JP7236864B2 - Hair bundles and heads for oral care appliances and oral care appliances - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to bristle tresses for oral care appliances, the tresses having a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. of filaments. The present disclosure further relates to heads for oral care devices and oral care devices comprising such heads.

Multi-filament bristle tresses for oral care appliances such as manual or electric toothbrushes are well known in the art. Generally, the bristle tufts are attached to a bristle support portion of the head intended to be inserted into the user's oral cavity. A grip handle is usually attached to the head, and the handle is gripped by the user when brushing teeth. The head may be permanently connected to the handle or may be repeatedly attached and detached from the handle.

Adequate contact pressure must be applied between the free end of the filament and the tooth to effectively clean the tooth. In general, the bending stiffness of a single filament depends on its length and cross-sectional area, while the contact pressure depends on the filament's bending stiffness and displacement. Longer filaments generally exhibit lower bending stiffness compared to shorter filaments. However, relatively thin filaments tend to bend away easily, and relatively low bending stiffness reduces the efficiency of plaque removal on tooth surfaces, as well as interdental penetration and cleaning properties. reduce performance. To compensate for the reduced bending stiffness of longer filaments, the dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the filaments can be increased. However, relatively thick filaments may cause an unpleasant brushing sensation and tend to damage the gums in the oral cavity. It should be noted that thicker filaments may exhibit less bend recovery, and after a relatively short period of use, the use of the filament may result in a worn-out look of the tuft pattern.

Further, filaments having contours along their length extension that result in non-circular cross-sectional areas, such as polygonal or cruciform cross-sectional areas, are well known in the art. Such filaments will improve the cleaning properties of oral care devices during normal use. In particular, the contoured ends will provide a more robust frictional action during the brushing process to improve the removal of plaque and residue on the tooth surface.

While toothbrushes with these types of filaments adequately clean the outer buccal surfaces of the teeth, they are generally still relatively difficult to penetrate into interproximal spaces, thus interproximal areas as well as other areas. It is likewise unsuitable for adequate removal of plaque and debris from hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity. Additionally, during the manufacturing process and during the brushing action, the crisscross filaments/bristles can easily become entangled with each other, resulting in a worn appearance of the toothbrush. In addition, these filaments do not provide sufficient capillary effect to remove plaque and debris from tooth and gum surfaces during brushing.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of the present disclosure to provide bristle tresses and heads for oral care appliances that overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks. It is also an object of the present disclosure to provide an oral care appliance comprising such a head.

According to one aspect, a tuft of hair for an oral care appliance is provided, the tuft comprising a plurality of filaments, each filament extending along a longitudinal axis and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. an extending substantially cruciform cross-sectional area, the cruciform cross-sectional area having four protrusions and four channels, the protrusions and channels alternating, each channel comprising: The channel has a concave curvature formed by adjacent and merging protrusions, the concave curvature having a radius, the radius of the concave curvature of the channel being between about 0.025 mm and about 0.10 mm. within the range, the tresses have a fill factor within the range of about 40% to about 55%.

According to one aspect, there is provided a head for an oral care appliance comprising such tufts.

According to one aspect there is provided an oral care appliance comprising such a head.

The invention is described in more detail below with respect to various embodiments and drawings.
1 is a schematic perspective view of an oral care appliance having a bristle tress comprising multiple filaments according to the present disclosure; FIG. Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one filament of a tuft of hair as shown in Figure 1; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a filament according to the state of the art; FIG. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a tuft; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tuft of hair according to a first exemplary comparative embodiment; FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tuft of hair according to a second exemplary comparative embodiment; 3 is a graph comparing the results of brushing a tress containing filaments according to FIG. 2 with the results of brushing a tress according to two exemplary comparative embodiments; 3 is a graph comparing the "slurry uptake mass" of hair tresses containing filaments according to FIG. 2 with the "slurry uptake mass" of hair tresses according to two exemplary comparative embodiments; 3 is a graph comparing the "slurry uptake rate" of hair tresses containing filaments according to FIG. 2 with the "slurry uptake rate" of hair tresses according to two exemplary comparative embodiments; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a diamond-shaped filament according to the state of the art; FIG.

A tress according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of filaments. Each filament of the tuft has a longitudinal axis defined by the main extension of the filament. Hereinafter, the extension of the filament along its longitudinal axis may also be referred to as the "longitudinal extension of the filament". The filaments have a cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-sectional area has a cross shape. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four protrusions and four channels, with the protrusions and channels alternating. Two adjacent projections, ie two said adjacent side edges of said projections, meet at the bottom of the channel to define a "confluence region". Adjacent protrusions meet in said confluence region such that a concave curvature is formed at the bottom of the channel, ie with an inwardly curved radius.

