Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-11-06
Jones, Deborah (Department: 1775)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S167100, C300S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311360
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a brush, in particular a toothbrush, comprising a brush body carrying bundles of bristles, with the bundles of bristles consisting of plastic bristles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a brush, in particular a toothbrush, comprising a brush body carrying bundles of bristles, with the bundles of bristles which consist of plastic bristles being surrounded at least in part by sleeve-like supporting elements.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A brush of the above-mentioned type is known from German patent specification 538 075. In this type of toothbrush, bundles of bristles are received in rubber sleeves which are inserted into a basic body and enclose bundles of natural bristles or animal hair. In the toothbrush which is known from the prior art, the rubber sleeves are inserted into a basic body. Thus, considerable efforts are needed for producing the prior-art toothbrush. Moreover, the prior-art toothbrush has the disadvantage that dirt and/or bacteria may get stuck between the basic body and the rubber sleeves which are inserted into said body. Hence, the prior-art toothbrush does not meet today's hygienic requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Starting from the above, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a brush, with the help of which brushes, in particular toothbrushes, can be produced economically that satisfy todays hygienic demands. Furthermore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a brush, and in particular a toothbrush of the above-mentioned type, which can be produced economically and offers resistance to a spreading apart of the bundles of bristles at its ends provided at the use side, which spreading apart reduces the usability of the brush and is not to be recommended medicinally in toothbrushes.
Thanks to the use of supporting elements, a wear-induced and permanent deviation of the outer bristles from the originally intended position is made impossible, at least in the area of the support, so that in comparison with a brush having the same degree of wear, but being without any support, there will be a reduced spreading apart at the end of use of the bundles of bristles, and thus a longer service life of the brush.
Therefore, with the solution of the invention, it is possible to use softer bristles or bundles of bristles than has so far been the case, with the supporting elements being integral with the brush body by way of injection molding, and slits, or the like, in which dirt or bacteria might get stuck being therefore absent in particular, thinner bristles or also softer bristle materials, or also a combination of the two, can now be used. As a result, the teeth can be brushed more gently and above all much more thoroughly and the risk of injuring the oral cavity, and above all the gum, is reduced. Moreover, the deformation of the bristles which is clearly felt by the user while he is brushing his teeth will reduce an excessively high contact pressure during brushing because an excessively strong deformation of the bundles of bristles will automatically be recognized by the user as wrong and will be corrected immediately. Thus the brush according to the invention supports a medicinally correct brushing of the teeth. Moreover, the brushing operation becomes more efficient because the number of bristles per bundle can be increased by using thinner bristles, and thus more bristle ends are efficiently operative. Preferably, the bundles of bristles are supported laterally in an elastic manner.
The invention can be used both in brushes with one bundle of bristles and in brushes comprising a plurality of bristle bundles. The use of the brush according to the invention, however, is not limited to the dental or cosmetic field. Rather, such brushes can be used in all walks of everyday life and in all technical fields, preferably in areas where a particularly gentle cleaning of relief-like surface formations is required and/or a particularly long service life of the bristles is desired.
Preferably, a separate supporting element is provided for each bundle of bristles. With a corresponding selection of the supporting element as to its shape and its deformation capacity, this makes it possible to adjust the bending characteristic of individual bundles of bristles individually. For instance, on a toothbrush having several rows of bristle bundles, the exterior bundles of bristles or the front bundles of bristles can be supported by supporting elements of a higher stiffness than the remaining ones. It is also possible to support just a part of the bundles of bristles by means of supporting elements and to leave the remaining ones in an unsupported state.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a plurality or all of the supporting elements are integrally interconnected and mounted on the brush body as a supporting unit. Apart from the fact that the shape and deformation capacity of the respective supporting element of a bundle of bristles can be adjusted individually, an integral design will permit an easier production of the supporting elements because according to the invention these are produced in an injection-molding process.
Preferably, the supporting element comprises an elastic sleeve section in which a bristle receiving opening extends, as well as a base section through which the sleeve section is connected to the brush body. In contrast to a supporting of the bundles of bristles in a solid-material body, e.g. of a supporting plate having a constant thickness, with supporting regions around the individual bundles of bristles, a more exact adjustment of directionally dependent deformation characteristics of the respective supporting element and a higher degree of deformation can be achieved through the configuration of sleeve-like supporting elements. The contact surface between the brush body and the supporting element can be increased by a flange-like extension of the base section of the supporting element to prevent detachment of the supporting element in a still improved manner.
Preferably, the bundles of bristles are secured in the brush body, with the individual bundles of bristles extending through the respective supporting elements.
Alternatively, the bundles of bristles can only be secured in the supporting elements, whereby adhesion by way of bonding is achieved between the bundles of bristles and the supporting elements.
Preferably, the sleeve section or the outer contour thereof can have a substantially cylindrical shape. When the supporting element(s) is (are) produced in one mold, one skilled in the art will provide the necessary mold inclinations and curvatures for achieving easier removal from the mold.
Alternatively, the sleeve section can be designed such that its wall thickness tapers towards the end of use of the bristles. The bending characteristic of the system bundle of bristles/support element can thereby be influenced in a desired manner. The shape of the outer sleeve can be adapted to the requirements of a desired bending line of the bundle of bristles or individual bristles.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention several or all of the supporting elements are interconnected through their base sections to form an integral supporting element The brush body can be entirely covered at its bristle side by the integral supporting elements, resulting in a homogeneous appearance and a high detachment resistance of the supporting elements. Moreover, such an integral supporting element can be produced in a particularly efficient manner.
Between the brush body and the respective base section of the supporting element there may be provided a surface formation for increasing the contact surface between the two members so as to improve detachment resistance. A corresponding increase in the surface can e.g. be achieved through a corrugation on one or both members. The provision of grooves, ribs, perforated patterns or the like could
Jones Deborah
Laubscher & Laubscher
M + C Schiffer GmbH
McNeil Jennifer
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