Patent ID: 9445660
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: A46B,A46D

Claim Text:
1. An oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head having a face; a first tuft hole in the face, the first tuft hole having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile comprising a minor axis and a major axis, the major axis of the first tuft hole being longer than the minor axis of the first tuft hole; and a first bristle tuft mounted in the first tuft hole and extending from the face of the head, the first bristle tuft comprising a first plurality of tapered bristles, wherein an entirety of a perimeter of the bristle tuft is abutted against a wall of the tuft hole without gaps; wherein each of the first plurality of tapered bristles comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional profile having a minor axis and a major axis, the major axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles being longer than and perpendicular to the minor axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles, the major axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles and the minor axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles intersecting at center points of the transverse cross-sectional profiles of the first plurality of tapered bristles; wherein the major axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles extend between first pairs of opposing apexes of the transverse cross-sectional profiles of the first plurality of tapered bristles and the minor axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles extend between second pairs of opposing apexes of the transverse cross-sectional profiles of the first plurality of tapered bristles; and wherein the major axes of the first plurality of tapered bristles are substantially parallel to the major axis of the first tuft hole.