Patent ID: 8332982

Claim:
A toothbrush, comprising: a head extending from a neck which extends from a handle, the head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom, the head further comprising a top surface and a back surface opposite the top surface; a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the lateral axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis being generally parallel to the top surface of the head; a first group of tooth cleaning elements located towards a free end of the head, each of the first group of tooth cleaning elements being tilted at an angle which is away from the handle, the first group of tooth cleaning elements having free ends which collectively define a plane which is non perpendicular to a direction in which the first group of tooth cleaning elements extend away from the head; a second group of tooth cleaning elements located towards the outside of the head; a third group of tooth cleaning elements which alternate with the second group of tooth cleaning elements, wherein the third group of tooth cleaning elements are oriented at an acute angle to a top surface of the head in a direction that is across the width of the head; a fourth group of tooth cleaning elements made of a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the fourth tooth group of tooth cleaning elements comprise a plurality of curved walls, and wherein at least one of the fourth group of tooth cleaning elements comprises a base portion and a cleaning portion, the base portion having a first part and a second part, the first part being disposed nearer to the top surface than the second part, the first part having a first length generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and the second part having a second length generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second length is greater than the first length, and wherein the base portion comprises a distal end located furthest from the cleaning portion and inboard of the back surface such that the base support does not extend beyond the back surface; a fifth group of tooth cleaning elements located towards the inside of the head; and an opening having an entrance in the top surface of the head, wherein the base portion of at least one of the fourth group of tooth cleaning elements is disposed in the opening, wherein the opening comprises a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the first portion is disposed adjacent the top surface and the second portion is disposed adjacent the back surface of the head, and wherein the first portion has a width which is shorter than the width of the second portion, the width being generally parallel to the lateral axis.