ORAL HYGIENE PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR TOOTHBRUSH

Abstract

An oral hygiene product, in particular a toothbrush, comprises at least one application unit and at least one handle unit, the at least one handle unit being formed partly from a soft component and partly from a hard component, wherein the soft component extends at least over a substantial part of a main extent of the at least one handle unit.

Claims

1. An oral hygiene product, in particular a toothbrush, comprising at least one application unit and at least one handle unit, the at least one handle unit being formed partly from a soft component and partly from a hard component, wherein the soft component extends at least over a substantial part of a main extent of the at least one handle unit.

2. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one application unit has a brush head, which is formed partly from a soft component and partly from a hard component.

3. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft component extends continuously over a large portion of a main extent of the oral hygiene product.

4. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one handle unit has at least one thumb gripping region with a gripping area of the hard component and at least one structure element made of the soft component and rising above the gripping area.

5. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one structure element of the at least one thumb gripping region is completely encompassed by the gripping area.

6. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one handle unit has at least one delimiting wall made of the soft component and at least substantially delimiting the gripping area.

7. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one delimiting wall rises above the at least one structure element of the at least one thumb gripping region.

8. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one delimiting wall delimits the gripping area of the at least one thumb gripping region at least towards the application unit.

9. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one handle unit has at least one concavely curved essential gripping area, which is at least largely formed from the soft component and has at least two islands of the hard component.

10. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one concavely curved essential gripping area is arranged on a rear side of the handle unit facing away from the thumb gripping region.

11. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one concavely curved essential gripping area has an index-finger gripping region made of the soft component, in which the structure elements made of the soft component and rising above the essential gripping area are arranged.

12. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one concavely curved essential gripping area has a little-finger gripping region made of the soft component, in which the structure elements made of the soft component and rising above the essential gripping area are arranged.

13. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one concavely curved essential gripping area has a little-finger gripping region made of the soft component, in which the structure elements made of the soft component and rising above the essential gripping area are arranged, wherein the at least two islands are arranged between the index-finger gripping region and the little-finger gripping region.

14. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one handle unit has at least one lateral streak of the hard component, which is completely delimited by the soft component.

15. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one handle unit has at least one tongue made of the soft component, which extends over the lateral streak.

16. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one handle unit has at an end facing away from the application unit a planar resting area which serves for the oral hygiene product to be put down in a defined way.

17. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 1, comprising an imaginary resting plane, which extends free from points of intersection along at least two spaced-apart points of the oral hygiene product.

18. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the planar resting area extends parallel to a main plane of extent of the oral hygiene product and defines an imaginary resting plane.

19. The oral hygiene product as claimed in claim 16, wherein a maximum distance between a rear side of the handle unitand the resting plane, measured perpendicularly to the resting plane, is at least 3 mm.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0062] Further advantages will become evident from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them to form appropriate further combinations.

[0063] In the figures:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a front side of an oral hygiene product in a schematic perspective representation,

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a rear side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic perspective representation,

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a front side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a rear side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0069] FIG. 6 shows an upper side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0070] FIG. 7 shows an underside of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0071] FIG. 8 shows a further side of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation with a depicted mold parting line,

[0072] FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line IX-IX in FIG. 4,

[0073] FIG. 10 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line X-X in FIG. 9,

[0074] FIG. 11 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line XI-XI in FIG. 4,

[0075] FIG. 12 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line XII-XII in FIG. 4,

[0076] FIG. 13 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4,

[0077] FIG. 14 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line XIV-XIV in FIG. 5,

[0078] FIG. 15 shows a front side of a main body of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0079] FIG. 16 shows a side of the main body of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation,

[0080] FIG. 17 shows a rear side of the main body of the oral hygiene product in a schematic representation and

[0081] FIG. 18 shows a schematic sectional representation of the main body of the oral hygiene product along the sectional line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a front side 60 of an oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic perspective representation. The oral hygiene product 10 is in the present case formed as a toothbrush, in particular as a child's toothbrush. The oral hygiene product 10 may similarly be formed as a disposable toothbrush or else as a replaceable-head toothbrush. Moreover, the oral hygiene product 10 could be formed as a flossing implement, a single-tuft brush, an interdental cleaner, a tongue cleaner or the like. Furthermore, combined oral hygiene products are conceivable, combining at least two different functions, for example a toothbrush with a tongue cleaner, a toothbrush with massaging elements, an interdental cleaner with a flossing implement or others of the like.

[0083] The oral hygiene product 10 has at least one application unit 12. Furthermore, the oral hygiene product 10 has at least one handle unit 14. The at least one handle unit 14 is formed partly from a soft component 16 and partly from a hard component 18.

