CA2190831A1 - Paintbrush and brush manufacturing process - Google Patents
Paintbrush and brush manufacturing processInfo
- Publication number
- CA2190831A1 CA2190831A1 CA002190831A CA2190831A CA2190831A1 CA 2190831 A1 CA2190831 A1 CA 2190831A1 CA 002190831 A CA002190831 A CA 002190831A CA 2190831 A CA2190831 A CA 2190831A CA 2190831 A1 CA2190831 A1 CA 2190831A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bristles
- brush
- insert element
- handle
- hairs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
- A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
- A46B9/028—Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B3/00—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier
- A46B3/06—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier by welding together bristles made of metal wires or plastic materials
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S15/00—Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
- Y10S15/05—Varied length bristle
Abstract
In order to produce paintbrushes or brushes (1), bristles, hairs, monofilaments, wires (11) and the like or bundles thereof are welded in a recess or on a holding part (1, 5) of the brush. Welding is carried out by applying waves or field lines on or against the recess or holding part.
Description
2 ~ qO83 1 M~thod ~or Producing Bru~hec with Flexible Bristles and Brushes with Stiff Bri~es The pre~ent in~ention relates to a method for pormanently mounting ~ristle~, hair~, mono~ilamen~s, ~ires, an~ the like and/or tufts therqof in or on a h~ndle, an application ~ the method ~or producing a ~pec~ic shape of a bru~ ~lth stif~
bristles or a brush with fl~xible bri6tle~, an application of the method for ~jn~ a brush vit~ ~lex~ble ~ristle~ an~/o~ a brush wi~h stif~ bri~les as ~11 as a ~ru~h wit~ ~lexible ~ristles or a brus~ with stiff bristles co~prisin~ a handle as uell ag hairs, bristle~, mono~ilament~, or ~ires of a brush with ~exibIe bristles or brush with ~tiff bristle~ held in or on a handle.
The manufact~re of bruæhes wit~ sti~ bristle6, ~ru~hes with ~le~i~le bri6tl~, toothbruch~s, and t~e llke i$ performed in a wide variety of wa~s; thus fo~ exampl~, to manufactur~ paint brush~ or cleani~g ~uche~, the tu~ts o~ brlstle~ ~r hair~ are ret~; ~Q~ by p~enol or epoxy resi~ materials in a rece~ing b~x or a handle.
In the case o~ smaller ~ru6hes, ~uch as toothbrus~es ox precision cle~ bru~hes, as a rule monofilaments are held in a receptacle either by means ~f hot-melt materials or by ~o-c.llled anchors. It is al80 kno~n to introduce indi~idual mono~ilame~ts or tufts thereof i~to receptacles in ~he shape ~ ~ole~ and to weld at the hole op ~ opposi~e the brush.
~he kno~n methods are ei~her partially obiectionable from t~e p~y~iological standpoint or are expe~sive, or do no~ allow very ~mall ~rushes to ~e manuf actured . Thus it ha~ been ra~nd e~pecially in the manufacture of very ~mall toothbrushes ~or electr~cal clea~ing device~ or for very fine cleaning bru~hes for e2ample for preci~ion r -^hani CSt tha~ with ~ery small wall AME~DE3 PAGE
21 90~31 t~ic~nes~es for the brush bodie~, the ~nown fasten~ng me~hod~ are not suitable for ret~in~ brush hair~, bristles, or mono~ilament~, etc~ In addition, it i8 not possible with the ~no~n met~od~ to 6hape t~e br~s~ or to form the ~rush surfac~.
Three U.S iatQnts, 2,653,056, 2,66~,~16, and Z,397,471 de~cri~e the manufacture of brushes with ~tiff brietles, particularly toothbru~he~, ~ith the bri~tle tu~ts being fas~e~ed in the handle ~y metal in3ert~ and inductl~e heating.
EP-0,519,677 de~cr~bes th~ manufac~ure of brushe~ ~ith stf ~f bristle~ using ultrasonic weldi~g.
W090/00359 des ibes a method for manufacturing ~mall brushe~
wit~ ~if~ ~r~stles wi~h ~ristle structures di~posed in practically any de~ired ~anne~. It is propo6ed that either a t~rough opening be prov~ded on a holder and the bristle ~u~t ~e in~ertud into this orenin~, in order to pot it, glue it, or weld it from the other ~ide of ~e holder, or alternatively a blind hole be made in the holder in order to use the remalning covering wall of the blind hole as a weldi~g material a~ter inser~ion o~
the tu~t.
Finall~, ~P-A-0,3Z9,939 deccribe~ a met~od and a ~evice ~or making ~e~ices fo~ applyi~g fluid media by meang ~f bristles The ~ethod~ descri~ed in the prior art relate fira~ly ~o the manu~acture o~ brushes with sti~ ~ristle~ and o~ bristles, with no adhesi~es or hot melt material~ having to be used to sec~re the bristles or ~onof i~ame~ts that form a brush wi~h st~ff bri~tles or a brush ~ith flexible ~ristles in a holder, or me~hods and device6 are described ~or producing ~ristle AMENDED PAGE
2 ' 9083 1 ~ructure~: or brlstle tufts ~ith this bQing accompli~h~d eith~
by applied heat or by adhesi~e~
No~e of th~a publleations kno~n from the ~rior art ~s suitable rcr contributing ~o the man~facture of ~ery delicate and/or ~3ry sma 1 b~u~hes wi~h 6t;i~f l:~ristles, in ~hose ~nanu~acture the ~hapin~ of the tu~ts of Dri~tles or tuftc cf ~3~ushes with lexi~le bristles is ~mportant, or in which special ~ristle structures are to ~e prs:~duced.
~ence, one goal of ~he ~?resent invention ss to prop~se a m~a~ht~d that does not suffer frc~ the a~ove dicadvantage6 and which is especially ~;uite~ ~or pe~mitt~n~ the manufacturc~ of ver~ fine and~or very small brushe6 and to ~acilitate the shaping proces~;
in the manufacture o~ bruOEhes ~ h ~lexible ~istle snc~ ~rus~es ~ t~ stif~ bri~les .
A_cordinS~ to th~ ~nventio2~ th~ s goal i~ a-hlievea by a m~od according ~a the b~ording o~ C3 aim 1.
It ~s p~oposed that in order to permanently mount bristles, hair~, o~ mono~llamen~s or tufts t~ereof 1~ or on a handle or in or on a rece~taele, the ~ristles, hairs, mono~i~aments, or wire~
t~at are placod in or on the receptacle or the handle are co~nected to t~ receptacle or handle by welding. The ~elding is perfonmed by mean6 o~ ~a~e ~ fiel~ lines applied and~or dlxected a~ the re~p'acle or h~dle;
These waYss or fiel~ lin~s app~ied or directed to ~ cepta-'e s~imu'ate an in~ert element introduced onto or into the receptacle o~ ~andle and heat the latter to produce the wel~ed connection~
Ah~N~D P~GE
ZlqO~3~ .
Accordi~g to one e ~ o~i~e~t of t~e ~etho~ according to the inven~ion i~ i~ proposed t~at initially a~ lea~t one i~sert element is placed on or in the receptac~s, then the halrs, bri8tles, mono~ilaments, or wires are supplied, and ~hen a high-freguency field, an electrical, elect~ -9retic, and~or a magnetic ~ield ~s produced in order to ~Xcite or hea~ the insert element ~o that the hairs, bri~tles, monofilament6, or ~ireæ in conta~t with the element, an~/or th~ receptacle, are at least partially melted in order to p~oduce ~he melted connec~ion.
According to another varia~ion on the ~ethod according to ~he invention it i~ proposed that initially ~he ins~rt element i~
introduced in~o or on~o the reta~ning element or the receptacle in order to be welded w~th it as i~ is excited ~y ~ield or wave lines or to be joinQd mechanically or by adhe~ves~ Then the hairs, bristle~, msnofilaments, or wirec are introduced in the a~ea of the in~ert elemen~ in or on the handle or receptacle, whereupon, by m~ans of field or wave lines, the insert element is excited in order to trigger possible add~ional welding under temperatu~e conditiong that may ~8 changed by compari~on ~i th the ~irst welding.