The radius of the concave curvature of the channel is in the range of about 0.025 mm to about 0.10 mm, or about 0.03 mm to about 0.08 mm, or 0.04 mm to about 0.06 mm. The radius with such extent is relatively large compared to standard cross-shaped filaments (see Figure 3 and further discussion below).

In the past, conventional cross-shaped filaments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3 and further described below) have been found to tend to entangle these types of filaments with each other, both during manufacturing and during toothbrushing. It has been observed to have drawbacks. Surprisingly, however, the outside of the filaments according to the present disclosure significantly reduces the likelihood of filaments becoming entangled when multiple filaments are twisted together to form a single hair bundle during the so-called “picking process”. It has been found that certain shapes/contours of the surface allow for improved manufacturability.

In addition, the relatively large radius at the bottom of the channel increases the stability of the filament so that it can be poked and secured onto the mounting surface of the brush head during, for example, stapling or hot tufting processes. less filament damage that occurs during the brush manufacturing process. In the past, it has been observed that a relatively large number of conventional cross-shaped filaments are damaged during the picking process. In particular, protrusions may be cut away from the filaments, or filaments may splice in the confluence region at the bottom of the channel. A spliced filament can provide relatively sharp ends, which can scratch/damage oral tissue during brushing.

Furthermore, due to the particular geometry of the radius of the concave curvature, the channel can easily pack filaments into the tress at a low density, ie with a low packing factor. This allows more dentifrice/toothpaste to be retained/adhered to the filaments for a longer period of time during the brushing process. Additionally, lower tuft densities may avoid the possibility of dentifrice spreading resulting in an improved overall brushing process. In other words, the toothpaste can be better received in the channel and delivered directly when it contacts and cleans the tooth, thereby providing a great deal of abrasion, which is desirable especially for the removal of tooth discoloration. effect is obtained.

A tress according to the present invention has a fill factor within the range of about 40% to about 55%, or about 45% to about 50%, or about 49%. Surprisingly, a cross-shaped filament with a radius of concave curvature of the channel in the range of about 0.025 mm to about 0.10 mm can maximize the gap between two adjacent filaments. , has been found to allow such a relatively low packing rate of filaments within the tress. In the context of this disclosure, the term "packing factor" is defined as the sum of the cross-sectional area of the filaments in the tuft pore divided by the cross-sectional area of the tuft pore. In embodiments where fasteners, such as staples, are used to attach the tuft within the tuft hole, the securing means area is excluded from the cross-sectional area of the tuft hole. A packing ratio of about 40% to about 55%, or about 45% to about 50%, or about 49%, while the filaments still have contact with each other along a portion of the outer lateral surface to keep a certain pore volume. The interstitial volume allows more toothpaste to be delivered to the brushing process and allows the toothpaste to interact with the teeth for a longer period of time, contributing to improved toothbrushing effectiveness. In addition, the interstitial volume, ie, the space between filaments, allows for increased uptake of loose plaque due to enhanced capillary action.

In other words, a relatively low packing ratio within the range of about 40% to about 55% or about 45% to about 50% or 49% results in improved toothbrushing effect due to improved capillary effect, i.e. tooth surface and It may result in better plaque and debris removal from the gums. These capillary effects allow the dentifrice to flow towards the tips/free ends of the filaments, thus more effectively delivering the dentifrice to the teeth and gums during brushing. At the same time, the uptake of plaque and debris from the tooth and gum surfaces is improved.

Surprisingly, it has been found that this interstitial volume can be achieved using cruciform filaments in which the radius of the concave curvature of the channel is within the range of about 0.025 mm to about 0.10 mm. rice field. It has been found important to open the interstitial areas while the filaments are still in contact with each other. In order to produce toothbrushes that comply with regulatory requirements and are appreciated by consumers for their overall appearance, it is common to use high packing ratios (about 70% to about 80% for round filaments, , about 80%, and for trefoil filaments about 89%) are required. For toothbrushes made by the stapling process, a rate of less than about 70% will result in insufficiently compacted filaments within the tuft pores and thus poor tuft retention. Therefore, if a round filament is associated with a packing factor of less than about 70%, the regulatory requirements are not met. For hot tufted toothbrushes, a packing ratio of less than about 70% causes the pressure of the melt to increase over the molding process as it pushes the filaments of the bristle tuft into one another until the filaments contact each other. , would allow the plastic melt to penetrate into the tress. So-called multispines are thereby formed, which can hurt/damage the gums and thus make the product unsafe. Aside from regulatory and safety considerations, low-fill tresses of round filaments would have a "rough" and damaged appearance and would not be accepted by consumers. However, the use of a cross-shaped filament with a channel concave curvature radius within the range of about 0.025 mm to about 0.10 mm provides improved cleaning properties while having an acceptable overall appearance. , low filling rates can be achieved for compliant and safe products.