[0084] Reference is made hereafter to FIGS. 1 to 14, which show different views of the oral hygiene product 10. On account of the different views, some elements are not depicted in all of the figures and are correspondingly not provided with designations in all of the figures. FIG. 2 shows a rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic perspective representation. FIG. 3 shows a side 64, in particular a left longitudinal side, of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 4 shows a front side 60 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 5 shows a rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 6 shows an upper side 66 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 7 shows an underside 68 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 8 shows a further side 70, in particular a right longitudinal side, of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation with a depicted mold parting line 114. FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line IX-IX in FIG. 4. FIG. 10 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line X-X in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line XI-XI in FIG. 4. FIG. 12 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line XII-XII in FIG. 4. FIG. 13 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4. Finally, FIG. 14 shows a schematic sectional representation of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line XIV-XIV in FIG. 5.

[0085] The oral hygiene product 10 has a longitudinal axis 72, a height axis 74 and a width axis 76 (cf. 7). The longitudinal axis 72 is arranged parallel to a main direction of extent of the oral hygiene product 10. If the oral hygiene product 10 has been placed with the rear side 62 onto a planar surface, so that the longitudinal axis 72 is arranged parallel to the surface, the height axis 74 is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 72 and perpendicularly to the surface and to the width axis 76. The width axis 76 is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 72 and perpendicularly to the height axis 74. In the present case, the oral hygiene product 10 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 140 mm to 210 mm and preferably of 165 mm to 185 mm. Furthermore, the oral hygiene product 10 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, of 12 mm to 25 mm and preferably 15 mm to 19 mm. Moreover, the oral hygiene product 10 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 10 mm to 20 mm and preferably of 12 mm to 17 mm.

[0086] The at least one application unit 12 has a brush head 20. In the present case, the brush head 20 is formed as a toothbrush head. The brush head 20 has in particular a bristle carrier. The brush head 20 is formed partly from a soft component 16 and partly from a hard component 18. The brush head 20 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 8 mm to 17 mm and preferably 10 mm to 15 mm. The brush head 20 comprises at least one cleaning region, which comprises a plurality of tufts of bristles. For reasons of overall clarity, the tufts of bristles are not depicted in FIGS. 1 to 14. On the front side 60 of the brush head 20, at least one circular hollow 78 is formed. The at least one hollow 78 is intended for receiving a tuft of bristles. In principle, the at least one hollow 78 may also be differently designed. Corning into consideration as bristles are any suitable bristles which, as described above, can be fitted by punching, for example by the anchor punching method. The construction of the brush head 20, or at least the front side 60 of the brush head 20, is different in other bristle-providing methods. Tufts of bristles may differ with regard to their length, their composition, their number of bristles, a bristle material, a color, a surface structuring and other aspects of the like. Similarly, angles at which the bristles and/or the tufts of bristles are arranged in relation to one another or in relation to a surface of the brush head 20 may vary between bristles and/or between tufts of bristles. Furthermore, the application unit 12 comprises in the present case at least one neck element 80, which in particular connects the brush head 20 to the handle unit 14.

[0087] The application unit 12 is arranged on the upper side 66 of the oral hygiene product 10. The application unit 12 forms an uppermost point of the oral hygiene product 10. The application unit 12 is formed partly from a soft component 16 and partly from a hard component 18. With respect to suitable soft and hard components 16, 18, reference is made to the foregoing description. In the present case, the hard component 18 is for example a polypropylene (PP). Moreover, in the present case, the soft component 16 is for example a thermoplastic elastomer. In particular, the brush head 20 and/or the neck element 80 is formed partly from the soft component 16 and substantially from the hard component 18. The brush head 20 is formed on the front side 60 at least substantially from a hard component 18.

[0088] In principle, the application unit 12 may have at least one tongue cleaner element. The tongue cleaner element may have nubs and/or lamellae. Preferably, the tongue cleaner element is arranged on the rear side 62 of the brush head 20; in particular, it may be arranged on a ring of a soft component 16 and/or on an island of a hard component 18.

[0089] The neck element 80 forms a transition between the application unit 12 and the handle unit 14. The neck element 80 is formed partly from the hard component 18 and partly from the soft component 16. The lower end of the neck element 80 is partly formed all-around from the soft component 16. The lower end of the neck element 80 is at least partly formed as resilient.

