U.S. patent application number 12/598558 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-02 for device for cleaning teeth and/or mouth.
This patent application is currently assigned to Braun GmbH. Invention is credited to Ulrich Pfeifer, Stefan Schamber, Jens Stoerkel, Martin Vitt, Tilmann Winkler.
Application Number | 20100299858 12/598558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39643751 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100299858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schamber; Stefan ; et
al. |
December 2, 2010 |
DEVICE FOR CLEANING TEETH AND/OR MOUTH
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for dental and/or oral care,
especially a toothbrush, comprising a preferably rod-shaped tool
support to which a cleaning tool, especially a bristle field, can
be fastened. The tool support is configured as a composite body
that comprises an enveloping body from a first material, preferably
plastic material, and a functional body from a second material,
preferably metal, which is embedded in the enveloping body. The
dental and/or oral care device is characterized in that the
functional body is configured in at least some sections thereof as
a trelliswork girder frame that has longitudinal girders
substantially extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool
support and a plurality of cross-girders. The enveloping body is
especially transparent so that the functional body is visible
through the enveloping body.
Inventors: |
Schamber; Stefan; (Usingen,
DE) ; Stoerkel; Jens; (Frankfurt/Main, DE) ;
Winkler; Tilmann; (Kronberg/Taunus, DE) ; Vitt;
Martin; (Frankfurt/Main, DE) ; Pfeifer; Ulrich;
(Muenzenberg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Assignee: |
Braun GmbH
Cincinnati
OH
|
Family ID: |
39643751 |
Appl. No.: |
12/598558 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/03445 |
371 Date: |
August 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 5/007 20130101;
A46B 5/0062 20130101; Y10T 16/498 20150115; A46B 2200/1066
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 019 908 |
Claims
1. A device for dental and/or oral care, especially a toothbrush,
comprising a preferably approximately rod-shaped tool support (6),
to which a cleaning tool, especially a bristle field (5), can be
fastened, wherein the tool support (6) is configured as a composite
body that comprises an enveloping body (7) from a first material,
preferably plastic material, and a functional body (8) from a
second material, preferably metal, which is embedded in said
enveloping body (7), characterized in that the functional body (8)
is configured such that an areal moment of inertia of the
functional body (8) with respect to an axis perpendicular to a
longitudinal symmetry plane (7) of the tool support (6) is a
multiple of an areal moment of inertia of the functional body (8)
with respect to an axis located in said longitudinal symmetry plane
(7).
2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the functional body
(8) is substantially configured plate-like or planar and has in the
longitudinal symmetry plane of the tool support (6) a maximum
extension that is a multiple of the extension of the functional
body (8) transversal to said longitudinal symmetry plane (7).
3. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the functional body (8) has a plate-like enveloping surface that is
arranged raised on edge in the or parallel to the longitudinal
symmetry plane (7) of the tool support (6).
4. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the tool support (6) forms a bristle tube and/or a handle (2) of a
toothbrush (1), wherein the functional body (8) ends in front of a
bristle field fastening section of the tool support (6) and/or the
bristle field fastening section of the tool support (6) is
configured reinforcement-free.
5. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the functional body (8) forms a reinforcing body and consists of a
material having a higher strength and/or stiffness than the
material of which the enveloping body (9) is made.
6. A device as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 or any of the
preceding claims, wherein the enveloping body (9) is configured
transparent in the region of the functional body (8) at least in
some sections thereof, such that the functional body (8) can be
viewed through the enveloping body (9).
7. A device as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the
enveloping body (9) is configured in its transparent section so as
to be optically image-changing, particularly distorting, blurring,
magnifying and/or demagnifying.
8. A device as set forth in any of the two preceding claims,
wherein the enveloping body (9) in its transparent section forms an
optical lens.
9. A device as set forth in any of the two preceding claims,
wherein the enveloping body (9) in its transparent section forms an
optical prism.
10. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the embedded functional body (8) is configured opaque.
11. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the functional body (8) is configured at
least in some sections thereof as a girder assembly having
longitudinal girders (12) substantially extending in the
longitudinal direction of the tool support and a multiplicity of
cross-connecting girders (13), or that the functional body is
configured with cutouts.
12. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the girder assembly
is configured as a girder frame (11).
13. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the longitudinal girders (12) are adapted in their profile to the
outer contour of the enveloping body (9) and have at least in some
sections thereof a profile deviating from the straight line.
14. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the longitudinal girders (12) form the outer contour of the girder
frame (11) and/or are arranged along the edges thereof.
15. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the girder frame (11) is integrally formed as one piece of
homogeneous material.
16. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the longitudinal girders (12) have a varying spacing from each
other along the longitudinal extension thereof.
17. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the cross-connecting girders (13) are configured with different
lengths, and/or at differently acute pitches relative to the
longitudinal girders (12).
