Abstract
The present invention concerns a process for producing toothbrushes covered with bristles in an anchor-free manner, in which a tuft of bristles with cylindrical bristles and/or pointed bristles is introduced into a receiving recess of a mold of a bristle-providing machine and, by means of a profiled pin guided in the receiving recess, force is applied to the end facing the pin of the bristles of the tuft of bristles for the alignment thereof, so that the bristles of the tuft of bristles are aligned by means of an end face of the profiled pin and, as a result, form the topography that complements the topography of the end face of the profiled pin, wherein the profiled pin has on the end face that acts on the bristles a discontinuous surface, which forms multiple levels. This achieves a bristle area configuration that has multiple areas of use. A correspondingly produced toothbrush is also described.
Claims
1. A brush head for an electric toothbrush configured for an oscillating motion of tufts of bristles, the brush head comprising a bristle field formed by tufts of bristles, wherein at least one of the tufts of bristles has bristles with at least two different lengths, wherein free end portions of the bristles with at least two different lengths stand up to different heights from a bristle-carrying upper side of the brush head and form a stepped profile with at least two stepped end faces, wherein the at least two stepped end faces form at least two different areas of use that are offset from one another, and wherein the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile comprises an elongate and arcuate cross-section.
2. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein the bristles of the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile are arranged obliquely with respect to the bristle-carrying upper side of the brush head.
3. The brush head according to claim 2, wherein the obliquely arranged bristle tufts are inclined with respect to the vertical at an angle between 3 and 15
4. The brush head according to claim 2, wherein the bristle field further comprises perpendicular tufts of bristles.
5. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile comprise different types of bristles.
6. The brush head according to claim 5, wherein the bristles forming the stepped profile differ with respect to color.
7. The brush head according to claim 5, wherein the bristles forming the stepped profile differ with respect to diameter.
8. The brush head according to claim 5, wherein the bristles forming the stepped profile differ with respect to a shape of the free end portions.
9. The brush head according to claim 5, wherein the stepped profile is formed by conventional cylindrical bristles and by pointed bristles.
10. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein in each of the at least two stepped end faces of the stepped profile, the free end portions of the bristles form a contiguous, continuous profile.
11. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein the bristle field comprises a group of two neighboring tufts of bristles forming the stepped profile.
12. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein in the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile, the bristles of one end face surround the bristles of the at least one other end face.
13. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein in the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile, the bristles of shorter length surround the bristles of greater length.
14. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein the bristle field also contains tufts of bristles forming a non-stepped profile.
15. The brush head according to claim 14, wherein the tufts of bristles forming the stepped profile are arranged in outermost regions or peripheral regions of the bristle field and the tufts of bristles forming the non-stepped profile are arranged in an inner area of the bristle field.
16. The brush head according to claim 14, wherein the bristles of said tufts forming the non-stepped profile have a shorter bristle length than the bristles of the stepped profile bristle tufts.
17. The brush head according to claim 14, wherein the tufts of bristles forming the non-stepped profile have a circular cross-section.
18. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein in the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile, the distance of free end portions of the lower standing bristles from free end portions of the higher standing bristles is from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
19. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein in the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile, the lower standing bristles have a height of 6 mm to 11 mm, and the higher standing bristles have a height of 9 mm to 15 mm.
20. The brush head according to claim 1, wherein rearward end portions of the bristles of the tufts of bristles are melted to the brush head and are fastened in an anchor-free manner to the brush head.
21. An electronic toothbrush configured for an oscillating motion of tufts of bristles, the electronic toothbrush comprising a head region with the brush head as claimed in claim 1; a handle region; and a neck region connecting the handle region and the head region.
22. A brush head for an electric toothbrush configured for an oscillating motion of tufts of bristles, the brush head comprising a bristle field formed by tufts of bristles, wherein at least one of the tufts of bristles has bristles with at least two different lengths, wherein free end portions of the bristles with at least two different lengths stand up to different heights from a bristle-carrying upper side of the brush head and form a stepped profile with at least two stepped end faces, wherein the at least two stepped end faces form at least two different areas of use that are offset from one another, wherein the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile comprises an elongate and arcuate cross-section, wherein the bristles of the tuft of bristles forming the stepped profile are arranged obliquely with respect to the bristle-carrying upper side of the brush head, and wherein the tufts of bristles forming the stepped profile are arranged in outermost regions or peripheral regions of the bristle field.