[0090] The soft component 16 extends at least over a substantial part of a main extent of the at least one handle unit 14. The soft component 16 extends continuously over a large portion of a main extent of the oral hygiene product 10. The soft component 16 forms at least 30%, preferably at least 40% and with particular preference at least 50%, of an outer surface of the at least one handle unit 14. From the neck element 80 to the brush head 20, the soft component 16 respectively forms a strand 82, 84 laterally on a left longitudinal side and a right longitudinal side of the oral hygiene product 10. On the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10, the soft component 16 forms a ring-like structure 86, which surrounds the brush head 20 and the neck element 80 and is uninterrupted. Seen from the rear side 62, an island 88 of the hard component 18 forms on the surface of the neck element 80 and of the brush head 20. Seen from the rear side 62, the island 88 of the hard component 18 forms on the neck element 80 a linear shape along the longitudinal axis 72, which in the region of the brush head 20 goes over into a roundish shape. The edge region of the brush head 20 is framed on the rear side 62 in particular by the soft component 16. The strand 82, 84 made of the soft component 16 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, which is greater than its width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76.

[0091] The at least one handle unit 14 has at least one thumb gripping region 22 with a gripping area 24 of the hard component 18 and at least one structure element 26, 28 made of the soft component 16 and rising above the gripping area 24. The at least one structure element 26, 28 is completely encompassed by the gripping area 24. The gripping area 24 runs on the front side 60 from the thumb gripping region 22 to the lower end of the oral hygiene product 10 on the underside 68. The gripping area 24 forms along the longitudinal axis 72 a dished or concave shape. The gripping area 24 forms in the thumb gripping region 22 along the longitudinal axis 72 a dip 90. This design of the oral hygiene product 10 allows an advantageously adapted thumb shape to be achieved. The dished shape is formed inversely along the longitudinal axis 72 in the direction of the underside 68. In a middle region of the gripping area 24, in particular lettering could be arranged. The lettering may be provided on the oral hygiene product 10 in particular by embossing. Preferably, the soft component 16 forms lettering in the hard component 18, in particular by penetrating from the rear side 62. Advantageously, the surface in this case remains planar. The thumb gripping region 22 is arranged on the front side 60 of the oral hygiene product 10. The thumb gripping region 22 comprises a plurality of structure elements 26, 28, only some of which are provided with designations for reasons of overall clarity. In the present case, the thumb gripping region 22 has six structure elements arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis 72. The at least one structure element 26, 28 is formed from a soft component 16. The at least one structure element 26, 28 is in particular connected in one piece to the soft component 16. The at least one structure element 26, 28 is in the present case formed as a material elevation rising above the gripping area 24 and has in particular a sickle-shaped cross section, any other geometries, in particular straight or wavy lines, being conceivable. Depressions are similarly conceivable. Furthermore, a size of the structure elements changes along the longitudinal axis 72, centrally arranged structure elements being larger than those arranged at the edges. Moreover, in particular half of the structure elements are aligned mirror-invertedly in relation to the other half of the structure elements along the longitudinal axis 72. In particular, the alignment of the structure elements changes in a central region of the thumb gripping region on the longitudinal axis 72. A radius of the sickle-shaped structure elements 26, 28 respectively points in the direction of the central region of the thumb gripping region. The structure elements 26, 28 arranged in a mirrored manner over the central region of the thumb gripping region are in each case formed similarly, but in particular not symmetrically formed. Each half of the structure elements 26, 28 has a number of structure elements, in particular of one to five structure elements 26, 28 and preferably of two to three structure elements 26, 28. The structure elements 26, 28 have in each case a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 3 mm to 12 mm and preferably of 5 mm to 9 mm. The structure elements 26, 28 have in each case a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, of 0.5 mm to 2 mm and preferably of 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm. The height of the structure elements 26, 28 varies on account of the dished gripping area 24 over the individual structure element 26, 28. The structure elements 26, 28 have in each case at the outer ends of the structure element 26, 28, in particular in the direction of the width axis 76, a smaller height than in the middle of the structure element 26, 28. The at least one structure element 26, 28 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 0.3 mm to 3 mm and preferably of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The at least one handle unit 14 has at least one delimiting wall 30 made of the soft component 16 and at least substantially delimiting the gripping area 24. The at least one delimiting wall 30 rises above the at least one structure element 26, 28. The at least one delimiting wall 30 delimits the gripping area 24 at least towards the application unit 12. The thumb gripping region 22 comprises the delimiting wall 30. The delimiting wall 30 runs in the direction of the underside 68. The delimiting wall 30 has a height at the upper end of the delimiting wall 30, in particular parallel to the height axis, of 0.5 mm to 3 mm and preferably of 1 mm to 2 mm. The delimiting wall 30 forms an offset in relation to the gripping area 24. With respect to the direction of the height axis 74, in the direction of the front side 60, the delimiting wall 30 rises above the at least one structure element 26, 28.

