Head For An Oral Hygiene Device

Abstract

A head for an oral hygiene device is disclosed. The head includes a carrier; and at least one elastic cleaning element attached to the carrier. The carrier is structured such that it provides the cleaning element with a first bending property in a first direction and a second bending property in a second direction. The first bending property and the second bending property are different from each other; and the first direction and the second direction are different from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head for an oral hygiene device comprising:
 a carrier; and   at least one elastic cleaning element attached to the carrier;   
       wherein the carrier is structured such that it provides the cleaning element with a first bending property in a first direction and a second bending property in a second direction; wherein the first bending property and the second bending property are different from each other; and wherein the first direction and the second direction are different from each other. 
     
     
         2 . The head according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier has at least a first bending stop for reducing an effective bendable length of the cleaning element in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The head according to  claim 2 , wherein the first bending stop is formed by a protruding element arranged on the carrier, wherein the protruding element abuts the cleaning element at least over a part of its longitudinal extension length. 
     
     
         4 . The head according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier has a first bending stop and at least one second bending stop, which are arranged such that a first bendable length of the cleaning element in a first direction is longer than a second bendable length of the cleaning element in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The head according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic cleaning element has a mounting section, an operative section and an operative end opposite the mounting section; wherein the mounting section is accommodated in the carrier; wherein the carrier has a first bending stop for constricting a bending motion of the operative section in a first direction; and wherein the carrier has at least a second bending stop for constricting a bending motion of the operative section of the cleaning element in a second direction being different from the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The head according to  claim 5 , wherein the first bending stop and the second bending stop are arranged such that a first bendable length of the operative section defined by a distance between the first bending stop and the operative end of the cleaning element is longer than a second bendable length of the operative section defined by a distance between the second bending stop and the operative end of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         7 . The head according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one cleaning element is realized as a bristle tuft including a plurality of bristles and the first bending stop is arranged such that it abuts several of the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         8 . The head according to  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning element has a transversal cross-sectional area and wherein the first bending stop partly encloses the transversal cross-sectional  area of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         9 . The head according to  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning element has a circular transversal cross-sectional area, and wherein the first bending stop forms a partial circular arc partly enclosing the circular transversal cross-sectional area of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         10 . The head according to  claim 9 , wherein the partial circular arc forming the first bending stop extends in a range from about 10° to about 270°. 
     
     
         11 . The head according to  claim 9 , wherein the partial circular arc forming the first bending stop extends in a range from about 50° to about 200°. 
     
     
         12 . The head according to  claim 9 , wherein the partial circular arc forming the first bending stop extends over about 180°. 
     
     
         13 . The head according to  claim 1 , comprising at least a first cleaning element and a second cleaning element, wherein the first and second elastic cleaning element each have a mounting section, an operative section and an operative end opposite the mounting section, wherein a first bending stop is arranged next to the first cleaning element and a second bending stop is arranged next to the second cleaning element, wherein the first bending stop abuts part of the operating section of the first cleaning element such that a bending motion of the operative section of the first cleaning element is constricted by the bending stop in a first direction, and wherein the second bending stop abuts part of the operating section of the second cleaning element such that a bending motion of the operative section of the second cleaning element is constricted by the bending stop in the second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The head according to  claim 2 , wherein the carrier and the first bending stop are integrally formed. 
     
     
         15 . The head according to  claim 1 , wherein the head is detachably mountable on a handle. 
     
     
         16 . An oral hygiene device comprising a head according to  claim 1 .