CN1993066B - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush includes a handle and a brush head attached to the handle, the brush head having a chamber defined by a deformable bristle support surface at the top of the chamber and the base opposite the deformable bristle support surface, the sides of the chamber being defined by a periphery of the brush head, the base including a cover independent of and attachable to the remainder of the base.

Description

toothbrush

technical field

The present invention relates to a toothbrush comprising a head having a chamber between a bristle bearing surface and a base. The invention also relates to a method of making such a toothbrush.

Background technique

WO 2004/19801 discloses a toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head fixed to the handle, a cleaning element and an elastic membrane, the brush head has a moving part and a fixed part surrounding the moving part, the cleaning element is mounted on a fixed and moving In the part, the elastic membrane extends between at least a part of the region between the fixed and the moving parts, the membrane being able to bend during use of the toothbrush to change its original orientation, and then recover to freely assume its original orientation during use of the toothbrush. bit direction.

WO 2004/14181 discloses a toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush head secured to the handle, an elastic membrane, an open space and at least one cleaning element, the brush head being in the form of a base with upstanding walls to create a peripheral frame , an elastic membrane is mounted to the frame, an open space is between the membrane and the base, the membrane has an initial non-use state, the membrane in the initial state is raised to have an original convex-like shape, at least one cleaning element is in the membrane Extending on and away from the brush head, the membrane is capable of flexing to change its original shape during use of the toothbrush, and then arbitrarily returning to its original shape during use of the toothbrush.

DE-U-201 19 808 (Javanbakhsh) discloses a toothbrush comprising a pair of expandable segments. One of these expandable sections is located below the bristle support surface.

Contents of the invention

The present invention relates to a toothbrush comprising a handle and a head attached to the handle, the head having a chamber bounded by a deformable bristle bearing surface and a base, the deformable bristle bearing surface being at the top of the chamber and A base opposite the deformable bristle support surface, the chamber flanked by the periphery of the brush head, the base includes a cover separate from and attachable to the remainder of the base.

The brush head includes a peripheral rim supporting a bristle bearing surface and having a recess to form a cavity below the surface. Preferably the perimeter extends in the form of a wall around the brush head and has upper and lower edges. Preferably a portion of the bristle bearing surface is attached to the upper edge of the periphery and/or to the inner surface of the periphery.

In another preferred embodiment, the bristle support surface comprises flexible members. The bristle support surface may be in the form of rigid elements which are flexibly and elastically connected to each other, for example, by thinning in the rigid material between the rigid regions or by elastomeric materials such as thermoplastic elastomers. body way. Where a thermoplastic elastomer is used, the bristles can be attached directly to the brush head in the elastomer, or, preferably, the bristles are fixed into rigid receptacles which themselves float in the elastomer. These rigid sockets can be interconnected for improved rigidity, or completely separated from each other for maximum flexibility.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the bristle bearing surface comprises a flexible member comprising a flexible membrane supporting the bristle tufts. Preferably the flexible membrane spans the brush head and is attached to the brush head at the periphery of the rigid brush head. Below the membrane is the chamber, which is closed by the cover at the base of the chamber.

The cover can be attached to the rest of the brush head and by this attachment at the base of the chamber closes the chamber. Attachment of the cover can be by mechanical means, such as a friction fit or a click-fit. Attachment of the cover can also be done by chemical means, such as adhesives. The cover can also be welded to the brush head, such as by heat welding or sonic welding.

Preferably the cover is transparent. In the case where the bristle-bearing surface of the toothbrush includes flexible elements, it is more desirable that the cover be transparent, because a transparent cover allows the user to visually experience the flexibility of the brush head from below without being affected by the visual effects of the bristles. hinders, and allows for improved handling, as the bristles can be held in place by applying a support under the rigid slider while the bristle distribution machine is holding the bristle bundles into the brush head. This is especially advantageous when using a flexible brush head, as the only option would be to distribute each bristle block prior to bonding to the brush head. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the bristle-supporting surface comprises bristle tufts which are fixed to the bristle-supporting surface by means of a fixing technique.

In another preferred embodiment and where a flexible membrane is used to provide flexibility to the brush head, the bristle tufts are preferably embedded in rigid receptacles which themselves are embedded in the membrane. Preferably the rigid sockets extend beyond the membrane to maximize the bonding of the rigid sockets to the membrane. Furthermore, this arrangement in the membrane also allows the rigid socket to rock in the membrane without damaging the interface between the socket and the membrane and without the socket becoming loose. These rigid receptacles are preferably shaped such that their surface below the membrane is larger than their surface above the membrane. This will also help stabilize the socket in the membrane during shaking. When rocking the socket, push up on one side of the socket. This applies pressure to the membrane from below in such a way that the membrane is less likely to separate from the socket when the socket is pulled away from the membrane.

In a further preferred embodiment, the bristle support surface is convex away from the chamber. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the chamber may be bounded by a dome without the recess formed by the rest of the brush head.

The chambers in the brush head can be filled with any fluid, such as air, water, gel, etc. Also, pressure can be applied to the chamber above or below atmospheric pressure to provide a certain flexible profile to the brush head.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of making a toothbrush, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) the brush head and handle are molded of rigid plastic, the brush head having a rigid peripheral edge defining the outer dimensions of the brush head;

(b) Molded rigid sockets individually or in groups, in which case sockets are molded in groups with the option to separate them before further processing;

(c) molding a flexible membrane around the sockets and bonding those sockets to the perimeter of the brush head;

(d) supporting each receptacle from below during attachment of the bristles to the receptacle;

(e) A cover is placed on the base of the brush head to close off the chamber formed beneath the bristle-supporting flexible membrane.

