Abstract: A spring member includes a planar strip of elastic material formed with a plurality of spirally-extending slits at spaced locations to define a plurality of spirally-extending elements integrally formed with the strip. The spirally-extending elements are pressed out of the plane of the strip to produce a plurality of helically-extending springs integrally formed with the strip, each spring decreasing in diameter from the strip to the outer end of the spring. Also described is the use of such spring members in toothbrushes and keyboards. Further described are methods of making such a spring member and making brush heads including such spring members.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a plurality of bristle holders spring-urged outwardly from the brush head. In one described embodiment, the springs are produced by a planar strip of elastic material stamped with a plurality of spirally-extending slits pressed out of the plane of the strip to produce a plurality of helically-extending springs underlying each of the bristle holders. In a second described embodiment, the springs are in deformable bellows-shaped elements each underlying one of the bristle holders. In some described embodiments, the brush head is pivotally mounted to the handle.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a brush head having a first group of bristle holders arranged along a substantially straight line and a second group of bristle holders arranged in a circle, all the bristle holders being rotatable about their respective axes.

Abstract: A brush includes a plurality of bristle holders each rotatably mounted in the brush head about its own rotary axis, a plurality of crank arms each coupled to one of the bristle holders for oscillating it about its respective rotary axis, and a rod reciprocatably mounted within the handle and carrying a plurality of pins each received in a slot of one of the crank arms to oscillate the respective bristle holder about its rotary axis upon the reciprocation of the rod. In one described embodiment, the reciprocatable rod is connected to a weight slidably mounted in the handle so that the rod is reciprocated by the weight during manual reciprocation of the handle by a user when using the brush. In another described embodiment, the reciprocatable rod is connected to the handle, and the handle is connected to the brush head by a yielding coupling so that the rod is reciprocated by the handle by a user when using the brush.