[0092] The handle unit 14 has at least one additional gripping region 92 in a lower region of the handle unit 14. The additional gripping region 92 has at least one structure element 94. The at least one structure element 94 is formed from the soft component 16. The at least one structure element 94 is completely encompassed by the gripping area 24. The at least one structure element 94 is arranged on the front side 60 of the oral hygiene product 10. The additional gripping region 92 has a plurality of structure elements 94, only some of which are provided with designations for reasons of overall clarity. In the present case, the additional gripping region 92 has three structure elements 94, arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis 72. The additional gripping region 92 has a number of structure elements, in particular from two to eight structure elements and preferably three to five structure elements. The at least one structure element 94 is formed at least substantially flush with the gripping area 24 and has in particular a sickle-shaped cross section, any other geometries, in particular straight or wavy lines, being conceivable. Depressions are similarly conceivable. The gripping area 24 is shaped in the additional gripping region in a dished form in the width direction. Furthermore, a size of the structure elements changes along the longitudinal axis 72 within the additional gripping region 92, centrally arranged structure elements being larger than those arranged at the edges. An inner radius of the at least one sickle-shaped structure element 94 points in the direction of the underside 68. The structure elements arranged in the additional gripping region 92 are in each case formed similarly but not identically. The at least one structure element 94 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 3 mm to 12 mm and preferably of 5 mm to 9 mm. The at least one structure element 94 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 0.3 mm to 3 mm and preferably of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The at least one structure element 94 has at the outer ends of the structure element 94, in particular in the direction of the width axis 76, a smaller length than in the middle of the structure element 94.

[0093] The at least one handle unit 14 has at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32. The at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32 is at least largely formed from the soft component 16 and has at least two islands 34, 36 of the hard component 18. The at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32 is arranged on a rear side 62 of the handle unit 14 that is facing away from the thumb gripping region 22. The gripping area 32 runs on the rear side 62 from the underside 68 as far as the neck element 80. The at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32 has an index-finger gripping region 38 made of the soft component 16. Arranged in the index-finger gripping region 38 are the structure elements 40, 42 made of the soft component 16 and rising above the essential gripping area 32. The gripping area 32 forms in the index-finger gripping region 38 along the longitudinal axis 72 a dip 96. The dip 96 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, in particular of 20 mm to 60 mm and preferably of 30 mm to 45 mm. The dip 96 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, in particular of 5 mm to 15 mm and preferably of 7 mm to 12 mm. The dip 96 runs in a rounded form into the continuing geometries of the soft component 16, both in the direction of the longitudinal axis and in the direction of the width axis. The dip 96 itself has a rounded shape. The index-finger gripping region 38 has at least one structure element 40, 42 rising above the gripping area 32. The at least one structure element 40, 42 is formed from a soft component 16. The at least one structure element 40, 42 is in particular connected in one piece with the soft component 16. The at least one structure element 40, 42 is arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The at least one structure element 40, 42 forms an at least substantially planar transition over the dip 96 parallel to the width axis 76. The index-finger gripping region 38 has a plurality of structure elements 40, 42, only some of which are provided with designations for reasons of overall clarity. In the present case, the index-finger gripping region 38 has eight structure elements arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis 72. The index-finger gripping region 38 has a number of structure elements, in particular of two to fourteen structure elements and preferably of four to ten structure elements. The at least one structure element 40, 42 is in the present case formed as a material elevation that at least substantially rises above the gripping area 32 and has in particular a sickle-shaped cross section, any other geometries, in particular straight or wavy lines, being conceivable. Depressions are similarly conceivable. Furthermore, a size of the structure elements changes along the longitudinal axis 72, centrally arranged structure elements being larger than those arranged at the edges. Moreover, in particular half of the structure elements are aligned mirror-invertedly in relation to the other half of the structure elements along the longitudinal axis 72. In particular, the alignment of the structure elements changes in a central region of the index-finger gripping region 38 on the longitudinal axis 72. A radius of the at least one sickle-shaped structure element 40, 42 points in the direction of the central region of the index-finger gripping region 38. The structure elements arranged in a mirrored manner over the central region of the index-finger gripping region 38 are in each case formed similarly, but in particular not symmetrically formed. The at least one structure element 40, 42 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 3 mm to 15 mm and preferably of 4 mm to 12 mm. The at least one structure element 40, 42 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, of 0.5 mm to 2 mm and preferably of 0.9 mm to 1.5 mm. The structure elements have in particular different heights. The height of the structure element varies on account of the sunken gripping area 32 over the individual structure element. The structure elements 40, 42 have in each case at the outer ends of the structure element, in particular in the direction of the width axis, a smaller height than in the middle of the structure element, while the surface of the structure element can go over into the gripping area 32 at the outer ends of the structure element. The height of the at least one structure element 40, 42 corresponds at least substantially to the depth of the dip 96. The at least one structure element 40, 42 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 0.5 mm to 2 mm and preferably of 1 mm to 1.7 mm. The at least one structure element 40, 42 preferably has a sickle-shaped cross section. The at least one structure element 40, 42 has at the outer ends of the structure element 40, 42, in particular on the left and right, a smaller length than in the middle of the structure element 40, 42.

