WO2007009276A1

WO2007009276A1 - Toothbrush head

Info

Publication number: WO2007009276A1
Application number: PCT/CH2006/000318
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Zwimpfer; Christian Hilfiker
Original assignee: Trisa Holding Ag
Priority date: 2005-07-19
Filing date: 2006-06-13
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: EP1903906B1; DE202005011363U1; EP1903906A1

Abstract

The inventive toothbrush head (14) is occupied on the top by bristles (18) and is articulated by material recesses (22) into head segments (24) that are flexible with regard to one another. In order to prevent the head segments (24) from being overflexed, the head segments (24) are provided with limiting elements (28) that project above recess walls (26), which are assigned thereto, toward the adjacent head section (24) thereby narrowing the material recesses (22).

Description

toothbrush head

The invention relates to a toothbrush head and a toothbrush with such a toothbrush head according to the preambles of claims 1 and 20, respectively.

Toothbrushes are well-known items for dental care, tongue cleaning and general oral hygiene. Toothbrushes typically include a handle, a neck, and a flattened toothbrush head that is studded with bristles. They are often made from one or more plastic components.

A toothbrush is described, for example, in WO 96/02165. In this toothbrush, notches run on the bristle-tipped top and opposite bottom of the toothbrush head, forming flexible joints. The flexible joints divide the toothbrush head into a number of head segments, which can be flexibly deflected or bent against each other. Due to the deflectability, the toothbrush head can adapt to the outer contours to be cleaned in the oral cavity.

At a strong pressure on the toothbrush head, however, it can lead to overbending of the individual head segments, which leads to a destruction of the flexible joints and thus to a shortening of the life of the toothbrush. Breakage of the flexible joints may result in sharp break lines that increase the risk of injury to the oral cavity. It is also possible that during use of the toothbrush, the head segments so against each other 18

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deflected, for example, that the tongue or other tissue parts between the deflected head segments penetrate into the notches and are trapped. This caused painful bruising should of course be avoided.

Object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush head or a toothbrush with flexibly mutually deflectable head segments, which has a long life and prevents bruising of tissue of the oral cavity.

This object is achieved by a toothbrush head or a toothbrush according to the independent claims 1 and 20, respectively. Particularly preferred embodiments are equipped with the features mentioned in the independent claims.

The toothbrush head according to the invention has bristles on the upper side and is divided by material recesses into mutually flexible head segments. The material recesses are limited by recess walls. According to the invention, the head segments are provided with delimiting elements which project beyond their associated recess walls in the direction of the adjacent head segment and thereby narrow the material recesses, in order to prevent overbending of the head segments. In this way, the life of the toothbrush head or a toothbrush equipped therewith is prolonged and breakage of the toothbrush head is avoided. Due to the narrowing of the material recesses at the same time penetration or clamping of tissues of the oral cavity, such as the tongue, in the Materialausnehmungen by the at the Ausnehmungswänden shaped limiting elements difficult or prevented.

Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings. The figures show purely schematically:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the underside of a toothbrush head according to the invention with

Material recesses, assigned

Limiting elements, tongue cleaning ribs and a ribbon-like retraction element;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the toothbrush head shown in Fig. 1;

3 is a top plan view of the top of the toothbrush head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with bristle sac holes for receiving bristles;

4a is a plan view of the underside of a toothbrush head according to the invention with a waist-like constricted, centered with respect to the

Longitudinal central axis of the toothbrush head arranged film-like hinges;

4b is a plan view of a further embodiment of a toothbrush head, in which two waisted film-like hinges are formed on a material recess and spaced by a continuous material recess; 18

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5 shows a side view of the toothbrush head shown in FIG. 4a / 4b with bristles arranged on the upper side and a tongue cleaner formed on the underside;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the underside of a toothbrush head equipped with material recesses which are perpendicular or substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the toothbrush head, and associated boundary elements;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the toothbrush head shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the underside of a toothbrush head with a bridge-like head segment, on the underside a

Tongue cleaner is formed;

9 shows a cross section along the longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush head shown in FIG. 8; FIG.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the underside of another embodiment of a toothbrush head with slit-like continuous

, Material recesses, the three, substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the

Toothbrush head extending head longitudinal segments form;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the toothbrush head shown in Fig. 10 with a belt-like, not ^■ retracting ^element completely around the toothbrush head; and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the underside of another embodiment of a toothbrush head with a circumferential retraction element, which is not consistently supported due to recesses on the head body and thereby forms buffer zones.