18. A device as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 or any of the
preceding claims, wherein the functional body (8) has at least in
some sections thereof a meandering or wavy profile along a
longitudinal extension of the tool support (6).
19. A device as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the
meandering or wavy profile has an amplitude that varies over the
longitudinal extension of the tool support (6).
20. A device as set forth in one of the two preceding claims,
wherein the meandering or wavy profile is configured
two-dimensional.
21. A device as set forth in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the cutouts are configured continuous, particularly as circular
openings.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dental and/or
oral care, especially a toothbrush, comprising a preferably
rod-shaped tool support to which a cleaning tool, especially a
bristle field, can be fastened, wherein the tool support is
configured as a composite body that comprises an enveloping body
from a first material, preferably plastic material, and a
functional body from a second material, preferably metal, which is
embedded in the enveloping body.
[0002] In the case of toothbrushes the handles thereof, or the
bristle tubes or bristle head supports of brush attachments of
electric toothbrushes, regularly form elongated, preferably
approximately rod-shaped tool supports that are subjected to a
greater or lesser degree to especially bending stresses due to the
forces that are applied during the cleaning process. Other tooth
and/or oral care devices, such as interdental cleaners, floss
handles, or tongue cleaners also have such elongated tool supports,
which are subjected to stresses in similar ways. In so far as such
dental and/or oral care devices must be inserted into the oral
cavity the aforementioned tool supports must be configured slim and
are limited in terms of their possible cross section, and curved or
angularly bent profiles must be implemented as well. In order to
nonetheless achieve the necessary strength, especially bending
strength, it was already proposed to configure the tool support as
a composite body, in which a strength-increasing reinforcement is
embedded in an enveloping body. Many different embodiments of the
reinforcing body have been proposed to this effect.
[0003] Patent application GB 20 50 156 A1 proposes a hand-held
toothbrush in which a metal strip is provided in the handle as a
reinforcement, which is embedded in an enveloping body of hard
plastic. The metal strip extends into the bristle head, where it
serves also for fastening the bristle tufts. However, the bond
between the metal strip and the hard plastic envelope can cause
problems; moreover the attainable increase in strength with respect
to a brush deflection in the longitudinal center plane of the brush
is limited.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,621 proposes a hand-held toothbrush
having a reinforcing body in the region of the toothbrush neck that
is intended to permit deflections of the toothbrush neck in the
center longitudinal plane of the brush and quasi fix the bristle
head in place in various deflected positions, so as to be able to
work with various angular bends of the brush head. The reinforcing
body is configured substantially rod-shaped.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,134 proposes, in FIG. 4, a toothbrush,
the bristle support section of which has a reinforcing plate of a
stiff material such as steel or fiber-reinforced plastic embedded
in an enveloping body of plastic, and the reinforcing body is used
for fastening the bristle tufts here as well.
[0006] Furthermore, from US 2004/170464, a toothbrush is known in
which stiffening ribs are integrally formed in the regions of the
toothbrush neck and rear of the bristle support, so as to increase
the bending strength of the toothbrush.
[0007] Furthermore, GB 231,753 describes a hand-held toothbrush in
which a peripheral metal wire is embedded in the handle as a
reinforcement.
[0008] Furthermore, from GB 304,459 a toothbrush is known, the
handle of which is sandwiched and has a plate-like reinforcement
that is embedded in an enveloping body of celluloid, with a wire
mesh being proposed as the reinforcement.
[0009] Lastly, US 2004/060138 describes a toothbrush, the handle of
which is configured as a composite body having body sections of a
softer material and body sections of a harder material serving to
provide a stiffening, wherein the handle is to consist of a
transparent plastic material at least in some sections thereof.
[0010] The present invention has as its object to create an
improved device for dental and/or oral care of the type mentioned
at the outset that avoids the shortcomings of the prior art and
advantageously improves upon the latter. Preferably, a
light-weight, high-strength tool support is to be created for such
a dental and/or oral care device that is able to better withstand
the typical cleaning forces but does not interfere with the
functionality of the toothbrush, permitting especially a targeted
elasticity and having a visually improved design.
[0011] In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved
with a device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the
invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0012] In order to be able to specifically control the contact
pressure of the bristle field onto the teeth to be cleaned, but on
the other hand also prevent the gum irritations that are caused by
the oftentimes clumsy cleaning movements along the tooth flanks
onto the gums, the functional body that is embedded in the
enveloping body may be configured in accordance with a further
aspect of the present invention such that its areal moment of
inertia with respect to an axis perpendicular to the center
longitudinal or symmetry plane of the tool support is a multiple,
for instance at least double or also more than fivefold, of its
areal moment of inertia with respect to an axis located in said
center longitudinal or symmetry plane of the tool support. This
increases in a targeted manner the bending stiffness of the handle
or bristle tube against deflections in said center longitudinal or
symmetry plane, while transverse deflections are permitted in a
targeted manner and/or the elasticity in the transverse direction
is virtually not impacted at all. This enables the perpendicular
contact pressure of the bristle field onto the tooth flanks to be
controlled in a targeted manner, while the bristle head is able to
deflect away during up and down wiping movements along the lateral
flanks of the teeth in cases in which there is excessive
resistance, for example along the gum line.
