Toothbrush

The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and more particularly to a toothbrush having flexibly attached bristles.

Generally, a toothbrush comprises a head and a grip handle arranged along the longitudinal direction of the head-handle and optionally has a neck between the head and the longitudinal direction of the handle. Generally, the head is elongated along its longitudinal direction and has a tip longitudinally distant from the handle and a proximal end opposite the longitudinal direction closest to the handle. Generally, the head has a surface in which the bristles extend in the direction of the bristles, which is typically generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, across the longitudinal direction, i.e., the "bristle surface" and the contralateral back surface. In general, the head has a width direction that crosses both the longitudinal and bristle directions and is typically approximately perpendicular to them.

The head should be able to handle the pressure exerted on the bristles by elastic flexible deformation so that the excessive pressure from brushing can be relieved and the bristles can be adapted to the contour of the tooth. It is generally known to make it flexible. For example, the DE-U-20109123 has bristles mounted in multiple longitudinally arranged plastic material segments, both flexibly connected and mounted across the concave surface of the supporting "bow". Toothbrush heads are disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-25411 discloses a toothbrush head that is mounted on a flexible plate over the entire concave lining and has bristles that penetrate holes in the guide plate.

Various toothbrushes are known in which normally bundled bristles are mounted within a flexible bristles carrier. For example, US-A-2,706,825 discloses a toothbrush with a concavely curved head with two longitudinally arranged ends that bridge the curved portion. Supports a removable bristle carrier made of elastic material. For example, US-A-5,373,602 discloses a toothbrush in which the ends of the bristles are fixed within a rubber-like flexible tip extension to the head.

Various methods are known that allow the ends of the bristles of a toothbrush to be secured within an elastomeric bristles carrier. For example, WO-A-98 / 35584 discloses a toothbrush head attached to a rigid wall in which the ends of the bristles are fixed within an elastomeric material. WO-A-98 / 43514 discloses a toothbrush head in which bundled bristles are mounted in a cup-like holder embedded in a soft elastic material. WO-A-00 / 60980 discloses a toothbrush head with bundled bristles at the ends connected by a web embedded in a soft elastic material. WO-A-05013762, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a toothbrush head incorporating a mass of gel material, preferably polyurethane gel, with bristle ends embedded in the mass and also a mass. Also disclosed is a toothbrush head with a frame made of a rigid plastic material that supports. A good bond is formed between such polyurethane and the polyamide material, which is generally the material for toothbrush bristles.

In WO-A-04 / 020238, the ends of the bundled bristles are melted to form a thickened mass and embedded in the elastomeric bristles carrier, and the bundled bristles are the elastomer. A toothbrush head is disclosed that penetrates a ring of plastic material embedded in the pad.

Toothbrush heads belonging to such a technical level are not optimal because the direction in which the bristles flexibly mounted in the head can move flexibly is limited, and as a result, the fit of the bristles to the tooth shape is also limited.

<p> An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush in which bristles are flexibly mounted on a head and at least partially overcome the problems caused by a toothbrush belonging to the above-mentioned technical level, and further to provide an alternative structure of the toothbrush head. Is.</p><p> Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.</p>

