Toothbrush and process for producing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405642-B2
Application number	US-201514962542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2002
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a toothbrush that is produced by AFT and has a head part and at least one carrier element connected thereto. A front surface of the head part is formed by the top surfaces of the at least one carrier element and has a non-planar three-dimensional configuration, or is capable of assuming such a configuration during intended use. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush, comprising:
a handle part;
a head part connected to the handle part, the head part having a front face and a rear face; and
at least one carrier element non-releasably connected to the head part, the at least one carrier element having a top surface, a rear surface and clusters of bristle filaments having a rear end melted to form a bristle melt, wherein:
the at least one carrier element contains an additive which is not used in the head part and the handle part;
the head part contains an elastic material integrally molded with the head part; and
the elastic material is at least partially arranged beneath the at least one carrier element.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises a different color than the head part.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises additives such as flavorings, temperature indicators or antibacterial substances.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the bristle melt forms separate webs.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the head part contains a plurality of cutouts running between the top surface and the rear surface of the at least one carrier element, and
the clusters of bristle filaments are guided through the cutouts.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 5 , wherein
the cutouts are located at least partially in an elastic material of the at least one carrier element.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 5 , wherein
the cutouts are located at least partially in a hard plastic material of the at least one carrier element.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is a two-component carrier element.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the bristle melt at least partially covers the rear surface of the at least one carrier element.

10. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is made of a hard plastic material.

11. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is made of a same hard plastic material as the head part.

12. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is made of a hard plastic material and a soft plastic material.

13. The toothbrush according to claim 12 , wherein
the hard plastic material is at least one of PET, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, and polypropylene; and
the soft plastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is connected to the head part only in sub-regions.

15. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
in a contact region of the at least one carrier element and the head part, edges or grooves are formed.

16. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is at least partially spaced apart from the head part.

17. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element includes non-bristle containing cleaning elements made of a soft material.

18. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic material and the at least one carrier element contact one another in a front end region of the head part.

19. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
in a central portion of the head part an elevated region is provided which includes multiple non-bristle containing flexible cleaning elements.

20. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the clusters of bristle filaments produce profiles which (i) differ in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction in relation to the head part and (ii) have different levels of rigidity.

21. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element consists of a soft-elastic material, and slightly protrudes from the head part in a vertical direction.

22. The toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises two portions which are separated from one another by a central portion of the head part carrying at least one of (i) the clusters of bristle filaments and (ii) flexible non-bristle containing cleaning elements.

23. A toothbrush, comprising:
a handle part;
a head part connected to the handle part, the head part having a front face and a rear face; and
at least one carrier element non-releasably connected to the head part, the at least one carrier element having a top surface, a rear surface and clusters of bristle filaments having a rear end melted to form a bristle melt, wherein:
the at least one carrier element comprises a different color than the head part;
the head part contains an elastic material integrally molded with the head part; and
the elastic material is at least partially arranged beneath the at least one carrier element.

24. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises additives such as flavorings, temperature indicators or antibacterial substances.

25. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element contains an additive which is not used in the head part and the handle part.

26. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is made of a same hard plastic material as the head part.

27. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is connected to the head part only in sub-regions.

28. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element is at least partially spaced apart from the head part.

29. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
in a central portion of the head part an elevated region is provided which includes multiple non-bristle-containing flexible cleaning elements.

30. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element consists of a soft-elastic material, and slightly protrudes from the head part in a vertical direction.

31. The toothbrush according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises two portions which are separated from one another by a central portion of the head part carrying at least one of (i) the clusters of bristle filaments and (ii) flexible non-bristle containing cleaning elements.

32. A toothbrush, comprising:
a handle part;
a head part to the handle part, the head part having a front face and a rear face; and
at least one carrier element non-releasably connected to the head part, the at least one carrier element having a top surface, a rear surface and clusters of bristle filaments having a rear end melted to form a bristle melt, wherein
the at least one carrier element comprises two portions which are separated from one another by a central portion of the head part carrying the clusters of bristle filaments and/or flexible non-bristle containing cleaning elements.

33. The toothbrush according to claim 32 , wherein
the at least one carrier element consists of a soft-elastic material, and slightly protrudes from the head part in a vertical direction.

Assignees

• Trisa Holding Ag

Inventors

• Pfenniger Philipp
• Fischer Franz

Classifications

• A46B3/20

  the bristles being fixed or joined in rubber bodies, e.g. in soft rubber · CPC title

• A46B15/0032

  with protrusion for polishing teeth · CPC title

• A46D3/045

  for fixing bristles by fusing or gluing to a body · CPC title

• A46B9/026

  where the surface of the brush body or carrier is not in one plane, e.g. not flat (A46B9/005 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A46B3/06 Primary

  by welding together bristles made of metal wires or plastic materials · CPC title