As shown in FIG. 7 and further described below, a tuft containing multiple filaments according to the present disclosure provides buccal, lingual, and occlusal tresses compared to circular or conventional cross-shaped filament tresses. It can improve plaque removal from the face and interdental surfaces as well as along the gum line.

Furthermore, due to the unique cross shape of the filaments, each single filament is stiffer than a circular shaped filament when made from the same amount of material. However, due to the low packing ratio within the range of about 40% to about 55%, or about 45% to about 50%, or 49%, the radius of the concave curvature of the channel is about 0.025 mm to about The stiffness of the entire tress made from cross-shaped filaments within 0.10 mm is reduced compared to tresses of circular-shaped filaments. Surprisingly, such tresses enhance the sensory experience while increasing cleaning efficiency. That is, it has been found to provide a softer sensation in the oral cavity during brushing.

The cross-shaped cross-sectional area of each filament has an outer diameter. In the context of the present disclosure, the outer diameter is defined by the length of a straight line passing through the center of the cross-sectional area of the filament, the endpoints of which are located on the outermost circumference of the cross-sectional area. In other words, the cruciform cross-sectional area has an imaginary outer circumference (i.e., the outer enclosing circle) in the shape of a circle, the outer diameter being the longest straight segment of the circle that passes through the center of the circle. defined as

The outer diameter may be in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 0.40 mm, or about 0.19 mm to about 0.38 mm, or the outer diameter is about 0.22 mm to about 0.35 mm, or about It may be in the range of 0.24 mm to about 0.31 mm.

The ratio of the outer diameter to the radius of curvature of the channel may be in the range of about 2.5 to about 12. Alternatively, the ratio of the outer diameter to the radius of curvature of the channel may be in the range of about 2.7 to about 9.

Surprisingly, it has been found that such filament shapes provide even better cleaning performance while maintaining the comfort of the brush in the oral cavity. In addition, it has been found that such a shape is even more helpful in reducing the appearance of filament/tuft wear, as the potential for filament entanglement during brushing is further reduced. . Moreover, the manufacturability of such filaments during the toothbrush manufacturing process is further improved.

Each projection of the cross-shaped cross-sectional area of the filament may have rounded ends, thereby forming a bend. The curved portion may have a diameter. The diameter of the curved portion of the protrusion may be in the range of about 0.01 mm to about 0.04 mm, or in the range of about 0.018 mm to about 0.026 mm.

The ratio of the radius of curvature of the projection to the radius of curvature of the channel ranges from about 0.2 to about 1.5, or from about 0.3 to about 1.0, or from about 0.5 to about 0.7. may be within The ratio is relatively small compared to standard cross-shaped filaments according to the prior art (see Figure 3 and further discussion below). In other words, the radius of the concave curvature of the channel is relatively large with respect to the diameter of the curvature of the projection, ie with respect to the width extension of the projection. Or in other words, the diameter of the curvature of the projection can be relatively thin compared to the radius of the concave curvature of the channel. This relatively large radius provides a relatively thin protrusion with improved stability. Therefore, the filaments/protrusions are less likely to be damaged during the brush manufacturing process, especially when the filaments are poked, or the relatively thin protuberances are less likely to break apart. In other words, the manufacturability of such filaments during the toothbrush manufacturing process is further improved.

It has surprisingly been found, however, that such a filament shape provides even better cleaning performance while maintaining the comfort of the brush in the oral cavity. In addition, it has been found that such a shape further contributes to reducing the abrasion of the filament/tress appearance, as the likelihood of the filament becoming entangled during brushing is further reduced. .

The diameter of the curved portion of the protrusion may be in the range of about 6% to about 15% or about 8% to about 12% of the outer diameter of the filament. Surprisingly, such filaments can conform to tooth contours even better and penetrate more easily into interdental spaces to more completely remove plaque and debris. It has been found that it is possible.

Each projection of the cross-shaped cross-sectional area comprises two outer lateral edges along the longitudinal extension of the filament. These lateral edges can generate a relatively high concentration of stress on the tooth surface to break up and remove plaque. The outer edge can provide a frictional effect so that plaque and debris loosen more effectively. The relatively large radius of the concave curvature at the bottom of the channel provides protrusions with increased stiffness/stability that loosen/remove plaque from the tooth surface more easily/effectively. The channel can then capture the broken plaque and remove it from the tooth.

The protrusions of the cross-shaped filaments may taper radially in an outward direction, ie, away from the center of the cross-sectional area and toward the outer circumference. Such tapered projections can provide reliable access to narrow spaces and hard-to-reach areas, yet allow deeper and more effective penetration/penetration into interproximal areas. Due to the higher flexural stiffness of the cross-shaped filaments compared to circular-shaped filaments made from the same amount of material, the higher flexural stiffness strengthens the protrusions of the filaments, making them easier to move into the interproximal region. You can slide it into

The protrusions may taper radially outward by an angle within the range of about 6° to about 25°, or by an angle within the range of about 8° to about 20°. Surprisingly, it has been found that such a tapered shape allows for optimum interdental penetration properties. Additionally, such filaments can be more easily bundled into tresses without tangling on the contours of adjacent filaments.

