Brush, in Particular Toothbrush, and Method of Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

The present invention provides a brush including a brush head (28) carrying bristle filaments (6), a brush neck and a handle stem, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the brush, in which a bristle carrier (32) holding the bristle filaments (6) is formed from a hard component (16) and the handle stem is formed from a foamed plastic material (24). In a method according to the invention, a first plastic component (16) is injected into a first mold cavity (14) to form a bristle carrier (32) holding bristle filaments (6), the bristle carrier (32) is transferred to a further mold cavity (22) and, in a further molding cycle, a foaming plastic (24) is introduced into the further mold cavity (22), which foams in the further mold cavity (22).

1 . A toothbrush, comprising a brush head carrying bristle filaments, a brush neck and a handle stem, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the brush,
 wherein   a bristle carrier holding the bristle filaments is formed of a hard component and the handle stem is formed of a foamed plastic.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristle carrier is formed as a bristle carrier element restricting itself to the brush head, and in that the handle stem and the brush neck are formed from the foamed plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush according to  claim 2 , wherein the bristle carrier is at least partially surrounded by the foamed plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush head, the handle stem and the brush neck consist of the foamed plastic and the hard component. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush head has a plurality of bristle carrier elements connected to one another by the foamed plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristle filaments project from an upper outer surface of the brush head formed by the hard component and are surrounded circumferentially by the foamed plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush according to  claim 6 , wherein the foamed plastic is provided on a rear surface of the brush head provided opposite to the upper outer surface. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush according to  claim 7 , the rear surface is formed of the foamed plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8 , wherein the foamed plastic circumferentially surrounds a functional surface formed by the hard component and exposed at the rear surface. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the hard component has a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a toothbrush comprising a brush head provided with bristle filaments, a handle stem and a brush neck located therebetween, by injection molding, wherein a first plastic component is injected into a first mold cavity to form a bristle carrier holding bristle filaments, wherein the bristle carrier is transferred into a further mold cavity and in a further molding cycle a foaming plastic is introduced into the further mold cavity, which foams in the further mold cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bristle filaments are embedded in the first plastic component when forming the bristle carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein after ejecting the bristle carrier the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bristle carrier is formed as a bristle carrier element restricting itself to the brush head, and in that the handle stem and the brush neck are formed from the foaming plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the foaming plastic is physically or mechanically foamed.