Description
[0081] The invention is now described in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments that are represented in the purely schematic figures, in which:
[0082] FIG. 1 shows a carrier element in the form of a bristle-carrying plate in a perspective view;
[0083] FIG. 2 shows the bristle-carrying plate with a bristle area, likewise in a perspective view;
[0084] FIG. 3 shows a head region and part of a neck region of a toothbrush body with a recess in the head region, likewise in a perspective view;
[0085] FIG. 4 shows the toothbrush body from FIG. 3, with the bristle-carrying plate from FIG. 2, carrying bristles and inserted into the recess, in a perspective view;
[0086] FIG. 5 shows the completely assembled brush head from FIG. 4 in longitudinal section;
[0087] FIG. 6a shows a section through a mold with a receiving recess for the pointed bristles and a further receiving recess for cylindrical bristles, a pin guided in the receiving recess and a further pin guided in the further receiving recess, for the movement and alignment of the bristles, a bristle-carrying plate arranged on the hopper plate, wherein the hopper plate directs the pointed and cylindrical bristles to a common passage of the bristle-carrying plate, and a heated punch;
[0088] FIG. 6b shows a plan view of the die from FIG. 6a;
[0089] FIG. 6c shows a plan view of the hopper plate from FIG. 6a;
[0090] FIG. 7a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses for bristles in a die;
[0091] FIG. 7b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced with a die according to FIG. 7a;
[0092] FIG. 7c shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles from FIG. 7b;
[0093] FIG. 8a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses for bristles and a further die;
[0094] FIG. 8b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced with a die according to FIG. 8a;
[0095] FIG. 8c shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles from FIG. 8b;
[0096] FIG. 9a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses for bristles in a further die;
[0097] FIG. 9b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced with a die according to FIG. 9a;
[0098] FIG. 9c shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles from FIG. 9b;
[0099] FIG. 10a shows a plan view of a receiving recess for bristles in a die;
[0100] FIG. 10b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles according to FIG. 10a;
[0101] FIG. 10c shows a plan view of the corresponding profiled pin for the production of a tuft of bristles according to FIG. 10b;
[0102] FIG. 10d shows a side view of the tuft of bristles produced according to FIGS. 10a to 10c;
[0103] FIG. 10e shows a side view of the profiled pin from FIG. 10c;
[0104] FIG. 11a shows a plan view of a receiving recess for bristles in a die;
[0105] FIG. 11b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of Bristles according to FIG. 11a;
[0106] FIG. 11c shows a plan view of the corresponding profiled pin for the production of the tuft of bristles according to FIG. 11b;
[0107] FIG. 11d shows a side view of the tuft of bristles produced according to FIGS. 11a to 11c;
[0108] FIG. 11e shows a side view of the profiled pin from FIG. 11c;
[0109] FIG. 12a shows a plan view of a receiving recess for bristles in a die;
[0110] FIG. 12b shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles;
[0111] FIG. 12c shows a plan view of the corresponding profiled pin for the production of a tuft of bristles according to FIG. 12b;
[0112] FIG. 12d shows a side view of the tuft of bristles produced according to FIGS. 12a to c;
[0113] FIG. 12e shows a side view of the profiled pin from FIG. 11c;
[0114] FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a further possible profiled pin;
[0115] FIG. 14 shows a plan view of a further possible profiled pin;
[0116] FIG. 15 shows a plan view of a further possible profiled pin;
[0117] FIG. 16a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0118] FIG. 16b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 16a;
[0119] FIG. 16c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins produced according to FIG. 16b;
[0120] FIG. 16d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 16b;
[0121] FIG. 17a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0122] FIG. 17b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 17a;
[0123] FIG. 17c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 17b;
[0124] FIG. 17d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 17b;
[0125] FIG. 18a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0126] FIG. 18b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 18a;
[0127] FIG. 18c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 18b;
[0128] FIG. 18d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 16b;
[0129] FIG. 19a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0130] FIG. 19b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 19a;
[0131] FIG. 19c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 19b;
[0132] FIG. 19d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 19b;
[0133] FIG. 19e shows a cross-section through the tuft of bristles according to FIG. 19d along the line A-A;
[0134] FIG. 20a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0135] FIG. 20b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 20a;
[0136] FIG. 20c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 20b;
[0137] FIG. 20d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 20b;
[0138] FIG. 20e shows a cross section through the tuft of bristles according to FIG. 20d along the line B-B;
[0139] FIG. 21a shows the form of the end region of a cylindrical rounded-off bristle; and
[0140] FIG. 21b shows the form of the end region of a pointed bristle;
[0141] FIG. 22a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0142] FIG. 22b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 22a;
[0143] FIG. 22c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 22b;
[0144] FIG. 22d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 22b;
[0145] FIG. 22e shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 22b, in a further configurational variant;
[0146] FIG. 22f shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 22b, in a further configurational variant;
[0147] FIG. 22g shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 22b, in a further configurational variant;
[0148] FIG. 23a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0149] FIG. 23b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 23a;
[0150] FIG. 23c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 23b;
[0151] FIG. 23d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pairs according to FIG. 23b;
[0152] FIG. 23e shows a cross-section through the tuft of bristles according to FIG. 23d along the line C-C;
[0153] FIG. 24a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0154] FIG. 24b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 24a;
[0155] FIG. 24c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 24b;
[0156] FIG. 24d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 24b;
[0157] FIG. 24e shows a cross-section through the tuft of bristles according to FIG. 24d along the line D-D;
[0158] FIG. 25a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0159] FIG. 25b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 25a;
[0160] FIG. 25c shows a plan view of the finished tufts of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 25b;
[0161] FIG. 25d shows a side view of the finished tufts of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 25b;
[0162] FIG. 25e shows a cross section through a tuft of bristles according to FIG. 25d along the line E-E;
[0163] FIG. 26a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0164] FIG. 26b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 26a;
[0165] FIG. 26c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 26b;
[0166] FIG. 26d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 26b;
[0167] FIG. 27a shows a plan view of the receiving recesses of a die;
[0168] FIG. 27b shows a plan view of the profiled pins assigned to the receiving recesses according to FIG. 27a;
[0169] FIG. 27c shows a plan view of the finished tufts of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 24b;
[0170] FIG. 27d shows a side view of the finished tufts of bristles, produced by means of the profiled pins according to FIG. 24b;
[0171] FIG. 28a shows a side view of tufts of bristles according to the invention in combination with massaging and cleaning elements;
[0172] FIG. 28b shows a side view of further tufts of bristles according to the invention in combination with massaging and cleaning cleaning elements; and
[0173] FIG. 29 shows a side view of further tufts of bristles according to the invention.
[0174] FIG. 1 shows a possible carrier element in the form of a bristle-carrying plate 10 in a perspective view as seen obliquely from above. A number of passages 16 extend from the upper side 12 thereof to the underside 14. In the example shown, these passages have a kidney-shaped or oval cross section. The passages may also have a circular or any other desired cross section. An annular centering bead 18 projects downward from the underside 14 and extends along the side edge of the bristle-carrying plate 10, at a small distance from it, and is preferably tapered in a wedge-shaped manner in the direction of the free end. A peripheral welding edge 19 running along the side edge of the bristle-carrying plate 10 between the centering bead 18 and the side edge of the bristle-carrying plate 10 is provided on the underside 14 thereof, directly alongside the centering bead 18. This welding edge is used for connecting the bristle-carrying plate 10 and the toothbrush body 28. It goes without saying that the welding edge 19 may also be provided at any other desired location to the side of, or on the underside of, the bristle-carrying plate 10. In particular, it is also possible to provide the welding edge on the centering bead 18. These alternative arrangements of the welding edge of course require adaptations to the corresponding geometry of the bristle-carrying plate that is to say to the recess 32.