[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,
the embedded reinforcing body may be configured substantially
plate-like and/or planar and advantageously arranged substantially
raised on edge in the handle or bristle tube of a toothbrush, i.e.
the reinforcing body has a maximum extension in the longitudinal
center or symmetry plane of the toothbrush that is a multiple of
its extension crosswise to said longitudinal center plane or
symmetry plane.
[0014] However, in order to avoid an overly rigid embodiment of the
tool support and to permit in a targeted manner a yielding
deflection of the tool support that carries the cleaning tool,
especially bristle field, provision may be made according to an
advantageous embodiment of the invention that the reinforcing body
ends in front of a tool fastening section and/or the tool fastening
section is configured reinforcement-free. If the tool support is a
toothbrush tube or toothbrush handle, provision may advantageously
be made that the reinforcing body ends in front of the bristle
field. More particularly, the reinforcing support may extend from
the end opposite the bristle field to approximately the toothbrush
neck.
[0015] The enveloping body of the tool support can basically have a
single embedded functional body, with the functional body
preferably having a main plane that is coplanar to the longitudinal
center or symmetry plane of the tool support. Alternatively,
however, a plurality of functional bodies may be embedded in the
enveloping body as well, for example two plate-like reinforcement
bodies may be embedded in a toothbrush handle to the right and left
of the longitudinal center plane.
[0016] Alternatively or in addition to the above-described
embodiment, the enveloping body of the tool support may be
configured transparent in the region of the embedded functional
body, at least in some sections thereof, so that the embedded
functional body can be viewed through the enveloping body. On one
hand, this can serve to monitor for cracks, so as to be able to
detect a detaching of the embedded functional body from the
material of the enveloping body or even cracks in the functional
body itself. On the other hand, this allows for advantageous
optical effects to be achieved. On one hand, this permits a
transparent configuration of the enveloping body, at least in some
sections thereof, with a substantially unchanged embodiment of the
enveloping body and therefore in the case of an injection-molded
embodiment a large product variety, especially visually different
configurations of the toothbrush, without change to the injection
molding process, in a simple manner All that is required is the
insertion of different functional bodies.
[0017] Alternatively or additionally the enveloping body may
advantageously also be configured so as to be optically image
altering, especially distorting, blurring, magnifying or
demagnifying in its transparent section. In an advantageous
improvement of the invention the enveloping body may, for example,
form in its transparent section an optical lens, in particular so
as to attain a magnifying glass effect. Advantageously the
enveloping body may also form an optical prism in its transparent
section.
[0018] The embedded functional body and the enveloping body are
advantageously configured different from each other such that one
body is configured at least partly opaque and the other body is
configured at least partly transparent. Especially the embedded
functional body is opaque, such that it is visible through the
enveloping body.
[0019] In order to be able to attain a high-strength and
nonetheless light-weight reinforcing body on one hand and a good
bond between the reinforcing body and the enveloping body on the
other hand, the present invention proposes that the reinforcing
body is configured at least in some sections thereof as a
trelliswork girder frame having longitudinal girders substantially
extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool support and a
multiplicity of cross-connecting girders connecting the
longitudinal girders to each other. In this manner a continuous
discharge of tensile forces or compressive forces can be achieved
via the longitudinal girders, moreover, such a girder frame is
high-strength and stiff, especially deflection resistant, in
relation to its weight. Moreover, the strength can be precisely
controlled by means of the arrangement and layout of the girders,
more particularly different degrees of rigidity and stiffness can
be achieved in different planes. In comparison to wire fabrics, a
diamond-shaped warping as it is common in wire fabrics with
diagonally acting forces virtually does not occur. Furthermore, a
good bond with the material of the enveloping body can be achieved,
since the enveloping material penetrates through the girder frame
openings. Alternatively, the functional body is provided with
cutouts that are preferably configured in the form of
through-holes. Here again, the cutouts provide a means for
mechanical bonding to the enveloping body.
[0020] The longitudinal girders of the girder frame may basically
extend straight. In an advantageous improvement of the invention,
however, the longitudinal girders may be adapted in their profile
to the outer contour of the enveloping body and deviate from the
straight line at least in some sections thereof. Toothbrush handles
often have, in particular for ergonomic reasons, a profile with
multiple curved or angular bends so as to allow for a better
grasping of the toothbrush and placement of the bristle field onto
the teeth at a more favorable angle. Advantageously, the
longitudinal girders of the girder frame are adapted to the outer
contour--which is curved or angularly bent in the present case--of
the enveloping body of the handle, such that they substantially
follow the curvature or angular bends of the enveloping body.