T~is twc-~tage me~hod is preferably used when the hairs, ~ri~tles, monofilaments, or wires exhibit a very dif~erent melting behavior fro~ ~he receiving part or the handle. In the case o~ highl~ different meltlng ~mperatur~8, t~ere iæ a danger in the Qingle-stage met~od that eith~r the hai~fi, ~ri~tles, monofilaments, or wire~ or ~he ~andle or the receptacle would ~e da~age~ ~y heating it exce~si~ely.
Another advantage of this two-~tase method consists in ~he ~llct that ini~ially the handle or the ~e~eptacle can be pro~ided wit~
AM~NDED PAGE
2 1 90~3 1 an insert ~lement and ~hen a su~ply of hair~, ~ri6tles, ~on~filamen~s, or wires can ~e added. The n~citatiO~ of the i~sert elemen~ then ta~es place in ~hi~ ~upply, ~ereupon ~nly ~hose hairs, brls~les, monofi~ament~, or wire~ fro~ the ~upply are welded to ~he insqrt element that are ~irectly in contact wi~h it. In this way the manufacture of a brush with stif~
bristles or a ~rush with flexible bristles can ~e highly ~impli~ed ~no~her ~wo-stag~ m~th~d according to the in~cntion i8 Simil-lr and i~ proposes ~hat initially the hai~s, ~rigtle~, mono~41aments, or ~ires are placed in an insert element whlch is excited and heated by f~eld or wave line~ in order to ~t least soften or begin melting the added bristles, hairs, m~no~ilament~, or ~ires to make a welded ~o~ection with the insert ele~ent, Then ~his inse~t element with the hairs, bristle~, mono~ilame~ts, or wires welded to it i~ placed on or in a handle or a receptacle and connect~d ~ith the latter mechanlcallY by gluing o~ by wel~i~g once more.
Pre~erred embod~ments of the me~hod according to the invention are characterized in depe~dent claims 2 to 12.
The methods defined accordiAg to the inv~ntion are especially suita~le ~or producing a specific shape o~ a ~rush wi~h sti~f ~ristles or a brush ~ith flexible ~ristles, in which the insert element is adapted ~pecially to the s~ape of the bru~h ~ith ~lexihle bri~tles or brush wit~ stiff bristles to be prcduced.
The in~ert element, dep~nding on the requi~ement~, can be made convex, wavy, zigzag-shaped, conical, e~c. whereb~ the ends of the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments projecting out of the receptacle form a contour that matches the insert element.
The insert element however can also have gaps in the form of holes or slots, which means that the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles does not have any hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires at these gaps.
AME~D~D PAGE
By using the above-mentioned insert elements, comprising gaps in the form of holes or slots, it is also possible to make brushes with stiff bristles or brushes with flexible bristles that have areas in which the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires have a reduced density. This can also be achieved by using a plurality of insert elements spaced apart from one another. In the spaces between the insert elements, zones can be created that have no hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires, or zones with reduced density. The advantage of creating such areas or zones of reduced density consists in the fact that the flexibility of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles can be considerably increased as a result.
Basically, the methods proposed according to the invention are generally suitable for manufacturing all kinds of brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles, for example paintbrushes, cleaning brushes, toothbrushes, precision cleaning brushes in mechanics, etc.
The methods according to the invention are especially suitable for making toothbrushes, both ordinary toothbrushes and those designed for use with an electrical tooth cleaning device.
The brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention thus comprise a handle or receiving part or a receptacle as well as hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles that are held in the handle or receiving part, whereby at least one insert element is provided located in or on the receiving part or handle, which is located adjacent to the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires held in the handle or receiving part, and with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires being held in or on the handle or receiving part by a welded connection.
Additional embodiments of the brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles defined according to the invention are characterized in dependent claims 19 to 23.
It makes no difference in this respect whether the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are of animal or plant origin or whether they are monofilaments made of polymer materials, like those manufactured for example from a synthetic polymer.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached figures.
Figures la to lc show schematically the basic idea of the present invention for manufacturing a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 2a and 2b show two examples of a brush with flexible bristles or a toothbrush manufactured according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows one possible application of the method according to the invention for making a specific contour of a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles according to the invention;
Figure 4 shows another example of one possible embodiment of a contour of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 5 and 6 show additional examples of the design of a contour for a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention, comprising so-called gaps;
Figures 7a and 7b show one possible embodiment of a brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to the 2 1 9 i ~ 3 1 invention as well as the manufacturing process according to the invention, shown schematically;
Figure 8 shows another possible method for manufacturing a brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 9 and 10 show other examples of brushes with flexible bristles and brushes with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention;
Figures 11 and 12 show examples of specific forms of a toothbrush for example for advertising purposes;
Figures 13a to 13d show possible heating element shapes for specific shaping of a brush with stiff bristles; and Figures 14a to 14e show schematically the manufacture of a toothbrush with a specific shape for the brush head.
In Figures la to lc, the method according to the invention is shown schematically and indicates how the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like or tufts thereof of brushes with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles are permanently mounted in a receptacle.
A body 1 of a brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles comprises a receptacle 5 that is delimited laterally by walls 3 and has a bottom 7. An insert element 9 is provided for insertion into this receptacle 5, said element preferably being made in the form of a disk, foil, lattice, wire, ring, or plate, or as a molded body. Hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires ll are also provided for insertion and permanent mounting.
In Figure lb, both insert element 9 and the hairs or bristles or monofilaments 11 are shown inserted into receptacle 5. The body 1 of brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles is inserted into a coil 21, said coil being located in the vicinity of insert element 9. It is important to note in this regard that coil 21 should be located as close as possible to the external contour of body 1 of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles. By applying a current, such as an alternating current for example, through wire coil 21, a magnetic field is generated that changes its direction synchronously with the frequency of the alternating current.
If insert element 9 is an electrically conducting material, for example an electrically conducting metal such as iron or copper, an alternating voltage will be induced in the insert element traversed by the magnetic field or eddy currents will be produced in the insert element so that insert element 9 is heated. As a result of the strong heating of insert element 9, firstly the ends of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires inserted into receptacle 5 will be at least softened or slightly melted, as will bottom 7 of the receptacle. This produces a welded connection and the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are thus held firmly in receptacle 5.
In Figure lc, the brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles that is eventually obtained according to the invention is shown, with the idea according to the invention being indicated schematically by the fact that, above insert element 9, a welded layer ~0 is formed. Of course a welded connection can be produced between the insert element and brush body 1 as well.
2 ! 95831 1 o In the method using inductive heating that is described with reference to Figures la to lc, this is of course only an example that can be supplemented by additional suitable methods.
Thus it is possible for example to insert an insert element 9 that does not conduct or conducts only slightly and to heat it by using so-called dielectric or capacitive heating. Then insert element 9 together with two plate electrodes forms the lossy dielectric of a capacitor powered with high frequency. The dielectric losses cause insert element 9 to be heated uniformly.
Another possibility is to use a material that has mostly polar compounds as insert element 9. In this case the heating can be produced by microwaves. However the use of ultrasound or other suitable high-frequency waves or electrical, electromagnetic, or magnetic fields is possible by means of which suitable materials can be excited in order to heat them in this manner. Although inductive heating is described with reference to Figures la to lc, the present invention is not limited in any way to this type of heating.
If neither the receiving part nor the brush hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires consist of a material that can be softened or melted or have a melting point that is too high, it is also possible to introduce a so-called intermediate support into the receptacle that rests directly above the insert element for example. This intermediate support then consists of a material that can be melted slightly by heating the insert element in order in this way to produce the welded connection between the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires inserted into the receptacle, with the receptacle itself.
Another possibility consists in making the method according to the invention in two stages in which initially insert element 9 ~ 1 ~0~3 1 with hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires 11 is welded outside receptacle 5. Then insert element 9 together with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires welded to it is introduced into receptacle 5 in order again to be secured in the latter by welding, or by means of conventional adhesives or by using mechanical retainers. Thus it is possible for example to provide insert element 9 with lateral clamping elements which secure insert element 9 in the receptacle when it is inserted.
