TOOTHBRUSH HEAD AND MANUFACTURING METHOD

Abstract

A toothbrush head and manufacturing method, having a head with bristles that is coupled to a gripping handle, the head having two opposite bases, an outer one and an inner one, which are linked to each other by a central bridge that defines an intermediate separation space therebetween. There are a set of outer bristles and another set of inner bristles, which emerge facing each other from the respective inner faces of the opposite bases, and a set of central bristles emerging from the central bridge and perpendicular to the rest of bristles.

Claims

1. A toothbrush head, comprising an outer base and an inner base, each with an inner face and an outer face, at least the inner face of one of said bases with a central bridge that defines an intermediate separation space between both inner faces, and having cleaning elements which emerge from the respective facing inner faces of said bases and from the surface of the central bridge further comprising: a first reinforcing core integrated inside the outer base, said first core and said outer base forming an outer part, a second reinforcing core integrated inside the inner base, said second core and said inner base forming an inner part, and both bases linked to each other by the central bridge, at least one of said cores having a male element, for coupling within the central bridge with a female element arranged in the part opposite to that of the male element, therefore linking the outer base and the inner base, and said first core comprises on the outer base, at the end opposite the coupling with the inner part, coupling means for a handle.

2. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the male element and the female element are press-fit or snap-fit coupling means.

3. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the coupling between the male element and the female element comprises adhesive or an ultrasonic welding.

4. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the head is extendable so that the intermediate separation space between the outer base and the inner base adapts to different tooth sizes when pressure is exerted during brushing, returning to the position thereof when said pressure is no longer exerted.

5. The head, according to claim 1, wherein one of the two cores comprises two anchoring tabs as a male element for coupling thereof in two holes made for this purpose in the central bridge.

6. The head, according to claim 1, wherein one of the two cores comprises a male element for coupling thereof in a female element arranged on the core opposite to that of the male element.

7. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning elements are bristles.

8. The head, according to claim 7, wherein the bristles of the central bridge emerge from the two faces thereof at an angle of 45 degrees.

9. The head, according to claim 7, wherein the bristles of the outer base have an angle of inclination of between 40? and 50? with respect to the inner face of said base and the inner base has an angle of inclination less than 35? with respect to the inner face of said base.

10. The head, according to any of claim 1, wherein the components thereof are injection parts.

11. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the outer part and the inner part are made of TPE or TPU.

12. The head, according to claim 1, wherein the cores are made of PP, PC or ABS.

13. (canceled)

14. The head, according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means enable the handle to move with respect to the outer base.

15. A method for manufacturing a head, according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: injection moulding of a first core, over-injection moulding of the outer base on the first core, obtaining an outer part, injection moulding of a second core, over-injection moulding of the inner base on said second core, obtaining an inner part, assembly of the first part and the second part by coupling both parts within a central bridge between the outer base and the inner base.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] To complete the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following:

[0060] FIGS. 1 and 2 show bottom and top perspective views, respectively, of a first exemplary embodiment of the toothbrush object of the invention, specifically an example whose head comprises several parts that form parts that are joined by mechanical coupling, showing the general configuration and essential portions thereof.

[0061] FIGS. 3 and 4 show top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the head of the brush of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the portions and elements of said head in greater detail.

[0062] FIGS. 5 and 6 show top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the head of the brush shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in this case represented with the two portions that form it without coupling together and without the handle.

[0063] FIGS. 7 and 8 show top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the head of the brush of the invention shown in the preceding figures.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the head of the brush, according to the C-C cut indicated in FIG. 8, showing the mechanical coupling between the two portions thereof.

[0065] FIGS. 10 and 11 show side elevation views of the head of the brush of the invention, according to the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, represented with the central bridge in the retracted and extended position, respectively, by means of elastic coupling.

[0066] FIG. 12 again shows a side elevation view of the brush head, similar to that shown in FIG. 11 with the central bridge in an extended position, in this case thanks to the accordion-shaped clasp.

[0067] FIG. 13 shows a front elevation view of the outer portion of the head of the invention, according to the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, showing the alternate inclination configuration, to the left and right, of the central bristles that emerge from one of the faces of the partition that makes up the central bridge.