[0094] Moreover, the handle unit 14 has at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32. The at least one concavely curved essential gripping area 32 has a little-finger gripping region 44 made of the soft component 16. Arranged in the little-finger gripping region 44 are the structure elements 46, 48 made of the soft component 16 and rising above the essential gripping area 32. The gripping area 32 forms in the little-finger gripping region 44 along the longitudinal axis 72 a dip 98. The dip 98 is formed partly from the soft component 16 and partly from the hard component 18. The dip 98 is formed from the hard component 18 in particular in the region in the direction of the underside 68. The dip 98 is formed from the soft component 16 in particular in the little-finger gripping region 44. The dip 98 has a transition between the soft component 16 and the hard component 18, the transition forming an offset 100. The dip 98 runs in a rounded form into the continuing geometries of the soft component 16. The little-finger gripping region 44 has at least one structure element 46, 48 rising above the gripping area 32. The at least one structure element 46, 48 is formed from a soft component 16. The at least one structure element 46, 48 is in particular connected in one piece with the soft component 16. The at least one structure element 46, 48 is arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The at least one structure element 46, 48 forms an at least substantially planar transition over the dip 98 parallel to the width axis 76. The little-finger gripping region 44 has a plurality of structure elements 46, 48, only some of which are provided with designations for reasons of overall clarity. In the present case, the little-finger gripping region 44 has three structure elements arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis 72. The little-finger gripping region 44 has a number of structure elements, in particular of one to five structure elements and preferably of two to three structure elements. The at least one structure element 46, 48 is in the present case formed as a material elevation that at least substantially rises above the gripping area 32 and has in particular a sickle-shaped cross section, any other geometries, in particular straight or wavy lines, being conceivable. Depressions are similarly conceivable. Furthermore, a size of the structure elements changes along the longitudinal axis 72, structure elements arranged in the direction of the underside 68 being larger than structure elements 46, 48 arranged in the direction of the upper side 66. A radius of the at least one sickle-shaped structure element 46, 48 points in the direction of the underside 68. The structure elements arranged in the little-finger gripping region 44 are in each case formed similarly, but in particular not symmetrically formed. The at least one structure element 46, 48 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 3 mm to 15 mm and preferably of 5 mm to 12 mm. The at least one structure element 46, 48 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and preferably of 0.7 mm to 1.3 mm. The structure elements have in particular different heights. The height of the structure element varies on account of the sunken gripping area 32 over the individual structure element. The at least one structure element 46, 48 has at the outer ends of the structure element 46, 48, in particular in the direction of the width axis 76, a smaller height than in the middle of the structure element 46, 48, while the surface of the structure element 46, 48 can go over into the gripping area 32 at the outer ends of the structure element 46, 48. The height of the at least one structure element 46, 48 corresponds at least substantially to the depth of the dip 98. The at least one structure element 46, 48 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 0.5 mm to 2 mm and preferably of 1 mm to 1.7 mm. The at least one structure element 46, 48 preferably has a sickle-shaped cross section. The at least one structure element 46, 48 has at the outer ends of the structure element 46, 48, in particular in the direction of the width axis 76, a smaller length than in the middle of the structure element 46, 48.