<p> According to the first aspect of the present invention, the flexible bristle carrier and a support for supporting the carrier are provided, and the bristle is attached to the flexible bristle carrier, and the flexible bristle carrier is attached. The bristle carrier has a base that is closest to the handle when connected to the toothbrush grip handle and a tip that is opposite in the longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the head-handle length direction and its longitudinal direction. A toothbrush head that is connected or connectable to a toothbrush grip handle so as to define the width direction. The support supports the carrier between the base and the tip so that the carrier is not longitudinally supported in the region between the base and the tip so that the carrier is not supported. Provided is the toothbrush head, which is flexible so that it can be deformed so that both its longitudinal and width cross sections are distorted when subjected to the force of brushing by a toothbrush.</p><p> The bristles can be made of, for example, a polyamide material, such as nylon, such as the Tynex (DuPont) mentioned above, or a conventional bristles material that is polyester. For example, nylon monofilaments such as those made of nylon 512 marketed by DuPont under the name DuPont Tynex can be used. Generally, the bristles are traditionally grouped into a bundle containing a plurality of bristles.</p><p> The bristles are generally arranged in a bundle containing a conventional number of bristles and may be generally of conventional shape and size. For example, each bundle can contain 5 to 100 bristles, preferably 10 to 75 bristles, for example 30 to 60 bristles. Such bundles may be, for example, circular, or, for example, non-circular with a cross section elongated in the longitudinal or width direction, the typical dimension of their overall length may be 0.75-5 mm. Bundles of circular cross-section are typically about 0.9-1.5 mm in diameter, with the ends close to the head embedded in a mass of elastomeric material to a depth of 0.5-5 mm, typically about 0.7-1.5 mm. For example, as a result, its proximity end is placed halfway from the bristle surface through the thickness of the mass. Alternatively, the bristles may be embedded individually rather than in bundles.</p><p> In one embodiment, the flexible bristle carrier can include a pad of elastic material. This may be an elastomeric material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE). This is because such materials are easy to injection mold and combine with many of the plastic materials used in toothbrush construction. Many such toothbrush TPE materials are known. The shore hardness of the preferred elastomer material is A10-40, preferably 20 +/- 10, more preferably 20 +/- 5. Some suitable materials are commercially available, for example, from Kraiburg Gummiwerk (DE) under reference numbers RTF8778, 8728, 8722, 8725. The pad has a thickness, i.e., a dimension in the bristle direction, for example 2.5-5 mm, typically 3 +/- 0.5 mm.</p><p> Another type of elastic material is a viscoelastic material, such as a gel, preferably a polyurethane gel, such as the polyurethane gel material disclosed in WO-A-05013762, which is commercially available under the name Technogel . is there.</p><p> Bristles, preferably bundled bristles, can be mounted on pads of such elastomeric material in a variety of ways.</p><p> In one method, the ends of the bristles can be embedded directly into the pad.</p><p> Alternatively, the attachment of bristles to the pad of elastomeric material is as disclosed, for example, in WO-A-97 / 20484, WO-A-98 / 35584, WO-A-98 / 43514 mentioned above. In addition, it can be realized by the use of a holder of plastic material, for example polypropylene, which can hold the bundle inside it, bond tightly with the elastomeric material and hold the bristles inside the pad. Each of such holders can hold an individual bristles bundle, or can hold a plurality of bristles bundles, thus the holder will include a connecting portion between the bristles bundles. The holders may be connected to each other only by the elastomeric material between them, which makes the holders like remote islands in the pad of the elastomeric material.</p><p> Otherwise, the bundled bristles are the WO-A-04 / 020238 mentioned above, and, for example, the European patent application EP04010962.1 filed on May 7, 2004 while the applicant is pending ( Even though their ends are melted to form thickened mass and embedded in an elastomeric bristle carrier in a manner as disclosed herein by reference). Often, the bristle bundle passes through, eg, penetrates, a plastic material ring embedded in an elastomer pad. Such rings may be in the form of an opening tube that penetrates them, surrounds the bristles bundles anchored within the elastomeric material, and allows reciprocating movement of the bristles bundles along the bristle direction. The ends of such individual bristle bundles can be heat melted together to fuse, then cooled and solidified to form a large mass, which can be embedded in the elastomeric material. Techniques for melting the ends of toothbrush bristles are known in the art.</p><p> Another method of attaching the bristles bundle within the pad of such an elastomeric material is the method disclosed in WO-A-00 / 60980 or a method similar thereto. In this disclosure, at least some of the bristles are connected to each other at their ends in close proximity to the head by a web incorporated into a pad of elastic elastomer material. In such a structure, the ends of the bristles or bundles can be attached to the web. Such webs generally have a flexible, substantially two-dimensional structure that connects the ends of the bristles or bundles. They may be a single web connecting all of the bundles or bristles, or multiple separate webs connecting each individual group of bristles. For example, the web can include a thin flexible sheet, grid, mesh or mesh of material to which the ends of the bristles are attached. Alternatively, the web may be integrally manufactured of the same material as the bristles.