A toothbrush 10 according to the invention has a handle, a neck 12 adjoining thereto, and a toothbrush head 14 which adjoins the handle 12 at the neck 12 and is fitted with bristles 18 on its upper side 16. The toothbrush head 14 according to the invention can be integrally formed on the neck 12 or can also be attached interchangeably to the neck 12. It has a load-bearing, made of a hard component-head body 20, which may be supplemented with additional elements. These additional elements may be arranged laterally, in front, above or below the toothbrush head 14 and serve a massage and tongue cleaning function and / or cause a change in the stability or elasticity of the toothbrush 10. The additional elements may be formed from a hard and / or a soft component.

In the toothbrush head 14 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, a bottom side 17 of the head body 20 opposite the top 16 is provided with two groove-like material recesses 22 running parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis ^' L ^{' of the} toothbrush head 14. The Material cutouts 22 along its longitudinal axis to define a respective bend line B and divide the toothbrush head 14 by three flexible against each other ausgelenkbare head segments 24, the orientation of their associated bending lines are also referred to as a head cross segments 24a due ^'. The head segments 24 adapt at a pressure on the toothbrush head 14 by their mutual mutual deflection of each of the outer contour of the pad and thereby cause an improved cleaning effect, especially in usually poorly accessible places, such as interdental spaces.

The material recesses 22 are bounded by recess walls 26. On both sides into the material recesses 22 reaching in boundary elements 24 are arranged on adjacent head segments. The limiting elements 28 are integrally formed on the recess walls 26 and arranged centrally with respect to the longitudinal central axis L of the toothbrush head 14 and in this example in each case in pairs with respect to the common material recess 22. Alternatively, the limiting elements 28 can each be provided individually. They preclude overbending of the head segments 24 in the event of excessive pressure on the toothbrush head 14. In this way, a breakage of the toothbrush head 14 is prevented and extends the life of the toothbrush 10. In addition, penetration and pinching of tissue of the oral cavity, for example the tongue, into the material recesses 22 is avoided by the delimiting elements 28.

The limiting elements 28 form, as shown in Fig. 2, with respect to the material recesses 22 inwardly facing Limiting wall sections 30. Opposing boundary wall sections 30 are wedge-like at an angle between 1 ° and 8 °, preferably between 2 ° and 5 °, to each other. The boundary wall sections 30 run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the material recess 22. The distance of opposing boundary wall sections 30 of paired boundary elements 28 in the unloaded ground state is about 0.5 mm and can vary in a range between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm. With only a limiting element 28, the distances between the boundary wall portion 30 and the opposite recess wall 26 may vary.

The height of the Begrenzungs'elemente 28, measured from the opening side of the material recesses 22 in the direction of Ausnehmungsböden 32 of the Materialausnehmungen 22, is between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. The width of the boundary elements 28 on the underside 17 of the toothbrush head along the longitudinal center axis L of the toothbrush head 14 is smaller on the handle-side recess wall 26 than on the free end of the toothbrush head 14 closer recess wall 26. The handle side, the width is about 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably 3 mm to 4 mm, and for the free end inclined to the limiting elements 28 4 mm to 8 mm, preferably 5 mm to 7 mm. On the upper side 16 of the toothbrush head 14, the width of the limiting elements 28 on the handle side is 2 mm to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm to 4 mm. In a region assigned to the free end of the toothbrush head 14, the width of the limiting elements 28 is between 0.5 mm. and 4 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, material recesses 22 of the upper side 16 and material recesses 22 of the underside 17 of the toothbrush head 14 are in a paired manner. The depth of the upper-side material recess 22 is less than the depth of the lower-side material recess 22. The depths are in a ratio of about 1: 1 to 1: 4, preferably 1: 2. The depths of the material recesses 22 are about 2 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 3 mm.