[0068] FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of the example of the brush of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 13.

[0069] FIG. 15 shows an alternative construction of a head according to the present invention with a handle coupled to the outer part with means different from those shown in the preceding figures.

[0070] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the head of another exemplary embodiment of the invention, in this case, an example in which said head is made up of several parts obtained by injection which are joined together by ultrasonic welding.

[0071] FIGS. 17 to 22 show respective views of the different parts that make up the head of the brush of the invention, according to the example shown in FIG. 15, showing the configuration thereof with and without the incorporated bristles.

[0072] FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of the three parts that make up the head of the brush, according to the example shown in FIG. 16, represented once the bristles have been incorporated and prior to the joining thereof by ultrasonic welding.

[0073] FIGS. 24 to 26 show perspective views, respectively, of another exemplary embodiment of the brush of the invention, in this case an example in which said head is made up of a single part obtained by injection with the bristles joined to it by means of adhesive glue, said part being represented in FIG. 24 without the bristles, in FIG. 25 with the bristles glued to one of the sides of the part and in FIG. 26 once all the bristles have been glued.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0074] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, an exemplary embodiment of the toothbrush head of the invention can be seen therein.

[0075] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the brush (1) comprises a head (2) with bristles (3) that is coupled to a gripping handle (4), said head (2) having two opposite bases, an outer one (5) and an inner one (6), which are linked to each other by means of a central bridge (7) that defines an intermediate separation space (8) therebetween, there being a set of outer bristles (3a) and another set of inner bristles (3b), which emerge facing each other from the respective inner faces of said opposite bases (5, 6), as well as a set of central bristles (3c) emerging from the central bridge (7) and perpendicular to the surface of said bridge (7).

[0076] Preferably, the central bridge (7) has a flat partition configuration with central bristles (3c) emerging from the respective opposite faces thereof.

[0077] Preferably, the outer bristles (3a) which emerge from the outer base (5) are arranged at an angle of inclination of about 45? with respect to said base (5).

[0078] Preferably, the central bristles (3c) also emerge from the two faces of the central bridge (7) at an angle of 45 degrees and, as seen in FIG. 13, are alternatively oriented to the right and to the left.

[0079] In addition, optionally, the head (2) is extendable so that the intermediate separation space (8) between the outer base (5) with the outer bristles (3a) and the inner base (6) with the inner bristles (3b) adapts to the different tooth sizes when pressure is exerted during brushing, returning to the position thereof when said pressure is no longer exerted.

[0080] In an embodiment, such as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, the described head (2) of the brush (1) is made up of various parts obtained by injection and assembled together by mechanical coupling, press-fit, snap-fit or a loop.

[0081] Preferably, as can be seen in FIG. 14, in said embodiment, the head (2) comprises: [0082] an outer part (9), made up of the outer base (5) with the outer bristles (3a) and the central bridge (7) with the central bristles (3b), [0083] a first core (10), with an end with means for gripping the handle (4), and a coupling element, male or female, at the opposite end and on which said outer part (9) is injected, forming an outer portion or outer body (A) of the head, [0084] an inner part (11), made up of the inner base (6) with the inner bristles (3b), [0085] and a second core (12), with a male or female element, on which said inner part (6) is injected, forming an inner portion or inner body (B) of the head, and which enables the aforementioned mechanical coupling between both portions (A and B).

[0086] The coupling between both cores (10, 12) is carried out when a male element is inserted into a female element, said male element or female element being arranged in one core or in the other.

[0087] As can be seen in FIG. 9, the second core (12) of the inner portion or body (B) has a female element, in the form of anchoring tabs, into which the male element in the shape of an arrow is inserted, from the first core (10) of the outer portion (A) after being inserted into the central bridge (7) of the outer part (9). In this example, the bridge is incorporated into the outer part (9) but it could also be incorporated into the inner part (6).

[0088] Alternatively, the second core (12) of the inner portion or body (B), provided with anchoring tabs acting as a male element, is coupled with the outer part (9) of the outer portion or body (A), passing through holes (13) made for this purpose in the central bridge (7), as seen in FIG. 6. In this example, the bridge is incorporated into the outer part (9) but it could also be incorporated into the inner part (6), in which case, the first core would be the one to include the anchoring tabs for the coupling thereof to the bridge.

