Bristle and Toothbrush Incorportating the Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317644-A1
Application number	US-201515772874-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 3, 2015
Priority date	Nov 3, 2015
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

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 claims is:

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
a handle; a head coupled to the handle; and at least one bristle comprising a composition comprising a polymer and fibroin particles.

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

3 . (canceled)

4 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the fibroin particles are present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.05 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. % of the total weight of the composition.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a condensation polymer selected from a group consisting of a polyimide, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the bristle is tapered.

10 . The toothbrush according to claim 9 , wherein the bristle comprises a base portion and a distal tip portion extending from the base portion, the distal tip portion having a transverse-cross-sectional area that decreases with distance from the head.

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the bristle is formed by the composition.

14 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the bristle is a single component formed entirely of the composition.

15 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the bristle comprises a core component and a sheath component surrounding the core component, the core component having a tip portion that protrudes from the sheath component, and wherein at least one of the core component and the sheath component is formed of the composition.

16 . The toothbrush according to claim 15 wherein the core component is formed of the composition and the sheath component is free of fibroin.

17 . The toothbrush according to claim 15 wherein the sheath component is formed of the composition and the core component is free of fibroin.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the bristle further comprises an antibacterial additive.

20 . A method of forming bristles comprising:
a) mixing fibroin particles into a polymer resin to form a mixture; and b) forming a plurality of bristles from the mixture.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , 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.

22 . (canceled)

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the mixture passes through the extruder at a temperature ranging from about 240° C. to about 290° C.

24 . The method according to claim 20 , 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.

25 . The method according of claim 20 , wherein the fibroin particles have a particle size that is less than or equal to about 5 microns.

26 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the polymer resin is a condensation polymer.

27 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the die has a circular porthole.

28 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the die has a polygonal porthole.

29 . A bristle comprising a composition comprising a polymer and fibroin particles dispersed throughout the polymer.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Xi Wen Jin
• Guo Guang Sheng
• Zhang Bo

Classifications

• A46D1/0207 Primary

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

• A46D1/023

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

• A46B9/04 Primary

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• 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