The reduced material thickness between the opposite recesses floors 32 of the material recesses 22 is between 1 mm and 2 mm, in the embodiment shown about 1.5 mm. The constrictions in the material thickness form film-like hinges 36, through which also bend lines B extend and thus allow the elastic deflection of the head segments 24 against each other. A restoring moment, which counteracts the deflection of the head segments 24, is influenced not only by the material but also by the material thickness of the film-like hinges 36: the lower the material thickness, the smaller the restoring moment.

An increase in the restoring torque is achieved by a retraction element 38, which is shown in FIG. 2 and extends almost centrally between the upper side 16 and the lower side 17. The retraction element 38, which consists of an elastic soft component, is molded onto the head body 20 and is supported by it. It is made of -a neck 40 extending from the neck 12 to the toothbrush head 14, which lasso opens at the head end 42 and completely surrounds the head body 20 in a band of the same cross section.

The retraction member 38 has in addition to its retraction function and a shock absorber function. The retraction element 38 protruding beyond the head body 20 dampens hard impact of the toothbrush head 14 in the oral cavity and thus prevents injuries. This effect can be additionally reinforced by the retraction element 38 is at least partially formed by recesses spaced from the head body 20, for example. A soft-elastic buffer formed thereby will be described in detail in conjunction with FIG. The advantage of such a buffer can also be achieved with conventional toothbrushes.

The height of the retraction member 38 between the top 16 and the bottom 17 is about 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm to 1.6 mm. The cross-sectional thickness of the retraction member 38 is 0.5 mm to 1.7 mm, preferably 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. The restoring moment acting on the deflected head segments 24 by the retraction element 38 can be adjusted by changing the cross section of the retraction element 38 and / or by the material composition of the soft component.

Substantially parallel to the material recesses 22 and almost perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis L of the

Toothbrush head 14 are on the bottom 17 of the

Head body 20 a number of tongue cleaning ribs 44 formed. These extend almost over the entire

Width of the oval rounded toothbrush head 14. The tongue cleaning ribs 44 together with the Materialausnehmungen 22 a tongue cleaner 46th The

Tongue cleaner 46 is used for the scraping of plaque and other deposits in the oral cavity, especially on the

Tongue, and allows mechanical removal of microorganisms, food particles, etc.

To support the cleaning function of the tongue cleaner 46, the bottom 17 of the toothbrush head 14 is spoon-shaped. That is, the outer contour of the underside 17 is convex or convex both along the longitudinal center axis L of the toothbrush head 14 and perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis L. In this way, the use of the tongue cleaner 46 is simplified and made more pleasant.

The depth of the tongue cleaning ribs 44 is less than the depth of the material recesses 22 permitting the flexibility of the toothbrush head 14. The depth of the tongue cleaning ribs 44 is 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm, resulting in a depth ratio to the material recess 22 of 1: 2 to 1: 5 results. The smaller depth of the tongue cleaning ribs 44 makes it possible, in the head body 20 to the top 16 toward open bristle bag holes 48 for receiving bristles 18 having a depth of 3 mm to 5 mm, preferably 3.8 mm, and a diameter of 1.2 mm 2.5 mm, preferably 1.7 mm, form. This will turn the _. Use of conventional punching technologies with anchor plates for fixing the bristles 18 in the Borstensacklöchern 48 possible. In the area of the material recesses 22, in contrast, preferably no bristle sack holes 48 are provided. ^" .. Two adjacent flanks 50 of tongue cleaning ribs 44 each enclose an angle of 10 ° to 35 °, preferably between 18 ° and 25 ° with each other. The same angular ranges are also enclosed by the opposing recess walls 26 of the material recesses 22. The radius of fin bottoms 52 between adjacent tab cleaner ribs 44 is between 0.1 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably 0.25 mm.

Due to the spoon-like outer contour of the underside 17 of the toothbrush head 14, the tongue cleaning ribs 44 arranged centrally on the underside 17 of the toothbrush head 14 are deeper than the tongue cleaning ribs 44 formed on the free end region of the toothbrush head 14 or on the neck side. The thickness of the tongue cleaning ribs 44 is between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably 0.6 mm to 0.7 mm.