[0089] Preferably, the outer part (9) and the inner part (11) are made of TPE or TPU and the first and second cores (10, 12) are made of PP, PC or ABS.

[0090] With this, the peripheral surface of the outer portion (A), specifically the one that defines the outer base (5) and, in turn, defines the area peripheral to the portion of the first core (10) that has an end (14) for coupling the handle (4), being made of TPE/TPU, is flexible, which enables said portion to be adapted to different dental anatomies and, at the same time, the central bridge (7) is also flexible so that it is can open and thus adapt to different molar sizes.

[0091] The outer part (9) is over-injected to the first core (10), in turn previously obtained by injection, forming the outer portion or body (A) of the head, and the inner part (11) is over-injected to the second core (12), which is also a part previously obtained by injection, forming the inner portion or body (B).

[0092] Preferably, the joint between the outer portion (A) and the inner portion (B) of the head is extendable, so that the separation space (8) adapts to different tooth sizes (FIGS. 10 and 11) by means of an inner guide (15) of the central bridge (7), with an elastic clasp (FIG. 11) or with an accordion-shaped element (16) (FIG. 12), which enables it to move longitudinally when a certain force is applied and return to the initial position thereof when the force is no longer applied.

[0093] In FIG. 14, it can be seen how, in the described embodiment, the handle (4) preferably comprises a centrepiece (4a) obtained by injection made of PP, PC or ABS, with an over-injected cover (4b) made of TPE or TPU. The coupling end (4d) of the handle with the end (14) of the core (10) has lateral recesses into which complementary projections existing on the outer base (5) and associated with projections at the end (14) of the core (10) are inserted, as seen in greater detail in FIG. 5.

[0094] FIG. 15 shows an alternative brush, similar to that of FIG. 14, in which the head has slight modifications with respect to the head shown and described in said figure and it also shows coupling means between the first part and the handle different from those shown. Specifically, in this example, the core (10) has at the end (14) thereof two projections (14a) with through holes. Arranged between said two projections (14a) is the end (4d) of the handle (4) which has a hollow coinciding with the through holes of the projections (14a) at the end (14) of the core (10). To ensure the position between the elements, a pin (4c) is inserted which passes through the through holes in the end (14a) of the core (10) and the hollow end (4d) of the handle (4). In this way, it also enables the handle (4) to be rotated with respect to the head of the brush (1).

[0095] In FIGS. 16 to 23, it can be seen how, in another embodiment, the head (2) of the brush (1) of the invention is made up of several parts obtained by injection and joined together by ultrasonic welding. Preferably, in said embodiment, the head (2) comprises: [0096] an outer base (5) made of ABS, PA or PET, obtained by injection moulding, with outer bristles (3a) made of TPU, TPE or LSR over-injected on said base (5), [0097] a central bridge (7), made of ABS, PA or PET, obtained by injection moulding, with the central bristles (3c) made of TPU, TPE or LSR over-injected on the same, [0098] and an inner base (6) made of ABS, PA or PET, obtained by injection moulding, with inner bristles (3b) made of TPU, TPE or LSR over-injected on said base (6), the two bases, outer (5) and inner (6), being joined to the respective ends of the central bridge (7) by ultrasonic welding.

[0099] In FIGS. 24 to 26, it can be seen how in another embodiment of the brush (1), the head (2) is made up of a single monobloc part (17) made of plastic material obtained by injection, into which the outer base (5), the central bridge (7) and the inner base (6) are integrated, and which incorporates the respective sets of outer bristles (3a), central bristles (3c) and inner bristles (3b) made of TPU, TPE or LSR and joined to said part by adhesive glue.

[0100] In these last two embodiments, as in the previous ones, for the coupling of the handle (4) to the head (2) of the brush (1), the outer base (5) has an end (14), it being envisaged, in any of the embodiments described, that said coupling between the head (2) and the handle (4) can be mobile in order to enable the relative movement between both portions of the brush (1).