothbrush, or along the predetermined breaking points ever further fray the bristle over time.

p0015In <figref idrefs="f0003"><b>Fig. 4b</b></figref> is the aufspleißbare bristle 4 from <figref idrefs="f0003">FIG. 4a</figref> shown in cross section in the fanned condition. The three bristle segments 4a, 4b, 4c have broken along the predetermined breaking points 6 each other.

p0016In <figref idrefs="f0004"><b>Fig. 5</b></figref> is shown in the fanned out condition in perspective view a aufspleißbare bristle. 4 The arc-shaped bristle segments shown here 4a, 4b, 4c have broken along the predetermined breaking points from each other and thus form for the user of the toothbrush clearly visible protruding tips of the bristles.

p0017The tufts described can be used both in manual toothbrushes as well as in electric toothbrushes. Preferably, the free ends of the bristles are rounded (not shown in the figures), to avoid injury to the gums while brushing possible.