The filament may be a substantially cylindrical filament, ie the filament may have a substantially cylindrical outer side. In other words, the shape and dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the filament along its longitudinal axis may be substantially unchanged, i. It may be substantially constant. In the context of the present disclosure, the term "outer lateral surface of a filament" means the outer surface or outer surface of a filament in its lateral planes. Filaments of this type may provide improved bending stiffness compared to tapered filaments. Higher bending stiffness allows the filaments to easily penetrate into interdental spaces/voids. It should be noted that cylindrical filaments generally wear slowly and may provide longer filament life.

The cylindrical filaments may have substantially rounded tips/free ends to provide gentle cleaning properties. A rounded tip may prevent gum damage during brushing. Within the context of the present disclosure, rounded-end filaments would still fall within the definition of substantially cylindrical filaments.

Alternatively, the filament may comprise a substantially cylindrical portion and a tapered portion along the longitudinal axis, the tapered portion tapering longitudinally toward the free end of the filament and the cylindrical portion has a cross-sectional area according to the present disclosure. In other words, the filament may be a tapered filament with a pointed tip. A tapered filament can optimally penetrate the area between two teeth as well as gingival pockets during brushing and can improve cleaning properties. The tapered filament may have a total length extending above the mounting surface in the range of about 8 mm to about 16 mm, optionally about 12.5 mm, the tapered portion being measured from the tip of the filament. and may be in the range of about 5 mm to about 10 mm. The pointed tip may be needle-shaped and may have a branched or winged end. The tapered portion can be manufactured by chemical and/or mechanical tapering processes.

The filaments are from polyamide, e.g., nylon, with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay, colored on the outer surface, with an abrasive such as kaolin clay and/or a polyamide indicator material, e.g., a nylon indicator material. Or it can be made from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) without it. The coloration of the polyamide indicator material may slowly wear off as the filament is used gradually, indicating the extent to which the filament has worn.

A filament may comprise at least two sections of different materials. At least one segment may comprise a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) and at least one segment comprises a polyamide, e.g., nylon, with or without an abrasive such as kaolin clay, colored on the outer surface Abrasives such as kaolin clay or polyamide indicator materials such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with or without nylon indicator materials may be included. These at least two sections may be arranged in a parallel configuration or in a core-sheath configuration, which may result in a reduced stiffness of the filament as a whole. A core-sheath structure with an inner/core section comprising a harder material, such as polyamide or PBT, and an outer/sheath section surrounding the core section and comprising a softer material, such as TPE, provides mild cleaning properties compared A filament may be provided with a soft outer lateral surface.

The filaments may comprise ingredients selected from fluoride, zinc, strontium salts, fragrances, silica, pyrophosphate, hydrogen peroxide, potassium nitrate or combinations thereof. For example, fluoride may have a mineralizing effect and thus prevent tooth decay. Zinc may strengthen the user's immune system. Hydrogen peroxide may bleach/whiten teeth. Silica may have an abrasive effect to more effectively remove plaque and debris from teeth. Pyrophosphates may inhibit the formation of new plaque, tartar and tooth calculus along the gum line. Filaments containing pyrophosphate may provide lasting protection against inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa.

A plurality of such filaments are bundled together to form a tuft, and a filament located in the center of the tuft contains fluoride and can mineralize teeth during the toothbrushing process, while these The filaments on the outer side of the tuft can be arranged such that they contain pyrophosphate to inhibit the formation of plaque, tartar and dental calculus along the gum line.

At least one of the components listed above may be coated on the sheath, ie on the outer section of the filament. In other words, the filaments of at least some of the tufts may comprise a core-sheath structure, the inner/core section may comprise TPE, polyamide or PBT, and the outer/sheath section may comprise any of those listed above. It may include at least one of the components. Such core-sheath structures may allow the component(s) to be directly effective on the teeth at relatively high concentrations, i.e., during brushing, the component(s) may Direct contact is allowed.

Alternatively, at least one of the components listed above may be coextruded with the TPE, polyamide, eg nylon, and/or PBT. Such embodiments may allow the component(s) to become progressively more effective on the teeth as the filament material slowly wears away during use.

A plurality of filaments according to any of the above embodiments are bundled together to form a bristle tress that can be attached to an oral care appliance. The oral care appliance may be a toothbrush with a handle and a head. The head may extend from the handle and be repeatedly detachable from the handle, or the head may be permanently connected to the handle. The toothbrush may be a power toothbrush or a manual toothbrush.