[0021] In an advantageous improvement of the invention the
longitudinal girders are arranged also at the edge of the girder
frame and can form especially the outer contour of the girder
frame, such that the same has a defined edge contour that is
especially adapted to the outer contour of the enveloping body.
Generally, additional longitudinal girders may be provided in
addition to the longitudinal girders that are arranged along the
edges, which likewise extend approximately in the longitudinal
direction of the tool support. However, an advantageous embodiment
of the invention may also consist in that longitudinal girders are
provided exclusively along the edges of the girder frame.
[0022] The longitudinal girders and cross-connecting girders can
basically be joined to each other in different ways. In accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the invention the girders and
cross-connecting girders may be integrally bonded. More
particularly, the entire girder frame and/or the entire reinforcing
body may be integrally formed as one piece.
[0023] The longitudinal girders may be arranged substantially
parallel to each other. Alternatively, however, the longitudinal
girders may also have a varying spacing between each other over
their longitudinal extension. This permits the girder frame to be
adapted to a cross section of the enveloping body that may vary in
the longitudinal direction and the available cross section can be
optimally utilized. Alternatively or additionally, however, a
varying spacing between the longitudinal girders along the edges
also can serve to control the strength and bending stiffness of the
girder frame in a targeted manner and vary the strength and bending
stiffness over its length.
[0024] Alternatively or additionally the girder frame may have
cross-connecting girders of differing lengths, and/or
cross-connecting girders may be provided at differently acute
pitches relative to the longitudinal girders.
[0025] Alternatively or in addition to the above-mentioned
configuration of the functional body in the form of a girder
framework, the functional body may also have a meandering, wavy,
stepped and/or zigzag profile that substantially follows a
longitudinal extension of the tool support. The reinforcing body
may consist especially of a profiled support having said profile
and a substantially unchanging cross-section, however,
alternatively it is also possible to vary the cross section over
the profile of the reinforcing body. With the aid of such a
meandering or wavy or otherwise oscillating profile of the
reinforcing body it is possible to enhance a targeted elastic
configuration of the tool support; additionally a stress discharge
can be achieved in various layers of the enveloping body, since the
occurring bending stresses in the reinforcing body are discharged
at different points of the enveloping body and reversed. Even so, a
reinforcing body with such a meandering or wavy profile achieves a
high degree of impact resistance of the tool support despite its
potentially high degree of elasticity. This permits especially
toothbrush necks to be designed sufficiently impact resistant to
withstand being frequently knocked against the edge of the
sink.
[0026] The above-mentioned meandering or wavy or optionally also
zigzag-shaped profile of the reinforcing body is advantageously
configured two-dimensional, i.e. planar. However, alternatively or
additionally the reinforcing support may also have, at least in
some sections thereof, alternating outward bulges in a third
spatial axis. For example, the reinforcing support may consist of a
helical profile, for example in the form of a helically twisted
wire.
[0027] The aforementioned oscillating, especially meandering or
wavy profile of the reinforcing body may, in an improved embodiment
of the invention, have an amplitude that varies over its
longitudinal extension, i.e. the profile of the outward bulges
crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing support
may vary, i.e. become more or less pronounced over the length
thereof. In this manner, a targeted control of the strength and
stiffness can be achieved on one hand, and an adaptation of the
reinforcing body to potentially varying cross-sections of the tool
support can be provided on the other hand.
[0028] Additional features, advantages, objects and applications of
the present invention or special embodiments thereof will become
apparent from the following description of the illustrative
embodiments. All of the described or depicted features constitute
the subject matter of the present invention, by themselves or in
any combination and sub-combination thereof and irrespective of
their condensation in the claims or reference of claims to other
claims. In the drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a hand-held toothbrush, the
handle of which is configured as a composite body and has a
reinforcement in the form of a girder frame,
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1,
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a toothbrush similar to the
preceding figures, the handle of which is likewise configured as a
composite body and has a reinforcement in the form of a girder
frame, wherein the enveloping body is configured transparent and
the embedded functional body is visible through the enveloping
body,
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embedded functional body of
the toothbrush of FIG. 3,
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embedded functional body
according to an alternative embodiment for a toothbrush of FIGS. 1
through 3,
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an embedded functional body
according to an alternative embodiment for a toothbrush of FIGS. 1
through 3,
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a side view of an embedded functional body
according to an alternative embodiment for a toothbrush of FIGS. 1
through 3,
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a side view of an embedded functional body
according to an alternative embodiment for a toothbrush of FIGS. 1
through 3,
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a functional body for
a toothbrush according to FIG. 1,
[0038] FIGS. 10.1 through 10.13 show schematic cross-sectional
views along the section line A-A in FIG. 9 for alternative
embodiments of the functional body,
[0039] FIGS. 11.1 through 11.6 show schematic sectional views
through the section C-C in the functional body according to FIG.