The head body 20, including the film-like hinges 36 and the tongue cleaner 46, is made of a hard component in an injection molding tool. The contours of the head body 20 are each designed so that in an injection molding process preferably no additional slides are needed.

Structural hard components are plastics, for example polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET),

Polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), styrene-acrylonitrile

(SAN), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylic butadiene styrene

(ABS) and others, preferably polypropylene (PP) used. The polypropylene used has a modulus of elasticity of 1000 N / mm ² to 2400 N / mm ² , preferably 1300 N / mm ² to 1800 N / mm ² , on. As soft component rubber-elastic plastics, for example polyurethane (PUR), preferably a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is used. The Shore A hardness of the soft component is preferably less than 90. Bristles attached to the top 16 of the toothbrush head 14. 18 are made of polyamide (PA) or polyester. (PBT) manufactured. These are preferably anchored in the bristle sac holes 48 by means of conventional stamping technology.

As already mentioned above, the retraction element 38 is made of a soft component. In a 2-component manufacturing process comprising at least a hard component and a soft component, the soft component adheres to the hard component, whereby it is possible to dispense with undercuts for the retention of the soft component in the head body -20.

The soft component for the retraction member 38 is injection-molded onto the head body 20 in an unloaded state of the head body 20. This ensures, the soft component of the withdrawal member 38 that after an elongation caused by a deflection of the head segments 24, retracts back to the disengaged position of rest or starting position and supports the toothbrush head ^'14, to assume its original shape again.

In Fig. 3, the top 16 of the toothbrush head 14 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown. .The

Borstensacklöcher 48 are distributed almost over the entire top 16. Only to the Material recesses 22 are excluded Borstensacklöcher 48.

A further embodiment of a toothbrush head 14 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4a. The material recesses 22 are surrounded by material recesses 22a which are continuous from the upper side 16 to the lower side 17 such that the film-like hinges 36 are rounded and constricted transversely to the upper side 16 or lower side 17. The narrowed in their transverse extent, film-like hinges 36 have in comparison to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 on a lower restoring moment and cause the head segments 24 can be easily deflected against each other. The head segments 24 are each provided with the film-like hinges 36 with in this example paired limiting elements 28 for protection against overbending. Alternatively, it is also possible in each case only one-sided limiting elements 28 to install or optionally to dispense with these completely.

As in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the limiting elements 28, which are formed in each case opposite to the recess walls 26, are also arranged centrally with respect to the longitudinal central axis L of the toothbrush head 14. The bottom 17 of the toothbrush head 14 is also equipped with tongue cleaning ribs 44. Depending on the extent of the constriction of the film-like hinges 36, the head segments 24 can also perform a torsional movement (in the transverse direction) against each other. To this, too - IA -

reach, the continuous material recesses 22a occupy at least 30% of the head width.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, the film-like hinges 36 are each constricted from the outside, as well as from the longitudinal central axis L, or waisted. In this way, two film-like hinges 36 are formed per material recess 22. Between each of a material recess 22 associated film-like hinges 36 each one of the top 16 to the bottom 17 continuous, hole-like material recess 22a is formed. With respect to the longitudinal axis of a material recess 22, the film-like hinges 36 are each rounded off and under- and upper side provided with paired boundary elements 28.

In the side view of the toothbrush head 14 from FIGS. 4a and 4b shown in FIG. 5, it can clearly be seen that the limiting elements 28 have a lower height on the upper side than on the underside.

As already described in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the head body 20 is radially outwardly and approximately centrally between the top 16 and the bottom 17 extending equipped with a retraction element 38. Again, the visible strip 40 of the retraction member 38 is continuously guided on the head body 20 fitting. He follows at the outer constrictions of the film-like hinges 36 formed by the continuous material recesses 22a recesses inside the head body 20. Alternatively, the retraction element 38 is interrupted or not at the film-like hinges 36 or not on the head body 20 fitting but continue freely over the recesses away.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a toothbrush head 14 according to the invention, which is provided with material recesses 22, which are distributed in a lattice-like manner over the upper side 16 and the underside 17, both vertically and substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis L of the toothbrush head 14 , Due to overlaps of the material recesses 22 and thus also of the associated bending lines B, the newly formed subunits of the head transverse segments 24a can be combined to form so-called head longitudinal segments 24b. The substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis L extending Materialausnehmungen 22 are slot-like and partially formed from the top 16 to the bottom 17 throughout and formed on the top 16 and bottom 17 wave-like. Of course, the size of the material recesses 22, 22a may vary to adjust the flexibility. If necessary, they can be omitted altogether. In this case, the head longitudinal segments 24b are connected over the entire head length by means of film-like hinges 36.