[0175] Alternatively, the bristle-carrying plate 10 with the bristles inserted may also be inserted once again into an injection mold and the handle or the handle region can subsequently be formed by means of overmolding at least part of the bristle-carrying plate 10 from one or more plastics components.
[0176] FIG. 2 shows in the same manner of representation as FIG. 1 the bristle-carrying plate 10, which is provided with a schematically indicated covering of bristles 20. The covering of bristles 20 consists of tufts of bristles 22, that is to say one tuft of bristles 22 for each passage 16. Each of the tufts of bristles 22 consists of a multiplicity of bristles 39, 40; these are described in detail hereinbelow. The tuft of bristles 22 located in the front region of the bristle-carrying plate 10 form a power tip.
[0177] FIG. 3 shows a head region 24 and part of a neck region 26, adjoining thereto, of a toothbrush body 28. The neck region 26 is adjoined in a generally known manner, at the end which is facing away from the head region 24, by the handle region. The head region 24 is provided from its front side 30, which is lying upward in FIG. 3, with a recess 32, which corresponds substantially to the form of the bristle-carrying plate and is bounded by a base 34. The side wall of this recess 32 has a peripheral shoulder which forms a welding ledge 35. The rear side 36 of the toothbrush body 28 is located on the side opposite from the front side 30 and is at the bottom in the view shown.
[0178] FIG. 4 shows the bristle-carrying plate 10 provided with the covering of bristles 20 inserted into the recess 32. The insertion is simplified by the centering bead 18. In the finished state of the toothbrush, the upper side 12 of the bristle-carrying plate 10 is preferably in line with the front side 30 of the toothbrush body 28. The bristle-carrying plate 10 is fixedly connected to the toothbrush body 28, preferably by means of ultrasonic welding. Welding is carried out here in the region of the welding edge 19 and the welding ledge 35. The covering of bristles 20 projects beyond the upper side 12. FIG. 4 thus shows the head region and part of the neck region of a toothbrush 28. Of course, it is also possible to use other methods here for anchoring the bristles or bristle-carrying plate, such as, for example, adhesive bonding, caulking or overmolding.
[0179] The bristle-carrying plate 10 is preferably produced from a hard component, such as that already described further above.
[0180] In the example shown, the head region 24 and the neck region 26 of the toothbrush body 28 are also produced at least from one of these hard components. Use is preferably made of the same hard component for the bristle-carrying plate 10 and the toothbrush body 28, at least in the region of contact between the two parts.
[0181] For the sake of completeness, however, is should be mentioned here that both the bristle-carrying plate 10 and the toothbrush body 28 may be produced by multi-component injection molding. It is possible here for both the bristle-carrying plate 10 and the toothbrush body 28 each to be constructed from one or more hard components and/or from one or more soft components. A summary of possible hard and soft components is given further above in this document.
[0182] If the bristle-carrying plate 10 consists of one or more hard components and one or more soft components, the passages 16 are preferably arranged in the hard component. The soft component can not only be used for forming additional soft-elastic cleaning elements or molded bristles on the bristle-carrying plate 10 or on the head region 24 but also be provided on the toothbrush body 28 for functional, haptic or decorative purposes.
[0183] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section along a central longitudinal plane, this central longitudinal plane being perpendicular to the front side 30 of the head part 24. The central longitudinal plane or the sectional plane in this case runs through the five tufts of bristles 22 shown in FIG. 4 and arranged centrally in the transverse direction of the toothbrush. The bristles 39, 40 are not shown individually in detail but are schematically represented in tufts as an area or volume. The melted end regions 70 form an easily recognizable bristle melt bed 21, which in the embodiment shown extends over virtually the entire underside 14 of the bristle-carrying plate 10.
[0184] The bristle melt bed 21 may be subdivided into different segments and thereby cover only individual groups of tufts of bristles 22.
[0185] The bristle-carrying plate 10 is fixedly connected by means of its welding edge 19 to the welding ledge 35 of the head part 24. A welding region 41 is schematically represented in FIG. 5 by a line as a delimitation. Arranged adjacent the head part 24 and fixedly connected to it is the neck part 26 of the toothbrush body 28.
[0186] FIG. 6a shows one possibility for providing a bristle-carrying plate 10 with a tuft of bristles 22, which has both conventional, pointed bristles 40 and conventional, cylindrical bristles 39. The die 62 has a receiving recess 64, into which pointed bristles 40 are introduced, and right alongside a further receiving recess 64, into which cylindrical bristles 39 are, or have been, introduced.
[0187] The guiding passages 69 and 69, assigned to these receiving recesses 64 and 64, of a hopper plate 63 arranged on the die 62 run toward one another, in the direction of the bristle-carrying plate 10 arranged on the hopper plate 63, in such a way that, at the end on this side, they form a single common outlet for the bristles 40 and 39. It is also possible that the two passages 69 and 69 also form separate outlets, which however lie directly next to one another. The outlet or the outlets lying directly next to one another is/are in line with a passage 16 of the bristle-carrying plate 10 that is shared by the bristles 40 and 39.
[0188] Guided in the receiving recess 64 and in the further receiving recess 64 is a respective profiled pin 66, 66. When the pins 66, 66 move simultaneously in the direction of the hopper plate 63, the tuft 22 of pointed bristles 40 and the tuft 22 of cylindrical bristles 39 are pushed through the common passage of the bristle-carrier plate 10 until the end region 70, thereof projects beyond the underside 14 of the bristle-carrying plate 10 that is lying upward here. Subsequent melting of the end region 70 and 70, for example by means of the heated punch 72, has the effect that the bristles 40, 39 are fastened to the bristle-carrying plate 10; the bristle melt bed 21 forms.