The head may comprise a bristle support having a substantially circular or oval shape. Such bristle supports can be provided in electric toothbrushes capable of rotational oscillatory motion. The bristle support of the electric toothbrush can be driven to move axially in a manner that rotates about and oscillates along the axis of motion, such axis of motion being aligned with the bristles. It may extend substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the upper upper surface of the support. One or more bristle tresses comprising a plurality of filaments according to the present disclosure may be attached to the bristle support. With said tuft(s), the projections of the filaments can more easily penetrate interproximal areas and hard-to-reach areas during rotational oscillatory motion of the head which can provide further improved cleaning characteristics of the head. can. The vibratory motion of the filaments substantially perpendicular to the tooth surface loosens plaque and other debris, while the rotary motion sweeps away plaque and additional debris.

At least one tuft of bristles attached to a head for an oral care appliance can have a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. The plurality of filaments may be arranged in such a manner that the cross-sectional area of the tuft has an enlarged shape of the respective corresponding shape of each individual filament making up the tuft. In other words, the tress is an enlarged variant of its filaments, i.e., the shape of the cross-sectional area of the tress is the same as that of each individual filament, but as filaments of larger dimensions, substantially They may have the same cross-shaped cross-sectional area. The shape of the cross-sectional area of the tuft may correspond to the shape of the cross-sectional area of its filaments. In the context of the present disclosure, the term "cross-sectional area having an enlarged shape" means a cross-sectional area of the same shape but with increased dimensions. In other words, the type of shape may be the same, but the dimensions of the cross-sectional area are different or increased. At the outer circumference of the cross-sectional area of the tuft, any gaps, variations, undulations or slots that may exist between two adjacent individual filaments contribute to the substantial shape of that cross-sectional area. not, and can therefore be ignored.

Such bristle tresses may provide improved cleaning properties. As outlined above, the specific shape/geometry of individual filaments has specific cleaning properties that differ from those of uniform filaments with circular or conventional cross-shaped cross-sectional areas. These particular cleaning properties are enhanced by arranging the filaments in such a way that they form a cross-sectional shape for the entire bristle bundle that is an enlarged variation of the cross-sectional shape of each individual filament. may be It should be noted that the specific morphology of each single filament is generally not visible to the user, and a tress according to the present disclosure communicates the morphology of each to the user, thus requiring corresponding washing of the filaments that make up the tress. You can tell the characteristics.

Because the filaments and bristle tresses each have respective cross-sectional areas with non-circular shapes, the filaments and bristle tresses as a whole can provide anisotropic bending stiffness properties during the toothbrushing process. When a given contact pressure is applied to the free end of a filament/tuft, the amount of deflection/displacement of the filament/tuft depends on the diameter/radius of the filament/tuft. A small diameter/radius results in a large deflection/displacement of the filament/tuft free end and conversely a large diameter/radius results in a small deflection/displacement of the filament/tuft free end. The bristle tresses may be arranged on the mounting surface of the head in such a manner as to provide greater bending stiffness in directions where greater cleaning power may be required. Less bending stiffness may be provided in directions where gentle cleansing or massaging effects may be required.

A head for an oral care appliance according to the present disclosure has a bristle support with at least one tuft hole, eg, blind bore. A tuft comprising a plurality of filaments according to the present disclosure may be fixed/fixed in the tuft hole by a stapling process/fixing tuft attachment method. This means that the filaments of the tress are folded/folded in a substantially U-shaped fashion around an anchor, eg an anchor wire or an anchor plate, eg made of metal. The filament is pushed into the bristle hole with the fixture such that the fixture penetrates into the opposite wall of the bristle hole, thereby anchoring/fixing/fastening the filament to the bristle support. Positive engagement and frictional engagement may secure the fasteners to the opposite wall. If the bristle hole is a blind end bore, the fixture holds the filament against the bottom of the bore. In other words, the fixture may be positioned across the U-shaped curvature in a substantially vertical fashion. As the filaments of the tuft are curved around the fixture in a substantially U-shaped configuration, the first and second limbs of each filament extend from the bristle support in the direction of the filaments. A type of filament that can be used/suitable for use in a stapling process is also referred to as a "double-ended filament." Heads for oral care appliances manufactured by the stapling process can be provided in a relatively low cost and time efficient manner. Due to the improved geometry of the filaments according to the present disclosure, only a few filaments are damaged, e.g., cut, when the filaments are poked and secured onto the mounting surface of the brush head during the stapling process. . Furthermore, when multiple filaments are plucked to form a tuft, only a few filaments become entangled on the outer surface of adjacent filaments.

