Toothbrush and process for producing such a toothbrush

Abstract

The invention relates to a toothbrush having a handle and a head part, on which bristle filaments and at least one flexible cleaning element are arranged. According to the invention, the at least one flexible cleaning element is arranged on a carrier element which consists of a hard material and is connected to the head part. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A toothbrush head, comprising:
 a bristle-carrying head part;   bristle filaments and a cutout provided through the head part, the cutout including a bottom opening that is of a larger cross-section than an intermediate section of the cutout; and   a flexible, non-bristle cleaning element arranged on a carrier element, the cleaning element being made of a first material and the carrier element being made of a second, harder material, the carrier element including a base and a resiliently configured extension, the base having a cross-section larger than the intermediate section of the cutout, and the extension having an intermediate portion and a bottom with a cross-section that is larger than the intermediate portion of the extension and the intermediate section of the cutout, the bottom of the extension being resiliently inserted through the intermediate section of the cutout and into the bottom opening to prevent ready release of the carrier element from the head part by a snap-fit connection.   
     
     
       2. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection is sufficient to prevent detaching of the carrier element from the head part during use of the toothbrush. 
     
     
       3. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection is non-releasable. 
     
     
       4. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein play between the carrier element and the head part at the cutout allows movement of the carrier element and the flexible cleaning element during use of the toothbrush. 
     
     
       5. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is arranged to massage gums of the user. 
     
     
       6. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is made from a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       7. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element includes rubber. 
     
     
       8. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element has a Shore A hardness of less than 90. 
     
     
       9. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the carrier element is a polypropylene, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyurethane or polyester. 
     
     
       10. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element and the carrier element are produced by two-component or multi-component injection molding and mated with a non-releasable connection. 
     
     
       11. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is inclined out of the vertical to come into contact with at least one of the bristle filaments. 
     
     
       12. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element crosses over at least one of the bristle filaments. 
     
     
       13. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cleaning element has a rod-like shape. 
     
     
       14. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is harder than the flexible cleaning element. 
     
     
       15. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutout extends entirely through the head part. 
     
     
       16. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , wherein the head part includes a plurality of cutouts and a plurality of flexible cleaning elements and carrier elements. 
     
     
       17. The toothbrush head according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected to the head part. 
     
     
       18. A toothbrush head, comprising:
 a bristle-carrying head part;   bristle filaments and a cutout provided on the head part;   a flexible, non-bristle cleaning element arranged on a carrier element, the carrier element being of a harder material than that of the flexible cleaning element, the carrier element including an extension that extends into the cutout and is connected to the head part by a not readily releasable snap-fit connection of the carrier element within the cutout; and   play between the carrier element and the head part at the cutout allows pivoting movement of the carrier element about an axis.   
     
     
       19. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head part. 
     
     
       20. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the connection is sufficient to prevent detaching of the carrier element from the head part during use of the toothbrush. 
     
     
       21. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is made from a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       22. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible cleaning element includes rubber. 
     
     
       23. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible cleaning element has a Shore A hardness of less than 90. 
     
     
       24. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the harder material of the carrier element is a polypropylene, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyurethane or polyester. 
     
     
       25. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is inclined out of the vertical to come into contact with at least one of the bristle filaments. 
     
     
       26. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible cleaning element has a rod-like shape. 
     
     
       27. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 ,wherein the cutout is provided through the head part and includes an end opening that is of a larger cross-section than an intermediate section of the cutout. 
     
     
       28. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , further comprising a handle connected to the head part. 
     
     
       29. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the head is also formed from a material that is harder than the flexible, non-bristle containing cleaning element so that a hard material to hard material snap-fit connection is formed. 
     
     
       30. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the carrier extension is a snap-fitting element, and the snap-fitting element and the carrier form a single-piece body of the harder material. 
     
     
       31. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the not-readily releaseable snap-fit connection is formed by one of the extension and the head part resiliently deforming. 
     
     
       32. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning element is non-releasably attached to the carrier element through two component or multi-component injection molding. 
     
     
       33. The toothbrush head according to  claim 18 , wherein the head involves a plurality of cutouts and a plurality of snap-fit carrier elements. 
     
     
       34. A process for producing a toothbrush head comprising:
 providing a head part with a cutout and with bristle filaments, the cutout having a bottom end opening that is of a larger cross-section than an intermediate section of the cutout;   providing a flexible, non-bristle cleaning element coupled to a carrier element, the cleaning element being made of first material and the carrier being made of a second, harder material;   providing the carrier element with a base having a cross-section larger than the intermediate section of the cutout and an extension having an intermediate portion and a resiliently configured bottom with a cross-section that is larger than the intermediate section of the extension and the intermediate section of the cutout;   inserting the bottom of the extension through the intermediate section of the cutout and into the bottom end opening; and   connecting the carrier element to the cutout of the head part in a not-readily releasable snap-fit connection.   
     
     
       35. The process as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the connecting occurs after the toothbrush head is provided with the bristle filaments. 
     
     
       36. The process as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the bristle filaments provided on the head part are processed prior to connecting the carrier element to the cutout of the head part. 
     