[0189] In a corresponding way it is possible to bring together multiple individual tufts 22 of bristles 39, 40 from different receiving recesses 64 by means of a hopper plate 63, and consequently together form a cluster of bristles in a common passage 16. In this way, as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to feed tufts 22 of bristles 40 or 39 of the same type to a common passage 16.
[0190] The bristle-carrying plate 10 provided with the covering of bristles 20 is removed from the mold 60 and brought together with the toothbrush body 28 in a way known from the prior art and is fastened there.
[0191] As already described, in bristle-providing processes without bristle-carrying plates 10, the bristles 40, 39 are led into a mold cavity instead of through the bristle-carrying plate 10. In this mold cavity, plastics material is subsequently injected in order to form the brush head and anchor the bristles 40, 39 in this way. This alternative production process without a carrier plate may be applied to all the described embodiments of this document.
[0192] FIG. 6b shows a plan view of a detail of the die 62 with the receiving recesses 64 and 64. The guiding passages 69 and 69 assigned to the receiving recesses 64, 64 come together on the side of the hopper plate 63 that is facing the bristle-carrying plate 10 to form a single common outlet 65, as shown in FIG. 6c. In this case it is so that the sum of the cross-sectional areas from FIG. 6b, which together form a tuft of bristles 22, is of substantially the same size as the cross-sectional area of the common outlet 65.
[0193] FIGS. 7a-c, 8a-c and 9a-c respectively show a possible produced tuft of bristles 22 with bristles 39, which have a higher bristle end, and consequently form in this example two different areas of use 67. By analogy, with further steps in the profiled pins 66 it is of course also possible to produce three or more areas of use.
[0194] The tufts of bristles 22 shown are made up by bristles 39, 40 from multiple receiving recesses 64. In this case, the tufts of bristles 22 or the higher parts thereof are respectively configured by one receiving recess 64 or a single profiled pin 66. This means that all the bristles that originate from one receiving recess 64 are of the same length in the final product. The receiving recesses 64 and the corresponding profiled pins 66 are in each case of a circular configuration, while the corresponding final tuft of bristles 22 may be of various forms (circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, crescent-shaped, free-formed, etc.).
[0195] The final tufts of bristles 22 have bristles 39, 40 from 1 to 15, preferably 1-7, receiving recesses 64. The receiving recesses 64 that belong to one final tuft of bristles 22 may have 2 or more different diameters, and consequently different cross-sectional areas. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the smallest to the largest receiving recess 64 for a final tuft 22 is 1:3; this is explained in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 26a to 26d.
[0196] By skilful adaptation of the diameters of the different receiving recesses 64, the number of bristles 39, 40 of the different heights, or the end areas or areas of use 67, can be determined. This process consequently also allows different types of bristle to be brought together within the receiving recesses 64 for a final tuft of bristles 22. For example, pointed bristles 40 may be inserted in some of the receiving recesses 64 and conventional cylindrical bristles 39 may be inserted in some other of the receiving recesses 64. Consequently, the different end regions 71 of the final tuft 22 are formed with the different types of bristle. The same applies to bristles 39, 40 of different color and/or different diameter and/or bristles 39, 40 with differently colored end regions 71. Since, in the case of this process, multiple receiving recesses 64 are used, it tends to be used for larger tufts with more than 40 bristles.
[0197] In FIGS. 7a, 8a and 9a, the corresponding arrangement of receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 are shown. In FIG. 7a, the receiving recesses 64 are arranged at the points of an equilateral triangle. In FIG. 7b, a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 can be seen, the part of the tuft of bristles 22 that has bristles 39, 40 with higher bristle ends 73 being shown in gray and originating from the receiving recess 64 that is arranged on the left in FIG. 7a. The tuft of bristles 22 has in its plan view the form of an equilateral triangle, the higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 extending toward one point of the triangle. In FIG. 7c, a side view of the tuft of bristles 22 from FIG. 7b is shown.
[0198] FIG. 8a shows 7 receiving recesses 64, which are arranged at the corner points and in the center of a regular hexagon. In FIG. 8b, a substantially circular (it may also be elliptical) tuft of bristles 22 is shown, with a centrally arranged higher bristle tuft part 77 shown in gray. The higher bristle tuft part 77 is formed by the middle recess 64 (FIG. 8a). FIG. 8c shows a side view of the tuft of bristles represented in FIG. 8b.
[0199] A further possible embodiment of a tuft of bristles 22 is shown in FIG. 9b. The tuft of bristles 22 has a rectangular or square form and the receiving recesses 64 in FIG. 9a are arranged correspondingly at the corner points of a square. In this case, three of the four parts of the tuft of bristles divided into squares have bristles with a higher bristle end 73. The receiving recess 64 lying at the bottom right in FIG. 9a in this case receives the bristles 39, 40 with the lower-lying bristle ends 73. FIG. 9c shows a side view of the tuft of bristles 22 represented in FIG. 9b.
[0200] In FIGS. 7a-c and 8a-c, tufts of bristles 22 in which the smaller proportion of the overall cross section stands up higher are shown. In FIGS. 9a-c, the opposite situation is represented. The greater proportion of the cross section is made higher and a smaller proportion is lower.
[0201] In FIGS. 7a-c and FIGS. 8a-c, a further detail is highlighted. The higher parts 75 of the tufts of bristles 22 may be arranged both at the periphery of the tuft of bristles 22 and also in the middle, surrounded by lower bristles 39, 40, in the tuft of bristles 22. It goes without saying that the same is also possible with lower parts of a tuft of bristles 22.