Yet another possibility consists in performing the method in two stages, but in which insert element 9 is initially connected with receptacle 5. This connection again can be made by welding, gluing, or mechanically. In a second step, the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are then introduced in order then to be welded into the receptacle by using the method described in connection with Figures la to lc. By means of this latter two-stage method it is then possible to take the receptacle together with the insert element to a supply of hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires, to apply it, and then to fasten the necessary number by means of the welding method according to the invention. Then the receptacle with the insert element can be taken away from the supply once more and the required hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are accordingly removed from the supply.
In regard to the method to be used for heating the insert element, it should also be noted that it basically involves methods that are known from the prior art. It is in the final analysis a question of optimization as to which method and which process conditions are selected. In the case of inductive heating it should be added that the heating of the insert element is dependent upon firstly the distance of the coil from the insert element, the number of turns, the wire material selected, the applied field strength or current density, and the time 21 90~31 during which the insert element is heated. Heating of the i~s~r~
ele"nent however can be controlled by the selected form of insert element, since the weight, size, and selected material play an important role for example. Thus for example an annular insert element can be heated readily while â ring that is interrupted at one point is practically impossible to heat.
However these factors also make it possible to control the heating of the insert element or to establish a temperature range t~ -which the insert element is to be heated. In addition, reference should be made to the prior art from which the above-mentioned methods and procedures are best known.
Figure 2a shows a brush with flexible bristles 1' produced according to the in-v~r,tloll comprising a handle 2' as well as a thin-walled receptacle 3' intG which the hairs 11' of the brush with flexible bristles are inserted. .he melted layer l¢ by means Gf which the hairs 11' of the brush with flexible bristles are held can be seen above insert element 9.
Figure 2b shows a toothbrush 1" manufactured according to the invention that has a specially shaped handle 2", suitable fGr example for use of this toothbrush on an electrical tooth cleaning device. vnce again the individual bristles or monofilaments 11" are held by a welded conne~tion 10 on insert element 9. These monofilaments for example can be polyamides or ar.other polymer material that is usually used for manufactuLing tooth~rushes.
As described above, the method according to the invention is suitable for gi-ving brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles a specific contour.
2 1 90~3 ~
As is clearly evident from Figure 2b, a plurality of receptacles 5" is formed in toothbrush 1" into each of which an insert element 9 is fitted. Thus so-called gaps 4 are produced between the various receptacles 5" that have no insert element. In this way it is basically possible to make brushes that have a plurality of bristle tufts with gaps between them. It is also possible to make a toothbrush with gaps 4 so that the flexibility of the individual bristle tufts 11" is increased considerably, which is especially desirable in toothbrushes.
Figure 3 shows in a cross section how a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles can be made convex or projecting. Insert element 9 used in Figure 3 is likewise made convex or projecting, so that when hairs, bristles or monofilaments of the same length are used an external contour 12 that is convex or projecting can be produced. The manufacture of such a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles of this kind is performed by analogy with the method described for example with reference to Figures la to lc.
Similarly in Figure 4 an insert element 9 of a different design is employed that is made zigzag-shaped for example, whereby brush 1 in Figure 4 has three receptacles 5. Again the outer contour 12 of the individual elements of the brush with stiff or flexible bristles is made zigzag-shaped.
The great advantage of providing this contour by means of an insert element consists in the fact that after the brush with stiff or flexible bristles is produced, the individual hairs, bristles, or monofilaments do not have to be cut in order to produce the desired external contour 12. Especially in the case of monofilaments it has been found that during cutting, the ends that project out of the receptacle are indented or frayed, which is undesirable especially in the case of toothbrushes, since the 21~0831 gums can be iniured by damaged bristles. In this case it is necessary after cutting to use a special grinding or melting method to round off the ends of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires projecting out of the receptacle, said method being relatively costly and cumbersome. According to the invention, there is no need for this additional step.
With the manufacturing method in use today for making brushes with flexible bristles and brushes with stiff bristles, in producing brushes with flexible and stiff bristles with special shapes, it is necessary as a rule to cut and grind the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires before making the brush with flexible or stiff bristles, which is cumbersome. Brush shapes, like those shown in Figure 4, cannot be made with conventional methods.
In Figures 5 and 6, an insert element 9 is employed that has a hole or gap 13 in the middle. Insert element ~ in Figure 5 also comprises an indentation or groove 15. Accordingly, gap 13 is also located centrally in contour 12 of the brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles manufactured according to the invention, since no welding of the inserted hairs, bristles, or monofilaments can take place in the middle of hole 13. After the brush with flexible or stiff bristles according to the invention has been manufactured, the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments that are inserted into gap 13 automatically fall out again. Moreover, external contour 12 has a matching groove or indentation in the vicinity of indentation or groove 15.
Similarly in brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles, areas can also be produced with a lower hair, bristle or monofilament density. In this way, as already mentioned in connection with Figure 2b, the flexibility of a ? ? 9 083 1 brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles can be increased.
Figures 5 and 6 however again show the advantage of the method according to the invention as mentioned with reference to Figure 4 when it comes to creating contours or brush shapes without the necessity of cutting and grinding hairs, bristles, monofilaments, wires, or the like before or after the brush with flexible or stiff bristles is manufactured.
Figure 7a shows a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles which comprises individual tufts 17. If as shown in Figure lb a coil 21 is placed around body 1 of the brush with flexible or stiff bristles or the outside wall 3, the peripheral tufts 17 of hair or monofilament of the brush with flexible bristles would be melted to a greater degree at the inserted ends, since the insert elements would also be heated to a greater degree. Thus there would be a danger in the middle that no real melting would take place so that the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments would fall out again when manufacture was complete.
For this reason it is advantageous as shown in Figure 7b to rotate the coil 21 through approximately 90, compared with the diagram in Figure lb and to insert brush 1 with stiff bristles in the horizontal direction into coil 21. This in turn ensures that all the insert elements 9 are arranged equally spaced relative to coil 21. As a result these insert elements 9 will also be heated uniformly.
In Figure 8 another possibility is shown of how an insert element for the welding of the ends of the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments inserted in the receptacle of the brush with flexible bristles or the brush with stiff bristles can be achieved. In Figure 8, hole-shaped contact points 24 to which electrodes or terminals 25 can be connected are provided in the lateral receptacle walls 3. If an electrical current 26 is applied to the electrodes or terminals 25, insert element 9 acts as a form of resistance element and is heated as a result.
Welding of the hairs, bristles or monofilaments 11 takes place once more in known fashion and as described with reference to Figures la to lc.
Figures 9 and 10 show two additional examples of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention, whereby no actual receptacle 5 is provided on handle 1 but where insert element 9 is mounted directly on a flat surface on the handle or the brush or hair body. Thus, no walls 3 are provided laterally with respect to insert element 9, as in the brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles shown in previous Figures 1 to 8.
In Figure 9 the insert element is made plate-shaped in a single stage, while insert element 9 in Figure 10 is made in two layers, with the lower part being provided in order to be fitted into the handle or body 1 while the upper part is provided to hold hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires.
Again it is possible to join insert element 9 with the handle or body 1 by gluing, mechanically, or by welding, while the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles are joined with insert element 9 by welding. Once again a welding layer 10 is shown schematically which can also be produced however by means of the above-mentioned intermediate support, if welding of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires is not possible. Metal wires are mentioned as an example of this, which as a rule cannot be melted or softened by the method according to the invention. In this case it is definitely advantageous to use an intermediate 2 1 90,'~3 1 support, for example consisting of a hot-melt material that can be readily melted or softened.
In Figures 11 and 12 in a schematic top view, a toothbrush head of a toothbrush 1", 2" is shown, comprising bristle tufts 11"
that have a specific concrete shape 12". In the case of Figure 11, it is a company name so that the toothbrush shown can be used for example for advertising purposes. In the case of Figure 12, bristle tuft 11" has the shape of comic figures so that the toothbrush 1" shown in Figure 12 is suitable for children for example.