4
[0040] FIGS. 12.1 through 12.3 show schematic sectional views along
the section B-B in the functional body according to FIG. 4,
[0041] FIG. 13 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of
the functional body for a toothbrush according to FIG. 1 or 15,
[0042] FIG. 14 shows a side view according to an additional
alternative embodiment of a functional body for a toothbrush
according to FIG. 1 or 15,
[0043] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a toothbrush with a functional
body according to FIG. 14 or 15,
[0044] FIG. 16 shows a side view of a toothbrush with a functional
body according to FIG. 14 or 15,
[0045] FIG. 17 shows a schematic depiction of the mold support
means for supporting the functional body during the injection
molding process, for a toothbrush according to any of the above
figures, and
[0046] FIG. 18 shows a sectional side view of the functional body
with the mold support means according to FIG. 17.
[0047] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a toothbrush 1 depicted as a hand-held
toothbrush having an overall rod-shaped handle 2 that transitions
into a brush neck 3 and is connected via the same to a brush head 4
to which a bristle field 5 is fastened, optionally in a manner so
as to be replaceable. The handle 2 and bristle neck 3 together thus
form a tool support 6 that forms a tool fastening region in the
region of the brush head 4, to which tool fastening section the
bristle field 5 is fastened.
[0048] The handle 2 is curved in a slight arc shape and has a cross
section that varies over its longitudinal extension so as to be
more comfortable to hold. In the transitional region between the
handle 2 and the brush neck 3--especially adjoining behind the
thumb rest 25 of the handle 3--a slight angular bend is provided.
Said brush neck 3 is curved slightly arc-shaped in the direction
opposite to that of the handle 2, such that the aforementioned tool
support 6 has an overall slightly S-shaped contour. The tool
support 6 is configured overall symmetrical, such that the drawing
plane of FIG. 2 forms a longitudinal center plane and symmetry
plane 7 of the toothbrush 1. The toothbrush is arched outward in
the handle region on the bottom side, and on the top side--which is
the same side on which the thumb rest and the bristle field on the
head are provided--it has planar surfaces, preferably surfaces that
are arranged in a roof shape.
[0049] The handle 2 and a section of the bristle head 4 are
configured as composite bodies. A functional body 8 in the
interior, which is configured as a reinforcing body in the depicted
embodiment, is embedded in an enveloping body 9, especially
connected to the same by means of a material or a non-positive or a
positive connection, wherein the aforementioned functional body 8
is advantageously composed of a harder, stiffer and/or more sturdy
material, such as metal or plastic, and the enveloping body 9 is
composed of a softer, more impact-absorbing and/or more damping
material. For example, the functional body may be composed of a
rust resistant metal, in particular steel, or of plastic materials
such as POM or liquid crystal polymer (LCP). In the case of a
metal-based solution, the functional body is produced by means of
die-cutting or laser-cutting or by means of a chemical or
electro-chemical process, especially if cutouts are required. In
the case of a plastic-based solution for the functional body, the
same can be produced also by means of die-cutting or by means of
injection molding. The melting point of a functional body made from
plastic is preferably above that of the enveloping body. For
example, the enveloping body 9 may be injection-molded from a
plastic material, i.e. preferably from a plastic component such as
polypropylene or a copolyester (transparent) or--in a variant, in
combination with the hard component PP or other component or
without such a component--with an (optionally transparent)
elastomer (such as TPE). In the depicted embodiment the enveloping
body 9 is not configured of a homogeneous material but composed of
a plurality of material sections and layers. A hard plastic layer
can have a soft plastic layer applied onto the same in some
sections, for example in a two-component injection molding process.
In the depicted embodiment the soft plastic section 10, which is
situated on the surface, has a surface corrugation. Alternatively
the section 10 may be composed of the same component as the
remainder of the plastic enveloping body, such that the entire
enveloping body is formed of one component.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the embedded functional body 8 may
advantageously be configured plate-like or have a plate-like
enveloping surface and be arranged raised on edge in the handle 2,
with the functional body 8 in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 1
extending substantially coplanar with the aforementioned
longitudinal center plane 7 of the toothbrush 1. The embedded
functional body 8 extends from the end of the handle 2 facing away
from the bristle field 5 to approximately the center of the bristle
neck 3 or to the bristle head 4; there, however, the functional
body 8 ends, such that a portion of the bristle holder 3 adjoining
the bristle head 4 and said bristle head 4 itself are configured
reinforcement-free. The variant of the functional body 8 according
to FIG. 8 (which is optionally possible also for the other
alternatives of the functional body) extends from preferably the
entire handle section 19 into the entire neck region 18 (up to the
bristle head) or into part of the neck region 18 of the
toothbrush.
