Bristle and toothbrush incorporating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10575629-B2
Application number	US-201515772874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2015
Priority date	Nov 3, 2015
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A bristle and a tooth brush incorporating the same. A toothbrush ( 100 ) having a handle ( 120 ), a head ( 110 ) coupled to the handle ( 120 ), and at least one bristle that comprising a composition including a polymer and fibroin particles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming bristles comprising:
a) forming a fibroin powder by dissolving a degummed silk material in at least one solvent to form a fibroin solution, adding a coagulating salt to the fibroin solution, precipitating a fibroin precipitate from the fibroin solution, and drying and grinding the fibroin precipitate into fibroin particles;
b) mixing the fibroin particles into a polymer resin to form a mixture; and
c) forming a plurality of bristles from the mixture.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises:
b-1) extruding the mixture through a die to form extruded strands; and
b-2) cutting the extruded strands to form the bristles.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mixture passes through the extruder at a temperature ranging from about 240° C. to about 290° C.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the die has a circular porthole.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the die has a polygonal porthole.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fibroin particles are present in the mixture in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture.

7. The method according of claim 1 , wherein the fibroin particles have a particle size that is less than or equal to about 5 microns.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer resin is a condensation polymer.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Xi Wen Jin
• Guo Guang Sheng
• Zhang Bo

Classifications

• A46B2200/1066

  Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) · CPC title

• A46D1/0276

  Bristles having pointed ends · CPC title

• A46B9/04 Primary

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• A46D1/023

  Bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath · CPC title

• A46D1/0207 Primary

  Bristles characterised by the choice of material, e.g. metal · CPC title