</p><p> In one alternative embodiment, the flexible bristle carrier is flexible so that it can be made flexible so that it can be deformed so that both the longitudinal and width cross sections of the carrier are distorted when subjected to the force of brushing with a toothbrush. It can comprise a plurality of connected segments of plastic material. There can be two or more segments. Such segments can be sequentially arranged longitudinally to achieve toothbrushing force deformation of the carrier such that the longitudinal cross section of the carrier is distorted. Such segments can be sequentially arranged in the width direction to achieve toothbrushing force deformation of the carrier such that the widthwise cross section of the carrier is distorted. Preferably, such carriers can include both longitudinally sequential and widthwise sequential segments. The carrier may be divided, for example, along the longitudinal direction by a flexible link and in the width direction across the longitudinal direction, thereby bending both its longitudinal and width cross sections by their forces. Can be done.</p><p> Each flexible link between the segments can comprise a bridge of soft plastic material that is thinner than the thickness of the segment to which it connects, or a combination of a bridge of soft plastic material that is thinner than the thickness of the segment to which it connects and an elastomeric material. It can include, for example, a composite structure in which one or more sides of a bridge are surrounded by an elastomeric material, eg, embedded in an elastomeric material. Alternatively, the flexible link may consist entirely of an elastomeric material between the segments to which it connects. Preferably, such links are constructed so that the carrier can be stretched longitudinally by longitudinal tension.</p><p> In such heads with multiple segments of plastic material, the bristles or bundles can be attached within the segments in the manner commonly used with known toothbrushes with heads with multiple flexibly connected segments.</p><p> Carriers, such as pads of elastomeric materials or segmented carriers, generally have a bristle surface and a "back surface" that is the opposite surface away from the bristle surface in the thickness direction across the longitudinal direction. There is an end face between the bristle surface and the back surface. Such pads may have a flat bristle surface and back surface and may be uniform in thickness, or one or both of the bristle surface and / or back surface may be, for example, in the width direction to collect flexibility in a predetermined direction. Aligned ridges or grooves may be contoured.</p><p> The support supports the carrier at a base adjacent to the proximal end and at the distal end adjacent to the distal end, whereby the carrier is not supported longitudinally between those portions. The support is angular arched so that it is longitudinally separated from the back of the carrier in the longitudinal direction between the base and the tip. It can be arched in shape, which allows, for example, the carrier to extend in the chordal direction between the cusps of the arch. In such a structure, a space is left between the back surface of the carrier and the support, and the carrier can be deformed into the space. In general, the length of the unsupported region of the pad can be 50 or more, preferably 75% or more of the total length between the longitudinal ends of the bristle pattern on the carrier. For example, up to about 25% of the length of the pad directly adjacent to the tip and up to about 25% of the length of the pad directly adjacent to the proximal end can be supported by the support. In this structure, the longitudinal side surfaces of the carrier between the supported portions of the carrier may remain unsupported. Generally, the length of the bristles pattern on the toothbrush head is about 20-30 mm. The longitudinal dimension of the space left between the back of the carrier and the support may be 0.5-7 mm, for example 4 +/- 1 mm.</p><p> Preferably, the support is flexible so that, for example, the tip of the carrier can elastically move to follow an arc in a plane perpendicular to the width direction under the force generated by brushing with a toothbrush. Elastic bending deformation in the longitudinal direction is possible, and / or elastic torsional deformation around the torsional axis in the longitudinal direction is possible. The plane perpendicular to the width direction may be a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and the direction in which the bristles extend from the bristles surface. A flexible support having such a deformation mode assists in the flexible deformation of the bristle carrier. Bending deformation in the longitudinal direction of the support compresses the carrier in the longitudinal direction, shortening the bristles of the carrier, which causes the bristles to come closer to each other and collect more closely, causing the bristles of the carrier to become concave in the longitudinal direction. Can be taken. Alternatively, the bending deformation in the longitudinal direction of the support can cause the carrier to extend in the longitudinal direction to lengthen the bristles, or the bristles of the carrier to have a convex shape in the longitudinal direction to spread the bristles. .. Twisting deformation around the approximately longitudinal twist axis of the support helps to more easily adapt the bristle surface of the carrier to the shape of the user's teeth and the gaps between the teeth.