[0051] The aforementioned functional body 8 is depicted separately
in FIG. 4 in a side view. In the depicted embodiment the same forms
a planar girder frame 4 in the style of a trelliswork, wherein two
longitudinal girders or chord members 12, which extend
substantially in the longitudinal direction of the handle 2 or
bristle neck 3, are arranged along the edges of the girder frame 11
and/or form the edges of the girder frame 11 and a plurality of
cross-connecting girders 13 are provided between said longitudinal
girders 12, connecting the same to each other. In the depicted
embodiment the cross-connecting girders 13 are arranged at an acute
angle to the longitudinal girders 12, such that when viewed as a
whole, a--roughly speaking--serpentine profile of the cross-girders
13 is created. The longitudinal girders 12 may advantageously be
formed of the same material as the cross-connecting girders 13, for
example the girder frame 11 may be die-cut from a sheet of
metal.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal girders 12 are adapted
in their profile to the outer contour of the handle 2 and brush
neck 3. The longitudinal girders 12 substantially follow the curved
or angularly bent profile in the outer contour in the sectional
view of said handle 2 and brush neck 3. The longitudinal girders 12
thus vary in their spacing from each other over the longitudinal
extension of the toothbrush. The cross-connecting girders 13
accordingly are configured so as to have different lengths at
different longitudinal sections of the handle 2, for example so as
to be particularly long in the region of the angular bend between
the handle 2 and brush neck 3; see FIG. 4.
[0053] An embedded functional body 8 of similar structure is shown
in the embodiment of FIG. 5. Here, too, the functional body 8 forms
a girder frame 11, but only in some sections thereof. More
particularly, a section 16 in which the functional body 8 is
configured as a solid strip or a solid plate without cutouts is
provided between two sections 14 and 15 that are configured as a
girder frame 11. Additionally the embodiment according to FIG. 5
shows that the girder frame 11 may, at least in some sections
thereof, have more than two longitudinal girders 12. In the
transitional region between the handle 2 and brush neck 3 three
longitudinal girders 12 are provided in the depicted embodiment
according to FIG. 5.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the embedded functional body may be
configured also in a meandering or wavy or oscillating serpentine
shape. In the depicted embodiment the functional body 8 consists of
a profiled support having a substantially unchanging cross section
in the form of a wire that substantially follows the longitudinal
extension of the handle 2 and brush head 3, but bulges out in
alternating fashion relative to said longitudinal extension, such
that an oscillation profile is formed, the center line of which
substantially follows the curved longitudinal extension of the
handle 2 and brush neck 3.
[0055] As in the depicted previous embodiments, the functional body
8 shown in FIG. 6 likewise substantially extends from the end of
the handle 2 facing away from the brush head 4 to approximately the
middle of the brush neck or to the brush head 3.
[0056] An additional possible embodiment of the embedded functional
body 8 is shown in FIG. 7, according to which the functional body 8
substantially consists of a rod-shaped profiled support, the cross
section of which, however, varies in the longitudinal direction.
More particularly, the cross section decreases toward the ends
while a middle section of the functional body 8 has an enlarged
cross section relative to the end sections. The rod-like functional
body 8 according to FIG. 7 has a curved profile that is overall
slightly S-shaped and substantially follows the matching curved
profile of the longitudinal extension of the handle 2 and brush
neck 3.
[0057] FIG. 8 shows an additional variant of the functional body 8.
The same is configured as a plate-like metal body having cutouts in
the form of circular openings. Round cutouts can be produced more
easily here (for tool-related reasons.)
[0058] The enveloping body 9 of the tool support 6 may
advantageously be configured transparent, as illustrated by the
embodiment of FIG. 3. This makes the embedded functional body 8
visible through the enveloping body 9, thereby permitting the
embedded functional body 8 to be observed and special optical
effects to be achieved. More particularly, a large variety of
visually different products can be achieved without having to
change the injection molds for the enveloping body 9. All that is
required is to insert differently configured functional bodies 8,
such as those shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, for example. Because of
the shaping of the handle cross section a magnifying-glass effect
is advantageously created in this manner
[0059] FIG. 9 schematically shows a side view of a functional body
8 that can have any desired shape of cutouts or trelliswork layout,
or also no cutouts.