[0095] Furthermore, the handle unit 14 has at least one middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102. The middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 is in the present case arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 comprises a plurality of structure elements, which are not all provided with designations for reasons of overall clarity. The at least one structure element 104 forms an island 34 of the hard component 18, the island 34 being completely surrounded by the soft component 16. The at least two islands 34, 36 are formed at least substantially flush with the gripping area 32. The at least two islands 34, 36 preferably have, seen from the rear side 62, in each case a roundish and/or oval shape, any other geometries with a closed contour being conceivable. The middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 has a number of structure elements, in particular of four to sixteen structure elements and preferably of six to twelve structure elements. The structure elements are arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis 72 symmetrically in two rows, in particular at a distance from the longitudinal axis 72 and on a slight, inwardly bent curve in relation to the longitudinal axis 72. In the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102, the at least one structure element 104 is mirrored at the longitudinal axis 72 and forms a second symmetrical structure element 106, these two structure elements 104, 106 respectively forming two islands 34, 36. The at least two islands 34, 36 are arranged between the index-finger gripping region 38 and the little-finger gripping region 44. The structure elements arranged in the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 are in each case formed similarly but in particular are not formed identically. Furthermore, a size of the structure elements changes along the longitudinal axis 72, centrally arranged structure elements being larger than those arranged at the edges. The middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 is substantially formed from the soft component 16, with the exception of the islands 34, 36, which are formed from the hard component 18. The middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 also comprises an entire central portion of the oral hygiene product 10, which can for example be gripped around with a hand during use.

[0096] In particular, in a held state, a thumb comes to lie in the thumb gripping region 22, an index finger comes to lie in the index-finger gripping region 38, a middle finger and a ring finger come to lie in the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 and a little finger comes to lie on the little-finger gripping region 44. In principle, the oral hygiene product 10 may however also be used by a user with a different placement position of the fingers than that envisaged.

[0097] The at least one handle unit 14 has at an end facing away from the application unit 12 a planar resting area 58. The planar resting area 58 serves for the oral hygiene product 10 to be put down in a defined way. The oral hygiene product 10 has an imaginary resting plane. The imaginary resting plane extends free from points of intersection along at least two spaced-apart points/areas of the oral hygiene product 10. The planar resting area 58 extends parallel to a main plane of extent of the oral hygiene product 10 and defines an imaginary resting plane. The planar resting area 58 is formed in a crescent-shaped manner. The planar resting area 58 is formed from a hard component 18. The planar resting area 58 is arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The planar resting area 58 is arranged on the underside 68 of the oral hygiene product 10. The planar resting area 58 forms in particular a lower end of the oral hygiene product 10 on the rear side 62 in the direction of the underside 68. The planar resting area 58 has a width, in particular parallel to the width axis 76, of 5 mm to 18 mm and preferably of 8 mm to 12 mm. The planar resting area 58 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 2 mm to 10 mm and preferably of 3 mm to 7 mm. The planar resting area 58 is intended for putting the oral hygiene product 10 down on an imaginary resting plane. The oral hygiene product 10 has a resting point 108, preferably a resting line and with particular preference a resting area. The resting point 108, in particular the one resting area, is formed from a hard component 18. The resting point 108, in particular the resting area, is arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The resting point 108, in particular the resting area, is arranged in the region of the neck element 80. The resting area 58 and the resting point 108, in particular the resting area, form a mount for the oral hygiene product 10 on an imaginary resting plane. Advantageously, the resting area 58 is relatively wide, in order that the oral hygiene product 10 rests stably on an imaginary resting plane. A maximum distance between a rear side 62 of the handle unit 14 and the resting plane, measured perpendicularly to the resting plane, is at least 5 mm, preferably at least 7 mm and with particular preference at least 9 mm.

[0098] In a put-down position, the oral hygiene product 10 has a gap 110 between the handle unit 14 and the imaginary resting plane. The gap 110 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, of 3 mm to 18 mm and preferably of 7 mm to 13 mm. The handle unit 14 has in a region above the index-finger gripping region 38 on the rear side 62 a comparatively extreme bend. The resting point 108 and/or a resting line and/or a resting area and the resting area 58 are at a distance, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 110 mm to 160 mm and preferably of 125 mm to 140 mm.

[0099] The oral hygiene product 10 has a plurality of protuberances and indentations, which are distributed along its longitudinal axis 72. In the present case, the oral hygiene product 10 has, when looking at its front side 60, three protuberances and two constrictions. Preferably, transitions between protuberances and constrictions are rounded here, but straight transitions are also conceivable. Furthermore, the oral hygiene product 10, when looking at its side 64, 70, is formed as curved, whereby in particular resilient properties of the application unit 12 are advantageously obtained in a known way. A person skilled in the art will adapt a shaping of the oral hygiene product 10 in a way that is expedient and is appropriate for the application.

[0100] In the present case, all of the elements of the oral hygiene product 10 are produced from the soft component 16 in a common injection-molding step. The oral hygiene product 10 has at least one soft element made of the soft component 16, which forms at least part of the handle unit 14 and advantageously of the application unit 12. Preferably, the soft element forms all of the soft-component elements of the oral hygiene product 10. The soft element may also form the bristles and/or cleaning elements of the application unit 12.

