Claims
- 1. A toothbrush comprising a head having tufts of bristles implanted therein, wherein at least two tufts cross so as to permit at least some of the bristles in these two tufts to intermingle, wherein one of the two tufts is located adjacent a long side of the head, wherein the head includes two portions which are movable independently of each other.
- 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein one of the two tufts is located on one of the two head portions, and the other of the two tufts is located on the other of the two head portions.
- 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein both of the two tufts are located on the same head portion.
- 4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the two portions of the head define an opening in a central portion of the head such that water can flow through this opening.
- 5. The toothbrush of claim 4, wherein a top surface of the other of the head portions from which tufts project is tilted inwardly such that its tufts tilt inwardly.
- 6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein each head portion includes alternating projections and recesses, the projections of each head portion fitting at least partially into the recesses of the other head portion.
- 7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a top surface of one of the head portions from which tufts project tilt inwardly such that the tufts tilt inwardly.
- 8. The toothbrush of claim 7, wherein a top surface of the other of the head portions from which tufts project is tilted inwardly such that its tufts tilt inwardly.
- 9. A toothbrush comprising a head having at least 2 tufts of bristles which have a compound crossing angle such that one of the tufts eclipses at least a portion of the bristles of the other tuft when (a) viewed from a side of the toothbrush, and (b) viewed from an end of the toothbrush, wherein the head includes two portions which are movable independently of each other.
- 10. A toothbrush according to claim 9 wherein said head comprises adjacent, complementary first and second regions.
- 11. A toothbrush according to claim 10 wherein said adjacent portions are spaced apart so as to permit water to flow between them when the brush is rinsed during use.
- 12. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein one of the two tufts is located on one of the two head portions, and the other of the two tufts is located on the other of the two head portions.
- 13. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein both of the two tufts are located on the same head portion.
- 14. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the two portions of the head define an opening in a central portion of the head such that water can flow through this opening.
- 15. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein each head portion includes alternating projections and recesses, the projections of each head portion fitting at least partially into the recesses of the other head portion.
- 16. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein a top surface of one of the head portions from which tufts project is tilted inwardly such that its tufts tilt inwardly.
- 17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein a top surface of the other of the head portions from which tufts project is tilted inwardly such that its tufts tilt inwardly.
- 18. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the two tufts cross so as to permit at least some of the bristles to intermingle.
- 19. The toothbrush of claim 18, wherein at least some of the intermingled bristles from one of the two tufts extend past the other tuft.
- 20. The toothbrush of claim 19, wherein at least some of the intermingled bristles from each of the two tufts extends respectively past the other of the two tufts.
- 21. A toothbrush comprising a head having at least 2 bristle tufts, the head having two portions, wherein the two portions of the head define an opening therebetween, wherein each head portion includes one or more projections alternating with one or more recesses, the projections of each head portion fitting at least partially into the recesses of the other head portion, at least one of the projections being surrounded on three sides by the other head portion.
- 22. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein the two head portions are movable independently of each other.
- 23. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein one of the two tufts is located on one of the two head portions, and the other of the two tufts is located on the other of the two head portions.
- 24. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein both of the two tufts. are located on the same head portion.
- 25. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein at least one of the projections on one of the head portions has at least one tuft extending therefrom and is surrounded on three sides by the other head portion.
- 26. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein a top surface of one of the head portions from which tufts project is tilted inwardly such that its tufts tilt inwardly.
- 27. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein the area of the opening at a top surface of the head is between about 2% to about 20% of the total area, including the area of the opening, of the top surface of the head.
- 28. The toothbrush of claim 27, wherein the area of the opening at the top surface of the head is between about 4% to about 18% of the area of the top surface of the head.
- 29. The toothbrush of claim 27, wherein the area of the opening at the top surface of the head is between about 6% to about 16% of the area of the top surface of the head.
- 30. The toothbrush of claim 27, wherein the area of the opening at the top surface of the head is between about 8% to about 14% of the area of the top surface of the head.
- 31. The toothbrush of claim 21, wherein each projection is surrounded on three sides by the other head portion.
- 32. A toothbrush comprising a head having tufts of bristles implanted therein, wherein at least two tufts cross so as to permit at least some of the bristles in these two tufts to intermingle, at least some of the intermingled bristles from one of the two tufts extends past the other tuft, wherein the head includes two portions which are movable independently of each other.
- 33. The toothbrush of claim 32, wherein at least some of the intermingled bristles from each of the two tufts extends respectively past the other of the two tufts.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
Reference is made to commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/064,545, entitled Toothbrush and filed on Apr. 22, 1998 in the names of Castillo et al, now abandoned.
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