Bristle configuration

Abstract

A bristle configuration providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. The bristle pattern includes large tufts having a greater cross-sectional area than standard toothbrush bristle tufts. The large tufts are contoured so that the top ends of the bristles comprising the large tufts are not all at the same height. More than one raised section is provided, the raised sections being spatially isolated from one another to function independently of one another. Preferably, at least one of the raised sections has a sufficient brushing surface area with bristles extending a sufficient height above surrounding bristles such that that raised section can reach into and clean interdental tooth surfaces, preferably while the remaining bristles in the large tuft clean other tooth surfaces. Another aspect of the invention relates to a zig-zag or sawtooth bristle profile, wherein each tuft making up the profile has its own unique substantially conical or frustoconical profile. In one embodiment, the height of conical or frustoconical bristle tufts increases from the sides of the head towards the midline of the head.

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal end and a distal end;   a head at said distal end of said handle;   at least one contoured bristle tuft extending from said head;   wherein:   said contoured bristle tuft is a single tuft of bristles bunched together and has two or more raised sections of bristles and a lower section of bristles, bristles in said raised sections being higher than bristles in said lower section; and   said two or more raised sections of said contoured bristle tuft are separated from one another by said lower sections to act independently of one another while still remaining part of the same contoured bristle tuft.   
     
     
         2 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein each said raised section has a brushing surface area of at least about 0.25 mm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . A toothbrush as in  claim 2 , wherein each raised section has a brushing surface area of less than about 4 mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A toothbrush as in  claim 3 , wherein each raised section has a brushing surface area of at least about 1.5 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said raised sections are separated at least 0.2 mm apart from one another. 
     
     
         6 . A toothbrush as in  claim 5 , wherein said raised sections are separated at least 0.5 mm apart from one another. 
     
     
         7 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein lower sections separate each raised section from another raised section to isolate said raised sections from one another. 
     
     
         8 . A toothbrush as in  claim 7 , wherein said raised sections are isolated from one another to act independently, while bristles of said raised section are bunched with bristles of said lower section to impart lateral support from said lower section to said raised sections. 
     
     
         9 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein the highest bristle in said raised section is at least about 0.5 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section. 
     
     
         10 . A toothbrush as in  claim 9 , wherein the highest bristle in said raised section is no more than about 4 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section. 
     
     
         11 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein the highest bristle in said raised section is at least about 1 or 2 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section. 
     
     
         12 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said two or more raised sections includes four raised sections. 
     
     
         13 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , wherein said contoured bristle tuft has a footprint with 3 or more branches extending from a central region. 
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush as in  claim 13 , wherein said raised section is provided in one or more of said branches and said lower section is provided in said central region. 
     
     
         15 . A toothbrush as in  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said raised sections has a tapered profile tapering downwardly toward said lower section. 
     
     
         16 . A toothbrush as in  claim 1 , further including additional bristle tufts with profiles different from the profile of said contoured bristle tuft. 
     
     
         17 . A contoured bristle tuft formed of a plurality of bristles bunched together; wherein said contoured bristle tuft has:
 a cross-sectional area of greater than about 4 mm 2 ; and   two or more raised sections of bristles spaced apart from each other by a lower section of bristles; and   
       the highest bristles in said raised section are at least about 0.5 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section. 
     
     
         18 . A contoured bristle tuft as in  claim 17 , wherein the highest bristle in said raised section is no more than about 4 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section. 
     
     
         19 . A contoured bristle tuft as in  claim 17 , wherein the highest bristle in said raised section is at least about 1 or 2 mm higher than the lowest bristles in said lower section 
     
     
         20 . A contoured bristle tuft as in  claim 17 , wherein said raised sections are spatially isolated from one another by being spaced apart at least about 0.2 mm to act independently, while bristles of said raised section are bunched with bristles of said lower section to impart lateral support from said lower section to said raised sections. 
     
     
         21 . A contoured bristle tuft as in  claim 20 , wherein said raised sections are spatially isolated from one another by being spaced apart at least about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         22 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal end and a distal end;   a head at said distal end of said handle;   a plurality of contoured bristle tufts extending from said head;   wherein:   each contoured bristle tuft comprises a plurality of bristles at different heights forming a substantially frustoconical contoured bristle tuft profile;   said plurality of contoured bristle tufts have heights defined by the highest bristles in said contoured bristle tuft;   said plurality of contoured bristle tufts includes contoured bristle tufts of different heights;   said contoured bristle tufts together form a sawtooth bristle tuft profile at a central region of said head.   
     
     
         23 . A toothbrush as in  claim 22 , wherein:
 said sawtooth bristle tuft profile extends in said longitudinal direction;   and the height of said contoured bristle tufts increases from the sides of said head toward the midline of said head.   
     
     
         24 . A toothbrush as in  claim 23 , further comprising a large bristle tuft having a larger brushing surface area than the brushing surface area of any of said contoured bristle tufts. 
     
     
         25 . A toothbrush as in  claim 24 , wherein said large bristle tuft has a contoured bristle tuft profile. 
     
     
         26 . A toothbrush as in  claim 22 , further comprising a toe tuft at a distal-most end of said head, said contoured bristle tufts being spaced apart from said toe tuft in a proximal direction.