[0101] The soft element extends on the underside 68 of the oral hygiene product 10 uninterruptedly from the handle unit 14, in particular the little-finger gripping region 44, over the neck element 80 as far as the application unit 12 (the upper side 66). The soft element has a single injection point 112. The injection point 112 of the soft element is arranged on the rear side 62 of the oral hygiene product 10. The injection point 112 is arranged on the longitudinal axis 72. The injection point 112 is arranged in a region underneath the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102. The injection point 112 is arranged between the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 and the little-finger gripping region 44. The injection point 112 is at a distance from the free end on the underside 68, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 20 mm to 40 mm and preferably of 25 mm to 35 mm.

[0102] The production of the oral hygiene product 10 is performed by means of two negative molds. In this respect, the oral hygiene product 10 has a mold parting line 114. The mold parting line 114 runs over the entire length of the oral hygiene product 10 and is explicitly shown in FIGS. 8 and 16. A mold parting line 114 running over the soft component 16 differs in this case from a mold parting line 114 running over the hard component 18, where in particular the mold parting line 114 running over the hard component 18 is partly also used for demolding the soft component 16. The mold parting line 114 has a curved shape over the length of the oral hygiene product 10, while the curved shape at least substantially follows the shape of the oral hygiene product 10. The mold parting line 114 runs in the middle height region of the oral hygiene product 10. The mold parting line 114 runs along the widest location in the cross section of the oral hygiene product 10. Consequently, good demoldability in the injection-molding tool can be advantageously achieved. The negative molds can consequently be advantageously removed from the oral hygiene product 10 without an undercut having to be overcome.

[0103] The at least one handle unit 14 has at least one lateral streak 50, 52 of the hard component 18. The at least one lateral streak 50, 52 is completely delimited by the soft component 16. The at least one lateral streak 50, 52 is formed on a left longitudinal side and on a right longitudinal side of the oral hygiene product 10 and is preferably bent in a way that corresponds to the shape of the handle. The at least one lateral streak 50, 52 is formed from the hard component 18. The at least one lateral streak 50, 52 has a length, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, in particular of 35 mm to 80 mm and preferably of 45 mm to 65 mm. The at least one lateral streak 50, 52 has a height, in particular parallel to the height axis 74, in particular of 1 mm to 5 mm and preferably of 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm. The lateral streak 50, 52 advantageously forms a supporting geometry for an injection-molding process of the soft component 16. The mold parting line 114 runs at least partly in the middle of the lateral streak 50, 52, the mold parting line 114 leaving the lateral streak 50, 52 in the lower region in the direction of the front side 60.

[0104] The at least one handle unit 14 has at least one tongue 54, 56 made of the soft component 16. The at least one tongue 54, 56 extends over the lateral streak 50, 52. The neck element 80 forms at least one decorative element 116. The neck element 80 forms in the present case three decorative elements 116. The at least one decorative element 116 is formed partly from a soft component 16 and partly from a hard component 18. The at least one decorative element 116 is arranged at the lower end of the neck element 80. The hard component 18 of the at least one decorative element 116 forms a ring-shaped, in particular oval, structure. The at least one decorative element 116 may be at least partially supplied with the soft component 16 from the rear side 62. The at least one decorative element 116 is supplied with the soft component 16 from the rear side 62 during the production of the oral hygiene product 10. The at least one decorative element 116 advantageously serves for supporting the main body 120 in an injection-molding process of the soft component 16. The soft component 16 of the at least one decorative element 116 surrounds the ring-shaped structure of the hard component 18. The decorative element 116 forms in its middle an island 118 of the soft component 16. The at least one decorative element 116 is completely surrounded by the soft component 16. The soft component 16, which surrounds the at least one decorative element 116, respectively forms in the direction of the left longitudinal side and the right longitudinal side the tongue 54, 56. The tongue 54, 56 is formed from the soft component 16. The tongue 54, 56 protrudes out of the hard component 18 into the laterally arranged streak 50, 52. The tongue 54, 56 protrudes in particular beyond the mold parting line 114.

[0105] The oral hygiene product 10 has at least one, in particular precisely one, main body 120 of the hard component 18, which forms at least part of the handle unit 14 and of the application unit 12. In the present case, the main body 120 forms all of the hard components 18 of the oral hygiene product 10.

