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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. Instead of an elongated groove having a sharp edge on each of the opposite major surfaces of the staple, these surfaces may be provided with knurlings. Further, the elongated grooves may intersect as well as being parallel, and may be of generally U shape in transverse section.

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First Claim