Each vertical ^'with respect to the longitudinal central axis L of the toothbrush head 14 extending material cutout 22 has due to ^the' overlap with the running substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis L

Material recesses 22 each have four spaced-apart film-like hinges 36, the flexibility of the head segments 24 along these-

Ensure longitudinal center axis ^' L. Furthermore allow the substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis L of the toothbrush head 14 extending wavy material recesses 22, the formation of film-like hinges 36, which allow a flexibility of the head segments 24 transverse to the longitudinal central axis L.

Preferably, in this embodiment, too

film-like hinges 36 equipped with limiting elements 28. Alternatively, of course, it is also possible in all described embodiments to form limiting elements 28 only on one side on a recess wall 26. It is also conceivable to dispense entirely with limiting elements 28 and to provide the film-like hinges 36 themselves with sufficient strength to prevent overbending and breaking.

By the longitudinal and transverse segmentation of the toothbrush head 14 shown in FIG. 6, the tongue cleaner 46 is likewise subdivided on the underside 17. In addition to a longitudinal and transverse segmentation, material recesses 22 running at an angle to one another are also conceivable, for example, which form various shapes of head segments 24 with angularly oriented film-like hinges 36 and associated bending lines B.

The two with respect to the longitudinal center axis L of the toothbrush head 14 outer head longitudinal segments 24b are about. two film-like hinges 36 each with. two inner tines ^• protruding from the neck 12

Head longitudinal segments 24b flexibly connected. These film-like Scharniere- 36 are to prevent over bending of the head longitudinal segments 24b, • ^• with Limiting elements 28 equipped. These limiting elements 28 are identical in function, construction and production to the limiting elements 28, which are associated with the head transverse segments 24a, but arranged perpendicular to them and parallel to the longitudinal central axis L. If in this embodiment only one film-like hinge 36 is provided between adjacent longitudinal head segments 24b, a torsional movement of the longitudinal head segments 24b relative to each other with respect to the longitudinal central axis L can likewise be generated.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. The retraction member 38 does not extend completely around the head body 20 in this embodiment. By the longitudinally extending, at their free ends continuous material recesses 22a, the retraction element 38 is divided into sections. Alternatively, it is also possible to form the retraction element 38 circumferentially, wherein it then does not abut the head body 20 at the free ends of the continuous material recesses 22a.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a bridge-shaped bridge element 53, formed below a soft body and / or hard component and rising below the bottom body 17, rises on the underside 17, on the underside of which a tongue cleaner 46 is formed. As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, a clearance 54 is formed between the head body 20 accommodating the bristles 18 and the bridge member 53. In the case of a tongue cleaning, the tongue cleaner 46 which is elastic in this embodiment can deform in the direction of the free space 54 or be in its position Adjust the shape to the external pressure, thereby preventing excessive cleaning of tissues of the oral cavity and assisting cleaning by its conforming.

The soft component of the tongue cleaner 46 encloses the free end portion of the head body 20 and damps hard blows of the toothbrush head 14 against the teeth or tissue of the oral cavity.

The head body 20 shown in FIG. 9 is in turn provided with paired material recesses 22, which run perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis L, with film-like hinges 36, to which respective limiting elements 28 are assigned. On the lower side tongue cleaner 46 made of soft and / or hard component are also paired Materialausnehmungen 22, which are opposed to the Materialausnehmungen 22 in the head body 20, formed. These material recesses 22 are not equipped with limiting elements 28.

