Toothbrush and Method for Producing It

Abstract

A toothbrush comprises a grip part and a head part carrying a set of bristles. The grip part is connected to the head part via a joint which is associated with a spring element from an elastic plastic material. The spring element is configured froth an at least partial outer cover of the joint. In a preferred embodiment, the cover completely covers the joint and seals it off relative to the surroundings.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising:
 a grip part;   a head part, said head part carrying a set of bristles;   a joint, said joint disposed between and connecting said head part and said grip part; and   a spring element made from an elastic plastic material, said spring element having a cover which at least partially surrounds said joint.   
     
     
         26 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said cover is made from a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         27 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said cover is formed by at least two tendon parts that are attached to said grip part and said head part. 
     
     
         28 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein said two tendon parts are located on opposite sides of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         29 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said cover completely encloses said joint and seals it with respect to surroundings. 
     
     
         30 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said grip part and said head part consist of different materials. 
     
     
         31 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said head part consists of plastic or of polypropylene. 
     
     
         32 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said grip part consists of plastic, polystyrene, or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers). 
     
     
         33 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said joint is a ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         34 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said joint is a hinged joint. 
     
     
         35 . The toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein said head part is divided into a first head part section carrying said set of bristles and a second head part section connected to said grip part via said joint, wherein said first head part section and said second head part section are interconnected via a further joint, said further joint having a further spring element comprising a further, at least partial, outer cover. 
     
     
         36 . The toothbrush of  claim 35 , wherein said further cover consists of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         37 . The toothbrush of  claim 35 , wherein said further cover completely encloses said further joint and seals it with respect to surroundings. 
     
     
         38 . The toothbrush of  claim 35 , wherein said further joint is a ball-and-socket joint or a hinged joint. 
     
     
         39 . A method for producing a toothbrush, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) producing a grip part;   b) producing a head part;   c) interconnecting the head part and the grip part to form a joint; and   d) at least partially overmolding the joint with an elastic plastic material to form a cover.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein, in step b), a first head part section and a second head part section are initially produced independently and are interconnected to form a further joint, and that further joint is then at least partially overmolded with an elastic plastic material to form a further cover. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein one of the grip part and the head part is initially produced as a first component and an other one of said the head part and the grip part is then molded on the first component to form the joint, wherein only a positive-action connection is thereby provided by the joint. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the grip part and the head part are each formed by plastic injection-molding. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the grip part, the head part and the cover are produced in a three-stage injection-molding process in a common mold. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cover consists of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cover completely encloses the joint and seals it off relative to surroundings. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the grip part and the head part consist of different materials. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the head part consists of plastic and or of polypropylene. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the grip part consists of plastic, polystyrene or ABS.