Abstract: A brush including a support made of bamboo material having a plurality of cluster holes each accommodating one bristle cluster fixed in a cluster hole by a clip having a length l greater than the diameter D of the cluster hole to form clip projections on both longitudinal ends. The clips have at least two wedges on at least one side disposed one above the other in the direction of the vertical axis and widening upward, the upper ends of the wedges forming catch shoulders extending in the longitudinal direction of the clip, wherein a press-in end of the clip having a reduced width is formed at a lower end of the lower wedge.

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: 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 washing device has a housing; a sponge-like working element associated with the housing; means for squeezing the sponge-like working element after a washing step, the means including a hollow provided in the housing, and a displacing element which displaces the sponge-like working element between a working position in which the sponge-like working element is located outside the hollow of the housing for washing a surface and the like, and a squeezing and/or storage position in which the sponge-like working element is forcedly pulled into the hollow so as to be squeezed and therefore to expel liquid from the sponge-like working element.

Abstract: Bristle stiffness is varied by allowing a support beam that carries the bristles to undergo torsional movement in response to brushing action. Torsional movement is achieved by allowing the support beam to be disconnected to the brush head along at least portions of the length of the support beam. In particularly preferred embodiments, brushes employing the varying stiffness techniques are made with bristle sub-assemblies that have at least one row of bristles connected to a base string or similar structure that functions as a support beam. The base string can be connected across an opening in the brush, and is thus connected at its opposite ends, or it can be connected at any number of spaced intervals, the number and length of spacing being selected to achieve a desired degree of stiffness.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bristle sub-assemblies includes a vertically oriented slot, which is formed by two endless belts. A wheel disposed above the slot pushes a bristle string into the slot. The bristle string has a plurality of bristles connected to a base string in two rows. The bristle rows can be horizontally oriented, so that all of the bristles are co-planar in a horizontal plane, or they can be angularly oriented with the base string at the vertex of the angle. When the bristles are pushed into the slot, they bend to adopt a new, substantially parallel orientation. An ultrasonic heater heats the bent bristles to re-set the thermoplastic material from which the bristles are made so that after cooling, the parallel orientation is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bristle sub-assemblies includes a vertically oriented slot, which is formed by two endless belts. A wheel disposed above the slot pushes a bristle string into the slot. The bristle string has a plurality of bristles connected to a base string in two rows. The bristle rows can be horizontally oriented, so that all of the bristles are co-planar in a horizontal plane, or they can be angularly oriented with the base string at the vertex of the angle. When the bristles are pushed into the slot, they bend to adopt a new, substantially parallel orientation. An ultrasonic heater heats the bent bristles to re-set the thermoplastic material from which the bristles are made so that after cooling, the parallel orientation is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bristle sub-assemblies includes a vertically oriented slot, which is formed by two endless belts. A wheel disposed above the slot pushes a bristle string into the slot. The bristle string has a plurality of bristles connected to a base string in two rows. The bristle rows can be horizontally oriented, so that all of the bristles are co-planar in a horizontal plane, or they can be angularly oriented with the base string at the vertex of the angle. When the bristles are pushed into the slot, they bend to adopt a new, substantially parallel orientation. An ultrasonic heater heats the bent bristles to re-set the thermoplastic material from which the bristles are made so that after cooling, the parallel orientation is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, and to a method of manufacturing such a brush head. The brush head includes a bristle carrier and bristles fixedly secured thereto, said bristle carrier having a slot-type recess in which a multiplicity of bristles is received forming an elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour corresponding essentially to the contour of the slot-type recess. According to the invention the brush head is characterized in that the slot-type recess is divided by means of at least one transverse wall into several segments, a separate tuft is inserted and secured in each of the segments, and the at least one transverse wall is constructed so that the separate tufts converge, forming in combination the elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour.

Abstract: Several brush assemblies are disclosed. All employ bristle strings that include a base string connected to a plurality of monofilaments. The preferred monofilaments are nylons and other polymeric thermoplastic materials. The monofilaments may be linear segments or loop segments disposed in two rows. The bristle strings may be connected to brush bodies to form virtually any of the various types of brushes. Bristle strings employing loops may be braided together to form entangled, monofilament articles for brush or other applications.

Abstract: A brush structure is provided which allows for even distribution of paint to a surface and further provides for variable stiffness of the bristles. The brush has a handle (10) which engages a ferrule (12) through a dovetail slot (11). The ferrule (12) receives a knob (15) which engages a blade (16) within a bristle member (18). The blade (16) may be variably positioned within the bristle member (18).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a toothbrush having a brush section 20 comprising a bristle carrier 22 and bristles 24 fixedly secured thereto, with the brush section 20 being provided with components made of silver. Separate structures 28 are provided for fixedly securing the bristles 24 in their proper location in the bristle carrier 22, which separate structures 28 are made of a material with oligodynamic action.

Abstract: An abrading tool or brush is formed with an open center low density tuft. The tufts are laterally slightly compressed and encapsulated in a medium density elastomeric foam reinforcement having a density of from about 20 to about 50 lbs/cu/ft (320-800.90 Kg/cu. meter). When the tufts are formed, preferably of wire, they are twisted about a core extending axially of the tufts. The core includes angled facets which form corners around which the wire is bent to form closely spaced bends to promote short fracture of the wire in use.

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.

Abstract: A roller brush and method of making same for sweeping machines for cleaning streets and roads. The brush includes cassettes arranged in brackets around the periphery of a roller and extending in the longitudinal direction of the roller. The cassettes receive spring members, such as radially projecting bristles, the ends of which are brought in contact with ground when the brush is used for cleaning. The cassettes are received in grooves in the brackets. The spring members are bent double around a locking wire which acts to hold the members in the cassettes and which passes through holes in connecting cross walls extending from facing long sides of the cassettes. The connecting cross walls are provided at spaced locations along the cassette thereby defining cells on the cassette. The spaced connecting cross walls act to increase the rigidity of the cassette.

Abstract: The invention is a brush for cleaning and polishing teeth while stimulating the gums. The invention consists of a handle with an integral head. The head has a flat surface with a plurality of recessed sockets. Affixed within the recessed sockets are the stimulator rods surrounded by bristles and polishing rods surrounded by bristles.

Abstract: A brush construction which includes a brush handle having a hollowed end portion for receiving a tuft of bristles. The tuft of bristles are reversely folded about a plastic filament, and the filament reversely folded whereby the free ends of the plastic filament and the associated tuft of bristles form a bundle which, when inserted into the hollow end portion of the handle is positively retained therein by the inherent resiliency of the bundle. To more securely retain the tuft of bristles to the handle, the handle may be made of plastic whereby the plastic filament can be sonically welded or fused to the plastic brush handle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brush which comprises a handle portion, a base portion formed with recesses for holding filaments or bristles, an insert which acts as holding means for holding the filaments or bristles in the recesses, and filaments or bristles held in the recesses by the insert. According to the invention, the base portion of the brush, and possible also the handle portion, is formed of a particular plastic which permits the insert which holds the filaments or bristles to press into the sides of the recesses with considerable pressure without cracking the sides so as to permit better holding of the filaments or bristles in the brush base.

Abstract: A cleaning broom comprises a layer of bristles provided with a plurality of slots extending along the main sides of the broom, a supporting core in the inside of the layer of bristles, a ring wrapped round the core and layer and provided with slots corresponding to those in the core, and a pair of strips disposed on the ring and provided with transversely extending lugs. Each lug traverses the slots in the core and in a portion of the ring and nails are inserted into the core to rigidly connect the strips to the core.