Abstract: An ansate implement, especially a toothbrush, having improved tuft retention and a staple for use therewith. The staple has a specially designed topography that provides reliable anchoring and creation from cost effective materials. In one embodiment, the invention is an ansate implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to said handle and having at least one hole extending into the head from a surface; at least one cleaning element positioned in the hole; and a staple located in the hole anchoring the cleaning element in the tuft hole, the staple having a longitudinal axis and a first major surface, wherein a plurality of spaced apart grooves are formed into the first major surface, each of the grooves extending along a linear axis from a bottom edge of the staple toward a top edge of the staple, the linear axis intersecting the longitudinal axis at an acute angle of 40 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A novel toothbrush staple for a holding a U shaped tuft of bristles in a tuft hole of a toothbrush head. The staple is generally flat and its lower edge is rounded to inhibit rupturing the bristles at the bight portion of a U shaped tuft of bristles mounted by the staple in the hole. The sides of the staple are provided with one or more horizontal grooves each having a sharp edge. The arrangement of tufts and staple is such that the rounded bottom of the staple contacts the bight portion of the tuft of bristles, thus precluding rupture due to sharp edges at the staple bottom bearing against the bight portion of the tufts, especially during initial installation of the tuft in the hole. Each leg of the U shaped tuft is in contact with a respective staple surface. With the passage of time, plastic creep or flow results in the plastic on the inside wall of the hole flowing towards the staple sides and interlocking with the sharp edges of the grooves.