[0202] FIGS. 10a-e show a further possible configuration of an individual tuft of bristles 22, which is produced from bristles 39, 40 that originate from only a single receiving recess 64. FIG. 10a shows the receiving recess 64 of the die 62. The tuft of bristles 22 represented in FIG. 10b has in plan view a circular form with a centrally arranged raised bristle tuft part 77 shown in gray. The corresponding side view of the tuft of bristles is depicted in FIG. 10d.
[0203] FIG. 10c shows a plan view of the profiled pin 66 corresponding to the tuft of bristles 22. As can be seen from FIG. 10e, the profiled pin 66 has a depression 68 corresponding to the raised bristle tuft part 77. The circular form of the depression 68 has a diameter of from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, with preference 0.5 mm. This embodiment shows the variant in which the higher bristle tuft part 77 is completely surrounded by the lower bristle tuft part 77.
[0204] In the case of this embodiment with only a single receiving recess 64, the mixing of different types of bristle (color, diameter, end region, pointed or conventional) for the final tuft 22 is not possible. This process is used in particular for fine tufts of bristles 22 with fewer than 70 bristles.
[0205] FIGS. 11a-e show a further possible configuration of an individual tuft of bristles 22 which is produced from bristles 39, 40 that originate from only one receiving recess 64. FIG. 11a shows the receiving recess 64 of the die 62. The tuft of bristles 22 represented in FIG. 11b has in turn in plan view a circular form with a circular-segmental raised bristle tuft part 77 shown in gray. The raised bristle tuft part 77 is delimited on the one hand by the circular arc of the circumference of the tuft of bristles 22 and on the other hand by a secant. The corresponding side view of the tuft of bristles is depicted in FIG. 11d.
[0206] FIG. 11c shows a plan view of the profiled pin 66 corresponding to the tuft of bristles 22. As can be seen from FIG. 11e, the profiled pin 66 has a depression 68 corresponding to the raised bristle tuft part 77. In this case, the depression 68 is delimited in certain parts by the receiving recess 64, since, as is known, the profiled pin 66 is guided in the receiving recess 64. This embodiment shows the variant in which the higher bristle tuft part 77 lies partially at the periphery of the tuft of bristles 22 and, on the other hand, is surrounded by the lower bristle tuft part 77.
[0207] FIGS. 12a-e show a further possible configuration of a tuft of bristles 22. FIG. 12a shows the receiving recess 64 of the die 62. The tuft of bristles 22 represented in FIG. 12b has in plan view a circular form with a raised bristle tuft part 77 shown in gray. As a difference from the configurations presented above, the tuft of bristles 22 represented in FIGS. 12b and 12d in plan view and side view, respectively, has not just one but two higher bristle tuft parts 77, 77 in the same tuft of bristles 22. Like the tuft of bristles 22 itself, the two higher bristle tuft parts 77, 77 have a circular form and are arranged symmetrically on a diametral line of the tuft of bristles.
[0208] FIG. 12c shows a plan view of the profiled pin 66 corresponding to the tuft of bristles. As can be seen from FIG. 12e, the profiled pin 66 has two depressions 68 corresponding to the raised bristle tuft part 77.
[0209] The example is intended to show that multiple raised bristle tuft parts 77, 77 may be formed in one tuft of bristles 22. Not shown here is a variant where the higher bristle tuft part 77, 77 on the one hand may have different bristle lengths within the same higher bristle tuft part 77, 77. On the other hand, it goes without saying that the higher bristle tuft parts 77, 77 as a whole may have different bristle lengths.
[0210] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show further embodiments of profiled pins 66 given by way of example, each with a differently formed depression 68. While the profiled pin 66 according to FIG. 13 has a groove-shaped depression 68 running along a diametral line of the circular profiled pin 66, the profiled pin 66 shown in FIG. 14 has a cross-recessed depression 68. The profiled pin 66 depicted in FIG. 15 has a centrally arranged triangular depression 68. It is clear from the configurations of profiled pins 66 presented by way of example that almost any desired configurations of the tufts of bristles 22 with respect to their higher parts 75 are possible, in particular with respect to the cross sections thereof.
[0211] FIGS. 16a-d show a further embodiment of a tuft of bristles 22 with bristles 39, 40, of which at least some have a higher bristle end 73. FIG. 16a shows the four receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 that correspond to the tuft of bristles 22 and are arranged at the corner points of a square. Of the profiled pins 66 that are assigned to the receiving recesses 64 and are shown in FIG. 16b, two (lying diagonally opposite) have a centrally arranged depression 68. Accordingly, in the plan view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 that is shown in FIG. 16c, two regions 79 shown in gray can be seen on a diagonal of the square tuft of bristles 22 with higher bristle ends 73. FIG. 16d shows the finished tuft of bristles 22 in side view. The higher parts 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 are achieved in this embodiment by multiple profiled pins 66. The recess in the profiled pin 66 is respectively assigned to a higher part 75.
[0212] FIGS. 17a-d show a further configuration of a tuft of bristles 22 with bristles of which at least some have a higher bristle end 73. FIG. 17a shows the three receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 that correspond to the tuft of bristles 22; they are arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Of the profiled pins 66 that are assigned to the receiving recesses 64 and are shown in FIG. 17b, all have a circular-sector-shaped depression 68, respectively facing the other two profiled pins 66. Accordingly, in the plan view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 that is shown in FIG. 17c, a triangular region of the tuft of bristles 22, shown in gray, with higher bristle ends 73 can be seen. The triangular higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 is arranged centrally in the likewise triangular tuft of bristles 22. FIG. 17d shows the finished tuft of bristles 22 in side view. The higher part of the tuft of bristles 22 is achieved in this embodiment by multiple profiled pins 66. Here, the circular-sector-shaped depressions 68 of the individual profiled pins 66 each represent only one part, parts which together as a whole ultimately form the raised part of the tuft of bristles 22.