[0060] FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 show schematic variants of the
cross-sectional area of the functional body at the site of the
section A-A in FIG. 9. It will be appreciated that these depicted
cross sections according to FIGS. 10.1 through 10.13 are preferably
provided along the entire length of the functional body 8 and not
only at the site of the section A-A depicted in FIG. 9, or they may
vary over the length of the functional body 8, like in the
embodiment of FIG. 7. Variances in the sectional view may occur in
particular due to the type of cutouts in FIG. 9, as these are not
illustrated or taken into account in any detail in FIGS. 10.1
through 10.13, even though they may be present. In FIGS. 10.1
through 10.3, the cross-sectional shape of the functional body is
configured as a polygon. The cross section may form a triangle, a
quadrangle, especially a square, a pentagon or a polygon with
additional corners. According to FIGS. 10.4 through 10.6 the
cross-sectional area is configured in the form of specific
geometrical shapes, such as a cross (FIG. 10.4) or a wave (see FIG.
10.5), or in the shape of two plate-like bars raised on edge that
are connected to each other especially by a cross-connecting
girder, such that the overall shape of an H is formed in the cross
section. Alternatively, the cross-sectional geometry of the
functional body is configured T-shaped according to FIG. 10.7,
I-shaped or double TT-shaped according to FIG. 10.8, and V-shaped
according to FIG. 10.9. According to FIGS. 10.10 and 10.11 the
cross-sectional geometry of the functional body is star-shaped with
peaks wherein n (number of peaks)=2 to approximately 8, for
example. Depicted is a star shape with three and with four peaks.
Further, alternatively, the cross-sectional shape of the functional
body according to FIGS. 10.12 and 10.13 is configured circular or
elliptical, wherein a hollow space 26 may optionally be provided
inside the circular shape. All of these depicted cross-sectional
profiles of the functional body may be combined as desired with
different cutout geometries of the functional body as seen from a
side view. In all embodiments of the functional body the bending
stiffness and/or an areal moment of inertia of the functional body
8 relative to an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal symmetry
plane 7 of the tool support 6 is a multiple of a bending stiffness
and/or an areal moment of inertia of the functional body 8 relative
to an axis located in said longitudinal symmetry plane 7. This
ensures that an adequate bending stiffness or an adequate areal
moment of inertia exists in the neck 3 and in the handle region
2--despite an extremely low overall height of the tool support and
without additional reinforcement measures in the tool support--when
the brush head is stressed by forces toward the rear of the bristle
field 5, as they commonly occur during the tooth brushing
process.
[0061] FIGS. 11.1 through 11.6 show various cross-sectional
geometries of the functional body 8 along the section C-C in the
functional body of FIG. 4. Accordingly, the cross-sectional shapes
of the functional body in a direction perpendicular to the
direction of inflow of the plastic for the tool support 6 during
the injection process may be different from the cornered
configuration according to FIG. 11.1 and may be more of a rounded,
circular, oval or more cornered cross-sectional shape. FIGS. 12.1
through 12.3 show cross-sectional shapes that are likewise
configured circular, drop-shaped or otherwise rounded (see in
particular FIGS. 12.2 and 12.3), such that a turbulence-free
injection and inflow are possible in the flow direction of the
injected plastic for the enveloping body 9 also. The flow direction
is indicated symbolically in FIGS. 12.1 through 12.3 by the
direction of the arrow 31. In FIG. 12.1 a blister or contraction
cavity formation 30 is indicated because the cross-section profiles
are not rounded here. The further optimized embodiments according
to FIGS. 12.2 and 12.3 are therefore optimized so as to prevent the
formation of blisters during the injection/inflow of the enveloping
body 9. The cross sections may be combined with any type of
functional support with any possible cutouts or without cutouts and
with any cross section according to FIGS. 10.1 through 10.13.
[0062] FIG. 13 shows the side view of a functional body 8 with a
trellis structure slightly modified from that in FIG. 4 in such a
way that the cross sections of the trellis girders are configured
as in FIGS. 11.1 and 12.1. FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment
to FIG. 13 of the functional body 8 in a side view, wherein the
cross-sectional areas at the outer contours according to FIG. 11.1
and trellis girders in the inner region according to FIG. 12.3 are
configured rounded off. This provides for an optimization against
blister formation in the direction of the melt flow during the
injection of the plastic component for the enveloping body 9 in the
embodiment of FIG. 14. The two examples according to FIGS. 13 and
14 also illustrate that any desired combination of the
cross-sectional shapes according to FIGS. 11 and 12 is feasible.
Therefore, sections of the functional body 8 that have a cross
component and cutout relative to the longitudinal direction of the
toothbrush (which also is mainly along the direction of melt flow)
are preferably provided with rounded edges.