In an alternate method, the following steps are included:

(a) Molding the brush head, handle, and a plurality of rigid sockets of rigid plastic, the rigid sockets being molded in at least one set, and the sockets being mutually flexible and resilient by thinning in the rigid material between the sockets connected to the ground, the brush head has a rigid peripheral edge that defines the outer dimensions of the brush head, and the rigid socket defines a bristle bearing surface of the brush head;

(b) supporting each receptacle from below during attachment of the bristles to the receptacle;

(c) A cover is placed on the base of the brush head to close the cavity formed beneath the bristle bearing surface of the flexible and resiliently mounted rigid receptacle.

Description of drawings

Embodiments according to the invention are referenced in the following non-limiting figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a toothbrush and cover;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover in an embodiment of a toothbrush;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end view of an embodiment according to the invention; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional end view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed ways

Figure 1 shows in detail a brush head 1 comprising a bristle bearing surface made of an elastomeric film 2 to which bristles 3 are fixed by means of rigid sockets 4 . Below the bristle support surface is a chamber 5, which is filled with air. The hole 6 is located at the base of the brush head 2 and the hole 6 can be closed with a cover 7 . The cover 7 is transparent and enables the user to see the flexibility of the toothbrush segment from below.

Figure 2 shows a brush head 1 delimited by a peripheral wall 8, with a bristle bearing surface 2 visible from below. The cover 7 is shown separate from the brush head, but could be secured to the brush head as shown.

Figure 3 shows the brush head shown in Figures 1 and 2, but is a view from below with the cover 7 attached to the brush head. The bottom surface of the rigid socket 4 can be seen through the cover 7 .

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional end view of an embodiment of the invention. The bristle support surface 2 is a side wall 8 spanning the flexible membrane of the brush head and attached to the rigid perimeter of the brush head. The flexible member 2 is in a convex shape. Below the flexible member 2 is a chamber 5 . The base of the brush head is also pierced to allow the attachment of a cover (not shown) with which the chamber 5 is completely delimited.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 . The flexible bristle bearing surface 2 comprises a set of rigid bristle support members 9 located between grooves 10 which provide flexibility.

FIG. 6 shows a rigid socket 4 suspended in a flexible membrane 2 . The figure also shows a tuft of bristles 11 formed by fixing a holder 12 in a rigid socket.

Figure 7 shows how a rigid socket such as that shown in Figure 6 rocks about its axis when the toothbrush is in use. The rigid socket also includes a support flange 13 located below the membrane.

8-12 illustrate the steps involved in manufacturing a toothbrush according to another aspect of the invention. Figure 8 shows the perimeter frame 8 delimiting the outer boundary of the brush head. Shown is a cross-sectional end view of the brush head. The handle is not shown, but is adjacent to the brush head. The peripheral edge 8 is the bristle bearing surface and provides support for the cover, which is used later.

Figure 9 shows the rigid socket 4 after moulding. These rigid sockets can be molded individually or in groups, and when the sockets are molded in groups, they can be separated.

FIG. 10 shows the flexible membrane 2 molded around the sockets, which are fixed to the perimeter 8 . This creates a trampoline-like structure in which the socket can be pressed into the chamber beneath the membrane during use of the toothbrush.

FIG. 11 shows a bracket 14 for supporting the rigid socket 4 during attachment of the bristle tuft 11 with the holder 12 . Each socket can be bundled or grouped in sequence according to the size of the bracket 14 .

FIG. 12 shows a cover 7 placed at the base of the brush head, where the cover 7 closes the chamber formed under the membrane 2 above the cover 7 .

Claims (4)

Claims 1. A toothbrush comprising a handle and a head attached to the handle, the head having a cavity defined by a deformable bristle bearing surface and a base, the deformable bristle bearing surface in the cavity The top of the chamber and the base is opposite the deformable bristle support surface, the sides of the chamber are bounded by the rigid periphery of the brush head, the base includes a cover, the cover is independent of the outside of and attachable to the remainder of the base, wherein the deformable bristle support surface comprises a flexible membrane and the bristle tufts are secured in rigid receptacles interspersed within the structure of the flexible membrane , wherein the rigid receptacle protrudes through the membrane, wherein the chamber is filled with fluid, and wherein the cover is transparent or translucent so that it can be seen through the cover The deformable bristle bearing surface. 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said bristles are attached to said brush head using a fixing technique. 3. A method of manufacturing a toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: (a) molding the brush head and handle from rigid plastic, the brush head having a rigid perimeter defining the outer dimensions of the brush head; (b) molding rigid sockets individually or in groups, in which case they are selectively separated before further processing, said rigid sockets comprising a socket base and a sleeve, said socket base and sleeves for supporting the attached bristles; (c) molding a flexible membrane around said rigid socket and bonding said rigid socket to the periphery of said brush head; (d) supporting the rigid receptacle in a direction opposite to the direction in which the bristles are attached, and then attaching the bristles into said rigid receptacle; (e) placing a cover at the base of the brush head to close off the chamber formed beneath the flexible membrane. 4. A method of manufacturing a toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: (a) Molding the brush head, handle, and a plurality of rigid receptacles molded in at least one group of rigid plastics, and said rigid receptacles passing through rigid sockets between said rigid receptacles The brush head has a rigid peripheral edge defining the outer dimensions of the brush head, and the rigid socket defines the removable surface of the brush head. deformed bristle bearing surface; (b) supporting each rigid receptacle from below during attachment of the bristles to said rigid receptacle; (c) placing a cover at the base of said brush head to close a cavity formed beneath the deformable bristle bearing surface of the flexible and resiliently mounted rigid socket.

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