</p><p> The flexible support comprises longitudinally separated supports for supporting the base and tip of the carrier, respectively, and supports that are integrally connected longitudinally by a link of one or more soft plastic materials. Achieved by the body. The support portion is designed to support the carrier and may, for example, be provided with a cavity into which the carrier fits and may have an engaging function that strengthens the bond between the carrier and the support. One or more links can define an arched support. That is, both ends of the support in the longitudinal direction are close to and preferably in contact with the carrier, but at the intermediate position in the longitudinal direction between the ends in the longitudinal direction, they are relative to the back surface of the carrier in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush. Are separated from each other. Such links may be in the form of ribs of thin plastic material that extend approximately longitudinally. For example, a plurality of, preferably two links, can be placed on both sides of the longitudinal central axis of the head in the width direction, eg, generally in a "V" shape pointing away from the handle or away from the handle. It can be focused from the handle toward the head in a roughly "Y" shape with a stem.</p><p> However, if the carrier comprises a viscoelastic material as described above, such as a gel, preferably a polyurethane gel, such as the polyurethane gel material disclosed in WO-A-05013762, the support may be as described above. It does not have to be rigid, that is, flexible.</p><p> Thus, in another aspect of the invention, a toothbrush head that has bristles protruding in the direction of the bristles and is connected or connectable to a toothbrush grip handle, the ends of which each of the bristles is close to the head. It has a portion and an end away from the head, the head containing a mass of gel material or a mass of polyurethane material, preferably a mass of polyurethane gel material, at least of bristles near the end close to the head. Partially embedded within the mass of gel material, the head comprises a frame of hard plastic material that supports the mass, which is preferably in the form of a pad with a bristle surface. , Supported by the frame at a support position adjacent to the tip and a support position adjacent to the proximal end, but not longitudinally between these two longitudinally separated support positions. The toothbrush head is provided.</p><p> Supports, such as supports, and one or more links, are plastic materials commonly used in the manufacture of toothbrushes, such as polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It can be manufactured with (ABS) or the like, and can be manufactured integrally with the toothbrush handle. Supports made of such materials can easily be made thin enough to be flexible as described above.</p><p> For example, the other part of the toothbrush, which is the toothbrush handle, may have a generally conventional structure. For example, the handle may incorporate one or more "S" -shaped bends as disclosed in EP-A-0336641. In addition to that, or otherwise, the toothbrush has a head and handle directly in other positions within its structure, such as as disclosed in WO-A-92 / 17092 or WO-A-97 / 24949. A flexible link may be incorporated between the adjacent portion, i.e. the neck.</p><p> How to connect a bristle carrier as described above to a support made of the plastic material described above is well known in the toothbrush manufacturing industry.</p><p> For example, the toothbrush head and the entire toothbrush of the present invention can be manufactured by a well-known two-component injection molding process. First the plastic material part of the toothbrush is manufactured, then the plastic material part thus formed is placed in a second mold cavity, the elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavity and combined with the plastic material in a known manner. Let me. The bristles can be immobilized in the carrier by a well-known method, for example as disclosed in WO-A-04 / 080238 described above. For example, a bristles bundle penetrating a ring of plastic material (which may be the same plastic material as the rest of the toothbrush) that binds to the elastomeric material, and the ends of the bundle that should be fixed in the head melt together. It is possible to provide a bristles bundle in which a large mass is formed, and this end can be introduced into a mold cavity into which an elastomeric material can be injected so as to bond to the plastic material.</p><p> For example, WO-A-05013762 described above discloses a method by which a gel, such as a polyurethane gel, can be attached to, for example, a support that is a frame.</p><p> Elastomer materials such as thermoplastic elastomer materials, gels mentioned above, and polyurethane materials mentioned above, especially polyurethane gels such as Technogel polyurethane gel materials, are plastic materials commonly used in the manufacture of toothbrushes, such as It has been found that it binds well to PA and ABS.</p><p> The support (eg, frame) and bristle carrier (eg, pad of elastomeric material or mass of gel or polyurethane material) may each have an engagement function to hold them in a secure physical engagement. / Or can be bonded by welding, adhesion or adhesion between the frame and the mass. For example, the support can include a pad of elastomeric material or a portion embedded in the pad or mass so as to strengthen the bond between the mass of gel, such as a polyurethane material, and the support. The support, eg, the frame, may, in addition or otherwise, include one or more openings that penetrate from one side of the support to the other. The material of the carrier, for example a gel, or a mass of polyurethane, penetrates the opening from one side to the other, forming a mushroom-shaped head on the other side, thereby engaging the support. Can match.</p><p> The present invention also provides a toothbrush with a head as described herein, the toothbrush connected to a handle on which the head can hold the toothbrush in use. Such a toothbrush may be a manual toothbrush, or, for example, an electric toothbrush whose handle includes a power supply and an electric motor.</p><p> Next, the present invention will be described as just an example with reference to the accompanying drawings.</p>