[0213] FIGS. 18a-d represent a further embodiment of a tuft of bristles 22 with bristles of which at least some have a higher bristle end 73. FIG. 18a shows the four receiving recesses 64 of the die corresponding to the tuft of bristles 22, these recesses being arranged at the corner points of a square. Of the profiled pins 66 assigned to the receiving recesses 64 and shown in FIG. 18b, two (lying diagonally opposite) have a groove-shaped depression 68 running along a diametral line (diagonal), whereas the depressions 68 of the other two profiled pins 66 are each circular-segmental. In the plan view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 that is shown in FIG. 18c, the raised regions of the tuft of bristles 22 that complement the depressions of the profiled pins 66 create a ridge running diagonally over the square tuft of bristles 22. FIG. 18d shows the finished tuft of bristles in side view. The higher parts 75 of the finished tuft of bristles 22 are achieved in this embodiment by the combination of depressions of multiple profiled pins 66.
[0214] This embodiment again has a receiving recess 64 for a tuft of bristles 22. However, in the case of this variant, the mixing of different types of bristle (color, diameter, end region, pointed or conventional) cannot be assigned to the individual end regions, since the bristles of the individual receiving recesses 64 are assigned to the different end regions. Since, in the case of this process, again multiple receiving recesses 64 are used for each tuft of bristles 22, this tends to be used for larger tufts 22 with more than 40 bristles.
[0215] FIGS. 19a-e show one possible configuration of an elongate tuft of bristles 22. In FIG. 19a, the receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 can be seen. The profiled pins 66 assigned to the receiving recesses 64 are represented in FIG. 19b. The profiled pins 66 all have a straight, groove-shaped depression 68, which runs through the center point of the respective profiled pin 66. Both the receiving recesses and the corresponding profiled pins 66 are arranged along an arcuate line, to be precise in such a way that the straight, groove-shaped depressions 68 of the individual profiled pins 66 form a continuous depression 68.
[0216] FIG. 19c shows a plan view of the corresponding, elongate tuft of bristles 22. The raised part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 is in turn shown in gray. The combination of the straight, groove-shaped depressions 68 of the individual profiled pins 66 achieves in the finished tuft of bristles 22 a centrally arranged continuous higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 in the form of a ridge.
[0217] FIG. 19d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 according to FIG. 19c. In FIG. 19e, a cross section along the line A-A in FIG. 19d is shown. The higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 in the form of a ridge can be easily seen.
[0218] One possibility that can be used in conjunction with this embodiment is that, although the profiled pins 66 are provided with straight depressions 68, a contour in the form of a circular arc is to be created in the end product. It is possible in the process to make the transition continuous, by designing the hopper plate 63 correspondingly. With it, the transition from straight to round and continuous can be created in a simple way.
[0219] FIGS. 20a-e show a further possible configuration of an elongate tuft of bristles 22. In FIG. 20a, in turn, the receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 can be seen. The profiled pins 66 assigned to the receiving recesses 64 are presented in FIG. 20b. The profiled pins 66 all have a groove-shaped depression 68, this depression not necessarily running through the center point of the circular profiled pin 66. Both the receiving recesses 64 and the corresponding profiled pins 66 are arranged along a straight line. In this case, the groove-shaped depressions 68 are arranged in such a way that a slightly meandering line is obtained.
[0220] FIG. 20c shows a plan view of the corresponding, elongate tuft of bristles 22. The raised part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 is in turn shown in gray. The combination of the groove-shaped depressions 68 of the individual profiled pins 66 achieves in the finished tuft of bristles 22 a continuous raised part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 in the form of a meandering ridge. FIG. 20d shows a side view of the finished tuft of bristles 22 according to FIG. 20c. In FIG. 20e, a cross section along the line B-B in FIG. 20d is shown. The higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 in the form of a ridge can be easily seen.
[0221] It should be mentioned in connection with the tufts of bristles 22 shown in FIGS. 19a to 20e, with their higher bristle tuft parts 77, that the bristle length of the higher part 75 of the tuft of bristles 22 can of course also be varied within the final tuft 22. In this way, a height profile can be realized in the ridge created. This is shown in FIGS. 24a to 24e. FIGS. 23a to 23e show the opposite situation, in which the levels of the lower bristle ends 73 form a profile.
[0222] FIGS. 22a to 22g show receiving recesses 64, profiled pins 66 and tufts of bristles 22. FIG. 22c shows a plan view of the finished tuft of bristles 22. FIGS. 22d to 22g show various possible embodiments of the tufts of bristles 22, the profiled pins 66 in each case being provided with correspondingly designed forms. The tufts of bristles according to FIGS. 22d to 22g show two steps 83. The corresponding areas of use 67 of these steps 83 may be oriented obliquely, wavily or else at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the bristles 39, 40. FIGS. 22a to 22g show that any desired variations and forms of the tufts of bristles 22 can be produced.
[0223] FIGS. 23a to 23e show a tuft of bristles 22 which has higher and lower bristle ends. The higher bristle ends 73 form a level, the lower bristle ends 73 form a profile 85. As a result, the distance between the higher and lower bristle ends 73, 73 is not constant.
[0224] The receiving recesses 64 are arranged by way of example on a straight line, as shown in FIG. 23a. The profiled pins 66 shown in FIG. 23b are guided in the receiving recesses 64. The depressions 68 in this case form a contour 87, which is continuous in the final tuft of bristles 22. The configuration of the depth of the depressions 68 in this case establishes how great the difference is between the higher and lower bristle ends 73, 73. The profiled pins 66 with the receiving recesses 64 are designed such that the lowest points of the receiving recesses 64 are at the same distance from the upper side 12 of the bristle-carrying plate 10 when the bristles 39, 40 have been led through the bristle-carrying plate 10. This achieves the effect that all the higher bristle ends 73 are at the same distance from the upper side of the bristle-carrying plate 10.