Figures 13a to 13d show various heating elements 9 that can be used to produce special shapes.
Finally, with reference to Figures 14a to 14e, the manufacture of a toothbrush or a toothbrush head, shown schematically, will be described in order for example to give the brush head a shape similar to the brush head shown in Figure 11.
The process begins with a basic toothbrush body 2", having at one end a head receptacle 5", as shown in Figure 14a. The heating element 9 shown in Figure 14b is inserted into receptacle 5", with the bottom of receptacle 5" matching the corrugated shape of heating element 9. A receiving body 3" is placed on heating element 9 as shown in Figure 14c. This receiving body 3" has gaps or openings for insertion of toothbrush bristles 11" as shown in Figure 14d. Originally the toothbrush bristles 11"
according to Figure 14d are of the same length, whereupon the insertion of bristles 11" through receiving body 3" into receptacle 5" produces shape 12" as already shown in Figure 14d.
Finally the heating of heating element 9 according to the invention produces the toothbrush head or toothbrush 1" as shown in Figure 14e.
2 ' 90~3 1 l8 In the manufacturing method and designs of brushes with stiff bristles or brushes with flexible bristles according to the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 14, only examples are involved of course that can be supplemented or modified or changed in some way. Thus of course it makes no difference whether the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like are of animal or plant origin or are synthetic polymers or materials. Examples include sisal, ramie, hog bristles, hairs of whatever kind, monofilaments made of metal, glass, polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene, etc., or wires, threads, ca~les, strings, made of any synthetic or natural materials.
The inductive heating of the insert element is likewise only one possible example and other examples such as dielectric heating, heating using microwaves, ultrasound, etc. are possible variations for working the method according to the invention.
In the designs shown in Figures 3 to 6 as well as 11, 12, and 14, once again only examples are involved and any shapes or contours can be produced by appropriately shaping the insert element.
It is important that the fastening of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like in or on the receptacle or a handle of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles is performed by welding, with the welding being performed by applying wave or field lines onto or into the receptacle or handle.
bristles or a brush with fl~xible bri6tle~, an application of the method for ~jn~ a brush vit~ ~lex~ble ~ristle~ an~/o~ a brush wi~h stif~ bri~les as ~11 as a ~ru~h wit~ ~lexible ~ristles or a brus~ with stiff bristles co~prisin~ a handle as uell ag hairs, bristle~, mono~ilament~, or ~ires of a brush with ~exibIe bristles or brush with ~tiff bristle~ held in or on a handle.
The manufact~re of bruæhes wit~ sti~ bristle6, ~ru~hes with ~le~i~le bri6tl~, toothbruch~s, and t~e llke i$ performed in a wide variety of wa~s; thus fo~ exampl~, to manufactur~ paint brush~ or cleani~g ~uche~, the tu~ts o~ brlstle~ ~r hair~ are ret~; ~Q~ by p~enol or epoxy resi~ materials in a rece~ing b~x or a handle.
In the case o~ smaller ~ru6hes, ~uch as toothbrus~es ox precision cle~ bru~hes, as a rule monofilaments are held in a receptacle either by means ~f hot-melt materials or by ~o-c.llled anchors. It is al80 kno~n to introduce indi~idual mono~ilame~ts or tufts thereof i~to receptacles in ~he shape ~ ~ole~ and to weld at the hole op ~ opposi~e the brush.
~he kno~n methods are ei~her partially obiectionable from t~e p~y~iological standpoint or are expe~sive, or do no~ allow very ~mall ~rushes to ~e manuf actured . Thus it ha~ been ra~nd e~pecially in the manufacture of very ~mall toothbrushes ~or electr~cal clea~ing device~ or for very fine cleaning bru~hes for e2ample for preci~ion r -^hani CSt tha~ with ~ery small wall AME~DE3 PAGE
21 90~31 t~ic~nes~es for the brush bodie~, the ~nown fasten~ng me~hod~ are not suitable for ret~in~ brush hair~, bristles, or mono~ilament~, etc~ In addition, it i8 not possible with the ~no~n met~od~ to 6hape t~e br~s~ or to form the ~rush surfac~.
Three U.S iatQnts, 2,653,056, 2,66~,~16, and Z,397,471 de~cri~e the manufacture of brushes with ~tiff brietles, particularly toothbru~he~, ~ith the bri~tle tu~ts being fas~e~ed in the handle ~y metal in3ert~ and inductl~e heating.
EP-0,519,677 de~cr~bes th~ manufac~ure of brushe~ ~ith stf ~f bristle~ using ultrasonic weldi~g.
W090/00359 des ibes a method for manufacturing ~mall brushe~
wit~ ~if~ ~r~stles wi~h ~ristle structures di~posed in practically any de~ired ~anne~. It is propo6ed that either a t~rough opening be prov~ded on a holder and the bristle ~u~t ~e in~ertud into this orenin~, in order to pot it, glue it, or weld it from the other ~ide of ~e holder, or alternatively a blind hole be made in the holder in order to use the remalning covering wall of the blind hole as a weldi~g material a~ter inser~ion o~
the tu~t.
Finall~, ~P-A-0,3Z9,939 deccribe~ a met~od and a ~evice ~or making ~e~ices fo~ applyi~g fluid media by meang ~f bristles The ~ethod~ descri~ed in the prior art relate fira~ly ~o the manu~acture o~ brushes with sti~ ~ristle~ and o~ bristles, with no adhesi~es or hot melt material~ having to be used to sec~re the bristles or ~onof i~ame~ts that form a brush wi~h st~ff bri~tles or a brush ~ith flexible ~ristles in a holder, or me~hods and device6 are described ~or producing ~ristle AMENDED PAGE
2 ' 9083 1 ~ructure~: or brlstle tufts ~ith this bQing accompli~h~d eith~
by applied heat or by adhesi~e~
No~e of th~a publleations kno~n from the ~rior art ~s suitable rcr contributing ~o the man~facture of ~ery delicate and/or ~3ry sma 1 b~u~hes wi~h 6t;i~f l:~ristles, in ~hose ~nanu~acture the ~hapin~ of the tu~ts of Dri~tles or tuftc cf ~3~ushes with lexi~le bristles is ~mportant, or in which special ~ristle structures are to ~e prs:~duced.
~ence, one goal of ~he ~?resent invention ss to prop~se a m~a~ht~d that does not suffer frc~ the a~ove dicadvantage6 and which is especially ~;uite~ ~or pe~mitt~n~ the manufacturc~ of ver~ fine and~or very small brushe6 and to ~acilitate the shaping proces~;
in the manufacture o~ bruOEhes ~ h ~lexible ~istle snc~ ~rus~es ~ t~ stif~ bri~les .
A_cordinS~ to th~ ~nventio2~ th~ s goal i~ a-hlievea by a m~od according ~a the b~ording o~ C3 aim 1.
It ~s p~oposed that in order to permanently mount bristles, hair~, o~ mono~llamen~s or tufts t~ereof 1~ or on a handle or in or on a rece~taele, the ~ristles, hairs, mono~i~aments, or wire~
t~at are placod in or on the receptacle or the handle are co~nected to t~ receptacle or handle by welding. The ~elding is perfonmed by mean6 o~ ~a~e ~ fiel~ lines applied and~or dlxected a~ the re~p'acle or h~dle;
These waYss or fiel~ lin~s app~ied or directed to ~ cepta-'e s~imu'ate an in~ert element introduced onto or into the receptacle o~ ~andle and heat the latter to produce the wel~ed connection~
Ah~N~D P~GE
ZlqO~3~ .
Accordi~g to one e ~ o~i~e~t of t~e ~etho~ according to the inven~ion i~ i~ proposed t~at initially a~ lea~t one i~sert element is placed on or in the receptac~s, then the halrs, bri8tles, mono~ilaments, or wires are supplied, and ~hen a high-freguency field, an electrical, elect~ -9retic, and~or a magnetic ~ield ~s produced in order to ~Xcite or hea~ the insert element ~o that the hairs, bri~tles, monofilament6, or ~ireæ in conta~t with the element, an~/or th~ receptacle, are at least partially melted in order to p~oduce ~he melted connec~ion.