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the head 10 (whole) of the toothbrush of the present invention is shown. The head 10 is connected to the grip handle 11 of the toothbrush so as to define the head-handle longitudinal direction L--L and the vertical width direction W--W (however, the grip handle 11 shows only the portion adjacent to the head 10). It has not been). To avoid misunderstanding, L--L is in the length direction.

The head 10 comprises a flexible bristle carrier 12. A plurality of bristles bundles 13 extending in the bristles direction B are attached to the carrier 12. Although only one bundle is shown for clarity, multiple bundles are arranged in a constant pattern on the bristle surface 14 of the carrier 12. The bristles 13 extend from the bristles surface 14 of the carrier 12. The carrier 12 has a base portion 12B closest to the toothbrush handle 11 and a tip portion 12C on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction.

The bristle carrier 12 comprises a pad of thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) as commercially available from Kraiburg Gummiwerk (DE) at reference number RTF8778, 8728, 8722 or 8725. The thickness of the pad 12 in the bristle direction B is about 3 mm.

The bundle 13 is mounted on the pad 12 of the elastomeric material by the use of the holder 15 of the plastic material. The ends of the bundle 13 are held within each of the holders 15 and secured within the elastomeric material of the pad 12 to bond with them. The plurality of holders 15 are connected to each other only by the elastomeric material between the holders, so that the plurality of holders 15 become like remote islands studded in the pad 12 of the elastomeric material.

Alternatively, the carrier 12 is commercially available from Technogel Koenigsee (Gewerbegiet Alle Gaernerei, 37339 Berlingerode (DE)) in the form of a Technogel material with a thickness of about 5 mm, i.e. a polyurethane coated sheet with a thickness of about 5 mm, eg, as the gel material BTG120. It may be provided with a polyurethane gel pad covered with a polyurethane coating. Pads to which the bristles bundles are directly fixed, i.e. fixed without the use of holder 15, can be manufactured using the IMC method as disclosed in WO-A-0513762. Advantageously, as disclosed in WO-A-0513762, the use of such a polyurethane material allows the bristle material to bond well to the polyurethane and thus eliminates the need for a holder 15.

The carrier 12 is supported by a support 16 at its base 12A and its tip 12B, and the carrier 12 is not supported longitudinally in the region 12C between the base 12A and the tip 12B. .. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the support 16 without the carrier 12 is shown for clarity. The length of the unsupported region 12C of the pad 12 is about 75% or more of the total length between the longitudinal ends of the pattern of bristles 13 on the carrier. It can be seen that up to about 25% of the length of the pad 12 directly adjacent to the tip 12B and up to about 25% of the length of the pad 12 directly adjacent to the base 12A are supported by the support 16. The support 16 comprises support portions 17, 18 that are arranged apart in the longitudinal direction to support the base portion 12A and the tip portion 12B of the carrier 12, respectively, and ribs 19A, 19B, which are made of a thin plastic material that extends substantially in the longitudinal direction. It is integrally connected in the longitudinal direction by a link 19 (whole) of a soft plastic material in the form of 19C.

The support 16 and handle 11 are made of a plastic material commonly used in the manufacture of toothbrushes (eg polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), etc.) Manufactured integrally.

The support 16, i.e., the link 19 of the support 16, is arched between the base 12A and the tip 12B in the longitudinal direction and away from the back surface 110 of the carrier 12 in the direction opposite to the bristle direction B. This leaves a space 111 with a width of about 4 +/- 1 mm between the back surface 110 of the carrier 12 and the link 19 of the support 16. The carrier can be deformed into its space under the influence of pressure on the bristles 13 while brushing with a toothbrush. FIG. 6 more clearly shows such deformation of the carrier 12 due to the effect of pressure applied in the direction of the thick arrow. The side surfaces 12C, 12D between the longitudinal directions of the supported portions 12A, 12B of the carrier 12 are in a state of not being supported by the carrier, as clearly shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. Such lack of support allows the carrier 12 to be deformed under the influence of pressure at the position indicated by the thick arrow, as shown in FIG. This deformation may occur at the same time as the deformation shown in FIG. 6, which allows the bristles surface 14 to be three-dimensionally deformed to fit the bristles 13 to the curved surface of the tooth.