Alternatively, at least one tuft may be attached/fixed to the head by means of a hot tufting process. One method of manufacturing an oral care device head may include the following steps. First, at least one tuft can be formed by providing a desired amount of filaments according to the present disclosure. Second, the tufts may be placed in mold cavities so that the filament ends presumably attached to the head extend into said cavities. Third, an injection molding process forms the body of the oral care appliance comprising the head or its head and handle around the ends of the filaments extending into the mold cavity, thereby forming at least one tuft of hair into the head. It may be fixed to Alternatively, by an injection molding process forming a first portion of the head, a so-called "seal plate", around the ends of the filaments that extend into the mold cavity before the remainder of the oral care device is formed. , the hair tress may be fixed. Prior to commencing the injection molding process, the ends of the at least one bristle tuft extending into the mold cavity are optionally melted/fused to form melted masses or melted spheres and joined together with the filaments, thereby A melt mass or melt ball may be placed in the hole. At least one tuft may be held in the mold cavity by a mold post having blind holes corresponding to the desired location of the tuft on the finishing head of the oral care appliance. In other words, the filaments of the at least one tuft attached to the head by means of the hot tufting process may not fold into the middle portion along their length, and the fixtures/staples may be used. It may not be attached to the head by doing so. At least one tuft may be mounted on the head by means of a fixture-less tufting process. The high temperature tress manufacturing process allows for complex tress configurations. For example, the tuft may have a particular topography/morphology at its free end, i.e. its upper surface, may be shaped to optimally match the contours of the teeth, and may be It may be shaped to further enhance penetration. For example, the topography may be rounded or rounded in one or two directions, may be pointed, or may be linear, concave or convex. . Due to the improved morphology of the filaments according to the present disclosure, only a few filaments are damaged, e.g., cut, when the filaments are poked and secured onto the mounting surface of the brush head during the hot tufting process. . Furthermore, when multiple filaments are plucked to form a tuft, only a few filaments become entangled on the outer surface of adjacent filaments.

The following is a non-limiting discussion of representative embodiments of oral care appliances and components thereof according to the present disclosure, with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of an oral care appliance 10, which may be a manual or electric toothbrush 10, comprising a handle 12 and a head 14 extending longitudinally therefrom. Head 14 has a proximal end 41 close to handle 12 and a distal end 40 furthest from handle 12 , i.e. opposite proximal end 41 . The head 14 may have a substantially elliptical shape with a length extension 52 and a width extension 51 substantially perpendicular to the length extension 52 . A plurality of tufts 16 having a plurality of filaments 20 according to the present disclosure may be secured to head 14 by a hot tufting or stapling process. The tufts 16 may extend from the mounting surface 18 of the head 14 in a substantially orthogonal manner.

The tuft 16 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of rounded end filaments 20, one of which is shown in FIG. Alternatively, filament 20 may be a tapered filament, including a substantially cylindrical portion and a tapered portion along the longitudinal axis. The tapered portion tapers toward the free end of filament 20 and the cylindrical portion has a cross-sectional area 22 according to the present disclosure. The plurality of filaments 20 are arranged such that the tress 16 has a cross-sectional area 32 having a shape that is an enlargement of the shape of each individual filament 20 . In other words, the shape of the cross-sectional area 32 of the tuft 16 corresponds to the shape of the cross-sectional area 22 of each individual filament 20 . The tresses 16 may have a fill factor within the range of about 40% to about 55%, or about 45% to about 50%, or about 49%. A "packing factor" is defined as the sum of the cross-sectional areas 22 of the filaments 20 divided by the cross-sectional area of the tuft holes.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a filament 20 according to the present disclosure. Filament 20 has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area 22 extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Cross-shaped cross-sectional area 22 has four protrusions 24 and four channels 26 . The protrusions 24 and channels 26 are alternately arranged. Each projection 24 tapers in an outward direction by an angle α in the range of about 6° to about 25° or about 8° to about 20°.

The cross-sectional area 22 has an outer diameter 28 passing through the center 36 of the cross-sectional area 22 of the filament. The endpoint of the outer diameter 28 is located on the outermost circumference 38 of the cross-sectional area 22 . outer diameter 28 is in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 0.40 mm, about 0.19 mm to about 0.38 mm, about 0.22 mm to about 0.35 mm, or about 0.24 mm to about 0.31 mm; It has a length extension.

Further, each channel 26 has a concave curvature 34 , i.e., a curvature that curves inwardly toward the center 36 of the cross-sectional area 22 . A concave curve 34 is formed at the bottom of each channel 26 by two adjacent and converging projections 24 . Concave curve 34 has a radius 30 ranging from about 0.025 mm to about 0.10 mm, or from about 0.03 mm to about 0.08 mm, or from about 0.04 mm to about 0.06 mm.

The ratio of outer diameter 28 to radius 30 of concave curvature 34 is in the range of about 2.5 to about 12, or about 2.7 to about 9.

