Molded plastic toothbrush has a bristle support inserted into a recess in the brush head and soft cleaning components attached to the head

摘要

The brush body has a neck(1c) and head(1a), soft cleaning components(3a,3b) and conventional bristles(4) on a hard plastic support(2). The support fits closely in a recess in the body and is joined to the latter. The soft cleaning elements are located on the brush head part and connect directly with the brush body. The recess is a cut-out complementary to the support and the soft cleaning components are arranged at the edge of the head(1a) around the recess. Brush body and support are of the same material. The brush body also has one or more additional soft elastic grip enhancing components(7a) of the same material as the cleaning components. In an alternative design the support rotates on the brush body and the cleaning components, which extend into the area of the bristle field, are vibrated as the support and bristles are moved relative to the body. Supports may be permanently attached or detachable from the body. In a multi-component injection process a body is produced with a melt flow channel which then guides soft elastic material into the recess to form the soft elastic components. The latter material is then covered by a support inserted into the recess. An Independent claim is made for the tooth brush manufacturing process in which: a) bristles are embedded in a support; b) a brush body is molded with one or more soft elastic cleaning components; c) the support and brush body are joined together.