According to another varia~ion on the ~ethod according to ~he invention it i~ proposed that initially ~he ins~rt element i~
introduced in~o or on~o the reta~ning element or the receptacle in order to be welded w~th it as i~ is excited ~y ~ield or wave lines or to be joinQd mechanically or by adhe~ves~ Then the hairs, bristle~, msnofilaments, or wirec are introduced in the a~ea of the in~ert elemen~ in or on the handle or receptacle, whereupon, by m~ans of field or wave lines, the insert element is excited in order to trigger possible add~ional welding under temperatu~e conditiong that may ~8 changed by compari~on ~i th the ~irst welding.
T~is twc-~tage me~hod is preferably used when the hairs, ~ri~tles, monofilaments, or wires exhibit a very dif~erent melting behavior fro~ ~he receiving part or the handle. In the case o~ highl~ different meltlng ~mperatur~8, t~ere iæ a danger in the Qingle-stage met~od that eith~r the hai~fi, ~ri~tles, monofilaments, or wire~ or ~he ~andle or the receptacle would ~e da~age~ ~y heating it exce~si~ely.
Another advantage of this two-~tase method consists in ~he ~llct that ini~ially the handle or the ~e~eptacle can be pro~ided wit~
AM~NDED PAGE
2 1 90~3 1 an insert ~lement and ~hen a su~ply of hair~, ~ri6tles, ~on~filamen~s, or wires can ~e added. The n~citatiO~ of the i~sert elemen~ then ta~es place in ~hi~ ~upply, ~ereupon ~nly ~hose hairs, brls~les, monofi~ament~, or wire~ fro~ the ~upply are welded to ~he insqrt element that are ~irectly in contact wi~h it. In this way the manufacture of a brush with stif~
bristles or a ~rush with flexible bristles can ~e highly ~impli~ed ~no~her ~wo-stag~ m~th~d according to the in~cntion i8 Simil-lr and i~ proposes ~hat initially the hai~s, ~rigtle~, mono~41aments, or ~ires are placed in an insert element whlch is excited and heated by f~eld or wave line~ in order to ~t least soften or begin melting the added bristles, hairs, m~no~ilament~, or ~ires to make a welded ~o~ection with the insert ele~ent, Then ~his inse~t element with the hairs, bristle~, mono~ilame~ts, or wires welded to it i~ placed on or in a handle or a receptacle and connect~d ~ith the latter mechanlcallY by gluing o~ by wel~i~g once more.
Pre~erred embod~ments of the me~hod according to the invention are characterized in depe~dent claims 2 to 12.
The methods defined accordiAg to the inv~ntion are especially suita~le ~or producing a specific shape o~ a ~rush wi~h sti~f ~ristles or a brush ~ith flexible ~ristles, in which the insert element is adapted ~pecially to the s~ape of the bru~h ~ith ~lexihle bri~tles or brush wit~ stiff bristles to be prcduced.
The in~ert element, dep~nding on the requi~ement~, can be made convex, wavy, zigzag-shaped, conical, e~c. whereb~ the ends of the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments projecting out of the receptacle form a contour that matches the insert element.
The insert element however can also have gaps in the form of holes or slots, which means that the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles does not have any hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires at these gaps.
AME~D~D PAGE
By using the above-mentioned insert elements, comprising gaps in the form of holes or slots, it is also possible to make brushes with stiff bristles or brushes with flexible bristles that have areas in which the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires have a reduced density. This can also be achieved by using a plurality of insert elements spaced apart from one another. In the spaces between the insert elements, zones can be created that have no hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires, or zones with reduced density. The advantage of creating such areas or zones of reduced density consists in the fact that the flexibility of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles can be considerably increased as a result.
Basically, the methods proposed according to the invention are generally suitable for manufacturing all kinds of brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles, for example paintbrushes, cleaning brushes, toothbrushes, precision cleaning brushes in mechanics, etc.
The methods according to the invention are especially suitable for making toothbrushes, both ordinary toothbrushes and those designed for use with an electrical tooth cleaning device.
The brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention thus comprise a handle or receiving part or a receptacle as well as hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles that are held in the handle or receiving part, whereby at least one insert element is provided located in or on the receiving part or handle, which is located adjacent to the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires held in the handle or receiving part, and with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires being held in or on the handle or receiving part by a welded connection.
Additional embodiments of the brushes with flexible bristles or brushes with stiff bristles defined according to the invention are characterized in dependent claims 19 to 23.
It makes no difference in this respect whether the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are of animal or plant origin or whether they are monofilaments made of polymer materials, like those manufactured for example from a synthetic polymer.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached figures.
Figures la to lc show schematically the basic idea of the present invention for manufacturing a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 2a and 2b show two examples of a brush with flexible bristles or a toothbrush manufactured according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows one possible application of the method according to the invention for making a specific contour of a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles according to the invention;
Figure 4 shows another example of one possible embodiment of a contour of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 5 and 6 show additional examples of the design of a contour for a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles according to the invention, comprising so-called gaps;
Figures 7a and 7b show one possible embodiment of a brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to the 2 1 9 i ~ 3 1 invention as well as the manufacturing process according to the invention, shown schematically;
Figure 8 shows another possible method for manufacturing a brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to the invention;
Figures 9 and 10 show other examples of brushes with flexible bristles and brushes with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention;
Figures 11 and 12 show examples of specific forms of a toothbrush for example for advertising purposes;
Figures 13a to 13d show possible heating element shapes for specific shaping of a brush with stiff bristles; and Figures 14a to 14e show schematically the manufacture of a toothbrush with a specific shape for the brush head.
In Figures la to lc, the method according to the invention is shown schematically and indicates how the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like or tufts thereof of brushes with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles are permanently mounted in a receptacle.
A body 1 of a brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles comprises a receptacle 5 that is delimited laterally by walls 3 and has a bottom 7. An insert element 9 is provided for insertion into this receptacle 5, said element preferably being made in the form of a disk, foil, lattice, wire, ring, or plate, or as a molded body. Hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires ll are also provided for insertion and permanent mounting.
In Figure lb, both insert element 9 and the hairs or bristles or monofilaments 11 are shown inserted into receptacle 5. The body 1 of brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles is inserted into a coil 21, said coil being located in the vicinity of insert element 9. It is important to note in this regard that coil 21 should be located as close as possible to the external contour of body 1 of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles. By applying a current, such as an alternating current for example, through wire coil 21, a magnetic field is generated that changes its direction synchronously with the frequency of the alternating current.
If insert element 9 is an electrically conducting material, for example an electrically conducting metal such as iron or copper, an alternating voltage will be induced in the insert element traversed by the magnetic field or eddy currents will be produced in the insert element so that insert element 9 is heated. As a result of the strong heating of insert element 9, firstly the ends of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires inserted into receptacle 5 will be at least softened or slightly melted, as will bottom 7 of the receptacle. This produces a welded connection and the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are thus held firmly in receptacle 5.
In Figure lc, the brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles that is eventually obtained according to the invention is shown, with the idea according to the invention being indicated schematically by the fact that, above insert element 9, a welded layer ~0 is formed. Of course a welded connection can be produced between the insert element and brush body 1 as well.
2 ! 95831 1 o In the method using inductive heating that is described with reference to Figures la to lc, this is of course only an example that can be supplemented by additional suitable methods.
Thus it is possible for example to insert an insert element 9 that does not conduct or conducts only slightly and to heat it by using so-called dielectric or capacitive heating. Then insert element 9 together with two plate electrodes forms the lossy dielectric of a capacitor powered with high frequency. The dielectric losses cause insert element 9 to be heated uniformly.