Each projection 24 has rounded ends thereby forming a curve with a specific diameter 42 . Said diameter 42 may also be defined as a width extension 42 extending between two opposite side edges 44 . The ratio of radius 42 of curvature of projection 24 to radius 30 of curvature 34 of channel 26 is from about 0.2 to about 1.5, or from about 0.3 to about 1.0, or about 0.5. to about 0.7.

Further, diameter 42 is defined between about 6% and about 15%, or between about 8% and about 12%, of outer diameter 28 of filament 20 . For example, diameter 42 may be in the range of about 0.01 mm to about 0.04 mm, or in the range of about 0.018 mm to about 0.026 mm.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cross-shaped filament 54 according to the state of the art. Filament 54 has the following dimensions.
Outer diameter 56: 0.295mm
Channel concave curvature radius 58: 0.01 mm
Ratio of outer diameter 56 to concave curvature radius 58: 29.5
Taper detail α of protrusion: 15°
Diameter of curved portion of protrusion 62: 0.04 mm
Ratio of diameter 62 to radius 58: 4
Inner diameter 64: 0.1 mm.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of exemplary embodiment 1 of a tuft 66 according to the present disclosure. The tress 66 has a fill factor of about 49%. The filaments 68 of the tuft 66 have the following dimensions.
Outer diameter 28: 0.309 mm
Concave curve radius 30: 0.06mm
Ratio of outer diameter 28 to radius of concave curvature 30: 5.15
Taper detail α of protrusion: 10°
Diameter 42 of curved portion of protrusion 42: 0.04 mm
Ratio of diameter 42 to radius 30: 0.67
Inner diameter 70: 0.12 mm.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a bristle tress 72 comprising a plurality of circular shaped filaments 74 according to the state of the art. The diameter of filament 74 is approximately 0.178 mm (7 mils). Such tufts 72 have a filling factor of about 77% (Comparative Example 2).

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a tuft 76 comprising a plurality of filaments 54 according to FIG. Such tufts 76 have a filling factor of about 58% (Comparative Example 3).

Comparative Experiment Robot Test:
4 with a plurality of filaments 68 (tuft diameter: 1.7 mm) (exemplary embodiment 1), and a tuft 72 according to FIG. 5 with a plurality of filaments 74 (tuft diameter: 1.7 mm). 7 mm) (comparative example 2) and tufts 76 according to FIG. They were compared with respect to their effectiveness in alternative elimination.

Toothbrushing tests were carried out with the robotic system KUKA 3 under the following conditions (see Table 1).

FIG. 7 illustrates the amount of alternative plaque removal for Exemplary Embodiment 1, Comparative Example 2, and Comparative Example 3, respectively, on the overall tooth surface 78, buccal surface 80, lingual surface 82, lingual and lingual surfaces. For the buccal surface 84, the occlusal surface 86, the gum line 88 and the interdental surface 90 are given in %.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary embodiment 1 with respect to overall tooth surface 78, buccal surface 80, lingual surface 82, lingual and buccal surfaces 84, occlusal surface 86, gum line 88, and interdental surface 90: It clearly shows that it provides significantly improved plaque removal properties compared to Comparative Examples 2 and 3. The most significant improvement in cleaning performance occurred on the occlusal surface 86 with 22% and 9% improvement, respectively.

Slurry uptake test:
FIG. 8 shows the "slurry uptake mass" of a tuft (tuft diameter: 1.7 mm) (exemplary embodiment 4) containing filaments according to the present disclosure and having a packing factor of about 46%, plotted against a diamond-shaped "Slurry uptake mass" of a tress (tress diameter: 1.7 mm) comprising filaments (see Figure 10) and having a packing factor of about 80% (comparative example 5) and the hair according to comparative example 2 A comparison with the "slurry uptake mass" of the bundle 72 is shown.

The filament of exemplary embodiment 4 has the following dimensions.
Outer diameter: 0.269mm
Channel concave curvature radius: 0.05 mm
Ratio of outer diameter to radius of concave curvature: 5.38
Taper detail α of protrusion: 14°
Diameter of curved portion of protrusion: 0.029 mm
Ratio of the diameter of the curve of the protrusion to the radius of the concave curve of the channel: 0.58
Inner diameter: 0.102mm

The filament of Comparative Example 5 has the following dimensions (see Figure 10).
Longer diagonal length 92: 0.29mm
Short diagonal length 94: 0.214 mm

FIG. 9 shows a chart comparing the "Slurry Uptake Rate" of Exemplary Embodiment 4 with the "Slurry Uptake Rate" of Comparative Examples 2 and 5;

Test Description Brush heads containing bristle tresses according to Representative Embodiment 4 and Comparative Examples 2 and 5 were fixed in a horizontal position with the filaments pointed downward. A dish of toothpaste slurry (1:3 toothpaste:water) was placed directly under the brush head along with a scale. This scale was used to measure the amount of slurry in the pan. When the test started, the brush moved downward at 100 mm/sec and dipped into the slurry to a depth of 2 mm. The brush was then held in the toothpaste slurry for 5 seconds and lifted again at 100 mm/min. This vertical force was measured over time.