[0106] Reference is made hereafter to FIGS. 15 to 18, which show different representations of the main body 120. On account of the different views, some elements are not depicted in all of the figures and are correspondingly not provided with designations in all of the figures. Moreover, for reasons of overall clarity, not all of the designations introduced in FIGS. 1 to 14 are shown. With corresponding reference, attention is drawn to these particular figures. FIG. 15 shows a front side 60 of a main body 120 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 16 shows a side 70, in particular a right longitudinal side, of the main body 120 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 17 shows a rear side 62 of the main body 120 of the oral hygiene product 10 in a schematic representation. FIG. 18 shows a schematic sectional representation of the main body 120 of the oral hygiene product 10 along the sectional line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 15.

[0107] In the production of the oral hygiene product 10, in a first production step the main body 120 is produced in an injection-molding process. In a second production step, the main body 120 is encapsulated with at least one further component, in particular a soft component 16.

[0108] The main body 120 has at least one aperture. A first aperture 122 is arranged in the decorative element 116. The first aperture 122 has in the direction of the height axis 74 a shape in the form of an hourglass. This makes advantageous demolding of the main body 120 possible. A second aperture 124 and a third aperture 126 are arranged in the handle unit 14. The second aperture 124 is in this case arranged in particular between the thumb gripping region 22 and the index-finger gripping region 38. The third aperture 126 is arranged between the additional gripping region 92 and the little-finger gripping region 44. In the case of an implementation of lettering, at least one further aperture may also be arranged between the gripping area 24 and the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102. Apart from the apertures, during the injection-molding process use is advantageously made of further components, for example soft components, flowing around the main body 120, in particular in the region of the neck element 80. In the production of the oral hygiene product 10, the soft component 16 passes from its injection point 112 at least through one aperture from the rear side 62 to the front side 60 of the main body 120. In the region of the handle unit 14, the main body 120 is coated on the rear side 62 at least substantially completely with the soft component 16, with the exception of the islands 34, 36 in the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 and the resting area 58. The soft component 16 has a minimum thickness over the hard component 18 in particular of 0.1 mm to 2 mm and preferably of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. The main body 120 also has at least one channel 128, which is arranged in a region of the middle- and ring-finger gripping region 102 of the handle unit 14. The channel 128 extends along the longitudinal axis 72. The channel 128 may be formed with at least one aperture, the aperture being intended in particular for supplying lettering with a soft component 16. This aperture is not shown however in the present figures.

[0109] The main body 120 has a single injection point 130. The injection point 130 of the main body 120 is arranged on the rear side 62. The injection point 130 is arranged on the longitudinal axis 72. The injection point 130 is at a distance from the free end on the underside 68, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis 72, of 8 mm to 28 mm and preferably of 13 mm to 22 mm. In a completed state of the oral hygiene product 10, the injection point 130 of the main body 120 is overmolded with the soft component 16. The injection point 130 of the main body 120 is arranged in a region of the injection point 112 of the soft element and is less than 20 mm, preferably less than 15 mm, away from it.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0110] 10 Oral hygiene product [0111] 12 Application unit [0112] 14 Handle unit [0113] 16 Soft component [0114] 18 Hard component [0115] 20 Brush head [0116] 22 Thumb gripping region [0117] 24 Gripping area [0118] 26 Structure element [0119] 28 Structure element [0120] 30 Delimiting wall [0121] 32 Gripping area [0122] 34 Island [0123] 36 Island [0124] 38 Index-finger gripping region [0125] 40 Structure element [0126] 42 Structure element [0127] 44 Little-finger gripping region [0128] 46 Structure element [0129] 48 Structure element [0130] 50 Streak [0131] 52 Streak [0132] 54 Tongue [0133] 56 Tongue [0134] 58 Resting area [0135] 60 Front side [0136] 62 Rear side [0137] 64 Side [0138] 66 Upper side [0139] 68 Underside [0140] 70 Side [0141] 72 Longitudinal axis [0142] 74 Height axis [0143] 76 Width axis [0144] 78 Hollow [0145] 80 Neck element [0146] 82 Strand [0147] 84 Strand [0148] 86 Structure [0149] 88 Island [0150] 90 Dip [0151] 92 Additional gripping region [0152] 94 Structure element [0153] 96 Dip [0154] 98 Dip [0155] 100 Offset [0156] 102 Middle- and ring-finger gripping region [0157] 104 Structure element [0158] 106 Structure element [0159] 108 Resting point [0160] 110 Gap [0161] 112 Injection point [0162] 114 Mold parting line [0163] 116 Decorative element [0164] 118 Island [0165] 120 Main body [0166] 122 Aperture [0167] 124 Aperture [0168] 126 Aperture [0169] 128 Channel [0170] 130 Injection point