Another possibility is to use a material that has mostly polar compounds as insert element 9. In this case the heating can be produced by microwaves. However the use of ultrasound or other suitable high-frequency waves or electrical, electromagnetic, or magnetic fields is possible by means of which suitable materials can be excited in order to heat them in this manner. Although inductive heating is described with reference to Figures la to lc, the present invention is not limited in any way to this type of heating.
If neither the receiving part nor the brush hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires consist of a material that can be softened or melted or have a melting point that is too high, it is also possible to introduce a so-called intermediate support into the receptacle that rests directly above the insert element for example. This intermediate support then consists of a material that can be melted slightly by heating the insert element in order in this way to produce the welded connection between the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires inserted into the receptacle, with the receptacle itself.
Another possibility consists in making the method according to the invention in two stages in which initially insert element 9 ~ 1 ~0~3 1 with hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires 11 is welded outside receptacle 5. Then insert element 9 together with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires welded to it is introduced into receptacle 5 in order again to be secured in the latter by welding, or by means of conventional adhesives or by using mechanical retainers. Thus it is possible for example to provide insert element 9 with lateral clamping elements which secure insert element 9 in the receptacle when it is inserted.
Yet another possibility consists in performing the method in two stages, but in which insert element 9 is initially connected with receptacle 5. This connection again can be made by welding, gluing, or mechanically. In a second step, the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are then introduced in order then to be welded into the receptacle by using the method described in connection with Figures la to lc. By means of this latter two-stage method it is then possible to take the receptacle together with the insert element to a supply of hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires, to apply it, and then to fasten the necessary number by means of the welding method according to the invention. Then the receptacle with the insert element can be taken away from the supply once more and the required hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are accordingly removed from the supply.
In regard to the method to be used for heating the insert element, it should also be noted that it basically involves methods that are known from the prior art. It is in the final analysis a question of optimization as to which method and which process conditions are selected. In the case of inductive heating it should be added that the heating of the insert element is dependent upon firstly the distance of the coil from the insert element, the number of turns, the wire material selected, the applied field strength or current density, and the time 21 90~31 during which the insert element is heated. Heating of the i~s~r~
ele"nent however can be controlled by the selected form of insert element, since the weight, size, and selected material play an important role for example. Thus for example an annular insert element can be heated readily while â ring that is interrupted at one point is practically impossible to heat.
However these factors also make it possible to control the heating of the insert element or to establish a temperature range t~ -which the insert element is to be heated. In addition, reference should be made to the prior art from which the above-mentioned methods and procedures are best known.
Figure 2a shows a brush with flexible bristles 1' produced according to the in-v~r,tloll comprising a handle 2' as well as a thin-walled receptacle 3' intG which the hairs 11' of the brush with flexible bristles are inserted. .he melted layer l¢ by means Gf which the hairs 11' of the brush with flexible bristles are held can be seen above insert element 9.
Figure 2b shows a toothbrush 1" manufactured according to the invention that has a specially shaped handle 2", suitable fGr example for use of this toothbrush on an electrical tooth cleaning device. vnce again the individual bristles or monofilaments 11" are held by a welded conne~tion 10 on insert element 9. These monofilaments for example can be polyamides or ar.other polymer material that is usually used for manufactuLing tooth~rushes.
As described above, the method according to the invention is suitable for gi-ving brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles a specific contour.
2 1 90~3 ~
As is clearly evident from Figure 2b, a plurality of receptacles 5" is formed in toothbrush 1" into each of which an insert element 9 is fitted. Thus so-called gaps 4 are produced between the various receptacles 5" that have no insert element. In this way it is basically possible to make brushes that have a plurality of bristle tufts with gaps between them. It is also possible to make a toothbrush with gaps 4 so that the flexibility of the individual bristle tufts 11" is increased considerably, which is especially desirable in toothbrushes.
Figure 3 shows in a cross section how a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles can be made convex or projecting. Insert element 9 used in Figure 3 is likewise made convex or projecting, so that when hairs, bristles or monofilaments of the same length are used an external contour 12 that is convex or projecting can be produced. The manufacture of such a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles of this kind is performed by analogy with the method described for example with reference to Figures la to lc.
Similarly in Figure 4 an insert element 9 of a different design is employed that is made zigzag-shaped for example, whereby brush 1 in Figure 4 has three receptacles 5. Again the outer contour 12 of the individual elements of the brush with stiff or flexible bristles is made zigzag-shaped.
The great advantage of providing this contour by means of an insert element consists in the fact that after the brush with stiff or flexible bristles is produced, the individual hairs, bristles, or monofilaments do not have to be cut in order to produce the desired external contour 12. Especially in the case of monofilaments it has been found that during cutting, the ends that project out of the receptacle are indented or frayed, which is undesirable especially in the case of toothbrushes, since the 21~0831 gums can be iniured by damaged bristles. In this case it is necessary after cutting to use a special grinding or melting method to round off the ends of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires projecting out of the receptacle, said method being relatively costly and cumbersome. According to the invention, there is no need for this additional step.
With the manufacturing method in use today for making brushes with flexible bristles and brushes with stiff bristles, in producing brushes with flexible and stiff bristles with special shapes, it is necessary as a rule to cut and grind the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires before making the brush with flexible or stiff bristles, which is cumbersome. Brush shapes, like those shown in Figure 4, cannot be made with conventional methods.
In Figures 5 and 6, an insert element 9 is employed that has a hole or gap 13 in the middle. Insert element ~ in Figure 5 also comprises an indentation or groove 15. Accordingly, gap 13 is also located centrally in contour 12 of the brush with stiff bristles or brush with flexible bristles manufactured according to the invention, since no welding of the inserted hairs, bristles, or monofilaments can take place in the middle of hole 13. After the brush with flexible or stiff bristles according to the invention has been manufactured, the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments that are inserted into gap 13 automatically fall out again. Moreover, external contour 12 has a matching groove or indentation in the vicinity of indentation or groove 15.
Similarly in brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles, areas can also be produced with a lower hair, bristle or monofilament density. In this way, as already mentioned in connection with Figure 2b, the flexibility of a ? ? 9 083 1 brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles can be increased.
Figures 5 and 6 however again show the advantage of the method according to the invention as mentioned with reference to Figure 4 when it comes to creating contours or brush shapes without the necessity of cutting and grinding hairs, bristles, monofilaments, wires, or the like before or after the brush with flexible or stiff bristles is manufactured.
Figure 7a shows a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles which comprises individual tufts 17. If as shown in Figure lb a coil 21 is placed around body 1 of the brush with flexible or stiff bristles or the outside wall 3, the peripheral tufts 17 of hair or monofilament of the brush with flexible bristles would be melted to a greater degree at the inserted ends, since the insert elements would also be heated to a greater degree. Thus there would be a danger in the middle that no real melting would take place so that the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments would fall out again when manufacture was complete.
For this reason it is advantageous as shown in Figure 7b to rotate the coil 21 through approximately 90, compared with the diagram in Figure lb and to insert brush 1 with stiff bristles in the horizontal direction into coil 21. This in turn ensures that all the insert elements 9 are arranged equally spaced relative to coil 21. As a result these insert elements 9 will also be heated uniformly.
In Figure 8 another possibility is shown of how an insert element for the welding of the ends of the hairs, bristles, or monofilaments inserted in the receptacle of the brush with flexible bristles or the brush with stiff bristles can be achieved. In Figure 8, hole-shaped contact points 24 to which electrodes or terminals 25 can be connected are provided in the lateral receptacle walls 3. If an electrical current 26 is applied to the electrodes or terminals 25, insert element 9 acts as a form of resistance element and is heated as a result.
Welding of the hairs, bristles or monofilaments 11 takes place once more in known fashion and as described with reference to Figures la to lc.
Figures 9 and 10 show two additional examples of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles manufactured according to the invention, whereby no actual receptacle 5 is provided on handle 1 but where insert element 9 is mounted directly on a flat surface on the handle or the brush or hair body. Thus, no walls 3 are provided laterally with respect to insert element 9, as in the brushes with stiff bristles and brushes with flexible bristles shown in previous Figures 1 to 8.