The clearance 54 between the tongue cleaner 46 and the bristle-carrying portion of the toothbrush head 14 is provided by means of side sliders in the injection molding tool, in which the hard and / or soft component is injected.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a further embodiment of the toothbrush head 14 according to the invention. In this embodiment too, the toothbrush head 14 is divided by the material recesses 22 into head transverse segments 24a and head longitudinal segments 24b. The associated film-like hinges 36 are attached to the adjacent Ausnehmungswänden 26 equipped on both sides with limiting elements 28.

Continuous material recesses 22a extending parallel to the longitudinal central axis L of the toothbrush head 14 divide the toothbrush head 14 into three longitudinal head segments 24b. These three head longitudinal segments 24b are like a tine from Kopfansätz 42. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the two outer longitudinal head segments 24b are not flexibly connected to the middle longitudinal head segment 24b by means of film-like hinges 36, but are individually freely deflectable along the longitudinal central axis L.

On the underside 17 of this embodiment again the material recesses 22 and tongue cleaning ribs 44 form a tongue cleaner 46. Also in this embodiment, the tongue cleaning ribs 44 extend almost over the entire transverse region of the toothbrush head 14th

As in the embodiments already shown, the head body 20 is supplemented here with a retraction element 38. In this case, the retraction element 38 between the free ends of the longitudinal head segments 24b is not on the head body

20 supported. Alternatively, however, here is the

Retracting element 38 completely revolving around the toothbrush head 14. be executed, where in each case. the longitudinally continuous material recesses 22 a the

Retraction element 38 is not supported on the head body 20.

This has the advantage that pointed ends of the ..

Head longitudinal segments 24b are covered by the soft material - and thus a risk of injury is reduced. In Fig. 12, the bottom 17 is shown an embodiment in which the film-like hinges 36 are provided only on the top 16 with not visible in this representation limiting elements 28. Alternatively, it is entirely possible to dispense with limiting elements 28 in this embodiment as well.

The outside between the upper side 16 and the lower side 17 continuously around the head body 20 circumferential retraction element 38 is not continuously supported on the head body 20 in this embodiment. Rather, recesses between the hard component of the head body 20 and the retraction member 38 formed of a soft component form soft elastic buffer zones 56.

The buffer zones 56 are arranged distributed laterally over the entire toothbrush head 14. In the free end region of the toothbrush head 14, a buffer zone 56 is formed by a cross-sectionally sickle-shaped recess. Further buffer zones 56 are formed in the lateral regions of the film-like hinges 36 by recesses which are virtually semicircular in cross section and in the remaining regions by recesses which are almost trapezoidal in cross section. The elasticity of the. Buffer zones 56 are influenced by the shape of the recesses and their length not supported on the head body 20. The buffer zones 56 additionally protect the tissue of the oral cavity, including the teeth, from the painful shocks of the hard component consisting of the hard body 20 by damping their impact by their deformation. As already mentioned above, the toothbrush head 14 according to the invention of the toothbrush 10 or the toothbrush 10 according to the invention is preferably produced in an injection molding process. The shape of the toothbrush 10 is carried out so that preferably no slide for the injection molding tool is needed, and conventional two-part injection molds can be used with a stationary core.

In a first step in the production of a basic body including the head body 20 of a

Hard component sprayed and then cooled.

Subsequently, the main body of a first

Cavity taken from an injection mold and into a second

Cavity of the injection mold for molding the soft component folded.

Preferably, only two injection points, one for the hard component and one for the soft component, are required for the production of the toothbrush 10. Alternatively, of course, other injection points and several types of hard components and / or soft components can be molded.

The previously described embodiment of the toothbrush head 14 can also be used for electrically operated toothbrushes. Ie _/ that a particular use in electric toothbrushes and vibration possible. is.

The shaping of the tongue cleaner 46 can be effected by injection molding of hard and / or soft components. By using an injection molding process For example, the flexibility and shape of the tongue cleaner 46 can be quickly and easily adapted to changing requirements. The tongue-cleaning ribs 44 can also be formed as nubs, flakes, or other rough scraping structures.