[0063] FIGS. 15 and 16 show toothbrushes in side views in which the
functional bodies 8 are inserted for example either according to
FIG. 13 or FIG. 14. In the illustration according to FIG. 15 the
functional body is shown as the visible part and in the
illustration according to FIG. 16 the surrounding material of the
enveloping body 9 is shown as the visible part. Especially from
FIG. 15 it is therefore apparent that the rearward end 22 of the
functional body does not necessarily need to extend to the rearward
end 24 of the handle 2, since bending forces in the rearward
section do not play any significant role in the daily use of the
toothbrush. The functional body 8 therefore extends over at least
half or 2/3 of the handle 2 starting at the thumb rest 25 toward
the rearward end of the enveloping body of the toothbrush. In the
other longitudinal direction toward the bristle field the
functional body extends with the front end thereof by at least one
third from the thumb rest 25 to the neck section as shown, for
example, in FIG. 3. Alternatively, an extension to the bristle
field, or in a variant also to underneath the bristle field into
the head area (not depicted) is possible as well. Preferably, the
functional body 8 extends with its front end 23 over the entire
neck section 3 or at least over one third of the longitudinal
extension.
[0064] The toothbrush having one of the above functional bodies is
preferably produced as follows. Individual parts of the process or
combinations of process features and device features, if
applicable, may constitute an independent subject of the invention
also. In a first step the functional body is produced in the form
of a metal part or plastic part, in particular die-cut or injection
molded as already described above. In a second step the functional
body is placed into and secured in an injection mold. In a third
step one or a plurality of plastic components of the enveloping
body are injection-molded around the functional body in the mold.
Fastening of the bristles takes place beforehand or afterwards
according to one of the known methods.
[0065] Securing of the functional body in the mold may take place
in different ways. In a first variant the functional body has
locating tabs projecting especially towards the contour, at which
the securing takes place in the injection mold. These are later
removed, e.g. at predetermined breaking points after the enveloping
with the enveloping body by means of injection molding, or covered
with an additional component by injection-molding. In a second
variant the securing takes place at free areas 27, 28, 29 and 32
that are not enveloped by the enveloping body 9 in the injection
molding process, but the contour of which largely extends or
supplements the contour of the enveloping body. This variant is
illustrated with the FIGS. 15 through 18. The enveloping body 9
accordingly has cutouts that correspond to the free areas 27, 28,
29, 32, at which the functional body 8 emerges visible and
graspable after injection-molding of the enveloping body 9 around
the former has been completed. FIGS. 17 and 18 schematically show
how the functional body 8 is clamped-in and secured--in this
case--by two upper and two lower holding jaws 21. The holding jaws
are integrated into the injection molding process as a component of
the injection mold. In a further subvariant a further component is
injection-molded over and filled into the cutouts. In accordance
with a third variant securing of the functional body 8 in the
injection mold takes place by means of a lateral extension (not
depicted) of the functional body 8 that permits a clamping or a
rotation-proof and slide-proof placement of the functional body 8
in the mold. For example, the functional body 8 may be configured
for this purpose, especially at its end sections, so as to not lie
in the longitudinal symmetry plane 7 but support itself on both
side regions of the enveloping body, e.g. wavy or meandering. The
cross sections of FIGS. 10.1 through 10.13 also favor this type of
support in the tool.
[0066] In the case of a functional body 8 made from plastic, the
toothbrush may also be produced in a tool concept comprising
immediately successive injection molding steps, e.g. using a
rotating mold. In a further variant the functional body is provided
largely raised on edge coplanar to the longitudinal symmetry plane
in the neck 3 and handle region 2, and rotated by 90 degrees in the
head, so that it can be secured to the lateral surfaces of the head
mold section.
[0067] The functional support shown in the figures is enveloped in
a height extension Y (see FIG. 2) in the longitudinal symmetry
plane 7 by 0 to 2 mm, especially by 0.05 to 1.5 mm, especially by
0.1 to 1 mm and especially by 0.4 to 0.8 mm by the injection-molded
enveloping body 9. Accordingly, the functional body is covered just
barely by the top side and bottom side of the toothbrush (except
for potential free areas.) Preferably, the functional body 8 is
enveloped or covered by means of injection molding toward the
lateral surfaces or lateral edges and in its transversal extension
X (see FIG. 1) relative to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush
6--mostly, or almost completely, or entirely--at a distance of to 2
to 15 mm, especially 2 to 6 mm, per side. This means that nearly
the entire extension or at least 80% thereof is used in the height
from the top side to the bottom side of the toothbrush to ensure
the necessary bending stiffness and safety against fracture in this
direction. In the transverse direction X, however, the functional
body extends only over especially less than 5 to 15% of the total
extension from side to side of the toothbrush. It is therefore
possible to implement unusual toothbrush geometries by means of the
above-described embodiments that have an overall slim enveloping
body that is predominantly slimmer in the Y extension in the handle
region 2 than in the transverse direction X thereto. This enables
even additional waistings in the handle region and/or in the neck
region to be implemented in a manner that would otherwise not be
feasible (see FIGS. 1 and 2) without compromising the sturdiness of
the toothbrush.
* * * * *