Oral care device with a function element and method of manufacturing it

Abstract

An oral care device having a handle and a head connected or connectible thereto, on which oral care elements are provided. An electrically operable function element is arranged on an outer surface of the head and an elastomer element is disposed adjacent the function element.

1 . An oral care device having a handle and a head having an outer surface, the head connectible to the handle, the device comprising oral care elements disposed on the head; an electrically operable function element disposed on the outer surface of the head; and an elastomer element is disposed adjacent to the function element. 
     
     
         2 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element is constructed as a circumferential wall around the function element. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care device according to  claim 2 , wherein the circumferential wall includes lateral recesses arranged on a height with the function element. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two elastomer elements are arranged directly laterally adjacent to the function element. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the function element and the elastomer element are integrally made of one piece. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element includes at least two free ends opposite the outer surface of the head. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the function element is arranged adjacent to and/or between the oral care elements. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the function element is a light emitting source, a sensor or an actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the function element is disposed partly in the head and partly projecting therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care device of  claim 10  wherein the head comprises PP, PE, copolyester or POM. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the function element is secured in the head by a press fit. 
     
     
         13 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer element protrudes from the outer surface of the head by at least about  4  mm and that other oral care elements are provided having their ends spaced from the outer surface by a larger distance than the elastomer element. 
     
     
         14 . The oral care device according to  claim 1 , wherein the oral care device is a manual or electric toothbrush and the function element comprises an LED which is disposed in a protruding arrangement in the cleaning region. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing an oral care device, comprising the following manufacturing steps;
 injection-molding a head;   connecting an elastomer element to the head;   tufting the head;   fastening the function element adjacent to the elastomer element.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the elastomer element is injection-molded onto the head using a multi-component injection-molding technique. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least two tufts of bristles are tufted to the head and wherein one group of bristle tufts is bent and a second group of bristle tufts is cut to length and/or endrounded. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the function element is secured in the head by means of a press fit. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the head includes hard pleastic and the function element is secured in the hard plastic of the head.