[0225] FIGS. 24a to 24e show a configurational variant in which the ridge of the tuft of bristles 22 has a variable height. The level 89 with the lower bristle ends 73 is made parallel to the upper side 12 of the bristle-carrying plate 10. The higher bristle ends 73 form the profile 85, so that the reduced part of the tuft of bristles 22, that is to say the distance between the higher and lower bristle ends 73, 73, varies. All the lower bristle ends 73 are at the same distance from the upper side 12 of the bristle-carrying plate 10. The receiving recesses 64 with the profiled pins 66 are designed accordingly, these being shown in FIGS. 24a and 24b.
[0226] The statements made about the profiling of the lower bristle ends 73 and that of the higher bristle ends 73 may also be applied analogously if more than 2 levels, i.e. more than two steps 83, are created in the tuft of bristles 22. In this case, each level may be profiled or configured in a planar manner.
[0227] It goes without saying that the tufts of bristles 22 shown in FIGS. 23a to 24e may be combined with the tufts of bristles 22 of the other embodiments described. For example, an embodiment as shown in FIGS. 23a to 23e may also be provided with a profile as shown in FIGS. 20a to 20e.
[0228] Apart from the areal tufts shown in FIGS. 19a to 20e and FIGS. 23a to 24e, it is of course also possible in said process to create isolated tufts. As shown in FIGS. 25a to 25e, these may then likewise have a profiling, which continues over the different tufts of bristles 22. The construction of the device for producing them is the same as before. The receiving recesses 64 are shown in FIG. 25a, the profiled pins 66 guided therein are shown in FIG. 25b. In the process, it is just that these are not brought together to jointly form a tuft of bristles 22, but instead the bristles 39, 40 of each individual receiving recess 64 form a tuft of bristles 22 for themselves. The hopper plate 63 accordingly has guiding passages 91, which are arranged as a straight extension of the corresponding receiving recesses 64.
[0229] FIG. 25c shows the plan view of the tufts of bristles 22 while 25d shows the side view of the tufts of bristles 22. Again, the region with the higher bristle ends 73 is shaded gray. FIG. 25d also shows the lower bristle ends 73, these forming a level. The higher bristle ends 73 form a wavy profile 85. The individual tufts of bristles 22 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the profile 85 or the level is not continuous. FIG. 25e shows a section through a tuft of bristles 22 along the line E-E from FIG. 25d. The higher bristle ends 73, which are arranged in the middle in the transverse direction, and the lower bristle ends 73, which are arranged on both sides of the higher bristle ends 73 in the transverse direction, can be easily seen.
[0230] The higher bristle tuft parts 77 formed in this way preferably form a continuous, stepless contour 87.
[0231] However, it is also possible furthermore to make the contour 87 interrupted or indeed discontinuous.
[0232] The combining of depressions 68 in individual profiled pins 66 allows a composite form of the raised part to be achieved in the finished tuft of bristles, on the one hand by the arrangement of the profiled pins 66, for example along a curved line, and on the other hand by the form and arrangement of the depressions 68 in the individual profiled pins 66.
[0233] It goes without saying that all the described forms of higher parts 75 of tufts of bristles 22 can also be realized on lower parts 75 of tufts of bristles 22, and vice versa.
[0234] It has already been specified above that a variable circular arc may be used for providing the bristles 39, The details of this circular arc are likewise described there. FIGS. 26a to 26d then show receiving recesses 64, profiled pins 66 and tufts of bristles 22. The tufts of bristles 22 from FIGS. 26c and 26d have been produced by means of a variable circular arc. In this case, two larger receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 and two smaller receiving recesses 64 of the die 62 form the basis for the later tuft of bristles 22. The receiving recesses 64, 64 are arranged at the corners of a rhomboid. In production, use of the variable circular arc makes it possible for the receiving recesses 64, 64 of different sizes to be filled by the same circular arc. The variability is ultimately reflected in the fact that different numbers of bristles can be transported by one displacement of the circular arc. One displacement fills a receiving recess 64.
[0235] The profiled pins 66 may be configured like the profiled pins 66 already described, profiled pins 66 of smaller diameter and profiled pins 66 of greater diameter being used to correspond to the receiving recesses 66, 66. In this respect it is irrelevant whether the profiled pin 66 with the greater diameter is formed with a depression 68 or whether the profiled pin 66 with the smaller diameter is formed to correspond to the profiled pin 66 with the greater diameter (i.e. with depressions 68); the same configurational possibilities are always possible. In the example shown, the higher bristle ends 73 are formed by the profiled pins 66 with the greater diameter. It goes without saying that these tufts of bristles 22 with the higher bristle ends 73 could also be formed by profiled pins 66 with a smaller diameter.
[0236] FIGS. 27a to 27e show that, seen together over the entire bristle area 93, the higher bristle ends 73 do not have to form a continuous profile 85. It is possible for the higher bristle ends 73 to be aligned irregularly or relatively irregularly or freely in inclined planes with different alignment and for the lower bristle ends 73 to form a continuous level lying parallel to the upper side 12 of the bristle-carrying plate 10. This is shown. In addition, it would also be possible for the irregularity to be realized only in the case of the lower bristle ends 73 and for the higher bristle ends 73 to form a level 89. Furthermore, both the higher bristle ends 73 and the lower bristle ends 73 may be arranged irregularly or relatively irregularly or freely.
[0237] FIGS. 28a and 28b show the combined use of soft-elastic massaging and cleaning elements 95 together with the tufts of bristles 22 according to the invention. The massaging and cleaning elements 95 may be located between single or multiple tufts of bristles 22 according to the invention, as is shown in section in FIG. 28b. Furthermore, the soft-elastic massaging and cleaning elements 95 may entirely or partially enclose the tufts of bristles 22, as shown in FIG. 28a. The configurational variants with respect to height, form, etc. are discussed further above in the text.
[0238] An extremely wide variety of types of bristles may be used to realize toothbrushes according to the invention and toothbrushes produced according to the invention. Cylindrical bristles 39 or pointed bristles 40 are used with preference.