Claims

H2006 / 000318- 23 -protection claims

1. Toothbrush head with a head body (20), which has a bristle (18) top (16) and an opposite bottom (17) and a groove-like, by recessed walls (26) limited material recess (22), the head body (20). is divided into mutually flexibly deflectable head segments (24), characterized in that at least one of the head segments (24) having a via its associated Ausnehmungswand (26) in the direction against the adjacent head segment (24) protruding limiting element (28) which is predetermined , with the adjacent head segment

(24) to cooperate to limit the flexible deflection.

2. Toothbrush head according to claim 1, characterized in that the limiting element (28) is integrally formed on the head segment (24), preferably by means of an injection molding process.

3. Toothbrush head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the limiting element (28) extends only over a part of the recess wall (26) and is preferably arranged centrally on the recess wall (26).

4. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that limiting elements (28) are arranged individually or in pairs opposite each other and their associated boundary wall sections (30) or a Limiting wall portion (30) and a corresponding opposite Ausnehmungswand (26) in the unloaded state at a distance of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, preferably 0.5 mm.

5. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the groove-like Materialausnehmung (22) has a V-shaped, from the adjacent Ausnehmungswänden (26) formed Ausnehmungsquerschnitt which is at least partially narrowed by the limiting elements (28).

6. A toothbrush head according to claim _5. characterized in that in each case a material recess (22) on the bristle-covered top (16) and the opposite bottom (17) facing each other and thereby between their recesses floors (32) a film-like hinge (36) with a material thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm , preferably of 1.5 mm.

A toothbrush head according to claim 6, characterized in that the film-like hinge (36) extends at least partially across the width and / or the length of the toothbrush head (14).

8. Toothbrush head according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a plurality of film-like

Hinges (36) between two adjacent head segments (24) spaced from each other and are preferably arranged in alignment with each other.

9. toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the groove-like Material recesses (22, 22 a) in sections through the head body (20) are continuous.

10. Toothbrush head according to claim 9, characterized in that the Materialausnehmungen (22) of the. Top (16) to the bottom (17) of the head body (20) continuously and slot-like and / or with a rounded Durchgangsguerschnitt equipped continuous material recesses (22a) form.

11. Toothbrush head according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the continuous material recess (22a) is formed like a hole.

12. Toothbrush head according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the continuous material recess (22a) has a free, open end.

13. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the head segments (24) have a different thickness, length and / or height and / or consist of different materials or material compositions.

14. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the lower side Materialausnehmungen (22) and the lower side tongue cleaning ribs (44) having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.7 mm, a tongue cleaner (46) form with a preferably spoon-like outer contour and are suitable for oral cavity cleaning. 2006/000318

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15. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the head body (20) is at least partially surrounded by a strip-like retraction element (38) made of a soft elastic material.

16. Toothbrush head according to claim 15, characterized in that the retraction element (38) is supported only partially, on the head body (20) or rests.

17 toothbrush head according to claim 15, characterized in that the retraction element (38) adjacent to the head body (20) and optionally also inside of the top (16) to the bottom (17) continuous material recesses (22 a) is guided.

18. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the retraction element (38) in an unloaded state of the head body (20) by means of an injection molding process in the manufacture of the toothbrush head (14) is molded.

19. Toothbrush head according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the head body (20) is made of at least one hard component in an injection molding process.

20. Toothbrush having a handle, a neck (12) connected thereto and a toothbrush head (14) arranged opposite the handle on the neck (12) according to one of claims 1 to 19, the toothbrush head (14) having a head body (20), the one with bristles (18) occupied top (16) and 18

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an opposite bottom (17) and a groove-like, bounded by recess walls (26)

Material recess (22), which divides the head body (20) into mutually flexibly deflectable head segments (24), characterized in that at least one of the head segments (24) with a via its associated recess wall (26) in the direction against the adjacent head segment ( 24) protruding limiting element (28), which is predetermined, with the adjacent head segment

(24) to cooperate to limit the flexible deflection.

21. Toothbrush according to claim 20, characterized in that on the underside (17) of the toothbrush head (14) a tongue cleaner (46) is formed.

22. Toothbrush according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the toothbrush head (14) has an at least partially circumferential, band-like retraction element (38) made of a soft elastic material.

23. Toothbrush according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the toothbrush head (14) is removably attached to the neck (12).