     
       37. The process as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the processing includes at least one of rounding, cutting and machining processing operations. 
     
     
       38. The process as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the flexible cleaning element and the carrier element are produced by two-component or multi-component injection molding. 
     
     
       39. The process as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising:
 providing the toothbrush head part with a handle.   
     
     
       40. The process according to  claim 34 , further comprising inserting the carrier element into the cutout from a bristle bearing front face of the head part. 
     
     
       41. A process for producing a toothbrush head of a toothbrush comprising:
 providing a head part with a cutout and bristle filaments;   providing a non-bristle cleaning element of a first material coupled to a carrier element of a second, harder material, the carrier element being formed with an extension;   inserting the extension into the cutout;   connecting the carrier element to the cutout of the head part by a not readily releasable snap-fit connection of the carrier element within the cutout; and   providing play between the carrier element and the head part at the cutout that allows pivoting movement of the carrier element about axis.   
     
     
       42. The process as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the connecting occurs after the toothbrush head is provided with the bristle filaments. 
     
     
       43. The process as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the bristle filaments provided on the head part are processed prior to connecting the carrier element to the head part. 
     
     
       44. The process as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the processing includes at least one of rounding, cutting and machining processing operations. 
     
     
       45. The process as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the flexible cleaning element and the carrier element are produced by a two-component or multi-component injection molding. 
     
     
       46. The process as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the flexible cleaning element is produced from a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber and the carrier element is produced from a polypropylene, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyurethane or polyester. 
     
     
       47. The process as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the material of the flexible, non-bristle containing cleaning element and the harder material of the carrier are chosen to be compatible with each other to produce a non-releasable connection in the two component or multi-component injection molding process. 
     
     
       48. The process according to  claim 41 , further comprising:
 providing the toothbrush head part with a handle.   
     
     
       49. The process according to  claim 41 , further comprising inserting the carrier element into the cutout from a bristle bearing front face of the head part. 
     
     
       50. A toothbrush, comprising;
 a handle;   a head part;   a flexible structure made from a soft material;   a plate-like carrier element having a front side, a rear side and bristle receiving cutouts;   the carrier element being of a harder material than that of the flexible structure and connected to the head part such that the rear side of the carrier element faces a front side of the head part; and   bristle filaments guided through the bristle receiving cutouts, rear ends of the bristle filaments being melted, welded or adhesively bonded on the rear side of the carrier element;   wherein the flexible structure is provided on the head part and a corresponding injection point of the flexible structure is located on a rear side of the head part.    
     
     
       51. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein a contact surface defining a welding surface between the carrier element and the head part is kept free from the soft material of the flexible structure.  
     
     
       52. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 51, wherein at least one flexible region interrupts the welding surface, with the result that non-welded locations are present.  
     
     
       53. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 52, wherein the head part comprises at least one lateral opening having a shape adapted to the at least one flexible region arranged laterally on the carrier element.  
     
     
       54. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein at least one further flexible structure is attached to the plate-like carrier element.  
     
     
       55. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 54, wherein bristle receiving cutouts are provided in the further flexible structure.  
     
     
       56. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein a play between the carrier element and the head part allows movement of the carrier element during use of the toothbrush.  
     
     
       57. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein a non-releasable connection is provided between the carrier element and the head part.  
     
     
       58. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 57, wherein the non-releasable connection is achieved by clamping, snap-fitting, riveting, adhesive bonding, welding, ultrasonic welding or the supply of heat.  
     
     
       59. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein the carrier element consists of the same material as the head part.  
     
     
       60. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein the material of the carrier element is polypropylene, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene, polyurethane or polyester.  
     
     
       61. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 50, wherein an injection point of a flexible material is located on the carrier element within a region defined by a connecting border between the carrier element and the head part.  
     
     
       62. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 61, wherein contacting locations between the head part and the carrier element are covered with the flexible material.  
     
     
       63. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 61, wherein the flexible material includes natural or synthetic rubber.  
     
     
       64. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 61, wherein the flexible material includes a thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
       65. The toothbrush as claimed in claim 61, wherein the flexible material has a Shore A hardness of less than 90.  
     
     
       66. A process for producing a toothbrush with a handle, a head part and a flexible structure made from a soft material, comprising:
 providing a plate-like carrier element having a front side and a rear side and made from a harder material than that of the flexible structure;   providing a plurality of bristle filaments and guiding them through bristle receiving cutouts in the carrier element;   fastening rear ends of the bristles filaments on the rear side of the carrier element by melting, welding or adhesive bonding;   connecting the carrier element to the head part in a non-releasable manner such that the rear side of the carrier element faces a front side of the head part; and   injecting the soft material to an injection point on a rear side of the head part to provide the flexible structure on the head part.    
     
     
       67. A process for producing a toothbrush with a handle, a head part and a flexible structure made from a soft material, comprising:
 providing a carrier element with at least one cleaning element and having a front side and a rear side and made from a harder material than that of the flexible structure;   connecting the carrier element to the head part in a non-releasable manner such that the rear side of the carrier element faces a front side of the head part; and   injecting the soft material to an injection point on a rear side of the head part to provide the flexible structure on the head part.