Figures 8 and 9 clearly show that Exemplary Embodiment 4 provides significantly improved "slurry uptake" in terms of mass and velocity compared to Comparative Examples 2 and 5. there is The increased void volume within the bristle tufts of Exemplary Embodiment 4 allows for improved capillary action. This results in an increased uptake of the toothpaste (slurry), which allows the toothpaste to interact/contribute longer to the toothbrushing process. The bristle tresses of Exemplary Embodiment 4 are capable of wicking about 50% more toothpaste slurry at about 50% faster uptake rate, which provides improved tooth cleaning effectiveness. In other words, besides delivering more toothpaste to the brushing process, the specific void volume within the bristle tresses of exemplary embodiment 4 also allows for improved uptake of loose plaque. . This results in an overall improved clinical performance of toothbrushes with bristle tufts according to the present disclosure.

In the context of this disclosure, the term "substantially" means an element or mechanism that, in theory, would be expected to exhibit an exact match or behavior, but which in practice may be embodied as being slightly less exact. means the configuration of As such, the term may vary from a stated reference in any quantitative value, measurement or other relevant expression without resulting in a change in the underlying function of the object in question. It indicates the degree.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein should not be understood to be strictly limited to the exact numerical values stated. Rather, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to mean both the stated value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" shall mean "about 40 mm."

Claims (8)

A tuft (16, 66) for an oral care appliance (10) comprising a plurality of filaments (20), each filament (20) having a longitudinal axis and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. and a substantially cruciform cross-sectional area (22) extending in a plane, said plane with said cruciform cross-sectional area being aligned with said longitudinal axis at a fixed end of said filament attached to a mounting surface of a head. said cross-shaped cross-sectional area (22) having four projections (24) and four channels (26), said projections (24) and said channels (26) comprising: Alternately arranged, each channel (26) has a concave curvature (34) located between the side edges of adjacent projections (24), said concave curvature (34) comprising: having a radius (30) that is the radius of curvature of said concave curvature (34) ;
Said radius (30) of said concave curvature (34) of said channel (26) is between 0.025 mm 2 and 0.25 mm 2 . is within 10 mm,
said hair tress (16, 66) has a stuffing rate in the range of 45% to 49%;
said cross-sectional area (22) of each filament (20) having an outer diameter (28);
the outer diameter (28) of said cross-sectional area (22) of each filament (20) is in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.40 mm;
the ratio of said outer diameter (28) to said radius (30) of said concave curvature (34) of said channel (26) is between 2.5 and 12;
each protrusion (24) of said cross-sectional area (22) is rounded at its ends thereby forming a convex curvature, said convex curvature having a diameter (42); said diameter (42) of said convex curved portion of said protrusion (24) is in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.04 mm;
The ratio of said diameter (42) of said convex curvature of said projection (24) to said radius (30) of said concave curvature (34) of said channel (26) is between 0.2 and 1.5. is 5;
each projection (24) of said cross-shaped cross-sectional area (22) of each filament (20) tapers in an outward direction;
each protrusion (24) tapers in said outward direction at an angle defined between 6° and 25°;
A tuft (16, 66) , wherein the diameter of a circle inscribed in said concave curve is between 0.102 mm and 0.12 mm . A tuft (16, 66) according to claim 1, wherein said radius (30) of said concave curvature (34) of said channel (26) is within the range of 0.03 mm to 0.08 mm. The ratio of said diameter (42) of said convex curvature of said projection (24) to said radius (30) of said concave curvature (34) of said channel (26) is between 0.3 and 1.5. 3. The tress (16, 66) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tress (16, 66) is zero. A tress according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each projection (24) tapers in said outward direction at an angle defined in the range of 8° to 20°. 16, 66). The tufts (16, 66) have a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area (32) extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the plurality of filaments (20) are 5. The method of claims 1-4 , wherein said cross-sectional areas (32) of (16, 66) are arranged in a manner having an enlarged shape with respect to the shape of said cross-sectional areas (22) of the respective filaments (20). A tress (16, 66) according to any one of the preceding claims. Each filament (20) includes a body portion extending along its longitudinal axis and a tapered portion, said tapered portion being located on the side of said free end of said filament with respect to said body portion and at said free end. A tress (16, 66) according to any one of the preceding claims, tapering towards said body portion and having said cross-sectional area ( 22 ). A head (14) for an oral care appliance (10) comprising a tuft (16, 66) according to any one of claims 1-6 . An oral care appliance (10) comprising a head (14) according to claim 7 .

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