The support 16, specifically the link 19, is flexible so that the support 18 can follow the arc on the paper in FIG. 6, elastic bending deformation in the longitudinal direction, i.e. W--W in the width direction. It is possible to bend around a bending axis parallel to. In such deformations, the frame 16 can compress the carrier 12 by bending it into a tighter curved arch, or it can stretch the carrier 12 by flattening it into a less tight arch. In FIG. 6, the downward pressure acting on the tip 18 of the head as indicated by the thick dashed arrow causes the support 16 to move around the bending axis parallel to the width direction W--W by the handle 11. It has also been shown that it bends relative to a portion of the nearby support 16 that causes the tip to move downward in the direction indicated by the thin dashed arrow. The pressure in the opposite direction causes the reverse bending deformation. FIG. 8 shows the elastic torsional deformation of the link 19 around the torsional axis roughly aligned with the longitudinal direction L--L, which occurs at the same time as the torsional deformation of the carrier 12.

The carrier 12 is attached to portions 17, 18 by a known type of bond between the plastic material of the support 16 and the thermoplastic material of the support 16. However, supports 17, 18 with engaging holes 112 that are wider on the outer surface of the support 16 are also shown, as the material of the pad 12 penetrates these engaging holes 112 to pad. A "mushroom-shaped head" is formed on the outer surface so that the material of 12 engages the support 16. The supports 17 and 18 also define the cavity 113, in which the pad 16 is located. The sides of the cavity 113 provide an area for bonding between the elastomeric and plastic materials of the pad 16. The supports 17, 18 may be provided with additional or alternative structural features (not shown) to enhance engagement and / or coupling between the pads 16 and the supports 17, 18.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a diagram similar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the toothbrush head 20 is shown, and FIG. 10 shows a vertical cross section along lines A--A. Corresponding parts are numbered accordingly. However, in this toothbrush, the flexible bristle carrier 21 comprises a plurality of plastic material segments 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D. The carrier 21 is divided along its longitudinal direction and in the width direction across its longitudinal direction by a flexible link 22 aligned across the head 20 and a longitudinally aligned link 23. The links feature a filler of elastomeric material between the segments 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, which, when the carrier receives the force of toothbrushing with a toothbrush, causes both the longitudinal and width sections of the carrier. The carrier becomes flexible so that it can be deformed to distort. The pairs of segments 21A, 21D and 21B, 21C are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the pairs of segments 21A, 21B and 21C, 21D are arranged in the width direction. Although these drawings show only two segments arranged longitudinally, they can be three or more. These drawings show only two segments arranged in the width direction, but they can be three or more. The flexible link 22 may have a thin flexible link of a plastic material embedded in an elastomeric material, which is integrally connected to adjacent segments 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, respectively. Such links in toothbrush heads are known in other ways. The bristles bundle 24 (shown only within segment 21A for clarity) is attached by conventional methods. The support 16 is as flexible as the links 19 of FIGS. 1-8, and can be bent and twisted like the links 19 of FIGS. 1-8 to allow the carrier 20 to be deformed. To be equipped. FIG. 11 shows the deformation of the widthwise cross section of the carrier 21 and the twisting of the flexible link 19.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the same figure as in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the form of the alternative toothbrush head 60. In FIG. 12, the bristle carrier 64 is not shown completely for clarity, only its edges are shown by dashed lines. FIG. 12 shows a plan view looking down toward the bristles surface, and FIG. 13 shows a vertical cross-sectional view around the longitudinal direction line L--L of FIG. 12 looking at the width direction WW seen in FIG. Figures 12 and 13 show the toothbrush head 60 and a portion of the grip handle 61 directly adjacent to it. The head 60 and the handle 61 are arranged along the head-handle longitudinal direction L--L. The head 60 is elongated along this longitudinal direction and has a tip 62 longitudinally distant from the handle 61 and a proximal opposite proximal end 63 closest to the handle 61.

