A brush head (10) and a method for manufacturing a welded tuft assembly (20) for a brush head (10). The method includes inserting a bristle tuft (21) into an opening (51) in a retention element (52). A proximal end of the bristle tuft (23) and a proximal side (53) of the retention element are laser welded to at least partially melt the bristle tuft and at least a portion of the proximal side of the retention element together to create a merged proximal end head portion (26) that holds the welded tuft assembly together.

A brush head (100) and a method of making a tuft spike (20) and a brush head with a plurality of tuft spikes. The brush head includes a matrix (30) having a plurality of receptacles (32) formed therein. A plurality of tuft spikes are each formed of a plurality of bristle strands (22) arranged in a tuft (21) having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23) inserted in a spike body (24). Each tuft spike is disposed in one of the receptacles of the matrix. A brush head neck (40) has a distal platen (42) that is connected to and at least partially encompassed in the matrix.

A method (500) for manufacturing a brush head (10). The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of bristle tuft retention elements (52), and inserting a bristle tuft (21) into each of the bristle tuft retention elements; using a heat reflection device (200) to evenly apply heat to at least partially melt the bristle tuft proximal end and, optionally, the retention element, create proximal end head portion (26) to retain the bristle tuft in the retention element.

A brush head (10) and a method for manufacturing a brush head. The method includes forming a plurality of retention elements (52) each having an opening (51) therethrough. The retention elements (52) are positioned into corresponding recesses of a plate. A bristle tuft (21) is inserted into each of the openings of the retention elements. A proximal end (23) of each bristle tuft is bonded to the corresponding proximal side of the retention element to form a merged proximal end head portion (26) that secures the bristle tufts and the corresponding retention elements together as a plurality of merged tuft assemblies (20). A neck (40) of the brush head is positioned in relation to the merged tuft assemblies. A platen (42) of the neck and the merged tuft assemblies is at least partially encompassed in a matrix (30).

A hole perforation plate (60) has a front surface (61), a back surface (62), a thickness (D) therebetween, and a plurality of holes (70), grouped into more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70), wherein the more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70) can be identical or different compared to one another regarding the number of the holes (70), the shape of the holes (70), the size of the holes (70), the distance between the holes (70), the arrangement of the holes (70), and a combination thereof, and wherein the front surface (61) is uneven in the area of the arrangement (65) of the holes (70).

A hole perforation plate has a front surface, a back surface, a thickness therebetween, and a plurality of holes, grouped into more than one arrangement of holes, wherein the more than one arrangement of holes can be identical or different compared to one another regarding the number of the holes, the shape of the holes, the size of the holes, the distance between the holes, the arrangement of the holes, and a combination thereof.

An oral care implement that includes a handle (120) and a head (100) with a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface. In one embodiment the plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft (130) that is formed by a wall of bristles. The tooth cleaning elements may also include first and/or second sets of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the head. The peripheral tooth cleaning elements may include elastomeric sleeve portions (144, 154) and bristle tuft portions (145, 155). The elastomeric sleeve portions may be formed as a part of an integrally formed elastomeric component (170).

The present invention concerns a method of bundling a plurality of monofilaments into a bundle of monofilaments by means of a laser, a paint brush head including such bundle of monofilaments and a paint brush including such paint brush head.

A method of forming a bristle field for an oral care implement. The method includes providing a bundle of bristles and aligning the bundle of bristles with an insertion opening in a guide member. Upon insertion into the guide member, the guide member divides the bundle of bristles into a plurality of bristle tufts. The guide member can be aligned with tuft holes on a head or head plate of an oral care implement so that the bundle of bristles can be inserted through the guide member and into the tuft holes. As a result, a single bundle of bristles can be used to mount a plurality of bristle tufts to the head or head plate.

The invention relates to method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and to a recess wall and mouthpiece manufactured according to the method. In a providing step, an elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having a first side lined with a plurality of bristles is provided. The elongate sheet part defines a length axis extending parallel to the sheet part and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a cross-sectional shape. The sheet part obtained in the providing step has an initial condition in which the cross-sectional shape has an initial shape, and the length axis is arch-shaped. In a transforming step, the sheet part of the providing step is transformed from the initial condition to a final condition to provide the recess wall. In the final condition the cross-sectional shape has a final U-shape, the length axis is arch shaped, and the first side is a concave inner side of the final U-shape. The first side is in the final condition more concave than in the initial condition.