In Figure 9 the insert element is made plate-shaped in a single stage, while insert element 9 in Figure 10 is made in two layers, with the lower part being provided in order to be fitted into the handle or body 1 while the upper part is provided to hold hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires.
Again it is possible to join insert element 9 with the handle or body 1 by gluing, mechanically, or by welding, while the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles are joined with insert element 9 by welding. Once again a welding layer 10 is shown schematically which can also be produced however by means of the above-mentioned intermediate support, if welding of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires is not possible. Metal wires are mentioned as an example of this, which as a rule cannot be melted or softened by the method according to the invention. In this case it is definitely advantageous to use an intermediate 2 1 90,'~3 1 support, for example consisting of a hot-melt material that can be readily melted or softened.
In Figures 11 and 12 in a schematic top view, a toothbrush head of a toothbrush 1", 2" is shown, comprising bristle tufts 11"
that have a specific concrete shape 12". In the case of Figure 11, it is a company name so that the toothbrush shown can be used for example for advertising purposes. In the case of Figure 12, bristle tuft 11" has the shape of comic figures so that the toothbrush 1" shown in Figure 12 is suitable for children for example.
Figures 13a to 13d show various heating elements 9 that can be used to produce special shapes.
Finally, with reference to Figures 14a to 14e, the manufacture of a toothbrush or a toothbrush head, shown schematically, will be described in order for example to give the brush head a shape similar to the brush head shown in Figure 11.
The process begins with a basic toothbrush body 2", having at one end a head receptacle 5", as shown in Figure 14a. The heating element 9 shown in Figure 14b is inserted into receptacle 5", with the bottom of receptacle 5" matching the corrugated shape of heating element 9. A receiving body 3" is placed on heating element 9 as shown in Figure 14c. This receiving body 3" has gaps or openings for insertion of toothbrush bristles 11" as shown in Figure 14d. Originally the toothbrush bristles 11"
according to Figure 14d are of the same length, whereupon the insertion of bristles 11" through receiving body 3" into receptacle 5" produces shape 12" as already shown in Figure 14d.
Finally the heating of heating element 9 according to the invention produces the toothbrush head or toothbrush 1" as shown in Figure 14e.
2 ' 90~3 1 l8 In the manufacturing method and designs of brushes with stiff bristles or brushes with flexible bristles according to the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 14, only examples are involved of course that can be supplemented or modified or changed in some way. Thus of course it makes no difference whether the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like are of animal or plant origin or are synthetic polymers or materials. Examples include sisal, ramie, hog bristles, hairs of whatever kind, monofilaments made of metal, glass, polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene, etc., or wires, threads, ca~les, strings, made of any synthetic or natural materials.
The inductive heating of the insert element is likewise only one possible example and other examples such as dielectric heating, heating using microwaves, ultrasound, etc. are possible variations for working the method according to the invention.
In the designs shown in Figures 3 to 6 as well as 11, 12, and 14, once again only examples are involved and any shapes or contours can be produced by appropriately shaping the insert element.
It is important that the fastening of the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, and the like in or on the receptacle or a handle of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles is performed by welding, with the welding being performed by applying wave or field lines onto or into the receptacle or handle.
Claims (22)
1. Method for permanent attachment of bristles, hairs, monofilaments, wires (11, 11', 11") and the like or tufts thereof in or on a handle (1, 1', 1", 5) and for producing a specific shape on a brush with stiff bristles or a brush with flexible bristles (1), characterized in that the bristles, hairs, monofilaments, or wires mounted in or on the handle, or in a receptacle (3), are connected with the handle or receptacle by welding, with the welding being excited or triggered by means of waves or field lines applied or directed at the handle and/or the bristles, hairs, monofilaments, or wires, with an insert element (9) to be inserted or inserted into or onto the handle being excited or heated in order to produce the welded connection, with insert element (9) and/or the receptacle being specially adapted to the shape (12, 12') of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that initially at least one insert element (9) is inserted into or onto the handle, then the bristles, hairs, monofilaments, or wires (11, 11') are added, and then a high-frequency field, an electrical, electromagnetic, and/or a magnetic field, is generated to heat the insert element so that the bristles, hairs, monofilaments, or wires in contact with the element and/or the handle is/are at least partially melted in order to produce the welded connection.
3. Method according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires (11, 11') are initially supplied to one insert element (9) that is excited and heated by field or wave lines in order at least to soften or begin to melt the added hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires to produce a welded connection with the insert element and in that the insert element together with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires welded to it is placed in or on the handle and connected therewith mechanically, by gluing, or by welding once again.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one insert element (9) is placed in or on handle (1, 1', 1", 5) in order to be welded to the latter when excited by field or wave lines or to be connected mechanically or by gluing and in that the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires (11, 11') are introduced into or onto the handle in the vicinity of insert element (9) whereupon the insert element is excited by field or wave lines in order to trigger a additional welding under temperature conditions that are possibly altered with respect to the first welding.
5. Method according to one of Claim 1 to 4, characterized in that a material with good conductivity, especially a metallic material, is used as insert element (9), said material being heated by inductive heating with the handle and/or the insert element being located in a primary coil surrounding or close to the handle and/or insert element to generate so-called induced eddy currents or a rapidly alternating electromagnetic field.
6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating of insert element (9) is produced by dielectric or capacitive heating, with a metallic or nonmetallic material that is a poor electrical conductor being used as the insert element, whereby the insert element together with two plate electrodes located externally on the handle and/or the insert element forms the lossy dielectric of a capacitor supplied with a high frequency.
7. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that waves in the high-frequency range such as microwaves or ultrasonic waves are used to heat the insert element, with the insert element preferably being made of a polar material in the case of microwaves, said material being excited and heated by microwaves.
8. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that insert element (9) is an electrical resistance element and that terminals (24) are provided to heat this element, laterally with respect to the insert element, for example on the neck part, in order to heat the electrical resistance element when connected to a flow of electric current.
9. Method according to one Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an insert element (9) in the form of a disc, plate, lattice, ring, wire, or foil is used.
10. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the handle is a receptacle (5) with side walls (3) into which the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires are introduced.
11. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an intermediate support is provided on the handle, said support being excited by the wave or field lines or being heated by an insert element that is mounted in or on the handle and is excited by the wave or field lines, and is at least partially melted in order to form the welded connection between the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires and the handle.
12. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the insert element has gaps (13) in the form of holes or slots at which gaps, depending on the brush with flexible bristles or the brush with stiff bristles, there are either no hairs, bristles, or monofilaments, or a reduced density thereof.
13. Application of the method according to one of Claims 1 to 12 to produce a shape of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles that has the appearance of a signature or a logo, especially suitable for providing the brush with flexible bristles or the brush with stiff bristles with an advertising message and/or to address an application or a certain target audience.
14. Application of the method according to one of Claims 1 to 12 to produce a brush with flexible bristles (1') or a brush with stiff bristles (1").
15. Application according to Claim 14 for producing a toothbrush.
16. Application according to Claim 15 for producing a toothbrush comprising a toothbrush head with a special shape, especially representing a signature or a shape to address a certain target audience by means of the toothbrush.
17. Application of the method according to one of Claims 1 to 12 for making a brush with flexible bristles (1, 1', 1") or a brush with stiff bristles comprising areas with a higher density of hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires and areas or zones with a reduced density or areas and zones with gaps in order to increase the flexibility of the brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles.
18. Application of the method according to Claim 17 to produce a toothbrush.
19. Brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles manufactured by a method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized by a handle (1, 1', 1", 5) as well as the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires (11, 11') of a brush with flexible bristles or a brush with stiff bristles mounted in or on a handle, or in a receptacle (3) of a handle, and having a specific shape; at least one insert element (9) located in or on handle (1, 1', 1", 5), said element being located adjacent to the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires held in or on the handle and with the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires (11, 11') being held in or on handle (5) by welded connection (10) and with the insert element or elements (9) and/or receptacle (3) being given a shape, said shape corresponding at least approximately to the shape of the brush with flexible bristles or the brush with stiff bristles (12), said shape being formed by the hairs, bristles, monofilaments, or wires and with insert element (9) consisting of a material that can be excited by wave or field lines.
20. Brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to Claim 19, characterized in that insert element (9) consists of an electrically conducting material, preferably a metal such as iron or copper.
21. Brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to one of Claims 19 or 20, characterized in that insert element (9) is in the shape of a disc, plate, wire, ring, lattice, or foil.
22. Brush with flexible bristles or brush with stiff bristles according to one of Claims 19 to 21, characterized in that it is a toothbrush with a toothbrush head having a special shape, for example a signature or the shape of an object, suitable for addressing a special target audience.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH157294 | 1994-05-20 | ||
| CH1572/94-8 | 1994-05-20 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2190831A1 true CA2190831A1 (en) | 1995-11-30 |
Family
ID=4213566
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002190831A Abandoned CA2190831A1 (en) | 1994-05-20 | 1995-05-04 | Paintbrush and brush manufacturing process |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5964508A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0759712B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10502831A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE190475T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2253095A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2190831A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE59508007D1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995031917A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (31)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6308367B1 (en) * | 1997-11-12 | 2001-10-30 | Gillette Canada Company | Toothbrush |
| US20010003600A1 (en) | 1998-07-10 | 2001-06-14 | Gordon G. Guay | Method of manufacturing a textured toothbrush bristle |
| US6442785B1 (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2002-09-03 | Dane Q. Robinson | Dental brush with enhanced bristles |
| CH694748A5 (en) * | 2000-03-01 | 2005-07-15 | Miodrag Mijatovic M Design Sa | Brush entire image. |
| EP1136016A1 (en) * | 2000-03-21 | 2001-09-26 | G.B. Boucherie, N.V. | Method and device for melting ends of bristles |
| US20050161142A1 (en) * | 2001-02-15 | 2005-07-28 | Integral Technologies, Inc. | Low cost conductive brushes manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials |
| JP4544781B2 (en) * | 2001-05-24 | 2010-09-15 | 花王株式会社 | toothbrush |
| DE10163729A1 (en) * | 2001-12-21 | 2003-07-10 | Zahoransky Anton Gmbh & Co | Toothbrush manufacturing process involves melting plastic brush head around holes where bristles anchors are inserted to form a firm connection between head and bristles |
| DE10164336A1 (en) | 2001-12-28 | 2003-07-17 | Trisa Holding Ag Triengen | Toothbrush and method of making such a toothbrush |
| US6931688B2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2005-08-23 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush |
| US8806695B2 (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2014-08-19 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement having flexibly supported cleaning elements extending in opposite directions |
| US8151397B2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2012-04-10 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement having flexibly supported cleaning elements extending in opposite directions |
| US7930792B2 (en) * | 2007-01-19 | 2011-04-26 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement |
| DE10259723A1 (en) | 2002-12-19 | 2004-07-01 | Trisa Holding Ag | Toothbrush and process for making it |
| US20050283930A1 (en) * | 2004-06-25 | 2005-12-29 | Hooper Michael J | Metal brush and method therefor |
| KR100666458B1 (en) * | 2005-03-11 | 2007-01-09 | 권영준 | Toothbrush with pressure relief device and manufacturing method thereof |
| US8156599B2 (en) | 2007-10-03 | 2012-04-17 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement having a head insert |
| EP2225966A1 (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2010-09-08 | Braun GmbH | Toothbrush bristle and method for manufacturing such a bristle |
| US9210995B2 (en) * | 2012-09-25 | 2015-12-15 | O'nano Oral Solutions, Inc. | Toothbrush |
| US9756933B2 (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2017-09-12 | Noxell Corporation | Processes for manufacturing bristled component for personal-care applicator |
| US10258140B2 (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2019-04-16 | Noxell Corporation | Bristled component for personal-care applicator |
| US9586360B2 (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2017-03-07 | Noxell Corporation | Processes for manufacturing personal-care applicator |
| US10251469B2 (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2019-04-09 | Noxell Corporation | Personal-care applicator and processes for manufacturing same |
| US10874202B2 (en) | 2014-06-26 | 2020-12-29 | Noxell Corporation | Processes for manufacturing personal-care applicator |
| US10098447B2 (en) * | 2014-07-15 | 2018-10-16 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Oral-care implement having color-communicative element |
| DE102016200343A1 (en) * | 2016-01-14 | 2017-07-20 | MTU Aero Engines AG | Method for producing a brush seal with inclined bristles |
| MX2018012073A (en) | 2016-04-20 | 2019-05-22 | Trisa Holding Ag | Brush product and method for the production thereof. |
| KR200488313Y1 (en) * | 2018-04-18 | 2019-01-11 | 박기찬 | Magnet mounting type toothbrush set |
| US10791824B2 (en) * | 2020-02-07 | 2020-10-06 | John Dimitriou | Paint brush and method of making the same |
| KR102606949B1 (en) * | 2020-06-26 | 2023-11-29 | 애터미주식회사 | Oral care system including smart toothbrush and smart sterilizer |
| WO2022031076A1 (en) * | 2020-08-05 | 2022-02-10 | 애터미주식회사 | Oral care system including smart toothbrush and smart sterilizer |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US605230A (en) * | 1898-06-07 | Brush | ||
| US2258361A (en) * | 1938-06-28 | 1941-10-07 | Ruberset Company | Paintbrush |
| US2397471A (en) * | 1942-11-18 | 1946-04-02 | Carbide & Carbon Chem Corp | Method of producing strain-free thermoplastic articles |
| US2488873A (en) * | 1945-01-12 | 1949-11-22 | Prophylactic Brush Co | Toothbrush and method of making |
| US2562716A (en) * | 1945-08-09 | 1951-07-31 | Rubberset Company | Brush and method of making same |
| US2664316A (en) * | 1948-02-05 | 1953-12-29 | Lambert Company | Method of making brushes |
| US2653056A (en) * | 1948-12-20 | 1953-09-22 | Modglin Company Inc | Method of making brooms |
| US2643157A (en) * | 1952-02-27 | 1953-06-23 | H V Hardman Company Inc | Bristle setting |
| US4519110A (en) * | 1984-01-09 | 1985-05-28 | Matvei Rubin | Brush |
| JPS62148610A (en) * | 1985-11-19 | 1987-07-02 | 株式会社 新和製作所 | Production of fiber bundle for brush |
| DE3807685C1 (en) * | 1988-02-20 | 1988-11-17 | Coronet - Werke Heinrich Schlerf Gmbh, 6948 Waldmichelbach, De | |
| DE3823203A1 (en) * | 1988-07-08 | 1990-01-11 | Sanadent Ag | METHOD FOR ATTACHING AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE, LONG-EXTENDED ELEMENT, ARRANGEMENT WITH SUCH AN ELEMENT AND BRUSH |
| US5159736A (en) * | 1991-06-17 | 1992-11-03 | Andor Brush Company | Brush construction |
| US5483723A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-01-16 | Wenzer; Kenneth C. | Paint brush with modified dome shaped member |
-
1995
- 1995-05-04 DE DE59508007T patent/DE59508007D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-05-04 WO PCT/CH1995/000102 patent/WO1995031917A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1995-05-04 EP EP95915738A patent/EP0759712B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-05-04 US US08/737,645 patent/US5964508A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-05-04 AU AU22530/95A patent/AU2253095A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-05-04 JP JP7529964A patent/JPH10502831A/en active Pending
- 1995-05-04 CA CA002190831A patent/CA2190831A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-05-04 AT AT95915738T patent/ATE190475T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5964508A (en) | 1999-10-12 |
| JPH10502831A (en) | 1998-03-17 |
| DE59508007D1 (en) | 2000-04-20 |
| EP0759712A1 (en) | 1997-03-05 |
| EP0759712B1 (en) | 2000-03-15 |
| ATE190475T1 (en) | 2000-04-15 |
| WO1995031917A1 (en) | 1995-11-30 |
| AU2253095A (en) | 1995-12-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Discontinued |