The pad 64 of the thermoplastic elastomer material has a surface 65 that is the "bristle surface" and an opposite surface 66 that is separated from the bristle surface 65 in the longitudinal direction L--L, that is, in the "thickness direction", that is, the "back surface". Provided with a pad having and. There is an end face (not shown) between the bristle surface 65 and the back surface 66. The surface 65 is in a plane approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction L--L of the head 60. The bristles 67 seen in FIG. 13 extend from the bristles surface 65 in the bristles direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L--L.

The head 60 includes a frame 68 manufactured integrally with a handle 61 made of a plastic material such as polypropylene. As can be seen in the plan view of FIG. 12, the frame generally forms a "V" shape with two thin elastic flexible links 69, 610 located symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal L--L width direction. The "V" shape points toward the tip of the head. The frame 68 supports the pad 64 at a support position 611 adjacent to the tip 62 and a support position 612 adjacent to the proximal 63, having a structure similar to that shown in FIGS.

The portion 613 of the links 69 and 610, which is located longitudinally between the support positions 611 and 612, is from the back surface 66 of the pad 64 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L--L and in the direction opposite to the bristle direction. It is arched apart, leaving space 614 between the back 66 and part 611 of the frame 68. In FIGS. 12 and 13, it can be seen that about 25% of the length of the pad 64 directly adjacent to the tip 62 and the proximal 63 is supported by the frame 68. As can be seen in FIG. 13, the pad 64 is not supported between those supported parts, i.e. near part 613.

The links 69, 610 are elastically flexible and therefore the frame 68 can be distorted when subjected to the force of toothbrushing by a toothbrush, eg the support 69, eg, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. Can move in an arc on the paper and / or twist around a twist axis parallel to longitudinal L--L. 14 and 15 are cross-sectional views of the head 60 of FIGS. 12 and 13, showing the elastic and flexible deformation of the pad 64 under the force generated by brushing the teeth with a toothbrush. FIG. 15 shows the elastic flexible deformation of the two links 69, 610 as the portion 614 twists about a twist axis that is approximately parallel to longitudinal L--L.

The support positions 611 and 612 have portions 615 and 616 embedded in the pad 64 of the elastomeric material, respectively, so that the bond between the pad 64 and the frame 68 is strengthened and the portion 615 is an opening through which the elastomer penetrates. Has 617.

Referring to FIG. 13, an alternative method of fixing the bristles bundle 67 within the TPE pad 64 is shown. The cylindrical tubular ring 30 is made of, for example, a plastic material that is the same material as the handle 61 and support 68, one end embedded in the pad 64 with their cylindrical axes perpendicular to the surface 65, and the other. The end of the is protruding from that surface. These rings 30 surround the bristles bundle 67, the bristles bundle 67 penetrates the ring, and the bristles bundle 67 melts to form an elastomer 31 and pads. It has a fixed end within 64 elastomeric materials. This structure allows the bristles bundle 67 to reciprocate along the bristles direction and slide within the ring 30. Such a method of fixing the bristles 67 is disclosed in the pending European patent application EP04010962.1 of the applicant filed May 7, 2004. A method of embedding such a ring 30 in such a pad 64 is disclosed in WO-A-04080238.

<figref num="1">It is a top view of the toothbrush head of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a vertical sectional view of the toothbrush head of FIG.</figref><figref num="3">It is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush head of FIG.</figref><figref num="4">It is a figure of the support used in the head of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure of the support used in the head of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the deformation of the head of FIGS. 1 to 5.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which shows the deformation of the head of FIGS. 1 to 5.</figref><figref num="8">It is a figure which shows the deformation of the head of FIGS. 1 to 5.</figref><figref num="9">It is a figure of the alternative structure of the toothbrush head of this invention.</figref><figref num="10">It is a figure of the alternative structure of the toothbrush head of this invention.</figref><figref num="11">It is a figure of the alternative structure of the toothbrush head of this invention.</figref><figref num="12">It is a figure of another alternative structure of the toothbrush head of this invention.</figref><figref num="13">It is a figure of the other alternative structure of the toothbrush head of this invention, and also shows the alternative method of fixing the bristles of a toothbrush to a toothbrush head.</figref><figref num="14">It is a figure which shows the flexibility of the head of FIGS. 12 and 13.</figref><figref num="15">It is a figure which shows the flexibility of the head of FIGS. 12 and 13.</figref>