[0239] FIG. 21a shows the bristle end of a cylindrical bristle 39. The cylindrical bristles 39 are preferably produced from polyamide (PA). They have over the length of the bristle a substantially constant nominal diameter .sub.nom (diameter at the thickest point of the bristle), which is, for example, 0.15 to 0.25 mm. In the end state in the brush, the tip 22a of the bristle 40 is rounded off. The cross section of the cylindrical bristle 39 is preferably circular. However, other cross-sectional forms are also possible, for example square, rectangular or rhomboidal.
[0240] Pointed bristles 40 are outlined in FIG. 21b. Pointed bristles 40 are preferably produced from polyester (PBT) and likewise have a constant diameter over a region of their length, for example likewise a nominal diameter of 0.15-0.25 mm. The bristle 40 tapers toward the tip 40a, beginning at a distance a from the tip 40a. Measured from the tip 40a, the diameter of the corresponding point corresponds, for example, to the following values:
TABLE-US-00001 % of the nominal diameter Distance (mm) Mean value Tolerance range 0.1 8% 5-15% 1 25% 15-35% 2 45% 30-60% 3 60% 50-80% 4 75% 60-90% 5 80% 70-90% 6 85% >75% 7 90% >80%
[0241] The pointing process is based on reduction of the diameter by means of a chemical process. Depending on the length of time during which the bristle is left in the chemical substance, the plastic disintegrates and the diameter is reduced. The form of the tip can be influenced in this way.
[0242] In principle, two types of pointed bristles 40 exist. Those which have a point only at one end and those which have a point at both ends of the bristle. As far as the dimensions are concerned, the pointing is designed in both cases in the way specified above. The bristles 40 that are pointed at one end have a point at one end, and at the other end are cylindrically designed and may be rounded off. The bristles 40 that are pointed at both ends are configured with a point at both ends.
[0243] In terms of the cross section, the pointed bristles 40 may be designed the same as the cylindrical bristles 40.
[0244] To ensure sufficient stability of the individual filaments, the nominal diameter is left over a large part of the length at over 75%. The table given above shows that the pointing of the filaments takes place predominantly over the last 4 to 5 mm. With this configuration, the tip 23a can optimally reach minute fissures and the interdental spaces while having sufficient stability of the filament.
[0245] Cylindrical bristles or bristles pointed at one end are preferably used for the present invention.
[0246] To achieve sufficient flexibility of the filaments, a length, from leaving the head part, of between 7 and 13 mm is chosen for all types of bristle.
[0247] In the present invention and for toothbrushes in general, the bristles 39, 40 may be completely or partially colored. Accordingly, in the case of partially colored bristles, for example, only the bristle ends or only one bristle end or else everything with the exception of the bristle ends may be colored. The coloration itself may be designed as an indicator coloration, i.e. the color is worn away during the course of use, and thus serves as an indicator of use, or else as a permanent coloration.
[0248] The cylindrical bristles 39, which are produced from polyamide, may, for example, be colored with food dyes and be provided with a coating over the dye. Possible food dyes that can be used are, for example, for blue Aluminum Lake of 3,3-dioxo-2,2-diindolinyidene-5,5-disulfonic acid, for yellow Aluminum Lake of 5-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-4-(4-sulfophenylazo)-3-pyrazolecarboxylic acid or Aluminum Lake of 6-hydroxy-5-(4-sulfophenylazo)-2-naphthalene sulfonic acid. These dyes are designed to be suitable for food contact. Once the dyes have been applied to bristles, the surface is usually no longer of such a quality that allows automatic processing on toothbrush bristle-providing machines 97. Therefore, the entire bristles, or at least the colored portions of the bristles, are provided with a coating. This coating makes the surface smoother, and so makes automatic processing possible.
[0249] Pointed bristles 40, which are produced from polyester, cannot be colored in this way. The coloration of these bristles 40 must take place by a chemical process, which however will not be discussed in detail at this point.
[0250] The advantage of coloration may be that the technical aspect of the bristles of different lengths can be made visible, for example if only the higher bristle ends are colored, or if only the lower bristle ends are colored. Furthermore, the design as an indicator portion can create the benefit for the customer of an indication of use.
[0251] With preference, the part of the bristles 39, 40 that comprises the higher bristle ends is colored. The coloration of both ends is nevertheless possible.
[0252] If it only concerns the tips of the bristles, the coloration has on the finished toothbrush a length of 2 mm to 10 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 8 mm. On account of the processing, the coloration is longer, or adapted, on the bristles that have not been processed, since some parts of the coloration are possibly ground away or cut away. Accordingly, the coloration in the raw material does not have to be of the same length at both ends of the bristles, just as it can also vary in the end product. Preferably, the coloration in the end product is nevertheless of the same length at both ends of the bristle if both ends of the bristle are colored.
[0253] It goes without saying that the configurational variants shown and/or described are given by way of example and the individual refinements and elements of these configurational variants may be combined with other configurational variants without departing from the scope of this invention.
[0254] The profiled pin 66 has on its end face 101 a discontinuous surface 105. This configuration of the profiled pin 66 allows two or more levels 89 of bristle ends 73 to be created. This can be easily seen, inter alia, in FIGS. 6a, 10e and 12e.
[0255] The continuous parts 109 of the surface 105 of the profiled pin 66 are scratch-free, that is to say polished, highly polished or lapped. This in turn can be easily seen in FIGS. 6a, 10e and 12e.
[0256] The mentioned, discontinuous transitions 111 in the surface 105 of the profiled pin 66 are formed as sharp edges 112.
[0257] The device, or the bristle-providing machine 97, for producing a toothbrush 8 comprises the die 62 with the profiled pins 66 guided therein, the profiled pins 66 having a highly polished or lapped surface 105.
[0258] The discontinuous transitions 111 of the surface 105 are configured with sharp edges.
