Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head extending from the handle, and a tuft of bristles extending from the head. The tuft is inclined such that the angle of inclination is an acute angle relative to a surface of the head through which the tuft extends. The bristles have free ends which define a plane, the plane being other than perpendicular to a direction in which the tuft extends from the head. The plane is inclined towards the same direction in which the tuft is inclined.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning electrodes of an optical fiber splicing apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of tungsten wires and a support member. The plurality of tungsten wires are coupled to the support member at a first end of the support member. The cleaning apparatus may also include a cover that is slidably disposed on the support member. The cover is slidable between a first position where the cover is disposed away from the plurality of tungsten wires and a second position where the plurality of tungsten wires are received within the cover.

Abstract: A bristle sub-assembly includes first and second base strings and a plurality of polymeric monofilaments connected to and extending between the first and second base strings. The polymeric monofilaments form a first arched row when the first and second base strings are brought together. Several types and configurations of brushes are made using either arched bristles or combinations of arched and straight bristles.

Abstract: An orthodontic toothbrush cleans braces and teeth effectively, including braces which have brackets protruding from tooth surfaces, wherein the brackets are connected by a spanning archwire. The orthodontic toothbrush has a longitudinally extending handle attached to a teeth cleaning head with bristles extending upward therefrom. The bristle head includes rows of bristles, which contact and clean both the orthodontic appliances attached to the surfaces of the teeth and underlying teeth at the same time because of the several different bristle heights. The shortest group of bristles is in the middle of all the bristle rows. The height of these shortest bristles represent an average protrusive depth of the thickness of a typical bracket or band protruding from a tooth's surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush with uniform diameter bristles containing a polishing agent with a particle size of from about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 100 &mgr;m, wherein cleaning of the teeth is improved without any of the adverse side effects associated with over aggressive abrasion. An embodiment of the present invention includes a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 &mgr;m to about 10 &mgr;m. Particles less than 0.1 &mgr;m can be used if aggregation occurs such that the aggregate size on bristle is described.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards plastic bristles for the washing brushes of automatic car washes which operate with moving brushes, where the bristles are hollow-profile bristles. The hollow-profile bristles preferably exhibit a diameter of from 0.5 to 5 mm and a round or oval cross section.

Abstract: The monofilament of this invention is a polyamide of polyhexamethylene adipamide oriented from 1.0-4.0 times its original length, has a diameter of 400-1600 microns and contains 2-20% by weight, based on the weight polyamide of the monofilament, of an alkyl aryl sulfonamide plasticizer and 5.0-40.0% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of abrasive particles having a particle size of 10-400 microns. These monofilaments are particularly useful as bristles used in brushes that are operated under dry conditions at relatively high temperatures.

Abstract: An epidermal scrubbing device intended for use by human beings comprising a rigid plastic base having integral suction cups for attachment to a shower wall. Insert molded into the base is a polypropylene plastic scrubbing surface characterized by a two-dimensional array of soft, smooth surfaced, plastic nubs having a height on the order of ½ of an inch. Where desired, a column of slightly higher nubs may be added for scrubbing, for example, the spinal area.

Abstract: A powder-dispensing brush includes a powder reservoir, a tuft of hairs secured to the reservoir, in particular by a sleeve. The powder is caused to migrate from the reservoir into the tuft, which includes at least one group of relatively more dense hairs and one group of relatively less dense hairs. The powder is caused to migrate by at least one passage communicating with the reservoir and coming out between the groups of relatively more dense hairs and relatively less dense hairs or into the group of relatively dense hairs.

Abstract: A brush for the application of a make-up product comprising a tuft (2) of substantially parallel bristles (3), a first end (8) of these bristles (3) being fixed to a free end (5a) of a stem (5), characterized in that all, or a proportion of the bristles (3) of the tuft (2) are made of at least one elastomeric, thermoplastic or vulcanized material.

Abstract: A method of treating the bristles of a tuft of bristles of the brush, nail varnish application assembly requiring such a brush, and a brush for the application of a make-up or beauty product, having a tuft (2) of approximately parallel bristles (3), a first end of these bristles (3) being fastened to a free end (4a) of a wand (4), the bristles (3) of the tuft (2) being surface-impregnated with a partially acetylated polyvinyl alcohol comprising at least units of formulae (I) and (II): in which the units of formulae (II) are present in proportions ranging from 3 mol % to 40 mol % with respect to the polymer, the polyvinyl alcohol having a weight-average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 190,000.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush with uniform diameter bristles containing a polishing agent with a particle size of from about 0.01 &mgr;m to about 100 &mgr;m, wherein cleaning of the teeth is improved without any of the adverse side effects associated with over aggressive abrasion. An embodiment of the present invention includes a toothbrush including a handle associated with a head having at least one tuft securely affixed in or attached to the head, said tuft including a plurality of filaments comprised of (a) a thermoplastic filament base material and (b) an effective polishing amount of a polishing agent having a particle size of from about 0.1 &mgr;m to about 10 &mgr;m. Particles less than 0.1 &mgr;m can be used if aggregation occurs such that the aggregate size on bristle is described.

Abstract: A toothbrush which provides superior cleaning as well as gum and inter dental stimulation. The toothbrush has an elongated member extending between two ends. The elongate member has a head at one of its ends. The head has a plurality of tufts comprising a multiplicity of bristles. The tufts have proximal ends attached to the head, distal ends extending outwardly from the head and sides extending between the distal and proximal ends. The distal ends of the tufts are angled downwardly from a peak so that adjacent tufts form a V shaped profile when looking at the side of the tufts. The head further includes a number of additional bristles attached thereto and extending above the peaks of the tufts. Alternatively, the tufts of bristles may include a predetermined number of bristles that are stiffer than the rest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brush for the application of a make-up product comprising a tuft (2) of substantially parallel bristles (3), a first end (8) of these bristles (3) being fixed to a free end (5a) of a stem (5), characterized in that all, or a proportion of the bristles (3) of the tuft (2) are made of at least one elastomeric, thermoplastic or vulcanized material.