Toothbrush with hexagonal bristles in hexagonal tuft holes
US5850660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA46D1/00
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A toothbrush with a bristle head that has densely packed hexagonal tuft holes and hexagonal cross section bristles exhibits increased bristle retention. The increased bristle retention is achieved by increasing the anchored length of the tuft staple without increasing the overall length of the staple. Where the hexagonal tuft holes are of the same area as conventional round tuft holes, and the anchoring staples are of the conventional length, the "anchored" length of the staple is increased by 25%. Bristle retention is further increased by the increased friction of the flat surfaces of hexagonal bristles against each other and against the flat surfaces of hexagonal tuft holes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.