Multi-component plastic housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017001402-A1
Application number	US-201514755238-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Jun 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-component housing having a length and comprising at least a first component comprising a first plastic material, a second component comprising a second plastic material, and a third component comprising a third plastic material. The housing includes at least one tolerance-elimination element made of the second plastic material and longitudinally attached to the first component along the housing's longitudinal axis. The tolerance-elimination element has an average length extending parallel to the housing's longitudinal axis, which average length is at least ten times less than the length of the housing. The third component at least partially forms an outer surface of the housing, so that the tolerance-elimination element is at least partially overmolded by the third plastic material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multi-component housing comprising:
at least a first component comprising a first plastic material and having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, a second component comprising a second plastic material, and a third component comprising a third plastic material, the at least first, second, and third components being joined together to form a substantially tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end, a length L parallel to the longitudinal axis and extending between the top end and the bottom end, and a maximal orthogonal dimension Dmax extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the length L of the housing is at least three times greater than the maximal orthogonal dimension Dmax extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; wherein the housing includes at least one tolerance-elimination element made of the second plastic material and attached to one of the first and second ends of the first component along the longitudinal axis, the tolerance-elimination element having a proximal end and a distal end opposite thereto, the proximal end being adjacent to at least one of the first and second ends of the first component, wherein the tolerance-elimination element has an average length H extending between the proximal end and the distal end parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the average length H is at least ten times less than the length L of the housing; and wherein the third component at least partially forms an outer surface of the housing, so that the tolerance-elimination element is at least partially overmolded by the third plastic material.

2 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the average length H of the tolerance-elimination element is from about 3 mm to about 20 mm.

3 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the average length H of the tolerance-elimination element is from about 5 mm to about 10 mm.

4 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plastic material, the second plastic material, and the third plastic material comprises a hard-plastic material and at least one other of the first plastic material, the second plastic material, and the third plastic material comprises a soft-plastic material.

5 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element is made of a hard-plastic material.

6 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element has a minimal length Hmin of from about 1 mm to about 20 mm extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7 . The housing of claim 6 , wherein the minimal length Hmin is from about 2 mm to about 15 mm.

8 . The housing of claim 6 , wherein the minimal length Hmin is from about 3 mm to about 10 mm.

9 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element has a maximal length Hmax of from about 10 mm to about 30 mm extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

10 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element is structured to cause the housing to have a lengthwise tolerance of from 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm.

11 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element is structured to cause the housing to have a lengthwise tolerance of from about 0.006% to about 0.03% relative to the length L of the housing.

12 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the tolerance-elimination element is completely covered by the third component.

13 . The housing of claim 12 , wherein the third component extends beyond the distal end of the tolerance-elimination element to a distance of from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm therefrom.

14 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the first plastic material, the second plastic material, and the third plastic material differ from one another in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, opacity, porosity, and hardness.

15 . The housing of claim 1 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element is integrally attached to the first material.

16 . A multi-component housing for a toothbrush handle, the housing having a top end, a bottom end opposite to the top end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the housing having a length L of from about 120 mm to about 200 mm extending between the top and bottom ends and a maximal orthogonal dimension Dmax extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the length L of the housing is at least three times greater than the maximal orthogonal dimension Dmax extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the housing comprising:
at least a first component made of a first hard-plastic material and having a first end and a second end opposite thereto, a second component made of a second hard-plastic material, and a third component made of a soft-plastic material, the first component, the second component, and the third component being integrally joined together to form a generally tubular structure; wherein the housing includes at least one tolerance-elimination element made of the second plastic material and attached to one of the first and second ends of the first component along the longitudinal axis, wherein the tolerance-elimination element has a proximal end adjacent to the first component and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the tolerance-elimination element has an average length H of from about 3 mm to about 20 mm extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end of the tolerance-elimination element, wherein the tolerance-elimination element is at least partially overmolded by the soft-plastic material, and wherein the tolerance-elimination element is structured to cause the housing to have a lengthwise tolerance of from about 0.006% to about 0.03% relative to the length L of the housing.

17 . The housing of claim 16 , wherein the first hard-plastic material differs from the second hard-plastic material in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, opacity, porosity, and hardness.

18 . The housing of claim 16 , wherein the first hard-plastic material is substantially identical to the second hard-plastic material.

19 . The housing of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first hard-plastic material and the second hard-plastic material is at least partially transparent or translucent and the other one is opaque.

20 . The housing of claim 19 , wherein the soft-plastic material is opaque.

21 . The housing of claim 20 , wherein the tolerance-elimination element is completely overmolded by the soft-plastic material.

22 . The housing of claim 21 , wherein the soft-plastic material extends beyond the distal end of the tolerance-elimination element to a distance of from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm therefrom.

23 . The housing of claim 16 , wherein the second hard-plastic material at least partially overmolds the first hard-plastic material.

24 . The housing of claim 23 , wherein the soft-plastic material at least partially overmolds the first hard-plastic material.

Assignees

• Braun Gmbh

Inventors

• Kunz Marc
• Huebscher Werner
• Lueckel Kris
• Schäfer Sven
• Triebig Stefan Gehard

Classifications

• A46B5/02

  specially shaped for holding by the hand · CPC title

• B32B2250/24

  All layers being polymeric · CPC title

• A61C17/225 Primary

  Handles or details thereof · CPC title

• B32B3/28

  characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title